Caged

Chapter 10

Kai's Point of View

It had been a week since the news of my father's death reached my mother and I. We hadn't left the house since the news. Hinata had decided to stay with us while we grieved, so she was staying in my room. I constantly felt weak, crying in the middle of the night at least once a week. Sometimes I cried for the moments I would never share with my father; sometimes I cried for my mother, who had become emotionless, falling into a depression. Sometimes my mother would get up and cook or clean, but most of the time she just sat, an empty look in her eyes as she stared into nothingness. I could tell she had tried to be a good mother for me when the news first hit, but it seems like she had given up,letting herself become numb.

His funeral was today. The Hokage had given us money for the funeral, but it seemed like no matter what nothing could make up for the loss. We tried- we really did- but I felt meaningless. Hinata was a huge help, making sure I didn't fall into depression like my mother had. I wore a black dress that stopped a little bit below my knees. Hinata had helped me with my hair, that hung loosely around my shoulders. My mother mirrored me, her once beautiful long hair knotted and a mess. My father loved her hair... My pale eyes, now dull stayed focused on the ground. The funeral was to take place in the Hyuga Compound, do it wasn't far. Once all the clan members had arrived, we began.

Hiashi-Sama spoke first, "Akio Hyuga was a great man with a beautiful family. He was brave and always put family before everything. His wife Natsumi Hyuga, and their daughter Kai Hyuga, were extremely important to him. They were his light and he constantly thought about protecting them. Having such a great man die so young is truly a tragedy, and I know, in my heart, Akio will be watching over us from the next life." My mother stared ahead, showing a hint of sadness. After Hiashi-Sama was fine with his speech, people came up to my mother and I, saying the exact same words each time.

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

I hated it. We didn't lose him. Yes he died, but we'll always remember him. I felt tears begin to form in my eyes, "Excuse me..." I mumbled, running away from the compound and my problems. I reached a tree in a nice secluded meadow and began to cry, letting my feelings out. I sat under the tree, looking down as the tears flowed. And for the first time since my father's death, I screamed.

Third Person

The scream was filled with so much pain. Kai's voice grew hoarse as she screamed and sobbed and hiccuped, her emotions running wild. She ran a hand through her hair, messing up the soft hair that Hinata put so much effort into fixing.

In the forest, Hinata ran for her cousin, worried for the emotional girl. Kai had always kept we emotions in, not wanting to burden anyone, but even she needed to let it out. As soon as she heard her cousin's pain filled scream, Hinaabran towards it, desperately trying to reach her cousin.

Finally reaching her, Hinata hugged her cousin who was still on the ground sobbing uncontrollably. "I-I'm sorry Hinata-Nee!" Kai screamed, her voice scratchy as she continued crying.

Meanwhile, in the forest training, the remainder of Team 8 -including Kurenai- had herd the scream as well running towards it. Reaching the spot where their crying teammate sat, being cradled by her quiet cousin, even Kurenai froze.

Because it was the funeral, Kai didn't bother putting any bandages or anything over her seal to hide it, so as she cried, running her fingers through her messy hair, the seal revealed itself. It showed how truly trapped Kai was in this dark, cruel world.