XXX
Step 2
XXX
Hinata woke up to the loud whirring of a small motor. She shifted underneath her blankets before sitting up while yawning. She took a few moments to rub her eyes free of any remaining sleep before tossing the sheets over and stepping onto her carpeted floor. Not bothering to look around for her slippers, she crossed over to her door and entered the hallway. By the time she made it pass the bathroom, she could already see Sakura at work with her sewing machine up and running at the table.
"At it already?" she asked playfully.
Sakura took her foot off the pedal and took the pins out of her mouth once the machine stopped running.
"The new Vivienne line came out," Sakura replied urgently. "Stupid.." She paused to growl before returning her focus on the machine. "She took some of my designs!"
Hinata looked at her friend a bit worried. "To be fair, Sakura, I don't think she knows who you are."
"If she doesn't now, then she sure as hell will soon enough!" the pinkette exclaimed. "I will not lose to her!"
Hinata sighed and walked past the table into their kitchen, not bothering to comment that Vivienne Westwood had about a forty year advantage as far as succeeding in the fashion world was concerned, and to be in some sort of one-sided competition with the veteran designer would be rather fruitless.
"Can I get you to try on some stuff?" Sakura called out over the racket she was making.
"Can I eat first?" It wasn't meant sarcastically, Hinata genuinely wanted to know if it was alright if she had her breakfast before playing dress up.
"Yeah," Sakura waved her off to the kitchen. "I got to finish this skirt so it can go with the rest of the outfit anyway, so go ahead."
Hinata turned away from the working girl and went to a cabinet, pulling out a box of cereal before heading to the one next to it for a bowl. Hinata fixed her quick breakfast and exited into the dining area. She had intended to sit at the table, but soon remembered that Sakura had declared it in the name of herself for the time being. With that in mind, she made for the living room and plopped herself on the couch.
"Snap!" Sakura stood up from her seat. "I'm gonna need to use the doll thing for Ino's clothes."
Sakura left the table and made a journey into her own room in search of her standing manican that was made for Ino's measurements. Hinata watched her walk by, clearly amused with it all, and once she was out of sight faced forward, reaching for the remote after another spoonful of soggy flakes was shoved into her mouth.
She clicked the television in front of her on and began to look for something to watch while she ate. Sakura came back out during her channel surfing, carrying a standing man-made torso of a woman which she promptly placed next to the table, taking a break from stitching and started to dress it with completed pieces of clothing.
Hinata had finally decided to give up on early morning day time TV and check what either her or Sakura had recorded during the past week. She scanned the programs before realizing that she had programed the television yesterday to record what she had been watching at work, or ex-work, whichever it was now. She instantly clicked on the play button and fast forward through all of the beginning commercials before the program began.
She continued to eat the remainder of what was left in her bowl as Sakura continued in the constant battle of arranging the clothing in the manner she had fashioned it in. Apparently, she was losing.
"I should've fitted it before, dammit!"
Hinata knew better than to say anything, and instead turned the volume up a bit. Just enough to where Sakura wouldn't notice and throw some sort of fit. She had finished her bowl as the first dance was coming to an end, setting it on the already crowded coffee table to pick up later, and put her entire focus on the dancers.
"Invited to tonight's event," a woman's voice from off-screen (one of the hosts, no doubt) began. "rising star of the federation, Sai-"
Hinata jumped at the sound of Sakura's sewing machine going off again, drowning out everything else.
"Sakura!" Hinata yelled over the noise.
Sakura stopped the machine and looked over to her. "Yeah?"
"Could you please let me watch this?" the other girl asked politely. "Pleease?"
Sakura sighed and looked away. "Fine..."
She removed her hands from the cloth she was restitching and left the table with the mess she made behind her. Sakura stood in front of the kitchen, contemplating whether or not she should make some sort of breakfast since she hadn't eaten since she woke up. She walked into the small area and reached into one of the cabinets. Instead of pulling out a cereal box like Hinata had, she brought out a bag of chips and went for a soda in the fridge. Completely satisfied with her choices, she exited the kitchen.
"What're we watching?" she asked while plopping herself on the opposite end of the couch.
"Competition from last night," answered Hinata.
Sakura pulled the tab on the soda can and after putting it on the end table next to her, ripped the bag open. She popped a chip in her mouth and started watching the show.
"Is it just me," she began, "or is that guy really white?"
"No, that's his color," Hinata told her. "Although I've only seen him through a lens, so I'm not too sure."
"You know him?"
Hinata shook her head. "Not personally, but he's in league with the school, so there's tons of photos with him around. Neji knows him."
"Neji would," said Sakura. "Did you bring home any candy from last night?"
"I think there's some in my bag," Hinata replied. "Go through it if you want."
Sakura stood up and sauntered to the front door where Hinata's bag hung next to. She started digging through the satchel and after a few more minutes pulled out two lollipops. With a little cheer, she proceeded back to her seat, unwrapping the sugary goodness as she went.
"What happened to your candy?" Hinata asked her.
"Ate it."
Hinata turned her head towards her, face filled with some sort of surprise. "All of it?"
"I needed sugar to work," Sakura shrugged.
"Sakura, you left with the most candy," Hinata said. "I mean, you had to bring home the entire bottom half of the piñata to carry it all."
"Yeah..." Sakura trailed off then coughed.
They continued to watch the program with little conversation between them. Sakura would ask a question every now and then, and Hinata would answer her as thoroughly as she could to cease any further interruption. Near the halfway point of the competition and somewhere during the individual couples dances, Sakura made a point to speak again.
"He's seems pretty popular," she commented, obviously meaning the male dancer they were speaking of before. "They didn't do as many close-ups as the other couples."
"He's rising through ranks really fast," Hinata responded automatically, so used to answering Sakura back. "A lot of people are watching him, so I'm not really surprised."
"Hm.. What's 'is name?"
"Sai-"
There was a sudden pounding on their front door, cutting off Hinata from finishing her answer. Sakura sighed and stood up from her seat again.
"Ino's here," she stated and moved to open the door.
"Hey!" the blonde girl greeted the moment she was let into the apartment. "Good morning!"
"You're awfully happy today," Sakura said to her. "What's going on?"
"Nothing really with me," Ino said back. "I'm just totally psyched that my two bestest gal pals are finally free from the evil confines that is fast food."
"Yeah," Sakura went on while walking back to her seat. "We're also unemployed."
"Wrong my dear." Ino followed her deeper into their small living space. "You're unemployed, Hinata has a job lined up."
"I was gonna go out searching today," Sakura told her. "I'm want to find something that's more suitable to my talents."
"Shoving people out of the way to catch a falling piñata?"
"I gave some out didn't I?"
"Where'd you put all that candy?" Ino asked her while sitting between her and Hinata.
"She ate it already," Hinata told her.
"No way!" exclaimed Ino. "That was a helluva lot of candy."
"I needed my sugar this morning," Sakura shrugged.
"Anyway," Ino turned to Hinata, not knowing how to continue on with Sakura. "Neji called me last night."
"When?" Hinata asked her. "Or rather, why?"
"It was last night at the party," Ino told her.
"Wasn't really a party," Sakura mentioned. "I mean, it was just us over at their house."
"It was a Monday," Ino directed at her. "I didn't really think anyone was going to come over. Why're you complaining, you got all the candy." She turned back to Hinata. "Anyway, he called somewhere after eleven, since your phone died and Sakura's went to voice mail, I guess he decided to call me."
"Did I not turn it back on after work?" Sakura wondered out loud to herself before getting up again to check on the small machine.
"What'd he say?" questioned Hinata.
"He wants to pick you up today and take you to school for some practice," said Ino. "Said he'd be here before ten. I was gonna tell you, but you guys had already left by the time I came back into the house."
Hinata sighed and stopped the program. "I should get ready then."
She stood up and grabbed her empty bowl from the table, walking over to the kitchen and took a position in front of the sink.
"Sakura!" Ino called out over the sound of running water and taking up Sakura's uneaten lollipop for herself.
"What?!" the other called back.
"Can you give me a ride to work?" she asked.
"Where's your car?" Sakura continued to question her as she came back out into the living room.
"Apparently I got too drunk to drive last night," Ino said as though it were nothing.
"You are a shining example to all children," replied the pinkette in a monotone.
While the two started their early morning bickering, Hinata finished up in the kitchen and started for her room.
"Are you going to leave your stuff out?" she interrupted their argument to ask Sakura.
"Just for now," Sakura waved off. "I'll probably be done by the time you get back."
Hinata nodded and continued into her room, immediately crossing to her closet and pulling out a gym bag and began to pack some of the more necessary items all of which included a spare outfit to practice in as well as a change of shoes.
'I should take something for class,' she thought. 'He's probably upset from when I told him yesterday I couldn't do a training session. It's not like I was goofing off though, it wasn't even that much of a party.'
She groaned slightly and picked up her first outfit with the her shower items, figuring that with the kind of day she would be in for, would probably be the only one she would have until the next day. She made a face, not looking forward to the moment when she would flop on her bed and fall asleep without eating or showering the day away.
"Hinata!" she heard Sakura yell out. "I'm taking Ino to work so if I don't see you when I get back, I'll see you when you get home!"
"Alright then!" Hinata called back to her while reaching for her phone in the charger. "Be careful!"
Hinata briefly heard the front door open and close again while she checked her messages before jumping in the shower. There was a text from Neji, saying everything that Ino had told her momentarily ago, although his message included a reprimanding for being irresponsible. After his was a message from her sister, asking if it would be alright if she stayed with her for a few days.
To that she replied right away, telling Hanabi that it would be fine with her and to help herself in once she was out of school and to tell her the story later. Though knowing her sister, she could probably guess what was going on between her and their father.
After that text there was one from Naruto. She opened it and read it quickly before going back and reading it again slowly.
Tell neji im srry 4 mking u come ovr last nite (xp) he left me a vry mean mssge last nite bout me mking u skip trining (9.9) awsums thing to wke up 2 in da mrning huh? (x3)
The message was promptly followed by his signature: A Bird!A Plane!!A FOXMAN!!DUNUNUNUNUNU
Hinata still sweat dropped at the mix of both Superman and Batman references, and rather uncreative at that. Not really sure as to how to respond, she sent back a text stating that she was making it up to him early today before going into class. She jumped slightly at the vibration going off on the palm of her hand after not even a minute had gone by. She flipped the phone open and read the reply. The newly received text saying simple statements like "good luck" and "do your best", complete with random emoticons and all.
Hinata laughed lightly at the message, appreciating it for all it was worth. She flipped it close however, choosing not to bother with a reply even though it was evident that Naruto was awake and had his phone nearby. A conversation would've been so easy to start up, and she would be lying if she said she didn't want to.
There was a busy day ahead though, so instead, she placed the device in her bag and made for the bathroom so she could finally get ready for what was to come.
xx
On his bed, Naruto still had his phone in his hands, waiting to see if there would be any kind of reply, even if the last message he sent out to her wasn't really one that needed a reply. Still, it wouldn't have been the first time they started a conversation out of pure nothing.
After a few more minutes went by without a word from the girl, he finally let the phone drop from his grasp and rolled over onto his back.
"I wanted to talk to her," he whined. "But I guess she's getting ready already. Nyah! I'm not gonna be able to talk to her at work anymore either."
"Are you talking to yourself... again?"
Naruto lifted the top part of his body to look out his door.
"Wha?"
Sasuke pushed Naruto's bedroom door opened a little more and leaned against the frame, he was already dressed for work.
"I asked if you were talking to yourself again," he repeated.
"And if I was?" Naruto asked, almost in a daring way.
Sasuke shrugged. "Nothing. I always knew you were crazy."
Naruto's eye twitched. "Jackass!"
"Dumbass," Sasuke retorted without so much as an ounce of hesitation.
"Smartas!"
"Fuglyass."
"Stupidass!"
"I win."
Naruto blinked. "What?!"
"Stupidass is the same as dumbass," Sasuke sighed. "I said it first so you lost. Now get ready, or else I'm gonna leave without you."
Downstairs Temari was busy with making herself some breakfast. She had almost dropped the bowl she was mixing ingredients in when an indecipherable yell came from upstairs. She slightly winced at the sound of a door slamming. She out the bowl down and reached for the shelf with every kind of headache reliever available. After grabbing one of the small plastic bottles and a glass of water, she put them to the side and went back to cooking.
'It's too early for this,' she thought with a sigh.
xx
Hinata locked the door behind her and started racing for the stairs. She hurried down the step and jogged her way through the front gates of her apartment complex. Already there waiting for her was a familiar black vehicle. She went ahead and walked around to the driver's side and opened the door to the back seat, letting herself in.
"Good morning," she greeted while trying not to sound too cheerful. Once the car door was closed, it pulled away from the curb and started down the boulevard.
"Is it now?" asked the passenger next to her.
Hinata sighed slightly. "Neji, I know you're upset with me for doing something spur of the moment like that-"
"It's not that I'm upset," Neji broker her sentence off. "Well, not entirely. I'm more concerned about your relationship with that boy and his friends. Before, even when you had something planned socially, you would break it off for more practice. Are you starting to give up?"
"No!" Hinata exclaimed and spun in her seat to face him. "I'm not giving up! I wasn't thinking, that's all."
"Are you sure?" Neji turned to look her in the face.
Hinata nodded. "I wasn't thinking. Well, I was, but not the right way. I knew that I should have left when you first called me, but by that time, we had already found out that no one was going to show up and I thought it would be no big deal to skip one day since nothing big was happening. I'm sorry. It was foolish of me."
By the end of her statement, Hinata had bowed her head down and lowered her eyes as well. Neji sighed at the sight of her, thinking that maybe he had been too harsh on her for so early in the morning. Especially since she had done nothing terribly wrong to begin with.
"It's fine," he said at last. "Since you're still determined as ever, it's fine."
Hinata let out a small relieved sigh and relaxed in her seat, leaning back in the upholstery a little bit more. Neji smiled slightly at the actions and faced forward himself.
"So," he began. "Tell me about this party you had last night. I hope I didn't miss anything interesting."
Hinata chuckled at that. "It wasn't really a party, at least not one that I'm sure Naruto would have wanted. He had invited all of their fans over, but I'm sure since it was weekday, and because the majority of them are still in school, no one showed up."
"To be expected."
"Yes, well, I had thought some of the more unruly ones would make an appearance, but it seems that the only ones they could actually get into contact with are those that still live with their parents and actually have phones."
"Go on," he pressed.
"So, um, it was just Ino, Sakura, and myself who were there with them, and in the end we ended up playing a drinking game while watching Lord of the Rings. There was no alcohol, otherwise I wouldn't have played along."
"Good answer."
"Uh, and then we broke open the piñata Naruto had bought. Sakura caught it while it was falling, but she felt kind of bad and gave some to everyone. After that, Temari and Ino went into the hot tub, and everyone else was about to join them, but Sakura and I decided to leave at that time."
"Doesn't sound like much of a party," Neji commented.
'Though I would have liked to have seen Sakura hoard all the candy,' he thought to himself.
Hinata shook her head. "It wasn't, but it was still fun."
"As long as it doesn't interfere with your training today," Neji started. "I'll be fine with it."
"I'm sure it won't," said Hinata. "I wasn't out very late and I had more than enough hours of rest."
"Good, I wouldn't want to wear you out before you head for your classes. Speaking of, are you entirely sure that you need to take a Ballet course?"
"I'm sure it's not needed, but I am sure that because of it, I have been able to dance smoother."
"That is true enough. Alright then, but what about the Tap class?"
Hinata averted her gaze once more. "That I'm not so sure of what I could use for. I suppose it was just because I wanted to." She brought her eyes up to him cautiously. "Is that alright?"
"As long as you remember that you are a ballroom dancer first, it's fine. Keep in mind the upcoming competitions that will get you recognized, and by the end of summer, you will have to give those classes up for the one in January."
Hinata eyes widened. "You don't mean-"
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked her. "Not only as your dance coach, but also as your cousin, I want to see you become a professional. As soon as I find you a decent enough partner that will stay by your side, we'll begin training for that."
Right after he had finished his sentence, Hinata had launched herself at him, engulfing his entire upper body in an embrace. It was about the same time, when their car had pulled alongside a curb once more.
Hinata wore a wide smile. "Thank you."
Neji reached his hand up and patted her head. 'It's the least I could do,' he thought, but never said it aloud.
His door opened, allowing the sunlight in and making Hinata let him go from her embrace. On the other side, Kou stood with a wheelchair.
"That was fast, Kou," Neji said to him while Hinata collected her belongings together.
"And getting faster each day," the other man replied happily.
Neji glanced out the back window. "Though I notice you didn't bother to close the trunk."
To that Kou laughed. "Well.."
"If you bring it closer, I'll help myself in," Neji told him. "Close the trunk."
Hinata had already exited out of her side of the car throughout the small duration and made it around onto the sidewalk. She stood patiently waiting for Neji to prepare himself before walking into the building behind her. Once Neji was seated and they both bid their goodbyes to Mou, he wheeled around and started for the entrance. Hinata walked ahead of him to open the door and followed in after him.
"I've asked Cecil to remain as your practice partner only," Neji informed her as they made their way through the lobby. "He won't be a commited partner to you any longer and once a new one is found, he will be able to go about his own way again. Seeing as how with someone new, you'll be dancing with each other for everything."
"That seems unfair, doesn't it?" Hinata asked.
"He already agreed to it and doesn't find it offensive in any way, so there's no need to trouble yourself over it."
"I understand," she continued as they stopped in front of the elevator doors. "It's just, I've known him since the beginning. We started together."
"But you won't be finishing together," Neji started in as soon as she was done while pressing the "Up" button on the side of the door. "I know your closeness with him, but when we spoke with one another, even he agreed that he has gone as far as he could. For your progression, he's relinquished his position by your side."
The doors opened and Hinata waited for Neji to position himself inside before she stepped within the space.
"I know you wanted to stay with him," said Neji.
"I understand," Hinata replied. "I just wish there was something I could do for him."
"Do your best."
Hinata turned in his direction and smiled softly. The elevator doors opened and Neji exited before she did. The two of them turned in the direction of the Dance wing and towards the empty studios left for those who wanted to practice more. Neji went into the first one available and Hinata followed after.
"And Cecil?" Hinata asked, puting her bag down by the mirror.
"He won't be here until later," he said. "Until then, we'll be doing solitary exercises to prepare yourself individually, one dance at a time."
"Which do we begin with?"
"Vienna."
Hinata nodded and walked to the center of the room, turning to face him so that she could receive direction. She raised her arms as though holding onto another person when he commanded her to frame. She straightened her posture even more when he told her to take a stronger stance. She began to move at his count and almost tripped when he shouted for her to stop.
"Position yourself again!" he ordered.
'And the day's only started,' she thought to herself and positioned herself again.
XXX
A/N: My long term fics are always slow in the beginning. Gah, I always anticipate the middle. It's more fun to write. Anyway, I kind of want to post on Saturday instead of Monday. It might conflict with the other fic I'm writing, but I just like posting at the end of the week better than at the beginning. For some reason, I feel like everything updated on the weeked gets more noticed. Since it's the weekend and no one really has to do anything, so it's okay to stay up late reading fanfiction (like me for example xp). I think I'll post on Saturday, I'll run it by my sister, though she'll probably want me to stick to Monday. Well, we'll see.