Reborn as Sakura and Hinata: Lost in the Wind

Hyuga Time: Revenge of Hiashi

"I take it things have been going well recently?"

Hiashi's voice pulled me out of my daze as I jerked up to look up at him, "What?"

"How are you doing?" he simplified, smiling kindly at me.

I stared down into the mug in front of me, becoming temporarily distracted by the way the leaf fragments swirled about in the pale green liquid.

"A lot on your mind then?" he pressed softly.

"Yeah." my brow furrowed, the subject weighing heaviest on me was fitting of its magnitude, especially given the man seated across from me, "I'm... just not sure how to explain it I guess." I decided on.

"You don't have to hesitate to talk to me." he folded his hands in front of him on the table, an air of genuine care about him, "If you're comfortable that is."

I had been visiting Hiashi a lot more in the past few weeks, him becoming almost a replacement father figure for me. It was odd at first, neither of us seemed to know how to talk to the other, but then Hiashi seemed to take this as an opportunity to learn how to talk to a girl my age. He was practicing for when he had his daughters back, and I was more than perfectly content to be his guinea pig. I needed the attention anyways.

"I just..." I paused, attempting to gather my thoughts, "I had another nightmare about Hinata."

Hiashi's brow furrowed, "You dream about her?"

"I do." I mumbled, "I've had a few dreams about her dying."

His gaze softened sympathetically, "These dreams must take a heavy toll on you."

I nodded, feeling my eyes beginning to prick with tears, "I just... I want to believe that she's still alive... but it's hard..."

He nodded, glaring down at his hands pensively before he smiled slightly, "I would find those dreams comforting... I would think."

"Wh- what?" my eyes snapped up to meet his.

"Allow me to explain," he chuckled self-consciously, probably realizing the inherent insanity of his statement, "Your dreams predict the future correct?"

"Yeah?" I nodded warrily.

"But they don't usually predict exactly what will happen?"

"Usually a worst case scenario." I clarified.

He nodded with a smile, "Then the fact you are still having these dreams means that she is still alive, don't they? Why would you be dreaming of her in danger if she was already dead?"

I went slack-jawed. I'd never thought of it that way! "Whoa... that's actually..." I smiled, drying my eyes, "that actually helps a lot."

"I'm glad." he said, a look of concern crossing over him, "But I'm still concerned what dreams such as yours might do to a child's mind."

I shrugged, "I don't know. There's nothing I can do about it."

He frowned, "Does talking about them help?"

"I think so. I mean, it just did help me, so, yeah, I guess." I laughed weakly.

"Do you think it might be good to go to the Yamanaka's for counseling?" he suggested.

I shook my head, "No... I don't want to go to them. Therapy scares me." I paused, "I like talking to you though."

He blinked at me, taken aback, "Really?"

"Yeah!" I insisted, "I feel a lot more comfortable talking to you than I do most adults."

He looked down at his hands, a vulnerable smile breaking, "Perhaps I could be a father after all." he mumbled almost to himself. He looked back up to me, "I am happy you feel that way. I would be happy to offer you advice or comfort if there is anything bothering you."