Riayu: I feel so loved
Riayu: I feel so loved! I opened my email the morning after I posted and I already had eleven reviews!
Arbela: They like the story, not you, you idiot.
Riayu: You're just upset because no one likes you. I'm your only friend.
Arbela: That's not true. The other muses…
Riayu: No, they think you're too much of a bitch. I'm the only person that talks to you.
Arbela: Right. Thanks for taking my self-esteem and pulverizing it with a sledgehammer.
Riayu: Hey, that's what you get for pointing swords at me. I could have kept you blissfully ignorant of the truth. Then you threatened my life. This is your fault.
Arbela: What about Sharin and Psy? They have to like me! I'm mean to you.
Riayu: They don't like everyone that's mean to me. They have to find other redeeming qualities. But this is getting lengthy. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Cookies for all!
Disclaimer: GUESS WHAT I DON'T OWN! I'll give you a hint, its main character is blonde, annoying, and probably has ADD. That's right, it's Naruto!
Hours with the typewriter, the constant clacking sound playing through his head. He had learned long ago to drown out the sound of his fingers on the keys by putting on headphones and listening to music. Hinata had discovered that if she needed Naruto for something it would probably have to wait until after he was done with one of his writing spells, which seemed to last for two to three hours as a minimum. He said that he often lost his train of thought if disturbed while he was writing. He also said there really was no actual train of thought. He simply fell into a trance, his mind wiped blank as he found the character and dove straight into him or her, getting lost in his or her shoes and letting his fingers record the happenings while he was locked within that person.
Hinata had come to love his writing spells, though, because the minute he was done he handed the latest records of his character's life to Hinata to read for grammatical and spelling errors as well as pointing out plot-holes, flow disruption, and conflictions with other parts of the story, which she had at her disposal as she read. The first day he offered her his material he told her straight out to be as anal-retentive as possible, to point out every little thing she had a question about, even to read aloud so that he could listen for his own mistakes.
So the blonde sat at the typewriter, typing away, his mind lost somewhere as music drowned out the constant clack of the keys so that he could watch his character in peace, or in as much peace as someone can be in when watching a character commit mass homicide. The blonde nearly screamed when someone touched his shoulder. He jerked his headphones out of his ears and looked around wildly, trying to figure out who had touched his shoulder.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Naruto," Hinata said cautiously, looking down at the frantic blonde. "But you been in here for hours, it's almost ten-o'-clock and you haven't moved from that spot. You still need to eat dinner." Naruto nodded as she spoke, turning his music off and standing up, stretching luxuriously then following her out into the hallway. He sat in his seat, thanking Hinata when she put his plate of food in front of him. He was about to shove a large piece of fish into his mouth when he heard a chair slide out.
"You waited for me?" he asked, staring in Hinata's general direction.
"Of course, it would be rude for me to eat without you," she said, her smile reflecting in her voice.
"You're too nice," Naruto scolded, taking a second large bit out of his fish. "One day it might get you into trouble. You're already pretty stuck; staying in a house with a man all alone." He gave her a creepy look, intensified by his blind eyes.
"Weren't you the one who said that even if you tried to rape me you would probably end up in the wrong hole?" the minute she realized what she had said she clapped her hands over her mouth, staring at the blonde for a reaction. For a moment his face was completely blank, as if he didn't quite understand what she had just said, then he gave her a curious look.
"But I said that to Sakura while I was cleaning the bathroom. How did you…?" Hinata's face flamed instantly; she covered her cheeks and averted her eyes instinctively.
"I was about to ask if you wanted help, but you were on the phone. I tried not to listen but…" she trailed off, looking at him helplessly. She felt relief when she saw a small smile bend the corners of his lips, but when he spoke his voice was stern.
"You shouldn't listen in on other people's conversations, Hinata. That might get you into more trouble than being so nice." He sighed dramatically, making a show of it all. "You're completely hopeless." Hinata hid the twinge of pain she felt by laughing. Too many times had she heard people say that to her.
"What were you writing about?" she asked, changing the subject to raise her mood. Naruto noticed the desperate tone instantly, but didn't let on.
"Silla seems to have gotten herself into a lot of trouble. Someone's slaughtering all the people around her in the night, she's afraid she'll be next," he sipped his green tea, waiting for Hinata's response. They often got into heated discussions about his books. They made him feel like a true author.
"Have you figured out who the murderer is?" Hinata asked, picking up her dishes and taking them to the sink, she would was them in the morning.
"I have an idea, but you know how I am with those. It very well could end up being her brother. I'm not really sure yet," he smiled, downing the rest of his tea and handing his dishes to Hinata. He yawned as he stood up, rubbing his eyes wearily. "I'll write some more when I wake up tomorrow. You can read what I have while I'm writing."
"I can read it now, if you like," she offered, setting his dishes in the sink then turning off the kitchen and dining-room lights.
"It's late, Hinata, I couldn't let you stay up any later than you already have on my behalf. Now go to bed," he said, nudging her in the direction of her room.
"Good night, Naruto," she said from her doorway, watching the blonde move easily through the darkness. Even with her sight she couldn't navigate the house with such fluid, unhesitating movements as he did. It sometimes made her wonder if he was really blind.
"Go to sleep, Hinata," he said as he crossed the threshold to his room, closing his door behind him. The weight of the day came crashing down on the blonde as he shed his clothes and slid on a pair of baggy sleep pants, collapsing into bed with a grateful sigh. Itachi hated him now, and for some reason he didn't really care. What he did care about was Sasuke. It was a lot to find out in one day, and from someone you had spoken to only a few times, briefly, and without a kind word exchanged. He thought that over as he slid under the covers, nestling his head in his pillow.
That guy was a complete ass, just like his older brother. So why was he falling for him. So far Naruto had yet to find a single redeeming quality beyond the handsome face, and his hair balanced that out. He found himself wondering if Sasuke was still a virgin and if he would make a good seme. What am I thinking? He asked himself, rubbing his knuckles painfully against his skull to rid himself of the thoughts. If he's anything like his brother he'll be a total prick, even when it comes to sex. He shuddered as the reminder to some of his more painful experiences with Itachi, his muscles clenching protectively in reflex. He eventually drifted into sleep, though his dreams were haunted by Sasuke's face. It was alarming to see it hovering in his subconscious, the face of someone he had never seen. He couldn't even imagine Sakura's face with such clarity.
He woke early the next morning and immediately got into the show, scrubbing himself as if it could rid the memories of the previous day. When he was cleaned he brushed his teeth, wrapped a towel around his waist, and went back into his room. Dried, dressed, and again slave to his typewriter and the character in his mind, he didn't even notice when someone knocked on his door then opened it. He didn't notice the person walk up behind him and read over his shoulder. He probably would have been oblivious for hours if said person hadn't tapped him on the shoulder after a few minutes. The blonde spun around, pulling out his headphones. He expected to hear Hinata telling him breakfast was ready, but instead he heard a very different voice.
"Good morning, usuratonkachi," Sasuke said, the smirk clear in his voice. The blonde paled slightly.
"Teme, what are you doing in my house?" the blonde asked, standing so that the brunette couldn't read the pages sitting on his desk.
"I came to ask for your help again," the brunette said reluctantly. "You can relax, I won't read whatever it is you're writing."
"What do you need my help with this time? Why couldn't you just call like you did yesterday?" the blonde asked, his initial shock fading.
"Because Itachi can't know that we're talking. He thinks that I hate you as much as he does right now. He told me you were making the whole thing up, that they died because they were going out for dinner and there was a hold up. The more I think about it the more ridiculous it seems."
"I think we're getting a little side-tracked," Naruto said, trying to catch the brunette's attention.
"Oh, Naruto, you're up," Hinata walked into the room and stopped, not sure of what to do. Naruto was pressed against his desk and Sasuke was standing rather close to him. They both jumped at the sound of her voice and she felt herself turning a bright red. "I-I d-didn't kn-know you were here, Sasuke," Hinata said, twiddling her thumbs nervously.
"He came to ask for my assistance," Naruto said, smiling at her. "What did you need, Hinata?" he asked kindly.
"I was wondering what you would like for breakfast," she stammered, staring at Sasuke. He seemed furious at the interruption. "Will you be eating with us, Sasuke?"
"He will if he wants my help," Naruto said, smiling. "What would you like for breakfast, Sasuke?" he asked, feigning politeness.
"Western style, if that's okay," he said, giving Hinata a challenging look.
"Right, give me fifteen minutes," she disappeared, closing the door behind her. Naruto spun around and pinned Sasuke with his blind eyes.
"What was that all about? You don't even know her and you hate her?" the blonde asked, taking a step towards him.
"I hated you before I knew you," the brunette pointed out.
"Because I had ruined your brother," the blonde responded. "She has done nothing; you have no reason to hate her."
"Why are you being so protective of her, is she your lover?" Sasuke accused.
"Is it any of your business what she is to me?" Naruto asked, glaring at him. "Or maybe you're jealous?"
"Why would I be jealous of someone who has to spend every day with a total idiot like you?" he asked, glaring at the blonde. Naruto smirked, he loved getting under the brunettes skin.
"I think we're getting side-tracked again," the blonde said, immediately lightening the mood. "What do you need my help with?"
"Beating Itachi," the brunette said, his glare vanishing. "I need your help."
"And how are you planning on beating your brother?" Naruto asked, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms over his chest. Sasuke inhaled deeply, as if he were going to go into a long rant, then stopped. "You've got no clue, do you?" Naruto asked, arching an eyebrow.
"That's one of the things I need help with," Sasuke admitted reluctantly.
"You forfeited you dignity the minute you came to ask me for help. It's no use acting like you're still all you're cracked up to me." Naruto said, pulling away from the wall. "Anything else you want to let me know?"
"I hate you," Sasuke said venomously. The blonde smiled.
"Good to hear. Breakfast is ready," he added, opening the door and leading the way to the dining room where Hinata was setting the table.
"Punctual as always, Naruto," Hinata said with a small laugh. "I just finished cooking it."
"Hinata, could you help us with a small dilemma?" The blonde asked, sitting down at his usual place at the table. Sasuke sat beside him, his stomach churning. The blonde wouldn't tell this outsider his plans…Would he? "We need a way for Sasuke to get revenge on his brother." Of course he would.
"Well that's quite something to accomplish," Hinata said, seemingly unfazed. She sat pour three glasses of juice and set each glass down at their respective places. "I hope that orange juice is okay, Sasuke." The brunette nodded.
"Well," Hinata said after a pause where she sat down and situated herself. Sasuke noted that she seemed much more comfortable than she had minutes before. He was beginning to wonder if maybe she had poisoned the food. "It's actually pretty simple. Take the thing he cherishes the most. Take it then rub it in his face. Get your name out there, become someone everyone reveres." Naruto, who had a forkful of eggs half-way to his mouth stopped. Never before had he heard Hinata say such a thing.
"Hinata, are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry. That was a little intense, wasn't it? Well, you know how I am with my family; I'm still trying to prove myself. It's hard, though, with the business. I'm no good with scouting for talent. Not the way they are."
"Who says you have to be like them? You could do it your own way. You've already found one person to get out to the world," Naruto said, smiling widely.
"True," Hinata said, nodding. "We do have a publishing branch. But technically I'm not part of the business, so I can't take you there as me referral."
"Neji already came up to me and asked if I would consider working with the company. I told them that I was sticking by your side and if they didn't employ you they wouldn't get my work."
"I think I'm missing something," Sasuke said, looking between the two of them. "What the heck is going on?"
"I'm an author. Her family owns a multi-talented agency for actors, musicians, authors, artists, that sort of stuff. Her family thought she would be a failure because all of the people she brought in ended up flopping or causing law-suits, so she doesn't work for the company anymore."
"Back up," Sasuke said, still staring at the blonde. "You're an author?"
"What do you think I was writing in my room, my diary? That's my next book. I've got about twelve of them that aren't published, and two that are."
"And your family owns an agency?" Sasuke asked, looking at Hinata. She nodded.
"Hyuga Productions," Hinata said. Sasuke was silent.
"Now who's an idiot?" Naruto muttered. "Your brother has both of my books in your library, I guarantee it."
"You use a pen name?" Sasuke asked, his stomach turning cold.
"Yeah, Sotsuki Tenkuu." Sasuke swallowed hard. "You read my books, didn't you?"
"Yeah," Sasuke said, taking a huge gulp of his juice.
"You poor soul. Those books are not for the faint of heart. But you liked them, didn't you?" Naruto said, laughing.
"Uh-huh," Sasuke said, taking another gulp.
"Have you figured out what you're going to do to beat Itachi?" Naruto asked, taking a bite of toast.
"Exactly what Hinata suggested. I have to go," Sasuke said, pushing his chair back and rushing out of the house. There was a small laugh from Hinata as she stood up and cleared the table.
"This is going to be interesting," she said.
"Why did you tell him to become famous? How is that going to help him beat Itachi?" Naruto asked, finishing his juice then carrying his glass and plate to the sink.
"You didn't know? Itachi is the lead guitar and vocalist in a local band. My family is considering them," Hinata said, filling the sink with water and soap. "And if he's anything like his brother, his voice and skill will be amazing."
"Hinata, have I ever told you before that you're a genius?" Naruto asked, standing and staring at where he thought her back was.
"No, but I'm sure you've thought it before. Now we just have to wait for him to find some members for his band and we'll see how they develop."
"I wouldn't be surprised if he stole Itachi's members right from under his nose," the blonde said, walking out of the kitchen and off to his room to do some more writing. The last to days had provided more inspiration than he had ever experienced.
Arbela: Well someone was in the mood to write.
Riayu: Yeah, well, I couldn't stay away from it. I just suddenly kept getting ideas. But I was a little stuck with how Sasuke was supposed to beat Itachi. It still feels flimsy to me.
Arbela: You doubt yourself too much. Don't you have something to say to your readers?
Riayu: Huh? Oh yeah. Thank you for reviewing, I love reading them! Which reminds me, some of you have some cool questions. Skyinthenightslove, you're questions are wonderful, and they actually made me think a few chapters ahead (which I almost never do) But I can't answer any of those questions because it would ruin the suspense. Ivvy-sama, I think that Sasuke has magical hair. He doesn't load it with gel and even when it gets longer it stays in duck-butt formation. So, unless Itachi used lots of gel, I think it would look different.
Arbela: You couldn't just PM them?
Riayu: Coulda woulda shoulda, but I didn't. Two more things. How many of you think Naruto should get his sight back? Your responses may or may not change how the story turns out, but I would like to know your opinions. And candy for all! Tosses out various candy boxes
Arbela: You are such a weirdo.
Riayu: Don't forget to thank Arbela for instilling amazing writing urges upon me!