Chapter 11: Intoxicating
The first thing that snaps Naruto out of his thoughts is the sound of a drop hitting the ground. He paused, studying the stain where the droplet had fallen onto the tile below before realizing what it was.
It's his cold sweat.
"Naruto, are you still there?" Hinata questioned from the other end of the line.
"Ah, yeah I'm here." Naruto spoke up quickly, wiping away at the remaining perspire on his head. 'Damn it, I'm freaking out before she even finishes explaining things!'
"I didn't expect father to send a summons through the mail. This is the type of thing he would bring up to in person." Hinata remarked softly.
Naruto sighed, flipping the smooth material of the envelope between his fingers. "Hmm…it's not like we can say no."
There was a pause until Hinata found her voice again. "Of course not, he's extending the offer with the intention of truly settling things between all of us."
Though it wasn't like he hadn't already tried to finish things between them before; they both knew Hiashi already had all he needed to know of Naruto's history after all.
It was more so now the importance of exactly what he had to tell them directly that weighed heavily in the air.
"I'm ready to face him again, are you?" Naruto brought up pointedly and Hinata smiled, pressing her phone a bit closer to her ear to hear the vibrancy of his confidence relax and soothe her heartache.
If only such determination could pass through the phone to her as well.
She pictured her father's face, hardened and cold. The contours of his face along his eyes were dark, years of stress being the figurehead of the Hyuga companies having worn him out slightly. His gaze in her mind abruptly sharpened on hers and she restrained back a startled gasp, the image settling and disappearing just as quickly as it had formed.
"Yes, I'll be okay. We'll complete and organize all the information we have gathered by the end of this week so we're ready to face anything he throws at us." Hinata eventually stated.
Naruto replied in affirmation, sighing as they chatted over a few more lighter trivial matters before they hung up. He could hear the doubt in her voice at completing this goal and he languished over the fact he hadn't found the words to properly comfort her.
Or even himself for that matter.
He tossed aside his phone back into the recesses of the clutter amongst his bed, rubbing his head at the growing pressure he could feel forming behind his eyes. This conference was surely going to be a formal affair, the who's who of every top major company or business in Konoha would be in attendance.
One glance towards his closet allowed him to see a mixture of his shirts, jackets, and jeans either haphazardly laying across the ground or hanging loosely by the few hangers he had scattered amongst the pile.
He scratched a hand through his hair, turning away from the mess back towards his schoolwork to brush it off just as another thought rushed to him.
"Shit, what am I going to wear?!"
-X-
'Ugh, this tie and suit is so uncomfortable! Why couldn't they have at least made this gala thing semi-formal attire?' Naruto complained to himself, absentmindedly tugging his crimson tie out of place. He was lucky that Jiraiya had told him of places to rent out suits before he had sped out of town.
"Oh Naruto, stop doing that! It won't look right if you keep pulling and messing with it like that." Hinata gestured from beside him, reaching out to straighten it before he could open his mouth to object.
Naruto moved to grab her fingers just as she pulled away, grinning down at her dress. He might have felt out of place in his ensemble, but tonight Hinata perfectly looked the part as the presumed heiress to the Hyuga enterprises; her sleeveless lavender chiffon dress flowing elegantly down to the floor.
Hinata felt her cheeks growing hot under his stare. "N-Naruto?"
He only grinned in response, ignoring the stares of what seemed like hundreds of pissed off opalescent eyes of the Hyuga's on him. "Hey, how mad do you think everyone would get if I stole you away right now?"
His hands gingerly pressed along the curves of her breasts, trailing his fingers lower until he heard her soft whine. She stepped back slightly, but not before pressing a light kiss to his neck and whispering her response.
"I'd say enough that your manhood would end up in jeopardy." She teased, giggling at his flustering.
"So, are you really supposed to be the guest of honor, huh?" Sasuke asked, getting Naruto's attention. His presence caused most of the crowd watching to look away as well, but he still felt far from prepared to face the mix of executives, chairmen, and presidents still looming nearby.
'Not to mention that ass Ueno is somewhere within these groups too…'
Naruto scoffed, turning to look at Sasuke fully. "Yeah and what if I am?! What exactly are you doing here anyways; since when have you ever had any connections to or cared about the Hyuga's?"
Sasuke arched an eyebrow before shrugging, taking a sip from the complimentary wine being passed about. "I was asked to come on behalf of the Uchiha firms in place of my parents to get to know the business world better and increase our associations."
Naruto withheld a snort; he would have better believed that if he was actually making an effort to talk to any of the representatives' close enough to hear all of this.
"And why is Sakura here?" Naruto motioned, watching as Sakura approached from behind, light green ball gown fluttering closely behind her.
Sakura scrunched up her nose, jade eyes narrowing at his tone. "Hmm and why can't I be here?! Directors and chief officers from some of the best hospitals and clinics in the region are present; building my network if even just by one person makes it worth the time and effort to not let a chance like this pass!"
'Or it gives Sasuke an excuse to not have to talk to anyone.' Naruto pondered; smirking at Sasuke's relatively flat expression until Sakura cracked a knuckle at his ignoring of her question.
"Ah, no reason I didn't mean it in a bad way!" He answered hastily to prevent her fury, looking to Hinata for support and frowning when he saw she hadn't even been looking in their direction.
He followed her line of sight, glower deepening at where her gaze was: Ueno and Hiashi smoothly brushing past the crowds straight towards them.
Not even minutes later were the two in front of them all, Hiashi nodded in Sasuke and Sakura's direction before facing Naruto and Hinata.
"I'm glad you two could make it; I've been looking forward to holding this event at these grounds and properly meeting you again Naruto. After all, this all is so you two no longer have to sneak around, right?" Hiashi exclaimed, reaching out a hand.
The pair flustered at how calm he declared such a statement, but Naruto inclined himself to accept the handshake; internally sneering at his fake smile. The curves of his stiff grin fell as soon as his eyes moved to Hinata's.
"Ah, you don't mind if I take Hinata away from you for a moment, do you Naruto? There's something I need to discuss with her in private." He stated.
'Why bother asking such a silly question knowing Naruto would have to agree? 'Though Hinata tightened her lips in silence to not make any remark.
Hiashi sighed under his breath, watching her give a fleeting glance between Naruto and him before scuffling over to him; he gently patted her shoulder and grimaced when he felt her immediately stiffen at the touch.
'Is she really that uncomfortable around me?' Hiashi considered, leading her away down the hall.
He kept his focus on making sure they didn't bump into anyone around them, not noticing the discreet whisper Hinata directed to Sakura no sooner than when they turned the corner and went out of sight.
Sasuke furrowed a brow at the action, glancing down at Sakura silently. She looked back at him just as curiously, smiling innocently at his silent questioning.
He eventually shook his head, turning away from her as her eyes lit up brightly. "Fine, do whatever you want; but don't let your dreamy naivety of helping Naruto and Hinata cloud your thoughts and get you caught by them. I'm looking the other way."
She giggled; reaching for his hands that he had already began to stuff into his grey suit pants. Sasuke pretended to pay her no mind as she brushed her fingers lightly against his calluses.
"Oh, I'll be right back; you're exaggerating! We have to help our friends out when situations like this arise; tell Naruto where to meet Hinata at so I can confirm it with her." Sakura whispered, letting his hands go to follow after father and daughter.
'Some things just aren't our business though, especially not family and romantic affairs…' Sasuke brooded, but he let her go nonetheless to be a friend.
And that would mean he would need to do the same for Naruto.
"Hey, meet Hinata in your secret spot or whatever after your done dealing with that guy." He grumbled as he brushed past his shoulder to get away from a potential scene happening.
Naruto shot him a confused look for a moment before his eyes went back on the path Hinata had gone in, only to be blocked in stepping forward by Ueno. His smile just as artificial as the one Hiashi had given him.
"Don't mind them; they won't be gone for long! In the meantime, you're free to enjoy the appetizers and mingle with the other guests." Ueno chimed.
He was being jovial and courteous to a certain degree, though it was only to keep up with a guise Hiashi had more than likely ordered him to do. The fakeness of his attitude and silent mockery grew more and more evident behind his piercing ashen eyes the longer he stared him down.
"Look, you don't need to keep up the act with me anymore. Neji has told me all about your little misadventures within Club 81's walls." Naruto stated bluntly.
"Huh?" Ueno questioned and his façade dropped while he leaned in interest closer.
Naruto chuckled, flashing the photos of him and notes he had taken involving him from within his coat pocket. "Surprised? Hiashi wouldn't be too happy to know that one of his top advisors is actually a sleazy pervert behind that pristine image you give off."
Satoru's breathing quickened and Naruto wasn't sure if his face began to dampen and redden either out of shame/embarrassment at being caught or in subdued rage.
Either way it was an interesting sight to behold.
"Y-You, can tell him about it if you want! It's not like things such as that matter to him anyways. He cared more about making sure Jiraiya didn't get in the way…" He sputtered out. 'And now to wait for his mind to meltdown at hearing that!'
"Jiraiya?" Naruto mumbled slowly. What did he have to do with any of this? His stomach began to churn with the familiar twinge he had felt days ago at Ichiraku's when he told him he was leaving with little to answers as to why.
Satoru simply smiled with a shrug and light chuckle, judging his puzzled expression. "Jiraiya was invited to attend this event tonight too you know, but I heard he left town in quite in a hurry to attend to other business. I wonder what he could have been avoiding so suddenly? Probably you-"He was cut off by a sharp jab to chest.
Ueno fell to the ground almost immediately like a shriveled ball, the screams, curses, and of course the panic as people hurriedly ran away from him rushed into Naruto's ears within seconds.
Naruto wanted to move too, but his legs kept him fixed in place from leaving the collapsed man's side. He waited instead to watch for the steady rise of the man's chest before his body finally gave him the energy to move again.
'It's déjà vu, like I was fighting Toneri again or another jerk that looked down on me or made fun of me…' Naruto chided himself.
He had always tried to keep any scuffles he got into out of Hinata's sight or just quit doing it altogether for the sake of not being what her family thought him to be. Whenever he did get provoked enough though, he always knew where the nearest shady alley corners were or used the grislier side of town where only gangs liked to venture to end his fights.
"Heh, guess my luck has run out now. If he was trying to set me up to get angry enough to react; it worked. Hinata…I'm sorry." He uttered quietly.
Still, his feet carried him forward, twisting and turning through the halls of the estate Hiashi was using for this very night until he was back outside.
He stopped for a second to think about where to go next, his mind drifting back to the words Sasuke had told him in passing.
It was a stretch, but his feet and his breathing stabilized to get moving again to prevent getting caught, taking him to the only place he knew where Hinata would find him.
The Meadows.
-X-
"Wait here for a moment, there's an item I need to retrieve from down the hall." Hiashi stated gruffly, keeping his tone even as possible to not sound as if it was an order.
Hinata simply nodded, resting against one of the many satin laced chairs aligned amongst the old room. He had taken her to one of the many laid out offices within the interior of the property; areas that had long since been abandoned once the Hyuga companies had gained enough money and power.
Dust illuminated by the moonlight seemed to stretch across the tables and old cabinets scattered about as she noted that the only reason her father still probably owned these grounds was for when he was holding an event such as this and required space the main household or his building's offices couldn't provide.
A scream abruptly resounded from far away, echoing loudly enough to down where they were. She sat up in alarm at the noise, footsteps quickening from around the corridors.
'What was that?!'
"Ah, I found what I was looking for; I'm sure you'll like it." Hiashi announced, interrupting her thoughts as he returned back to the room with a small case in tow.
He opened it to reveal a flower shaped brooch, lilac and pink pearls encrusted around the edges. Carefully, he pinned the item atop Hinata's dress before guiding her to the vanity mirror in the adjoining room.
"It used to be your mother's; I gave it to her as a present back in the days when I was courting her." Hiashi explained, pulling aside her hair for her to see it properly.
Hinata gradually stared down at the pin, brushing her fingers lightly along it and looked back up to give him a soft smile. "T-Thank you father, I appreciate the gift."
She wanted to say more though, to question him on why he was suddenly gifting her with presents out of the blue.
So she buckled down and ignored the warnings and fears stinging at her chest to dwell further for the truth.
"Father, why did you really invite Naruto and me here?"
Hiashi studied her disposition and smirked at her calm poise regarding the matter, but didn't move to answer. The commotion Hinata had heard from earlier had steadily risen and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kō run past the two of them.
"Oh, there you two are! Sir, we have a problem; you're 'guest of honor' has apparently knocked out Mr. Ueno!" He exclaimed rapidly.
Effortlessly, just like that from receiving such news did the brief warmth and attention Hiashi had been giving her crumble. In the mirror she could see his face gain back its familiar coldness she had seen time and again, revealing his true restrained anger falling apart from his ruse.
She looked away from her reflection as well; biting her lip at the hurt she knew would be upon her face.
"Where is he now? Block off all of the exits!" Hiashi snapped and Kō shook his head, describing their search of the premises for the blonde to no avail.
"Humph, you see this is why you shouldn't hang around him! He's not only brought you down in your studies and changed your behavior, but his delinquent ways haven't changed at all…and you seem to be the only one who can't see and accept that. " Hiashi shot out as he turned back to her.
A shiver raced down her back at the apathy lacing his words, but she moved to speak in advance of fleeing the room and his frustrating glare.
"Whatever you plan to do, it won't change anything between me and Naruto." She stated firmly, brash and open in her desires.
'Don't look back at him…don't look back at him.' She chanted; stepping as casually as she could to muster past them into the dim halls. The screams and panic from earlier had died down and she made her way towards the lights leading back to the main rooms.
"Psst, Hinata! Hold on!" A voice beckoned, breaking Hinata's stupor. Sakura smiled, stepping out of the shadows to greet her.
She studied her face for a moment before graciously walking forward to wipe at the stray tears slipping down her cheeks. "Oh, you shouldn't waste your tears on them; it's ruining your makeup too after all!"
Hinata laughed lightly at that, ignoring the twisting sensation and hot sensation warming her face at how stupid she felt.
So in the end, it appeared she was shaming and embarrassing the family all over again without even knowing the full circumstances yet of what all had gone on.
"Thank you, Sakura." She whispered, not trusting her voice to be scratchy and out of place if she said it any louder.
Sakura shook her head, emerald eyes growing sly to brighten the mood. "Well…I think you should know that Sasuke passed the message along to Naruto. I'm sure he's waiting for you at your original secret spot; before Club 81 even changed things up."
'He went back to the meadows? We haven't gone there since around high school.' Hinata wondered, did Naruto even remember where it was?
Her stomach fluttered though at the memory of the hidden away plains behind the Hyuga manor, of course he still knew where it was.
"It wouldn't be good to keep lingering around here; you know how impatient that idiot can get…especially when it comes to you." Sakura emphasized teasingly at her renewed blush, waving her off as she strode ahead to return to the party.
Hiashi meanwhile watched their conversation from afar, seeing Hinata turn to go out the back corridor. He stifled the faint urge to follow after her when he saw a small sparkle fall onto the pavement in her brisk movement, only moving to pick up the fallen object once he was sure she was far away enough away.
"Should we get one of the aids to follow her or will you go after her yourself?" Kō asked, approaching from behind him.
"Hinata and I have argued for many years over this topic, she's stubborn and adamant to stay by Naruto's side. I…I don't like fighting with her even if she doesn't see things from my perspective. She can run into his arms for now, my announcement will still go forth whether they are here or not to hear it." Hiashi affirmed.
'This is for the best, no matter how upset she gets at me; she'll focus and bring back up her grades from me doing this.'
Kō silently nodded, choosing to keep quiet at the somber mood. Business and family were always complicated topics to delve too far into.
Out of the corner of his eye though, he could see Hiashi's deepening frown and sigh while he buried the dropped brooch deep within his pocket.
-X-
"You're late." Naruto lightly joked.
"Did you think I would not show up?" Hinata asked back in jester.
He hid his weariness at how unsure he actually was of that, much more than he would've liked and his guilt taunted him at the gentle smile Hinata gave him as she stepped closer.
And a tiny part of him felt sick at himself that he was a bit too pleased that Hinata had seemingly picked him over her family.
Maybe he was a bad influence.
"It was hard to find you out here. We're lucky it's getting close to the full moon again." Hinata remarked, settling into his side.
Thick wild grass immediately brushed up against her face the moment she sat down, the scent of dew and pollen getting uncomfortably into her nose.
"Ah, lay back and it won't bug you as much." Naruto suggested, guiding them to sit back.
Over the few minutes that passed, neither said a word. The wind began to settle to create a small breeze, bits of grass and leaves swirling amongst them.
"Are you mad?" Naruto finally croaked out, willing himself to stare at her directly.
"No, well…I suppose yes and no, but why? Why did you let your anger overwhelm you this time?" Hinata pressed.
Naruto stiffened in unease, peering downward at his still bruised knuckles. "He talked crap about Jiraiya. I couldn't stand there without reacting and he knew I would; like it was all set up."
He wanted to elaborate further, wondering if it would even make any sense to jabber about his defense, but Hinata loudly sighed and shuddered while rolling towards him. "Are you okay?"
She nodded in response, moving her head towards the crook of his shoulder. The weather at night was chillier than she originally thought and thin sleekness of her dress provided zero warmth. "I-I'm fine, it's just a bit cold for me is all. How did you even stand waiting out here for me for so long?"
"You know a little cold never really bothered me! Remember how you always used to complain that I kept my heater or air conditioner off too much just to save money." Naruto snickered.
Hinata laughed alongside him, her body relaxing into his touch and relieved there weren't any prying eyes to watch.
Too bad her heart and mind refused to stop agonizing over the events from earlier.
"Are you really okay?" He asserted once more and Hinata forced herself to nod.
"It was just the things that father told me…at times he can be so kind and loving to me and then within seconds he finds me to be a disappointment and wretched and it's all because I'm with you. He spoke of mother and even gave me her old brooch, and then as soon as he heard what you did he switched back to his usual attitude…"
Her words grew jumbled and broken the more she thought back to Hiashi and of days past when he never pressured her this much until her throat grew dry, unable to think or say anymore.
Naruto rubbed her back soothingly to ease the tension. "You're not any of those cruel things he calls you; that's what he thinks of ME; not you."
She turned back to fully face him, warmth pooling in her chest at his simple comforting smile to keep her happy. He wrapped his arms tighter around the longer she kept his gaze.
"But, he can go on to ramble about all the shitty things I am; it won't matter because I love you and that's brought a joy to my life he can't ever take away." He mumbled lowly, his thumb brushed against her cold lips before he leaned forward.
"Naruto…" she breathed at his sincerity, but he moved to cut her off, parting her lips imploring to take all of him in.
He pushed her down into the thicket, looming on top of her as he deepened their kiss and pulled her closer.
She lifted her legs in response to wrap around his waist, rolling her hips against his while his fingers drifted to pull her dress down and tug away at his own attire.
"Naruto, is this…is this the best place to do this?" She moaned, feeling the stiffness of his shaft right up against her core.
"Hmm, probably not." He acknowledged, rolling one hand around her breasts while the other gently pried her legs apart.
He rose slightly off her, mischief bright in his eyes. "It may not be, but I don't want to wait to make you climax."
She gasped as he rubbed himself against her, unconsciously tugging at the blades of grass beneath them. And then he moved into her in a swift thrust and she strangled back the cry that leapt to her throat.
He grunted at her reaction, driving his thrusts and paces to go deeper and harder. "Don't hide it; I want to know that I'm pleasuring you."
"Mmh, so close…I'm-"Hinata groaned midway, feeling her walls closing and pulsing around him. He hissed at her release, gripping her hips tightly as he rode out her orgasm mixing with his own.
He lazily pulled out of her and kissed her forehead, paying no mind to the shared sweat and stickiness that came with doing the action.
"Heh, you're plenty warm now, huh?" He teased by her ear, nipping until he heard her light squeak and huff.
He figured she would redden and teasingly swat him away at the implication considering it wasn't the first time he had suggested they get intimate within the field. Her family never had any reason to go out in the fields behind their compound and they had exploited that fact for a good portion of their senior year in high school, going on to even use it for parts of their earlier college days.
"Do you think your old man is coming after us at this very moment?" Naruto inquired, feeling her shake her head into his chest.
They smelt of sex, grass, and sweat, but they were going to need to return back to the party and here what Hiashi had to say.
"Oh good, because if he was coming at least he didn't get the chance to interrupt us, get it?!" Naruto emphasized wittingly while Hinata flustered at his lewd joking before wobbly standing to retrieve her dress.
"Naruto…are you trying to make us stay out here longer?"She challenged gently when his hands moved to explore lower to her nether regions all over again. He chuckled at the question as he helped zip her up, holding onto her much longer than necessary.
"Yeah, perhaps?" Naruto answered back slowly, massaging at her breasts teasingly before adjusting her bra back into place.
"I'm sure they can handle waiting a few extra minutes for us, right?" He determined; tone casual and lighthearted even as he drew slow circles along her hips. She moaned as he slid a finger past her folds, growling at the mix of her pleasurable sighs and tight heat.
Thank goodness no one was close by to hear them.
-X-
Lust.
It was that very vice that Hiashi knew was one of the easiest sins to fall into.
The brooch within his pocket was giving him that ugly reminder, bouncing with every step he took back into the main foyer and he sighed, searching the crowds for violet hair before he prepared for his annual announcement.
Hinata really hadn't returned yet, which meant he could no longer keep stalling.
"How is Satoru doing by the way from your latest updates?" Hiashi grumbled, getting Kō's attention as he offhandedly greeted business partners.
"Ah, from the news I last obtained some of your attendants took him to the nearest hospital just to be checked out, but he did regain consciousness." Kō supplied.
He supposed that was a small relief that he wasn't critically injured, but Ueno had been too confident…too proud perhaps because he had let him in on his plans from the get go and hadn't fired him when he should have.
Whispers of Hinata's illicit affairs along with the future of the Hyuga companies were hushed by single glares, stiffening while he moved to approach the podium on the center stage.
'You're gossip will get plenty more uncomfortable if I let your ugly secrets come into the light.' Hiashi mused calmly, silencing all ongoing conversations with a rise of his hand.
"First of all, I would like to thank all of you for coming to our annual meeting of the businesses. I try at least to hold this event at least once or twice a year for all of the major corporations the Hyuga companies work with or have helped us along the way to reach the point we are at today." Hiashi explained.
A round of cheers and clapping rang out throughout the room until Hiashi continued on.
"Come on Hinata we're almost there; just a bit further!" Naruto prodded quietly, squeezing her hand in as he caught sight of coral pink hair in between swerves through the crowd.
Sasuke was the first to notice them, rolling his eyes at his bright grin. "Did you take the long route through the city dump or the sewers?"
Naruto gave him a proud middle finger salute in response, turning to Sakura who appeared stuck between disgust at their smell/crumpled clothes and amusement for what they had to have been doing. "Did we miss anything important?"
Sakura peeked behind him, smirking at Hinata's clear embarrassment to not want to be seen. It was good for once that Sasuke wanted to stay towards the back so they could all hopefully make an eventual quick exit.
"Nope, you're both right on time." She murmured, looking back to focus in on Hiashi's speech.
"As always, the Hyuga companies every year try to expand and learn about the latest upcoming businesses and what our shareholders are truly growing in. After going over the figures with members of my board, it came as quite a surprise to me that the sex industry is one of the top up and coming areas people are putting their money into and growing in within Konoha. Although, I'm sure that isn't a shock to some of you in this room…" He trailed off.
Scrutinizing looks and audible gulps rung throughout the room, but Hiashi took no notice of their fears as he caught sight of Hinata's recognizable dress near the shadows in the back. 'She did return with Naruto too; good I won't need to repeat it twice then.'
"I am not one to let business offers pass me up no matter how vulgar it may appear to some. After much discussion with my team and several meetings set up with the best nightclubs and bars in and around Konoha, I am proud to announce that I have become one of the co-owners of Club 81." Hiashi revealed.
Naruto and Hinata instantly grew numb.
~x~
A/N: So glad to have this chapter out, I didn't want it to take me so long, but a cold, studies, and random other stuff got in the way.
Big thanks to Roxie.88, WindyCitySlayer1, maxridelover, Nagi, C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only, Rose Tiger, lodol25, guest, and all my continued readers for your feedback and responses in the past chapters. It's truly appreciated and as always, I enjoy talking and hearing from you all!