Guess who has a 3000 word essay due tomorrow? This one! Guess who also hasn't started their 3000 word essay that's due tomorrow? Ffffff…

Thank you to the lovelies who reviewed, they're the chocolates and inspirations of fanfiction and appreciated more than words.

Chapter 11 - Bullseye

They lead me out of the white room. Four men and women dressed in all white clothing. They say nothing to me, only hand me some white clothing of my own and wait for me to get dressed. I ask endless questions, but my words are met with silence.

"Who am I?"

"Where am I?"

"What am I doing here?"

"Who are you?"

"What's happening to me?"

They take me to an indoor firing range and guide me towards a booth. One of the men wordlessly hands me a handgun and I hesitantly take it, despite my gut begging me not to. The metal is cold and harsh and foreign and dangerous and heavy and I don't want it there.

"Shoot," the man tells me, nodding at a target, and I'm shaking like he's slapped me.

"How?" I ask, the question dropping into the chasm between us, and he narrows his eyes at me. He takes the gun from me and I flinch. I'm frightened but I don't know why.

He does a quick, silent run through of the mechanics and then shoots the target: a bullseye. "Now you," he says, and hands the gun back to me.

My fingers are clumsy and I nearly drop the gun I'm shaking so hard, but I manage to get the gun eye level. Breathe, take aim, squeeze the trigger.

Bullseye.

Neji drags me back to the Hyuuga mansion before I can even think about leaving, and I mentally brace myself against the tirade that is sure to come. Or, rather, brace myself against the grilling that's sure to come. They're not difficult, just annoying. I feel like a broken record, repeating myself over and over again, singing the same old tune and they never fucking listen to it. It's annoying as shit.

Probably part of their plan though. Sick bastards.

Neji leaves me in a locked room with nothing but a bottle of water for four hours. Four. Fucking. Hours. I want to kill something. Or someone. Preferably Hinata. Then myself.

Then, right on cue, right before I go completely insane, Neji re-enters the room.

"Nice of you to show up, I was starting to miss you," I seethe from behind clenched teeth, sarcasm dripping from every syllable. Neji doesn't look at me as he sits down opposite me, and I roll my eyes. How infuriating. "So where were you?"

He finally settles annoyed eyes on me, as if his withering glare could melt me from existence. I'd be lying if I said I was disappointed that it didn't. "I was researching you," he says in reply. "I don't like you. That's not a secret. I don't trust you, and my gut tells me you're bad news. But Hinata likes you. She doesn't trust you, but she must be able to sense some good in you. That, and, you pulled her from the path of a truck, so I suppose some thanks are in order. You won't get them from me, but know you have the Hyuuga's gratitude."

"And what does gratitude buy me?" I ask before I can stop myself.

"Your job," he replies curtly.

"But this leaves me in some sort of predicament," Neji continues. "I could fire you – and believe me, I want to – but that would also require informing Hinata. That wouldn't work for two reasons. She would be extremely upset by that, for starters. She's under enough stress already, and quite frankly I want to avoid upsetting her further. But secondly, and more importantly, Hinata can be rather… pig-headed when she wants to be. You wouldn't know it, looking at her, but if she wants to prove a point then you can bet she will. If I were to fire you then she would do something stupid just to punish me for it, and that would mean that she's putting herself in danger and, well… it wouldn't work. Unfortunately."

He sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger, like he's trying to force himself to keep talking, despite desperately not wanting to.

"I could leave you down here in the foyer, but what's to stop Hinata from sneaking away again to see you? She's already proven that she can do it, and I can't physically guard her any more than I already am. She's bored, and as much as I try to reassure her, I can't convince her that I can keep her safe. Because I already failed to do that. But she feels safe with you. Probably because you succeeded where I failed, as much as I hate to admit it. You've already saved her life before."

There's a bitter edge to his voice that he doesn't bother to hide. Annoyance, frustration that he's been reduced to this.

"Your history checks out. You were born twenty-one years ago at Konoha Hospital, but were given up for adoption shortly after. You were never adopted out, and were bounced around through foster homes. You weren't abused, you just never fit any of the families. Can't say I blame them, you're a pain in the arse, but whatever. You were a B grade student, not dumb but not especially talented. You dropped out in eleventh grade and made it into the army reserves. They pulled you in to line, somewhat. The best amongst your comrades in shooting, not a whole lot of rebellion. You did what you were told. You finished and you were given the option of going to war. Why didn't you, again?"

I shrug. "Didn't want to fight for a rich man's greed. I never wanted to go to war. Just wanted some kind of purpose. Wanted to belong somewhere, I guess."

He's looking at me through narrowed eyes. "Right. Well, night before your mates went away you got blind drunk, apparently, and got that moronic tattoo on your forehead. You came back to Konoha a month and a half ago, pulled the Heiress to the Hyuuga Clan from the path of a truck, and got a job as a security guard here. You are completely unexceptional, and I suppose that I should be relieved by that, but you still unsettle me."

"Maybe you're just looking for a reason to dislike me," I offer, and that gets an amused huff of air from him. Not a laugh, not a smile, but it's not disdain, so it's a start.

"Maybe," he agrees. "But either way, I can only think of one way to solve this problem you've given me. Hinata agrees, Tenten agrees, and Hiashi agrees, so I'll give you my offer and you can do with it what you will. You'll start guarding Hinata's floor. You won't be a personal guard to her, but you will help Tenten and I provide her with security. You answer only to Tenten or I. No one else. Not even Hinata. You won't get a raise out of this. The hours will be longer and you'll be required to do more. You will have to stay here some nights. You do nothing without mine or Tenten's express permission. You are not guarding Hinata. You are guarding her floor. But this way she won't go running off somewhere crazy just to spite me. If she decides to see you she can. I am her guard, but she's a human being. I can't control her. I just want to keep her safe, and unfortunately it looks like keeping her safe requires having you in the picture. So there's my offer, what do you say?"

He looks at me expectantly, waiting for a fight. He's practically panting for one, the skin around his neck bristling with anticipation. Probably looking for any excuse to hit me, and while I'm certainly tempted to give him one, I won't push my luck.

I've just been given the key to getting closer. A huge leap forward in my task. I was wondering how the fuck I was going to get close enough to get her alone, and now the opportunity has been handed to me on a silver platter. But still, I'm suspicious. It can't be that easy, can it?

"What's the catch?" I ask, not trusting him.

"The only catch is that you get to be a greater thorn in my side. And that's more a catch for me, not for you. You're welcome to say no, I can't force you to accept this, and quite frankly it'd be a lot easier for me if you'd say no. Maybe Hinata wouldn't actually bother with you if she thought you didn't give a fuck. So you can take the offer or you can leave it, I honestly don't care. But it's there if you're interested."

He leans back in his chair and folds his arms over his chest, watching me quietly, waiting for my answer. And I look like I'm thinking it over for a second. Can't seem too eager, that'll arouse even more suspicion.

"Longer hours means I'll get paid more, right?"

"I said you wouldn't get a raise."

"Hourly rate raise. But overall I'll paid more because I'll be working more hours, right?"

He waits for a moment. "Yes, I suppose."

I look like I'm thinking it over a bit longer, weighing up the pros and cons, mirroring his position just to piss him off, and I match his stare. "Fine, I'll take the job," I tell him. "Now can I go?"

Neji inclines his head towards the door, and I leave as quickly as possible.

I intend to have some more GaarHina interaction next chapter, so yay!

And now to get back to my essay… My degree will be finished in a week though, so that's a positive. If you could spare a review I'll send you all the love, lovely people. And if you happen to favourite, a review would mean the world.

Love and thanks, Alia xoxo