Shadow Shinobi

Three days later the lights from Hyuga compound cast a warm celebratory
glow over the horizon as Raven stands atop Hokage Mountain watching the
normal silence of the night broken by the party below. Hinata’s father
had agreed to host the party for his eldest daughter and her friends to
celebrate their promotions to the Rank of Chunnin.

Both Sapphire and Jade had forced Raven to give his word that he would
attend the party though he had never specified as to when he would arrive
or for how long he would remain. Sighing in defeat Raven readies himself
to keep his word though he wishes now that he had never made the promises.

Raven’s arrival goes largely unnoticed as he makes his way across the room
to an empty corner in the back. From his vantage point he is able to observe
the festivities including Sapphire’s continual “flirtation” with a steadily
reddening Ino.

Jade, he notices, is caught up in a conversation with Ten-ten and Neji about
what he cannot tell. Kiba and Choji appear to be having some sort of eating
contest while a rather annoyed looking Shikamaru, a yapping Akamaru and a
bored Shino watch on. To his surprise Sakura and Lee dance beside Asuma and
Kurenai while Kakashi looks as if he would rather be anywhere but trapped
listening to Gai’s rambling story.

Leaning against the wall Raven tilts his head back before an approaching
presence causes him to look towards the lowered almost pink face of Hinata
as she walks over towards him. He finds her nervousness almost cute as his
mask hides his faint smile. “I wish to thank you for inviting my squad,
Hinata-sama.”

“Y-you-you are welcome, R-raven-san,” The shy kunoichi stutters. She fidgets
slightly under his hidden gaze unable to meet his covered eyes as her index
fingers repeatedly tap in front of her. “Con-congratulations on-on passing
the exam.” she almost whispers.

Raven looks down and away from her. “I don’t deserve to be a Chunin,” he tells
her almost as softly. “My actions were unbecoming of a shinobi. What I did to
you and Neji-san…”

“P-please Raven-kun,” She says as she suddenly reaches out for his arm only to
stop herself at the last moment. “P-please don’t-please don’t blame yourself.
You-you were only-only following your father’s orders.”

“Orders I should have refused the moment I heard them.” Raven looks at her as a
tear threatens to escape again. “I shouldn’t have come,” he tells her. “I’ll be
going now.”

As he turns to walk away Hinata doesn’t even think as her hand reaches out and
grabs his, stopping him the moment he feels her touch. “Don’t leave,” is all she
can manage before she realizes what she has just done. Quickly pulling her hand
away she brings the knuckle of the same hand to her bottom lip. “I-I mean-I-mean
please stay R-raven-kun.”

He gives her a small smile of thanks that his mask prevents her from seeing. “I
thank you for your consern Hinata-san,” he says. “But I’ll be alright,” he assures
her. “Besides, I’ve never been very comfortable around large groups anyways.”

“M-me neither,” she admits looking away as she blushes slightly further. “C-could I
could I go-go with you?” she asks turning a brilliant shade of red at her own boldness.

“Aye,” he answers as he wraps his arms around her. “This will be quicker,” he tells
her as her body suddenly becomes as ridged as a board, her breath caught in her throat
as her bright red blush now covers her entire body. With a few simple seals they both
fade into darkness leaving the party behind them.

=============================

As the stepped out of the shadows under a tree in the park near the compound Hinata drops
to her knees as a wave of nausea sweeps over her. Raven kneels beside her as his hand
gently rubs her back attempting to ease her discomfort. “I-I…” Hinata stutters as her body stiffens and blushes a vibrant shade of red at his action.

“I’m sorry,” Ravens whispers softly into her ear, ignoring her discomfort. “I forgot how
disorienting that can be when you’re not used to it.” He helps her up and almost carries
her to a nearby bench so she could sit while the nausea passes.

“It-it is okay Raven-kun,” she tells him while looking away from him. “I-I just never-never experienced anything like-like that before.”

“It’s an experience few outside my clan ever have,” he admits. “At least not since the last Great Shinobi War.” He looks down as he lowering his mask before removing his sunglasses and then his bandana-like forehead protector. Moving his head this way and that his neck gives off a series of soft popping noises causing Hinata to look back at him.

In the soft glow of the full moon her pale eyes widen in surprise as she notices that his face is no longer hidden. Her blush redoubles as she takes in the boyish almost pale face that had been hidden behind his mask. The sunglasses has concealed a pair of dark brown eyes that she found herself drawn into the longer she watched them. His hair was short and had the same dark color as his eyes. ‘Kami-sama he’s handsome.’

“Why-why do you why do cover your face Raven-kun?” she finally manages to ask after several moments of staring.

Raven sighs as he leans back and looks up at the moon. “Sapphire and Jade have asked me that countless times before.” He smiles as he closes his eyes as thinks back to the almost constant badgering by his kunoichi teammates. “They’re always trying to get me to stop wearing my mask.” he informs her.

“They-they have seen your face then?” Hinata asks before she realizes how silly it had sounded. “I-I’m sorry,” she quickly says. “Of course they have seen you with out your mask.”

“It’s okay,” Raven says looking at her again. “While I’ve never allowed my emotions to interfere with a mission I’ve never been very good at hiding my feeling.” he confesses. “When I became a Genin Fie-sensei gave me the mask as a way to cover them, I added the rest shortly after.”

The talk for most of the evening and near sunrise Raven walks her home. His face remains uncovered as they reach their destination. As they say their good-byes Raven causes Hinata to blush on last time as he leans down and gently kisses her cheek before stepping into the retreating darkness, fading out of sight.