Dreamcatcher
By Airyo
The Price of a Secret - 3
Hinata barely registered Hikaru's presence as they walked down the hall.
Accessing the vague memories of childhood was like opening Pandora's box, because every memory was connected to a hundred more, spanning the full breadth of what made a person. And she had suppressed and forgotten so much of herself until now.
Her father stepped forward and light illuminated all of his face. He looked alien, even though his features were exactly as she remembered. Then he smiled sadly, and Hinata's blood turned to sludge in her veins.
"What are you doing, Hizashi-oji-san?" she asked in a whisper. "Why are you pretending to be Father?"
She activated her Byakugan, but could not find any sign of the Caged-Bird Seal on her uncle clear forehead. It wasn't genjutsu. It wasn't some sort of trick.
The rest of her body understood what her heart wouldn't. Tears blurred her vision. Hinata shook as she scooted away from Hizashi. She didn't like this game. She knew it wasn't her father because he did not smile with his eyes at her.
"Please stop it, Hizashi-oji-san! Where is my father?" She was sobbing, and trying to scrub away her tears with the backs of her hands. "I c-can't lose him too…please!"
Hizashi stared down at her in horror.
After a long moment, he reached out again to touch her head. She ducked away with a little snarl. Hizashi's hand lingered in the air, fingers trembling. Then he clenched his hand into a fist, so tightly the same scars that his twin shared turned white.
"...I am Hyuuga Hiashi," he said in a hoarse whisper. His expression was one of agonized falsehoods. His pale eyes burned bright, a heartbreaking mix of tears and cruel resolution. "You would do well to remember your father with respect, Hinata."
Her knees buckled.
"Hinata-san!"
Hikaru caught her seconds before she collapsed on to the ground. The other girl pulled her up with a calloused hand, and guided her into her room. "Here, drink this and sleep." Hinata accepted the sleeping brew and tossed it back. Then she stumbled into bed and pulled the covers over her head. She waited until Hikaru was out of earshot.
Then for the first time, she covered her face and wept for her father's passing.