Epoch - Chapter 5
Epoch
Chapter 5
Epoch Chapter 5
I'll betray my tears
to anyone caught
in our ruse of fools
-Soma, Smashing Pumpkins
THANK YOU SO FREAKING MUCH CELIA! (Who deserves all the credit for that totally kick-ass line that Hinata says at the end, as well as making this chapter even readable!)
Two weeks and four days later, the mangled parts of Hyuuga Hiashi's body are returned to Konoha.
"Hinata," the Hokage says to her silent apprentice.
A monotonous syllable escapes the addressed. "Yes."
"I wasn't allowed to tell you," Tsunade says, professionally and curtly. At these moments she loathes her job and it's with a fierce, burning passion, and she counts down to the day when Naruto will take over. "About that, your father was very adamant."
"How." It is a demand. Hinata had learnt from her father how to hide tsunamis of emotion behind a wall of stoicism.
"We sent him alone on an SS mission." A hint of remorse enters the Hokage's voice.
"We?" Hinata repeats almost venomously, her wall cracking.
Tsunade says nothing. They both know she speaks of the Hyuuga elders.
Hinata knows what will come next: the customary apology, along with the knowledge that her father's death helped keep the village strong. It is a message that Hinata herself has had to deliver to many, many families on behalf of the Hokage.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. Your father's death was not in vain."
Shinobi rule number 72: Show no tears in the face of adversity.
"No." Is that her speaking? "It was not."
"I have arranged for your cousin to--
"Where is his body?" she hears herself ask. It comes out clogged. "I want to see it."
Tsunade purses her lips so tightly they whiten. "I'm afraid the Hyuuga elders are in charge of the clan now, since there was no heir apparent…"
Coldness runs through Hinata's veins. She knows exactly what Tsunade is going to say--
"I'm sorry, Hinata. You cannot see the body."
Tsunade waits a moment to let the news settle, but to her alarm, Hinata's face remains in the same frozen state.
"I see."
"The elders," she says slowly, somewhat afraid for Hinata's stability. "They've informed me you cannot pay your last respects. This is their official policy."
Hot anger simmers within Hinata. She stands up abruptly and hears herself thank the Hokage as she exits the room.
"Wait, Hinata."
Hinata turns around.
"Your father left you something," she said, handing Hinata an elaborately bound scroll. "He said in case of his death it should be immediately given to you."
Hinata grips the sheet containing her Father's last words painfully. She bows slightly in thanks and heads toward the massive door.
Before she opens it, Tsunade speaks again.
"One more thing: the official Hyuuga policy matches the Hokage's *official* policy," she stresses.
The two stare at each other.
"However, duty is always important. And your family's well-bring specifically is your duty, is it not, Hinata?"
Hinata nods, a part of her feeling just a little lighter knowing that she had the Hokage's support in taking back her rightful place in the Hyuuga home.
Hyuuga Hiashi is dead. The entire village knows it. Countless people walk to Hinata's door and offer their condolences, but only to be polite.
"Good riddance," she overhears one old lady whisper to the next.
Hinata wants to scream, throw a chair. Do they honestly think that Hinata, a kunoichi, cannot hear their whispered shouting from less than five feet away? Her breaths begin to shallow.
Next to her, Neji frowns. He coughs loudly and the self-invited "mourners" turn to look at him.
"Hinata-sama is not feeling well. Leave." He pauses. "Now." Another pause. "…Please."
Quietly, shamefully, the few people shuffle out the door. The door shuts with a small click, and Hinata cries.
She vaguely feels Neji's arms encompass her tightly, and she sees herself clutch his shirt tightly. He allows her to pull him down as she sinks to the ground.
Hours pass, and Hinata sits on the hard floor, her cousin next to her. He sits with an arm around her shoulder and they watch the sky change from a bright blue, to orange, to pink, to purple, to black.
Her father is gone. It hits her precisely the moment she remembers him attempting to train her. Never again will he train her again. Tears she thought she could no longer shed well up in her eyes.
She recalls their last meeting, and her heart breaks. If only they had more time, if only she knew him better, if only she was a better daughter. She wishes she could have been a better, better, better, better daughter.
"They won't let me attend the funeral." The seven words break the glum silence.
"What?" The word is hissed out dangerously.
"They won't let me attend the funeral," Hinata repeats tiredly, voice hoarse.
"That's ridiculous," Neji grits, shifting from his position. Her head lifts off his shoulder. "I will-
"No," she says firmly, grasping his hand. "Please don't do anything."
Neji throws her an incredulous glower. "You will just accept it?"
"I never said that," she said quietly. "The funeral is tomorrow. Today, I will see Hanabi. I will stay with her for as long as she needs." No matter what the clan says, she adds silently.
"And after that?"
"After that…after that, I will do what is necessary."
Neji's eyebrows shoot up. "Meaning what, exactly?"
"I'm not sure, exactly." She hesitates, and draws in a shuddering breath. "Read this." Hinata pulls out the folded scroll from out of her pocket.
He opens the parchment and gapes at it.
I trust you, daughter.
"Is this it? This is all he wrote?"
She nods.
"They killed him." Her voice cracks.
Confused with the abrupt change in subject matter, he just asks, "Who…?"
"The elders. Tsunade-sama said they all sent him on a SS mission. They killed him," she said mournfully, loathingly.
Neji looks at her with sympathy and something else she cannot try to fathom. "I've been down that road, Hinata." He warns. Hinata knows all too well of the ghosts that linger in his words. "It's dangerous. Find solace in the fact that your father chose to go."
"It was foolish."
"I don't think you mean it."
Hinata has always been careful of her words, and shamefully, after a pause, amends: "No, I don't. But it was still unnecessary."
"Perhaps you think so. Do you honestly think Hiashi-sama would have wanted to live the life of a man afflicted with Alzheimer's?" he asks pointedly, but gently. "Think. Can you imagine your father wanting to be taken care of for the rest of his life?"
"…No," she admits grudgingly. "He was much too prideful to allow it," she concedes.
A few minutes pass. Neji stands and offers his hand to Hinata. "We should get going. Your sister most likely wishes to see you."
Hinata nods and takes his hand. The touch sends small goose bumps down her arm, and Hinata quickly takes her arm back. "Let me get a sweater," she mumbles, clutching her hand to her chest.
Neji nods.
They walk under the night sky in silence. A few moments pass before a small sound escapes Hinata.
Immediately Neji turns to her.
"I was remembering," she says with an amused, wistful huff. "Do you remember that time when Hanabi asked Father why he didn't have breasts while Mother did?" She laughs as Neji snorts quietly. "I'll never forget his face."
"What about that time you got lost at the market? Your father couldn't see you with his byakugan, I'd never seen him so frightened…"
She laughs softly, and sadly, and reminisces with her best friend about the man she wishes she could have known better.
The Hyuuga complex is a desolate place. Hinata encounters some resistance, but a few sharp words from Hanabi (and more than a few intimidating glares from Neji) stop the guards' futile efforts.
"I'm glad you came, onee-san," Hanabi says, her rough voice the only indication of her sadness. "I didn't think you would."
"I would not abandon you at such a time, Hanabi."
"It's a good thing you're here. There is much to be done," Hanabi states, briskly walking through the hall. Hinata almost has to jog to keep up. "We have to send out word of his death-although practically everyone knows by now, and then we have to arrange the funeral time and let the Hokage know at exactly what time we're going to hold the it--
"I'm not allowed."
"Then I'll kill them," her sister responds in a heartbeat.
The older shakes her head. "That isn't such a good idea," she responds, somewhat amused at the childish response.
"That wasn't supposed to be funny," Hanabi snaps. "I meant it."
Hinata stops walking and turns to look at her sister. "What?"
"I meant it. They would deserve it," she says hatefully. "Plus, they're old. They wouldn't be able to fight back, especially if Neji-nii-san joined."
"Are you joking?" Hinata asks, appalled. "It's true that they aren't the best people, but still they wouldn't deserve it!"
Hanabi glares coldly at the towers, where the Hyuuga elders resided. "Perhaps," she responds, clearly unconvinced. Hanabi looks and acts so rash, so young, and Hinata can barely take it. How old is she? Fifteen? Sixteen? She shouldn't have to deal with this, a child living in a ridiculously adult world.
"Anyway, they don't matter. Not now," the older of the two says softly, letting out a small breath.
"Then what does matter, Onee-san?" Hanabi asks, resuming her walk. "They are the cause of everything wrong with Hyuuga."
"The future matters. Father recognized this. Eiji matters. Neji matters. You matter." She pauses. "I matter."
Hanabi swivels so fast Hinata wonders why she hasn't been taught the succession technique yet. But, she knows the implications behind the two short words are enormous.
"You mean…"
Hinata nods.
Her younger sister smiles so wide Hinata is afraid the elders will think she placed some kind of genjutsu on her. She takes Hinata's hands in her own, and Hinata starts, unused to any physical contact with her sister.
"Thank you."
And the heartfelt words are more than Hinata could have ever wanted.
Hyuuga Hiashi's funeral is attended by family only, the Hokage excluded. Invitations to the wake were sent to nobles and others who might wish to pay their respects.
The day is beautiful and bright, with a warm summer wind rustling through the windows and into Hinata's guest room. She fixes her kimono and looks out the large window, where she can see lines of her relatives walking to the funeral site.
The Main house walks in front of the Branch. Neji brings up the rear, with Hanabi leading the procession. The fact that she has not been notified of the change in time of the funeral is not lost on Hinata. Hanabi must have been kept too busy to personally notify her, while Neji must have been forbidden to inform her of the time change. Hinata purses her lips and smoothes over her kimono.
She knows what she must do.
She briskly walks out of her room, fully aware that the house was empty, and marches down the stairs and through the compound, taking a shortcut to the gates. Her breath is heavy with purpose and anger. By the time she leaves the garden-another shortcut-she has broken out into a full sprint. As she approaches the funeral site, her appearance is ragged: her white kimono is dirty, leaves and mud sticking to the bottom, but Hinata does not care.
"-was the son of Lady Yoko and Lord Hiroshi of the Great Hyuuga clan-
Hinata collects herself from her sprint. She runs her fingers through her hair and once more fixes her kimono.
"Excuse me," she tells the guard calmly. "Please let me pass."
He hesitates, but Hinata places a soft hand on his shoulder, and he lets her through.
The small movement captures the speaker's attention and he stops his eulogy and stares at Hinata. The rest of the Hyuuga clan turn to see what has disturbed the eulogist's speech. Murmurs resonate through the crowd excitedly. Hinata catches Neji's eye and he nods his head in respect.
Soon, the chatter rises, and the conflict gains the attention of the elders, who can no longer pretend to ignore the situation.
"You are not allowed here," her grandfather says to her.
"He was my father."
"By birth, but not legally. You are causing a disturbance not only to his funeral, but to his spirit. LEAVE," his voice booms. Many, too many, flinch. Hinata frowns. Her people should not be afraid of their leader.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hinata can see Hanabi subtly restrain Neji, but it is of no matter. Hinata is not shaken.
"No. You will let me see him."
"You are not allowed here," another repeats.
"You will let me see him," she says finally with a dead calm. The air stills as the Hyuuga, Branch and Main house alike, stare at Hinata. They barely recognize the woman who used to stutter her way around the house. No one breathes.
"We will not!" an elder sneers, though somewhat shaken from the unusual force Hinata speaks with.
"You will let me see him. Not because he is my father, and not because I am his daughter." Every word is enunciated clearly.
"You will concede, Honored Elders. As the next Head of Hyuuga, it is not your place to deny me this!"
There is a brief, shocked pause. But the cheers that reach the sky afterwards are deafening.
Chapter 5
Epoch Chapter 5
I'll betray my tears
to anyone caught
in our ruse of fools
-Soma, Smashing Pumpkins
THANK YOU SO FREAKING MUCH CELIA! (Who deserves all the credit for that totally kick-ass line that Hinata says at the end, as well as making this chapter even readable!)
Two weeks and four days later, the mangled parts of Hyuuga Hiashi's body are returned to Konoha.
"Hinata," the Hokage says to her silent apprentice.
A monotonous syllable escapes the addressed. "Yes."
"I wasn't allowed to tell you," Tsunade says, professionally and curtly. At these moments she loathes her job and it's with a fierce, burning passion, and she counts down to the day when Naruto will take over. "About that, your father was very adamant."
"How." It is a demand. Hinata had learnt from her father how to hide tsunamis of emotion behind a wall of stoicism.
"We sent him alone on an SS mission." A hint of remorse enters the Hokage's voice.
"We?" Hinata repeats almost venomously, her wall cracking.
Tsunade says nothing. They both know she speaks of the Hyuuga elders.
Hinata knows what will come next: the customary apology, along with the knowledge that her father's death helped keep the village strong. It is a message that Hinata herself has had to deliver to many, many families on behalf of the Hokage.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. Your father's death was not in vain."
Shinobi rule number 72: Show no tears in the face of adversity.
"No." Is that her speaking? "It was not."
"I have arranged for your cousin to--
"Where is his body?" she hears herself ask. It comes out clogged. "I want to see it."
Tsunade purses her lips so tightly they whiten. "I'm afraid the Hyuuga elders are in charge of the clan now, since there was no heir apparent…"
Coldness runs through Hinata's veins. She knows exactly what Tsunade is going to say--
"I'm sorry, Hinata. You cannot see the body."
Tsunade waits a moment to let the news settle, but to her alarm, Hinata's face remains in the same frozen state.
"I see."
"The elders," she says slowly, somewhat afraid for Hinata's stability. "They've informed me you cannot pay your last respects. This is their official policy."
Hot anger simmers within Hinata. She stands up abruptly and hears herself thank the Hokage as she exits the room.
"Wait, Hinata."
Hinata turns around.
"Your father left you something," she said, handing Hinata an elaborately bound scroll. "He said in case of his death it should be immediately given to you."
Hinata grips the sheet containing her Father's last words painfully. She bows slightly in thanks and heads toward the massive door.
Before she opens it, Tsunade speaks again.
"One more thing: the official Hyuuga policy matches the Hokage's *official* policy," she stresses.
The two stare at each other.
"However, duty is always important. And your family's well-bring specifically is your duty, is it not, Hinata?"
Hinata nods, a part of her feeling just a little lighter knowing that she had the Hokage's support in taking back her rightful place in the Hyuuga home.
Hyuuga Hiashi is dead. The entire village knows it. Countless people walk to Hinata's door and offer their condolences, but only to be polite.
"Good riddance," she overhears one old lady whisper to the next.
Hinata wants to scream, throw a chair. Do they honestly think that Hinata, a kunoichi, cannot hear their whispered shouting from less than five feet away? Her breaths begin to shallow.
Next to her, Neji frowns. He coughs loudly and the self-invited "mourners" turn to look at him.
"Hinata-sama is not feeling well. Leave." He pauses. "Now." Another pause. "…Please."
Quietly, shamefully, the few people shuffle out the door. The door shuts with a small click, and Hinata cries.
She vaguely feels Neji's arms encompass her tightly, and she sees herself clutch his shirt tightly. He allows her to pull him down as she sinks to the ground.
Hours pass, and Hinata sits on the hard floor, her cousin next to her. He sits with an arm around her shoulder and they watch the sky change from a bright blue, to orange, to pink, to purple, to black.
Her father is gone. It hits her precisely the moment she remembers him attempting to train her. Never again will he train her again. Tears she thought she could no longer shed well up in her eyes.
She recalls their last meeting, and her heart breaks. If only they had more time, if only she knew him better, if only she was a better daughter. She wishes she could have been a better, better, better, better daughter.
"They won't let me attend the funeral." The seven words break the glum silence.
"What?" The word is hissed out dangerously.
"They won't let me attend the funeral," Hinata repeats tiredly, voice hoarse.
"That's ridiculous," Neji grits, shifting from his position. Her head lifts off his shoulder. "I will-
"No," she says firmly, grasping his hand. "Please don't do anything."
Neji throws her an incredulous glower. "You will just accept it?"
"I never said that," she said quietly. "The funeral is tomorrow. Today, I will see Hanabi. I will stay with her for as long as she needs." No matter what the clan says, she adds silently.
"And after that?"
"After that…after that, I will do what is necessary."
Neji's eyebrows shoot up. "Meaning what, exactly?"
"I'm not sure, exactly." She hesitates, and draws in a shuddering breath. "Read this." Hinata pulls out the folded scroll from out of her pocket.
He opens the parchment and gapes at it.
I trust you, daughter.
"Is this it? This is all he wrote?"
She nods.
"They killed him." Her voice cracks.
Confused with the abrupt change in subject matter, he just asks, "Who…?"
"The elders. Tsunade-sama said they all sent him on a SS mission. They killed him," she said mournfully, loathingly.
Neji looks at her with sympathy and something else she cannot try to fathom. "I've been down that road, Hinata." He warns. Hinata knows all too well of the ghosts that linger in his words. "It's dangerous. Find solace in the fact that your father chose to go."
"It was foolish."
"I don't think you mean it."
Hinata has always been careful of her words, and shamefully, after a pause, amends: "No, I don't. But it was still unnecessary."
"Perhaps you think so. Do you honestly think Hiashi-sama would have wanted to live the life of a man afflicted with Alzheimer's?" he asks pointedly, but gently. "Think. Can you imagine your father wanting to be taken care of for the rest of his life?"
"…No," she admits grudgingly. "He was much too prideful to allow it," she concedes.
A few minutes pass. Neji stands and offers his hand to Hinata. "We should get going. Your sister most likely wishes to see you."
Hinata nods and takes his hand. The touch sends small goose bumps down her arm, and Hinata quickly takes her arm back. "Let me get a sweater," she mumbles, clutching her hand to her chest.
Neji nods.
They walk under the night sky in silence. A few moments pass before a small sound escapes Hinata.
Immediately Neji turns to her.
"I was remembering," she says with an amused, wistful huff. "Do you remember that time when Hanabi asked Father why he didn't have breasts while Mother did?" She laughs as Neji snorts quietly. "I'll never forget his face."
"What about that time you got lost at the market? Your father couldn't see you with his byakugan, I'd never seen him so frightened…"
She laughs softly, and sadly, and reminisces with her best friend about the man she wishes she could have known better.
The Hyuuga complex is a desolate place. Hinata encounters some resistance, but a few sharp words from Hanabi (and more than a few intimidating glares from Neji) stop the guards' futile efforts.
"I'm glad you came, onee-san," Hanabi says, her rough voice the only indication of her sadness. "I didn't think you would."
"I would not abandon you at such a time, Hanabi."
"It's a good thing you're here. There is much to be done," Hanabi states, briskly walking through the hall. Hinata almost has to jog to keep up. "We have to send out word of his death-although practically everyone knows by now, and then we have to arrange the funeral time and let the Hokage know at exactly what time we're going to hold the it--
"I'm not allowed."
"Then I'll kill them," her sister responds in a heartbeat.
The older shakes her head. "That isn't such a good idea," she responds, somewhat amused at the childish response.
"That wasn't supposed to be funny," Hanabi snaps. "I meant it."
Hinata stops walking and turns to look at her sister. "What?"
"I meant it. They would deserve it," she says hatefully. "Plus, they're old. They wouldn't be able to fight back, especially if Neji-nii-san joined."
"Are you joking?" Hinata asks, appalled. "It's true that they aren't the best people, but still they wouldn't deserve it!"
Hanabi glares coldly at the towers, where the Hyuuga elders resided. "Perhaps," she responds, clearly unconvinced. Hanabi looks and acts so rash, so young, and Hinata can barely take it. How old is she? Fifteen? Sixteen? She shouldn't have to deal with this, a child living in a ridiculously adult world.
"Anyway, they don't matter. Not now," the older of the two says softly, letting out a small breath.
"Then what does matter, Onee-san?" Hanabi asks, resuming her walk. "They are the cause of everything wrong with Hyuuga."
"The future matters. Father recognized this. Eiji matters. Neji matters. You matter." She pauses. "I matter."
Hanabi swivels so fast Hinata wonders why she hasn't been taught the succession technique yet. But, she knows the implications behind the two short words are enormous.
"You mean…"
Hinata nods.
Her younger sister smiles so wide Hinata is afraid the elders will think she placed some kind of genjutsu on her. She takes Hinata's hands in her own, and Hinata starts, unused to any physical contact with her sister.
"Thank you."
And the heartfelt words are more than Hinata could have ever wanted.
Hyuuga Hiashi's funeral is attended by family only, the Hokage excluded. Invitations to the wake were sent to nobles and others who might wish to pay their respects.
The day is beautiful and bright, with a warm summer wind rustling through the windows and into Hinata's guest room. She fixes her kimono and looks out the large window, where she can see lines of her relatives walking to the funeral site.
The Main house walks in front of the Branch. Neji brings up the rear, with Hanabi leading the procession. The fact that she has not been notified of the change in time of the funeral is not lost on Hinata. Hanabi must have been kept too busy to personally notify her, while Neji must have been forbidden to inform her of the time change. Hinata purses her lips and smoothes over her kimono.
She knows what she must do.
She briskly walks out of her room, fully aware that the house was empty, and marches down the stairs and through the compound, taking a shortcut to the gates. Her breath is heavy with purpose and anger. By the time she leaves the garden-another shortcut-she has broken out into a full sprint. As she approaches the funeral site, her appearance is ragged: her white kimono is dirty, leaves and mud sticking to the bottom, but Hinata does not care.
"-was the son of Lady Yoko and Lord Hiroshi of the Great Hyuuga clan-
Hinata collects herself from her sprint. She runs her fingers through her hair and once more fixes her kimono.
"Excuse me," she tells the guard calmly. "Please let me pass."
He hesitates, but Hinata places a soft hand on his shoulder, and he lets her through.
The small movement captures the speaker's attention and he stops his eulogy and stares at Hinata. The rest of the Hyuuga clan turn to see what has disturbed the eulogist's speech. Murmurs resonate through the crowd excitedly. Hinata catches Neji's eye and he nods his head in respect.
Soon, the chatter rises, and the conflict gains the attention of the elders, who can no longer pretend to ignore the situation.
"You are not allowed here," her grandfather says to her.
"He was my father."
"By birth, but not legally. You are causing a disturbance not only to his funeral, but to his spirit. LEAVE," his voice booms. Many, too many, flinch. Hinata frowns. Her people should not be afraid of their leader.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hinata can see Hanabi subtly restrain Neji, but it is of no matter. Hinata is not shaken.
"No. You will let me see him."
"You are not allowed here," another repeats.
"You will let me see him," she says finally with a dead calm. The air stills as the Hyuuga, Branch and Main house alike, stare at Hinata. They barely recognize the woman who used to stutter her way around the house. No one breathes.
"We will not!" an elder sneers, though somewhat shaken from the unusual force Hinata speaks with.
"You will let me see him. Not because he is my father, and not because I am his daughter." Every word is enunciated clearly.
"You will concede, Honored Elders. As the next Head of Hyuuga, it is not your place to deny me this!"
There is a brief, shocked pause. But the cheers that reach the sky afterwards are deafening.