Cue the self insertion. One of the reason I love Hinata so much is that she's the kind of person I want to be. And one of the downsides to having her in an AU that is parallel to the world I exist in, is that I'm going to fuse elements of myself in to her character. A couple people commented that this Hinata was "bad ass" and that would be my sense of humour asserting itself. I keep saying Hinata is OOC, and in my mind she is, because I modelled some of her traits after myself. I'm a bad person like that. Really, it's mostly that I can identify with Hinata's nindo, so I want her to live up to it. Thus it was entirely too easy for me to stick Hinata in the same situation I found myself in. However there was no dark haired Avenger to resuce me. I just fled. It worked very well, even though my roommate laughed at me when she got back.

Anyway, I owneth not yon fabulous bishi. Please direct oohs and ahhs Kishimoto-wards.


Descent into Rapture Chapter 11: To Stay

She loved to dance. Even if it wasn't across a stage, in a fluttery gauze skirt, she still loved the feel of her limbs moving in those delicate graceful positions. Moving to the fast beat of the rock music, and still keeping that alluring elegance, it challenged her formal training to fuse with the music pulsing through her. It was suggestive and sophisticated, and she enjoyed incorporating both ballet and fan dancing into the short motions one usually employed in club dancing. Sasuke was probably lurking in a corner somewhere, as there was no real bar, just "cheap rubbing alcohol added to powdered drink mix". She'd laughed and told him it was just as well, before letting herself get swept into the gyrations of the dancers.

While most males' attentions were focused on those around her, Sasuke watched her from his position against the wall, hair hiding his eyes. He was drinking in the sensual undulations, and his mind wandered unbidden to unfamiliar territory. It certainly brought up interesting possibilities. It was too much to hope that no one else noticed those swaying motions, seductive in their purity. His eyes narrowed as another tried to insinuate himself into her sphere of existence.

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"Hey there, girlie. You got some very nice moves." He was obviously more than a little drunk, because what other reason was there for him to be singling her out? She could smell the alcohol on his breath, even as she continued dancing.

"Thanks." The answer was short and curt, and her shoulder was about five degrees below zero. No matter how nice a person she was, some things just could not be stood for. Not only was there blatant suggestion in his voice and demeanor, but that he was drunk was close to insulting. Was it really necessary to annihilate one's wit and sense before trying to accomplish the once delicate art of true seduction?

He however, didn't seem inclined to do any more than dance with her. She carefully kept her body half a foot away anyway. Soon the song ended and another began. Just as she was beginning to relax, and accept that perhaps her paranoia was ungrounded, he said something, and she politely inclined her head, indicating that she couldn't hear him. A hand wound around her waist and pulled her closer, so he was breathing in her ear.

"I asked what you were doing later tonight."

She more than hastily removed herself from his loose hold, answering quickly, ignoring the distaste that shot through her when his hand, accidentally or purposefully brushed against her back pockets.

"I was just going to go home and…"

"Want some company?"

"She has company." A cold, piercing voice cut through the music, but no one paid any mind. It was after all, a club, where the dynamics of its occupants went through a basic cycle. If one was not in the process of taking or being taken, there was rejection. It was just a part of living. The figure shrugged and hastily left. Even in his slightly hazy state, he knew enough not to question this very compelling force.

She heaved a small sigh of relief.

"Sasuke… thank you."

"We're leaving. I want decent drinks."

"Um… sure." She too, was more than happy to leave after that episode.


They were in an empty Country Club type place. Probably exclusively wealthy Uchiha only, but here she was, in her boot cut jeans and hippy tee shirt. He was behind the bar, poking around for the stronger stuff. Obviously, someone wanted to forget for a while.

"Want anything?"

"Your logic seems to have shut down for the night. There are only two of us, so someone has to stay dry."

"Your loss."

"I don't usually indulge anyway. It tastes funny."

"Lightweight." Sasuke had to be feeling better, now that he had a shot glass he was obviously up to his normal witticisms.

"Pretty much. Besides, someone has to make sure you get home safely."

"I'm touched that you care."

"Why wouldn't I? After all we're--"

"Engaged." The cold snap was back, and she could feel the temperature drop.

"I was going to say friends, but engaged works too." She wasn't in the mood to cosset his temper. He knocked back another and glared at the room at large. His eye was caught by her hand.

"Where's the ring?"

She checked her hand absently, and then reached into her shirt to pull out a gold chain, the ring threaded through it.

"I didn't want to lose it or tarnish it. And I was afraid it might get lost in the club. Itachi gave me the chain while we were on set."

Sasuke could have laughed. In fact, having consumed enough alcohol, he did laugh. It was a cold laugh that sent goose bumps down her arm.

"Itachi? You don't know who he is, do you?" It annoyed him for some reason, but reason was on hold. He began to move around the bar. "You don't want to find out. You have the answers at your beck and call and you don't want to find them. Your cousin… your sister… Why don't you care?" The last was nearly spit in her face.

Hinata very carefully maintained her seat on the stool, putting her a little above eye level with her irate fiancé.

"You think I don't care? The great Uchiha Sasuke has finally given the wrong answer." She looked him in the eye, and he could not for the life of him comprehend what it was staring at him through her eyes. "I trust my family, Sasuke. If they wish to withhold information, I have to consider that maybe they should. They knew about the engagement. But what would telling me have done? Would it have changed anything? Would I have been any less upset to find out about it before the official announcement? Would I have been thinking clearly enough to have said something?" She saved herself, changing the last word she said from "no". Even if Sasuke was an arrogant idiot who deserved every insult heaped on him… it just didn't feel right within her to suggest that she hated him enough to have spoken against her puppeteers. "I understand that they didn't want me to worry more than I had to. By not telling me, they allowed me to live my normal life as long as I possibly could. I know my family cares about me, not just as the Heiress but as Hyuuga Hinata. And sometimes their decisions blur the line between the two."

He pulled her off the barstool. She thought it was so he could look down on her and crackle fury. "Why do you have to be so goddamned pure?" was the only thing he said before he kissed her.

It wasn't a nice kiss, it wasn't gentle or tender. She could taste the alcohol, the frustration, the anger, the resentment. It was a play of power, his will trying to dominate over hers. If he thought he could hurt her like this… he was wrong. She refused to give him that satisfaction, so she remained motionless but pliant in his arms, letting him ravage her mouth, detached but aware. Even so, she could feel her heart racing just a little quicker than before. Surely that could be blamed on the fact that it wasn't everyday she was kissed like there was no tomorrow.

His lips were firm, plucking at hers, tugging at her senses, demanding... demanding what, she didn't know.

He held her like the tempestuous thoughts were tangible raging winds, he pulled her to him like the maelstrom would tear them apart. He crushed her against him, not like he felt she would push him away, but like he was afraid he would let go.

The alcohol wasn't the only thing leaving a burning sensation in her mouth. She didn't understand why he was so desperately holding her. Even if... even if she didn't... thinking was far too much trouble. There were too many questions. Too many possible answers. So she closed her eyes and let him strip her of a little more illusion.

Why wouldn't she acknowledge him, dammit?

What was he trying to prove?

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Thankfully and unfortunately there were no witnesses; no press, no family, to question what should have been a display of affection. He was invading her senses; and it was an invasion, one she wasn't sure she should be allowing. There was something appealing in the raw emotion, it was bruising, harsh, intense, penetrating. But she had recognized that it wasn't a true kiss, so she didn't acknowledge it as one. So she didn't slap him, didn't kiss him back, didn't discourage him, didn't encourage him. She had simply allowed it. In the end... the war was a draw.

Finally he pulled away.

"Next time, I'll break you, Hyuuga Hinata." There was some indefinable problem with her lack of response. It was like she tolerated that assault because she was the better person; like she was stronger than he was despite how little she really let her self have. He needed a reaction now, after that almost desperate attempt, needed to see her crack; to see her hate him, or to see her begging him for more, he didn't know.

"Next time? Next time goes by my rules, Uchiha Sasuke." There was a predatory gleam in his eyes that was becoming far too comfortable for her. He wanted to see her fall, that much was certain. Him and Itachi, the Uchiha and the Hyuuga. The real question was where these wanted her to fall, where this descent would take her. Into pain, into hate, into ruin… or maybe somewhere else. She was afraid of this plunge, because she was afraid of what could happen. Afraid she'd be left on her knees, a broken woman… or broken in, just another piece on the board doing what the players wished her to do, not because she chose to, but because they would take away the choice that should inherently be hers.

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"So, Uchiha Sasuke, now the question is... do you trust your fiancée with your car? Because you, my dear, are more than a little inebriated, and therefore in no condition to be driving home." Why else would you have...

"And if I don't want my car anywhere but the Uchiha garage?" Why do you still...

"Then I'd drive you back, and then walk home, catch a taxi, or sleep over."

"You wouldn't call your family?"

"Not at this hour. If you were indisposed in the morning, then I'd call them then. But not now. Besides, I really don't think it does anybody any damage to circulate the idea that the affianced aren't waiting till marriage. It's not like that's practiced any more." Please don't ask that of me...

"But you want to." It will wait... She can wait...

"I think so. The Clan-Heir system isn't that important to me that I feel the need to propagate it as soon as able. You're not answering the question though. It's your car. What do you want to do? I'm not letting you drive it, and I do not plan on sleeping on the floor of a public place, no matter how exclusive. It may be more sterile and clean than my sheets… but I refuse to spend the night." She recovered the rest of her usual demeanor, refusing to think about what had just happened. Not now... Not in the face of so much doubt.

"You know the way to your own house from here, I assume." He had to convince himself that he had meant nothing, expected nothing, and got it. Anything else was yet another road to ruin.

"Yeah… wait." Hinata looked at him and repressed a snicker. "I do have a couch that's one size fits most." She stuck her tongue out at him. "You trust me enough not to ravish you while you lie vulnerable and helpless on my couch?" There was perhaps, a note of gratuity; that he trusted her, that he didn't hate her so much that he wouldn't acknowledge necessity. Though... it wasn't exactly necessity.

"You're not Sakura." There too, was a note of thanks.

"And the gods heave a sigh in relief."

"Though I don't know that I'd mind if you did." He finally realized that the teasing was perhaps a little more than that.

"Now I know you're not fit to be driving." She blushed all the same. The pink intensified as yet again that night, alcohol wafted past her ear. She could almost feel his breath clinging to her skin, and it was doing twisty things to her insides. Only this time... those writhing feelings weren't unsavory, were if anything... pleasant. That should have set off the warning bells... but she was too distracted to notice.

"And what was that about me being helpless and vulnerable?" His words may have been only slightly slurred, and he may have had enough for him to throw discretion and diplomacy to the wind, but even in this blurry state, there was something gratifyingly right about holding her close, resting his head against hers, whispering suggestive whims to a gradually glowing divinity.

How come this felt more intimate, more indecent? Why was this trading of mockery more arousing than that devastatingly hedonic kiss? Was it because those lips that had been empty were full of shadowy promise? Hands that clung to her were now heavy against her sides. Eyes that had sparkled anger clouded with suggestion. Did the certainty of real feelings, however superficial, really mean so much? Why was this so different? What was making it feel so... What did that mean to her… what did it mean for her?


Review Responses:

juliagulia1017: Giirl... you did you homework... more power to you. All that symbolism you mentioned it in there. I was like.. yay! marugame uchiwa colors with significance. Really the ring was an attempt at incorporating the Uchiha clan device into something tangible. The fact that it's a ring is supposed to signify that Hinata belongs to the Uchiha. Not any one man, but the entire clan. More to come at a later date.

Thank yous to everyone else who reviewed in this short time gap.

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Life's not truly complete till a story gets flamed. Only one, my first, and it wasn't Descent into Rapture, but Pervasive. A less than noble anon reviewer. Not so much upset, as annoyed really. No one should take my writing that seriously. This is fanfiction, and I try to write in a humourous if perhaps cynical way. And it annoys me that I was accused of being close minded, a sheep, assuming and shallow and it most certainly pisses me off when I was accused of being hateful, immature and incapable of research. I would prefer to believe the people who actually know me, and continue thinking that I am an informed adult, with perhaps a slight edge to my humour. What was rather upsetting was that someone could want to use the term 'American' as a derogatory term. I understand that America is not in every one's good graces, really I do. I was born American, and I do live here (though I will admit that I would rather not under our current government), but I wasn't raised here. However to use one's nationality as an insult, that is in my opinion being truly close minded, immature and hateful.

I don't appreciate people mistaking my nationality, I don't like being called a 'chink', and much as I complain about the state of things in this country, I don't believe that a person can be faulted for growing up in a country that is different from one's own. And to make myself perfectly clear, I will state that the current regime for America's meddling in foreign affairs pisses me off. I am more than a little liberal, and I find no reason for any one to be offended by my stating my political views. What I believe in should not affect whether or not you enjoy my writing.

I make fun of characters. That is how I write. I don't expect it to be taken seriously. I'm glad that it was only one though. Because there's only so much my patience will allow for. If I get too many, I will have to consider disallowing anonymous reviews. What really galls me was that it was written in response, not to the actually fic itself, but the disclaimer. As if I were truly that ignorant, or provincial.

Forgive me for the long rant. But some things just royally tick me off.

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I'm just sticking all my grief in this, aren't I? First the scene in the club, and now this ridiculous diatribe, over something so insignificant. The authoress needs to learn to keep her life seperate from her fiction. The authoress will undoubtedly fail miserably, but she can try. I don't know what people will think about this chapter. So far everyone who has reviewed this fic as been very encouraging, so I'm going to hope that you will all continue to be mature enough to know what is appropriate to include in a review. I also would like some feedback on the new structure type thing I've done with Descent into Rapture, namely what you all think of the way I've titled all the old chapters. If you managed to put up with my whinging this long, more power to you, I appreciate it.