~+ White Lies +~
Summary: Gaara is a succesful host, swindling money from rich women with his tear-jerking lies. But now he's in trouble with the mafia, he needs five million – fast! How would it be to take on the cover of Hinata Hyuuga's lost brother, the last heirs to the Hyuuga family treasure? But wait- could the cold-hearted con-man find himself... in love?
Themes: AU (modern day), drama, love, family, character development, criminality.
Warnings: profane language, violence, hinted adult themes, no happy ending warranted.
Disclaimer: All Naruto characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto. They might be (no they are) OOC, but this story isn't supposed to re-enact the true shinobi world of the Naruto manga/anime. Therefore this story should be taken with a pinch of salt. I once read a comment that Gaara's "real" personality is about as fun as watching paint dry. The fangirl inside me feels appalled at this statement, but perhaps there is some truth in these words.
Inspiration came from the Korean movie "Sarang ddawin piryo eopseo", titled "Love Me Not" in English.
My aim is to update this story and Chromosome X at least once a week. I do have university, work and my own household to take care of, plus my health hasn't been too dandy this year, so if I slack just know I haven't forgotten ;)
On a side note: I'm hoping to continue to develop myself as a writer in this (to me) foreign language. I've been reading some amazing stories out there and feel so awed at the skill of some of the writers on here which makes me aware I need to expand my active vocabulary. If you find any mistakes which bother you, don't hesitate to let me now! :)
I hope this new story will entertain you! Now without further ado, here's chapter one ;)
The Heiress and the Host
Hinata was sitting in front of her boudoir, her deep purple hair being combed by her caretaker Irune. Her eyes stared straight ahead into the mirror, but she paid no heed to her reflection. Outside the window, the Hyuuga family estate's garden stretched out for a mile into each direction of the house, the rolling hills covered in white. Irune helped her step into a long-sleeved dress of black brocade with chinese-style buttons to fasten it at the back. Her feet were carefully slid into a pair of ankle boots and as she turned around another assistent rushed forward to help her into her coat lined with the best quality fake fox fur, undistinguishable from the real thing.
"Here are your gloves, Hinata-sama," Irune said and pressed the pair of soft leather gloves into her hands. Hinata pulled them on silently.
"Can we get this through with?" she asked bitterly.
"Of course, of course, everything is prepared," Irune rushed to calm her. Hinata walked before them towards the door to her room. They passed through the mohagony wooden corridor decorated with exquisite tapestries to the end of the hall where the encased kimono hung of Lady Mito Uzumaki above the winding stairs. Legend said she carried within her a nine-tailed beast over three centuries ago. Kurama, the giant fox, able to turn mountains into crumbles with hot rage. They said he was considered as unpredictable and unmanageable as natural disasters during the feudal era. Hinata felt she carried a monster like that right now. There was a hungry beast within her, crying out to be freed, pounding against the confines of her heart, but she did not understand what it craved. It had grown there, in obscurity at first, as the years of her life flew by. Yet by now anyone looking in Hinata's eyes deeply enough could see the beast staring back. She refused help as she descended the stairs. Outside a few more people were waiting to escort their group to their destination.
"Here are the flowers, they are imported white lillies," Irune explained as a bouquet was handed to her.
"Just as in the will," Hinata said.
"Yes, and as I've told you we've invited everyone your father has mentioned," Irune continued hastily, "except... your brother... he's-".
"He's dead," Hinata cut her off. Neji was dead to her. Their mother had taken him away when he was eight and she was six. Their father, smitten with grief, had destroyed every picture there was of them, shutting her mother and Neji out of their lives forever. Those names were forbidden within the estate, as it was Hiashi Hyuuga's own brother her mother had opened her heart to. Hinata thought her father had disowned everyone apart from her and Hanabi. But, with the will turned up he seemed to have spared his only son. Hinata wanted to know nothing of it. Neji wasn't here all those years. What right did he have to come into her life now and claim his part of the heritage? She was the one carrying out the will anyway. Without her acknowledgement no one would get anything.
They walked through the crunching snow while flakes whirled down gently. With Irune's hand on her shoulder she was led to two graves. "Here lies your father, and here, your sister, Hinata-sama," she told her softly, examining Hinata's facial features with worry, as she guided her from one grave to another. The black granite stones with golden details were pure craftmanship.
Father and Hanabi. Died from a plane crash while they were coming back from a business trip in Kirigakure. The motor of their private jet had suddenly stopped functioning as they landed. Five people died that evening.
'They left me alone. I hope I won't forget their faces,' she thought while biting her lip and fighting the tears that rolled down her cheeks. One for one she threw the lillies on top of the coffins. Hinata turned around silently to the crowd dressed in black. All the important shareholders of Hyuuga Corp., the board, the Inuzuka and Aburame family with whom hers kept tight relations... A speck of snow landed on her nose and melted.
'I can't forget these eyes looking at me... like greedy wolves,' she thought, 'and these are the people I'm left with now. There's no one to run to anymore.'
She took a step and the crowd made way for her wordlessly as she stumbled forward without guidance.
'It doesn't matter if I'm on my own. I will make my heart as cold as this snow.'
A tall man with a mop of bright red hair stepped out of the camel-colored building. He quickly covered his green eyes with a pair of black shades and straightened the hem of his ankle-length maroon coat. Finally he was out after spending a winter in Suna's prison. Of course he was treated like a prince inside. His fame exceeded him, he was dubbed Gaara of the Sand afterall, and where were they? The bloody desert. Plus, Sunagakure's officials weren't best known for their incorruptibility. And conveniently... was there anything that money could not buy? Yes, love they say, but he wasn't looking for that, despite what the tattoo on his forehead might insinuate.
"There he is, Club Sharingan's most succesful host, finally out on the loose," Kankuro cheered pumping his left arm as he saw his younger brother proceed along the chain-link fence that separated them from each other. He quickly ran up to meet him.
"Where's my car?" Gaara asked monotone.
"Owh that, you see it really wasn't my fault, Gaara," Kankuro started nervously, "it was Neji. He wanted to take it for a spin to impress Tenten, you know. Then some sucker came racing down the boulevard like he's fast and furious. They fucking collided. Firemen had to saw off the top to get Neji out and shit. Like in a movie."
"Where's Neji now?" Gaara continued as they walked closer to the gate.
"He's in the car," Kankuro said casually, waving at the black Mustang behind him with two purple sport stripes from back to front and a red scorpion in the middle of the hood. Gaara threw the vehicle a quick glance and sighed. That matte black Mercedes he had owned with the deep red leather interior was his favorite. The guard opened the electric gate from his workstation and then Gaara stepped outside. He filled his lungs with the musky hot desert air. It was good to be out of that hole, even if he was served three-course meals daily and had his personal excercising room. He faced his brother and a small smile formed on his lips.
"It's good to see you, Kankuro," he said. His brother gave him a manly hug.
"Don't get soft on me now, bro. I know how you feel and it's likewise."
They walked towards the parked car.
"Pretty sweet isn't it? I had her repainted not too long ago," he said admiring his wheels, then turned around, leaning closer to Gaara like he was going to let him in on a secret, "I installed nitro. This baby is the fastest around."
"Still enjoy tweaking your toys," Gaara replied, "I assume Black Ant is at the garage. Did you name this car yet?"
"Of course. This is Scorpion," Kankuro threw over his shoulder as he walked around the car to the driver's seat. When Gaara looked through the window he saw a stone urn sitting on the backseat of the car.
'Where's Neji?' he thought.
With mild surprise he stepped into the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt.
"What's that thing doing there?" he asked, gesturing at the urn.
"Oh, that's Neji."
Gaara's eyes darkened, clearly ticked off that his brother had failed to tell him before.
"He died during the car crash," Kankuro explained apologetically and then shrugged, "but whatever form he is in now, that's still him, right."
Gaara ran his hand through his hair and threw the urn another look. He never saw this coming.
"Don't worry, we gave him a proper ceremony. It was hard on me too in the beginning. I've just been sorting his apartment out, that's how the urn ended up on the backseat. Got some of his stuff loaded in the trunk."
Gaara's face remained unchanged but Kankuro could tell from his eyes that it bothered him. They kept silent the following few minutes and Gaara calmly watched the scenery pass by. Kankuro emptied his throat.
"Well... where can I take you Gaara?"
"Let's go to Club Sharingan," he answered monotone.
"Alright, to the club it is."
They were almost to the main road. On top of the dashboard Kankuro had glued a small golden 'maneki neko', those cats with one moving arm. It was bobbing its arm without pause.
"You're still into that," Gaara remarked dryly.
"Don't diss the cat, man!" Kankuro protested reaching out to pet it affectionately. "It gives me luck."
He turned to the left and entered the highway. The road was long from Sunagakure to Konohagakure, but it was even and cut through the desert in a straight line. He popped open a see-through lid on top of his gear to reveal a small red button and grinned, looking Gaara straight in the eye.
"Buckle up your seatbelts, cause we're about to launch."
And with that pressed the button down. The engine started groaning and with shrieking tires they shot forward at twice the speed. The meter kept climbing until it maxed out at 130 miles an hour.
"It's really going about 150," Kankuro called out above the noise. Gaara smirked silently at his brother enjoying himself.
"We'll be in Konoha in no time!"
