A strange new life

2.17

How do you teach someone something that can’t be taught? I had no trick or tips for Sasuke. Chakra control was repetitive, exhausting work, however, Sasuke was railed as a genius. What we did was talk. I told him about all the issues I had when I started, how it felt to move the chakra, my experiences, what type of exercises I tried what exercises I still practiced. I even pulled up my shirt and showed him the row of coins stuck to my stomach. I never stopped that.

Sasuke had a faraway look on his face. I wasn’t sure if I helped at all.

He bowed. Stiff and formal. “Thank you, Hinata-san.” Left soon after to train again.

What was up with that formality? I scratched my head.

“He probably thinks you just told him clan secret training methods.” Kakashi-sensei was by my side. How did he kept doing that when he could barely walk? I looked at the man, shrugged. It wasn’t any secret. Just no one ever asked. “You realize some of those could be considered clan secrets, right?”

I scratched my cheek. Used my threads to write on the board. “They are not though. Just an extension of the three basic exercises.”

That small interaction set the tone for the rest of the day. Did I want to create a clan? I pushed that idea away. I was too young to think such things, and I had gods of shinobi and aliens to deal with before I could think of settling down.

It was, again, another boring day of guard duty.

In the evening, the mood was tense. Tsunami looked stressed. Inari, even more sullen. That night, Naruto and Sasuke didn’t return from training. Kakashi-sensei didn’t look worried. I didn’t as well.

It was still dark when I got up on the sixth day. I went out alone. My shoulder had healed to a point I could move my arm with just a twinge of pain. Today was relaxation day. I took the liberty to use Tsunami kitchen to do some light cooking. I made tea, heated a few pastries, made finger sandwich. With everything ready, I went to out to have a picnic.

I walked away from the house until I found a nice open clearing among the trees. I placed a piece of cloth over the dew covered grass. Unsealed the thermos, a few cupcakes and finger sandwich. I unsealed my koto, and sat down by the instrument. Plucked a few cords, adjusted the bridge under the strings. My right hand was a bit stiff, and a bit of pain followed my movements, but it was doable.

Which music was appropriate for this moment? A Thousand Miles? Party In The U.S.A? Or maybe some classic by queen Taylor?

No, I knew exactly which song I wanted.

I plucked the strings. The koto wasn’t the best instrument to play pop songs, but I liked it. With the number of strings, it was easy to play the bass part, and pluck notes to simulate the singing I couldn’t do. I even used my threads to knock on the koto’s wood, just to pretend there was some percussion as well.

The notes of Goddess Katy Perry California Gurls resonated on the clearing. Of course I mouthed the lyrics. It was a classic.

California gurls we’re undeniable. Fine, fresh, fierce, we got it on lock.

West coast represent, now put your hand up.

California, California, California gurls.

I plucked the last string. It hadn’t been perfect. I didn’t remembered all the lyrics, and it was more of an exercise in improvisation than a real rendition, but it felt good to play, fun. Which one next?

“I’ve never heard a song like that,” the sweet voice said, just in front of me. My mind came to a halt. “I liked it.”

I looked up. Thoughts of Call Me Maybe forgotten. Haku crouched just by the side of my picnic blanket. Dressed in the same pink kimono from the second day. They held a basket with herbs inside. They looked at my set up, then at me again. I opened my mouth, closed, opened it again. Couldn’t speak even if I wanted to. Closed my eyes, took a deep breath. They were pretty, but that was just mind games. Don’t get tempted, it’s a trap. I popped my board, Haku’s perfectly manicured eyebrow went up. I wrote. “Want to join me?”

Haku looked around, nodded. Daintily, sat seiza across from me.

I did the host thing, glad for the kunoichi classes telling me what do do. I got up from behind my koto, also sat seiza. Took the thermos, filled the cup, observed the customary movements. Once I had served the tea, I offered the cupcake. It wasn’t the traditional offering, but it was what I had. I wrote more. “Please, help yourself.” I waved my hand over the tea, pastries and finger sandwich. They looked interested in my confections.

Haku took the cup, sipped the tea, nibbled the pastry, eyes widening. That one was for my own consumption, might have put a tad more sugar than needed. Don’t judge me, girls and sweets, I wasn’t immune.

Customs observed, I returned to my place behind the koto. I was in a pinch right now. Traditionally, the cumbersome zither was seen as a romantic instrument, given the soft sounds and playing style. I didn’t play the traditional way. Well, nothing for it I guess. Since I was in a Katy Perry mood, I went with another: Wide Awake. That song always had me in a strange mood, which this one certainly counted for.

I plucked the strings, tried to get into the groove again. I couldn’t. Haku sitting across from me set my teeth on edge. It showed in the song. It was more tense that the original music already was. The song ended, and it hadn’t felt good.

Haku noticed that. “I apologize for intruding,” they said, “I was out looking for medicinal herbs, and heard your music. You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

I nodded. I had been enjoying myself. It was relaxation day after all. I decide just to roll with it. Haku could have attacked when I was playing. For a moment there, I had been completely off guard and distracted.

“Hi, I’m Hinata,” I wrote on my board. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Haku smiled. Looked down, pushed a strand of hair behind the ear. Damn they were beautiful. So unfair. “I’m Haku.”

I wrote again. “Do you want to listen to more music?”

They nodded. I nodded.

I scoured my memory for that lovely acoustic version from that survival horror game with Ellie. I had listened non stop to it for weeks, it wasn’t because Ellie was pretty, I promise, the music was that good. I plucked the strings on my best rendition of Aha’s Take On Me. Again, it was more of a improvisation business, I barely remembered the melody. But I did my best. Not sure why I decided to play a love song for Haku. Was it because of the forbidden love I assumed existed between them and Zabuza?