A/N: Ahh, I knew it would come to this, I am lagging a few days behind the prompt schedule now. I am sorry guys! :)
I will do my best to catch up, but not compromise the story in the process. I hope you enjoy this chapter, even though the subject at hand is a heavy one. Approximate ages of Hinata and Hanabi are 22 and 17 respectively.
I am again very thankful to everyone who has supported this story so far, every review brings a smile to my face. Written for Day 20 - "A shared bed"
The chill of the night entered through the ajar sliding door. This winter had been unusually warm, but the nights were still long and bitter. The moon's dim light poured in through the shoji. The shadows cast by the wooden frame spilled into the traditional rooms of the compound. It makes it look like we are caged.
Say, nee-sama, do you ever feel like that? Hanabi raised her head from Hinata's chest and looked up at her. Hinata's hand stopped combing through her hair. Milky white eyes were barely distinguishable under the veil of the night. Clouds must have started to build up and dim the moon's shine even further.
"Everything okay?"
"Father is such a jerk!"
Gasps from the veranda. Hanabi cringed. Were they ever alone here?
Hinata's face stayed impassive, as she untangled herself from the bed, stood up and closed the sliding door louder than etiquette would permit. Hanabi chuckled. Her sister had perfected the passive-aggressive Hyuuga style of communication.
"Oh, he is," Hinata finally replied. Objects clattered against the drawer and Hanabi raised herself on her elbows to inquire. Hinata must be looking for something in the drawer underneath her desk. Light engulfed the room, dispelling the soft cage-like shadow pattern. Hanabi squinted to get adjusted to the light. The bed dipped again under her elder sister's weight, as she returned.
"Ahhh, I'm jealous! You can finally leave this shithole!" Hanabi let herself fall on her back, splaying over the bed. Her sister's hand reached for hers. Hanabi didn't have to look Hinata's way to know how guilt ridden her eyes were.
"Nee-sama, I told you, I am happy for you. Please stop feeling guilty." She turned her head on the mattress to finally face Hinata, who seemed to be biting her lower lip again. Okay, change of topics.
"Father wants me to give up my ANBU position," Hanabi finally vented. The nerves of this man. "He says my precious life can't be put in danger because of succession and all these things. Bah!"
"He is right."
Hanabi gasped in shock. "Not you too! You will soon have Uchiha babies! I know father wants a pure blood–"
"I can't have children," Hinata barely got out, interrupting her.
What did she mean? Biologically or didn't want to? Hanabi knew better than to ask and let the news sink in. Nee-sama would never be a mother? But to her, she was the closest she had known to a motherly figure. She couldn't imagine such a scenario.
Her eyes must have been the size of saucers, because Hinata felt the need to continue. "I am biologically unable to. During Pain's attack, I have sustained… serious damage to my pelvic region," she said, hands pressed around her lower abdomen. Hanabi was left like a fish on dry land, gasping for oxygen. Why didn't anyone let her know know? Probably to protect her…
"It can't be healed?"
She shook her head. "Father has known this for the past six years, ever since the extent of the damage was clear. I am sorry for the burden you must carry," she said, looking to the side.
It made so much sense. Hinata had never been pawned around as a political bride. That must be why her father didn't give her shit for dating an Uchiha! Around six years ago, her own ascension as heir of Hyuuga was finally decided... How much had Hinata suffered? And all that on her own… Hanabi's eyes pooled with unshed tears, as she fiercely went in to hug her sister.
"Shut up, dumbass!" was everything she could get out between hiccups and tears which started to shed. Hinata wrapped her in her arms until her emotions subsided.
"Does…?" Sasuke know was left unsaid, and Hanabi found herself being insecure, not knowing for once in her life how to ask things bluntly.
"Sasuke knows about my… predicament." Hanabi removed herself to look her sister straight in the eye.
"He does…?"
Hinata smiled gently. "Of course. Given the fact that he is the last Uchiha, I figured it would be important to state my… condition from the beginning."
"On your first date?"
"Kind of."
"Nee-sama, you're such a romantic!" Hanabi jabbed, eyes still wet from tears. Why do I always put my foot in my mouth?
Hinata giggled. Good. "I think it's part of why things could have worked between us in the end."
"No 'offspring', no politics?" Hanabi raised a brow. "So you're saying I'll be the breeding cow of the family?"
Both sisters laughed wholeheartedly. Hanabi's heart was still heavy, but seeing her elder sister smile, she felt better. Now she was finally old enough to understand and share the burden.
"Sasuke was vehement about not wanting children with an unknown new dōjutsu, or even bearing the Sharingan, nor, Kami forbid, the Byakugan. We thought that if we wanted children, we could always adopt."
Hanabi looked at her sister knowingly. Children born into clans such as theirs never had an option regarding their lives. They had to train from a young age to protect eyes they did not ask for. It is a tough hand to be dealt. Especially if you are born with a new breed of eyes, shinobi on all continents might desire.
"Nee-sama, it looks like you found yourself a good man." She meant it. Her sister's eyes looked glossy and it seemed like it would be her time to comfort her back. Hanabi felt tears of her own, which she couldn't quite explain.
And cuddled like that in their bed after baring their hearts, Hanabi knew that tonight marked the end of a chapter. Nee-sama would move out. She would from now on share a bed with… Sasuke. Her face burned just from that thought alone. Yeah, she'll need a few more weeks to be able to tease her elder sister about that.
Up next: Naruto is... jealous? A bit of fluff after this chapter is coming your way, so stay tuned for the next one! :D