Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of Hyuuga Kaede ❯ Wind At The Window ( Chapter 3 )

Maia's POV

(Country of Fire, 2009)

 

“Have you seen Kaede-sama?” Neji, my older brother asked, popping into my room. “No, Neji-niichan. Why?” I asked, confused. “Hiashi-sama is looking for her. She said she'd be back by five o'clock, but it's already seven.” He sighed, quickly exiting.

 

Kaede is really uncontrollable. She's rebellious, quite a handful. Hiashi-sama tends to worry about her a whole lot. Actually, she and I are not so different. Well, our personalities are far from being alike, but our lives…

 

Kasumi was not Katsumomo's daughter. She was the daughter of Hiashi's girlfriend before Katsumomo, Yukiyama. Hiashi did not know that Yukiyama was with child when he left her for Katsumomo. They got married, and Yukiyama gave her child, Kasumi, to Hiashi, as she cannot take care of Kasumi on her own. That was kept a secret form Konoha. Only the Hyuugas knew.

 

Katsumomo eventually had children of her own, Kaede and Hinata. My father Hizashi, Hiashi's twin brother, had married and had two children. They are my half-brothers Takeru and Neji. Takeru is now twenty-three-years-old, Neji is twenty, and I am sixteen. His first wife had died but he remarried, this time it was my mother, Mameha. I was their only child, as my mother died giving birth to me.

 

But aside from the similiarities of our family's histories, there was one more thing. The two of us are the only Hyuugas who did not have white eyes. Hers were a strange honey color, and mine were chocolate brown. I also had the bloodline limit though, so it's confirmed that I am indeed a Hyuuga.

 

I'm aware of the things that nosy villagers say about Kaede, and Kaede herself is aware as well. There's a story behind Kaede's bad reputation. Kasumi was so straight arrow that people lost interest in her. They instead watched the every move of Kaede, the more rebellious Hyuuga daughter. Kasumi and Kaede are like a placid pond and a raging river - or perhaps dying embers and a towering inferno. Kaede was more beautiful, a more skilled ninja, and a more fiery, independent, and stronger individual - and of course, she was overall much more controversial.

 

If Kasumi never stuck a toe out of line, then Kaede tended to stick a whole foot beyond it. The more outrageous the thing she did was, the better for the villagers - as they viewed everything she did as a chance to criticize her. When Kaede was named successor, it was too much for everyone to take. They were jealous enough of her in the first place! The thing with Kaede was that she never gave a fuck about what everyone else thought of her. I wished I had her kind of courage, chin up through anything. Kaede never lets anything bring her down.

 

I got up from my bed, wore my slippers and passed the mirror on the way to the door. I looked at my reflection. I had shoulder-length super straight brown hair, fair skin, and large doe eyes. I stand five feet and eight inches, taller than Kaede by an inch. I knew I was pretty enough, but I never saw anything extraordinary about my appearance. Kaede, on the other hand, was more than just extraordinarily pretty. Sometimes, I see her beauty and wonder if she's human. I must admit I envy her at times, for her skill and her beauty. I'll never be as beautiful as her, and I don't think I'll ever be as strong a ninja.

 

I went out of my room and walked into to the vast garden. The nighttime garden lights were lit. I smiled and lay down on the grass. I always loved venturing here at night. I feel like I'm in a movie.

 

The Hyuuga Manor is really magnificent. The mansion was the largest and most outstanding, but all of the houses were elegant and beautiful. I see the Hyuuga Manor as a mini village. See, all the families within this family have their own house. Hiashi's family and the Hyuuga elders lived in the mansion at the center of everything here in the Hyuugas' land. The head family's houses were on the right of the mansion, and the branch family's houses were on the left.

 

I heard the gate clanking open but I took it as nothing. There are guards who are in charge of the entrance. Still lying on the grass, I heard the sound of two people approaching. I opened my eyes and - ne?! Kaede and Sasuke were both watching me, Kaede looking amused and Sasuke looking uninterested as usual.

 

Face burning with shame, I quickly got up and bent into a low bow, my nose almost touching the grass. “Gomenasai, Kaede-sensei, Uchiha-sama.” I said. “Maia, please get up. You have not done anything wrong, and you need not bow so low to me.” Kaede's voice said. I straightened up. She was frowning, but then she smiled and said “There! That's much better. See you at our meeting place tomorrow!” “Hai, Kaede-sensei! Goodbye, Uchiha-sama.” Kaede waved goodbye, and Sasuke gave me a polite smile. I bowed to them again, not as low this time.

 

Kaede is team four's team leader. Team four is comprised of Shikamaru, Naruto, and me. She helped Hinata out during the chuunin exams, so it was Anko-sensei who trained me. I summon snakes. Tomorrow, we have a class-A mission.

 

I gazed at the full moon for a while and then retreated back into my home.

 

**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**

 

Kaede's POV

(Country of Fire, 2009)

 

“Where have you been?” my father asked as I entered the mansion. He wasn't looking too happy. “Well, father I -” I stepped aside so as not to block Sasuke's way. “Sasuke!” my father exclaimed, face brightening at the sight of his favorite boy. Sasuke is like a son to my father, and he's always been very proud of Sasuke.

 

“Hiashi-sama, I hope you don't mind. I bumped into Kaede and kept her with me for a while.” Sasuke said, pasting on his best smile, covering up for me as always. “Sure, Sasuke. As long as it's you.” My father said with a laugh, and as soon as it started the case was closed. Um, actually, it was his brother that kept me, not him… But anyway, thank God for Sasuke.

 

“Sir, I'll bring Kaede up to her room?” “Go ahead, son.” My father said, waving us away. “Thanks.” I told Sasuke once we were out of earshot, lacing an arm around his waist. “Anytime.” Sasuke replied somehow begrudgingly, depositing my things on my room's carpet and briefly kissed my lips.

 

“See you when we're both free.” “Yeah, see you soon.” I replied, hugging him goodbye. I watched my best friend exit my room and close the door behind him.

 

I put my things away. Someone was knocking on my door. “Come in!” “Kaede-sama, dinner is ready.” A servant said with a low bow as she entered my room. “I'll be right down.” I answered. I stuck the rest of Itachi's chocolates in my mini fridge and bounded down the stairs to eat dinner with my family.

 

After supper, I took a long bath, dried my body and my hair, and stepped into my walk-in closet. I sighed and slipped into a flimsy nightgown. I guess I'd better be ready to sleep if I want to be on time for the mission tomorrow. I can't be late like Kakashi all the time. I smiled at the thought of Kakashi, and then Itachi crossed my mind and I immediately felt confused. I like Kakashi an awful lot, but I know I'm already in the danger of falling in love with Itachi…

 

I lay down on my bed, and after a few minutes of trying to get to sleep, I heard a wind at my window. Something leaped in my stomach, and my heart started beating faster. I don't know why, but something was telling me that that was no regular wind at my window…

 

I got up, knowing that my mind would not rest until I checked for myself what it really was. I jerked the window open, and I saw a shadow float into my room. I zipped next to my bedside table and felt the comforting cold steel of my kunai; ready to strike if the shadow turns out to be something that's not too nice. Then, a form materialized… It was Itachi.

 

**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**

 

Kakashi's POV

(Country of Fire, 2009)

 

I walked to the Uchiha complex, nose stuck in my favorite book. I whistled an indistinct tune as I entered Sasuke's home. He was eating dinner. “Kakashi-sensei. Have you eaten?” “Yup. But thanks, kiddo.” I said, smiling fondly at him and ruffling his black hair. He scowled at me. “Sensei, I'm twenty-one. Not like you're much older, either.” He said dryly.

 

I chuckled at Sasuke. He was always moody, more so as a teenager. “Is Kaede here?” I asked him. “Ohh… So that's why you're here.” Sasuke grumbled. “No, she's not here. She's home.” He added. He was watching me warily. “Sensei, is there anything going on between the two of you?” Sasuke asked me, after a brief silence. “I don't know.” I answered honestly. “Why, would you be bothered if there was?” I asked him. “No.” he said, not as honestly I gather.

 

I know it bothers him, even just a little. After all, Kaede is his best friend, and not to mention his ex-girlfriend. Sometimes, I wonder if Sasuke's still got feelings for Kaede. He was never exactly open about what he felt. But then again, I never was either.

 

I haven't told Kaede what I feel for her yet, and no matter how many times I pictured it in my head, I never really found the right words to tell her.

 

About a week ago, Kaede got drunk in Genma's party…

 

**FLASHBACK**

“Oi, Hatake! Bottoms up!” Genma said, handing me another beer. I was already feeling a slight buzz in my head. I laughed. “Shiranui, you wouldn't want me drunk.” “Oh yes I do, Hatake!” he crowed. Genma climbed on the bar. I grinned inwardly. That Genma. He's already drunk.

 

“Everyone! Listen up!” he yelled, still atop the bar. Everyone looked at Genma. “It's my birthday, and I want everybody wasted! Drink up!” he said. His announcement was met with noisy cheers. I drained the mug of beer just so that Genma would leave me alone.

 

I looked to my left where Kaede was seated. Sasuke wasn't able to attend since he had a mission, and he had asked me to look after Kaede. I needn't be told twice. Kaede had already drunk an alarming amount of alcohol, and she was unusually silent. Suddenly, she stood up and walked towards the garden. I got up and followed her.

 

“Kaede, what's -” I started to ask her what was wrong, when she suddenly retched on the grass. Vomiting violently, she shooed me with her hand. I backed off a bit but still stayed by her side.

 

“Sink.” She managed to gasp out. I took her to the ladies' room where she finished her business. “Ugh, I'm a mess. Sorry.” She apologized weakly. “True. But it's okay.” I told her, smiling.

 

When we got back inside, Kaede downed another shot of whiskey and accepted a cigarette from Asuma. I had to drag her out or she might do something stupid. “Where are you taking me?” she asked as we walked along the street. “Home.”

 

“You're taking me home?” she asked playfully, with a mischievous tilt of her head. “Yes. My house is nearer.” “Is that the only reason?” “Yes.” “Too bad.” She said, giggling. I couldn't agree more, but she didn't need to know that.

 

I guided her into my home, and she went straight to the bathroom to clean up. I knocked on the bathroom door. “Kaede! I've got an extra toothbrush in there somewhere. It's new.” I told her through the door. “Found it!” she answered. I lent her my clothes, which were much too big for her. After she took a bath and everything, I did the same.

 

When I got out of my bathroom, I saw her on my bed. Her eyes were closed, her raven hair fanned out on the pillow like a black crown. I was struck with the realization that Kaede was finally on my bed, although not quite the way I imagined. I sat beside her to check if she was sleeping. She's going to get a bad hangover tomorrow morning. I slipped my mask off and kissed her forehead, unable to control myself. She cracked her eyes open and laced her arms around my neck, pulling me down on top of her.

 

“Kiss me.” Kaede ordered, lifting her face towards mine. God, when she says it like that… I did as she asked, kissing her slowly on her soft lips, enjoying the sweet taste of her. She murmured my name in between kisses and held me tighter. She deepened the kiss, and I slipped my tongue into her mouth. She helped me out of my shirt and tossed it to the floor. She was running her hands on my bare skin.

 

Okay. This is getting way out of hand. I disentangled myself from her, however regretfully. “Where are you going?” she asked, refusing to let me go. I groaned inwardly. She's not making this easy for me. “I'm sleeping on the sofa.” I replied, gently pushing her hands away and standing up. She didn't reply.

 

I peered at Kaede. She was fast asleep. I sighed. She must be plenty tired. I retrieved my shirt, put it back on and lay down on the sofa.

**END OF FLASHBACK**

 

I wanted Kaede that night like I never wanted any other woman before. I just didn't want her to do anything she might regret the morning after. After all, she was drunk. It's a good thing that I had enough sense to sleep on the sofa that night, because if I didn't something might have happened. No, scratch that - if I didn't sleep on the sofa that night, something definitely would've happened between us.

 

Pathetically enough, I still didn't pluck up enough courage the next day to tell her how I felt. Not even when she thanked me and kissed me goodbye. Ever since that incident, we never even talked about what happened. So now, I don't know where we stand all over again. Or if there even is an “us”.

 

“What is it?” Sasuke asked me suspiciously, narrowing his blue gray eyes. “Nothing. I guess I just spaced out a little.” I replied. “Well, I'm leaving now. Ja.” “Ja.” Sasuke muttered, as I reached for the door. I exited with a heavy sigh, cracked my book open, and headed back home.

 

**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**

 

Kaede's POV

(Country of Fire, 2009)

 

“Itachi!” I said, exhaling noisily in my relief. “You scared me.” “Why, who were you expecting? The tooth fairy?” he kidded, wearing his arrogant smirk. “I certainly wasn't expecting you.” “Well, here I am. I told you we'd see each other soon.” “I didn't expect it to be this soon.” I admitted. He took in my appearance, his eyes looking at me from head to toe. I suddenly realized that I was wearing practically nothing, in this sheer nightgown and no bra. I didn't want to let him know of my discomfort though, so I didn't do anything about it. “I had to see you.” He said.

 

I shut the window. “I have something of yours.” I told him, dragging him to the mini fridge. I took the puny box out and handed it to him “Oh. Thank you.” He said, putting the box into his cloak. I caught a glimpse of something red and grabbed his hand. Blood?!

 

“You didn't fix your wound up, did you?!” I hissed at him accusingly, yanking his sleeve up. Blood ran down form his wound to his hand. I took some tissues and cleaned him up. Itachi silently watched me handle his wound with an entertained gleam in his eye. I took some bandages from my cabinet and looked at Itachi sternly. “Lie down.” I said, pointing at my bed. “What?” “Are you deaf, Itachi? Lie. Down.”

 

“Nu-uh. I don't need that stuff. No fucking way.” Itachi said, shaking his head. “You leave me no choice.” I said, placing a palm on his chest and shoving him onto my bed. He was forced into a half-lying position. I sat next to him on the bed's edge and unrolled the bandage.

 

I leaned over him and pulled his sleeve up to place the bandage on his wound. I tried to place the bandage on him but his cloak's sleeve kept slipping down. I took a deep breath and looked at him squarely on his face. “You know what? This won't work. Take your cloak off so I could work properly.”

 

He looked at me as if I just suggested that he go and jump into a pool of manure. “Itachi. Take your goddamned cloak off, or I'll rip it off for you!” I snarled. He smirked. “You just wanna see me naked.” He drawled as he opened his cloak and shrugged it off. “Bastard.” I said. He laughed.

 

Luckily, he wasn't naked as he suggested. He was wearing a shirt with some kind of mesh on it, and plain black pants. I watched him pull his shirt off, muscles in his arms rippling. I couldn't help but stare at his superb body, toned chest, washboard abs and other details that tended to make my mouth go dry. I prayed that he could not hear the quickening of my heartbeat as I leaned over him again.

 

“Are you seducing me or something?” he said, eyes traveling down my body. No way, he's flirting with me again?! Well, this man seriously doesn't know what he's dealing with. He's supposed to be the mean, terrifying, renegade slash prodigy. I'm supposed to be the sexy, flirtatious, rebellious Hyuuga successor gone wild. I am the flirting queen.

 

“Well, what would you do if I am?” I asked him, peering at him through my eyelashes coyly, tracing his collarbone lightly with my finger. He gazed at me through those Sharingan eyes with his lips curved into a sly, sexy smile. “I would ask you to get with it and drop the opening lines along with your clothes.” He said seriously, not even blinking.

 

I threw my head back and laughed. “In your dreams, Itachi.” I said, smirking down at him. “Well then, let's pretend I'm dreaming, shall we?” he said, arching a brow. Well, well, well… He is good. But I'm afraid I'm still better. “I don't think so. Coz let me just share with you that the truth is -” I leaned down lower, letting my hair trail down his bare torso.

 

“I'm all bark -” I placed a palm on his chest, tracing my hand down to his navel and slowed down right before his crotch. I let it hover over there for a while to torture him, the grabbed the waistband of his pants instead, pulling him up slightly. “No bite.” I finished, my lips millimeters from his. But I didn't even kiss him. Instead, I stretched the bandage and finally placed it over his wound.

 

Once again professional, I neatly secured the bandage and threw him my most infuriating look. “You can put these back on now.” I said as I stood up, tossing him his shirt and his cloak. Itachi stood up as well. “You're gonna pay for that.” He said with a smirk, pulling his clothes back on.

 

“Yeah? Like how?” I asked him with a grin, although I had a good idea on what he meant. Itachi stepped closer to me, and I accidentally backed away into a footstool. It toppled over. Oops.

 

**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**

 

Itachi's POV

(Country of Fire, 2009)

 

I heard a sound and immediately faded into shadow. If someone was coming, it's no use getting both Kaede and myself in a sticky situation by being visible. I stood in the corner of the room and watched the door apprehensively. “Itachi?” Kaede whispered, looking confused. Then she looked angry. “Itachi! Stop fooling around, I know you're there!” she growled, searching the room for me. “Shut up, Kaede. I heard a sound. Someone's coming.” “What?! Oh - that was just me. I knocked the footstool over, see?” She giggled, fixing the footstool. I exhaled noisily.

 

I floated over to her and materialized. “You can turn into shadow, too?!” “Yup. Wind, air, or shadow. Take your pick” I replied, demonstrating by taking her hand and fading into shadow again. What the - her hand turned into shadow as well?!

 

I materialized and stared at her stunned face, with the knowledge that it mirrored the shock in mine. “Y-you can change other people too?” “I didn't know. I've certainly never tried to.” I said, struck with a sudden idea. I let a devilish smile spread across my face. I walked with Kaede over to the window, and then I pulled it open.

 

I pulled Kaede into my arms, giving her no time to protest. “Hold on tight.” I told her, turning us both into shadow. We spilled out the window. I wanted to let her feel how exhilarating it was, to fly unseen, to soar unimpeded. We flew above the village of Konoha as one, and for the first time for the both of us - no one was looking.

 

I can't say how long we soared and merged into the night sky together, but I remember returning to her home and landing on the Hyuuga mansion's rooftop.

 

“That was amazing!” she breathed, her raven hair wind-blown and her cheeks flushed. She looked amazing in the pale moonlight, outshining the full moon's ethereal beauty. In my stupor I almost slipped off the roof's edge. Kaede bent over and caught me in time with strong, slender arms. An extremely foul Japanese swear word escaped my lips when I looked down and caught sight of a curve of pale breast.

 

“You ought to be careful. Even Uchiha Itachi would feel pain if he fell from this height.” Kaede said teasingly, poking my side. I gathered her into my arms once more and transported us into her bedroom.

 

Once inside the room, Kaede planted a kiss on my lips. Losing all remaining resolve, I lifted her up and carried her to her bed.

 

**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**

 

Kaede's POV

(Country of Fire, 2009)

 

I laughed as we both fell onto my bed, and there I rained kisses all over Itachi's face. He kissed my lips, wrapping his arms around me. He rolled me over so that he was on top of me, and then slipped a hand into my nightgown to cup a hand around one of my breasts and that's when the alarms in my head went off.

 

“Itachi - stop.” I gasped out, trying to hold him off. “Mmm? Stop? Are you sure?” he murmured, kissing his way up from my neck to my jaw. I gasped again, unable to help it. “See? Not so sure, I think. Not so sure…” he said into my skin. “Stop, Itachi. This - this is not right.” I managed to say. He suddenly pulled away. “Not right? You allow me to get this far, Kaede. How do you explain this electricity when we touch, this inexorable pull?” he said, evidently angered. “I won't deny the physical - ” “Is that all this is to you?!” he interrupted me incredulously, looking at me as if I had just sprouted feelers.

 

I stood up, beginning to get irritated as well. I didn't want to say it out loud - I didn't think I needed to. I was guilty. Guilty of this, guilty of everything I've been doing in the past few hours. Sasuke has been my closest friend all my life. How could I repay him for everything we've shared by falling in love with the man he hated?

 

As if he read my mind, Itachi stood up and cupped my face in his hands. “It's more than just physical, and it's more than anything I've ever felt before. I love you, Kaede.” “Lies. Don't say things that you don't mean, Itachi. You barely even know me.” I whispered, my heart willing it to be true, and my mind telling me that this could never be. “If you measure the time we've spent together, that could be true. But I feel as if I've known you all my life. You know what I mean, do not deny it. And do not tell me what I should or should not say. I am not lying. I'm simply telling you the truth.” “No, I - ” “Say it. Come on, look at me and tell me that you don't love me.” “I don't -” I started to say, but I couldn't handle the fact that I knew I would only be lying to myself as well.

 

“Do you see now? There's no turning back. It can't be helped. You love me, as I love you.” He said softly. Tears spilled down my cheeks. I knew I had to make a choice. I wish I could escape from this kind of things, to be weak and to run away. But that's not like me. I needed to face my demons. “It's true. I love you too, Itachi. But I care about Sasuke as well. He's my best friend, and I love him. I can't stand having to keep this from him.” “Then tell him.” “That's impossible, and you know it.” I snapped, wrenching myself out of his grip. He was grinning at me.

 

“What's so funny?!” “You.” “Why?!” “Because you just told me that you loved me too, and you're attacking me already.” He said, gently pulling me to him again. I couldn't help but smile a little. He's right. “You'd better get going. I have a mission tomorrow.” I told him, tiptoeing slightly to kiss his cheek. “Goodbye, Kaede. For now.” “Goodbye. I'm getting sleepy.” I said, yawning into his neck for emphasis of my point. He laughed and pressed me closer to him.

 

Itachi dipped his face towards mine, and everything seemed to go on slow motion. His lips touched mine, parting my lips with his tongue. Then everything faded, my room, the sky, the moon, and the stars.

 

Nothing existed except Itachi and me in this moment.

 

**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**

 

A/N:

Finished! The next chapter will be all about Sasuke. ^_~

In the next chapter, please take note of the dates and the characters' ages. :)