Warmth
Warmth.
A sweet, beautiful kind of warmth is what enveloped Hinata whenever her mother, Hitomi Hyuga, was near. Her warmth felt like a promise that all will be alright, wrapping around her heart with a love so intense it was almost tangible. The way her mother gazed at her, with eyes so full of adoration, made it feel as if the warmth was a soft, soothing mist, like a gentle fog on a winter morning.
“Hinata... ”
Love.
This love was so potent that it overwhelmed her senses, making her feel as if she were drowning in its depth. This love being so unique and rare to find was freely bestowed to her by her confidante and knowing of her own cowardice and of her own failures, she would selfishly reach for that love, clinging to it like a shield protecting her delicate heart. It was her escape, her refuge from the harshness of her disappointments, and like a drug, she craved it, needed it, and could never get enough. In her mother's love, she found solace—a place where she could forget the world and simply be.
“…nata. ”
Despite the hushed whispers and stares from her clan, Their word full of of criticism of her gentle nature and lack of progress and their eye of disappointments, such that each glance and murmur would pierces her heart, leaving it raw and vulnerable. Yet her mother’s gentle smile would be enough to soothe her aching soul. Her gentle smile a reminder that she is loved for who she is.
“Hinata... ”
"Eh?" Hinata blinked, startled, as the familiar voice pulled her back to reality. She hadn't even noticed how deeply immersed she was in her thoughts until now. Her mother’s gentle hand, warm and comforting, rubbed her back soothingly.
"Lost in thought again?” Her mother giggled softly, her voice like a calming melody. She lifted Hinata into her arms with a practiced ease, her loving embrace wrapping around her daughter. As she stroked Hinata’s hair tenderly, a quiet, maternal warmth filled the space between them. Hinata’s face flushed crimson with a mix of embarrassment and affection. She glanced away, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her, curling up into a shy smile as her heart swelled with love and comfort.
Warmth.
“s-sorry, Mother... ” Before she could finish, her mother placed a tender kiss on her forehead, wrapping her in a loving embrace. Hinata closed her eyes, melting into the comfort of the hug as she hugged her mother back wrapping her tiny arm around her.
“Mama, c-can I ask you a q-question?” Hinata's voice was a whisper, barely audible over the soft rustling of the night breeze. Her lavender eyes, wide and shimmering with a hint of vulnerability, sought comfort in her mother’s gaze. Hitomi’s heart swelled with love as she smiled warmly, leaning back against the soft, cushioned seat. She looked down at her daughter with an encouraging nod. “Mm, ask away, my love,” she responded, her voice as soothing as a lullaby.
Hinata’s tiny fingers fidgeted together, and she glanced up, her pupiless eyes filled with a mix of hope and shyness. “W-will I ever be as strong and b-beautiful as you? ” she asked, her voice trembling slightly as if the question itself was fragile. A tender laugh escaped Hitomi’s lips. She reached out, her fingers gently pinching Hinata’s cheeks in a playful, affectionate manner. “Of course you will...” she assured, her voice filled with unwavering confidence as she smiles slyly. “My little princess will grow up to be the most beautiful and strongest kunoichi out there. All the boys will drool over you, and the girls will look at you with jealousy.” she replied with a wink
Hinata felt a flush of warmth spread across her cheeks, her heart swelling with a mixture of embarrassment and joy. She buried her face in her mother’s comforting embrace, savoring the warmth and security of Hitomi’s presence.
“T-Thank you, Mama,” Hinata murmured softly, her voice barely a whisper as she nestled closer. Hitomi’s gentle hands stroked her hair with a rhythm that was both soothing and loving, cradling her daughter as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. Her fingers gently traced through the soft strands of her daughter's hair, but then, as if the strength slipped away unnoticed, her hand faltered, sliding down, resting motionless.
".... "
Suddenly, a deafening clap of thunder shattered the serenity of the night.
A heart that once pulsed with hope was now shattered into a million fragments.
An empty void stretched where warmth and love had once been.
A mind that had been filled with dreams and aspirations was now lost in unfathomable darkness.
And this warmth is replaced by..
Cold.