Chapter Text
It was his birthday today. He had woken up due to the chill, carefully he extricated himself from the heavy blanket and paddled towards the window— taking note of the slight crack. Hisaki frowned— somehow it felt like a bad omen of sorts.
The sound of running footfalls faintly echoed, before Hisaki could fully react, a figure bursted in his room.
“Happy Birthday!” Hanabi bellowed, Hisaki swore he felt the ground shake. She strides cheerfully wrapping him in a crushing hug.
“Auntie!” He protested. That got a pout from her, “But you like it when Neji hugs you..” she complained.
“He holds me, not crushes me” the boy replied with such an even voice and a matter-of-fact face that his aunt felt taken aback.
Finally she relents, “fine..” Hanabi muttered. “Happy birthday!”
Before standing up, and ruffling his hair. She padded towards the door, before turning around with a playful smile, winking. Then she left.
Hisaki let out a sigh. Today wasn’t just his 3rd birthday, it was the day that every Hyuga child receives their first training in harnessing the Byakugan, and the Gentle Fist.
The fact that he was the Clan Head’s son meant that his first training sessions will no doubt be observed by many.
More eyes, more watchers, and more whispers…The training was to be overseen by his mother, as tradition dictated.
His thoughts were interrupted by a shuffling sound “Lord Hisaki may I come in?”
His nursemaid, Kaori entered. She was a woman slightly older than his mother, with a warmth so unlike others that may even rival his mother.
She smiled “Happy birthday young lord!” She chirped, before moving to dress him. He offered Kaori a small grin.
Robes in Hyuga blinding white were draped on his body. Hisaki never truly understood why, but his mother always insisted he wear white.
“It is the colour of our clan, your clan..” she would say. But her smile would always tighten in a way that told him there was another reason.
He always wondered if it was related to the reason why she rarely permitted him to wear black.
Or the reason why she always spent hours carefully grooming his hair long and straight.
Walking down the vast hallways of the compound seemed daunting somehow.
The white yukata made him blend in with others, but he still stuck out like a sore thumb somehow, and the long and sterile halls made him feel smaller and smaller the more steps he took— the more whispers he heard.
The Head’s dining room was cozy.
As cozy as anything Hyuga could be.
Mama sat at the head of the small table, she turned around beaming, beckoning him over. “Happy birthday sweetheart” she whispered against his hair. He smiled shyly.
It was his grandfather’s congratulations he received next, the words seemed genuine and was delivered with a sincere smile, something rare from his mother’s father.
Next were words of how he looked forward to the first training session, and how he was confident he would do well. His aunt parroted her earlier words, and Uncle Neji gave him a slight pat on the head, his words echoing that of Hisaki’s grandfather.
Hisaki walked towards the window, peering outside.
Leaves were already starting to fall—
soon the remainder from the white blossom tree in the courtyard will no doubt shift—
to various shades of red.