PREVIOUSLY:
And if she became one of those many girls, her chances of achieving her dream to become a respectable supermodel would be very slim. And if she couldn't be a supermodel, where would she go?
The minute the photo shoot had finished, staff members were cleaning or rearranging the set. Orochimaru was focusing on the digital pictures he took that got sent to a computer. The computer was atop a desk placed next to the set against the wall. He observed each picture intently, trying to isolate the best pictures among the pack he took.
Hinata was too shy to look over the work she presented, and she did not know how to help the busy staff members, so she opted to be out of their way. She took refuge in the makeup station that was left alone. Hinata sat fidgeting in her chair, fully clothed, as she waited for Tsunade to take her home.
Sasuke was nowhere to be found. Just when Hinata was handed the white robe to cover her exposed body, with the blink of her long lashes, he was gone. It almost surprised Hinata that he would leave so suddenly. But she knew, just as everyone else knew, that he wasn't fond of being around company. Sasuke didn't necessarily give off a welcoming, team player vibe after all.
Sitting patiently, her mind would not stop wandering to what happened prior to Sasuke's departure. She couldn't help but think of what he had done for her...
The moment Hinata heard Orochimaru announce the end of the photo shoot, she shrunk into her inner, overly embarrassed self. She could hardly move with her lack of clothing. Bending forward and covering her breasts with her arms, she waited for someone to hand her her robe.
Sasuke glanced behind him to notice her complete change in demeanor. Turning his attention back in front of him, he saw that Orochimaru had left his position and everyone else had started cleaning up. No one seemed to remember to hand Hinata her robe.
If it were any other day, with any other model, Sasuke would care less about them, and leave. But something about the way Hinata seemed to be shaking lightly behind him, something about the way the crewmembers were trying to sneak perverted glances at Hinata's creamy, curvy body, made him feel responsible for helping her find clothing, since no one else was stepping up anyway.
Lightly pushing her body to stand directly behind his tall stature, Sasuke snapped his fingers with his other hand at Kabuto's direction. Kabuto just so happened to be walking across the room a few steps in front of him. When Kabuto stopped to turn to Sasuke, Sasuke pointed with his finger at the desired item, and commanded, "Robe."
Kabuto lazily picked up Hinata's white robe from the back of a vacant chair just off the set. As he was walking over to hand Hinata's robe to Sasuke's outstretched hand, Sasuke began to contemplate a better reason as to why he was doing this.
He certainly didn't need to help Hinata, and Hinata should get used to being naked in front of others anyway. It was the career path she chose, and models were expected to undress and expose themselves often in their line of work. Even Sasuke had done so, only to go along with Orochimaru's "vision" anyway. Those were arguably some of his most uncomfortable times, being examined through the hungry eyes of Orochimaru. But it was work and it wasn't often. However, if Hinata could pull off being confident in front of the camera, Sasuke concluded in his thoughts, "then she should do that trick when she has to work naked."
Believing he didn't need to do Hinata any favors, Sasuke grabbed the robe from Kabuto's hand when it was in reach and threw it behind him, before sauntering off the set. Hinata was suddenly covered in her white protection. In a flash Hinata had placed herself inside the robe and immediately felt much more comfortable the minute she tied the belt around her waist. Kabuto had walked away then, and Hinata was left alone.
She couldn't stay standing in place because crew workers were starting to clear the set props. Searching for Sasuke to thank him, she found no trace of him anywhere from within the large room.
By now, Hinata had had enough time to change back into the clothes she had come with. Thinking about Sasuke's actions made her feel very grateful. She didn't realize it then, but he had been shielding her from the crew members. He could have walked away and left her unguarded. A small smile crept on Hinata's features. She was glad she had successfully gotten past this challenging photo session. Deep in thought, she did not notice when her agent arrived.
The moment Tsunade had entered the large room, the first thing she recognized from afar was Hinata's timid form sitting at the makeup station. As she made her way over to the meek girl, she slowly began to focus her attention on Hinata's hands. Her fingers were poking each other in what looked to be the start of a bad habit.
Tsunade rested a hand on Hinata's shoulder when she finally reached her. Hinata jumped. "It's me," she told her. "Ready to go?"
"Yes," Hinata answered.
"I need to speak to Orochimaru before we leave so wait outside in the car for me."
"Okay," Hinata got up from her seat, and leisurely made her way toward the door. Before she left however, she bid Orochimaru farewell and bowed a thank you for working with her.
"My pleasure," Orochimaru grinned devilishly before turning to an approaching Tsunade.
Hinata walked through the exit then, leaving them to talk. When she made her way outside the building, she noticed a figure waiting at the edge of the sidewalk. The hairstyle this person had could only belong to one person.
He was idly smoking a cigarette. Before Hinata could walk up to Sasuke, a car drove up in front of him. A redheaded female popped out from the vehicle, yelled his name and ecstatically embraced the brooding raven-haired male. She clung to his arm and seemed to be overly familiar with Sasuke, like she shared something more than just a friendship. If it weren't for Sasuke's reluctant demeanor, Hinata would have thought the two were a couple.
When Hinata saw a better glimpse of the female's face, she began to wonder why the redhead looked so familiar. It took Hinata a second to conclude that she was his rumored girlfriend the magazine had stated. She must have come to pick him up!
Without realizing it, Hinata had been staring. She only caught herself when the red-haired girl glanced, then glared in her direction. Hinata tilted her head down and began to walk toward the car waiting for her, which happened to be two cars behind the vehicle the girl had come out of.
The female began to express her opinions onto an uninterested Sasuke. Hinata could hear the girl telling Sasuke what they were going to do for the day.
Sasuke turned to face Karin to make some excuse to get her off him. He stopped himself when he noticed a familiar girl trying to be inconspicuous. He ended up briefly locking eyes with Hinata when she gave him a quick glance.
A flash of her beautifully naked body crossed his mind. It wasn't every day that he had a photo shoot with a naked female sitting on his lap. When that did happen though, it normally wouldn't be for a photo shoot.
He closed his eyes, brought the cigarette to his lips before throwing it to the ground and crushing it. When he opened his eyes, he noticed a lone paparazzi on the opposite side of the street, taking photos of him. With that, Sasuke broke free of Karin's hold and climbed inside the car still parked in front of him. He closed the door, leaving Karin to enter the vehicle from the other side.
Hinata stayed standing on the sidewalk just beside the car she was supposed to enter, watching Sasuke's car drive off. Suddenly, she heard her name being uttered by a recognizable voice.
"Hinata?" Her blonde friend walked up from where Sasuke was standing just moments ago.
"I—Ino?" Hinata was caught by surprise to see her friend.
Ino rushed over to give her a quick embrace before asking, "What are you doing here? And," she lowered her voice to half-whisper, "did you see that?" She pointed her thumb in the direction Sasuke's car had left.
"I—um," Hinata did not know how to answer her. Luckily, Ino continued speaking.
"I read he was starting to date some floozy but I didn't think I'd ever see it with my own eyes." She turned her head to look down the street. Sasuke's car was long gone by now. She turned back to Hinata and said, "Poor Sakura, huh? I'd say he downgraded. I mean, did you see her hair?" Ino crossed her arms in front of her chest and shook her head.
Hinata said nothing. She wasn't a very good gossip partner. She just wasn't very comfortable when it came to talking about others.
Ino ignored her friends silence and asked again, "So what brings you here? Did you just finish a photo shoot? Your make-up seems professionally done." Ino leaned closer slightly to inspect Hinata's face.
Hinata leaned back in response to keep a comfortable distance. She was never used to people getting too close in proximity to her, even if it were her friends. "Um, y—yes. I did." She prayed Ino wouldn't pry further information out of her. If she knew she had taken a photo shoot with Sasuke, and if she knew what the photo shoot made her do, she was sure Ino would never let her live it down.
Ino proceeded to ask, "Really? Who was it for? Oh wait no I'm going to be late! Well not late but you know me. I like getting to places early to look like I'm really dedicated. I have to go inside but I'll catch up with you later. Okay?"
Inwardly, Hinata sighed in great relief, "Yes, another time." A small smile crossed her features as her nervous heart began to calm.
After she bid farewell to Ino, she turned to open the car door and step inside. Shortly after she did so, Tsunade exited the building and entered the car as well. She took the seat beside Hinata.
Tsunade didn't like driving because it would hinder her chance to drink whenever she liked. Tsunade was serious when it came to work, but she enjoyed the occasional drink and gambling when she had time to spare.
When the driver started moving the car, Tsunade began to speak, "How did it go?"
Hinata looked down at her lap, "It… wasn't what I… expected." Her hair hung around her face to conveniently hide her blush.
"You haven't had a shoot like that before, but you have to get used to it. I had many kinds of nude photo shoots. That's part of a model's job—using your body to sell a product, even if means exposing yourself. Sex sells."
"Yes, I—I understand."
"Good. Orochimaru is a man with a vision for every photo he creates. The pictures he took should come out flawlessly," Tsunade turned her attention to the window for a moment, before turning back to Hinata. "This photographer you worked with today has launched many careers for aspiring models. Even if you weren't the main subject in today's campaign shoot, if he likes you enough, he could help you, Hinata." She paused before continuing, "I cannot guarantee that this photo shoot will get you in the spotlight, but it will help your resume to say that you worked with Orochimaru. Also," Tsunade waited for Hinata to meet her eyes.
Hinata looked up from her lap to her agent.
"You were invited to attend a party that Orochimaru is to host two weeks from today. You have nothing scheduled for that day, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"Okay." She looked back down at her hands in her lap.
"You should learn who are influential, and among the elite, who can help you. I can only do so much as your agent and as a former supermodel," Tsunade turned back to the side-door window, "That being said, I want you to start attending more go-sees. Fashion week is coming up, and if you can get casted to walk for a top designer, then you have more of a chance to be noticed. Understand?"
"Y—Yes," Hinata finally lifted her head to look up at her agent. She became nervous the moment Tsunade mentioned go-sees. She had not gone to many, and therefore was inexperienced, since Tsunade would always hand her jobs. Knowing that they are important interviews, and to have the attention of even one significant person judging everything about her appearance made her want to crawl into a hole.
Turning to her, she said, "Continue to practice your runway walk. And look up information of each designer I book you appointments for. Their clothes reflect a certain walk to better showcase them."
Hinata nodded in response.
Then, Tsunade proceeded to inform her on what go-sees were like and how to prepare. She was advised on what attire to wear and what she needed to bring to each meeting. In what seemed like no time, the car finally made it to Hinata's apartment.
Before leaving the car, Hinata was told she was to start off with six go-sees the next day.
Clothing herself in the attire Tsunade had told her to wear, Hinata checked herself in the mirror to make sure nothing was out of place. She wore no makeup, a form-fitting tank top over skinny jeans and flat sandals. Her high heels that she was expected to bring were tucked into a bag that also carried her portfolio, resume, and composite card.
Besides carrying the bag, she also took her cell phone and wallet. She kept her cell phone easily accessible so that she could quickly receive updates from Tsunade on her castings she was to attend for the day. It also held directions for where she was to go.
After eating a light breakfast, Hinata took a taxi to her first interview. Every location she was to go to were in unfamiliar streets, but luckily for her, the go-sees were only a few blocks away from each other. She had left early so that she had enough time to get to her first location without feeling stressed to rush. She made it to the address she was supposed to go to in more or less twenty minutes.
Once she finished paying the taxi, Hinata found herself at a hotel. She looked up at the tall building, and then looked down to find females walking in and out of the hotel. They all seemed to be the same subset of women, so Hinata assumed them to be other models attending the casting call.
She made her way inside the building and followed paper arrows that were posted on walls and doors that led her to a waiting room. There, models from all over the world were seated or standing, waiting to be called to be interviewed. Some were conversing happily amongst each other in foreign languages, while others were deeply focused as they searched through their phones.
Hinata didn't know what to do. She still had enough free time before her appointment. She made her way to an empty space along the wall of the room, and stood against it like the wallflower she was.
She tilted her head down so that she wouldn't bother anyone with her gaze. Even when she could only see the ground in front of her, she felt the eyes of the other models peering at her.
The more she thought of the upcoming interview, the more she grew nervous. The room's temperature seemed to elevate in a short moment. Even when Tsunade had explained to her what the interview would be like, she still could not calm her nerves. She was about to be judged after all! And it was important that she be called back.
Minutes passed, with models walking in and out of the room that led to the meeting with the casting director. Finally, Hinata's turn had come. She took out her portfolio from her bag and shuffled into the room that she was told to enter. Upon walking inside, Hinata took notice of the setup.
A makeshift runway made by doormats trailed along one side of the room. On the opposite end, there were two tall lights framing a closed door. On the same side, there was a desk covered by a black sheet. A computer, printer, and DSLR camera were atop the desk along with stacks of headshots and composite cards of various models. A tall man just finished adding another headshot to one pile when he turned to face Hinata. He appeared to be the casting director.
Sporting waist-length, spiky white hair that was tied back into a ponytail, the man gave Hinata a large grin, "Yo!" He held up a hand to urge Hinata to come deeper inside the room.
"Hello," Hinata bowed slightly as she held her portfolio with both her hands.
"I'm Jiraiya. You must be…" The man named Jiraiya was looking at Hinata from top to bottom. His eyes were sparkling.
"Um, Hinata. Hinata Hyuuga."
"Ah yes. Wonderful! Well let's see what you've got there," he extended an arm to take Hinata's portfolio.
She gave it to him carefully. He opened the book to find Hinata's composite card, took the card and placed it onto the desk. Then he proceeded to flip through the pages as Hinata stood patiently for further instructions. He had a delighted expression as he looked through the pictures, a smile never leaving his face. It was like he was enjoying himself with each picture he saw.
After a quick scan of the pictures in her portfolio, he asked for Hinata's resume. When she took it out from her bag and gave it to him, he briefly read it before placing both items on the desk. "Come over here and we'll take a headshot," he instructed Hinata, gesturing for her to walk to the door surrounded by the lighting equipment.
Hinata did so after she placed her bag against the foot of the table. Jiraiya picked up the DSLR camera that was connected to the computer and followed her. He took two shots of her: a headshot and a full body shot. Then, he went back to the desk were the computer was and pressed a few buttons. The shots he had just taken of Hinata began to print.
"Good!" Jiraiya exclaimed to the printer before turning to Hinata, who had moved from her position and into view of Jiraiya. "Now let's see your walk."
Hinata walked over to her bag to pull out her high heels. As she exchanged her sandals on her feet for the heels, Jiraiya was watching her. It only made Hinata more nervous than she was already.
When she finished, she turned to Jiraiya who grinned back at her. With each grin he gave her, Hinata felt like the eyes that watched her were not that of an older man.
He pointed to one end of the makeshift runway and asked her to walk down it and back. Hinata positioned herself. When he nodded for her to start, she took in a deep breath. Exhaling was as if she was letting go of her timid behavior so that her professionalism could stand out. Focused, Hinata began to walk.
With her shoulders rolled back, her chin up, and her back straight, her legs glided forward with each step. Her walk was going smoothly. But when she reached the end of the runway, Jiraiya stopped her before she could walk back.
"Hinata, try giving me more staccato in your steps, more attitude."
Hinata looked at Jiraiya and nodded to show she understood his instructions. This time, starting from the opposite end, Hinata took into mind what he had told her, and walked with attitude. Her stride changed from graceful to more abrupt steps, each foot popping out after the other to emphasize staccato.
"Hmm," Jiraiya watched her observantly as she finished her walk on the runway. "Try it again. But remember, fast-paced. And try not to draw your knees up so high."
Hinata tried her walk again.
Jiraiya's attention was so focused during her saunter across the runway, as if he were taking mental notes. Several walks later, he allowed Hinata to stop. And with that, the interview came to an end.
Hinata changed back into her more comfortable sandals, took back her portfolio and resume, before dismissing herself. After she had left the room, Jiraiya took a second look at her composite card. Her agent's information was listed and when he read an all-too-familiar name, he became eager.
"Well, what do you know," he spoke to himself, chuckling at the composite card in his hand. "My dear Tsunade, you know how to pick lovely ladies."
When Hinata left the hotel building, she felt her nerves rise from slumber. Now she had to rush to her next go-see. She took out her phone to find the directions. Even when she read the address, she was unsure as to where she should start walking. Does she make a left or a right from the entrance of the hotel?
An unexpected tap on her shoulder made Hinata jump. She turned to find a young man with messy brown hair and obsidian eyes.
"Whoa there! Didn't mean to scare ya'," he grinned cheekily. "The name's Kiba. And you are?"
"Hinata," she said in a light voice. Her surprised heart began to calm itself.
"Nice to meet you, Hinata. You have a nice name."
"Th—Thank you."
"So what do you do Hinata? Do you model?"
Hinata was thrown off guard for a moment. It wasn't a question she was asked very often, even though she was a model by occupation.
"I'm just wondering because you look like one that's all." His thumb pointed at the hotel beside them, "And you came out of that building. I hear there's a casting call." He then placed his hands on his hips, "You are, right? Need help?"
She noticed he talked rather fast. "Um, yes. W—Well," Hinata proceeded to ask him directions to the next go-see she was to attend.
After telling her the best route to take, Kiba stated, "I know all the parts around here. If you don't know where something is, you should ask me. In fact, any time you need me you can just give me a call."
"Oh n—no thank you—"
"Hey! It's always best to have a male guide and companion to be there to help you. Right, Akamaru?" Kiba looked down at his chest. Suddenly a small wide dog popped its head out from within his jacket and barked in response.
Hinata was surprised once more. She had not noticed before how abnormally large his chest had been.
Kiba laughed lightheartedly at Hinata's wide-eyed expression. Most girls were like that when they discovered a dog accompanied him. He insisted again on being her travel guide. "We're always out to help a friend," his dynamic tone made it hard for Hinata to turn him down.
She finally gave in to exchanging phone numbers.
"Great." he said cheerily, as if she wasn't hesitant when she handed him her phone. "Call or text me whenever you like. Even if it isn't for directions," he smiled.
She put her number into his phone as well. When they handed back each other's phones, Kiba walked Hinata to the crosswalk.
"I'm always around here if you want to visit," he nudged Hinata's arm playfully.
Hinata smiled shyly in response. When the light changed, allowing her to walk across the street, she thanked him for his help.
"What are friends for," he grinned at her, raising his hand to bid her farewell. Akamaru barked his goodbye in return.
Waving lightly, she smiled back at the two as she started to make her way across the crosswalk. She felt Kiba was a nice person. That he would keep calling her a friend was kind of him even though they barely met and knew each other. He must simply be a friendly person, she thought. Like Naruto.
Her heart skipped a beat. Shaking her head to rid her mind of her favorite actor, Hinata tried to keep herself focused on the current task at hand.
She then turned to leave the two behind.
To Be Continued
A/N:
Do you like it? Do you hate it? Please tell me your thoughts!
I hope I succeeded in a pleasant chapter! It took me more than 3 days to write this because I couldn't figure out how to do it. And I kept revising and revising. When I thought I knew where I was going with this chapter, I found more information that I had to add in in order to be as accurate as I can be. I like writing things realistically you see. :)
But truthfully, it wasn't just that I was working on making this chapter accurate. When I tried to imagine the story to write down, I kept thinking of other scenes that I plan to add later in the story. I ended up writing around—if not more than—10 pages for the future chapters. Well, at least I know what I want to put in the future! :D
Once again, thank you all for your reviews! It's because you mention specific scenes, express opinions of these characters, or state your hopes for what you want in future chapters that I continue to write at a speedy pace. You don't know how animated I get when I read a person's lengthy review.
If it weren't for you all, I wouldn't feel good about my writing. And I lose sleep just to send you my stories, as I am doing right now. (Though it can be argued that I write best at night since I am more focused at night).
