Title: Torch Song
Disclaimer: Naruto and all affiliated characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi. This story is written without permission and for personal/fan/nonprofit entertainment purposes only.
Note: Minor changes made in chapter 2 for consistency with a very very small thing in this chapter.
Chapter 3. Break.
December 8, 1941.
Tenten walked through Konoha, thinking it was somehow different today than it had been yesterday. It seemed longer than mere hours since the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Everything seemed the same: the brightly painted false fronts on the wood-shingled buildings; the lush greenery waving in the tropical breeze; the faint, distant smell of the ocean; the single paved road that connected the railroad station to the immense fields of sugar cane beyond town which then linked the military training grounds far off in the distance.
Nothing had moved or changed or gone out of business – the gas station and garage, the small schoolhouse, post office\police station, bakery and grocery store were still there; and on the far end, Ichiraku ramen stand, Hyuuga's General Store. Just up the hill sat the Shinto shrine, staring across a wide paved courtyard at the Buddhist temple. Across the valley stood the small Catholic church, its bells quiet between morning services.
Still, it just felt different somehow to Tenten. Maybe it was the massive display of American flags that appeared, overnight in the shop windows. Maybe it was the strange quiet strain over the town, only broken when someone spoke, and then they did so too loudly.
Tenten peeked in through the large glass windows of Hyuuga's General Store, cupping her hands to block out the glare of the morning sun. She knew it was much too early for the store to be open even on a regular day – but it hadn't been open since Saturday, the day before Pearl Harbor. She saw Hinata kneeling on the floor, surrounded by piles of merchandise.
One hand still pressed to the window, Tenten rapped on the glass. Hinata started, jerking to face the window, her hand over her heart. Once Hinata realized it was Tenten, she visibly relaxed and got up to open the door, snapping off the radio on the counter as she passed by.
A chime tinkled as Hinata unlocked and opened the door. "Aloha and good morning, Tenten," she greeted, a touch of anxiety in her welcome. "We're not open yet, but come in. Would you like some tea?" She carefully re-locked the door after the other girl entered.
Tenten shook her head at the offer. "Morning, Hinata." She automatically reached for an apple candy from the dish at the small table set by the entrance. "What're you doing?"
Hinata gave a self-conscious smile. "Um, well, you could say we're thinning out the stock." She gestured to the heaps around her – and the large empty spaces on the shelves in front of her.
Looking closer, Tenten saw the piles were organized by type; paper fans, tabi, bolts of fabric printed with kanji, paper umbrellas, lucky cat statues, even some books and newspapers. "It's all your Japanese stuff– "
"We've been thinking – since Pearl Harbor…." the grey-eyed girl let her voice trail off, her fingertips pushed together. She looked down at her hands as she realized what she was doing and quickly shook the offending extremities. "It's time to get rid of it. Hardly anybody wears kimono or buys Japanese goods more."
Tenten's forehead wrinkled while she considered this. "Really – ? Your store was the place to buy that sort of stuff – for the autumn festival -"
"Not anymore. It's all going away," Hinata shook her head, clearly unwilling or unable to discuss the matter further. "Anyway, Otou-san – I mean – Father – he'd been thinking for some time that maybe we should carry some Hawaiian-made goods. Maybe we would expand some other section – like the knitting goods. Things like that."
"Ah." Tenten was sorry she brought up the subject, the difficulty of addressing the issue was clear in Hinata's stiff expression. Even though there was only a year's difference between the two of them, Tenten had never been particularly close to Hinata. She had spent most of her time in class with Neji, and the two of them ended up working for the sugar plantation. She tried a different topic. "How's your father?"
"He's in the back – I think the news set his recovery back." Hinata looked worried. "He was just starting to get around with a cane, and then Pearl Harbor – he's just – sitting around – listening to the radio." She tilted her head toward Tenten and said, very softly, as if afraid of being overheard, "I'm not sure how much better he's going to get."
"I'm sorry," Tenten said sincerely. "What're you going to do about school?"
"I don't know," Hinata replied. "I don't think there's going to be school for a while – for me or for the kids I used to teach. Not after Sunday." She looked helpless and saddened. "Even if I could go back – it's just not right – I don't think. With my father and the store and – and – everything."
The news of the past 24 hours hung heavily between the two of them.
"Is Neji around?" Tenten broke the nervous quiet.
Hinata looked surprised. "You didn't see him on the outside of the store? He's supposed to be painting over all the kanji."
Tenten shook her head.
The younger woman thought for a moment. "He might have gone up the hill to burn a load of trash. He'll probably be back for lunch if you want to come back then."
Tenten felt a sudden strange, unpleasant premonition. "Thanks, Hinata," she called backwards as she hurried from the store.
He could feel the intense heat and smell the sweet odor of the wood burning merrily in the pit in front of him.
Neji had cleared the area and dug the pit himself late yesterday afternoon, knowing that his uncle would need help disposing of all the Japanese-made goods in the store and their homes as expediently as possible. While Hinata was reasonably adept at minding the store, as she should be after nearly two decades within its walls, Neji had always felt that she wasn't capable of handling emergencies. That had always been his job. His privilege. His burden.
A large, thin book was held between his hands, as fondly, as tenderly, as some might hold a well-remembered, much-loved child's toy. The cover of the book was a much-patched and faded silk over a rigid interior, the spine bound with strips of thin brown cord.
He flipped the book open, revealing soft, thick paper, foxed and wavy from generations of handling, covered with a flamboyant yet elegant script. "The Art of Falconry." Below the title, in smaller script, was the name of the author, "Hyuuga Hayabusa." Neji turned the page, tracing the lettering with one hand, intensely drawing in the contents of the first page. "Winter is the season of the caged bird…." A beautifully rendered image of a hawk roosting on a bare branch illustrated the bottom of the page.
He shut the cover with a snap. His hand held the book tightly, bringing it up against his forehead, drawing in the faint, aged smell one last time. He lifted the book into the air. Then he shut his eyes, breathing heavily. He knew exactly where the fire was. He aimed, holding his breath.
Then something grasped his arm, pulling it down and backwards. His eyes popped open and he turned in a fury, his eyes flashing white heat at the brunette in front of him.
Tenten had wrenched the book from his grasp, her own expression accusatory. "What're you doing?"
"I'm burning all the trash," Neji's temper simmered angrily, even as his voice remained calm.
"This isn't trash – it's your book – your great-grandfather's book! The book he wrote!"
Neji paled, but extended his hand. "Give it back. I need to get rid of it."
"Why?"
"Haven't you heard?" Neji asked bitterly. "We're at war now – "
"Congress hasn't declared war."
"Not yet." Neji fixed hard grey eyes on Tenten. "But soon. No one's going to stand for a foreign attack on American soil. I can't even stand it – the country of my father has attacked my country. We're not safe here – we need to get rid of everything that could be seen as treasonous – destroy everything Japanese."
"No." Tenten stared Neji down. "This is a family heirloom – given to the first boy of every generation. You told me you learned how to read and write Japanese from this book."
Neji snorted, breaking visual contact. "Much good it'll do me, knowing 18th century Japanese bird poetry. Give it here," he made a little beckoning gesture.
"This was yours. But since you don't want it, it becomes mine." Tenten clutched the book to her chest.
"Don't be stupid," Neji scolded. "You can't possibly want to keep it."
"Yup, I do." As if to prove it, she renewed her grasp of the book.
"Stubborn." He didn't say it with any kind of respect. Neji blew out a breath, stirring the long hairs at the side of his face. "Just let me get rid of it."
"Nuh-uh." She grinned at him. The little imp was starting to enjoy this!
Neji nearly growled in frustration. "Tenten – this is ridiculous – "
"You call me ridiculous, stubborn, stupid – but you know what?" Tenten countered, fiercely, "Throwing this away is worse – it's a waste, a complete loss to you, your family – think about your children -"
She could make him flinch in ways no one else could. He had never told anybody, but she might have guessed his fear that he would never be able to be free to have children, burdened, as ever, by the heavy responsibilities of his large family.
Then, quicker than virtually anyone could have followed, he stepped forward to snatch the book back. Distantly, he heard the soft sound of fabric tearing. Even as he grabbed hold of one of her arms, Tenten had spun violently enough to shake loose the pins in her hair, surprising him with her speed, managing to deflect him enough to hold onto the book. "Neji!" she cried out, chestnut locks sliding down her face and neck.
He saw the gaping rip along the front cover and burst out, "You tore it!"
"What do you care? You were about to burn it!" she yelled back.
They stared at each other a moment, breathing hard, hearts pounding.
After a moment, he nodded, pulling back. He was genuinely astonished at his own behavior. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," Neji apologized, unable to explain how he had been goaded to this point. "It's dangerous for you – for anyone – to have that now. I need to get rid of it."
In response, Tenten stuck her tongue out at him.
"Tenten – it's for your own good – your family -"
She stuffed the book under her shirt, tucking the bottom edge into her waistband to secure it.
He refused to ask her again. Neji was unable to think of another way to tackle the problem of this girl, this situation. That had always been the way – regardless of the numerous people who had thought of him as a genius – he had never been able to understand what went on in Tenten's head. "Fine. It's yours now." He started walking away.
"Where are you going?"
He didn't answer.
"Neji?"
He kept walking.
"Neji Hyuuga! You're going to talk to me! Right this minute!"
He didn't even look backwards.
Tenten caught up with Neji just as he was opening the 'io cage. The hawk sat on its perch, blinking at the sudden appearance of humans. Neji stood off to the side after the cage was opened. The 'io continued to sit there, staring back, completely still.
After a moment, Neji stepped into the cage, holding out his bare arm. The 'io trustingly stepped out onto unprotected forearm, digging in sharp talons. Neji's expression didn't change at all when he walked out past the cage entryway and took several paces beyond. He then swung his arm upwards, trying to throw the bird into the air and away. The 'io opened its beak in a soundless scree as its large wings flung open, still clutching the arm under its feet, puncturing the vulnerable skin.
"Neji! Neji! What're you doing?"
Again, Neji swung his arm. Finally, the bird launched itself in the air. A sense of satisfaction started to bloom about Neji as he watched the hawk flap mightily to gain altitude.
Then, it swung back, circled the young man, and landed heavily on the roof of the cage.
Neji couldn't believe what had happened. He waved his arms up high. "Go! Be free! Damnit – just go!" The bird looked down at Neji. "Fine," he muttered, turning, nearly tripping over Tenten. He glared at her and snapped, "Now what do you want?"
Tenten involuntarily took a step back. "Neji – "
He threw his head back to look at the bird. The 'io seemed to settle, and stared back at the young man, oblivious to the consternation it was causing.
"Stupid bird." Neji swore at the bird, something particularly pungent. He wondered where he went wrong. Was the bird still too wounded? Was it still too young? Had he made it too comfortable? Did it become too used to being fed? He became aware of the intense stinging burn along his arm, and looked down to see a few small trickles of blood where the hawk's talons had dug in. Why didn't it want to leave the cage?
"What're you doing?" Tenten asked gingerly.
He swung back to Tenten, having momentarily forgotten about her. "What does it look like I'm doing?"
Tenten tried to suppress it, covering her mouth with a hand – but a nervous hiccupping giggle still escaped.
Neji slowly closed his eyes, unable to summon the energy for anger, suddenly giving over to the internal emotional exhaustion of the last 24 hours. He hadn't slept since early yesterday, working nonstop to ensure the plans of his uncle and his mother. "Go ahead and laugh – all I've ever done is a joke to you."
"Oh no, Neji," Tenten protested. "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."
"It won't matter anyway," he shrugged. "I'm going to enlist soon."
She suddenly stopped, every muscle straining to hear him more clearly. "What?"
"I'm going to enlist," he repeated, finality in his tone.
"But – but why? Why are you going? Neji, you don't have to volunteer."
Neji unconsciously straightened his posture. "I'm a Hyuuga. I have my family's history to remind me of what I need to do. I will fight to serve my country, to prove who we are and what we honor and who we protect – it is my ultimate destiny. It's part of the Hyuuga code of honor."
Tenten angrily slashed an arm across the air. "Your Hyuuga honor? What does that mean? You were born here in Hawaii, like me. You're as American – as – as apple pie! That history honor stuff doesn't mean anything here, not now!"
His tone pleaded with her to understand, "If I do this, maybe it will help my mother and brothers – she's afraid of being deported now. My brothers are all too young, and they don't know anything about Japan." Neji's voice turned bitter. "Even if that's all anybody thinks of when they see us."
"If you go – I always thought – we would –"
His face shuttered closed. "No."
Oblivious, she blundered on. "I always thought that you and I – that we would –"
He threw up a hand up to halt the flow of words. "I don't think this is the time – "
Tenten's voice was a strained whisper. "But Neji – I love you."
"I – I – Tenten –" he tried, and then stopped. He dropped his head, looking at the ground. A moment ticked by. "Tenten – you know that it can't be," he sounded unusually subdued.
"You tell me why," she challenged, thrusting up her chin stubbornly.
Pressed, he threw at her, "What do you think it is to love somebody? It's a burden, it's responsibility – it's hard work without any reward. Is that what you want from me?"
"You're talking about duty, Neji, not love. Love is about the people that you make precious and bring into your heart – "
"All I have is duty," he shot back. "I've got no schooling and I'll never have any money. Besides, our children would never know who they are – Chinese or Jap. Better to never have them," his voice was harsh. "I can't marry you – I could never marry you. It could never have been. Not with my family, or yours, or with this damn war. Only a fool would think otherwise."
Tenten knew she could make his change his mind – if only he would change his mind. Without thinking, she reached for his sleeve, to tug it, to get his attention somehow. If only she could break through that seeming toughness – that callous created by the friction of his duty and the weight of his heritage, maybe then he would understand how she felt about him, then maybe he wouldn't do this thing and leave her behind, maybe forever….
He ignored her outstretched hand. Then, like always, he walked away from her and disappeared into the lush tropical growth.
Ch. 3a. Pre-chorus.
December 19, 1941.
Hinata bent to work, wiping down the small jewelry counter at the back of the store. There wasn't a lot of flashy or extravagant bijou under the glass – some rings, a few bracelets, necklaces, earrings – but Hyuuga's General Store was one of the few places along the northern Hamakua coast outside of Hilo that stocked jewelry of any quality.
Hiashi sat in his wheelchair, the ledger open on the desk in front of him, the radio by his side as it always was these days. Her father's voice was above the sound of the radio as he bragged about Neji to a friend. Hinata only paid marginal attention; she had been hearing the same thing for days.
"…he's going to enlist. He's going to ship out soon…"
Neji was standing on a ladder, moving some shelves.
"…helped us move to the back of the store…it's easier than going back and forth from the farm…with the rationing of the gasoline and rubber…"
Hinata mentally added, and it is too hard for Otou-san to get around without extra help.
"…your nephew must be a great help to you…."
"…it's his duty…of course…mother agreed to take care of the property…"
The tinkle of the bell over the door sounded the exit of her father's friend. Hinata didn't bother to lift her head. The radio had been turned back on to catch the latest news.
The bell rang again. "Aloha – " Hinata automatically greeted the customer entering the store. Then she looked up to see a much-dreamed-of visage and bright blue eyes twinkling at her.
"Naruto!" she smiled back. "How did you get here?"
"Goro – you remember him, yeah?" He paused to look at Hinata, who nodded. "He was coming to visit Hilo and arranged for a boat – and I just hitched a ride with him."
"When –"
Hiashi grunted from his seat in the corner of the store.
Hinata looked abashed. "Otou-san, this is Naruto Uzumaki – he's –"
"Tsunade's foster boy. I know who he is," Hiashi replied in Japanese, disdainfully.
Brightly, Naruto turned to the older man. "Konbanwa, Hyuuga-sama."
The older man's eyebrows jumped upwards in surprise. "Konbanwa – "
"Howzit?"
Hiashi's eyebrows dipped downward as he sniffed at Naruto's salutation.
Hinata inwardly winced at her father's reaction, though it didn't slow Naruto down for a second.
"Hey, Neji," Naruto called. "Howzit?"
"Naruto," Neji inclined his head briefly before returning to his task.
Naruto looked at Hinata longingly, and then eagerly proposed – "Come on, Hinata – let's go for some ramen."
She cast a hesitant look in her father's direction. "Otou-san – may I –"
Without seeming to have heard, Hiashi turned to adjust the volume up on the radio.
"If you can wait a little," Hinata requested of Naruto anxiously, "I'm free after the store closes –"
"Oh, sure," Naruto replied. "I'll just wait at Ichiraku, okay?"
Hinata nodded.
Even before the door shut behind Naruto, Hiashi asked Hinata in Japanese, "What's that boy doing here?"
"It's, um, j-j-just ramen, Otou-san," she replied, feebly, in the same language.
Hiashi lectured, "I know that boy, Hinata. That one is nothing but trouble. He's uneducated, he's doesn't have any prospects, he's doesn't have yamato-damashii, he doesn't have a father to teach him the right way of acting. He's nothing but a fool - "
Neji abruptly dropped the shelf he was holding with a hard clatter, breaking into the older man's complaint. "Hinata, if you leave now, you can meet Naruto on the way." He turned to face Hiashi, face blank. "I'll take care of things here and help Oji-sama close up shop."
"Thank you, Nii-san," Hinata uttered in grateful surprise, hurridly closing and locking the counter. She grabbed her handbag and rushed to the door.
"Don't forget about curfew," Neji reminded her as she exited the store.
Hinata did not look back.
Within a few steps, Hinata spied Naruto, slumped over, his back leaning against the outside wall of the store. A sudden image floated to the top of her memory – a much younger Naruto standing by the outer school wall, hungrily looking for friendship or conversation or for any kind of recognition. Waiting, all alone. The rest of the schoolchildren and their parents walked around him, laughing and chattering amongst themselves. Ignoring him.
Right then Hinata vowed, never again would anyone intimidate her into changing her behavior to those precious to her.
Quietly, she came up behind him. "Hi."
He jerked upright, twisting towards her voice. He lit up when he recognized her. "Hinata! That was fast!"
"Neji offered to help out," she explained. They started walking down the street.
"I'll have to thank him someday."
Hinata decided against telling Naruto that Neji's actions probably had nothing to do with him and everything to do with her father. But she did have to say something about the way her father acted, difficult though it may be. "I'm sorry about my father – "
Naruto shrugged it off. "It's nothing." He whistled as they approached Ichiraku ramen stand. "This is something. Here too, huh?" he gestured to the large empty spot where its signature red and white lantern and noren had been taken down.
Hinata gave a trace of a nod. "Everywhere."
"I don't think that'll change the taste of the noodles, yeah?" Naruto said, gesturing for Hinata to take a seat. He pulled a menu off the counter and handed it to Hinata. "Old Man! Sistah Ayame!" Naruto virtually sang as he plopped himself down at the bar. "Two miso and pork – oh, and Hinata, what're you going to have?"
Ayame's head turned from the lone customer seated at the bar when the young man entered the bar. "Naruto!"
Naruto's eyes widened when he saw who else was sitting at the wooden bar, "Hey, Teach! Iruka!"
"Naruto!" the teacher smiled, looking a little nostalgic. "You never did know how to address your elders." He looked at Naruto's companion. "Hello, Hinata."
Naruto shrugged, still grinning happily. "Yeah, well – it's what I was taught, I guess."
"Just as I suspected," Iruka reached over and ruffled the already messy blond mop.
"What're you doing here, Teach?" Naruto leaned over towards Iruka, and with a stage-dramatic shading of his mouth with one hand asked, "Are you here chatting up Sistah Ayame? You two are dating, yeah? I know that's why you always come here."
The space all around Iruka's characteristic facial scar burned scarlet for a moment as he cleared his throat.
"Oh, no," laughed Ayame, waving away all suggestion of romance a little too vigorously. "Iruka's been a good friend." The last was said with a hint of wistfulness.
The bowls of ramen landed with a big thud on the wooden counter, and Hinata caught sight of Teuchi's unusually somber face.
"And customer," Teuchi emphasized. Then he grabbed his enormous cleaver and gave a series of powerful whacks to the immense rib bones he had on his cutting board, neatly butchering the meat into many individual portions.
Without a clue to the heaving sea of emotions he just sailed blithely through, Naruto chortled, "I can't wait – I haven't had good ramen since I left Konoha." He rubbed his hands together, then grabbed some chopsticks and chanted, "Between the lips and over the gums - watch out stomach, here it comes!"
"Naruto," whispered Hinata, "you don't just go around saying things like that."
"Like what?" Naruto asked blankly, chopsticks in mid-air. "I always say that before I eat ramen."
"It's okay," Ayame gave a very small shake of her head in Hinata's direction.
"I heard you were in Honolulu – what've you been doing?" Iruka inquired.
Sobering, Naruto explained how he had spent the last two weeks assisting with the naval yard clean-up following the bombing to a riveted audience.
"What brings you back?"
Involuntarily, Naruto's eyes slid over to the girl next to him.
"Ah," Ayame said knowingly, corners of her eyes crinkling.
"How long are you staying?" Iruka asked.
"I've got to leave early tomorrow."
"So soon?" Hinata gasped.
"Yeah, I've got to get back to join up," Naruto announced proudly.
"Oh! Then let me get this - " Iruka reached for his wallet.
"I've got pay – and pay for Hinata's as well," Naruto pulled out his own wallet. Smiling, he said, "We really are on a date."
"No, it's on me," Teuchi declared. "You'll be one of our boys in the army – it's the least I can do. Just don't bring shame," he cautioned.
"I won't," Naruto said emphatically.
After they finished eating, Naruto extended a hand towards Hinata. "Come on – let's go for a walk," he suggested.
They had only gone a few steps when the ground grumbled beneath their feet. It was growing louder and louder - almost as if something were just about to –
Hinata's whole body was pushed, shifted and whirled about in a flash of brightly colored cotton. "What - ?" she gasped, totally disoriented, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Her head swam with the sudden movement and the press of Naruto's body against hers. She realized that Naruto had grabbed her out of the road and up against the side of a building, tucking her head under his chin.
She glanced up, and followed the turn of his head, peeking over his arm to catch sight of a jeep of soldiers rumbling by at full speed, so close Hinata imagined she could count the stripes on their ribbon bars.
"They didn't even notice us!" Naruto exclaimed, visibly angry.
Ayame came running out of the restaurant. "You guys okay?"
"Yes," Hinata affirmed. She looked to Naruto, blushing at his proximity. "How about you, Naruto?"
Naruto looked down at her for a long moment, his eyes warming to a celestial blue. "I'm okay, yeah."
"Well, good," Ayame said, her matter-of-fact voice cutting into their unintentional embrace.
Abruptly aware they had an audience, Naruto released Hinata as quickly as he had gathered her up. He busily patted down his shirt for non-existent dust.
"Soldiers just speed down the road," Ayame commented, staring down the asphalt with her hands on her hips. "It's like they don't even see us." She shook her head. "It's only going to get worse – I bet the training field is going to get busier and busier." With a sigh, she returned to the restaurant.
Naruto and Hinata began walking, without thinking about it, past the stores, across the railroad tracks, and beyond the large candlenut tree that marked the village boundary.
"You're really enlisting?" Hinata asked shyly.
He took a deep breath, nodding. "Yeah. The army. Tsunade said my mother wanted me to be raised that so that even if I didn't know her or my father, I wouldn't know what it was like to be without a country."
"It's a wonderful gift," said Hinata.
Unthinking, they made their way to the shore, on a small steeply inclined track bordered by some naupaka brush that ended at a narrow dark sand beach.
He smiled crookedly, not quite looking directly at her, idly, dragging his hands over the brush leaves. "I don't know if it's true or not, or if it's foolish to believe – but Tsunade gave me her will of fire. This is my country. I was born here. I need to stand up and fight for it."
"I heard what you said to Teuchi. I know you won't bring shame. Just come home safely."
"I promise. If you promise me something, yeah?"
"Anything."
"Will you write me? You're my girl, Hinata. Promise me you'll write." He looked down, and scrubbed at the back of his neck. "I mean, I don't have anyone else to ask, and a guy can get real homesick when he's far from home -"
What could she do, what could she say to Naruto, a man about to go off to war? "I-I promise, Naruto," she said, with all the sincerity in her heart.
He handed Hinata a blossom he had broken off the naupaka.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, cupping the white-petaled, purple-veined flower in her hands.
Naruto's eyes lit up as Hinata slid the blossom over her left ear. "You know, Tsunade always liked you." Then he leaned in, a funny intensity about him. "Close your eyes."
Hesitantly, Hinata did. She knew Naruto would never hurt her, but she also knew him well enough to expect the unexpected. A moment later, she felt an unfamiliar cool touch at her neck, and her eyes flew open. "What -?"
Naruto leaned back from her, looking satisfied. "Do you like it?"
She reached up and grasped the heavy object sitting on her sternum. Her eyes went to the newly bare spot below Naruto's throat. "Your necklace," she whispered, her hand tightening about the raw crystal shard and pearl drops.
"Yeah. Well, it's really Tsunade's," he said, still inspecting it with pride. "I want you to have it."
"Oh, I can't – it's yours! I don't think I've ever seen you without it." Even as she spoke, her hand clutched the necklace possessively.
"Tsunade would want it passed on if I – " he paused. "If something happens – " he blundered, finally ending with, "Just hold on to it for me. I mean, as something to remember me by." At Hinata's continued hesitation, Naruto said, "You can return it when I come back, yeah?"
Throat tightening up, Hinata nodded. I can not start crying, she thought, the last thing I want him to see is tears running down my face. I couldn't bear looking weak in front of him. "I don't have anything to give you," she said, embarrassed.
"I've got your handkerchief," Naruto offered.
"No – no – " A thought struck her. Hinata reached into her bag. "Would you take this?" She held out the photo of Ino, Sakura and herself that had been taken that fateful Halloween.
Naruto smiled and took the photo, looking down at the three faces.
Hinata wondered, was he thinking of that evening as well?
"I'll take good care of it," he said. He carefully tucked it into his front shirt pocket and then patted it.
The sun was setting. "I should go home," Hinata said, regretfully, looking over the vast expanse of water.
"Yeah. I've got to get back to Goro's house."
He helped her up the slope of sand and shrub, but did not release her hand until they were just in front of the store. Hinata wasn't certain, but she could just feel her father's eyes burning a hole through the darkened front glass windows. She stepped backwards, pulling Naruto to a spot she was certain couldn't be seen from the store.
"Sayonara," he said.
She shook her head. "No, you should say, itte kimasu."
Naruto tilted his head a minute, thinking. "That means I'll be back soon."
Hinata nodded. "Then I say, itte irasshai." Go and come back soon.
Naruto looked her squarely in the eye. "Hinata." Her name came out so softly, she wouldn't have heard it if she hadn't been looking at him. "Sayonara." Then he leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers. "I'll write when I can. I don't know if I will have time – and I'm not really good at writing -"
"I still say, itte irasshai." Blindly, as the tears threatened to cut off her voice entirely, she grasped his sleeves.
He reached downward and pulled her in tightly until he could place a kiss, a long-dreamt-of kiss onto her mouth, desperately, deeply, like a man drawing in the last breath of oxygen before diving under water. He held her as if he would never let her go.
After an uncountable moment, she felt the cool breeze from the ocean against her flushed skin. She opened her eyes to look out at the empty, darkening street and the last shine fluttering off the green leaves of the trees and bushes. Naruto was gone.
When she entered in through the back door of the store, Hiashi and Hanabi looked up. Her father's face was blank, Hanabi's openly curious.
"Naruto is joining the army, he just came to tell me goodbye," Hinata announced.
She walked by them and into her room, holding her head high, shutting the door behind her. She could still hear the muted voices of her family, but she chose to focus on the music coming from the radio.
…One fond embrace, a hoi ae a…
Hinata finally let the tears fall.
…Until we meet again, until we meet again…
A/N
Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese on Dec 7, 1941.
"A Date Which Will Live in Infamy" FDR speech was given on 12:30pm on Dec 8, 1941. War declared on Japan Dec 8, 1941 at 4:10pm EST. Assuming near-simultaneous radio broadcast, the speech was heard at ~6:30am in Hawaii.
Martial law over Hawaii Territory imposed on Dec 7, 1941 and lasted until October 1944. Blackout restrictions began early (assuming start date of 12/7/1941) and lasted until July 1944. Rationing began almost immediately, especially for desirable materials (rubber, oil/gas, various metals, fat, sugar, meat, etc.).
hayabusa = peregrine falcon (Japanese). In haiku, it is a season word for winter (from www (dot)cjvlang(dot)combig5/Birds/falcon(dot)html).
The word samurai is descended from an older Japanese word saburai meaning "those who serve," which is a large part of my characterization of Neji here. At one time, there was a requirement for all military families to "give one son to the Emperor."
Howzit = "how is it?" or "how are you?" (pidgin).
Yamato-damashii – translates as "Japanese spirit"; yamato nadeshiko is the female equivalent. It seems to be a loaded term that carries implications of imperialism and nationalism, and been a "rallying cry for the Japanese armed forces in WWII." (Taken from the online Encyclopedia of Shinto.) I'm using it as the equivalent of "ideal Japanese male" of a certain era, although there could be considered some irony in the context it is used here if the full definition is taken into account.
"don't bring shame" = (pidgin) for Hawaiian Americans of Japanese descent, this phrase had connotations of "You can die, but don't embarrass yourself, your buddies, or your family"
naupaka = the flower is a curious-looking blossom which only has petals in 180 degrees. There are many variations on the naupaka legend, but all carry the same unhappy theme: lovers that are separated forever, one banished to the mountains (where one variety grows, petals on top half), the other to the beach (where another grows – petals on bottom half). It is said that if the mountain naupaka and beach naupaka flowers are reunited, the two young lovers will be together again.
A flower behind the left ear of a woman means means she has been spoken for. A flower behind the right ear means a woman is still available.
itte kimasu, itte kuru = (spoken by person leaving) the traditional expression one uses when going out, and means: "I'm going out and coming back."
itte irasshai = (spoken by person staying) "Be back soon." The response to itte kimasu.
sayonara = good-bye. Not normally used when leaving one's own home unless one is leaving for a very long time.
Aloha 'oe = Love you/Farewell to you. Aloha 'oe is usually said in farewell or good bye, and the song is a song of farewell.
Lyrics from "Aloha 'Oe," Music and Lyrics by Queen Liliuokalani. Original Hawaiian lyrics in italics.
Haaheo e ka ua i na pali
Proudly sweeps the rain cloud by the cliffs
Ke nihi ae la i kanahele
As onward it glides thru the trees
E uhai ana paha i ka liko
It seems to be following the liko
Pua a hihi lehua o u
The a hihi lehua of the vale
Aloha oe, aloha oe,
Aloha oe, farewell to thee,
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
Thou charming one who dwells among the bowers
One fond embrace, a hoi ae au
One fond embrace, before I now depart
Until we meet again, until we meet again.
Until we meet again, until we meet again
O ka halia aloha kai hihi mai
Thus sweet memories come back to me
Ke hone ae nei i kuu manawa.
Bringing fresh remembrance of the past
O oe no ka'u ipo aloha
Dearest one, yes, thou art mine own
A loko e hana nei.
From the true love shall ne'er depart
Maopopo kuu iki i ka nani,
I have seen and watched the loveliness
Na pua rose o Maunawili,
Thou sweet rose of Maunawili
Ilaila hiaai ai na manu,
And 'tis there the birds oft love to dwell
Mikiala i ka nani o ka liko.
And sip the honey from thy lips