I will differentiate between the timelines with AGW—to mean after the Great War—and BGW—Before Great War. (Real original, I know. Lol.) Also—some of you have commented about the names remaining the same. This, on my part, is sheer laziness and enormous dislike of actually naming these characters something else. I hope that answers your realistic concerns ^_^
I am such a sucker for Father!Hiashi. Hope you like him too.
AG 303
Hyuuga Hiashi is a busy man.
As the Clan Leader, he rarely finds the time to breathe alone, let alone watch over his three-year old daughter.
Therefore, when Hinata's nursemaid dumps Hinata on him because she needs to report to the Hokage, Hiashi is less than pleased.
"Where is Hikari?" he demands.
"Your honored wife has gone to the hospital for a check up. I am deeply sorry, Hiashi-sama. I would not leave Hinata with you if there were no other choice."
He grunts and dismisses the nervous Hyuuga Hotaru from his presence. She drops a baby bag in the corner and leaves Hinata behind after giving the girl her stuffed animals and plush kunai. Hiashi makes a mental note to replace the plush kunai with a real—albeit blunt—kunai upon her next birthday. Hinata is growing too old to be playing with such useless toys.
Hinata hesitantly walks into her father's large office. It is dark and intimidating and Hiashi's displeased face does nothing to soothe the child's nerves. Hinata clutches at her small teddy bear.
The pathetic sight is enough to soften Hiashi's heart and he sighs softly. He indulges his daughter far too much—if his own father had seen his behavior, Hiashi would have been on the receiving end of a long and drawn-out speech on proper parenting.
"Hinata," Hiashi says. He does not miss the tightening of her arms around the teddy bear. Hiashi wonders why she fears him so—he has never inflicted physical punishment on her and although they'd recently began her training, he has never pushed her any further than what she cannot handle. Momentarily, he frets at the thought of having a weak heir but pushes it aside.
"You may play in that corner," he orders. She nods and makes herself comfortable in a corner where Hiashi can watch her at all times.
Hinata had been weak at birth, and it was for that reason that he and Hanae had agreed to name her after the infamously weak Clan Head who had lived nearly 300 years before. Though she had been physically weak, she had brought about the most important changes in the Hyuuga clan, one of which was the decimation of the Branch house.
Hanae had looked at their daughter with insurmountable love and had told him that their Hinata was also destined for wonderful things, and Hiashi had found, in fatherly pride, that he couldn't disagree.
Hiashi shakes himself from his thoughts and watches as his daughter sniffs the stuffed animal's behind and wrinkles her nose in distaste.
The bear seems clean enough, Hiashi notes, not fully understanding Hinata's actions.
She drags the baby bag from the corner of the room and unzips it with as much ease as a child can.
Curiously, Hiashi stares as Hinata pulls out a new pink diaper from the cloth bag.
"What are you doing, daughter?"
Large, white eyes blink up owlishly through thick lashes. "I changing Ryuu-chan's diaper, 'tou-san," she explains, as if it would be ridiculous to think anything else.
Everything in Hiashi wants to point out that stuffed animals do not require diaper changes, but Hiashi bites down on his tongue when he sees his own white eyes peer curiously at him. Even at only three years of age, Hinata strongly resembles her beautiful departed mother—but her eyes are his.
Children are strange creatures, Hiashi muses. Hinata is three years old. Why does she want a child when she is one?
"I see," he says, though he really does not. "Take care of…him…well."
"Yes," she responds with all the solemnity of a three year old.
Hiashi returns to his paperwork and allows Hinata to continue caring for the plush bear.
It is only when he sees his reflection in the glass door of the bookcase does he realize that there is a small smile on his face.
Thanks for all the lovely reviews!