"Where did..."
Hanabi trailed off. So that's why Hinata looked so nervous before. Not that her sister wasn't naturally a nervous person, but Hinata looked extra nervous today.
The young Hyūga looked down at the kitten. It meowed at her plaintively.
Why had Hinata smuggled in a kitten?
Hanabi glanced around the room. Hinata wasn't anywhere in sight. She must have gone out again, leaving the kitten in her room. Hanabi couldn't see any food or water dishes, though. The poor kitten must be hungry. Or at the very least thirsty.
What was Hinata thinking, bringing an animal here? Their father would be furious.
He doesn't need to know, a small voice said at the back of her head. Hanabi wasn't the type to disobey her father, but surely a single kitten couldn't do much damage. It was so small and cute, and Hinata must have been pretty attached to the kitten to risk bringing it to their compound.
Hanabi couldn't hurt Hinata by turning the kitten over to their father. She couldn't.
She walked into the room, setting Hinata's clothes on the edge of her bed. The kitten weaved between her legs, meowing pathetically.
But Hinata didn't feed it, she thought, frowning. Maybe... I should bring it some food...
"Hinata?"
Hanabi flinched.
That was Neji.
She hurriedly snatched up the kitten and... and what!? Where could she put a kitten on such short notice where Neji wouldn't see it? Where could she hide a kitten!?
She shoved it down her shirt.
Wait, just how had Hinata snuck the kitten in any way? Had she hidden it down her jacket? Hanabi quickly dismissed these thoughts, trying to look as innocent as possible. An easy feat for her.
Neji peered around the corner, knocking on the slightly ajar door.
"Hinata, Hiashi-sama wants to speak with you," he said, before realizing that the only one in the room was Hanabi.
"Hinata isn't here," she said, trying to ignore the feeling of claws pricking her skin. "I was just putting her clothes on her bed. She left a few minutes ago."
"Very well," he said, turning and leaving without even a goodbye. Not that she was expecting one.
Hanabi hastily left the room, not wanting to push her luck.
She would hide the kitten in her room until Hinata returned. That way, she could make sure no one found it. If Hanabi hadn't been there and Neji entered the room, he would have seen the kitten and reported it back to her father.
And Hiashi would not be impressed.
You owe me for this, Nee-San.
