Dreamcatcher

By Airyo

The Breakthrough - 6

Hizashi stared down at the open scroll on his desk even though his eyes had glazed over minutes earlier. He clutched his head, as if the weight of what he read was too heavy. "So this...this is how Kyokki...how your mother..." He clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, looking far more aged and worn that Hinata felt comfortable witnessing. She questioned her judgement in bringing the scroll straight to Hizashi rather than destroying it.

It was several more long moments before Hizashi managed to collect himself. He cleared his throat. "If you wish," he said quietly. "I can use this technique to have your seal transferred to Hiyoshi. You took the seal very late, so it's hold is not so strong as mine had been. I owe you that much in the very least."

Hinata licked her cracked lips. How had her mouth become so dry in the course of moments? Hizashi was presenting one of her deepest wishes on a silver platter. The removal of the seal would be the ultimate gesture of acceptance back into the Main family. The Caged Bird Seal was not so easily given, nor taken. She was one of the few who could take such a treatment successfully.

It was so easy a solution that it hurt.

It would have been, anyways, a few months ago.

She remembered Hikaru's words from long ago - I guess the blood can't lie. Hinata had tried to fit herself into a destiny that might have not have been hers. Maybe she had never needed to take the Caged Bird Seal to protect her family. But now this role was hers to play out.

Hinata bowed - not the polite motion of a servant, but the dignified movement of a nobleborn.

"I respectfully decline."

"Decline?" Hiashi echoed. "Are you sure?" He didn't seem as surprised as she'd expected.

Despite herself, her pale eyes flicked out the window. Hizashi followed her gaze, and saw Uchiha Itachi's lean figure by the gate, a slash of black ink too still to be swaying shadows of the trees. He turned his pale face towards them, and inclined his head a scant inch in acknowledgement.

A faint smile curved Hizashi's lips and he turned back to a pink-faced Hinata.

"I see," he said. He rolled the scroll up. "I won't keep you any longer. It would be quite rude of me to make you late - I know how important punctuality is to you."

Hinata ducked her head, half in embarrassment, half in gratitude.

"Hopefully," Hizashi said nonchalantly as he cleared his desk, "my grand-nieces and nephews are just as punctual as you are."

"P-p-punctual?!" Hinata gulped. "...I should…" She waved the air, as if she could shoo the awkward away. "Really…I..."

"After all, Kyokki had you when she was 22."

Hinata made a noise that was reminiscent of a whistling teakettle. The Hyuuga Head took pity on her and motioned to the door. His mischievous smirk made him look years younger.

"You are free to leave, Hinata."

AN: Hikaru's quote from chapter 53, The Last Supper - 5.