Caged

Prolouge

The pale Hyūga eyes stared at the scrawny girl in front of them. She was around seven years old, and she stared at the ground, avoiding their intense stares. She lifted her eyes daring to look into the main branch elders in the eye. She held her small hands in front of her and folded them, waited for them to address her. Her dark hair was neatly brushed to the side and she bit her lip, trying to figure out why they wanted to talk with her. "Kai Hyūga," Hiashi addressed her. She looked up, her doe-like eyes staring at him, a mixture of confusion and curiousity clearly visable in them. Hiashi sighed and continued, "As a member of the side branch, it is your duty to protect the main branch. You will be marked with the Caged Bird Seal."

She nodded calmly, although on the inside she was terrified. She had heard about the seal and the excrutiating pain that came with it. Internally she scolded herself. She should've known that this would happen. It was Hanabi's third birthday, and that meant someone was going to get the seal. Her pale eyes looked into Hiashi's and she stood calmly, waiting to get the seal. It was quick, but getting the seal still hurt. Kai felt a small burning sensation where the curse mark was. She bit her lip to distract herself from the slight pain. She glanced at the main branch members and lifted her head. Kai nodded politely to the members and quickly left the room.

That night, as the small girl stared at her reflllection, she glared at herself. She knew her hair would reveal the seal, so she took a deep breath and brushed her hair infront of her face. She sighed and cut her hair so that she would have bangs. Kai smiled at herself, proud with her work. People would ask her why she cut her hair, but at this poit she was exausted and she laid down, staring at the ceiling in her room. Her eyes closed, she knew that just getting the seal wouldn't be the worst pain she endured.