Recap

"May I ask who owns Gaara's company now?"

Temari shrugged limply, "The Akatsuki, some illegal underground company that needs some honest way of making a good living to get the feds off of their case and back."

--

Sasuke continued to stare wordlessly at his brother, his mouth opening and closing unintelligibly.

Suddenly, Sasuke lunged at his brother with a loud snarl, hands clenched into fists as he wildly began punching at him. Itachi returned each punch with equal force and power, evading and dodging the few that looked like they actually may cause damage.

--

"Hehe just disappeared." Sasuke muttered, making Hinata stop her dabbing and look at him.

"One day he was there, and the nextpoof. Vanishing act." His eyes were wide as he hysterically stared down at his hands. "Did you know that right after he left, my father wasmurdered? And my mom…" He gripped Hinata's shoulders and stared at her wildly, "My mom committed suicide because of them."

--

Hinata suddenly realized what this was. What this whole thing was.

It was fucked up.

Chapter 29

Hinata coughed and played with the food on her plate uncomfortably. The same was done by everyone at the table except for the two men at opposite sides of the table. Sasuke merely played with his food silently while Itachi ate as if the awkward silence had no affect on him.

Maybe it actually didn't.

Ino opened her mouth as to say something, but seemed to have thought better of it and twirled the spaghetti around her fork until it had become a large ball. No one at the table could think of anything appropriate to say for this situation that seemed to have no appropriate responses. Hinata mentally weighed which was worse; having the table full of mindless catty gossip or this unbearable silence. Finally she decided that both made her want to kill herself and were possibly equally terrible.

"So…" Hinata finally ventured and wanted to shoot herself for her stupidity when all eyes (including the cameramen's) shot towards hers almost desperately, save for Itachi's who continued to chew his meatball almost thoughtfully while staring at the space in front of him.

"Er…th-this spaghetti's r-really good." Hinata managed to spit out and shoved a forkful into her mouth to give her a reason to stop while she was ahead, knowing she would continue rambling if she didn't.

A collective sigh was heard from the cameramen and the models. Sakura looked at Itachi with fascination and leaned closer to him, "Itachi…Sasuke's brother, right?"

"I believe that fact has already been established many, many times." He didn't even spare her a glance as he picked up a piece of garlic bread to examine with a distasteful frown.

Sakura seemed to either not care or fail to see the jab at her intelligence and smiled at him in that aggravating way that Hinata always saw her use on Sasuke. "Well, you do look a lot like him…if not a little more…mature." She looked ready to start running her hands all over him until Hinata made a gagging noise that she tried to disguise as a cough futilely.

For the first time that night, Sasuke's lips turned up in the slightest fraction at the corners and he raised an eyebrow at her. "Is something a matter, Hinata?"

"N-not at all." She coughed and wheezed and looked down in disgust at her plate of spaghetti in replacement of Sakura. That girl was getting so…gross. The slutty way she composed herself was almost making Hinata pity her; she spent her time being worn down time after time by men who didn't give a damn about her other than the potential of a good night with a supermodel.

"Don't die." Sakura cooed sweetly.

Not that from what Hinata could find, there were any other attributes that put her in any good light.

"You wish." Hinata muttered under breath and took another bite of spaghetti.

"Why are you here, Itachi?" Ino asked curiously and rested her head in her hand, pushing away her plate of untouched spaghetti with the other. Hinata just realized how skinny the girl was…how unhealthily skinny she was. Her skin was a sallow colour as it stretched across her cheeks and her wrists seemed too frail to support the head it was propping up.

Itachi seemed to notice this too and eyed her plate of food. "What are you, anorexic?"

Ino blushed a furious colour of red and crossed her arms across her small chest defensively. "It was just a question." She murmured and looked down at the floor, as if ashamed.

Hinata didn't think it was possible for someone like Ino to ever be ashamed.

"As was mine." Itachi said and took a sip of his wine, utterly disregarding the attention that Sakura was shamelessly throwing his way.

"Yes, do tell why you're here, Itachi." Hinata asked, mimicking Sakura's sugary sweet voice.

"I hardly see how it's any of your business." Itachi responded, deadpan.

"We are all going to live together, one might as well find out more about each other." Hinata smiled at him and felt her confidence begin to boil, creating a drive for her to continue this conversation with this intimidating asshole.

He finally looked up at her and responded by saying, "You are the most annoying thing I have ever had the misfortune of meeting."

"And you," Hinata took a bite of her garlic bread, taking her time to chew it. "Are the most insufferable jackass I have ever had the misfortune of meeting."

"I've been called worse."

"I have no doubt about that." Hinata answered dryly and sipped her wine, finally enjoying the meal. She did, however feel a tinge of fear as she said these words, not because of Itachi, however; because of herself.

She was without a doubt changing. Everything that had happened to her in the last few months were filling those empty corners of her mind with things she felt although were giving her strength and a backbone…were going to somehow destroy her.

Itachi seemed to change his tactic and asked, "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

Hinata went rigid and froze with her fork half way into her mouth. Carefully, she put down the utensil and stared at Itachi evenly. "I haven't seen my mother since I was four."

"Hm…is that so?" There was a glint in his eye that told Hinata that he knew exactly her mother was gone and never to return. Bastard. "I suppose we have something in common after all. I haven't seen mine in several years either...seeing as she's dead."

Sakura and Ino gasped (Sakura's gasp noticeably louder and more dramatic than the one elicited from Ino) together in perfect unison. While Sakura latched herself onto the elder brother's arm, Ino clutched Sasuke's. Well, that infatuation of Itachi Uchiha had not seemed to last long for Ino.

Good for her.

"Your mother's…dead?" Ino and Sakura asked, their large doe eyes getting round.

Both Itachi and Sasuke scowled simultaneously and shook their arms out of the pouting models' grasp. Sasuke looked even more annoyed, if not more regretful too than Itachi (who showed no remorse for the death of his mother) and suddenly stood up from his chair to glare at everyone at the table and, surprisingly, the cameras.

"I'm full."

With that, he stormed off in the direction of what Hinata vaguely recalled was his bedroom, leaving the cameramen pleased with the amount of drama and information they had just been able to witness. Itachi seemed to click that this was the most reasonable thing to do too and also put down his fork to stand up and give one last violent shake to rid himself of the clingy woman who still had her grasp on him.

"I too am not hungry." He took a step away from the table before turning slightly to look at Hinata who had finished everything on her plate without any of the guilt the two other women at the table were feeling and said to her, "Come with me to my bedroom."

Everyone's jaw fell open and several eating utensils dropped with a clatter onto the floor or their dishes. Hinata's eyes widened and she dumbly opened and closed her mouth while gesturing to him and the direction he was heading with a twitching eye.

"Wh-what…?"

"I do believe you heard me, Ms. Hyuuga. I asked that you accompany me to my bedroom." He demanded again, the traces of the insufferable trademark Uchiha smirk donning his lips.

Hinata's eyes narrowed and she was about to humbly deny his request with a few choice words about where he could stick his demand until she noticed the cameramen's glaring that promised her much pain and suffering. So with much reluctance, Hinata gave a weak nod and slowly made her way over to Itachi who clutched her by her elbow and proceeded to drag her away in a manner that gave her a direct line of vision to Sakura's blazing eyes that made Hinata wish she had just let the cameramen do what they would with her.

"Wh-why are we going t-to your bedroom?" Hinata panted as he suddenly picked up the pace and continued to drag her along backwards. She wasn't fool enough to think that he was taking her there for reasons that had anything to do with sex.

"We have something to discuss." He answered simply as rounded a corner that came right to the alcove that led to her room. He brought them into the room and closed the door behind him to stare at her with even eyes.

"So discuss." Hinata told him quietly, her confidence dying now that she had left the dinner table.

"This is my room. I must demand that you find a new one." He said with an air of self righteousness that made Hinata want to commit terrible acts of violence against him.

"I don't think so." She said.

His eyes narrowed dangerously and he took a step closer to her, making her take one unsteady one back. His arm reached out to snatch her sleeve to yank her forward in a violent jerk. Looking up at him, Hinata realized that this man would have no problem harming a woman, even over a trivial manner such as this. He had probably even killed several.

"I will ask you politely once more." He hissed and lowered his face closer to her level, "Get. Out."

Hinata suddenly found a burst of courage and hissed back, "You've lost your privilege to stake claim over your room years ago after you ran away." She looked down at his hand and lightly gripped it. "Now, if you'd be so kind, I'd like you to let go."

His grip only tightened and Hinata was sure that there would be a permanent wrinkle in her shirt from this. "I have had owned it much longer than you have joined this silly contest."

"Well, first come first serve."

"Yes, and I came first."

"Look," Hinata tried jerking away her hand, but to no avail, and glared up at him. "As important as you may think you are, I could really care less."

"Really?" There was no amusement in his voice, only malice. "Because I think that you really do." Itachi struck her as someone who only flaunted facts about him unless to get things his own way; which Hinata supposed now would be the time.

"The organization I belong to," He bent down to whisper into her ear, "Is called the Akatsuki."

It wasn't fear that ran through Hinata's heart. It was possibility. The Akatsuki…an illegal organization that the general public knew committed terrible acts and offences against the law, but could never have it proven. Usually the name caused people to rethink whatever they were doing in case it may anger them.

But really, it only meant one thing for Hinata.

Gaara's company.

She remembered Temari telling her just before she had disappeared with Shikamaru that it was the Akatsuki who had taken over Gaara's company. In fact, Hinata didn't doubt that Gaara's father had not left a single penny for his children because he had been under threat of the Akatsuki who always found a way to get what they want. Buying off a company that had no owner was easier and less conspicuous than having if all left behind by someone that they had little affiliation with.

Hinata's mouth opened to say something, plead something, before Ino had opened the door to stare at the two with a cocked head and (to her credit) little judgement.

"Uh…Should've knocked, I guess." She backed up a bit before Itachi threw down Hinata's hand and brushed past Ino.

"Think about it." Was all he said as he exited.

Hinata slumped down on her bed and wearily looked up at Ino who was still at her doorway with a look that held both curiosity and silent amusement. "Can I help you?"

Ino scratched her head, "I suppose." She slowly shut the door and walked over to Hinata with the grace only a model such as her could possess to sit down next to her on the bed. She looked around and said, "You have a nice bedroom."

"So I've been told." Hinata answered and wished that Ino would get to the point and leave so that she could go to sleep.

Ino fidgeted for a second before grasping the edges of Hinata's blanket and finally saying, "I came to ask you a question…on a philosophical level. Kind of."

Hinata didn't think that Ino had the brain capacity to handle philosophy, let alone the word itself. But…she had never thought that she would ever do something such as come and ask her, Hinata, nemesis of all that was skinny, beautiful, and fashionable, for 'philosophical advice' either.

"Er…o-okay." Hinata motioned her hand for Ino to continue.

"Alright. I guess it's not so much philosophical. At all." Ino mused and tugged at a lock of her blonde hair that seemed to have lost so much lustre since what Hinata remembered it to be like at the beginning of the contest. "It's mostly just advice I want."

Ino stood up suddenly and began pacing. "I…I want to know if I should quit this contest."

"What?" Hinata blurted. Ino…worshipper of Sasuke was asking Hinata, her opponent in this sick twisted game, if she should quit? "Why…why are you asking me this?"

Ino gave her a rueful smile. "Who else am I supposed to ask? Kakashi? The cameramen? Sasuke? Sakura? Besides," She tugged at the small shirt that looked capable of fitting a ten year old. "I think that…that you have the most sense out of everyone else here."

Okay. Hinata would admit it. The flattery that Ino just issued her did help.

"Fine…but why do you need to quit? Why do you need someone else to decide this for you?" Hinata needed to ask these questions in order to wrap her head around the fact that Ino suddenly wanted quit cold turkey. It. Just. Didn't. Make. Sense.

"I need someone to talk me out of it." Ino said.

"'Need someone to talk you out of it?'" Hinata wasn't believing this. She was sure she would've been alerted when Hell froze over. So sure. "Then why not ask Sakura? I'm sure she would be more than willing to do that for you."

"Sakura…she isn't the easiest person to talk to, as I'm sure you know." Ino gave her a wry smile at this. "And listening to her try to persuade me would only make me want to stay. Besides…you seem pretty neutral in the matter. Compared to everyone else, at least."

"Y-you might want to explain to me why you want to quit b-before letting me give you an answer."

"Oh. Yeah." She sat back down and folded her hands in her lap. "Well, I've never really loved Sasuke."

With this statement, Hinata burst out laughing at the irony. Ino…Temari…herself…Haku…

None of them loved him.

(At least at the start, in her case.)

"What?" Ino asked, her voice sharp and suspicious.

"Nothing, nothing." Hinata wiped the tears of mirth and waved her arm for Ino to continue. "Carry on."

"Uh, anyways. I've never really loved him. Basically…it was just my agent who told me that this would really boost my publicity, so I was all for it. A little more attention never hurt anyone." Her eyes suddenly gave way to a dreamy look and she sighed lightly. "But during the intermission…I met this amazing guy. After him, Sasuke was starting look much less appealing. He's just so beautiful. And funny. And kind, and hilarious, and amazing, and--"

"Okay, I get it. Perfect guy." Hinata interrupted, unable to stand the look in Ino's eyes any longer. "So why don't you just quit then?"

"Did you even read the contract for this contest?" Ino asked, an eyebrow cocked.

No. Because she never even got the contract in the first place.

"Well, in case you didn't, it requires you to pay up a hell of a fine if you do decide to suddenly quit. And…" Ino's gaze drifted towards the door and she looked as if she were taking a reluctant stroll down the neighbourhood known as 'Memory Lane.' "Pride, I guess. I can't let Sakura win."

Hinata knew the feeling.

"It seems to me, that the only thing that you're going to get out of this if you end up staying is misery and regret. Not only will you be wretched with Sasuke, but if you leave your Wonder Boy so long, he might not be still available later. I really think that Sakura's only going to get a bigger laugh out of this if you end up unhappy. Besides, I'm sure that the money you have as a model is more than enough to pay the fine." Hinata answered her and was glad that earlier she had not quit. She didn't have the money to pay for such a trivial thing.

Ino's face gave to a small glowing smile. "I imagine that you're right." She gripped Hinata's hands and grinned, "Thanks."

Hinata was still watching those bony hands as Ino got up to leave and couldn't help but blurt out, "Are you actually anorexic?"

Ino looked back at Hinata, the shock on her face dissolving into regret and rue. "Quod me nutrit, me destruit."

"'That which nourishes me, destroys me?'" Hinata asked without full comprehension. Since when did Ino know Latin? Where were those flying pigs?

"Yes."

Finally regaining some brain capacity from the shock, Hinata pulled back her lips in a disbelieving look. "Uh…please don't tell me you took that s-seriously."

Ino let out a tinkling laugh. "Psh. I'm not as stupid as you think, Hinata." Hinata blushed and scratched her cheek to hide it. "Once again, a ruse created on behalf of suggestion by my agent. I don't know what he's thinking though." She sighed. "But he's the boss."

"Then what meaning does it have to you?"

"I'm talking about…about my job. Modelling." She looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes in a way that made Hinata look like she was praying. "It's not worth it a lot of the time. Some people seem to be able to find a way to make it fit for them." Hinata could tell that she was referring to Sakura. "I…can't really. The stress…"

She looked up at Hinata and asked, "Do you know what I wanted to be when I was younger? A psychiatrist. I wanted to be the one who listened to those people that lied down in those chairs and make their problems go away." She opened her closed fists in front of her and spread her arms out as if releasing those problems.

"But people always just saw me as a pretty face. Anytime I would mention that I wanted to do this, they would laugh and tell me to stick to something 'more suited to me.' Since when did they know what was suited to my needs and what wasn't? Eventually, I got sick of their comments and shut up. People just assumed with my looks that I wanted to be something glamorous, like a actress or model, so they would continue to encourage me to follow these dreams." She snorted. "Well, I guess I sure as fuck followed their dreams for me."

Hinata stayed quiet and looked up at the blonde with what hoped she conveyed the utmost sorrow and apology for the poor woman that Hinata was ashamed to say that even she had fallen for that stereotype that people had created for her. She didn't stand to hug her. She didn't move at all. She wasn't sure if the gesture was enough, or if Ino would even appreciate it at all.

But Ino seemed to understand this and grinned at Hinata. "Don't beat yourself up too much. I'm just a marvellous actress." She flicked her pony tailed hair behind her and winked. She opened the door and wiggled her fingers in the air as she left. "'Bye, Hinata."

Hinata watched even as the door closed then scrunched her eyes closed and curling up into a ball on her bed. Without even wrapping the blanket around her or laying her head down on the pillow, she let herself drift asleep to the sound of soft music playing and echoing through her room, her ears, and her dreams.

--

Is this long enough?
Noooooooo.
Did I actually put that much effort into the last little bit?
Noooooo.
Did I update within three months?
Yeeeeeeess.
Will I try to update sooner?
Yeeeeesss.

Itachi's getting easier to write.

Ciao,
MissLe