Dreamcatcher
By Airyo
Storm - 7
All good Hyuuga had a routine, especially those in Branch.
When patience and understanding wasn't enough to file away the dirty politics of the clan into neat boxes - one for betrayal, one for brutality, and three for blood - and the mind couldn't take the strain of it anymore, the body took over. Wake up, eat, fulfill duties, back to sleep. Wait for further instructions.
Wait for yourself to heal.
She wasn't a fool. Hiashi's intervention offered the relief that there were no dire consequences from her time with Itachi, but Hinata didn't harbor into any illusions about the state of her relationship with Itachi. Not after how she'd angered him.
It was an hollow triumph that she knew what would upset him.
Hinata wasn't a stranger to quiet tears and to quiet heartbreak. So she accepted that she was hurting, breathed it in and let it go in the same breath, and then dutifully carried out her responsibilities. If her smile seemed a little more forced, if her dark circles were a little darker, and if her focus a little less, it didn't impact her work.
Angst won't feed a clan of hungry people, no matter how much some of the teenaged Hyuuga tried to prove otherwise. Hinata only shook her head and left a tray of their favorites outside their door, taking care to include extra sweets and comfort food.
It worried her than Hikaru had been indisposed for nearly two weeks, complaining of migraines. Hinata had been distracted by Itachi at the time, and missed the inception of it and therefore the signs to determine if it was an ailment of the mind or the body.
"Hikaru-san," she said, knocking lightly. "I'm leaving some food for you."
To her surprise, the door slid open. Hikaru glared at her, eyes bloodshot and swollen as if she'd been crying. She likes Itachi, Hinata realized. Kindly, she didn't say anything. Hikaru sullenly stared at her, clutching her head.
"It would have been better if you were a normal Hyuuga," the girl rasped. They stared at each other for a long moment. Hikaru took the tray from Hinata's numb hands and shut the door with more force than necessary.
Hinata stared at the closed door. Slowly, she mimicked the younger girl's gesture, hand on her forehead. She could feel her seal burning, her cheeks burning. She was Branch, but the old Main Family pride was still a bright flame in her.
She could almost see Itachi's questioning expression as he ripped apart the thought with logic. Why not? What are the exact reasons that detract from such a relationship? Why does strength factor in this?
This wasn't some mission.
You are more capable than you think.
Her routine wasn't working. The spark of rebellion returned and this time it was an uncontrollable fire. Suddenly, the perfect, uniform lines of the hallway around her felt more like the bars of a cage rather than a familiar haven. The quiet existence bereft of uncertainty and chaos and fear and anything at all was too loud, too empty.
The pattern had to be broken or she will scream.
She told Tsuru she needed to go for a walk, but it was closer to a run, with the cold air searing in her lungs. Her feet knew where - she'd made the journey to that door countless times in her dreams.
She knocked. The door opened to reveal a confused Kurenai. "Hinata?...How may I help you?"
The Hyuuga took a slow, deep breath.
"Let me try again, Kurenai-sensei," she whispered. "Please test me again for genin."