7. PAST LIFE

Hinata was walking along the fields humming the song her mother had taught her. It was one of the few memories she had left of her.

Her father had annoyed her, again. Hinata was getting fed up of him. His obsession with marrying her off was getting too much.

She saw a man slumped on the ground and she rushed to see if he was still breathing. "Hey, are you okay?"

The sky turned grey and loud rumbling could be heard from all angles. The ground felt like it was spinning and Hinata felt suddenly cold, she had goose pimples all over her and it felt like something happened inside her but she didn't know what.

The unconscious stranger finally opened his eyes and stared at her curiously. His penetrating gaze gave Hinata butterflies in her stomach.

She took her hands off  him and stood up abruptly. The last time a man made her feel that way was when she met Genji.

"What happened?"

"You...I found you unconscious and I wanted to help you."

"Oh, well thanks for the assist."

"I didn't do anything, you woke yourself up."

"Oh, well thanks for nothing then." He turned to leave but Hinata moved in front of him. "What?"

"You can't just leave like that."

"And why is that?" he crossed his arms and stared at her, his blue eyes looking almost electric. Hinata averted her gaze and he smiled. "Ohh... I get it now. You've fallen for me."

"What?!, you're ridiculous."

"You can't even look me in the eyes, you're obviously smitten."

He placed a hand on her shoulder and raised his brow flirtatiously. "You're... Ugh shut up!" she stormed off in an attempt to prevent him from seeing her hot red cheeks.

"Hey, lighten up. I was only messing with you." she refused to look at him and he nudged her playfully with his shoulder. "Come on, I was only kidding. I'm Nakamura."

"Hinata."

"Princess Hinata?"

"Yes, but I'd prefer you just called me by my name."

"Sure. I never had the intention of calling you princess in the first place." he smiled and Hinata found herself drawn to his masculine beauty.

"What is a princess doing this far away from the palace?"

"Oh uh, i just... I needed some air. What's your story?"

"Oh I was running."

"Running?"

"Yes." he didn't say more and Hinata decided not to press further. "Did something happen back at home?"

"No."

"Sure?, you look pretty upset." he stood in front of her and cupped the sides of her face. "Your eyes are very beautiful, but," he brought his face closer to hers and her eyes widened. "they look sad. Did someone hurt you?"

"I... I'm fine... I think." his eyes held an emotion that clearly wasn't there before. He looked down at her lips and Hinata swallowed hard. "Na.. Nakamura,"

He lifted his gaze to her eyes but it only lasted a second before it went back to her lips. He closed the distance between them snd and as his nose touched hers, Hinata closed her eyes waiting for contact.

As their lips touched, Hinata felt overwhelmed by a sensation stronger than anything she had ever felt. He felt so soft against her lips and Hinata felt weak in the knees.

He teased her lips open with a flick of his tongue and a flame blazed to life in her center. She pressed herself to his hard frame, wanting to feel more of him and he held her tighter.

He broke away and stared breathlessly into her eyes that was now glowing with need. He smiled and took possession of her mouth once again. Kissing her leisurely like it's something that wasn't new to them.

Like it was something they had been doing for weeks. Months. Years. For eternity. He felt so right and Hinata couldn't get enough of him.

When they finally ended the kiss, they stared at each other, their faces gleaming with love. "I can't believe that just happened."

Nakamura smiled at her comment and it made her blush. "I'm guessing that was your first?" she blushed even harder and he pulled her close. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. But for now, you need to head back to the palace. It's getting late, you wouldn't want them to start looking for you."

Hinata just smiled at his statement. She knew that if she was gone for days, no one would come looking for her. The only person who ever worried about her was zhao, and even he wouldn't look for her.

"Fine. I'll leave, but, you have to promise me we would meet here by this time tomorrow."

"Sure." he kissed her again and sent her on her way.

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Hinata was smiling to herself as she walked into her bedroom. "Hinata!" she was shocked to find her sister and her husband waiting in the room. "Where have you been?, we've been waiting for you."

"Why?" she frowned and went to seat on her bed.

"We have good news." she looked excited but Hinata couldn't care less. "Aren't you going to ask what it is?"

"No, but you're going to tell me anyway. Aren't you?"

"Genji and I are expecting."

"What?!"

"I was going to tell you but--"

"Shut up Genji!." Hinata didn't mean to be rude but it just slipped out. She didn't think her sister would be so eager to share such a news with her considering the circumstance surrounding their marriage.

"Hinata!! He's my husband."

"Yes, only because I allowed it!." Hinata was sick and tired of her sister showing off her perfect marriage. She doesn't even consider the fact that she might not be okay with it.

"Why do you have to be so difficult all the time? Why can't you just consider my happiness for one in your life?!"

"Your happiness?!!" Hinata couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're unbelievable kiyomi. I don't care about your happiness, if I didn't care about you do you think i would've done what I did for you?!! Or do you think it was easy for me to let go??!!" hot tears were flowing down her cheeks but she didn't try to stop it.

"I try so hard every day of my miserable life to convince myself that I did the right thing, to tell myself that you would've done the same thing if you were in my shoes but...do you have any idea what I go through?, do you have the slightest idea of what I'm feeling?"

"All that is irrelevant, it's not my fault you chose to hold on to the past. You said you were over it but you lied, instead you held on to it and decided to use it as an excuse to be rude to father and to me."

"Get out."

"What?"

"I said GET OUT!!"she slammed the door after they left. Her blood was boiling and she felt like she would explode with rage.

She had hoped that her sister of all people would appreciate her sacrifice and be grateful to her but she was horribly wrong.

She cried, screamed, vented her anger out on her room. After an hour, she finally arrived at a decision.

She was going to leave.

She would go somewhere far away where she would hopefully be able to start a new life, probably with Nakamura.

Nakamura, he had made her feel something she never thought she could feel. She felt her nerves calm as she remembered him.

They were going to meet the next day, she smiled, feeling slightly happier. She was going to ask him to leave town with her.