𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐆𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍

He's... DEAD!

The next day, Hanara woke up to Neji shaking her.

"Sister, sister! Father isn't home!"

"What!" 'I knew it would happen but I still didn't want to believe it.' Hanara thought sadly.

"Yeah, is the bed isn't messed up either, I don't think he came home!"

"Neji, we have to get ready fast. We're going to the main house. Father was there last, they should know where he is," Hanara replied in a calm voice.

"Okay," Neji responded, running out of her room.

Hanara ran to the bathroom, took a fast 5-minute shower, brushed her teeth, ran back to her room, put on the first set of clothes she found, wrapped her forehead with bandages, checked the mirror to make sure that her bangs covered her bandages, and met Neji at the door.

"I don't know the way to the house so you'll have to show me," Neji told Hanara.

"Okay, follow me," she said as she ran towards her house.

Once the children got there, Hanara banged on the door and yelled, "Hiashi-sama, Yuki-sama, one of you please answer the door!"

"Um, Hana, I don't think banging on the door and yelling at the top of your lungs will make them want to listen to us," Neji, ever the practical one said.

"Oh... that's true." Hanara replied as she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

The door opened to reveal Yuki-sama, "Hanara-san? Neji-san? What are you doing here?"

"We would like to know if you know where Father is, Yuki-sama," Neji replied.

"Hizashi-san? Oh! Hizashi san," she exclaimed as her eyes widened, "You both better come on in. I'll get Hiashi. HINATA! PLEASE TAKE OUR GUESTS TO THE LIVING ROOM!"

"I know my way to the living room," Hanara muttered bitterly under her breath as Yuki went up the stairs, "or have you forgotten that I'm your daughter too?"

Neji must have heard her because he grabbed her hand and squeezed it, "Just bring us to the living room Hinata-hime will probably realize we're there anyway."

Hanara shook her head and whispered, "If they realize I remember they'll think I care."

"But you do!"

"And they'll never need to know that."

"But-"

"Oh look! Hinata-hime is here!" Hanara interrupted loudly.

"Sister, don't you know your way to the living room," Hinata asked.

"If you mean me, I don't know my way to the living room nor have I ever had a sister, Hinata-hime. You must have confused me for someone else," I replied, keeping my voice as emotionless as my three-year-old body would allow it.

Neji looked at Hanara with a confused expression on his face and, Hanara being Hanara, decided to avoid looking at him.

"Oh... okay. H-Here, follow me," Hinata said as she made her way to the living room.

When the children got there they saw that Hiashi was already there waiting for them.

"Hinata, you may go upstairs now," Hiashi said.

"O-Okay."

Hiashi then turned to Neji and Hanara, "I have some news and you two may not like it."

"Can you please tell us where our father is," Neji asked Hiashi.

"Well... you see.... your father is dead."

"I'm sorry what?" Hanara asked, hoping she sounded shocked enough.