Introduction

Spotlight

"And we will find our way there
live like delicates
before we go you'll know
the spotlight lives in all of us."

- Breathe Carolina

"Like, oh my god!"

Hinata turned her head to check out what all the fuss was about. A large group of girls were crowded around the dairy's window outside, gushing over something. The Hyuuga sighed and closed the kitchen curtains. "I don't even wanna know," she thought, dryly.

"Hinata, what're you doing?"

Said girl turned from the window to see her chocolate haired, emerald-eyed best-friend staring at her curiously from the door. "Oh! Kyoumi-chan! I needed something to drink and I was just about to head back." She replied, as she put down the empty glass and walked toward the door, "G-Gomenasai!"

The other girl just smiled, "it's fine, Hinata. Should we head back?"

"H-hai."

The pair headed through the Hyuuga compound toward Hinata's bedroom. To Her surprise, however, her other friends Rikku and Sanako were not gossiping as they usually would. Today, it seemed, they were clumped on the floor, going crazy over some magazine.

"Hey guys," Hinata smiled, "w-what yah looking at?"

"Goss on like the biggest star of all time," Sanako gushed, eyes shining.

The other girl nodded excitedly as she gazed up at the Hyuuga, "Yeah, like totally," she agreed, "wanna see?"

"Biggest star?" Hinata questioned, staring at them innocently, "what do you mean?"

All of a sudden, all eyes were on her in a rather incredulous stare. Hinata looked back confused. She didn't think she said anything funny.

"You don't know?" they asked incredulously.

Hinata just shook her head.

"Oh my god!" Sanako squealed and clapped her hands together, "It's in Gloss magazine, the newest edition!"

"Ay?"

"Yah know, gloss!" Rikku flailed her arms wildly. Her cheeks were flustered as she shoved the magazine in her face. "See?"

"Gloss magazine, 50 hottest models in Asia?" Hinata read the cover aloud. Her brows furrowed slightly as she turned to face her friends, "come to think of it," she said, referring to the girls outside the dairy, "I think I saw Mika Leah looking at that…"

"Well, duh. Who isn't?"

"Um..." Hinata shyly adverted her gaze away from the hyper Sanako. She was about to say she hadn't when a screech came from over her shoulder.

"Oh my god!" Kyoumi exclaimed, "Hyuuga Hanabi's number one!"

CRASH.

The other three turned to see the young Hyuuga staring at them wide-eyed, the magazine at her feet. She froze instantly when she heard the name and didn't even notice Kyoumi jumping up and down.

"Sorry… my bad." Kyoumi apologized.

"S'Okay." Hinata said stiffly, shakily picking it up and handing it back to Rikku.

It didn't take long before Kyoumi could no longer contain herself, as her face lit up and she let out another squeal, "Oh my god! She's number one!" She gushed, "I can't believe she's number one!"

"Of course she's number one, she's the best!" Sanako butted in, in a matter-of-factly manner. She took the magazine from Rikku and flicked it open to where an image of Hyuuga Hanabi was, "I mean, look at her!"

2 whole pages were dedicated solely to her, whilst the others shared 3 to a sheet. On the first page, Hanabi was in a marine ball-gown. The sparkly material trailed far behind her, and she looked so damn glamorous. Her lips parted into innocence, yet her chocolate eyes held an endearing look. The devil's angel, as only she could be. Her slim fatigue and waterfall tresses enticed jealousy. Her full hips could capture any man. The picture was in dark light, yet oh-so-captivating.

She was all-round stunning.

The second page held 2 smaller pictures. In one she was draped across a sofa. She was dressed in a school uniform, eating a cupcake. The last she was in skater clothes, lips curved in a playful smirk, a skateboard propped under her arm. And above all 3 photos, read "Hyuuga Hanabi" in swirled, lilac print.

Hinata could only gape. Her sister had grown into quite the lady, since she had last remembered. She had grown so much since she started modeling. Hinata remembers feeling doubtful at that time, but Hanabi had insisted this was her dream. 3 months later, Temari, her manager, brought her abroad.

"At the age of 16, this super model from Konoha continues to top the nation as Hong Kong's leading "it" girl" Sanako read aloud, "with looks to kill, a curvy figure and spicy personality, she has men drooling at her feet. She can make anybody faint with no effort at all."

Rikku took the magazine and continued to read; "The supermodel has recently been modeling in Suna, with plans of competing in world's competition in December. The real deal! She's a mesmerizing face with even more talent. All good things wrapped into one."

"I heard she's dating Kankuro, the rock star?" Kyoumi questioned.

"Nah, they broke up. She's single now, though with more admirers than ever." Sanako answered, remembering what she heard from Star-T.V, "Lucky girl."

"That's good. They didn't look that great together," Rikku shrugged, "I think she could- Hey Hinata, is something wrong?"

The girls turned to see the young Hyuuga gazing at the floor. A click in front of her face brought Hinata back from her thoughts. "Hm?"

"You feeling alright?" Kyoumi placed a hand on her forehead, "You're really quiet."

"G-Gomenasai!" Hinata laughed nervously, waving her arms in front of her, "I'm fine, really! Just uh… I um… really need to go to the bathroom!"

Hinata swiftly stood up and ran out of the room before the others could stop her. The others looked at each other with concern, before tilting their heads.

"Does needing to "go" make you space out?" Rikku asked the other two. Kyoumi shrugged, "apparently so…"

In the bathroom, Hyuuga Hinata wearily leaned over a sink of water. The fact was, none of them knew that Hinata and Hanabi were sisters, only they, their father and her two managers. They had all agreed that the spotlight was for Hanabi only, and Hinata would be kept as far from it as possible, a decision that the older Hyuuga had quite happily expected.

Splashing her face with water, Hinata turned to the reflection looking sadly back at her.

Against her sister, she stood nothing, nothing at all.

How could she ever admit to being related?

Suna.

"Hanabi-chaaaaan!"

Said lady glanced before her to see a swarm of screaming fans jumping up and down with obvious enthusiasm. A small nod from her only encouraged them more.

"Can I get your autograph?"

"Can I have a piece of your hair?"

"Sleep with me!"

"Can I take a picture with you!"

Hanabi shook her head and couldn't help but chuckle as she walked. The mob of screaming girls and boys were being held back expectantly by her 4, yes 4, noble bodyguards, hand selected of course. Hanabi smiled glamorously as she signed a couple of photos. A few girls fainted, a few boys screamed but hey, that's life, they'd come 'round in a moment.

"People, people! I'd sign you all personally but I'm afraid I'm short of time!" Hanabi announced over the noise.

Blowing one last kiss, she resurrected her smile and proceeded toward her Limo. Her older, brunette secretary appeared at her side but a moment after.

"Miss, you have an appointment at the Crystal-glass Palace in exactly 62 minutes." No need for greetings, she had always known she wanted facts.

"Reschedule it." Hanabi answered.

The lady nodded and scribbled something furiously in her notebook.

"And today's request…"

"Deny."

More scribbling.

"And the meeting with Mademoiselle Laetitia…"

The superstar waved a hand halfheartedly before placing a foot through the door. She really didn't feel like dealing with this, especially not today.

"Cancel all appointments. I'm really not in the mood."

"Wakarimashita." (sp?)

The brunette bowed deeply before rushing off to make the calls. Hanabi couldn't help but sigh as she closed the door behind her. Stupid employees. She hated them all.

"Yah know, the woman's just doing her job."

Hanabi rolled her eyes and bitterly turned toward the familiar lady seated beside her. The young blonde was piled in a heap of paperwork and was rapidly succeeding in completing it. Hanabi shook her head and decided best to ignore this statement. She didn't think upper cutting her top employee was the wisest thing to do.

She cleared her throat.

"What was it you needed to tell me, Temari?"

The lady looked up and pushed her spectacles further up her nose. She placed a copy of Gloss Magazine in Hanabi's lap.

"Not bad. A year abroad and you're already number one. Good, huh?"

"Not good." Hanabi answered bluntly, "where is Kabuto?"

Kabuto originally managed Hanabi, but as she began modeling in Suna, it was soon decided that Subaku no Temari took over, as he wanted to take care of her publicity, anyway.

"In Konoha, handling publicity business, why?"

Hanabi narrowed her eyes. "He made me sound like a Barbie."

"Barbie, yes, " Temari agreed, "but one of a kind. The one everyone will fight over just for a strand of hair"

"Don't go there." Hanabi glowered, "I've had enough mental fans trying to yank out my hair, thank you very much."

Temari just chuckled causing the Hyuuga to growl.

"I'm serious!" she hissed, "And anyway, what the hell was Kabuto thinking?"

"Pardon me?"

"Announcing that I'm going to World's! Has he lost his mind?" She waved the magazine frantically about and threw it on the car floor. Making her sound fake was bad enough, but lying to the public? That was totally unacceptable. Apparently unfazed, Temari just shook her head and continued with her paper work.

"You are going to World's." she stated calmly, "in 9 months, actually"

Hanabi could only blink dumbly.

Hang on; did she just say she was?

Anger suddenly kicking in, the Hyuuga's eyes narrowed to potentially violent slits. Why didn't she tell her? Was that, or was that not, her job? With a growl in her throat, the young model had to hold back from strangling her manager. They had conversed a long talk about this a year back. Hanabi had admitted that she was nervous about entering world competition and Temari, in turn, had said she was not ready. They were planning on waiting another few years before even considering something like this; jump in when she was totally prepared. The gold would be theirs for the taking; easy like every other award she'd won. So why change now? She was about to open her mouth to argue, when the blonde handed her a folder.

"That's the contract. Kabuto and I have already agreed and signed so it is now your decision." She explained, as Hanabi scanned the contents, "we want you to compete this December."

"Why so suddenly?"

"It's a big hit." Temari stated easily, "as of late last year, World's is the most well known competition in the entire modeling industry, so, why not enter? It'll boost you up further. And besides," Temari continued, "both media and fans will go crazy."

Hanabi massaged her temples, "well… it sounds good when you put it like that… but-"

"There is one more reason." Temari pulled up her laptop and flicked to a newspaper article on the Internet, "Yamanaka Ino. I trust you are aware of her position as 2nd most desirable woman in Japan?"

The model nodded.

"She is proving to be a bigger threat than I first thought and has recently formed a relationship with Japan's most in-demand lead actor, Sasuke Uchiha, a deadly combination." Temari signaled to the photo on the laptop, "Their relationship has become quite popular within these last few months boosting up, no, sky rocketing, both his public image and hers."

Hanabi raised an eyebrow, "what are you getting at, Temari?"

"I'll be frank. You know this is a very competitive industry. You have been at the top for almost a year now, and you know how difficult it is to maintain that position. If you don't act accordingly, they are going to give your place at worlds to Ino." Temari sighed stressfully, "she's not far behind you. If that happens…" Temari left the sentence hanging.

"Fine, fine." Hanabi shrugged, "sounds reasonable enough."

"No side flings this time."

"But-"

"The media's focus should be on the competition. Not your petty, little love life." Temari snapped, "Have you forgotten the purpose?"

"Alright, alright," Hanabi rolled her eyes, "but you try say that to Kankuro."

"Kankuro? The rock star?"

Hanabi nodded.

"Wasn't he your last casual boyfriend?"

"Yep."

"I thought you two broke up?"

The model merely shrugged and Temari shot her a questioning look.

"It's complicated," she replied.

"Right. Well, when you meet him, try to keep on the down-low," Temari warned, "Your last rendezvous gave us quite the trouble."

"I'll try." Hanabi agreed. Temari nodded.

"I better be off." She said, as the car pulled to a stop, "You have a meeting with the competition manager at 12.00, ask your Secretary for details. As for now, I highly suggest dropping Kankuro a line." She paused, just before opening the door, "Oh yeah, and about the competition. You need Konoha Modeling School qualifications to enter. Have a nice day." And with that, she disappeared into the crowded street outside.

Hanabi blinked, fighting back the lump in her throat.

KMS qualifications?

She had to be kidding.

And as she allowed herself to sink in the cushioning of her luxury limo, her heartbeat unusually fast, she couldn't fight the sickening feeling making it's way to her stomach.

Returning to KMS? No god damn way.

Picking up her new I-phone, she pressed the call button and held it to her ear. She was going to request a fill in, and she was going to need one fast.

"Good evening, Kabuto, I have a request."

5 days later.

"Like, oh my gosh, no way!"

Hinata stopped writing, to see where the squeal came from. It was Mika Leah, the popular girl from school.

"Guys, you won't believe this!"

Hinata was about to continue writing when she heard what Mika was dying to say.

"Hyuuga Hanabi's coming to Japan!"

Screams immediately filled the classroom, the girls bouncing with glee.

"LIKE OH MY GOD! REALLY?"

"WHEN?"

"THAT'S LIKE TOTALLY AWSOME!"

"I know, right?" Mika exclaimed, "she's going to attend KMS here! I heard from my cousin that teaches at the school."

But the Hyuuga could not take any of it in. All that was in her head was her sister was returning… she nearly had a heart attack.

Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring.

Hinata jumped as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Relieved at any excuse to leave the classroom, she walked into the corridor to take the call.

"H-hello?" the Hyuuga greeted shakily.

"Hinata-san," the deep baritone voice spoke from the end of the line, "I'm Yakushi Kabuto, Hyuuga Hanabi's co-manager. I'm calling to request your assistance."