Who thinks clockwork needs a beta? Raise your hands and drop a line… well, ok, you can put your hands down when you drop a line, but all the same. The authoress is considering finding herself a beta, and needs to decide if she actually will use it.

Disclaimer: same ol' same ol', don't own it, or anything affiliated with it. Cause you know, if I did, I'd'a at least be consistent, but I'm not very good at writing as other people... it tends to not work so well most of the time.

Descent into Rapture Chapter 14: To Reveal

"The Hyuuga Charity Auction? They want us to donate some items for bid? You're serious?" Ten Ten stared at her friends in disbelief.

"When you say 'they'… you do mean the two of us, right?" Hanabi asked impassively.

"Oh… well… that will be embarrassing. Why do you want me to do it if no one is going to bid?" Ten Ten shrank a little.

"You don't know that no one will. Part of this is exposing the wealthy to things outside their comfort zone. Surely your family's stuff will bring out the collector in a couple of them."

"And how will I know you didn't just hire someone to bid?"

"You won't."

"Right… Can we change the subject now?"

"Certainly. Hanabi is Elite now." Hinata remarked offhandedly, watching her sister beneath lowered eyelashes.

"Who'd you bribe?"

"Hey! I passed the exam with flying colors. Iruka-sensei apologized for making me wait so long before he allowed me to take the test. He said I should have been Elite about a year ago, but because of when the test was held it wasn't advisable for a teenager to participate. Well, still a teenager, but more than skilled enough."

"So all you Hyuuga are Elite now." There was a hint of a snarl in the new voice.

"Washroom's around the corner, Haruno." There was more than a hint of a snarl in Hanabi's.

"Look brat, just because I'm not Elite doesn't mean—"

"Ladies! Do we have a problem?" Another voice resounded in the sparsely populated Elite Lounge. "One that can't be settled with fists?" The Legendary Blue Diamond, Ten Ten's mentor, idol, and figure head of the Konoha Club, Tsunade strode into the room, glaring daggers at everyone impartially.

"Tsunade-sama!"

Sakura and Hanabi had the grace to look somewhat abashed. It didn't last long, but the gesture was appreciated.

"Well?"

"It was nothing, Tsunade-sama." Hanabi replied, slight inflection on the word 'nothing'. Tsunade wasn't sure if it was because Hanabi was pretending nothing happened, or because she really didn't think Sakura was worth the trouble. So she went the safe route and kept glaring.

"You're all adults, so act like it, will you? You give me a headache with your teenage drama." Tsunade sighed and left one last glare for the room, continuing her interrupted patrol of the halls.

"So why have you felt the need to grace us with your presence Sakura?" Ten Ten asked, trying to cut out the staring match.

"I was looking for someone. And they're not here."

"So leave."

"Hanabi. Not in the mood." Hinata reined her sister in.

"One week to get the dress made, have you gained or lost a drastic amount of weight, no, good, I have free time to do whatever I want."

Sakura sighed in exasperation and annoyance and left. Clans brought out the worst in her. She didn't need to deal with it today. She'd have to find some other time to question the Hyuuga that wasn't so annoying.

"You have how long till the auction?" Ino cocked her head.

"A full three days. The wall swords look very authentic, Dad was very proud of himself."

"Has Hanabi taken your measurements, or did you escape and find your own dress?"

"I have a really nice green one, wasn't aware I had to check with Hanabi." Ten Ten shrugged.

"Oh dear." Ino deadpanned. "You were obviously sick that day. Don't you know that anything and everything fashion has to go through Hanabi? Comes from having to play nice with socialites."

"You want to sell your Jag? Uchiha…" Hoshigake Kisame had a headache. They seemed to be chronic whenever the Uchiha was involved. Sasori could and would testify to that.

"Well why not?" Uchiha Itachi did not look at all perturbed. "At this rate, it may as well be limos, taxis or feet."

"It hasn't been that long. You may be reacting a little too soon, and a little too panicked."

"Uchiha Itachi is never panicked."

"I just think you're being unnecessarily dramatic."

"I'm an actor. Drama is what I do for a living."

"You're being difficult now. More so than usual."

"Che." Itachi stood to leave the restaurant. "Two days till the Auction."

"I expect to hear what happens in three. After all, you are sticking me with the tab."

"Hanabi… I can feel it. What's going to happen tonight?"

"I… I know what they're going to do tonight… But I don't know if I… I don't." Hanabi turned uncertain and anguished eyes to her sister. Hinata was reminded of a time long ago, before Hanabi had forsaken childhood for becoming a protector of the princess.

"Hush, Firecracker." She pulled her little sister into an embrace, like they were little again. Like a time when Hinata could still protect her sister from reality, not the other way around. "I'll find out soon enough won't I? It can't be as bad as the engagement."

Oh I don't know about that, neesan.

"We'll see. Now wait till you see the dress I've got for you. Even if Uchiha Sasuke is going to be there, he won't mind if we forget the ring tonight. It doesn't go with the blue silk. Aiko-obasan and I were debating this delicious pale pink, with rosebuds, but then we remembered that you're engaged, so the portrayal of innocence was out." Hinata listened to her sister chatter. Hanabi wasn't a slave to fashion in the classic sense. If anything, it was the other way around. Hanabi had an appreciation for beauty, and she knew how to draw it out. Making things beautiful was like therapy for Hanabi, it made her feel useful. Hinata had given up on convincing her sister that she was already useful and brilliant and wonderful.

"I'm sure it's lovely Hanabi. You always make me come out shining."

"Good evening, Uchiha-san… Ichiro-san." Hinata didn't know when she'd lost Hanabi, but a well dressed relative had told her that she was required. She found Hyuuga Ichiro talking with… Uchiha Itachi.

"Hinata-sama. I believe you know of Uchiha Itachi?"

"I- yes."

"I don't know what your sister or cousin have or have not told you, but I shall make it entirely clear for you. Uchiha Itachi," the Hyuuga's eyes took on that same hardness she remembered from two months ago, "is your new suitor." Hinata left hand clenched, unnoticed behind the gracefully limp shield of the other. Her eyes widened, sparkling like a glass doll's, the thoughts in her head hiding behind the barrier.

"But Sasuke…" He voice took on a tinny cheerful confusion, like someone had told her there was a shortage of brie at that executive party two floor down, and she had to do something about it. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Think of it this way. You have a choice." There was a note of cold malice in the carefully cultivated voice.

"I— please excuse me." She turned and fled, out the ornate marble arches, into the tastefully wild garden.

"Not a fabulous first impression, but I'm sure we can work on it."

Another Uchiha appeared, bearing with her Sasuke.

"Ah, Uchiha-dono. So glad you could make it." Hyuuga Ichiro was properly courteous.

Sasuke's eyes followed the ice blue gown as it weaved through the crowd and out the door.

"Thrilled." Uchiha Sasuke was not amused.

"I'm sure you know who this is." Ichiro gestured to Itachi, who was looking politely bored with the formalities.

"Unfortunately."

"Play nice, Sasuke." Itachi remarked, mildly scolding.

"I don't 'play'."

"If that is what you want to think. I will see if I can't smooth some of those ruffled feathers." Itachi strolled towards the balcony, picking up a pair of crystal glasses on his way.

"If I give you one of these, do you promise I won't be wearing it?"

"I thought we agreed a lady is always polite." She was staring out into the garden, watching romance bloom. Watching it and wondering if she'd ever feel that way again. Of course the charm faded after a while… but for that one night, with the moon and her dress and his eyes… for one night, there was nothing else in existence.

He watched her watching them, and fleeting fancy made him think she wasn't real, but a fairy from the garden below them. Her hair cascaded down her neck, the only ornament a tiny pale blue rose, pinned above her right ear. The powder blue silk shimmered with an ethereal light from the moon and the soft lights around them. Teardrop pearls hung from her ears and her neck… fitting. The stone that signified tears and a beautiful bride… He offered her the tulip glass again, and she took it.

"A word of advice from an older and wiser person. Take your time announcing your decision. Give Sasuke the illusion of a fighting chance."

She had to laugh then. "I may throw more at you than wine by the end of the night."

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Sunshine."

"Hinata, did— Oh… am I interrupting?" Hanabi's decorum caught up to her now that she had stopped her hasty glide in search of her sister. Hanabi was in a wine dark gown, blood red garnets adorning her wrists, because she wasn't allowed to spill the blood of her relatives.

"Not at all… Hanabi?" Itachi tilted his head questioningly, even though they all knew the answer.

"Yes, we haven't been formally introduced yet have we?" Hanabi looked like she was in the process of swallowing several lemons. She dropped a perfunctory curtsy. "Hyuuga Hanabi, Hinata's little sister."

He graced her with a half bow, the mocking counterpart to her genuflection. "Uchiha Itachi. Pleasure to meet you." Hinata soon got lost in her thoughts and continued staring into the night, letting her sister and fiancé (option two) fence words.

"'Fraid I can't say the same. Uchihas in general don't bring out the best in me."

"I understand the sentiment."

"I'll just bet you do." Hanabi muttered vexedly. "Familial ties being what they are, I'll just bet you do."

"You surprise me."

"Hanabi," Hinata's voice was absently distant, "be polite." Her mind was obviously not there at the moment. Her sister wondered how many pastries would find their way to members of the Club. A quickly repressed thought asked innocently just how sweet Gaara liked his desserts.

"Not to worry, lady fair, she's as polite as you, painfully so."

"That's nice." Hinata resumed stargazing, even though the light pollution prevented most stars from being visible.

"Pain is subjective."

"A great many things are subjective, pet." Hanabi visibly twitched at the endearment.

"I'm no one's pet." Oh, if it were legal, you would be in so much pain right now, Uchiha Itachi. We'd see how subjective it can get. Hanabi refrained from hitting him, reasoning with herself that she was wearing far too many jewels to punch the arrogant bastard comfortably.

"Itachi…" Hinata roused herself, remembering where she was. "Stop."

"As my lady wishes."

"Please. Just stop." Grey eyes were still clouded with unspoken words and confusing thoughts. Glistening eyes, wet with tears that wanted to be shed but couldn't be, sparkling like jewels in the tastefully dim background.

"Hinata…"A pale hand reached for her, as it always had.

"I'm fine Hanabi. I'll… be fine. I'll just go inside and… freshen up."

Clockwork has fillers for you... which is annoying, because the document manager was down, but it was an awful lot of trouble for not a whole lot of excitement to get posted. Comments/critique much appreciated, and I mean it.