For squeak
*points to Ki's entry below* As it seems that most people are saying just to post the presents as we go, well, here's the first present I have. I guess you'd call it a "lost scene."
She got the word second hand, through her younger sister of all people. "Neji's in the hospital," the little girl announced abruptly, causing Hinata to stumble in her exercises. "He came in this morning," Hanabi continued, watching how her sister’s eyes widened and her face grew paler than normal.
"Is he-"
"Hokage-sama kept him from dying," Hanabi interrupted, "but he's blind, neesan."
"W-what?" Hinata’s fingers were laced together, squeezing each other tightly. She felt her throat constrict, her words unable to get out past the knowledge. "N-niisan . . ."
Hanabi just watched her. It took several seconds, but Hinata was finally able to see the faint trembling of her younger sister's hands. She licked her lower lip quickly, an uncharacteristic show of worry, and Hinata almost frowned, until her mind followed Neji's condition to its logical conclusion.
The Hyuuga Heir felt sick, felt the way her exercise-warmed body was suddenly so cold. She turned her face away from Hanabi, unable to look at the unmarked forehead of someone days away from bearing the seal.
"Look at me!" Hanabi's shrill voice yanked Hinata's attention back. The younger girl took a step forward, jabbing her index finger at Hinata’s chest. “Don't turn away!” Whatever control the girl had possessed, it was nearly gone now. She was shaking-from anger or fear, Hinata couldn't tell-and her breathing shuddered as well.
She stared at Hanabi for what seemed like a very long time. And when she finally spoke, Hinata was surprised at how steady her voice was. "Where’s Father?"
Hanabi's eyes narrowed. She was slowly regaining control of herself.
Hinata's voice was pleading. "Please."
"He's with the Elders," Hanabi said quietly, watching the older girl intently. Hinata fought to keep from looking away. "Why?"
"I need to . . . talk with him."
Um . . . I hope that's all right? ^^;
She got the word second hand, through her younger sister of all people. "Neji's in the hospital," the little girl announced abruptly, causing Hinata to stumble in her exercises. "He came in this morning," Hanabi continued, watching how her sister’s eyes widened and her face grew paler than normal.
"Is he-"
"Hokage-sama kept him from dying," Hanabi interrupted, "but he's blind, neesan."
"W-what?" Hinata’s fingers were laced together, squeezing each other tightly. She felt her throat constrict, her words unable to get out past the knowledge. "N-niisan . . ."
Hanabi just watched her. It took several seconds, but Hinata was finally able to see the faint trembling of her younger sister's hands. She licked her lower lip quickly, an uncharacteristic show of worry, and Hinata almost frowned, until her mind followed Neji's condition to its logical conclusion.
The Hyuuga Heir felt sick, felt the way her exercise-warmed body was suddenly so cold. She turned her face away from Hanabi, unable to look at the unmarked forehead of someone days away from bearing the seal.
"Look at me!" Hanabi's shrill voice yanked Hinata's attention back. The younger girl took a step forward, jabbing her index finger at Hinata’s chest. “Don't turn away!” Whatever control the girl had possessed, it was nearly gone now. She was shaking-from anger or fear, Hinata couldn't tell-and her breathing shuddered as well.
She stared at Hanabi for what seemed like a very long time. And when she finally spoke, Hinata was surprised at how steady her voice was. "Where’s Father?"
Hanabi's eyes narrowed. She was slowly regaining control of herself.
Hinata's voice was pleading. "Please."
"He's with the Elders," Hanabi said quietly, watching the older girl intently. Hinata fought to keep from looking away. "Why?"
"I need to . . . talk with him."
Um . . . I hope that's all right? ^^;