Fiat justitia, ruatcaelum

False Dawn

The muted afternoon sun was warm through the shield. Though she hadn’t noticed. The young girl’s attention was on her training. Pushing the long black hair our of her eyes, Hanabi glared at the straw man that stood a short distance away.
The long bladed kunai in her hand was closer to a sword in her grip. The white tassel that hung from the pommel ring draped limply in the still air.
‘Focus… see the edge upon the blade…’ Yuyu’s voice tickled her ear. The ethereal dragon, once no longer than her arm, draped across her shoulders, his body hanging low and wrapped around her waist. His presence to her was much like the weak daylight; She would know if he left, but he had no real weight upon her.
Turning her mind inward, her fingers ran along the edge. The razor line traced in her byukaguran eye as a thin bead of blood remained behind.
‘Attack slowly… cut the air, watch the flow.’ She moved the long blade with grace, watching the line of chakra charged blood sweep through the air.
‘No attack quickly, watch the blood…’
The slice was hard, the bloodied edge moving, droplets lifting from the edge, falling in the wake of the blade.
“I see…”
‘We cannot be weak. The assassin may come again. Attack your foe.’
The lifeless scarecrow waited patiently.
Her blade glowed brightly as it filled with chakra, the energy liquid and shifting as Hanabi slowly swept the blade.
Hanabi took a deep breath and sliced the air. The chakra compressed within the blade.
Like the blood droplets, she let the chakra fly from the edge, a wide arrow coming from the leading edge of the blade, breaking away.
The wave hit the training dummy, the flash of chaff and dust hovering in the air.
The dragon leaned out, peering at the effect. ‘It is weak. The wound would be minor. But you grasp the knowledge.’ The silver eyes faced her, ‘You shall focus upon power later. Now we will teach you to form the wave without benefit of the blade.’
“Hey, freak!” Two heads turned to face Hinata as she strode along the training grounds. Her left arm was still in a sling, bound tightly to her chest.
Hanabi waved, sheathing her blade, “Sister. What brings you out here?”
“Just wanted to bug you.” Hinata embraced her sister, “What’re you working on today?”
Hanabi shrugged, “Not much… Just beating up the dummy.” Hanabi’s eyes still glowed. She could see the ripple in the chakra flow through her sister’s shoulder. “How is your arm feeling?”
Hinata patted it, “It pisses me off… But it’s healing. Nothing I won’t live through.”
‘That wound is crippling.’ Yuyu leaned far out, drawing up more of his body to sniff at the wound, silver tongue flicking out. ‘The attempt to mend it could be fatal.’
“We had best leave it be then…” Hanabi reached out, laying her hand on Yuyu’s shoulder, just over her own.
‘Very well.’
“Yeah… But I’m worried about the way it throbs sometimes…” Hinata poked at the thick scar, “But I won’t know anything for certain until I train.”
Movement drew Hanabi’s attention. “Sakura and Itachi…”
“The lovers approach.” Hinata grinned. “Hey! There’s kids out here!”
“Hn?” Itachi managed enough volume, “We came out here to spar. What’s on your mind?”
“The sparring match from this morning!” Hinata called back. “It’s not called the all seeing eye for nothing!”
Sakura blushed.
“You’re a pervert, you know that?” Itachi called with a grin. “Is it fun for you to watch?”
“Hey! I only look because I hear someone screaming! If you guys weren’t so loud…!”
Itachi looked back to Sakura. “I’m not the loud one.”
Hanabi shook her head, “You’re all insane.” She chuckled, “Come on, sister. I’ll help you with dinner tonight.” she met Hinata’s eye, “We’ll leave them to their sparring or the revival of the clan or whatever it is they’re going to do out here.”
“Like I can trust little Uke-kun to revive the clan alone!” Itachi called.
The sisters left the training grounds behind them.
Yuyu shifted, settling down on Hanabi’s shoulder near her ear. ‘The words you speak… Do you desire a mate as well?’
“Perhaps later… I’m a bit young yet for that.”
“Huh?” Hinata looked down at her sister, “What’re you muttering about?”
Hanabi pointed to the dark ash colored mark on her neck. Her tattoo had grown large as well, the ‘shadow’ of Yuyu spreading, shifting. One of his claws had crept up her neck, grasping loosely.
“Oh…” Hinata nodded. “What’s his voice sound like?”
Hanabi looked her dragon in the eye. “Like… like Zabuza-sensei. Only younger.”
“So he sounds cute…?” Hinata peered at what must have seemed thin air, eyes aglow. “He looks about half creepy…”
“No.” Hanabi stroked Yuyu’s body where he wrapped around her waist, “Creepy is seeing Sakura when she and her demon turn against something in anger. They are the definition of wrath as a sin.”

Hinata continued to wonder about her sister’s cryptic comments between her and the creature she had bonded with. But her improvement as a kunoichi was staggering. The wave of chakra she had thrown was impressive. As well as her ability to vanish completely. Not just to be invisible, but to leave behind nothing but the odd feeling of being watched.
“Excuse me…” The older sister looked up from her inner reflections, a third pair of bright white eyes watching her. “I was wondering if I could have a few moments of your time?” Satoshi’s hands were concealed behind his back.
“I’ll catch up in a second…” Hinata winked down at her sister, “He’s young and inexperienced.”
Hanabi laughed, the back of one hand covering her mouth as she walked into the manor house.
The door closed heavily. The laughing and giggles gone. “What’s on your mind, Hyuuga?”
Satoshi closed his eyes, “Soren. Soren Satoshi.” He wiped one hand across his brow, “I wanted to thank you…”
“I’ll do the same…” Hinata caught the twinkle in his eye, the twitch of his smirk, “Most of the same…” She corrected, “…for any Hyuuga that wants out.”
He pulled the daffodil from behind his back, “I… Hahhh… I wanted to approach you about what happened… after the curse seal, Hinata.”
Hinata found her arms crossing, “I tried to warn you on that count. You can rest your regrets on your own head.”
“No…” He offered he flower forward, looking down at the pale petals, “I cherish the memory of last night… I just…want to be more to you…”
Hinata waited for him to meet her eye. “We talked about this… About why we can’t… What might happen…”
But she made no move to stop his hand as he slipped the flower behind her ear.
“I can find a med nin…” Satoshi paused, wincing to himself, “And it matters little to me who…” The young man sighed as he drew another blade over his own heart, “I want to stand by your side… No matter the cost.”
Hinata sighed, taking his hand in her own. “Satoshi… You should hold out for another love… One who can bear your sons.” She squeezed his hand, “My future is uncertain.” Her hand went to her shoulder in the sling, “For the time, Lady Hanuro holds my life. I don’t want to be mourned as a lost mother if my time comes too soon…”
His smile was forced. The embrace her wrapped her in was quick and he stepped back before Hinata could pull away.
“Don’t get yourself killed on purpose…” He looked down and away, “If I can find her… You should approve of the woman I’ll marry.”
His eyes met hers again as he stepped back again, “You own my soul, Mistress Hinata. Just as surely as Lady Hanuro owns yours. Good bye…” He snapped around on his heel and strode away quickly.
He was beyond the courtyard fountain before Hinata’s hand fell back to her side.
“…good bye…”

The door to the kitchen banged as Hinata blew in. “Sorry. That took longer than I planned.”
Hanabi shrugged, “Little matter. Did you want vegetarian egg rolls or is the meat going in them?”
“Let’s do it as a side…” Hinata pulled a kettle down from the over hang, easily handling the large iron crock in one hand.
“Hinata! Is that a flower in your hair?” Ino bounced into the room, “Is it from Satoshi? He’s so cute!”
Ino gasped, a wide grin spreading on her face, “You made him your bo already? Are you lovers?”
“Whoa, whoa.” Hinata set the kettle down on the stove, “What makes such things your business?”
“You can see all of us, as you so conveniently pointed out at breakfast to Itachi.” Ino’s eyes flashed, “So?”
Hinata sighed, smirking herself. “Yes, it is from Satoshi. And he is cute, but he isn’t my bo just yet…”
“But he will be, right?” Ino grinned widely, jumping from her seat, “Tell me! Is he as big as Suke-kun?”
Hanabi blushed brilliantly, the rush in her cheeks going ruddy, “I’ve got to… clean my room… See you at dinner!” And she rushed away, hands covering her face as the girl nearly flew.
Both watched her leave.
“Still a touchy subject for her, eh?” Ino shrugged, “She’ll come around.”
Hinata sighed, lifting the water bucket and pouring it into the heating kettle. “I wouldn’t exactly call us lovers… Once out of mutual lust isn’t love.”
“It could be.” Ino picked up the heavy sack of rice, “If you wanted it to be.”
“Tch. Keep your hopes up. The branches are too close together and all the poor guy wants is a family.”
“Aww…” Ino pouted. “Have you pointed him in Sango’s direction? We both know she’s too busy training to take any sort of initiative there.”
Hinata laughed as she lifted the heavy lid into place, “Are you serious?” She sighed, leaning into a chair as the rice began to cook, “She’d break him in half, literally! It would take a strong man just to keep her excited!”
Ino shrugged, “Sango isn’t totally lost… yet…”
Hinata shrugged, turning to face Ino squarely. A shadow of concern flashed over her eyes. “Hey Ino… You feeling alright? You look a little tapped out?”
The blonde shrugged, “Yeah… Just the spring flu.”
Hinata closed her eyes, leaning close to Ino, “Your chakra is strong… good flow to the neck, arms, little much in the chest… Vitals are looking strong… Sweet Merciful Gods!” The glowing white eyes snapped open, “Spring flu my eye! You’ve got a bun in the oven!!”
Ino shook her head, “Hanabi’s biscuits.”
“Huh?” Hinata blinked blankly.
“I didn’t do breakfast this morning.” Ino pointed to the cold oven. “Those were Hanabi’s biscuits of any are still left.”
The eyes blinked twice more. “No, you dolt! Wrong oven!”
Ino took her turn to blinking stupidly with a blank gaze. “What’re you going off about?”
Hinata stood, “First you’re gonna change your name,”
“My name? Why?” The blonde glared.
Hinata continued, holding an invisible belly, “Then you’re gonna get fat…”
“Fat…?” Ino sputtered.
And Hinata carried on, unhindered, “Because you, my friend, are knocked up!”
“Knocked… I’M WHAT!?!?!”
“What’s all the yelling about?” Sasuke leaned through the door, “When’s dinner?”
Hinata wore a smirk wide and mischievous. “Hey busy boy! Ino’s got some news for you!” She turned away, busying herself with the tasks of cooking.
“News…?” The Uchiha stepped into the kitchen. “What news?”
“I… eehhh…” Ino looked back up from her bleeding fingernail. “Sasuke-kun… I’m… starting the herb garden tomorrow. Anything special you wanted?”
He blinked. “Hn… I hadn’t given it any though. Not since last week anyway… Um…” he scratched his jaw, “Sorry, Ino-kun, let me think about it a little longer, eh?”
Hinata chuckled from where she was slicing carrots.
“Oh… certainly…” Ino faded a few shades, though it was towards normal… “Wait, Suke-kun…”
Dark eyes turned back, his hand on the door.
“Hn?”
“When are we going to have our wedding?” Ino pursed her lips after the words had rushed out.
“Hn…” Sasuke laid his back to the doorjamb, crossing his arms, “Spring? Spring is supposed to be a good time for weddings, right?”
“That’s nice,” Hinata called evenly, “Spring’s just around the corner, you know.”
Sasuke nodded, “Yeah… We could wait for summer.”
“NO!” Ino shot up from her seat. She smiled, forcing calm over her heart as it quivered, “Spring is perfect!”
She laced her fingers, clenching her hands, “Let’s do it under the new moon.”
Hinata shook her head as she walked out of the kitchen into the garden.
“That works… If five weeks enough time for you to get everything ready?” Sasuke came toward Ino, taking her into his arms.
Ino embraced him back, “I’m a kunoichi. Three days is enough time!”
“Three days…? Isn’t that a little sudden?”
Ino pulled back, “Sudden?” She pushed him into the chair she’s occupied, “Suke-kun, we’ve been going steady since we were fourteen. She flashed her bedroom eyes and straddled his lap, “Personally, I think it’s a little over due.”
She smiled as he moaned under his breath, “Ok, ok, I’m convinced…” One hand pinched her bottom, his face grinning as she yelped and hopped, “Just tell me this is about more than reviving the clan.”
Ino chewed her lip, “Well I love you… don’t you love me?”
Sasuke sobered, “You can’t use that line. That’s the line you used on me last week.” He smiled again, “And of course I love you, No-no-kun. With both my hearts.”
Ino laughed, “I’m not just out to revive the clan, Suke-kun. That’s your duty.” She kissed him deeply, “I told you that last week so you’d tie me up for a change.”

{{A/N; It is kinda short... But the next chapter may wind up being seriously rewritten... Trouble lining up the end...
Enjoy! CD}}