Of course, I'm sure all of you, who have seen the Hyuugas, were interested in their particular eye color. I thought that, the first time I saw a fanart and never knew about Naruto, that Hinata was blind (and the bad guy, but that's another story).
Written to get rid of the plot bunnies…they torture me so.
AU because…I'm not one to make Hinata suddenly blind in the canon world.
And…I don't know liquor. I'm assuming some things, because I found a bottle of really old scotch in our cupboards, and know that rocks mean ice. Also, I hate the taste of liquor…if wine is what good liquor tastes like (ew).
Pairings: SasuHina, NaruSaku. One-sided: SakuSasu, HinaNaru (vague)
Disclaimer: I'm writing a fanfic…DUH! Also, that made up radio channel…if it's a real channel where you live…pretend! Ooo…
(N)
Uchiha Sasuke loved scotch. The color of the liquor was unique, clear; the amber color would glisten in the dark lights of the bar. He loved the flavor of the savory liquid, and would always have a double shot without the rocks. What he loved more about this special drink, was the fact that one sip was like shoving earplugs in his ears. One sip and he couldn't hear the annoying voices that kept buzzing next to his ears.
"Sasuke-kun!" Haruno Sakura, a respected young lady who's mature demeanor would only crumble in the presence of Sasuke. "I didn't know you come to this club!"
Sasuke stared at the pink haired girl from the corner of his eye. Whatever she said was always the same. 'I didn't know you came here! Oh wow, Sasuke-kun, do you dance?' blah-blah-blah it's all the same.
Sakura inwardly squealed, trying to keep her own composure. "So, Sasuke-kun," My god the girl keeps saying his name every sentence. "Do you like scotch?"
His earplugs just momentarily gone, he nodded slowly, taking a huge sip from his glass. I should've just worn real earplugs…
"Really? I think it's too much for me. Though, a little vodka isn't too bad. Rum and coke is an okay pair, but someone must've been drunk when they…"
Oh god…she's rambling…Sasuke sighed under his breath, softly so the girl wouldn't flinch. He didn't want to deal with an emotionally broken girl (came from experience).
"Oi, chicken butt head,"
Sasuke turned his gaze from the line of wine bottles to his best friend. Yes, Uzumaki Naruto was his best friend for many...reasons.
"Oh, hey Sakura-chan."
"Hi, Naruto."
"What's wrong, dobe."
Naruto leaned against the bar's countertop, using his elbow as support. "I'm just saying you can leave…well, if you can. You drank quite a bit," he pointed to the many double shot glasses that lay near the Uchiha. "Well, I'm gonna stay a little longer. You better call a taxi."
Sasuke nodded, knowing full well the consequences of drinking after having these many shots of liquor (again from experience). He turned on his seat, wincing at the sound of the squeaking metal (liquid earplugs leave a heightened hearing) and jumped down onto the floor.
"Sasuke-kun, get home safely!" The girl knew when to quit (luckily).
Sasuke nodded once, and began to fight his way to the door. Now, today was a special day, also known as Friday, also known as the Drink a record amount of beer and have free beer for a year day. This would explain why Naruto wanted to stay longer, even though the kid can't even hold one cup of wine (though he can inhale, yes inhale, ten thousand bowls of ramen in one hour).
"Hey, look, tall, dark and sexy. Meow."
Ugh, whores.
"OH MY GOD, SASUKE-KUN!"
Ew, fan girls.
"Oh mah gawd. What a total cutie. Hey handsome!"
Drag queens?!
"Look, sugar daddy!"
Brainless strippers.
"Whoa, one of us."
I'm not EMO!
Sasuke finally popped from the congested crowd. He scowled, dodging a bar bouncer, and flew out the door. He smiled, happy he was finally away from the people and the smells and, oh my god, fan girls. Everything was fine, the night air was fresh, he wasn't as drunk as last time, he could walk normally…
BAM!
It's amazing how one's life could change in an instant.
Sasuke stumbled slightly, walked backwards and finally halting to a stop as he leaned against a metal pole. The club was right next to a local road, so there wasn't any major traffic. It was also past midnight, so there shouldn't be anyone walking around (with the exception of drunks and prostitutes).
"Ah…ah…I'm…I'm sorry," a timid voice rose from the ground. Sasuke looked down from his position, eyeing a small framed woman, legs bent in a 'W' shape. Her hands were gripping the concrete sidewalk, pushing the skirt down and over the area where no lady wants exposed (mind you, I said lady). She wore a simple purple-blue dress; the hem would end over the knees if she were standing. She wore a thick zipper sweater, well suited for the cold night, and large sunglasses were place on her face. Sasuke could see the pale white skin of the girl's thighs and her chest, sweater being zipped only halfway, and the girl leaning over to expose cleavage. "It's my fault, I should have…gone the usual way I guess." A gentle laugh.
Sasuke stared at the odd girl. "Uh, no, it's my fault. I should have watched where I was going and…are you okay?" he bent down to the floor, sitting on his heels.
"I…I…um," she started to grope around the concrete floor. "Have…have you seen a big white dog? Kind of scruffy, but I guess not so much since he took a bath today."
Sasuke shook his head.
A long pause. "Did you hear me?"
"Yeah, um, I didn't see a dog." What's with this girl? Didn't she see me shake my head no? What is she, blind?
"Oh…oh no…no, no, no…" she gripped the sides of her face, shaking her head vigorously. "I can't lose him. He's my friend's dog! Well, he's my seeing dog, but my friend lent the dog to me to help me, you know, get around!"
Wait…seeing dog?
Holy mother of evolution and cheese, I knocked down a blind girl and her seeing dog is lost. First of all, Sasuke stopped swearing when he was twelve (His mom would slap his tongue with every rhyme with witch and puck he said). Secondly, evolution and cheese was a long story involving biology finals and cramming in the last minute. Thirdly, he had just induced karma's wrath upon his already messed up life.
If Sasuke could just curl up and die, he would, but he's not God.
The fallen girl continued to whisper, "Oh no." over and over again until she slumped over, groaning soundly. "I'm doomed…"
Sasuke sighed inwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Look…if it's any consolation, I'll help you look for your dog. Right now."
"You would do that?" she rose from her slumped position, facing the sullen boy with a bright expression. "I would be…EXSTATIC, if you would help me!"
I'm already six feet in this mess…may as well dig out. "Of course, now…do you have an idea where he might have run away to?" Sasuke helped the fallen girl from the ground. "Oh, I'm Sasuke, by the way." Can't go around calling each other 'Hey you!'
"I'm Hinata, thank you again." She held out her hand. After feeling a warm hand shake hers, she withdrew and thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. He was kind of scared for a while, barking a lot, too…I'm not sure why."
Sasuke looked up at the sky. He noticed the night sky was a dark grey, rather clear and starry. "It looks like it's going to rain." A large clap of thunder emitted followed by a flash of lightening. "And it's a thunder storm."
"Oh…OH…I didn't hear the thunder because he was barking so loud."
"What's the dog's name?"
"Akamaru."
"Oh…well, he could just be hiding in a bush, or something…"
"Hey, look, a dog!"
"He's huge!"
"HEY! NO DOG'S ALLOWED IN THE CLUB!"
"He's not mine!"
Sasuke stared at the club doors, watching two people fly from the doors (landing on their butts and skidding away) followed by a huge white dog. "I think…that's the dog."
"Akamaru?" Hinata called, clapping her hands. "Akamaru, come here!"
The large white dog, regaining its composure, looked at Hinata and panted.
Sasuke stared at the barreling giant, a huge juggernaut. No one can nor will stop this thing.
"Sit!" Hinata firmly commanded just before the dog reached her. Akamaru sat peacefully, his tail wagging happily…until a loud thunderclap caused the dog to cower in fear.
"Aw…poor Akamaru, let's take you home." Hinata groped for the dog's reigns. She felt the rough fabric and pulled him gently to her direction. "Thank you so much, Sasuke-san. I hope to meet you again."
"Same here." He spoke out of politeness.
Hinata bowed and walked off.
Well…that was strange.
The thunder roared and Akamaru howled.
Sasuke winced. Oh yeah…still drunk.
That's right Remy-kun. Ha-ha-ha, you know? The most darnest thing happened to me this morning. I found out I have a fan girl!
Wa-ha-ha-ha, now that's rare, Masako.
Tell me about it! I was so excited, but man the girl almost FAINTED!
Fainted? Wow, that's going overbo—
A hand slammed the digital alarm clock. Sasuke groaned, rolling over onto his stomach on his bed. He ran a hand up and down over his hair and face. His head was aching, thumping; he could literally feel the blood pulsing through his ventricles. He seethed, holding his head in an attempt to stop the painful hangover.
"What…time is it…" he painfully opened one eye, "Two in the afternoon…wonderful…"
"Good morning, Sasuke!" the door swung open revealing a well rested Naruto. He was literally shining in the sunlight. Sasuke winced, being allergic to Naruto happiness. "What? Woke up at two again? AND WITH A HANGOVER!" he screamed in Sasuke's ear. He laughed even louder, joyous to see the Uchiha squirm.
"SHUT UP, DOBE! AUGH!" he withered in pain and fell upon the bed sheets.
Naruto laughed louder and louder each second passed.
"Naruto…you have three seconds to get out."
"Or what? You're pretty much dead."
True…
"When this hangover goes away, I'll kill you."
"You won't kill me! You love me!"
"Go to hell you fox."
"I'm already in one, fanny!" Naruto sung, dodging a flying pillow and dancing his way out of the room. He made one last twirl before closing the door and dodging, yet, another pillow.
A scowl escaped Sasuke as he sat up on his bed. They lived in a simple and plain apartment that was placed in the city, looking over the main road and a couple of dirty alleyways. Both Sasuke and Naruto opened a ramen restaurant (much to the pleasure of Naruto), but the budget disallowed them to buy a car (much to the displeasure of Sasuke). Luckily, today was Sunday, the only day the shop was closed until late afternoon.
Dressing in his clothes for the day (a black t-shirt and jeans) he stumbled into the kitchen and collapsed onto his designated chair, slumped over the table. "Oi…dobe…coffee."
Naruto was sipping his mug, glancing at the half-conscious, half-dead man. "If I were to say no?"
"I'll close down the ramen shop."
"NO!"
"Then give me coffee, stupid."
Naruto sighed, pushing his own mug to the distressed man. "You should do what I do?"
"And what's that?" Sasuke mumbled, sipping his coffee.
"Drink water before going to bed."
"Why?"
"Alcohol dehydrates the brain, that's why you get hangovers, but if you drink water before you go to sleep, then there shouldn't be a hangover the next day."
Sasuke stared at Naruto with disbelieving eyes. "And how did you know this?"
Naruto smirked. "I was cramming for that last final in senior year."
"Isn't that biology?"
"I was in AP."
"How the hell?"
"Hey…when I really try, I can get in."
"The dobe isn't a complete idiot. He's a friggin psychopath."
"Hey…" Naruto pouted, his large blue eyes increasing in size and perspiration. "I know you wuv me."
"Go away." Sasuke pushed the wide eyed demon from his face. "I'm not prepared for your stupid antics today."
"Sasuke has a wittle headache!"
"Naruto…"
"Hey, Hinata," the man ruffled the scruff of the large white dog. "Hey there buddy!"
Hinata smiled, gently feeling her way to the reunited couple. "Hi, Kiba-kun, anything new in today?" She found her way to a chair and gently sat on the cold, rough surface of the seat.
Kiba was Hinata's friend since junior high, being the mastermind of somehow bringing in his little puppy, Akamaru, in class. He was a head taller than Hinata—she being short for her generation—with long red triangles tattooed on his cheeks (he claims they look cool on him back in high school). He was the proud owner of Inuzuka Pets, compatible to the nearby successful veterinarian (his sister).
"Just more gerbils. That's what I get for putting the males with the females. And these hamsters," Kiba stared at the cage full of hamsters, his nose wrinkling at the explicit sight. "They're reproducing faster than rabbits! I know the males' balls are huge, but still…"
Hinata laughed. "You, as a pet owner, should know all that by now."
Kiba patted Akamaru's back and stood straight, hand on his hip. "Hey…"
"Just speaking the truth." She shrugged her shoulders with a smile on her face.
"Oh yeah, last night, sorry I made you walk all the way back home alone." Kiba sat on the linoleum floor next to the chair Hinata sat. He leaned his back against the empty cages that occupied the lower shelves.
"Oh no, it was okay. I had Akamaru, and someone helped me when I almost lost him."
"Wait, hold up. You almost lost Akamaru?"
Hinata giggled. "Sorry, I accidentally slammed into some guy on the way home and there was a thunder storm last night. Akamaru ran into the club I was standing—sitting in front of."
"The guy…" Kiba looked up at Hinata. "Didn't try to cop a feel…right?"
"I didn't feel anything. I'm more afraid he saw something." Hinata smiled. "But I think he's a really nice guy. He has a nice deep voice, but it's gentle in a way. He also has amazingly soft hands."
"Maybe he was gay."
"Maybe…"
"Whoa," Naruto mused. "How do your hands get so soft?"
"Dobe, I use lotion every time we go back home."
"…you're such a woman."
"Shut up ramen inhaler."
"And proud of it!"
The store door jingled as the bells on the door hit against the opening door. "Hi, Sasuke-kun." Sakura smiled happily and gently skipped to a red colored stool, sitting on the soft and cushioned surface. "Hey, Naruto."
"Hn." Sasuke breathed, walking to check on the cooking noodles.
"Hi, Sakura-chan. What you want today?"
"Just a regular soy sauce ramen; I didn't get to eat all day!" Sakura leaned on her elbows. "How about you guys?"
"What do you think? The idiot almost ate our entire day's stock."
Naruto laughed nervously. "Someone did help me." He smirked, looking at the back of his companion.
"I'm not the one who started it all."
"I'm not the one who wanted to start some eating competition."
"Both of you shut up."
"Yes ma'am." They both mumbled in defeat.
The bells jingled again and appeared Hinata. "Um…is this Ichiraku Ramen…two?"
Sasuke stared at the new customer with wide-eyes. Small world indeed…
"YES!" Naruto happily cried out. "Welcome to the second best ramen shop in the world!"
"Naruto." Sakura sharply exhaled. She smiled at Hinata. "I'm not a worker, but I do know how to welcome someone with some dignity."
Hinata giggled quietly.
"This is a ramen shop named after Naruto's favorite ramen stand: Ichiraku Ramen. He used to go there all the time when we were in high school." Sakura explained. "They don't only sell ramen if you don't want any. There are soba noodles, oden (but I don't recommend it), yaki-niku (but only on weekend nights), dons, udon…"
"Geez, just give her a menu. It'll be easier." Naruto huffed, dodging a fist to his face.
Hinata smiled. "I guess I'll have a regular miso ramen."
"Aw, no fun."
"Naruto!"
Hinata laughed.
Sasuke slid the noodles into a bowl and covered the noodles with soup and other condiments. "Hey, dobe, one soy sauce ramen for pinky."
"Yeah, yeah, keep your shorts on."
Hinata perked slightly. "Sasuke-san?"
Sasuke froze. Oh my god, she remembered his name. Another fan girl? No…even if she's blind he's not dealing with another…
"You know Sasuke-kun?" the pink one questioned, slightly curious as to what Sasuke was going last night.
"He helped me find my seeing dog."
"Seeing dog? Are you…ur…" Sakura breathed in, unable to put the term lightly.
"Blind as a bat?"
"NARUTO!"
Hinata laughed. "It's okay, I couldn't see since I was born. You can't miss something you've never experienced."
"So, Sasuke-san," Naruto smirked. "What did you do last night?"
Sakura pushed Naruto a little. "Leave Sasuke-kun alone…and give me my food already!"
"I didn't do anything." Sasuke mumbled, placing the order in front of Sakura. "I accidentally knocked her down. I was drunk and I wasn't looking where I was going."
Silence…
"You knocked down a blind woman?" Naruto slowly managed to calculate.
"Naruto, Sasuke-kun said it was an accident." Sakura defended.
"Did you apologize?" Naruto placed a miso ramen in front of Hinata.
"Of course I did, dobe." Sasuke mumbled, leaning against their side of the counter.
"Itadakimasu." Hinata took a slurp of her noodles and chewed slowly. "It's good."
"Thanks…"
"Hinata."
"Thanks, Hinata!" Naruto cheered.
Sakura began to eat. "You could advertise. You guy's are doing pretty well, but it could do better."
"Advertising costs money. We don't have that kind of money. We don't even have money to buy a car." Sasuke emphasized on car.
Naruto grumbled. "You're an Uchiha; why not use your money."
"How the hell do you know?"
"I saw your check book, open to the latest date. That's a lot of money." Naruto mumbled.
"You're an ass."
"And I love you, too."
"Thank you for the meal." Hinata gently spoke, slowly placing her chopsticks on the bowl. "Can I have the check?"
Sasuke soundly placed the plastic tray with the bill on in front of her, taking the empty bowl. "Six hundred yen."
"That's a good price…" Hinata mumbled as she fumbled around her large bag for her purse. She clumsily counted the coins in her hands, feeling the engraved number on the coins, and gently placed six of the coins that were worth one hundred yen each. She rose from her seat.
"Here, at least let me help you to the door." Sakura offered, rising from her seat and slamming six coins in front of her bowl.
"Thank you that would be appreciated." Hinata smiled gently.
"Your welcome." Sakura smiled and led Hinata outside of the ramen shop. "Be careful on your way back!"
"Thank you!"
"She's pretty agile for someone who can't even see anything." Naruto commented out loud.
"Naruto…" Sakura eyed the blonde.
"You've got to admit that!" Naruto cried out.
Sasuke rolled his eyes from the sink where he was washing dishes. So she wasn't a fan girl at all. He smirked, feeling the warm water lap his forearms. I wonder if I'll meet her again…
(N)
And that's it, folks!
Hinata will be more involved next chapter. That's a promise!
To note, the water thing was told by my ol' biology teacher (who's a saint) and the evolution and cheese thing is real. It was made up by me, and if you want to know, just ask. I'll tell ya...but it's really weird, yet effective (unfortunately for me, there was no question involving that type of evolution on my final, sniff).
Those uncomfortable with the topic of blindness...I apologize. Also, I would mention Hinata had thsoe...stick things, but I didn't know if it had a name and didn't want to call it just a stick. The word guide would make it sound weird and confusing, as well.
