"It's simple. If you think about it I'm sure you'd come to the same conclusion I have. You will stay here. Protected. Out of harms way. With my word that not a soul will touch you without severe consequences. When the time comes, you will have the child here. If it is a boy, he will be raised as a Koizumi. He will be brought up to beleive that your family, the Hyuuga's, killed his father because he was Koizumi. And you will remain safe, able to be with your child as long as you never tell him the truth. But, if the baby is a girl, she will be given to one of my servants to raise. As for you, my dear, you will be sent back to your family. Dead, of cousre."
HIdekai laughed and looked at Hinata.
"If I were you, I'd start praying for a boy." he joked.
Hinata sat ridged in her chair. She hadn't touched a bite of the feast that had been set before her. She was too busy listening to all the horrible things this man had in store for her. She felt sick. Her head spun and she wanted to cry. But she had to be strong. She had to act like a Hyuuga now. Strong, calculated, and emotionless.
"And what if I have both?" she said emotionlessly.
Hidekai stopped in the middle of his drink. He set his cup down and stroked his chin.
"Easy. We'd take the boy and kill you and the girl." Kanaka said swiftly.
Hinata looked at the woman. She sat at Hidekai's right side. A malicious grin spread across her face as she looked at Hinata. Hidekai looked at Kanaka curiously.
"Why kill the girl child?" he questioned.
Kanaka took a bite of her food, chewed, and swallowed.
"Simple. Even if we separate them, the boy and girl will inevitably meet someday. When they find out that they are twins they will immeadiately begin to question and doubt everything we tell them. So, you see, it's only in our best interests." she said, as if she were talking about the weather instead of a child's life.
HIdekai nodded.
"Yes, I see your point. But what about Hyuuga-sama? Why would she have to be killed?"
Kanaka smirked and looked Hinata with a vicious twinkle in her eyes.
"For bearing a girl." she said slyly.
Hidekai erupted in laughter. Hinata nearly threw up. This woman had it out for her, for one reason of another. Hidekai looked at Hinata. She tried to keep her face as emotionless as possible. Hidekai chuckled.
"You're not a Hyuuga, my dear. I can see the fear in your eyes. Your face is stone, but your eyes give you away. " he said.
Kanako humphed.
"No wonder her father disowned her before he died. She's a pathetic excuse for a ninja, let alone a Hyuuga." she mumbled.
Hinata looked down at her plate. She wanted nothing more than to break down and cry. But now it wasn't out of fear. She was angry. Every time Kanaka opened her mouth, Hinata felt more and more furious. Hideaki chortled.
"Easy, my pet. Remember, she's our guest. We will treat her as such untill the proper time." he said to Kanaka.
Hinata was overwhelmingly thankful when the meal was over. She couldn't get up to her room fast enough . The 14x14 foot room that had been driving her mad for the past five days now seemed like a shelter. She leaned against the door and put her hand on her stomach. Michiko. Her little girl. What would truly happen if Hinata never escaped from this place? Would such a fate befall her dear child? Hinata was beyond the point of bursting into tears. She slumped down and burried her head in her hands. An image of Kanaka, cackling wickedly, popped into her head. Hinata's head popped up and she gasped. She was trembling all over. She heard someone knock on the door.
"Hyuuga-sama, it's Kasako." Kasako said from behind the door.
Hinata struggled to her feet and stepped away from the door.
"C-Come in." she said quietly.
Kasako came and looked at Hinata. She rushed over to her.
"Hinata-sama, what's wrong?" she asked, concerned.
Hinata shied away instinctively.
"S-Such h-horrible things. He s-said such h-h-horibble thing to m-m-me." she said in a shaky voice.
Kasako looked at Hinata in disbelief. She couldn't believe that she was looking at the same strong, kind, loving person she had talked to just an hour before. She helped Hinata over to the bed.
"I-I'm sorry, K-Kasako-chan b-b-but I've gotta get out of h-here." Hinata whispered.
Kasako nodded.
"Actually, I have something for you." She replied.
She reached down her shirt and pulled something out of it. She held it out to Hinata and opened her hand. Hinata couldn't believe her eyes. There, in Kasako's hand, was a Konoha head protector. Tears welled in Hinata's eyes. She smiled at Kasako.
"You saw him?" She asked.
Kasako nodded, tears forming in her own eyes. Hinata carefully took the headband from Kasako and put it to her cheek. She could almost feel Naruto beside her. Her heart reignited with hope.
"Will you help me?" She asked Kasako.
Kasako smiled slyly.
"You mean like sneak the guards a few bottles of Sake and show you a secret passage to the woods under the cover of night?" she said.
Hinata threw her arms around Kasako. She was taken aback by the gesture, but wrapped her arms around Hinata in return.
"I'll never forget you, Hinata-sama. You've been kinder to me than anyone I've ever met." She said gratefully.
Hinata pulled away and put her hands on Kasako's shoulders.
"Then, come with me. Come away from this terrible place. I'm sure you'd be accepted in Konoha." she encouraged.
Kasako's eyes lit up.
"You mean it? Do you really want me to come with you?" she asked joyfully.
Hinata nodded. This time, Kasako threw her arms around Hinata. Hinata hugged her close.
"Stay close. It's easy to get lost in here." Kasako whispered as she led Hinata through an unfamiliar part of the hideout.
Hinata took her advice to heart and stayed on her heels. The whole place was eerily quiet.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
Hinata and Kasako gasped and turned around. Hinata was mortified to see Kanaka standing in front of her. Kanaka gave her a wicked grin.
"What's the matter, Hyuuga-sama? Are you not comfortable in you cushy tower room?" She asked, her voice dripping with venom.
Kasako stepped around Hinata and stood between her and Kanaka. She spread her arms out.
"Leave her alone, Kanaka-sama. You don't want her here anyway. " Kasako said boldly.
Hinata thought she saw Kanaka's eye twitch.
"It doesn't matter what I want and you know it. Hidekai-san wants her here an.d I intend to keep her here until he decides otherwise." She said threateningly.
"Hinata-sama, follow this hall all the way down and to the left. In the third room on the right there is a closet with a secret passage in it." Kasako said over her shoulder.
Hinata looked at her, confused. Then she understood. She put her hand on her shoulder.
"No, you're coming with me, remember?" she said desperately.
She saw a tear slowly roll down Kasako's cheek.
"You'd better hurry." she said in a broken voice.
Before Hinata could do or say anything, Kasako pulled a dagger out of her sleeve and lunged for Kanaka. In the blink of an eye Kanaka snapped Kasako's wrist back and knocked her to the ground, sending the dagger sliding across the floor. Kasako rubbed her wrist.
"Run, Hinata-sama!" She cried.
Tears in her eyes, Hinata turned and ran down the hall. Kasako quickly got up and lunged for Kanaka again. Kanaka grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm around until it snapped. Kasako gasped in pain. She kicked at Kanaka's legs. Kanaka nimbly leaped out of the way. She pulled grabbed the dagger off the floor and cut a big gash across Kasako's leg. Kasako grimaced, but kept coming. If she couldn't escape with Hinata, she would give her the best chance she could. Kanaka slashed at Kasako furiously. Kasako kept trying. Finally, Kanaka let out and aggravated growl. She grabbed Kasako's shoulder and drove the dagger into her heart. Kasako's eyes widened and she coughed up blood. Kanaka leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"You're nothing. You were nothing from the beginning and your death will be nothing too." she hissed.
Kasako slowly slid to the floor.
"Maybe so...but...if my insignificant life save her...then I'll have finally done something worthwhile..." she said on her knees, looking at the ground.
She looked up at Kanaka.
"But you...you will always be a vile, desperate, diseased girl."
Kanako growled again and kicked Kasako down.
"Die already! Shrivel and die you worthless bitch!" She cried.
Kasako smiled and shut her eyes.
"I love you too...Onee-sama..."