Dreamcatcher

By Airyo

The Price of a Secret - 4

"Hinata. Wake up."

She opened her eyes and blinked, disoriented. Her head throbbed, pulse pounding against the backs of her eyeballs. Hinata reached up massage her temples. Strange, her body felt heavy and stiff, reluctant to respond. She struggled to her feet, swaying as she tried to place when she had been moved.

It didn't look like the Hyuuga complex, where the lines were straight and even like bars of a perfect cage. Instead, the walls and ceiling sloped together, rough hewn stone blurring what was sideways and what was upside-down, what was right. Her vision swam. Last she remembered, she had cried herself to sleep-

"Hinata!" Her attention snapped to other person in the room. Hiyoshi stood several paces away from her.

"You let a Yamanaka mindwalk you?" he asked bluntly. Hinata opened her mouth to confess, and then closed it again. If Hiyoshi hadn't known about her father, then he had at least guessed. He was the Hyuuga Clan head's closest advisor throughout. And he had still let her struggle all these years with the distance between her and her father.

She lifted her chin and spoke coldly. "That is private business between my mentor and I."

"You are Hyuuga, so your business is clan business." Hiyoshi glared down at her. "You would do well to remember."

Hinata didn't contradict him, outright. "Where am I, Hiyoshi-san?" she asked with a polite tone, though her fists were clenched tight and she neglected the proper honorific. The Hyuuga elder's odd manner unnerved her.

"That is unimportant." Hiyoshi began pacing in front of her."So where is it? The scroll?"

"I'm not sure I know what you -"

"Don't pretend. Hikaru has reported that you've regained your memories regarding the Hyuuga head's true nature."

He knew.

"Y-you mean that…"

"Yes, the scroll with the technique for breaking the Caged-Bird Seal," Hiyoshi said impatiently. "Your mother took you with her when she hid it away."

"You're the only one I can trust, Hinata-chan!" Kyokki said lightly as she winked at her. Her mother sealed a thin scroll with her chakra, and then tucked it among the hundreds of other scrolls labelled 'Uchiha History'. "Anyone who can do any research would know that the public library of Uchiha history is inaccurate, so no one would know to look here. But don't tell anyone this is here, okay? I'm using you as a cover for errands."

Young Hinata frowned in consternation but nodded. She was more worried over how tired Kyokki looked. Dark circles were more noticeable around the pale Hyuuga eyes.

"Okay, Mama," she whispered.

"Yes, you remember, don't you?" Hiyoshi said when her eyes widened. "Tell me."

Hinata licked her chapped lips. Mustn't tell. The Bad Man can't find her, can't find out. Years and years of self-conditioned meekness warred with the instinct to protect her clan.

"Tell me," Hinata said. "Why are you so interested in such a scroll? When you, more than anyone, know how such a technique would ruin the balance of the Hyuuga? Especially with our history...unless..." Her eyes widened and she stumbled away from Hiyoshi. Her feet didn't quite work and she fell. The ground jarred her bones, and gravel prickled her palms. "Unless it's not just for the Hyuuga…the Cloud..they...you..."

Hiyoshi regarded her coldly. "I see you've inherited your mother's more annoying traits. Kyokki was always a little too aware of everything for her own good." He raised his head called out. "Hikaru, get down here."

The other Hyuuga girl landed beside Hiyoshi in a kneeling position, head bowed. She refused to look at Hinata.

"Hiyoshi-sama," Hikaru said. "What do you require of me?"

"She remembers. Do whatever it takes to get that information out of her."

Hikaru's head jerked up to stare at Hiyoshi. "But she's awake and that'll-"

The old man silenced the teen with a scowl. "We can't afford subtlety anymore, now that she knows. Do as you're told."

Hikaru inclined her head. When she looked back up, her face was stony. She stood and approached. Hinata scooted back, horrified realization settling like lead in her limbs. The sleeping brew Hikaru had given her wasn't just for sleep.

Hinata's back hit the wall behind her. She pressed herself into the smooth stone, staring up at Hikaru as she towered over her. Hikaru gave her an apologetic look.

Then she formed the same hand seal as Inoichi had.

AN: Wow. Much update. Such plot. So cliffhanger. Wow.