Chapter 28: At The End of The Day...
"Slowly, with many lost days, I come back to life."
― Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay
.
.
"...do you think we should call a relative or friend of hers? It's obvious that she can't work today – she looks like she's in a bad place.", muttered the male Inuzuka, Kiba, who looked towards the quiet girl that both he and his sister was watching closely.
Hana bit her lip anxiously and looked toward the bluette, who was seated on a couch in the veterinarian office in the back. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan, but what if she doesn't want to leave? What if space is just what she needs right now?", asked the older sister wearily.
Kiba looked back over at Hinata's shaking form and back over at his sister, his eyes dull with sympathy. He was unsure – he didn't really know.
Akamaru started to whine, burying his head under his big paws.
Kiba sighed and rubbed the large dog's back in comfort. "It's rubbing off on Akamaru – she needs somethin' more than space, Hana."
"Like what?", wondered Hana aloud as they both watched the girl cry her eyes out.
"...I honestly don't know...", he uttered, feeling his head become cloudy with thoughts of the fallen angel.
…
She had never felt such pain in her life – even when her own mother had passed away.
Hinata's chest was hurting badly,like a heavy, inky feeling coming across her heart. It felt horrible, like what despair or death would fee like.
She didn't know what to do – her head was pounding like a drum.
She felt was lost.
Nothing's going to change...
Depression.
There is no hope in this world. No one cares…no one. Why don't they care? I can't take this anymore, the girl thought in despair as she gripped her hair, the dark voices pounding her head.
She was in despair – it was the most horrible feeling she had ever felt in her entire life.
I can't do anything but cry – I'm so pathetic and can't I ever get anything that I want? Why must things always go wrong for me?Am I not worth anything? –
Her eyes formed into a lavender, opaque ball of rage.
Why does he get everything? He's so cruel and heartless – everything works out for him…
Her chest started to blaze in anger, and her orbs started to narrow without her knowing.
…What if I could just hurt him once? To make him feel the same way I felt? To hurt him just as much as he hu -
"N-NO!", shouted Hinata as she raised out of her daze of anger.
The girl shook her head out of her crazy thoughts, tears rolling down her cheeks from her hurting body.
"I-I have to g-get out of here.", she huffed in agony, and held onto the wall in pain, wanting to escape from this visage of darkness in her.
But that was the problem – it was inside of her.
I could make him suffer…
"Hinata, you shouldn't be getting up – you don't look well!", Hana reprimanded while trying to get the shaking girl.
"M-Move out of my way!", Hinata yelled, pushing past the shocked woman, and almost making it out of the room before Kiba reached her and grabbed her.
I can break him…
She didn't want to be stopped right now – her head was spinning with these thoughts that weren't right – from what she knew -
It was becoming so hard to tell what was right and what was wrong.
"Hinata, you need help. Please, just sit and calm down so that we can help you.", the male said in a soothing tone, but it did nothing to calm the girl in his arms.
…Just once wouldn't hurt…
The bluette glared up at him, her face sickly and sweaty – she could feel her heart weighing down like an anchor in her chest.
"What I need is for you to get the hell out of my way! M-Move - leave me alone, p-please!", she begged, and forcefully pushed the boy away from her and stumbled out of the office and to the exit door before slamming it.
Kiba quickly looked back at Hana. "Call Uchiha! He's at least a familiar face!"
A quick blush went over Hana's face before she nodded in agreement, but wasn't seen by the male who shot out the door after the bluette.
.
.
.
"HINATA!", Kiba yelled, running after the girl who was stumbling and gripping against things in sheer desperation.
"Leave me a-alone!", she shouted, pushing past a group of people who started to slowly recognize who the damsel in distress was.
I could make him pay…
Kiba sighed and rushed forward to grab the girl's arm, only for her to yank it back and slide into an alleyway.
He quickly pushed past the crowd that was gathering and rushed after her into the dark patch between the two buildings. It was dark, like a pool less pit of black – it made shivers run up Kiba's spine at how dark it was despite how bright it was outside.
He soon spotted the girl, gathered in a ball on the ground, gripping her hair in somewhat displayed misery. The male stopped and watched, feeling his heart clench at her position.
Hinata bawled out, her head pounding heavily as her tears came down in waves.
…break him…
"G-Get away…", the girl murmured, and closed herself in a ball.
"Hinata, just talk to me.", Kiba silently pleaded, stepping closer to Hinata's tight form.
She let out a deep breath as she tried to let out the thoughts in her head. "Please…just leave."
"Why do you want me to leave so badly, Hinata-san?", Kiba asked as calm as he could to try and comfort the girl as well as get to a closer position to catch her arm.
She didn't speak – instead, she gave off a slouchy shrug and laid her head against the brick wall.
"I-I think I'm going crazy…",she finally said, and let a bitter laugh come from her throat, which made the male think twice about coming any closer towards her. "I don't k-know…"
"You're just stressed out You just need to rest is all.", Kiba corrected, it did little help to convince the wide-eyed girl before him.
…I want to…but it's wrong…I can't hurt him…
The bluette gripped her hair and gave it a tug, trying to keep herself from thinking about such wicked thoughts. "I'm thinking about things that I shouldn't be thinking about.", she finally confessed to the patient male, who had taken a sit on the dirty ground beside her.
Kiba gave her an apprehensive look. "Thoughts like suicide?", he quickly asked in concern, but the girl waved him off.
"N-No…just thoughts…"
"Did someone upset you?", Kiba asked once again, waiting patiently for her answer.
If only you knew..
She turned away from him and sighed. She would have never imagined she would be in this predicament.
An air of silence came to them, none of them knowing just what to say. She heard a rustle behind her, but paid it no mind as she tried to clear her mind of all the thoughts in her head.
She could take it all away from him, make him feel her pain and her agony. It would be so easy, she could picture it now...
Seeing him depressed and confused, just like she was, it would be the sweetest revenge...
But for what? Just a moment of happiness? A moment of satisfaction?
"Get up."
Hinata jumped and whipped her head around in surprise at how deep Kiba's voice had gotten.
And saw then that it wasn't the kind face of the Inuzuka, but rather the emotionless face of the last person she would expect to see today.
The bluette bit her lip before getting off the gritty pavement and dusting herself off, suddenly feeling inadequate and piteous in the eyes of the man before her. "Nii-san.", she greeted, feeling like a child.
It was Itachi in all of his glory of all people. She noticed that he wasn't properly dressed as he would have always been; he was in his sweats and his hair was down, which was a rare look for him. She felt guilty then; she had probably disturbed him.
But how did he know she was here?
"What's wrong now?", he asked, not giving her a change to voice her own question.
At his question, she felt the feelings creeping back into her, and lowered her head to her shoes in anxiousness of his strong stare. She probably looked disgusting right now...
She didn't like being the center of attention
"Hinata.", she heard him demand, and closed her eyes.
"S-Sasuke.", she bleakly answered, expecting to hear a sound of disapproval from him.
However, she heard none, and cautiously opened an eye to see him still staring down at her with the same gaze.
She couldn't tell what he was thinking – he was the master of vacuousness when it came to expression.
Itachi soon sighed and ran a hand through his waved hair before looking away from her and toward the open way of the alley. She watched him carefully, his stance, his aura, his face -
Still, she could conjure up nothing as to what he was thinking.
He soon spoke though.
"Will it always just be about my little brother, Hinata?", he suddenly asked, catching her off guard completely. "Is he really that important to you?"
Hinata clenched her fists as she stared up at the taller being, not understanding the secret meaning behind his intrusive words. "W-What do you mean by 'will it always be just him'? That's alwayswhat this has been about, Itachi - It's always been him.", she snapped, losing her composure and crashing back down to reality, which seemed to be so out of touch to her.
He didn't say anything. He blankly stared her slightly shaking form.
She didn't know, she couldn't explain – it just was to her -
"He always wins, Itachi!", she blurted, letting out her grief and anger all at once. "N-No matter how good I am, he always wins! Nothing that I do right works – I-I'm so confused as to what to do!."
"You don't have faith in yourself.", Itachi stated, nonchalantly looking around the alleyway in slight revolt at the stench starting to come up.
Hinata scoffed, appalled at his assumption."Faith? I have faith! But it just isn't working! Nothing is! NOTHING!", she screamed towards the Uchiha in rage, trying to get rid of the darkness surrounding her chest.
"Well you aren't trying hard enough."
She froze, feeling her body go cold.
Hinata didn't know why, or how, but she became angry. His words sounded so familiar, just like Sasuke's. Just like her father's. Just like Neji's words. Just like so many others' words.
Who were they to say that she wasn't trying hard enough? They didn't know how much she cried, how much work she tried to put into everything she did. And they would never know because they had everything, because they were so perfect and they could do no wrong...
Because they weren't her.
For the very first time, she glared and shot venom. "All you Uchiha are the same."
The name sounded so foreign on her lips that it felt like a swear word.
She didn't want to see his reaction, so she turned and started to leave, but was sharply pulled back and pushed into the brick wall of the alleyway to her surprise.
She didn't make a move when he invaded her personal space for the very first time, or how tightly he gripped her arms as his vivid eyes glared down at her. For the very first time, she saw his angry side, and now she knew that ticked him off...
His hair brushed against her cheeks, making her scrunch up her face at the weird feel.
"I'm nothing like them.", he spat, his words making a painful shiver go up her spine.
If anyone would've saw, it would probably have looked like a scene from a romance novel, but to the bluette, it was simply a death threat from the devil himself.
She could already tell that Sasuke's anger was nothing compared to Itachi's; his aura changed so quickly that she felt goosebumps coming up her arms.
Hinata was scared, but her mouth voice her anger quite forthrightly. "G-Get your hands off of me.", she said and tried to pull her arm back only for him to tighten his hold on her.
"You need to calm down, Hinata.", he bit out although Hinata could see the frown still upon his face.
"Stop acting like you care about me.", the girl struggled in his grip. "You knew Sasuke was cheating, yet you did nothing. You didn't even tell me." She could feel herself tearing up.
Itachi let a small smirk come over his face, which angered her. Did he think this was funny? "You had already known. You were just looking for someone else to confirm it. I knew this marriage wasn't going to last long."
"GET OFF ME!", the bluette yelled, pushing back. "I hate you!"
He let go and backed off, watching as she caught her breath all while glaring daggers at him.
It became quiet, only the sound of the moving cars filling the air.
She couldn't think properly – her head was hurting once again.
It was because he was right, she did know. She had knew of Sasuke's cheating ways during their marriage, and yet she did nothing and would've done nothing if it wasn't for Sasuke's scandal going public. She would still be at the mansion, waiting for him to come home or at Hyuuga Corp., sitting at a desk watching the world go by...
It made her sick to her stomach.
"You should be more grateful to the people who are here for you.", Itachi said after a while, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall opposite of the girl
.She gazed at the ground, her indigo hair going over her shoulder as she leaned against a wall as well, arms crossed over her chest to keep her breathing steady. "Like you, right?", she silently asked, sarcasm absent from her question.
She heard him sigh. "I've been for you since the beginning. I knew my little brother wasn't good enough for you. He can never be - ", he stopped suddenly and sighed again, causing the bluette to look up in confusion.
"W-What?", she asked, seeing how he ran his hand through his hand again and look a different way. "Itachi?"
Her whole world froze at his answer.
He looked into her eyes, making her heart flutter weirdly. "You were suppose to be mine, as ludicrous as it may sound."
No...
"W-What?", she questioned again, believing that her ears were deceiving her. "What did you say, nii-san?"
His words sounded so odd, but...
No...She was in denial; she kept trying to tell herself that this man before her was not 'Prince Charming' or anything remotely related to that, but her 'Nii-san', her brother-in-law, Sasuke's brother...
"We were supposed to be together.", Itachi finally said, causing her insides to be filled with the infestation of butterflies. "You were supposed to be my wife - "
"Wait. P-Please don't", the girl begged as she turned away from him, still in shock and in confusion as to how she felt about that.
Itachi's wife? How would that have felt? It was frightening to think that if she had really been betrothed to Itachi, that she maybe she wouldn't have minded. Would he have? Maybe he had declined marrying her, which was why they sent Sasuke off to 'woe' and trap her in this marriage -
"I would have married you."
He could read her so easily...what if he was really supposed to be her's? Her only chance at love? Her soulmate? The things that most people never find.
Hinata gripped her hair. "Why are you telling me this? Why here - why now? You're my nii-san. Y-You're trying to confuse me...", she whispered out, trying to push the thought of her and Itachi being together.
"The Hyuuga and Uchiha Clan decided that, since both of you were of the same age, that you and Sasuke would have a connection. I agreed and never asked anymore of it", he continued, his eyes never leaving her face. "I apologize."
Her mind was going to space. "F-For what?"
"For not going against the Clan orders and fighting for you. Maybe all of this nonsense could have been avoided.", he said, and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he started to exit the alleyway.
She felt her throat become tight as she stared as his back as the distance between the two became even further.
What did he mean by that? How could they have avoided all of the 'nonsense'?
He couldn't leave, not until her answered her question.
"W-Wait!", she yelled after him, but couldn't get her legs to move forward.
She let in some air when she saw him stop and slightly turn towards her, his eyes bright, but dull at the same time. He could have been her's.
"What d-do you mean by that?", she asked, anticipating on what he would say, watching and waiting for his answer.
Her heart felt like he was about to burst when he smirked.
"I wouldn't have mind. I would have fallen for you."
He walked away after, leaving her watching him as he got into his car and speed by...
She saw it, she saw their supposed- future, her's and Itachi's.
From those words, those sincere and painful words, she knew what he was saying – he would have loved her.
That's all that she had wanted, and he would have given it to her. Itachi never lied...
He would have loved her, her, out of everyone, out of every beautiful person. And he would have fallen for her as well...
She clinched her fists and made her way out of the alleyway. Her face was void of any emotion as she felt her heart cry loudly out in her chest.
It was tired.
.
.
.
"Okay, let's cut to the case, shall we?", Tenten started as she sat down across from Kin in the booth, both anxious and slightly excited to start the 'talk'.
Although the cafe was quite full, the two women decided that the perfect place to exchange words would be towards the back, where the only source of light came from the light bulb that dangled from the string on the ceiling, slowly moving back and forth as if a ghostly finger was testing it's stability. Tenji enjoyed the dark setting though as he sipped his lukewarm hot chocolate while working on his assignments, faraway on a table near a window; little girls and women stared at him in fascination and blushing faces.
Kin let out a light breath as she moved a piece of hair behind her ear. "Where do I begin...", she said more to herself.
Tenten gave off a smile. It didn't reach her eyes. "You can start at the beginning, you know, the part before you fucked my husband.", she offered in a sickeningly sweet tone, enjoying the way the woman stiffened and soon nodded at her request.
"Right. There.", the pregnant woman sighed before leaning forward, her plump stomach not really giving her an advantage though. "First off, I want to apologize once again - "
"You already did. You're wasting time.", Tenten scoffed before taking a sip of her latte and glancing over at the young boy across the room, who seemed slightly uncomfortable at the stares that some of the women were giving him.
Kin sighed before starting. "I first met him at a club -
"Wow."
" - but it wasn't the type of club that you think it was.", Kin quickly explained, earning a confused brow from the brunette across from her. "It was underground, well it still is anyway. It's a type of club for business men who don't want their reputation trashed because they wanted to have a 'little fun', you know?"
"Sounds like a bunch of trash-bags.", Tenten muttered while mixing her latte nonchalantly.
Kin sighed once again, leaning her elbows on the table top as she began to speak again. "A couple of girls and I were invited to attend some kind of meeting going on down there; we were told to 'entertain' the guests, meaning to kind of mess around with them a bit or until they were pissy-drunk enough to pass out. I had done it a couple of times before for the bartender and for the money, so I knew what I was doing. I was prepared to go along with whatever, but I didn't expect it to be MGC -
"Wait, run that pass me again - MGC, Uchiha and Uzumaki, was there?", Tenten blurted out, a look of astonishment on her face.
Kin squirmed a bit in her seat. "Well, they weren't MGC at the time, but it was definitely them. That's what the whole group consisted of. I think that was the meeting that officially confirmed that they were going to merge together and how Sabaku would run out of business because of it.", the woman pondered for a moment before shrugging. "I didn't really care about it though; all I wanted was to get my money and leave, but Uchiha had other plans..."
Tenten watched as the woman's eyes narrowed suddenly as she recalled a memory.
"He noticed me, right off the back, and pointed out the fact that I had slept with that, that Sabaku -"
"And just what do you have against Gaara?", the bun-headed woman snapped back.
A small, bitter smile soon came across Kin's face, making Tenten raise a brow at her behavior. "So you haven't seen it? That's rather surprising; that's what I'm quite famous for." she stated, finally taking a sip of her dark coffee before her.
Realization soon came to Tenten. Of course. The sex tape. "Oh."
Kin scoffed. "I knew he was still the same. Conniving and evil."
"From what I've seen and heard, Gaara's not like that anymore. He's different now.", Tenten defended, only to receive a frown from the pregnant woman.
"Someone like him could never change.", she spat.
The bun-headed woman leaned back, irritation on her face."Well, what does that say about you? Who's to say that you've changed? Maybe you'll sleep with someone else's husband after you're done with Neji.", Tenten spat, earning a guilty look in the process. "Before you start judging someone else, look in the mirror. Continue."
Kin paused for a moment from speechlessness; she soon took a breath. "After that, everything went in a blurr, and I soon found myself right next to Neji.", she continued. "The night was winding down and the place was starting to get hot, so the bartender started to pass out shots of liquor and - "
"Please don't pull the 'he was so drunk that he didn't know' crap. Every sane person in Japan knows that Neji is of the few dumb asses that can actually hold his liquor.", the brunette stated, eyes narrowed in annoyance.
Kin frowned. "You didn't let me finish - I never said he was drunk, and you're right, he can hold his liquor. He knew exactly what he was doing the whole night. He was of his own free will."
"Oh, are you trying to gloat or something?", Tenten asked, the sarcasm dripping from her words as Kin sighed once again in defeat.
"You know that's not my intention. We haven't gotten anywhere at this point, so I'll just give it to you bluntly - yes, I had sex with your husband, but I wasn't the one who deliberately pushed it, hedid. We both knew the consequences and we both knew what we were getting into, but we didn't care - "
Tenten slammed her fist down, causing the cups on the table to bounce, spilling drops of liquid on the covered top. "This sounds sick as fuck - are you trying to make this sound better or are you trying to piss me off?"
"I'm only telling you the truth.", Kin answered as calmly as she could. "Neji and I had sex that night, and I thought he was like the others, but he wasn't. He was the only one there who treated me like a human being and not an object - he even said 'please' and 'thank you' when I passed him his drinks.", Kin complimented before reminiscing the night with a light smile, much to Tenten's dismay.
"So his politeness was enough for you to let him ravish your cookie jar, or at least what was left of it.", Tenten commented with a frozen look.
"Yeah, it was...", Kin said sheepishly before awkwardly looking the other way.
"So exactly how many times did you sleep with my husband after that night?", Tenten asked, deciding to move on.
"Once, in the office on the day that Sasuke publicized his engagement to Haruno. I wasn't expecting that to happen; I'm pretty sure he was upset about something.", Kin said as she swirled around and called for a waiter, leaving the brunette in shock.
Tenten ran a finger over her lips, agitated at how nonchalant Kin seemed at the moment, but also curious...
"...what do you think he was upset about?", Tenten asked quietly, leaning forward on the table in interest, making a shudder shake Kin in nervousness.
"Well, I would think that maybe he was nervous - I could be wrong though.", the pregnant woman stated aloud, her finger on her chin in thought.
I'm not getting anywhere... "About what?", the brunette asked again, trying to keep herself composed.
Kin gave her a weird look. "About the meeting held at the Hyuuga Estate. It was supposed to be a meeting between the Elders and the Heiress, but Neji kinda crashed it and somehow convinced Hiashi to name him Heir. It had to be pretty nerve wrecking; Hiashi is a very hard man to please, or so what I've been told."
Everything was unfolding before her eyes, and she was oblivious to it. Tenten scanned over the woman in front of her, recalling her words and her whereabouts.
This girl knows more than she should., the brunette thought. Perfect...To think that in MGC's perfect plan, a flaw would be in it. Kin.
A light smirk appeared on the woman's face as she leaned forward, hands under her chin as she started to think of how to us this opportunity as an advantage.
She could be nice at first, then slip in a couple of jokes, and then BAM, Kin would think they were friends...
"...do you mind if I ask you something?"
Tenten looked up towards the low voice, staring directly into obsidian orbs that looked into her own. "Yeah...go for it.", she answered, deciding that now would be a good idea to start the 'friendship' process.
Kin let out a deep breath before bowing her head. "...was there anyone...before Neji? I mean, have you ever been with someone other than Neji.", she quickly restated, a slight blush running across her cheeks.
Tenten let out a breath before holding her heart. "I'm flattered, really, but I'm not really...how do I put this - interested in being romantically involved with y - "
"NO, NO, that's not what I mean; I meant are you in love with anyone at the moment - because Neji told me that you were - but t-that doesn't mean anything, I mean if you want to tell me you can, but that doesn't mean that you have to, I'll understand - I mean, I do understand, I did mess up your marriage, so you have every right to ignore me and stuff...and...", Kin paused at the obscure look the woman across from her held before giving her a questioning look. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...he told you w-what?", Tenten squeaked, feeling the beating of her heart in her ears. "Neji told you..."
Kin sighed and slapped her hands onto her face. "I screwed up again. Dammit!"
"Why would he tell you such a thing?", the brunette asked, eyes wild and hands becoming clammy. "Unless you told him something - what did you tell him?"
Kin bit her lips, becoming even more nervous and worried at the bun-headed woman's change in behavior. "I had no choice! He was catching on and - "
Tenten hurriedly grabbed her bag and slid out of the booth. "I should have known better than to trust you. You're still shady as hell!", she spat in anger before looking over at Tenji. "Let's go, Ten!"
"Wait, it's not what it sounds like!", Kin yelled as she scurried after Tenten, who quickly grabbed the younger boy's hand while speed walking to her car, desperate to leave away from the woman.
The brunette turned, fire in her eyes. "Then what is it, Kin? 'Cause it seems to me that you're becoming his little watch dog!"
"Watch dog?!", Kin yelled, a frown replacing her worried expression.
Tenten stepped forward. "Yeah, a watch dog! You only let me see my son so that you can give that bastard an update on what I'm doing! You probably have a fucking wire on you right now!", she yelled, causing Kin to gasp in anger.
"I thought yesterday that you knew my true intentions - I only want to make things better!"
"So spreading my business to Neji is making things better? It's only making things worse!", Tenten gripped her forehead before taking a deep breath. "You know what, I'm not even gonna do this today - not with you anyway.", she stated before unlocking the doors and opening the backdoor for Tenji, who quietly slipped into the backseat with a blank face.
Kin sighed and leaned against the car, a tried expression on her face. "What are you really running away from?"
Tenten whipped around before closing the door. "Running away? Please, sweetheart, you're the last person I'd runaway from; I'm simply removing myself from the situation before it gets ugly.", Tenten responded, sarcasm evident in her voice. "This conversation is done. You can go crawling back to Neji now with your new found information.", she said as she started to get in her car...
"He's madly in love with you, you know?"
The brunette froze.
"He told me that last night. He also told me, in so many words, that no matter how hard he tries to get over you, he can't.", the pregnant woman silently said, watching as the woman before her turned to stare at her with wide eyes. "He said that he loved you so much and that he knew you so well that no matter how hard he tries, you could never love him...because you love someone else..."
"You don't know what you're talking a-about...", Tenten spoke, her voice cracking and her heart cracking as well.
Kin gave a bitter smile. "And now that I think about it, that night at the club, maybe Neji was trying to escape the pain - "
"Shut up.", the brunette spat once again, feeling guilt creep up her chest.
"- from loving someone who could never love him the same way. Maybe he felt used and useless, and thought that sleeping with me was the perfect payback"
Tenten exploded. "Shut up! You don't know what the fuck you're talking about! I would never hurt him! I loved him!", she screamed, trying to push back her tears.
"Are you in love with him?", Kin asked, out of the blue, finally catching the Tenten with her words.
Are you in love with him
Do you love him?
Of course I do...of course..., Tenten said to herself, yet her heart didn't ring and her lips couldn't utter a single word. She couldn't say it...
Don't I love him?
.
.
.
Shikamaru grunted tiredly as he sat slide down the leather seat next to Naruto,who simply acknowledged the Nara with a nod, which threw the lawyer off guard at his peculiar behavior; he had expected a bright grin.
He then noticed that the blond's vividly bright orange suit. "Is that a neon?", Shikamaru said, squinting his eyes in irritation of the bright color.
"Stylist picked it out.", Naruto answered as he yawned and went into the mini-fridge next to his seat.
As the limo pulled off, the Nara noticed how eerily quiet it was and anxiously pulled at his collar of his suit at the dark aura that was coming from the Uchiha, who casually smoked on his cigarette while tampering with his phone.
Troublesome... , he thought, and decided to break the tension. "Where's Neji?"
Sasuke shrugged, not taking his stare off of Naruto, who stared down at his lap with an expressionless gaze. "I don't know. Do you know, Naruto?". Shikamaru involuntarily flinched at the malice that rolled off the Uchiha's words.
"Nope.", the blond opened his can.
Shikamaru glanced up at Sasuke soon after and raised a brow at how hard the Sasuke was staring at Naruto, who was now scrolling through his phone.
He was ignoring Sasuke, which was a major surprise for the Nara.
"You don't seem to know much about anything these days.", the Uchiha mused sarcastically as he started to tamper with some of the rings on his fingers nonchalantly.
"Is there something I'm missing here?", the tension in the air was too much for Shikamaru. "Well?", he watched the Sasuke flicked the ash off his cigarette, still intently staring at Naruto.
"You can't trust anyone in this world. Not even the ones you'd give up everything for."
Shikamaru raised a brow.
"You got that right.", Naruto agreed, still looking through his phone, ignoring the blank stares from the two.
"What the hell is up with you two? Don't tell me you two are fighting again.", Shikamaru sighed. "So troublesome."
Naruto snorted. "Who's fighting? Teme just has a fucking stick up his ass, as usual."
Sasuke smirked and leaned back, although Shikamaru spotted how he balled up his fist, a sign that he was, indeed, upset. Or angry.
"How about you help me take this stick out of my ass then, Naruto.", he said as he stared at the nonchalant blond. "What were you talking about with Hinata last night?" The words seemed force, like he was trying to refrain from letting his anger seep through his words.
What?, the Nara thought with a puzzled expression as he stared at the two. Hinata and Naruto?
Naruto scoffed. "Don't act like you don't already know - I saw one of your lackey's following my ass all night. I'm pretty sure they reported everything to you.", he spat. "Are you gonna get all bitchy and emotional over me just having a short conversation with Hinata? It's not like I tried to fuck her behind your back or anything.", he said the last part under his breath while reaching for the liquor on his side.
"You probably wanted to, but bitched out at the last minute.", Sasuke sneered as he shook his head, a smirk on his face as he rolled the cigarette between his ringed fingers. "Pathetic."
Shikamaru leaned forward once he saw how Naruto tensed up. "Both of you, cut it o - "
"What's pathetic is that you actually think things should go your way and that everyone in the fucking world owes you something..", Naruto smirked. "She's not interested in you, Sasuke. She didn't even want to talk about you last night, much less hear your name."
This wasn't looking good. Shikamaru could already tell by how thick the tension was getting in the limo. Anymore tension and the windows would break, or the driver up front would be startled into pulling over on the side of the rode.
The Nara sat up and pushed his leg out, just in case anything physical started to occur. "It's over. Shut the hell up already - it isn't that serious. "
"You didn't deserve Hinata. She's much classier than all the others you've been with. You're used to being with whores anyway, .", the Uzumaki said.
Sasuke sat back and smirked, though it was obvious by the twitch of his lips and the look in his eyes that he was in distaste of the blond's statement. "And you're used to picking up what I leave behind."
"And boy have I struck gold.", Naruto smirked. "Untouched too. Good job, teme. You managed to do something good for once. It must've been hard."
Shikamaru sighed, knowing that Sasuke was going to blow.
Of course, just Who could forget that night in Paris on the bridge when the Uchiha had confessed that his wife was still a virgin. The first time in a long time that he had confessed something sacred, something that could destroy his image in the media and his family's view of him. Something that made him less of a man in the eyes of his father...
Sasuke's obsidian orbs was washed out with red and his painful words come in the air.
He soon closed his eyes. "Just come to terms with the truth, Naruto. I'm better than you, both you and I know that - practically the whole world knows it."
Naruto froze; Shikamaru could see it.
The blond soon came back from his trance and frowned. "What did you just say?"
Sasuke had him and he knew it.
The one thing that rubbed Naruto the wrong way was being inferior to Sasuke.
"It's always been this way, really. I was always better than you at everything - education, promotions, money, fame, fans, women, just everything. You were always the one to get my sloppy seconds, and I didn't mind at first, but you just became so fucking overbearing in trying to be better than me. I shouldn't be surprised that you would want Hinata, my wife. It's obvious that you just want to be me ."
"BE YOU? YOU! Please, you're really full of yourself, teme! I would never want to be someone like you!", Naruto glared daggers.
Sasuke smirked. "I only kept you around because I felt sorry for you. I was doing you a favor by associating with you to help create your image and all that bullshit. No one cares about you, Naruto. If you think Hinata is in the slightest interested in you, think again - she's just using you to try and hurt me, but you wouldn't know that because you're such a delusional idiot. Without me, you couldn't make it on your own - you'd still be that washed out lonely rich kid trying to fit in. And like I said, the whole world knows I'm better than you - there are blogs and articles out there to support my claim. In the media and in reality, you're nothing but my bitch."
"Sasuke!", Shikamaru yelled. "You went too far.", he reprimanded the Uchiha as he watched straighten out his suit as the intercom in the limo came on to notify that they had arrived.
"This isn't the first time I've had to get rid of someone, and it won't be the last.", Sasuke spat as he started to get out of the limo, but not before looking back over at the blond, who glared at him. "Don't cross my path, Naruto. You'll fucking regret it." With that, he put out his cigarette and exited the limo to be swept up in the lights of cameras and the screams of fans as he stepped on the red carpet with his signature smirk, his face as if nothing had happened.
"That bastard.", Shikamaru said under his breath before he turned to Naruto, whose eyes and face were hard. "Naruto, ignore him. He doesn't know what he's saying- "
"No, he meant every fucking word he said, and you know what, I don't care anymore!", Naruto cursed, his glare hard and cold. "I'm tired of dealing with his shit."
"Look Naruto, Sasuke didn't mean that. He's just being a bitch because of you being with Hinata."
"I DON'T CARE, Shikamaru! And he obviously doesn't either, so I'm fucking through with it.", the blond glared. "I don't have time for his bullshit. My mother is all I can deal with right now. I don't need Sasuke bitching me down because he's all in his feelings and can't decide if he wants Hinata or not. Both you, Neji, and I know that Sasuke is a fucking train-wreck, so excuse me for wanting to leave before he fucking IMPLODES!"
"Explodes, ", the Nara corrected with a sigh.
"WHATEVER!"
Everything was crumbling right before Shikamaru's eyes. All the memories that they all had accumulated together was shattered, gone. He was still dazed by it all; it all escalated so fast.
"Shikamaru."
Said Nara looked up, his eyes dull, but nonetheless nodded. "I understand."
Who wouldn't understand? Sasuke was not the easiest person to deal with. He had trust issues, because he knew he was not to be trusted. He had insecurities, because he was the one who made most insecure. No sane person could deal with him, yet Naruto did because that's just how it was. They were complete opposites, yet they fit so well. They were day and night, yet they could blend in so well together.
Who would have ever known that they would end because they both wanted the moon - Hinata.
"You coming?", Naruto asked as the limo door was opened by the driver, and the bright flashes entered through the vehicle.
Shikamaru sighed. "I need a cigarette.", he muttered, but nonetheless stepped out of the limousine behind the Uzumaki and into the flashing loud sea of people.
However, he couldn't help but that Naruto's grin wasn't the same anymore. It was dull, just as his eyes were.
.
.
The dressing room was loud and frantic, which is how it was expected to be today. It was finally time to start, to show, to pose, to inspire the hundreds of designers and 'very important people' beyond the runway, to hear the screams of the thousands of fans who managed to fit in the building and view the crowded streets of fans that cheered them on from the outside.
Finally it was time.
It was supposed to be exciting, fun, and anxiously depressing at the same time. It was supposed to be a fashion show where you could show off how beautiful and unearthly beautiful you were. You were supposed to feel beautiful. You were supposed to feel like a Handsome Prince or a Stunning Princess.
You were supposed to feel and be a star...
Hinata picked at the vase of roses on the makeup table as she rolled her eyes.
Sure, you were supposed to feel like a star. But you could also feel like a piece of meteorite floating among stars, wondering when you would burn and crash.
"You're awfully quiet, Hinata-san. You Ok?", Haku asked as the makeup artist did his makeup like an artist would on a precious portrait, finding various places to put foundation on him. Why did he need makeup anyway?
Hinata pulled her robe tighter to her body as she spotted a group of models pass by, their long, silky hair blending into a colorful canvas of colors. All beautiful and tall.
Would you still consider me worth falling for...Itachi-nii-san...
"Hinata-san?"
The bluette shook her head."I-I'm fine. Just a bit nervous."
"Well you shouldn't be all too nervous. You did really well yesterday.", he commented as the makeup artist started on his forehead. "Your boyfriend didn't do all that bad either. Where's is he anyway? I didn't see him come in with you."
The first person to pop into her head was Itachi, which caused her heart to beat and her palms to become sweaty. "W-Wah?", she sputtered. "My b-boyfriend?"
"That guy you were with yesterday, the one with the red hair.", Haku said. "You two aren't together?"
"N-No! We a-aren't!", the Hinata's face reddened.
Haku rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, I just assumed since you two looked so comfortable together. And because of what he said yesterday..."
Her blush receeded when the image of the man popped into her head. "Yeah, Sasori and I am pretty close..."
"Is it the kind of close between friends, or is it something more?", Haku quickly asked, making the girl blush even more.
"We aren't dating, a-and I don't think we ever will.", she answered, feeling her heart beat go down as reality started to kick in. "I-I don't think he likes me like that - "
"Do you like him more than a friend?" He looked serious; the light-chatting atmosphere was gone, replaced with an air of interrogation.
Of course Sasori didn't like her – he was only nice to her. They were similar, although he was much more vibrant than she was. They were friends – friends that were just beginning to see how life was with each other. It wasn't anything serious, and she was pretty sure it wouldn't be anything serious. Although he never expressed any feelings of not being interested, based on reality, her reality, he would never go for her. Ever.
But how did Itachi fit into this reality?
She blushed.
Maybe Itachi was just telling her all of that jazz so that it would take her mind off of the depression she was feeling. Maybe he had liked her, way, way , way in the past, maybe when he was a child. Or teen. Or adult, she didn't know. Maybe it had been a childish crush. Something forgettable.
But he forgot to forget about it a long time ago. She didn't' know.
And maybe Sasori became her friend because he knew she needed someone, and he probably felt sorry for her anyway. Maybe he was there to help her, because he knew she would need it. Maybe he had got to know her and she reminded him of something in his past, maybe a friend or maybe a secret sibling. Or imaginary friend. She didn't know.
She sighed. Yes, she wasn't being delusional. Beautiful people didn't fall for her; it's not supposed to be that way. Because she wasn't a beautiful or stunning woman; she wasn't a man's ideal type.
And she didn't think she would ever be. Because she was Hinata Hyuuga.
"You don't have to answer, Hinata-san. You made it very cl - "
The girl gave a nervous laugh. "Haku-san, S-Sasori and I are just close friends.", she said and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She smiled sadly. "We don't know each other that well to go that far."
"Don't you believe in love at first sight?", he teased.
Hinata pondered for a second and looked away from the male. "There's no such thing.", she simply answered.
After that, much needed silence came; the hair-dresser appeared and immediately started on the brunette's head, completely and openly ignoring Hinata as if she wasn't there, like she was merely a shadow next to Haku. Hinata pushed away her negative thought and looked into the mirror before her, analyzing her flaws.
She started to think of what could go wrong; she had been trying to avoid that kind of thinking all day. But with all the models and staff running about in a frantic fit, she could feel all of their anxiousness floating towards her - she could feel the stress of the designers, who stress-fully held needles in their hands in case of any 'slips' or 'tears'; she could feel the anxiousness of the directors, Yamato, as they scurried about, trying to make sure everything was in place. And she could feel the agitated auras of the models who walked around, ready to show Japan, the world who they were and how hard they had worked...
Hinata bit her lip. She didn't deserve to be here; she wasn't good enough.
She glanced over at Haku and noticed how straight-faced he was, how unfazed he was. She held her forehead as insecurity washed over her and left her feeling inadequate.
Just what was she thinking - she couldn't do this. She wasn't a model, she wasn't model-material, and she wouldn't believe it because that's just who she was, who she thought she was.
I can't give up now though., she thought, trying to stop herself from getting cold feet. So many people are counting on me...
With that thought in mind, she sat up in her seat and looked at herself once again in the mirror and gave a shy half-smile to herself.
I don't look too bad... She pulled her bangs out of her face, soon remembering that she needed it to be cut, and unconsciously found herself looking toward the entrance. Where's Ino and Konan?
Hinata wished that she wasn't so curious.
She spotted red-hair,thinking it was Sasori, but quickly received a wake-up call when she saw the sparkly black gown that she adorned, and who she was beside.
It was Sasuke, once again. She was tired of thinking of him; so tired. But, in reality, what girl would really be tired of seeing him, really? What sane woman could stand the thought of being away from him for more than a minute? Especially today, when the spotlight would be on him, when he would grace the people with his presence? Who would not want to be with him; he had it all. He had the looks, the charm, the money, the power, the yachts, mansions, companies, and, most importantly, his group of also very 'important' 'friends'. But there was one thing that Hinata could say and promise that he didn't have.
Love. And that was what wealth really was. And what she had tried to give him.
Hinata watched him through the mirror, analyzing his every move and watching how his entourage followed behind him perfectly in one pack, Suigetsu in the front.
He was beautiful tonight; she'd give him that. He stood perfectly in the middle of his swarming, tightly-packed entourage, making them merely look like a black board. She could practically hear the womens' whispering huddled in a group near the makeup station, eyeing the Uchiha like a pack of wolves.
"Sasuke looks so handsome today."
"He does everyday - he is definitely being nominated as best-dressed in at the end of year!"
" Oh. My. God. He's wearing Kiton, do you know how much that is? Fifty-thousand dollars!"
"He's so rich!"
"He's so elegant. Too bad he still has that dog Karin sniffing behind him. He deserves the best."
"Yeah, he does. He's so perfect!"
"He deserves a diamond by his side."
"He deserves the world..."
Hinata tuned them out, their words like poison. She felt the urge to stomp to the naive and delusional group and slaughter the Uchiha's name with their corrupted past and tell the truth about who Sasuke really was; a spawn of the devil himself. If only they knew...
She balled up her fists.
"We're late.", she heard a monotonous voice state, making a smile cross her face and the thoughts disappear. She turned in her chair and saw her Gothic agent, Konan, dressed in her professional black suit and stilettos.
"Konan.",she greeted with a small smile and looked over to see Temari in a dark suit as well. "Nice to see you again, Temari."
The dark blonde smiled. "You too."
"So the schedule is this - first, a short commentary from our MC of the night, after that a memorial video of the lives lost at the Ritz Plaza and the signing of a song from our 'special' guest. After that an introduction - then it'll really be showtime. Did you get that?", Konan asked while staring at the bluette.
"Y-Yes.", she nodded. "Where's Ino?", she asked as she followed the pair out of the crowded room and down a quiet hall that seemed to be heavily guarded by officers.
Temari glanced back at the bluette before looking forward."Ino decided to follow Kushina-san and my siblings to the show. She figured that it would be better that I come in her place since our time in Paris."
Hinata bowed her head, letting her hair cover her guiltily. "Oh.", she muttered, pondering on what she had done last night.
Maybe Ino had thought she was upset with her...
"Temari and I have been keeping tabs on Uchiha's Spawn throughout the day. We didn't spot any suspicious behavior - other than that trip to the clinic this morning.", Konan commented before taking out a card and unlocking the door, revealing the bright, fluorescent lights of the room. "I know for sure it was botox. She's been giving the same look all day."
The bluette sighed. "Is it really that serious to stalk Hitomi-san all day?"
Temari turned to the girl. "It was Gaara's idea. We thought it very strange that she would want to have you model her line tonight, so we took precautions and set up a few decoys to watch and see if anything out of the ordinary starts to happen."
"Our first and vital priority is to make sure you're as safe as possible tonight, Hinata. Do us a favor and watch your back - you never know when she'll strike.", Konan finished, staring at the nervous girl with sternness.
Hinata crossed her arms and looked around the room, feeling slightly afraid of the agent's words. She didn't know Hitomi well; she only knew her a little from her time at Uchiha Corporation. But what she did know was that Hitomi was also one of the women that Sasuke spent his valuable time with - and judging from her behavior from yesterday, she still wasn't over Sasuke.
So that, to Hinata, meant that she was slightly crazy. Like Sakura and the others.
"I'll go get Hinata's wardrobe from the designers.", Temari said before patting Hinata's shoulder in comfort. "I'll be back.", the dirty blonde turned and opened the door, and came face to face with short male.
He had a vest on, and from what Temari could see, a toupee perched on one side of his head, which made her cringe slightly.
"May I ...help you?", the blonde asked awkwardly, watching him push his chest out, making his toupee slid a bit.
"I'm here to serve Ms. Hyuuga this evening.", the man spoke, his tone loud and deep. "Now please let me by little lady. I have others to tend to, too.", he scurried by Temari and into the room, but stopped and gasped once he spotted Hinata, who stared back at him with wide eyes.
"My goodness.", he spoke, putting a hand over his heart. "I'm absolutely stunned and delighted to be in your presence, Mrs. Uchiha.", he said, his short legs scurrying over to the chair that girl sat in.
Konan stood up and stepped in between the two, her face blank but eyes sharp as she stared down at the man. "And what are you serving Ms. Hyuuga this evening, Mr...?"
The man took the hint and quickly stepped back with a chuckle. "Oh, silly me, where are my manners?", he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a card. "I'm Mr. Fura, one of the hairstylists that will be participating in tonight's show. I'm in no way here to harm Mrs. Uchiha."
"Ms. Hyuuga.", Konan corrected and took the I.D. from him before scanning it. "...Seems legit.", she muttered.
Temari gave a wild look at Konan. "Are you sure?", she asked in suspicion as she held the handle of the door while looking at the back of the mans head; wondered just when the toupee would finally fall off.
Mr. Fura looked back at Temari, anger evident in his small face. "Of course she's sure - If you haven't noticed by now, I'm one of Japan's top hair designers, featured on over twenty broadcasts on television, and have recently just published Japan's top selling book "The Ups and Downs of A-list Hair!", he yelled, his little black box shaking in his hands.
Temari put her hand on her hip and sighed. "Whatever you say, man.",she replied and stepped out of the room in search of clothes, leaving the short man to pout.
Hinata watched as he started to mumble something under his breath as he reached into his bag and pulled out his set of tools.
Konan sat down on the couch in the room and also watched Mr. Fura in his hissy fit. "So how long is this all going to take?', Konan asked as she crossed her legs. "I'm a very impatient person."
"Not long - strangely, all of the designers agreed on one look they wanted Mrs. Uchiha to wear. I would have chosen something a bit more chic; some Italian-styled curls would've been perfect.", he started to brush Hinata's hair soon, making her close her eyes and sigh in bliss.
"Then why not just do the curly thing? You are stylist.", the Gothic woman stated.
He scoffed and looked into the mirror, gazing at Hinata's face in thought. "Designers claim that they have a sort of vision for their models.", he spat and reached into his bag. "They think they know everything because they're designers and people from all over the world crave to touch their creations."
Hinata felt his little hands run through it for a moment before he stopped the relaxing mini-massage.
Konan looked down at her phone suddenly, feeling it vibrate several times before it stopped. She sighed. "This better not be Pein.", she muttered before glancing at them.
The bluette let open an eye and looked into the mirror. "So what s-style am I - "
SNIP!
Her hair fell to the floor.
She couldn't breath.
SNIP!
"Hm. It wasn't Pein.", Konan said. "It was Saso - WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!", the woman yelled like banshee, startling the little man into dropping the scissors.
"What is the matter?!", Mr. Fura yelled while holding his heart at the intense glare the woman was giving him.
Hinata looked at herself in the mirror with wide eyes, not believing what had happened.
"Are you kidding me?! You really have to ask that question!", Konan yelled as she went towards the man pulled off his toupee, revealing his balding head in the bright room.
He gasped knelled to the ground, covering his head in shame. "Please d-d-don't hurt me! I've done nothing wrong, I swear to you! I was only doing my job!"
Konan grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him up. "Hitomi sent you here, didn't she?", she asked in a deadly tone, frightening the man into a ball.
"No, no ma'am! I swear to you, it was on the list I had today!", he quickly pulled out a sheet of paper and opened it up, showing the many names down the list. "S-See! Neck-length bob with bangs! Do you see it?!"
Hinata stared down at the pieces of indigo on the floor, feeling tears fill up her eyes. She didn't have her hair anymore, her shield that protected and hid her from this terrible world.
"Neck-length? She. can't. even. put. it. in. a. PIGTAIL!", Konan screeched, shaking the male back and forth.
The door soon opened, revealing an equally distressed Temari, who dragged a rack of clothes and shoes behind her. "You guys are gonna believe what hap - what happened to your hair?", the Sabaku asked in surprise.
Konan dropped the man and turned to the woman. "What is it?"
Temari sighed and pulled the rolling rack inside and started looking through the clothes "The 'Myoko' brand is too big, the 'Blanco' brand is too fucking tight, and 'Ibisu', Hitomi's line, is ridiculous! All of the outfits are for Vegas Showgirls- Look at this!", she pulled the item off the rack and held it up to herself.
Hinata paled while Konan's eyes slightly widened. Temari nodded, her face still in worry.
It was a sparkly, white bra top and a glittery bottom to match it.
"I-I can't wear that!", Hinata yelled as she stood up, expecting to feel her long hair hit her back, but instead became dizzy from swinging her head.
Temari sighed and threw the dress over on the couch before putting her hands on her hips. "The only thing that fits is Kurenai Sarutobi's."
Konan held her forehead in her hands. "Hitomi must've tampered with some of the designers paperwork last night. Dammit."
So she really is trying to sabotage me...The bluette rubbed the back of her neck and looked back into the mirror.
"We're so screwed.", the agent muttered and looked down at her watch. "We don't even have enough time to rethink this. That bitch is gonna pay."
"What are we going to do then?", Temari fused, her anger showing.
Konan looked up at the blonde. "Taking Hinata out of the show is out of the question. It'll be detrimental to her career in modeling."
"And stopping her from walking for a designer is a no-go as well.", Temari added.
So what do we do?...
Hinata leaned closer into the mirror, admiring her bare ears fully for the first time in years. It reminded her of her childhood when her father would always keep her hair cut despite the Hyuuga Clan's history and custom of long hair. It isn't so bad... She wiped the unshed tears from her eyes.
"I've got no choice but to report this to Gaara then.", Temari groaned, her face etching into a frown. "He's not gonna like this.."
Konan thought about it for a moment before looking down at her watch. She sighed and shrugged, silently agreeing with Temari.
The bluette closed her eyes and leaned against the table.
What other choice did they have?
"WAIT!", Mr. Fura yelled when he saw the blonde pull out her phone. He grabbed his toupee off the floor and dusted it off before setting it atop his shiny head."Don't tell me you all are just going to give up!"
The trio looked at each other before looking down at the man on the floor with blank eyes. He scoffed and jumped up quickly, startling Hinata into moving back.
He marched over to the rack and pulled off an item of clothing. "Most of these items are made with at least 13% of spandex - and although Ibisu's clothes are rather provocative, I'm pretty sure Mrs. Uchiha will look just as appropriate in chic in it as any of the others could!",he grabbed Hinata, ignoring her squeaks, and put the clothing up to her body; he looked to the two women with bright eyes. "See, it's perfect!"
Konan and Temari both glanced over at the elaborate man before they scanned the blushing girl. The agent raised her brow; the Hyuuga looked much younger now - she looked like a young adult more than she did a woman on the brink of divorce. Dare she say that the bluette looked kind of...cute?
"It doesn't look bad.", Konan commented and looked away, not willing to give more than that in fear of ruining her image.
Temari smirked. "Well now that I really look at it, it looks pretty bad-ass. I like it."
Hinata smiled lightly and rubbed her neck. "Thanks."
A rushed knock was heard before the door was opened, revealing Yamato. "We need Hinata-san in the main dressing room to be suited.", he said and paused for a moment when he saw the bluette.
Mr. Fura jumped. "It's almost time? I have heads to perfect!", he quickly grabbed his stuff and rushed out of the room pass the stunned director.
Hinata let out a shaky breath before nodding to Yamato and following him out, Konan at her side and Temari pulling the rack behind her.
She unconsciously gripped the chain around her neck as she followed after the fast man.
Don't assume something will go wrong when it isn't guaranteed...
They soon made it to the boisterous dressing room and made a bee line through the crowd of scampering models. Hinata ignored the looks that were being thrown her way and kept her mind clear of any thoughts or insecurities that may make her nervous.
Don't assume something will go wrong when it isn't guaranteed...
She spotted Sakura then, who was all dazzled up in a sheer, emerald dress with many rhinestones and pearl accents. Her face was stunning; the green made the pinkette's eyes pop, and her long, pink tresses made her look like a princess from some exotic kingdom.
But she was missing something though.
Yamato stopped and bowed. "Good luck, Hinata-san.", he said, and turned to the crowd in the room. "Thirteen minutes before 'Greeting'! I repeat, thirteen minutes.
Temari looked around a minute. "Is there anything else I can do?"
"It's up to the designers and directors now.", Konan spoke and looked over at Hinata. "Got everything under control?"
...do I?
Hinata shook her head, getting rid of the thoughts. "I'm f-fine."
Konan looked her over for a moment before giving her a half-smile. "Prove them wrong."
The bluette smiled. "I'll try.
Konan playfully rolled her eyes. "Let's go get our seats, Temari."
The blonde followed after woman, but not before giving Hinata a smirk and a wink.
The girl watched them leave down the stair and out a small door; she was finally by herself.
And she wasn't freaking out about it.
"Nice cut, Hyuuga. It compliments you well."
Hinata looked to the side and saw the 'lady of the day', the Uchiha-Spawn. She bowed. "Hitmoi-san."
A conniving smile crossed her scarlet lips. "Has everything been smooth, Hyuuga?", she asked, fake concern masking her bitterness.
"You can say that.", the Hyuuga answered with a smile, watching as the redhead gave a quick, meaningless smile herself.
"Are you sure? I heard that some of the female models participating in tonight's show were having wardrobe problems, and ended up with sizes to big for them.", Hitomi informed, her azure eyes shinning in mischief. "I immediately thought of you when I heard of it."
I'm sure you did...
Hinata gave another smile, trying to mask her annoyance. "Rest assured, Hitomi-san, everything is well with me."
Hitomi stared at her for a long second before another smile broke out onto her flawless face. "If you say so, Hyuuga. Just keep an eye out for trouble.", the red-head step forward to the girl, her smile turning vile. " You never know what may happen tonight.", she turned and strutted off, anger evident in her walk.
Hinata shook her head.
God knows she didn't want anything else to unexpectedly happen again tonight; she had already lost her hair over it, literally.
"Hyuuga-san!", a group of women soon came over, wearing 'Matarashi' shirts and carrying various little boxes. "Sorry for taking so long ma'am.", one of them quickly replied as she opened a long black bag, revealing a long, black satin dress that pooled to the floor. The woman turned the dress over, revealing the back of dress. "Matarashi-san suggested that you reveal some skin today, if that isn't a problem?"
Hinata slightly bit her lip. "No, it's okay."
"SEVEN MINUTES!", Yamato yelled. "I need everyone in line."
The women smiled. "Could you please remove your robe, Hyuuga-san?"
Hinata blushed. "R-Right now?" All three nodded simultaneously. "Okay."
Let's get this over with. She let her pride go that night. And she was happy that she did.
She untied her robe and passed it to the women, her cheeks on fire. One of the women quickly bent down and started to pull the dress up, starting from the ankles.
Hinata finally felt it then, the eyes. She didn't have the courage to look up and see the sneaky eyes and glances that were thrown her way. She was nervous, and also glad that she didn't eat any of the food that Kushina had in the fridge last night. The satin material was smooth and slightly ticklish as it went up her skin, and she couldn't help but give a small smile when she felt it come up her sides, and finally, over her strapless bra. She stuck her arms through the thin diamond straps and quickly stepped in the heels that were set before her.
The women stepped back and smiled once again. "It's perfect; simple, yet stunning.", one of them spoke, and pulled out a small brush and gently moved it across the bluette's lips. "A little gloss and you're good to go! Easiest fit of the night!"
Hinata bowed to them. "T-Thank you." She lifted up her dress and started across the room, pushing past several directors and staff.
Two minutes were left and she had yet to be in position. She tried not to panic as she hurriedly went down the stairs and into a dark room before heading up another pair of stairs. Her legs were starting to ache, but she kept on up the stairs where she could see the lights dancing and a beautiful, deep voice signing from above.
She stopped and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the long line of vividly dressed models waiting for the stage. Her face brightened when she spotted a messy head full of red hair in the line, head bowed and weirdly swaying to the music of the performance. Hinata looked down at the silver chain on her neck for a moment before tucking it in her dress and stepping forward.
"You like to make my life hard, don't you?", a voice blew on her neck, making chills go throughout her body.
Hinata covered her neck and turned, her lavender orbs wide with sudden fear. "Sasuke.", she muttered as she glanced up at him before looking away from his spinning eyes. "W-What are you doing back here?"
He ignored her question and looked over her body like one would view an item on display.
She frowned. "What do you want?"
"I don't see what's so special about you.", his voice was harsh and strained.
Break. Him. Hinata glanced up at him, her eyes narrowing. "Really? Well I suggest you get your eyes checked out, Sasuke. They're failing on you.", she sarcastically stated, her eyes unwavering from his stare.
He raised a brow at her in amusement. "Snappy, aren't we? 'New 'Do, New You', huh?", he mocked as he glanced at her hair.
"Courtesy of Hitomi Ibisu herself.", Hinata smiled. "You do remember her, don't you?", she asked, watching as his brow twitched.
Sasuke smirked at her cheekiness, finding it exciting. "How could I forget?"
"Yes, how could you forget - she was one of first few, right? Or, that might've been the other girl...hm... I don't know, there were so many of them that I probably forgot. Forgive me for being so forgetful ~"
She jumped when he stepped toward her and leaned over her, that smirk still on his face. "You're pushing it, Hyuuga.", he whispered, looking down at her body once again.
Hinata scoffed. "And you disgust me, Uchiha.", she said quite loudly and pushed him away, making a few head glance their way. She started to move away, but was quickly caught by the upper arm.
"You need to learn your place, Hyuuga.", Sasuke stated lowly as he glowered at her.
Break. Him.
She looked up at him then, her lavender eyes low and mischievous as she stared into his own."Oh, I know my place, and I know most definitely that it will never be under you. ", she taunted, and snatched her arm away from him in his stunned moment and walked forward, past the lined up group and slide in front of Sasori.
She let out a large sigh and released the anger brooding in her; she had felt her heart speed up due to it.
The song ended on a high-note, a beautiful, soul-wrenching high-note that sent the crowd into a loud round of applause. Hinata clapped softly along with the models back stage, feeling anxious.
"-And now, we would like to present our stunning models of the night! Please give a round of applause!"
Hinata made a smile and picked up her dress, ready to go out. It didn't seem bad, not bad at all -
"I can't hold it in.", Sasori choked out from behind her, and suddenly she hear muffled sounds.
She turned to him, still moving with the line. "What's wrong?", she quietly asked, trying to keep up with the fast-moving line.
Sasori shook his head at her, his face bowed. "M-Maybe I'm misinterpreting what I heard..."
"Tell me.", Hinata whispered.
"Or you just made a sex joke.", he wheezed, covering his mouth.
Hinata froze and turned to him, stopping the line completely. "W-What? You heard what we were saying?"
Sasori stopped his muffled chuckles suddenly."Just that part.", he said, and pushed her out, making her stumble awkwardly onto the catwalk.
And into the view of a hundred designers and hundreds of flashing light and a sea hundreds of thousands of screaming fans.
It would definitely be on television...