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Odd things have started happening at the Hyuga estate… or rather, odd correspondents have started to appear, which has left the staff as well as the family confused, bereft and at times concerned.
The first found was a note, left on a tea tray which the staff had taken down to the kitchens, only to have been brought back up once it had been opened and read.
The second was another note, this one tucked underneath a flower vase in the foyer. This note, they realised, might actually have been the first, but was simply found after the one for having been hidden better.
The third had been tucked into the pocket of Hanabi’s coat at a ball and found in the carriage on the way home. This note seemed to have been misplaced, intended for another, but very similar coat.
They were all addressed to Hinata.
She had laid them out on the dressing table, peering over them over and over again, trying to figure out who they might be from, and what the person wanted to tell her. While they were clearly addressed to her, they had no sender nor a handstyle she recognized.
The one tucked under the vase read: Miss Hinata Hyuga, your eyes are like the moon in the dark night, strange but pretty
The one found on the tea tray read: Dear Hinata Hyuga, the cakes were as sweet as your smile, even though I do not care for cake that much
The last one found in Hanabi’s coat read: Dear Hinata. It was an honor to dance with you on this evening, too short and distracting
Hinata sighed, feeling her brows knit tightly together in concentration and confusion. Who could have written these messages? They often started as if complementing her, but then moved into something slightly odd. She looked over at the list of men who had attended both the ball and the call to the estate where the tea had been served, and was left with fifteen. The Hyuga estate was a large one, and with two daughters out in society. The visits were plenty. Hinata was aware that most were there for her sister, whose beauty and strength was renowned. Hanabi was witty as well, and knew how to entertain a crowd.
They rarely needed to go lonely, regardless of they were in town or at the estate.
All in all, it was far too many for her to make any sense of it. None have made any advances towards her previous either. Hanson would disagree, but Hinata knew her sister was merely trying to be kind.
Hinata’s gaze moved over the list once again, feeling herself shiver from displeasure at the thought of some of them sending these to her. Others felt completely out of the question, since she knew that their visits were merely socially expected because of the connection between their families and the Hyugas.
Then of course, there was someone she might have hoped would notice her, even though the prospect felt outrages to even think. It was preposterous, and a silly fantasy.
“Sis!” came Hanabi’s voice through the door, which was then flung open. She had a stack of books in her arms, which was an unusual sight. While Hanabi was clever, she did not enjoy reading. Rather, she was quick to pick up facts from others, or to listen when others read out loud while she could keep her hands occupied with other things. Hinata had spent many a night reading to her, ever since they were both young.
“Hanabi,” Hinata sighed, as Hanabi walked up to her dressing table. “One should knock and be allowed entry before coming into someone's bedroom.” Hanabi put the books down next to the notes and the list, looking over them.
“Ah, no matter, you have no secrets from me,” Hanabi said, waiving her off. “Have you made any progress on this mystery?”
“No, there is too little information,” Hinata sighed, looking away from the list and to the books.
“I hope it is not Otsutsuki,” Hanabi sighed with a shiver, scrunching up her nose. “He is deeply unsettling to me. I do think it could be him however. He is always staring at you.”
Hinata felt the same, but felt it would be rude to say. “Are you picking up reading?” she asked instead, hoping to move the subject away from this odd correspondence which was occupying her mind, along with her father’s and her cousin’s, who were both less than pleased. It was the first thing the two of them had fully agreed on in years.
“Huh?” Hanabi asked, looking up from the list, her finger having trailed over the names. “Oh!” Her face split into a wide grin. “They’re for you. They arrived this morning. Your maid was going to deliver them to you, but I met her on the way and offered to do it instead.”
“For me?” Hinata asked, frowning. She enjoyed reading, but she had not ordered any books.
“Mn, there is a note attached,” Hanabi said, pulling a piece of paper from the ribbon. Hinata grabbed it, her heart racing. Her name was written on it in the same handwriting as the notes. She unfolded it, very aware of her sister’s gaze on her as she read.
Lines which made me think of you
Hinata frowned. She looked at the books, and then at the note again. “What does it say?” Hanabi asked, and Hinata handed it over to her, reaching out for the book at the top. It was books she had read and enjoyed previously.
She picked up the top one, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge and flipped through the pages until she noticed one was folded in the bottom corner. She flipped it open, and found the passage “Strange power of speech, That make the body and soul to be still!” underlined with a thick line.
She had no idea what it could mean. She left the book open on the dressing table next to the notes, and moved to the next. It was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, which too had a marked page by a folded corner, and a sentence underlined reading “I could not unlove him now, merely because I found that he had ceased to notice me.” Hinata did the same with this one, and moved on to the third and last. It was The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe. It had two different pages marked. The first read “I have so much in me, and the feeling for her absorbs it all” and the second “I shall never, never forget her.”
“I understand nothing,” Hinata said, placing the final book among the rest of the correspondence. She looked up at her sister who was grinning widely, enjoying this far too much.
“Neither do I!” Hanabi cheered, just as there was a knock at the door. They both looked up and found their cousin standing there, wearing a deep frown on his face. “Neji! Come and see. Hinata has received more of these odd messages. Now in the form of books!”
“I was told, the servants cannot seem to stop gossiping about the whole ordeal,” Neji said, stepping into the room and up the dressing table. He looked over the notes and the books, leaning close to read the passages. “Deeply concerning and inappropriate.” He looked up and met Hinata’s gaze. “Have you spoken to your father about these?” he motioned to the books.
“No, I just received at them myself,” Hinata explained. “I do not wish to trouble father with it.”
“You know, for the ball tonight, we should ensure you dance with everyone on your list so you can question them,” Hanabi insisted. Both Hinata and Neji turned to her in shock, followed by protest by them both:
“I do not think-”
“Absolutely not!”
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Hinata was frowning as she tried to decide if she thought the man before her had asked her about books because he had sent her books, or was merely making conversation. She felt as though she entered every conversation with a slight bit of scepticism, which made the ball more intriguing, but perhaps not very enjoyable. Neji had his hands full trying to secure adequate dance partners to fill Hanabi and Hinata’s dance cards, while trying to stop Hanabi from making a spectacle of herself as she too tried to figure out who was behind the odd messages.
It was pure luck for everyone that Hisashi was in town for business.
“Hinata,” a familiar warm voice said next to her, and she jumped, startled. The man before her frowned, clearly not pleased with the intrusion on their conversation.
“Naruto,” she greeted, turning to smile at him. He grinned back, reaching out for her dance card.
“I see Neji has ensured you are not bored this evening,” Naruto said, looking up to meet her gaze. “Do you have a spot for me as well?”
“I am sure it could be arranged,” she assured, more on hope than sure of spaces. “What about you, you are always popular. Do you have a spot free?”
“I have not put myself on a single dance card this evening,” he admitted, and Hinata’s eyes grew wider in surprise. This was unusual and unexpected. “It has taken much manoeuvring, but I am at your disposal.” He bowed, and Hinata felt her heart jump in her chest.
“Oh,” she answered, a little unsteady. “I- why not dance the next one then?” She was too helpless when it came to him. She would even disregard social etiquette for a mere dance.
“It will be my pleasure,” Naruto said, and then kept to her side until it was time. He took her by the hand and escorted her to the dancefloor, with her heart pounding in her chest.
They fell quiet during the dance, but there was something in his gaze which seemed to have changed. She was not sure when it had happened, but each time he looked at her, he seemed to grow slightly flustered.
The dance ended, and Hinata placed a hand on his arm.
“Accompany me to the balcony?” she requested. “I am in need of some air.”
“Certainly,” Naruto agreed, and then offered her his arm. Hinata tried her best not to look at anyone. She knew there was a queue for her dance card, which she was once again disregarding. Her heart felt like it would beat out of her chest any minute now. She did not dare to hope, still she could not stop herself from doing so.
They stepped out into the cool air, and Hinata took a deep breath of it. “Thank you for the dance,” she said, looking up at Naruto’s profile. “I always enjoy dancing with you.”
“I feel the same,” Naruto agreed, meeting her gaze with a wide grin. “I would like to- that is- I like dancing with you the best.”
“I feel the same,” Hinata echoed, if a little quieter. Naruto looked at her, and then turned towards her a little.
“I would prefer to dance only with you, from now on,” he said, and Hinata’s heart caught. “How would you feel about such an arrangement?”
“I would be most honoured," she said, feeling like she had just been proposed to. Naruto’s grin widened.
“Really?” he asked, sounding as if he was in disbelief. “Well then, I suppose a conversation with your father is due.”
“Naruto,” she breathed, cheeks aflame. Suddenly she cursed that her father was away. She wanted the conversation to take place right this moment. He laughed, and then bent down to press his lips to her brow. Butterflies erupted in her stomach.
“Did you like the books?” he asked, and her lips spread into a smile.
“Yes,” she admitted. “You shall have to read them to me, once we are-” she paused, and swallowed. Naruto’s lips stretched into a perfect smile.
“Yes,” he agreed, leaning down once again, this tip to press a quick, shocking kiss to her lips. “Once we are.”