The King and I Chapter 44: Hinata Tells

Hinata nodded. “Yes, of course, I will get it right away.” And off he trotted on his officially appointed errand.

He was back very quickly with the medicine you had asked for and you gave it to the King, delighting in having the opportunity to care for him once again.

Once your ailing man had drank the concoction, you lay him back down to rest and took the empty plate and jar back to Hinata for him to return it to the doctor.

“Uh… Honoured Y/N??,” Hinata said nervously, gaze dropping to the floor as he fiddled with his fingers nervously.

“Hinata, you need not use honorifics with me,” you said with an inviting smile, “what is it?”

“There is something I need to tell you…”

You nodded and he hesitated again, wondering if it was such a good idea to mention it after all.

“Perhaps I should take this to the physician before talking with you?” he said, trying to delay the pending conversation.

You nodded but with a concerned look on your face, as it seemed that what he had to say was something important.

“Yes. You go and return the items, then come back and we can talk,” you said to him. 

He nodded in agreement and turned to leave without saying another word.

You went back to sit with the King on his bed while you waited for Hinata’s return, and once he had gotten back, you and he stepped aside into another room to talk.

“Y/N… I must confess something to you.”

“Yes, Hinata? What it is?”

“Before I was injured… I went to Nekoma… I was looking for your back story. Forgive me for prying. And… well… I found your father.”

Adrenaline, at hearing the word ‘father’, shot through your arteries with such force that you felt like your entire being had been flooded- drowning you in panic as your fear stricken eyes danced over Hinata’s face.

“Yes?” you asked in a hoarse voice, unable to speak clearly from your throat being clenched with the years of domestic pain caused by that man.

“He is living among the unclean and the outcasts since he was talking like he was not in his right mind. He claimed you were of male decent. And it turns out he is correct.” 

“I want nothing to do with that man,” you said, anger, hurt, and suppressed memories of verbal abuse rising to the surface and bubbling over in your tone.

Hinata could feel the hurt radiating off you and a worried look crossed his face.

“He does not know you are alive… he cursed your for your mothers passing,” Hinata said softly.

You broke down.

Your dear ma, who had loved you, cherished you, protected you, and raised you- had gone to another place. In your inner being you knew she had gone, but to hear it confirmed was torture.

“Leave,” you said in a quivering voice to Hinata, “and never speak of this again.”

Fearfully, he nodded and backed away. He hadn’t realized this was going to cause such an upset.

He left you alone in the room to cry by yourself, and because the King was still taking his rest, you had ample time to mourn by yourself.

Later that day you finally left the room and went back to be by your King’s side, crawling onto the bed and laying down beside him.

The next time he woke, he looked over to see your dejected sleeping form beside him and he noticed the tear stains immediately.

“What is wrong?” he asked with tender worry, waking you as he checked your face, “why do you cry in my presence?”

“I do not cry in your presence,” you croaked as you woke to him staring intently at you, “I mourn for my mother. As I just learned that she is no more.”

King Kageyama pulled your body to his and held you, but you had no more tears to cry. Your body had been exhausted and you just wanted to be left alone.

“Have you any living family?” he asked.

“No,” you said darkly, banishing the thought of your father.

The way you replied made him suspicious and he pulled back to look you in the eye.

“Do you speak truth?” he asked.

You blinked a few times and your eyelids fluttered with uncertainty.

“I do,” you lied.

“You lie to your King,” he growled, “who remains living?”

“I will not speak of living demons,” you spat angrily.

He held you gaze but then dropped his voice into a very low and threatening tone.

“I do not fear living demons, and will raise my hand, and the entire Karasuno army, against such foes if they torment you so,” he threatened.

Your eyes filled with grateful tears at his willingness to do anything to protect you from hurt and you let out a resigned sigh.

“My father. Who hated that I dressed in womens clothing, still lives. But my mother, who did no wrong, who only thought of others above herself, perished at the hands of the kingdom and the king I am now married to.”

King Kageyama dropped his head.

“I am remorseful, that it was such a thing that bought you to my side. But if I could say anything of comfort… your mother, being the person she is, will now be watching over you from a place where pain and hurt cannot exist. She is free from this life, free to smile upon you without your father bearing in her ear.”

You grabbed onto his chest and sobbed, letting it all out for the second time that day.

“There is a way to be free of this hurt,” he said, after giving you time to cry.

“How so?” you asked.

“Going to see your father, to prove your mother was right in all that she did.”

“If I ever see him again it will be too soon,” you growled angrily.

“Did I ask you to forgive him? Perish the thought. No, go and prove to him that you have gained control of your life. That you are living happily as a man, with another man, that you have risen above all that he cursed you for.”

You thought about it. He had a point. It would feel good to show that wretched man how far you had come.

Sniffing and drying your tears, you nodded at the King.

“Would you accompany me?” you asked.

“It would be my pleasure,” he replied, kissing your salty cheek and soft lips.

You smiled at him, grateful beyond belief that you had this man by your side.

………………………

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