Epoch - Chapter 4
Epoch Chapter 4
Epoch Chapter 4 (Betaed!)
Quick note. Haha, I just watched a youtube clip where Neji and Tenten were describing the Hyuuga clan, and she asked him what Hinata's younger sister's name was, and he almost forgot. XD. oh Neji you crack me up.
Also, I got the liver metaphor from Barbara Kingsolver. You guys need to read her stuff, she's brilliant.
Thanks to my awesome beta-reader Celia, who made this SO much better than the unbetaed draft. It's much, much better. Thank you sooo much!!
Do you fancy I am in a better condition than you are, and do you think that I should fail to weep if I could dine on my tears? It is not a question of weeping, but of finding our way.
--Jean Jacques Rousseau, Émile, Or Treatise on Education
There is a knock at his door. "Come in," Hiashi states flatly, with all the regality of a nobleman.
A lanky servant walks in. He looks like he's only thirteen, just entering the initial stages of awkwardness that will take years to overcome. "Here is your agenda for today, sir."
Hiashi nods. The child's awkward, trembling mannerisms remind him of Hinata, who has left the clan. It annoys him. "You may leave," he says, each utterance a sharp razor. With those three words, the servant scampers away.
Hiashi looks down at the date on the scroll.
8 January
He realizes with a jolt that today is his birthday. He will receive an ornate card this year from the Hokage's office. They do it to remain cordial. He will receive an elaborately decorated card from the branch house. They do it because they fear him. He will receive a few short words from Hanabi. She does it because she hasn't been taught anything different.
This year he will not receive the homemade card he knows Hinata would spend hours on. She'd done it because she loved him. The realization slashes at him, deep in his heart.
Hiashi will forever remember this as the moment he acknowledged he may have taken his daughter for granted.
His eyes are not entirely dry.
Cool, dry fingers softly stroke her cheek.
"Get up, Hinata-sama. You are needed."
She hazily sighs and turns into the palm she knows is Neji's. "Five more minutes," she mumbles.
"I'm afraid not, Hinata-sama. Your father is waiting for you."
Hinata's eyes snap open. How could she forget? "What happened?" she asks, scanning her environment carefully. Hinata wonders incredulously what could have landed her in a hospital bed.
"You fainted."
"Ah." She'd thought she'd been rid of that embarrassing tendency as adolescence passed. She kicks away the itchy, pristine white sheets tangled around her legs, trying in vain to ignore the way her inner organs squelch. They don't want to see her father, either, Hinata thinks distantly. He's inflicted enough damage on them in her early training days, and a direct hit to the liver is not easily forgotten. It took years for her heart to completely forgive Neji, and Hinata wonders how long it will take her liver to forgive her father.
Neji hands a bottle of water to Hinata; she accepts it gratefully. A bout of dizziness passes over her briefly as she stands up.
"You should sit for a few minutes and regain your strength."
Hinata already knows this, as a medic, and a brief flash of annoyance passes through her. But her cousin is only trying to help her, and lashing out won't help anyone. Besides, she reminds herself grimly, Neji is most definitely not the root of her problems. So she nods and he heads out of the room momentarily.
What could Hiashi possibly want to say to her? Hinata could not even begin to think of-oh. Right. Eiji. Of course Hiashi would berate her for coming into contact with her younger cousin.
Nothing escaped her father's cold, white eyes.
Does he know she lives with Neji? Would he yell at her for living with Neji if he did? A hot blush takes over her face and runs down her body. What if he thinks she and Neji live together because of intimate reasons? It was not uncommon at all for Hyuuga to intermarry-rather, it was more common than not. Hinata honestly hopes he will berate her instead of question her living situation; at least that she would deserve.
Neji comes back into the room. "I have informed Hiashi-sama that you are awake and ready to meet him."
Only half of that sentence is true, she thinks with trepidation. Hinata shrugs off her slump and looks ahead with false determination.
"Let's go. He's waiting in Tsunade-sama's office."
She doesn't think she'll ever really be ready to meet him.
Hiashi waits motionlessly in the Hokage's office. She has just confirmed what only the most trusted Hyuuga nurses have been saying for months, nearly over a year. As she tells him of his dementia, he sees the judgmental gleam fade from her eyes-YOU ARE A MONSTER, they'd shouted-and Hiashi thinks it is most unprofessional for her to shove her beliefs onto him, despite how subtly she thinks she does it. She knows nothing of his struggles. It is no matter, however. Through the years Hiashi has learned that even the most undeserving feel they have the right to criticize him.
"Hinata will be here momentarily."
"Why is she not here now?"
"She fainted." It comes out accusingly. Hiashi is surprised. Does the Hokage have a soft spot for his daughter?
Hiashi knows he terrifies Hinata. But daughters should not fear their fathers so. He feels a flicker of guilt, self-hatred, bitterness. It disappears before Tsunade can judge him once more. He knows she is watching him for some sign of remorse. He will not indulge her.
"I see."
"Hiashi-san." Her grave tone draws his attention. "What do you want with Hinata? She is healing miraculously from the mental abuse she sustained while under your roof. I will not have one of my best medic-nin under more distress if I can help it."
"Meaning what, exactly?" Hiashi challenges with an eyebrow raised. Tsunade has no legal right to interfere in clan matters.
"Meaning I will do whatever I can to ensure Hinata a semblance of mental happiness."
"She is a kunoichi," he replies dismissively, concisely. Tsunade knows the meaning behind those cold words.
"Just because kunoichi are trained to deal with difficult situations does not mean that they throw themselves onto the path of unhappiness," she argues. "Hinata's happiness-which is a direct result of her humanity-is what makes her a great medic."
Hiashi doesn't bother with a reply. He knows everything she says is true, and he knows that her humanity also cost Hinata her own birthright.
He also knows Hinata's humanity is the reason he will beg her to come back to save their deteriorating clan.
"What do you want with her?" Tsunade stresses once more.
"That is strictly between my daughter and I," he replies smoothly.
She fiercely glares at him, knowing she has no jurisdiction over clan matters. There is a light rap on the door. Tsunade sighs and Hiashi maintains his cool façade with practiced ease. He's worn the same face for so long he doesn't even have to put in effort anymore. Briefly he wonders how Hinata would react if she could read every emotion hidden in the deep recesses of his heart. Would she bother to peel away all the layers, and then try to stitch it back together? She shouldn't bother. On her deathbed Hanae had told him that his heart was more like a liver. It has the ability to regenerate itself over a long period of time, but the foundation, the tissue is very weak. Attempt to forcibly mend it back together and it will just tear apart, over and over again.
"Enter."
The door opens, and Hiashi's heart--or liver, whatever is there--palpitates so loud and so hard he's surprised the Hokage cannot hear it.
Her face is white. Her breath is short. Neji can clearly see she's going to faint again.
"Calm down, Hinata-sama," he tells her. "It will be okay."
"There is nothing he can say that I have not already prepared myself to hear."
Neji highly doubts that. He can think of a lot of things Hiashi can say, and none of them is Hinata prepared to hear. "Are you ready?" They're standing at the Hokage's door, and all that's left to do is to knock.
"Yes."
It's a lie, he knows. But she is a ninja, and she needs to face her own fears. He wishes he could stay and give her strength to face her father, but she must do it alone. She will forgive him when he leaves, anyway, because she is Hinata, and she will save her clan.
He's sure of it. He knocks on the large wooden door.
The room is silent as Hinata enters after Neji. Suddenly Hizashi is in the room with Hanae. Why does Hanae look at him with such fear in her eyes? Why does she cower behind his brother? What has he done?
He turns and looks at the Hokage, whose image jerks him out of his fog. Tsunade is Hokage now, not Sarutobi. It is not Hanae and Hizashi standing in front of him, but Hinata and Neji. Hinata looks so much like her mother it will take a conscious effort to remember she is Hinata. How he has regressed. It disgusts him.
"Tsunade-sama," his daughter greets, her voice shaky. "Hiashi-sama." It comes out choked.
Hiashi ignores the greeting and instead nods to Neji, who understands. "I take my leave." Neji patiently waits for Hinata to unclench her fist from his shirt. Hinata understands as well, and she won't hold any grudges against her cousin, no matter how much she wishes he could stay. Tsunade squeezes Hinata's shoulder briefly and exits along with Neji.
And then there's just silence, and Hiashi does not know what to do to break it. The second hand on the large clock on the adjacent wall ticks louder and louder with each tense second. Hinata cannot breathe, and Hiashi will not.
How does one try to convince their wronged daughter they loved her throughout her whole life, and not simply having started when she began to be successful?
How does one go about asking a wronged heiress to come back to the clan, because they are desperate?
How does a father beg forgiveness for mistakes so terrible they affect the base of his daughter's psyche?
Hiashi wonders why ninja bother having families. It is senseless to love anyone else so much.
Hinata stands at the doorway for a full two minutes before she has the courage to break the terrible silence.
"You called for me."
"Yes."
There's silence for a few seconds. Hiashi then says: "You fared well these few years."
Hiashi knows everything that had happened to Hinata in the years she has been away from the Hyuuga mansion.
"Y-yes," she stutters, surprised at the statement. "I'm a jounin now. And a medic-nin." She doesn't know why she still aches for his approval. In all likeliness he wouldn't care.
"I know."
"O-oh. How…?"
"Hokage-sama sent letters informing me of both when they occurred."
"Oh." There's an awkward silence. "Hiashi-sama, did you--
"Hinata." His voice comes out stronger than he would have liked, and she flinches. She gazes at him expectantly. Hinata can barely hide the fear in her eyes.
"You will address me properly."
Hinata's face slackens with confusion.
"You may have left the house but I will not tolerate that disrespect from you. I am your father regardless of what has happened."
The green scar etched into Hinata's forehead burns. "You disowned me." The three words are powerful, and are enough for Hiashi to understand. She will no longer call him Father until she can forgive him.
His face hardens. "You disowned yourself."
Hinata's righteous indignation gives her courage. "I may have induced the action, but I stopped being considered part of the clan the minute you let me live with Kurenai-sensei."
Hiashi's eyes begin to burn with icy anger. Is this what she thinks? That love is so easily thrown away? Hinata will be taught a lesson before they leave this room. He will make sure of it.
"You were weak. You needed to leave and receive adequate training. I could obviously teach you nothing."
"You called me worthless!" The accusation is ripped from the core of Hinata's soul.
Hiashi's lips thin in displeasure. This confrontation is not going the way he had imagined. He was supposed to apologize, she was supposed to accept, and then he was to take her back to the mansion so she could claim her birthright. But Hinata is not a one-dimensional character, and she never was, and for the first time Hiashi truly acknowledges that.
"Yes. I did." In fact, he had called her worthless on several more occasions. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say he had called her such on a hundred more occasions. They were grievous mistakes, and a simple apology would not erase years of emotional abuse.
Apologizing is difficult for Hiashi. But for his deteriorating family, for his scarred daughter, he will swallow his pride and beg for Hinata's forgiveness.
"There are some things you need to know, Hinata."
Hinata's throat burns with the force of withheld emotion. Of course it would be too much for Hiashi to apologize.
Hiashi uses his cane to help lower himself into a nearby seat. His knees crack, and Hinata is struck by how much he has aged in the past few years.
"You must come back. It is imperative."
"I will not," she spits bitterly.
Hinata doesn't know who is more surprised by her immediate response. Her father shakes his head. "You must. Let me finish," he says sharply, as Hinata opens her mouth. She despairs. Hinata doesn't want to fall in their old dynamic again.
"Hokage-sama has just confirmed that I am afflicted with senile dementia."
Hinata's eyes widen. "Alzheimer's?"
"That is the common name, I believe."
The medic in Hinata kicks in. "How far has it progressed?"
"Hokage-sama believes stage two."
Are those unshed tears lingering in her eyes for him? Hinata's mouth puckers in effort to keep her emotions back. Hn. Her heart is softer than Hiashi remembers. She is still too easy to read. But this can be remedied easily, and Neji can teach her when he himself will soon not be able to.
"Nothing can be done at this point, then," she tells him.
He nods. "So she has said."
"I'm sorry."
He ignores it. She has nothing to be sorry for. He has never understood her childhood habit of apologizing for things she is not responsible for. It is highly unbefitting of the next Hyuuga head.
"Hokage-sama has also confirmed that she will retire within the next year. Her successor is to be Uzumaki Naruto."
Hinata looks happy but confused. She has no idea what Naruto's ascension to Hokage-dom has with her coming back to the clan.
"With the inauguration of Uzumaki Naruto, everything will change. The Hyuuga will never last if we continue the way we are. The elders are already planning a protest, and they are in the process of collecting as many allies as they can."
"You have Hanabi to take your place, Otou-sama." One of a thousand burdens is lifted off of Hiashi's chest as Hinata recognizes him once more as her father.
"She can never take my place. She has been reared to deal with politics by the elders. She will not lead successfully."
"If she does not lead successfully, it will be because you didn't support her," Hinata explains gently, her anger towards her father diminished somewhat in the face of his illness.
"My support can do nothing," he says contemptuously. He can barely support himself right now. Soon, he will be completely useless. He only hopes he can die with pride, before his mind completely leaves him. "Hanabi only knows the way of the Hyuuga. She cannot adapt to lead with the next Hokage and the elders. She also is not particularly loved by the Branch house. Only you can do this, daughter."
Hiashi grabs his cane. Very slowly, he lowers himself onto the floor.
"What are you doing? No. Get up, please get up!" Hinata cannot deal with this. Her father cannot possibly be bowing down to her. He cannot. It would go against everything Hinata imagines her father to stand for.
One bone cracks after another, and eventually Hiashi is able to prostrate himself before his daughter.
"Hinata…For every unnecessarily unkind word…for every mistreatment…for every pain I put you through…I beg your forgiveness."
Hinata stares at her father.
This must be a dream…
Images of his past cruelties flash through her head.
This must be a dream.
Unwelcome tears spill over.
This must be a dream.
"Hanabi came over yesterday."
This must be a dream!
"She bowed to me too."
This must be dream, this must be a dream!
"She wants me to come back."
This must be a dream
"This must be a dream."
"It is not." His voice is oddly gruff. The reassurance evokes more emotion in Hinata, but she fights it and calms herself over a few minutes. She takes in a shaky breath, and exhales. She can cry later.
"Please get up." When getting up proves to be difficult for Hiashi, she crosses the room and helps him.
A barrier has been broken, and for once, Hyuuga Hiashi does not mind.
A timid knock disturbs the peace. Shizune enters the office. She smiles uncertainly, glancing between the two Hyuuga.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, Hiashi-sama, Hinata." She turns to Hiashi and gives him a slip of paper. "I have a message for you. You're needed at the Hyuuga estate."
"I have not forgotten," he says dismissively, throwing the small scroll in the dustbin. "I will depart shortly." Shizune nods and closes the door behind her.
Hiashi turns to Hinata. "I must leave. Please consider my words. It is of the utmost importance that you come back."
Hinata looks away. She does not wanting to see disappointment in her father's identical white eyes. "You cannot possibly expect me to make my decision today."
Hiashi stares hard at his daughter. "Your family needs you."
"I will let you know within a month," she says with finality. It is a political answer. Hiashi refrains from nodding in approval.
"I hope you come to an agreeable answer sooner than that, Hinata. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Father."
Epoch Chapter 4 (Betaed!)
Quick note. Haha, I just watched a youtube clip where Neji and Tenten were describing the Hyuuga clan, and she asked him what Hinata's younger sister's name was, and he almost forgot. XD. oh Neji you crack me up.
Also, I got the liver metaphor from Barbara Kingsolver. You guys need to read her stuff, she's brilliant.
Thanks to my awesome beta-reader Celia, who made this SO much better than the unbetaed draft. It's much, much better. Thank you sooo much!!
Do you fancy I am in a better condition than you are, and do you think that I should fail to weep if I could dine on my tears? It is not a question of weeping, but of finding our way.
--Jean Jacques Rousseau, Émile, Or Treatise on Education
There is a knock at his door. "Come in," Hiashi states flatly, with all the regality of a nobleman.
A lanky servant walks in. He looks like he's only thirteen, just entering the initial stages of awkwardness that will take years to overcome. "Here is your agenda for today, sir."
Hiashi nods. The child's awkward, trembling mannerisms remind him of Hinata, who has left the clan. It annoys him. "You may leave," he says, each utterance a sharp razor. With those three words, the servant scampers away.
Hiashi looks down at the date on the scroll.
8 January
He realizes with a jolt that today is his birthday. He will receive an ornate card this year from the Hokage's office. They do it to remain cordial. He will receive an elaborately decorated card from the branch house. They do it because they fear him. He will receive a few short words from Hanabi. She does it because she hasn't been taught anything different.
This year he will not receive the homemade card he knows Hinata would spend hours on. She'd done it because she loved him. The realization slashes at him, deep in his heart.
Hiashi will forever remember this as the moment he acknowledged he may have taken his daughter for granted.
His eyes are not entirely dry.
Cool, dry fingers softly stroke her cheek.
"Get up, Hinata-sama. You are needed."
She hazily sighs and turns into the palm she knows is Neji's. "Five more minutes," she mumbles.
"I'm afraid not, Hinata-sama. Your father is waiting for you."
Hinata's eyes snap open. How could she forget? "What happened?" she asks, scanning her environment carefully. Hinata wonders incredulously what could have landed her in a hospital bed.
"You fainted."
"Ah." She'd thought she'd been rid of that embarrassing tendency as adolescence passed. She kicks away the itchy, pristine white sheets tangled around her legs, trying in vain to ignore the way her inner organs squelch. They don't want to see her father, either, Hinata thinks distantly. He's inflicted enough damage on them in her early training days, and a direct hit to the liver is not easily forgotten. It took years for her heart to completely forgive Neji, and Hinata wonders how long it will take her liver to forgive her father.
Neji hands a bottle of water to Hinata; she accepts it gratefully. A bout of dizziness passes over her briefly as she stands up.
"You should sit for a few minutes and regain your strength."
Hinata already knows this, as a medic, and a brief flash of annoyance passes through her. But her cousin is only trying to help her, and lashing out won't help anyone. Besides, she reminds herself grimly, Neji is most definitely not the root of her problems. So she nods and he heads out of the room momentarily.
What could Hiashi possibly want to say to her? Hinata could not even begin to think of-oh. Right. Eiji. Of course Hiashi would berate her for coming into contact with her younger cousin.
Nothing escaped her father's cold, white eyes.
Does he know she lives with Neji? Would he yell at her for living with Neji if he did? A hot blush takes over her face and runs down her body. What if he thinks she and Neji live together because of intimate reasons? It was not uncommon at all for Hyuuga to intermarry-rather, it was more common than not. Hinata honestly hopes he will berate her instead of question her living situation; at least that she would deserve.
Neji comes back into the room. "I have informed Hiashi-sama that you are awake and ready to meet him."
Only half of that sentence is true, she thinks with trepidation. Hinata shrugs off her slump and looks ahead with false determination.
"Let's go. He's waiting in Tsunade-sama's office."
She doesn't think she'll ever really be ready to meet him.
Hiashi waits motionlessly in the Hokage's office. She has just confirmed what only the most trusted Hyuuga nurses have been saying for months, nearly over a year. As she tells him of his dementia, he sees the judgmental gleam fade from her eyes-YOU ARE A MONSTER, they'd shouted-and Hiashi thinks it is most unprofessional for her to shove her beliefs onto him, despite how subtly she thinks she does it. She knows nothing of his struggles. It is no matter, however. Through the years Hiashi has learned that even the most undeserving feel they have the right to criticize him.
"Hinata will be here momentarily."
"Why is she not here now?"
"She fainted." It comes out accusingly. Hiashi is surprised. Does the Hokage have a soft spot for his daughter?
Hiashi knows he terrifies Hinata. But daughters should not fear their fathers so. He feels a flicker of guilt, self-hatred, bitterness. It disappears before Tsunade can judge him once more. He knows she is watching him for some sign of remorse. He will not indulge her.
"I see."
"Hiashi-san." Her grave tone draws his attention. "What do you want with Hinata? She is healing miraculously from the mental abuse she sustained while under your roof. I will not have one of my best medic-nin under more distress if I can help it."
"Meaning what, exactly?" Hiashi challenges with an eyebrow raised. Tsunade has no legal right to interfere in clan matters.
"Meaning I will do whatever I can to ensure Hinata a semblance of mental happiness."
"She is a kunoichi," he replies dismissively, concisely. Tsunade knows the meaning behind those cold words.
"Just because kunoichi are trained to deal with difficult situations does not mean that they throw themselves onto the path of unhappiness," she argues. "Hinata's happiness-which is a direct result of her humanity-is what makes her a great medic."
Hiashi doesn't bother with a reply. He knows everything she says is true, and he knows that her humanity also cost Hinata her own birthright.
He also knows Hinata's humanity is the reason he will beg her to come back to save their deteriorating clan.
"What do you want with her?" Tsunade stresses once more.
"That is strictly between my daughter and I," he replies smoothly.
She fiercely glares at him, knowing she has no jurisdiction over clan matters. There is a light rap on the door. Tsunade sighs and Hiashi maintains his cool façade with practiced ease. He's worn the same face for so long he doesn't even have to put in effort anymore. Briefly he wonders how Hinata would react if she could read every emotion hidden in the deep recesses of his heart. Would she bother to peel away all the layers, and then try to stitch it back together? She shouldn't bother. On her deathbed Hanae had told him that his heart was more like a liver. It has the ability to regenerate itself over a long period of time, but the foundation, the tissue is very weak. Attempt to forcibly mend it back together and it will just tear apart, over and over again.
"Enter."
The door opens, and Hiashi's heart--or liver, whatever is there--palpitates so loud and so hard he's surprised the Hokage cannot hear it.
Her face is white. Her breath is short. Neji can clearly see she's going to faint again.
"Calm down, Hinata-sama," he tells her. "It will be okay."
"There is nothing he can say that I have not already prepared myself to hear."
Neji highly doubts that. He can think of a lot of things Hiashi can say, and none of them is Hinata prepared to hear. "Are you ready?" They're standing at the Hokage's door, and all that's left to do is to knock.
"Yes."
It's a lie, he knows. But she is a ninja, and she needs to face her own fears. He wishes he could stay and give her strength to face her father, but she must do it alone. She will forgive him when he leaves, anyway, because she is Hinata, and she will save her clan.
He's sure of it. He knocks on the large wooden door.
The room is silent as Hinata enters after Neji. Suddenly Hizashi is in the room with Hanae. Why does Hanae look at him with such fear in her eyes? Why does she cower behind his brother? What has he done?
He turns and looks at the Hokage, whose image jerks him out of his fog. Tsunade is Hokage now, not Sarutobi. It is not Hanae and Hizashi standing in front of him, but Hinata and Neji. Hinata looks so much like her mother it will take a conscious effort to remember she is Hinata. How he has regressed. It disgusts him.
"Tsunade-sama," his daughter greets, her voice shaky. "Hiashi-sama." It comes out choked.
Hiashi ignores the greeting and instead nods to Neji, who understands. "I take my leave." Neji patiently waits for Hinata to unclench her fist from his shirt. Hinata understands as well, and she won't hold any grudges against her cousin, no matter how much she wishes he could stay. Tsunade squeezes Hinata's shoulder briefly and exits along with Neji.
And then there's just silence, and Hiashi does not know what to do to break it. The second hand on the large clock on the adjacent wall ticks louder and louder with each tense second. Hinata cannot breathe, and Hiashi will not.
How does one try to convince their wronged daughter they loved her throughout her whole life, and not simply having started when she began to be successful?
How does one go about asking a wronged heiress to come back to the clan, because they are desperate?
How does a father beg forgiveness for mistakes so terrible they affect the base of his daughter's psyche?
Hiashi wonders why ninja bother having families. It is senseless to love anyone else so much.
Hinata stands at the doorway for a full two minutes before she has the courage to break the terrible silence.
"You called for me."
"Yes."
There's silence for a few seconds. Hiashi then says: "You fared well these few years."
Hiashi knows everything that had happened to Hinata in the years she has been away from the Hyuuga mansion.
"Y-yes," she stutters, surprised at the statement. "I'm a jounin now. And a medic-nin." She doesn't know why she still aches for his approval. In all likeliness he wouldn't care.
"I know."
"O-oh. How…?"
"Hokage-sama sent letters informing me of both when they occurred."
"Oh." There's an awkward silence. "Hiashi-sama, did you--
"Hinata." His voice comes out stronger than he would have liked, and she flinches. She gazes at him expectantly. Hinata can barely hide the fear in her eyes.
"You will address me properly."
Hinata's face slackens with confusion.
"You may have left the house but I will not tolerate that disrespect from you. I am your father regardless of what has happened."
The green scar etched into Hinata's forehead burns. "You disowned me." The three words are powerful, and are enough for Hiashi to understand. She will no longer call him Father until she can forgive him.
His face hardens. "You disowned yourself."
Hinata's righteous indignation gives her courage. "I may have induced the action, but I stopped being considered part of the clan the minute you let me live with Kurenai-sensei."
Hiashi's eyes begin to burn with icy anger. Is this what she thinks? That love is so easily thrown away? Hinata will be taught a lesson before they leave this room. He will make sure of it.
"You were weak. You needed to leave and receive adequate training. I could obviously teach you nothing."
"You called me worthless!" The accusation is ripped from the core of Hinata's soul.
Hiashi's lips thin in displeasure. This confrontation is not going the way he had imagined. He was supposed to apologize, she was supposed to accept, and then he was to take her back to the mansion so she could claim her birthright. But Hinata is not a one-dimensional character, and she never was, and for the first time Hiashi truly acknowledges that.
"Yes. I did." In fact, he had called her worthless on several more occasions. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say he had called her such on a hundred more occasions. They were grievous mistakes, and a simple apology would not erase years of emotional abuse.
Apologizing is difficult for Hiashi. But for his deteriorating family, for his scarred daughter, he will swallow his pride and beg for Hinata's forgiveness.
"There are some things you need to know, Hinata."
Hinata's throat burns with the force of withheld emotion. Of course it would be too much for Hiashi to apologize.
Hiashi uses his cane to help lower himself into a nearby seat. His knees crack, and Hinata is struck by how much he has aged in the past few years.
"You must come back. It is imperative."
"I will not," she spits bitterly.
Hinata doesn't know who is more surprised by her immediate response. Her father shakes his head. "You must. Let me finish," he says sharply, as Hinata opens her mouth. She despairs. Hinata doesn't want to fall in their old dynamic again.
"Hokage-sama has just confirmed that I am afflicted with senile dementia."
Hinata's eyes widen. "Alzheimer's?"
"That is the common name, I believe."
The medic in Hinata kicks in. "How far has it progressed?"
"Hokage-sama believes stage two."
Are those unshed tears lingering in her eyes for him? Hinata's mouth puckers in effort to keep her emotions back. Hn. Her heart is softer than Hiashi remembers. She is still too easy to read. But this can be remedied easily, and Neji can teach her when he himself will soon not be able to.
"Nothing can be done at this point, then," she tells him.
He nods. "So she has said."
"I'm sorry."
He ignores it. She has nothing to be sorry for. He has never understood her childhood habit of apologizing for things she is not responsible for. It is highly unbefitting of the next Hyuuga head.
"Hokage-sama has also confirmed that she will retire within the next year. Her successor is to be Uzumaki Naruto."
Hinata looks happy but confused. She has no idea what Naruto's ascension to Hokage-dom has with her coming back to the clan.
"With the inauguration of Uzumaki Naruto, everything will change. The Hyuuga will never last if we continue the way we are. The elders are already planning a protest, and they are in the process of collecting as many allies as they can."
"You have Hanabi to take your place, Otou-sama." One of a thousand burdens is lifted off of Hiashi's chest as Hinata recognizes him once more as her father.
"She can never take my place. She has been reared to deal with politics by the elders. She will not lead successfully."
"If she does not lead successfully, it will be because you didn't support her," Hinata explains gently, her anger towards her father diminished somewhat in the face of his illness.
"My support can do nothing," he says contemptuously. He can barely support himself right now. Soon, he will be completely useless. He only hopes he can die with pride, before his mind completely leaves him. "Hanabi only knows the way of the Hyuuga. She cannot adapt to lead with the next Hokage and the elders. She also is not particularly loved by the Branch house. Only you can do this, daughter."
Hiashi grabs his cane. Very slowly, he lowers himself onto the floor.
"What are you doing? No. Get up, please get up!" Hinata cannot deal with this. Her father cannot possibly be bowing down to her. He cannot. It would go against everything Hinata imagines her father to stand for.
One bone cracks after another, and eventually Hiashi is able to prostrate himself before his daughter.
"Hinata…For every unnecessarily unkind word…for every mistreatment…for every pain I put you through…I beg your forgiveness."
Hinata stares at her father.
This must be a dream…
Images of his past cruelties flash through her head.
This must be a dream.
Unwelcome tears spill over.
This must be a dream.
"Hanabi came over yesterday."
This must be a dream!
"She bowed to me too."
This must be dream, this must be a dream!
"She wants me to come back."
This must be a dream
"This must be a dream."
"It is not." His voice is oddly gruff. The reassurance evokes more emotion in Hinata, but she fights it and calms herself over a few minutes. She takes in a shaky breath, and exhales. She can cry later.
"Please get up." When getting up proves to be difficult for Hiashi, she crosses the room and helps him.
A barrier has been broken, and for once, Hyuuga Hiashi does not mind.
A timid knock disturbs the peace. Shizune enters the office. She smiles uncertainly, glancing between the two Hyuuga.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, Hiashi-sama, Hinata." She turns to Hiashi and gives him a slip of paper. "I have a message for you. You're needed at the Hyuuga estate."
"I have not forgotten," he says dismissively, throwing the small scroll in the dustbin. "I will depart shortly." Shizune nods and closes the door behind her.
Hiashi turns to Hinata. "I must leave. Please consider my words. It is of the utmost importance that you come back."
Hinata looks away. She does not wanting to see disappointment in her father's identical white eyes. "You cannot possibly expect me to make my decision today."
Hiashi stares hard at his daughter. "Your family needs you."
"I will let you know within a month," she says with finality. It is a political answer. Hiashi refrains from nodding in approval.
"I hope you come to an agreeable answer sooner than that, Hinata. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Father."