Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any aspect of it, it all belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

A Scarlet Exchange

Hinata woke up before the alarm clock even went off, she lifted up in bed and rubbed her eyes furiously. She glanced over at her clock, the clock read 7: 00 am, Hinata stared at the bold red numbers plastered against the black backdrop screen. She contemplated whether she could fall back asleep for thirty more minutes. Not being able to resist the temptation, Hinata laid back in bed and threw the covers over her head. She closed her eyes, expecting to fall back asleep but it didn't come. Instead, she found herself just lying in bed with her eyes close and she pouted. Hinata knew there was no way she could go back to sleep, she was just trying to psyche herself, there was too much she had to do.

She pulled the covers off of her and reached over, tuning off her alarm clock. Hinata grabbed a sunflower printed small booklet off her nightstand and opened it up. She scanned for the current day and when she found it, there were four different things listed. The first three of them were completing cake decorations for two weddings and a birthday at the bakery she worked for and the fourth was to do her photo shoot with Kurenai.

She closed her book and chewed on her lower lip. She was normally not so organized in fact she was always rushing out the door and often times, her boss at the bakery and Kurenai would have to remind her of what she was doing that day. Working two different jobs, one as a cake decorator and the other as a lingerie model for Jiraya's magazines could get quite hectic and overwhelming so to alleviate some of the stress (as proposed by Kurenai herself) Hinata bought herself an agenda.

She owed Kurenai, her life had gone much smoother with the agenda. Hinata didn't know what she would do without Kurenai, she was always looking out for her.

She climbed out of bed and sauntered to the kitchen. Hinata grabbed a bag of cat food from underneath her sink and then opened up her front door. A Japanese Bobtail looked up at her, a light blue bowl was in front of it and she giggled. She took a scoop of food and poured it into the bowl. The Japanese Bobtail meowed with its tail swooshing from side to side as it began to devour its meal.

"Good, Kobo." Hinata smiled warmly and then closed her door.

The cat had been her former next door neighbors who left it and she couldn't bear to see any living creature go hungry so Hinata bought some cat food. Ever since then, the cat always showed up to her door early in the mornings and after a while, she named him Kobo.

Hinata sat the food on the kitchen counter and then started to get ready for the day. Her apartment was medium sized and sat on the top floor, it was away from the city and the affluent part and resided in more of the suburban area. Her father and cousin with his wife Tenten lived in the richest part of Konoha but Hinata lived by herself.

She had been living on her own for two years, Hinata left the Hyuuga estate as a symbolic way to pave her own path. She was not a rebellious woman but she didn't want to always live in her father's shadow. Of course, this didn't settle well with her father and it all began with her decision to purse a degree in Culinary Arts at Konoha Arts College, having a daughter as a cake decorator was not Hiashi's idea for his daughter but it was Hinata's passion. She knew when she first told him about it, he would be disappointed with her but she was used to it. She could never live up to the high standards of her father ever since she was a preteen.

But, she told him. He stated to her that she could go purse it but not under his roof because he was not going to fund her "hobby" and of course, this hurt Hinata. So, she left the Hyuuga estate because it was what she really wanted and she had never chased after her wants. Always, she had put them aside to please her father, she knew he thought she couldn't make it on her own and she moved out, perhaps to make a statement.

She still in kept with her father but they were always short conversation but unlike her father, Neji was fully supportive of her educational decision. She talked to Neji often but lately not as much since he had just gotten married to his longtime TenTen and the couple were expecting their first child.

Hinata got her degree and landed a job at Konoha's bakery. She made a decent amount of money working as the head cake decorator for all occasions.

After Hinata took a shower, she put on white lace top with a lavender ruffled skirt and a pair of lavender flats. She brushed her hair quickly and then pulled out a container of okonomiyaki and brewed a pot of barley tea. Once it was finished, she sat on the couch and pulled out a book.

When she was done, she grabbed her beige colored flower purse and grabbed her keys out of the bowl where she headed for work.

Hinata walked into Konoha's Bakery about thirty minutes early, it smelled like fresh sweets and bread and Mayumi perked up at her.

"Good morning, Ms. Hinata!" she said with a cheerful smile. Hinata smiled back at her warmly, Mayumi was the cake baker and always complimented Hinata whether it was the way she formed flowers or the way she made swirls on a cake.

"M-morning." Hinata greeted. She walked over to Mayumi, sitting down her purse and tied an apron around her body.

"Are you ready for to finish these cakes?" Mayumi asked curiously as she swirled around in her chair. Hinata nodded.

"I think I am going to m-make some of the f-flowers roses and the other lilies blue." She suggested. Mayumi tapped her chin, pondering it and then grinned.

"Sounds like a great idea." Hinata worked on all three cakes. She had to get them all done by today, the cakes were due for pick-up by the owners so Hinata was glad to have Mayumi with her. She had a ton of decorations to do.

"W-what kind of cake should we make today?"

"How about chocolate mousse cake?" Mayumi proposed. "We have the ingredients for it."

"T-that is a great i-idea." Mayumi turned red in embarrassment.

"Thank you, Ms. Hinata"

"H-how about I add chocolate like sticks m-made with icing on the top."

"Sure." Hinata always arrived thirty minutes later at the bakery because Hinata was also in charge of cakes that were displayed for anyone to eat so she had to bake one for the day.

And soon Hinata and Mayumi danced around one another as they maneuvered about in the kitchen, Hinata decorated the cakes and Mayumi made up the mix for the chocolate mousse cake. They switched roles every ten minutes because the chocolate mousse cake had to be out as soon as the bakery opened.

The chocolate mousse cake was done about five minutes before the bakery was to open (thank kami) and she put it outside in the glass case.

This is how it went every day for her and she didn't mind, she liked to be busy. Hinata heard the influx of customers throughout the day, she heard their praises for the presentation of the cake which made her chest swell with pride.

She finished decorating the cakes by the end of the day and then headed for her job as a lingerie model.

XXXX

Sasuke smirked to himself, he could hear the screams of women just for him and the curtain pulled back. He walked out in leather pants, the pants were tight and accentuated his lower regions. The girls whispered, holding up their money and begging for him to give them a dance. The pants settled low on his pelvis, his upper torso was completely exposed revealing his chiseled chest covered in all kinds of scars. He had black tomoe tattoo on his neck and a snake was wrapped around his upper arm. He tipped his black hat at some fawning girl causing her to faint and he chuckled. This was how it went every time he walked out on stage, the girls didn't care about the other male strippers only him.

He knew that the other workers didn't like it but he didn't give a fuck. The owner had no problem, it made his strip club one of the hottest ones in town. He was like candy to these women and hell, they paid him pretty good money. Every late afternoon he made on average about two hundred bucks a pop those were numbers he would take. Sasuke eyed one woman who was not screaming instead just looking at him with a lust filled expression. She had on a very short strapless red dress, her bosoms nearly popping out and matching red heels. She wasn't even throwing money at him.

He could easily break her though and took it as a challenge.

The Uchiha gave a couple of women dances, his eyes never leaving her and they stuffed money in his pants. She leaned back, licking her lips and then beckoned to him with her index finger.

Sasuke sauntered up to her, she reached out her hand and ran it down his chest. He growled lowly, she shifted in her seat and patted her lap.

"I want a lap dance." She ordered. He scowled, not liking to be ordered in any way and grabbed her hips. He danced, pressing himself up against her occasionally and her eyes widened. He then watched them roll back in pleasure, he watched her reach inside her dress in search for her money.

She pulled out a hundred dollar bill, reaching in between them and pulled down the zipper of his pants, stuffing it in there.

"Thanks for the dance." She said with a wink. Sasuke let go of her, zipping his pants back up and headed for the other women wanting for him to dance. Being a male stripper was something that Sasuke really didn't mind, he didn't have some boss breathing down his neck and he wasn't slaving for one neither. He did what he wanted and when he wanted, it was perfect for him.

But, not only did he work at the strip club but he did all kinds of parties from bachelorettes to wild ones. Sasuke did have limits to how much the women he danced with could do, the music was loud in his ears, his round lasted for about an hour and when he was finished some women were complaining about how he didn't even give them attention. Those were the ones he knew would be back the next day.

He walked outside to take a break, lighting up a cigarette and took a puff. He closed his eyes and found the smoke to be quite relaxing.

"Man, I don't know how you do it." His eyes shot open, landing on a fellow stripper who was grinning at him. He gave him the coldest look he could muster and pursed his lips. The fellow stripper didn't get the hint to leave him alone. "I wish I had as many girls screaming for me and I bet they are same way in bed."

Sasuke didn't answer him.

"Not much of a talker are you?"

"Shut up." He said curtly. "And let me enjoy my cigarette." He put his hands up in front of him.

"Alright man. Sorry, damn." Sasuke stared at him hard awaiting for him to say something else but he didn't. He took another puff of his cigarette, trying to settle down the growing agitation arising in him. The truth was none of the women Sasuke danced with at the club ended up in his bed, sure a couple of them had given him blow jobs but it never went any furtherer than that contrary to popular belief. He would not allow himself to bed with one of those floozies, no he had higher standards.

Sasuke's phone rang in his pants and he flicked his cigarette. He pulled it out and slid over the key.

"Hello?"

"Ah yes, is this Sasuke Uchiha?"

"And you are?"

"My name is Sakura Haruno and a couple of my girls and I were looking for your services after our party."

"What time?" He questioned.

"About eight o'clock." She answered rather confidently.

"I will be there just text me the address." Sasuke stated. "And will you be paying in cash or check."

"Cash."

"Alright, for how long?"

"As long as it takes."

"I see. I'll be there." Sasuke hung up the phone and no more than he did, she texted him the address. He could see it was going to be a long night.

XXXX

The place for her photo shoot was not too far from the bakery and as soon as Hinata walked in, Kurenai laughed at her.

"You have icing on your cheek." Hinata squeaked, wiping her cheek quickly and Kurenai beckoned for her to follow.

"Come on, let's get started on your photo shoot shall we?"

"Un." Hinata was led to a room with a bunch of cameras and a bed was off to the side. There was a rack of lingerie that she would be modeling, Hinata got ready for her photo shoot, putting on the lingerie and messing up her hair.

Kurenai was her agent but Jiraya was Kurenai's boss and the one she gave the photos to. Hinata got paid by Jiraya himself usually by checks.

Hinata ran her hand through hair disheveled indigo tresses, she had on a see through night grown, the night grown itself was white but her bra and underwear were black. Kurenai snapped the picture and smiled at her, holding a thumbs up. Hinata nodded, returning her same smile and she bent down, bunching up the end of her night grown as if she were going to lift it up. The camera snapped again and she struck another pose.

She tried on another set of lingerie, it was quite revealing with the top cut out where you could see her breasts and the bottom see through. Hinata climbed into the bed to cover herself. She could feel her heart pounding but in a way it was exhilarating. She pulled the covers onto her nude body but enough to where someone could see as much lingerie as possible, settling the sheets where the lingerie stopped and bare breasts began. The sheets were cold, making her buds harden and they could be seen through them. She bunched up the covers to her inner thighs, allowing just lingerie to show but nothing more. Hinata let her head dangle off the bed and look at the camera. Her hands rested on her pelvis. Kurenai took a couple of more pictures in that position and her final lingerie was red colored and it hooked at the underwear and breast cups. Hinata laid on the bed, throwing one leg up and allowing the other to dangle off. She threw back her head and popped herself up on her elbows. Kurenai snapped a few more pictures.

"H-how did I do?" Hinata asked, curiously as she covered herself in a silk robe.

"Amazing as always." Kurenai said in a warm tone. "I will need to send these to Jiraya as soon as possible. He has been on me about getting new pictures of you."

Hinata giggled.

"This is his new line of lingerie and he wants a section completely devoted to you."

"Oh." She mouthed. According to Kurenai as told by Jiraya, Hinata was the most popular lingerie model for his magazines and it was all attributed to her slender waist, milky white skin, ample breasts and doe eyes.

Jiraya had several lingerie stores in Konoha, he also owned several "toy" stores and had magazines that ranged from advertisement to pleasure. Hinata had heard there were advertisements for his sexual toys and that the pleasure magazines featured demonstrations on how to use them with completely nude men and women doing everything to enhance ecstasy.

Just thinking about it made Hinata's face turn ten shades of red and she tried to rid herself of the thoughts.

Kurenai always made sure that Hinata got the most covered lingerie and if she did get something that was too revealing, always had Hinata in the bed or with a sheet to cover herself up. Hinata could have never pictured herself doing something like this before but certain circumstances led her to it.

When she left the Hyuuga estate, she got herself an apartment and went off to school all on her own savings.

However, her savings was completely depleted within the first half of the semester and she found herself in debt about the third semester. She could never ask her father for money, it would only prove his point that she couldn't survive on her own. She had taken so many student loans, had to pay it back with double the interest and the rent was climbing, Hinata could barely pay her bills as it was. She tried to get a second job but it was not nearly enough money. So at her wits end, Hinata was approached by Kurenai one day at a café and gave her Jiraya's card.

Desperate Hinata took the opportunity, knowing it was going outside of her comfort zone and promised herself she would just do it till everything got paid off. But, when she started modeling lingerie, she found herself enjoying the thrill of it, it made her feel beautiful. She got out of debt in a week because the modeling career paid rather handsomely and it allowed her to move into a better apartment.

She was able to live comfortably. .

Hinata didn't tell Neji or any of her family about what she had been doing on the side apart from her cake decorating career, she could only imagine what would happen if they did ever find out. The pleasure and advertisement magazines sold were private, Jiraya operated privately within small businesses so she didn't have to worry about one of her family walking by and seeing her on a poster.

As she put on her clothes, Hinata felt her phone ring in a sweet tone, the caller ID read Sakura Haruno and she answered.

"H-hello?"

"Ino and I are having a party about seven o'clock tonight and the after party starts at nine o'clock. Want to come?"

"S-sure. Where?"

"My house." Sakura informed.

"Okay."

"See you then, oh and I'll pick you up. I owe you one from when we went shopping the other day." Hinata giggled at how excited Sakura was and she hung up the phone. Sakura lived about twenty minutes away from Hinata and she was currently in and on and off again relationship with Hinata's ex-boyfriend, Naruto. Hinata didn't mind being around Sakura, it didn't make things awkward because of the fact and they really didn't talk about Naruto to one another to keep that awkwardness at bay.

Hinata went home, grabbed a bite to eat and freshened up before Sakura arrived. When Sakura arrived, she beeped the horn and Hinata walked out. Ino was in the passenger seat and she hugged Hinata as soon as she saw her.

"You look cute." Ino said with a wink. Hinata turned red at the compliment, Ino hopped in the back and she climbed into the passenger seat.

Sakura had on a dark denim mini skirt with a pair of pink high heels and a pink spaghetti strap top. Ino wore a pair of high cut shorts with a tube top.

Ino and Sakura liked to party at least once a week and Hinata had fun at them but they tended to get wild, she left when it got that way. When they go to Sakura and Ino's home, music could be heard from the outside and there was a line of cars parked on the side.

Hinata could see already this party was going to get wild, fast.

And within thirty minutes into the party, the alcohol started to be served and Sakura claimed that there was going to be some form of entertainment.

Hinata wondered what it would be.

XXXX

Sasuke arrived at the home in a black mustang as cars were leaving, he cocked an eyebrow and climbed out. He had on a pair of dark denim jeans with a black shirt but underneath was the same leather pants that he wore at the strip club. He walked up to the home and knocked on the door. Some pink-haired girl answered the door, her eyes became wide as she looked him up and down and her cheeks turned red.

"Are you Sakura Haruno?" He asked, rolling his eyes.

"Yes." She said, licking her lips. A blond-haired girl knocked her out of the way and she looked at him seductively.

"Damn, Sakura is this the stripper? He is fucking hot." Ino said with a wink. Sasuke found himself getting impatient.

"Where do you want me to preform my service?" He could see that the girls were clearly intoxicated and he could already tell his service wouldn't be here for too long. He walked into the room and Sakura shouted.

"Girls, gather around in the living room. We have company!" Sasuke's eyebrow twitched, he found the girls voice to be rather annoying. He followed her to the living room where a group of girls looked at him with lust fill eyes and he smirked at the sight.

This was easy.

However, his eyes rested on an indigo-haired girl who was standing against the wall, shyly and she looked at him, surprised. He stared at her intently, she seemed different from the other girls in the room and she was kind of cute.

Their eyes met, her cheeks turned red and she tucked her hair behind her ear, turning away.

"Come on, Hinata. I want you to get in on the action." Ino said sitting down on the couch.

"W-what's going on?" Hinata asked. He watched her eyes dart between him and her friends.

"You'll see." Sakura said, holding up her glass of wine. She walked over to her purse, pulling out a wad of bills and handed it to them. Sasuke took the money and Sakura began to turn on music.

Sasuke began to take off his clothes as whoops and hollers for more filled the room quickly. He glanced over at Hinata, it looked almost as if she were about to faint and walked out of the room.

He had to admit he was a little disappointed.

XXXX

Hinata had to walk out of the room to not faint, she could have never anticipated the entertainment that Ino and sakura were talking about was a stripper. She shook her head and tried to settle her nerves. However, she couldn't deny that he was incredibly handsome and felt a sort of electricity run down her spine when their eyes made contact. She decided to stay in the room as they had their fun and afterwards would ask Sakura to take her home.

She didn't know how long she waited but her attention was caught when she heard the stripper cursing.

"Fuck this I'm leaving." There were burst of giggles coming some girls but Sakura and Ino were pleading for him not to go.

"We paid you for an hour."

"And I got my money." Sasuke stated.

"Fine, then we don't need you." Ino spat. Hinata got up, looking around the corner and saw Sasuke storming down the hallway. He was putting back on his shirt, their eyes met once more and he scowled. She watched him walk out the door and slam it behind him. Hinata sauntered over back to the living room and could see that Ino and Sakura had clearly had too much to drink.

"Well, girls looks like party is over." Sakura said with a bit of disappointment. The girls let out an "aww" and they started to leave. Ino was sprawled out on the couch, rubbing her temples. Hinata could see they had had a little bit too much to drink and she didn't want them to run the risk of driving her home.

"I'll c-call a taxi to drive me h-home." Hinata proposed.

"I'm so sorry, Hinata." Ino apologized.

"I-it's okay." Hinata said waving her hand dismissively. "I-I will c-call you in the morning."

"Sorry." Sakura reiterated. Hinata giggled, shaking her head and she pulled out her phone. She walked outside to dial a taxi but stopped when she saw Sasuke leaning against his black mustang, smoking a cigarette. She almost squeaked, her face turning red once more and she hid her face behind her hair.

She held up the phone to the ear but caught sight of him staring at her.

"If you trying to call a taxi they are closed now around here." He stated. Hinata pursed her lips and hung up her phone.

"I-I'm really sorry about whatever h-happened."

"Tch Whatever. I got my money." Sasuke said smugly. There was a silence exchanged between the two. "Need a ride home?"

XXXX

Sasuke bit back a chuckle as a baffled expression came across Hinata's face.

"Oh, t-that is too much."

"So walk home then… in the dark." Sasuke said as he snuffed out his cigarette. He walked around to the driver's seat and Hinata walked up to his car.

"I-I live about t-twenty minutes from here though."

"You want me to or not?" He snapped. Hinata jumped and nodded.

"Y-yes, please. Thank you, Mr.…"

"Sasuke Uchiha, just call me by my first name." Sasuke opened up the car door and Hinata got in.

XXXX

Hinata was nervous about the car ride, she didn't exactly know this guy but she had a pepper spray in her purse. He didn't seem like a bad guy though.

"What is your address?" Sasuke asked, pulling up his GPS. Hinata gave him her address and he drove off. The car ride was silent, she fumbled with her skirt and she looked up at Sasuke. She took in the tattoos he had on his body and found face heating up.

"Ano…." Hinata began. "I-I like your tattoos, Sasuke." She knew it was an odd thing to say. Sasuke looked at her and snorted.

"Thanks." His lip twitched into a smirk. She arrived at her apartment in no time.

"T-thank you." He shrugged once again and Hinata got out of the car. She turned around, waving another goodbye shyly and then walked up to her apartment.

XXXX

Sasuke drove off as soon as he saw Hinata going up the stairs, his car smelled like her, it was sweet and intoxicating. He got home to his own apartment and ran his hands through his hair. He couldn't get Hinata off his mind, he wouldn't mind stripping for her anytime.

He glanced over at the passenger seat once occupied by Hinata and that was when he noticed the key to her apartment laying on the cushion.

He couldn't help but find himself rather pleased knowing he would see her again.

If you would please review the chapter, it would greatly be appreciated as there will be more to come- TheValkyrieGladiator