.

07

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Human nature, when you already are used to it, tends to be horribly predictable, like a computer algorithm that you already have a basic idea with regards to its workings. And a dance so repetitive there never is something new. Psychoanalyzing is but a matter of cross-referencing after all, weighing both the natural and unique traits of a subject in such a way that you can accurately guess how they would react amidst an orchestrated situation. Once you already have an inkling of what their capabilities and movements are, it is all but a live shoji game, with strategies recorded in your mind that you can guess ahead. Humans, pitifully are just like pawns. In four years of watching his tenants, seldom has Uchiha Sasuke actively meddled into their lives, choosing to be the all-seeing shadow that laughs at their blunders but stays nonchalant in their agony. He listens to their arguments, eavesdrops in their business transactions, watches them have sex. Believe it or not, it starts to feel like watching Big Brother Raw firsthand—putting a bunch of idiots in a house and we are all supposed to care. And although he exercises less intervention, he has just as much control. Being essentially the owner of the company leaves him with nothing to do. It is only for kicks. However, he does like the feeling of having eyes everywhere.

Especially now.

Once upon a time Uchiha Sasuke had only been a boy who vicariously began his existence by listening for hours and hours by his parent's bedroom, hearing with sick fascination everything they did. Itachi was always away at the time, doing what good children should do by being the greatest kid in town and the perfect, ideal son. And in reality, being his boring self. Sasuke who preferred National Geographic over History thought that a life without present intrigue is no life at all. Living in deafening silence inside their isolation left him no choice. Uchiha Sasuke was the closet genius anyway. So he found a way.

While his brother was busy in his endeavours, the younger Uchiha's talents in spying had later improved into the inconceivable, devising advanced ways of knowing exactly what everyone was up to with just a computer and a few circuits here and there that he smuggled from his brother's dark room. When he was ten and more ingeniously creative, Sasuke had actually managed to concoct a way to actually see them and what they did inside and what Fugaku did to his mother and what Itachi did not want him to see. It was not the world's first surveillance camera, nor the most advanced in existence at that primitive time of landlines and sizeable motherboards but for a ten-year old to successfully piece out such in secrecy, it was a big deal.

That same age, he had also discovered that the telephone extension could work wonders and much, much later how to install video cameras in a position that had the perfect view point. He had designed the lights. He had created the Sharingan. And he had envisioned a world where he could see every thing; with him sitting eating onigiri and watching all things unfold. He was sure then that there was more to the world than just Fugaku and Mikoto getting it on and quarreling and being showy and how right he was!

Eventually though, Mikoto did discover him and although, she did not approve of it at first, he could tell that she was at least as fascinated as he with the videos he had recorded over the years. Itachi did bring home some girlfriends (and sometimes they weren't really girls) to fool around with after all. And Fugaku was not the most loyal of men. More often than not, she was turned on more than disgusted and that shut her up. It was a huge pity that she had to die before she could tell the world about Sasuke's genius though. He would have been the top guy in the NSA by now, listening to asinine idiots throw baseless threats all around his world paronama. He probably wouldn't meet and care about Hinata. The world would have been at the very palm of his hand. Not that he minds though. He likes the feeling of caring. He likes the feeling of loving again. He likes the feeling of…

Hinata…

Over the monotony caused by routine, watching people cozing in their homes could be crushingly, mind-numbingly dull. Boring same old, same old schedule being practiced by the saddest, dumbest people Sasuke has ever had the pleasure of meeting. Occasionally, there can be drama where the character's lives at least go through enough of a rollercoaster ride to keep him from seeking out sex for weeks but that is just a slight spark in the frequency in their activities. Arguments can be settled. The kinkiest ones get tired of their sex life over time. And even the most bittersweet of affairs end. Sasuke was already prepared to admit that the thrill of being the Sharingan wanes over time until Hinata entered the premises and smiled that smile and looked that way and made him look forward once again to the pleasurable company of a very attractive woman.

She looks like Mikoto, the person he adored watching the most.

He wants her.

And he would get her.

Sasuke descends twenty-one floors down.

..

"… And I'm sorry for the inconvenience but this is just a precautionary measure. We in the Sharingan value the safety and welfare of our tenants more than anything so when we heard that there is a small conflagration in 21-B, we could not take the risk. Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience. Everything is fine and settled now. You can now return to your units and please enjoy the good night sleep that has been interrupted by tonight's episode. Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you."

Amidst the cursing and grumblings of the people congregated around, Yakushi Kabuto speaks with unquestionable authority, his slight, intelligent suited frame distinguished amongst the mass of disturbed and thoroughly annoyed sleepyheads. He looked perfect, the epitome of a man who should be stoic in such emergencies as these. The hallways leading to the fire exit double doors are packed with the same people wondering where the fire was and inching to scram away to safety, only to arrive and find out that they had already taken care of it and the so-called emergency was actually most likely just the staff being uptight and worrisome over a simple stove fire. The irritation was palpable and if Hinata was not so busy mulling over the words she heard at the reassuring speech, she would have conformed immediately into thinking that the Sharingan was a bit too much in their precautions.

21-B.

Thankfully, Kiba is still nowhere to be seen. Akamaru is always the first of his concerns and knowing who he is and him thanking everything that she is safe for now and deciding for everyone else that they are, yes severely inconvenienced, he would be barking at the poor manager's head in hopes of having something to scream at after the earlier confrontation with her in the thirteenth floor. In a moment after cooling down, Kiba would realize that Hinata is better off alone for the time being until she gets into the mood to reconcile. He is a considerate friend like that. And this is not really the first time they got into each other's bad side.

They are friends like that.

From amidst the crowd, Hinata's eyes search for Sasuke, scanning through the groggy multitude for the tall, dark-haired looker with the dynamite smile in order to calm her already frazzled nerves. Sasuke's unit is in 21-A and it is quite possible that he was about to enter his rooms just as the "fire" and the "sprinklers" broke out.

With sick anticipation, she finds herself inching to tell him of her inkling that the Sharingan seems to be somewhat in her side now when everything else in the world had not been. Somehow when she is near the highly perceptive man, she feels oddly stimulated, with a lot of ideas coming forth like a brainwave, all of which hugely applicable in her expansion of her current preoccupation. Sasuke's presence seems to inspire the awakening of a sleeping brilliance, her excellence from when she was thirteen now no longer feeling like a distant, irretrievable memory. It is probably just because Sasuke is such a great soundboard, someone she can talk to and feeling like he always responds the way she wants him to. He says what she wants to hear. He avoids the topic she does not want pursued. And he is quite the embodiment and the dichotomy of what she wants to see for a longest time.

Such a perceptive man.

Sure, he must be doing this just to get into her pants and have his way with her but what makes her any different? He is an attractive man and she knows well that her insides are already wanting to be filled with all of him. What is wrong with this lust when the rest of the world is reveling in mindless and alchohol-induced promiscuity? He does not look like Naruto, the person she wants to forget the most. She wants him. And she would get him.

Even just for the night.

A heavy hand comes to rest on her shoulder and for some reason, she knows immediately that this is not Kiba.

Sasuke's whole demeanor is gentle, coaxing and smiling when he remarks that it is getting unbelievably noisy here. He is still wearing the same shirt as a while ago in the canyons, looking nothing like her panicked and highly perturbed self. "So wanna scram?" he asks, fingers squeezing sensually on her shoulder, his lips indiscreetly wet. His eyes suggest limitless things. Hinata naughtily wonders what she would see when she would chance a look down south. She blushes at the thought. She has not had the company of a man for almost a year.

"There's a bar next block." He continues, nonplussed by her lack of response. There is a twinkle in his eyes, his smirk curved in apparent sync with his intentions. He is a rebel and Hinata realizes that she would like to write something about that. More. "Walking distance."

Well… she ponders inwardly. She needs the walk.

"Everything safe in your rooms now, I hope?" she asks, knowing that she has to care somehow. Already, the crowd of disturbed and annoyed tenants starts to dissipate. Kiba is still nowhere to be seen but it is apparent that they really have to "scram" soon if she wants to get away from the dreaded confrontation, like she always tried. Because that is who she is. Outside of fiction, she prefers the climax postponed as much as possible. "I heard that there is a fire."

"Stove fire." Sasuke confirms the joke, to which Hinata groans audibly and the dark-haired man chuckles. "The Mangekyous being careless again."

What an unusual family name, she thinks, marveling that there is such Japanese cognomen that still uses the highly uncommon three-letter syllable that does not end with a vowel sound. Kaleidoscope. Such a sophisticated-sounding name for a supposedly clumsy bunch of tenants who cannot even manage something as… regular as a stove fire. "Geez…" she mutters in exasperation, shaking her head while marveling in amazement about the extent of human stupidity. Albert Einstein was right. That perhaps she is not really the only one. "I think I can really use a drink."

He smiles. Satisfaction. The dynamite again. And Hinata is struck by the epiphany that his smile, while it doesn't suit him, oxymoronically looks good on his face. He is indeed, quite the paradox. He is so… mysterious. He is… so not Naruto. "So… shall we?" he offers, the smile now strained. It seems like niceties for him does take some effort too.

There is something about that that flatters Hinata to no end.

Sasuke offers a long arm. Hinata with a slight shrug, graciously takes it.

She has the feeling that this would turn out to be a long night.

"You seem stressed." He drones casually, once they slipped into the booth and bought themselves some of the intoxicating bourbon that they both tacitly agreed that they need for tonight. Jazz music plays from onstage, the singer swaying from every note of the keyboard. The bartender is off somewhere at the edge of the counter, busy on obsessively wiping bottles that are already immaculate enough. Sasuke holds his glass. Sips a bit. Puts it down. Hinata stares at hers with a sullen, reluctant regard, wondering whether she should just have settled with a martini. "You mind telling me about it?" he prompts, raising the glass up again and downing it in one shot with no repercussion but a small flush. With a critical eye, Hinata observes that for someone who holds a complicated, attention-taking nightjob, Sasuke sure is an expert drinker. "I have good ears." He adds as an afterthought, his lips a thin line.

She shakes her head, letting a few indigo strands fall framing her face in the process. "Not worth your listening skills I think." She answers, shoving the drink slightly away, to which Sasuke only cocks a perfectly shaped brow, those dark eyes calculating… something. "Some people have it worse."

"Hn." His nod is grave but disagreeing. He crosses both muscular arms over his chest, intelligently contemplating aloud. "But does that really change the hell you are feeling? I think I'd just go past what other people feels. It's myself who matters in the end anyway."

She pointedly ignores the rather self-placating comment."It doesn't. Change anything, I mean. Sure. But I think I prefer that hell as small in influence as possible."

"Quite the loner I see."

"Well, yeah. What does it matter?" A dismissive shrug. In which Hinata finally takes courage to take a swig from her drink and to put the glass back with a resounding clang. Almost immediately, the liquid paves its burning sensation down her throat, lighting up the fire inside her and supplying the Dutch in her some guts. "Well, you know what? I'd hate to talk about me. What about—?"

"No. Not me. I'd hate to talk about myself as well."

Hinata pouts, while rolling her white eyes. "Hmm…" she grumbles, drumming fingers on the countertop. The jazz band goes unheard. And the alcohol has so far drowned the redundant chatter around. She feels Sasuke's knee brush against hers but one shot of bourbon and she has already lost the will to mind. Hinata is never one with resilience anyway. "Let's talk about…"

"Sex?" he suggests cheekily, taking yet another drink.

It earns him a pinch. Sasuke scoffs.

"That does not make me any less horny." He points out, smirking.

"Does talking about it make you any less?" she retorts, calling forth another round. She wonders where she got the wit. She asks for a Martini this time—vodka and only a count of vermouth preferably. She wonders how red her face is now. "Please don't try suggesting anything."

"Hn." He throws her a shrug. With martyrdom. The vampiric smirk is still present. "So how's life?"

"After forty minutes since last seeing you?" she chortles sarcastically, coughing in mirth. "The Sharingan proves itself imperfect at least. Who activates the fire alarm for the whole building just because of a manageable stove fire?"

"They probably just panicked." He says. Too defensively. Something about it rings the ominous bells gearing in Hinata's mind. "But you have to admit everything else is first rate. Have you tried the laundry room? The gym? Or have you been too much of a hermit these past few days to be bothered?"

"Sharingan strikes me of the feeling that it was meant to be a condo." She voices out. It has been in her conscious for so long, especially after hearing what shenanigans and extras the place has for the tenants. A gym, a pool and massage center is not an everyday routine in an apartment complex that costs like the amount she pays for hers.

"It was supposed to be. Originally." The glee in his eyes strikes her that he rather is pleased to where her logic brought her. "Lucky for us it isn't huh?"

"I just wonder what changed." She prompts this time, feeling her brows furrow as the beginning of a puzzle surface. She used to be a businesswoman too after all. "I wouldn't try to especially if I already made an investment. "

"Maybe the demand changed?" he suggests shrewdly but that does not keep her away from the scent. This is what she gets when she starts the writing bonanza for anything remotely fishy. Paranoia does a few wonders in the mind. Skepticism and objectivity are just one of the few side effects.

"But still." She couldn't just let the whole subject drop. "Who owns the place? Do you know? You being in Chidori Medical and all."

"Yakushi Kabuto takes the checks." He supplies. "Other than that I don't have much idea except that we both answer to the same people."

Wow. The place is quite the mystery then, she ruminates, the wheels in her head turning. She now knows what to do in the meantime. "You can say that again." She says, finding with some surprise, mischief in her voice.

They drink.

In which Uchiha Sasuke realizes with apprehension that Hyuuga Hinata is the type that does not just let sleeping dogs lie.

He has to do something.

Groggy and slightly inebriated, they both agreed tacitly to crash at her place.

They take the stairs.

"I feel guilty." Sasuke says once Hinata has switched on the living room lights and shut the door with a permanent thud. The sound echoes along the quiet hallway, the resonance unheard by the occupants of unit 13A, absorbed as they are with their own worlds. The dark-haired Uchiha immediately pores his way towards the loveseat, sinking in lethargy and sighing in relief before continuing. "I feel really guilty."

Hinata takes the seat before him, tilting her head in confused, drunken askance. "Guilty over what?" she asks, not really caring.

"That I'm not really telling the whole truth about myself." He does not even slur. Obviously, Sasuke is not nearly as intoxicated as she is. His dark eyes pans around the room, appraisingly taking in every detail. "What a beautiful painting." He idly comments at the image of a flying bird over her head, framed expensively and the apricot shade glinting amidst the fluorescent glow of the Sharingan light. "Quite exquisite too. Not an amateur, I see?"

"It's been exhibited in Tokyo National Museum twice already." She states proudly, smiling. "But Neji-niisan is a close relative of mine so I got in through a fair price. Getting a year older, to be precise."

Cross-legged and comfortable already, Sasuke laughs. "But it's nice. It gives you the feeling of being free without losing the menace and strength of a predator. Like a hawk being freed of his cage and the picturesque understanding that it is meant to fly."

Hinata stares at him, slack-jawed and totally impressed. "That was what he was aiming for actually."

They talked about it over the phone in her first day.

"And that sculpture as well." He points at the headstone imitation of Sherlock Holmes at the corner, his wave easy and confident. "Very nice. Done by another friend?"

"Uh no. Just a particularly expensive souvenir from Baker Street."

"Very nice." His head circles around. "Very nice indeed."

She says. "So what is it that you are guilty about?"

The question instantly makes him turn to her, draws a deep breath and his dark, confident eyes look troubled for a single moment. "I've been feeling guilty." He begins once again. "You see, in the bar a while ago I just realized that you are the type who stops at nothing in order to resolve the truth. You asked me if I know who owns the building, and I said no. I think that maybe you are still wondering about the change to rental and all and…." He shrugs. "I don't like the idea of you being distracted by this conundrum and all when I can easily just have it solved for you."

Her eyes widen a fraction. She did not expect this."You know who owns it?"

He nods.

"Who?" she asks, suddenly rendered excited.

He touches his chest, taps it. "Me." He says simply. "I'm the owner."

She stares at him.

"I received a bit of wealth when my mother died, you see. I was fifteen. And it was only accessible when I was eighteen, some seven years ago." He explains. "And even before that, my family was quite well-off already. I inherited a bit of loot when I was eighteen and because I already work there part-time anyway, I decided to invest a few shares in Hidden Sound. I am in good terms with the CEO and he trusted me quite a bit with the affairs. You see, I was the one who eradicated that virus that was hacking and stealing their stocks so in a way, they are indebted to me. The construction of this building was easy after that. You know, I own half of the Hidden Sound now. Business likes me that much."

Nodding, she murmurs. "Sure…" She is stunned.

"So as I said…" he resumes, leaning back on his seat. "Real state is great investment and there's the demand that I told you about. I grew up in a big house isolated from civilization so the thrill seeker in me wants that experience. I like flexibility so I changed my mind about the condos. I knew apartment rentals are not the fastest way to take back what's yours but considering that I am planning to live in the building anyway, it would be a pain to get stuck with the same people for eternity until the earth crumbles. Who knows? I might take in a rich guy who parties and does trouble all night. Condos are a permanent thing. Even if I am the owner, i would be powerless in evicting the most troublesome of nuisance if the bureaucracy of owning the unit sides with them. And well, I believe in the best service and secrecy. I like the feeling of being normal for once. Nobody knows I'm the owner except a few and the staff does not kiss my ass all the time."

She flinches from the profane expression but she excuses it. "You live here all year round?"

He nods meekly but the pride in that small gesture is as apparent as commas in the Art Deco light. "Yes. As I said, I'm a computer person. I'm not a firm believer of the Donald Trump flaunting philosophy. Only the Hyuugas do that these days, no offense. But with all the yachts and the mansions displayed in every business magazines, you can't avoid the arrogance brand."

Hinata smiles. It is true. The Hyuugas are ones with pride. "How come you haven't taken over the whole top floor?" she asks, unable to suppress the smirk that is forming. "And you even let yourselves be neighbours with the… what's their name again?"

"Mangekyous?" She notices that his supplication is a tad bit reluctant.

She scoffs, still not recovering from the amusement brought by the odd name. "And the Mangekyous."

They stare at each other.

"The staff took special care of me when I came. I was new but i could tell it was ordered. Not that i am ungrateful or anything but..." Hinata states, the longtime inquiry finally taking over the spotlight of her conscious as curiousity overtakes her. "Have you anything to do with that Sasuke-san?"

"I saw you when you first inquired. I was at the mail room. And it only took me a moment."

"A moment?" Now, she really is confused.

Sasuke does not hesitate. "I told you. You look like my mother Hinata and I was… you can say… I was attracted to you." He stands now, fidgets a bit with his steps, vanishes in the kitchen as though it is his not hers and comes back with a glass of water. Hinata is too flabbergasted with his words to follow. "Yamanaka-shishou thinks it's universal. Oedipus complex I mean. No exceptions whatsoever. You know Yamanaka? Your neighbour's dad? I heard him talking about it in the elevator once with a patient. He's a great doctor, really great and you won't believe the amount of practice he gets with all the patient that comes all day."

"Not very great, I think." She contradicts, frowning. "If he talked something as confidential as a case when an outsider is within earshot, then I would heed Ino-san's advice. I'd hate to have a shrink."

Sasuke chuckles. But she can hear his increasing unease.

They are not liking where this conversation is going.

Hinata wonders what in the world has she gotten herself into.

"Aren't you afraid that I will use this information against you, Sasuke-san?" Hinata asks him, eyes boring with scrutiny on his very soul. Sasuke has to give the woman credit. She is infinitely and incredibly smarter than how she looks. They would make such a good team. He likes the sound of that. Maybe he should show her— "Aren't you afraid that I'll tell all the other tenants?" she questions further, forehead creased. "You know just for kicks. Just to see how they would… um, in your words… 'kiss your ass'."

Oh. Another time then. When he knows Hinata would appreciate his eyes as much as he does.

"No." he has to say firmly, just to make himself sound more believable than the blundering fool that is telling that he likes her when he should have known better that she prefers not to hear that. "You'd protect my privacy. You're the type. Do I read you wrong, Hinata? Do I mind me calling you that? Hinata?"

She shakes her head, allowing him to officially drop any formality. "And you know I'd be doing that because…"

"Because you're Hinata." He replies with certainty. "And that's just who you are. I can see it."

He has eyes everywhere, right?

She smiles. He can tell that she cannot help that after what he said. At least she still is not immune to flattery after a dose of Naruto and Kiba all in one week. "You are right."

She rubs her brows, sighing out tiredly. "Sasuke-kun."

From his seat, Sasuke glances at the Sharingan light.

The record is on.

"Naruto-kun and I married as soon as I graduated in highschool. He works in the city hall nowadays and he was president of the student council when we were going out. He got me pregnant. In my senior year. But I had a miscarriage later. And later . And later."

"Do you prefer the water hotter, Hinata?"

"Sure."

He takes an arm from around her nude body, gropes, finds the shower handle and turns the water hotter.

"We hadn't had problems until he tried and tried." She says. "And the infallible determination began to irk me. Ugh… Sasuke-kun.. That feels good. Mmm.. And Naruto-kun did remind me of both my highly energetic mother before and authoritative father so you are not the only one with the parental hung-up." She kisses his throat as he licks water from her eyebrow.

"Do I remind you of your father as well?" he asks, feeling her up and inserting a finger in her core.

"Seems like I haven't gotten over it too." They kiss, laughing.

Kisses. "Oh god." Turns. More kisses. "Sasuke-kun. Uh. Don't stop. Mmm… mmm… Wait a sec." Kisses stop. "Why did you turn on the lights?"

"I just like looking at you." Kissing again.

The Sharingan—

Hinata reaches for the switch, turns it off.

"You are one naughty girl, Hinata." He playfully admonishes. And he kisses her some more.

(TBC)

After my particularly hectic week, I thought i wouldn't be able to update this. But the inspiration hit and though I didn't get much love, I decided that i like where this story is going too much to let this go. Lol. I have stopped schooling and is currently training for a call center job so the next chapters might be shorter and stuff. Depends on my whim and the schedule considering that I'm really stressed with the bureaucracy right now. But I'd try to get the next as soon as possible. That would be however, after I update my SasuHina-THG crossover and me to get over them SasuNaru feels. Gawd.

The last parts is only there to hint at what really happened that night. It's meant for you to do the rest with guesswork and imagination so if it felt incomplete, please tell me. I would have written a lemon but i don't want to get overboard again like i did in The Sweet Life and strike you the hormones are getting the better of me again. But at least, I finally had them pursue the self-destructive relationship I really want to write. I'm evil like that.

Please review and make me happy.