Chapter 11: Invisible
"Alright ladies, gather around! New Year, new policies!" Tsunade announces overhead, breaking any calls in progress or about to happen.
It's still early into her night shift, barely past 11:00 pm and only the pale silver glow of moonlight pouring in through the blinds provides light as they trek towards the upstairs section that leads up to Tsunade's office.
She still hasn't gotten around to spending more money to make the upstairs look as fancy as downstairs.
Festive decorations from Christmas and New Years' already seem to be half torn down along the walls.
Hinata breathes a sigh of relief amid the groans of calls being interrupted, her first night back at Jewel after Hours and the phones had already been ringing eagerly non-stop for guys to speak with 'their' 'Buttercup' or 'Lily.'
And most of said girls were gladly eating up the attention, returning to the call center in fancy warm coats and sparkly expensive earrings or necklaces gifted to them from their clients or possible 'sugar daddies'.
Sakura and Ino would gag at the behavior.
Meanwhile she still preferred the same plain sweaters and jeans from even before her birthday.
Tsunade clears her throat to get the commotion of excited pointed whispers of presents received and places gone over the holidays to die down, pointing to a new board manifested at the center.
"Listen up, I hope you ladies enjoyed your time off spent with family and friends, but work is work! I expect you all to continue to make your clients happy!" Her voice echoed out into the crowd.
She directed a finger to three latest guidelines to have sprung up during the break and Hinata took her time in looking over them all.
Any calls that go over pass two hours is an extra dollar a minute to the client; rule breakers can have it come out of their own paycheck if they disagree. (Some clients had been abusing our previous system by keeping you only on the phone with one person all night, if they want to talk that much, they need to schedule a one-on-one meeting with you.)
Dates with clients will require them to submit to a background check prior to meeting up. (This is for your own safety!)
We'll be implementing a new texting feature soon, be ready!
Her stomach dropped as she finished reading over it all, the first one in particular already seemed directly for people like Naruto who kept her busy on the phone despite his own need to sleep whenever she went off to work.
If he could barely afford the fees before, he definitely wouldn't be able to now.
And she could feel her cheeks begin to heat at the quiet murmurs of said girls who were rule breakers already.
Popularity was still an important factor in pay after all, most clients wouldn't like it if they knew in reality was already taken…
"Alright, I just wanted to keep you all up to speed on how things well be progressing for the future. You can proceed back to your calls or dates! Stay safe and don't do anything that makes you uncomfortable!" Tsunade finished.
Hinata slowed her pace down considerably walking back to her seat on the plush couch, there was no need to hurry back to the man who wanted to play out a mistress scenario with her.
"S-So nobody knows about this right, Lilac? This is just between you and me?" His voice is low, barely above a nervous whisper and she pictures a man sitting in the darkest corners of his room, away from his wife or girlfriend's sight.
"Of course dear, like I said at the beginning; this is our little secret, okay?" She purred out the lie easily, swallowing back the knot in her throat as she looked outside into the bustling lights and commotion of the city.
Why was this still so hard to do?
'Don't break character, go through the motions.' Hinata sighed slowly through her lips.
The man chuckled weakly into the line, breathing heavily and it's then she heard the shuffling of clothes.
And her stomach twisted when she realized what he was doing. A zipper resounds from the other end and he lets out a low groan of pleasure.
"My wife is asleep downstairs right now, she's been so distant lately. You know how it goes or maybe not knowing what you do for a living... Anyways, it's the usual stuff like coming home late, no longer wanting my kisses or touch. Heh, I'm starting to think if she's not cheating on me then she must just suddenly find me unattractive to look at." He grumbled.
Well, looks aren't everything in this guy's case from how he sounds.
"There are different options out there though. Have you ever thought to try therapy or maybe ask if she's stressed at work possibly? It's odd if you're saying it just happened out of the blue." Hinata questioned and instantly she bit the inside of her cheek.
That's not what clients want to talk about, a mistake she's made more than once.
This call is their reality escape, the break from the troubles of a sour relationship and heartache…
He snorts into the line and she quickly dials herself back.
"Though…while your wife is away at all that we can have fun." She hummed and the man's anger diminished quickly as she expected.
"Good, because you're supposed to be on my side; not hers. Now, be a good mistress Lilac and use those lips of yours for why I called this service in the first place." He stated between a cross of a moan and frustrated huff.
Unwillingly, her mind drifts to her tiny apartment. The monthly gas, water, and electric bills are due at the end of next week.
She needs this next paycheck.
Naruto is asleep in her bedroom right now most likely or up with coffee running through his veins attempting to study.
Naruto.
Oh, she shouldn't have thought of him at that moment…
"No."
It's around 4:30 am when Hinata gets back to her apartment. Thankfully, the streetlights haven't flickered off yet and she quickens her pace to get inside to the warm confines of her bed and out of the freezing, windy night.
Naruto jolts awake at her presence as soon as she opens the door, believing for a second she's a burglar while holding onto the bat her father gave her for protection until her soft voice rings out.
"Sorry, I was trying to move quietly and I still woke you." Hinata murmurs, unbuckling her boots and sliding them off.
She wiggles her feet at the freedom, maybe she won't end up with blisters.
Naruto arches a brow, yawning as he trailed after her back into the bedroom. He winches as she turns on the light to put away her jacket and change into some pajamas when Hinata notices his eyes flicker slowly back to blue from the alarm of danger fading away.
His eyes never used to change colors that fast.
"Why ya home so early? Ah, I bet you guys weren't getting that many calls and Granny volunteered to let one of you guys go home sooner and you instantly took it; huh?!" He grinned, pulling her into his arms for a backwards hug.
Hinata giggled, stiffening at the crack in her voice.
And Naruto hears it too.
He turns her around, looking her up and down for any injuries. "What happened?" Goofy grin fading and seriousness pouring into his voice.
Hinata shook her head, fixing on the best smile she could muster. "Nothing, I'm okay. It's just that about the call center…"
"What? Did someone burn it down? Attempt to rob it?!" He asked frantically.
If he weren't so worried, she would've laughed at his wild suggestions.
But, she pushes herself to give him the truth.
"No, I'm just thinking of quitting."
-X-
Somehow, with great reluctance on his end he convinces her against it.
"I thought you would be happy if I quit?" Hinata questioned.
Yes, he very much would!
Though not if it meant Hinata couldn't pay her bills or buy groceries…essentially sustain herself.
"You need to have a backup job first. You didn't tell Granny yet; have you?" He asked back.
Hinata blinked drowsily before shaking her head, here she was making incredibly rash decisions while Naruto was calmly bringing reason back to her and all at 4:41 am to boot.
"You're the first person I've told this all too. Don't tell anyone." She murmured out, sinking her head down into her pillow as she closed back her eyes.
Naruto opened his mouth to ask what had brought this sudden decision on, shutting it though as her breathing slowly evened out.
She's asleep before he can even properly form anything else to say.
He laughed dryly as he fell into the blankets beside her, who exactly did she think he would tell?
And now hours later he hovered over her still sleeping form, curtain of violet hair obscuring her face as he gently parted it from her eyes and lips.
"So…I'm going to head off to class before I'm late. I know you'll probably be gone to your own afternoon clinicals by the time I get back." Naruto voiced quietly.
He doesn't expect an answer as she slumbers, this would be too difficult to say if she were awake.
"Also, I was well thinking maybe I should pay a visit to your Dad and Neji. I know already it isn't that good of an idea and I could risk them finding out about my fox features, but I think that's the main hang up they have! They're afraid of me because we keep hiding it and I wondered maybe if I talk to them more, they could learn that…I'm not so scary?"
Yeah, this sounded better in his head than out loud.
Hinata stirred slightly as he finally shifted off the bed and Naruto turned one last time to look at her figure.
Her lips were chapped from the dry air circulating and he trailed his thumb gently across from side to side before leaning down to kiss her goodbye.
'I hope I'm not screwing things up by doing this.'
He can feel eyes on him as soon as he steps out the door.
Great. He's been watched again.
But he peers down off the balcony and sees Ino gawking at the sight of him, stopping mid stride in her approach to the stairwell.
Oh, this probably looks strange.
"What the? Did you just step out of Hinata's apartment?! I knew you were close, but to already be staying over…!" She sputtered as he moved down the steps.
Naruto frowned, almost wanting to reach out and cover her mouth lest her voice echo off into the whole apartment complex and beyond.
He shrugged at her rapid fire questions, burying his hands into his pockets. "It's not that big of a deal really. I only sleep over when we've stayed up late studying or one of us is stopping by after work."
Those are terrible lies and Ino knows it.
Because her teal eyes soon sparkle with mischief, making him wince.
"Not a big deal? Hmm, well I bet Neji and her father don't know about these little rendezvouses, do they? I certainly come across some good stuff when I need to return one of Hinata's textbooks." She emphasized with a cheshire grin.
He moved to side-step her and broke into a jog for the campus.
"You two can't keep it a secret forever!" She calls out to him over his shoulder.
His stomach coils in a mix of worry and hunger hearing that, he should've properly set his alarm to get up to make a light breakfast.
Though food would probably be the least of his worries as the day goes on.
-X-
"Alright, I'll throw in a sneak peek of the next installment in my Make out Paradise series, plus the special edition version of short erotic BDSM stories I've been doing that haven't been released yet on the shelves. I'm sure that's enough to satisfy you to not give up any of Naruto's secrets?" Jiraiya questioned.
Ugh, all his precious months of research and writing were about to be given away far too easily!
Kakashi simply nodded, though Jiraiya could tell he was most likely smiling beneath that mask of his.
Perverts like him drive a hard bargain!
'I wasn't going to sell him out. Not that Jiraiya needs to know that.' Kakashi mused, maintaining a flat expression until he walked away from the bar.
He'll take free books after all!
Hiashi thinks he's about to get information on Naruto by this time next week and Jiraiya now believes he's only going to provide him with minimal evidence that shows little to nothing.
And really in reality he just wants to know what exactly is it that makes Minato's son such a point of fascination and contention to all the groups involved.
The last time he truly saw Naruto after all, Minato and Kushina were still alive.
"Why do they look at you that way mommy?" A curious four year old Naruto asked, squeezing at his mother's hand when he saw another glare sent their way as they walked through the town.
Minato returned said stare making the elderly couple quickly look elsewhere.
Kushina shook her head and Kakashi notes as he walks behind them the flicker of sadness in her indigo eyes before she suddenly brightly smiles, crouching down to her son's level.
"People sometimes are afraid of what they don't completely understand, especially with how stressful things are with all the news of war possibly breaking out with our neighboring countries. So right now, a lot of people are scared and worried about their loved ones being hurt and taking it out on others."
She isn't sure if Naruto completely understands it all, shiny azure eyes so much like his father's narrowing in confusion.
"I don't get it! You didn't do anything bad mommy, you're always so nice…they shouldn't look at you that way…" His voice crackles towards the end, balling his tiny fists against the edges of his frog t-shirt.
They near a park and Kushina distracts him with the mention of swings and ramen afterwards making the topic completely drop.
Kakashi lingers by the shade of the trees, watching as Naruto squeals for Kushina to push him higher, wind tossing his blonde locks every which way.
Minato comes up to his side with the offer of ice cream or drinks which he turns down, he isn't very much in the mood for anything cold at the moment.
The rumors are getting worse, the threats are becoming deadly.
And he's been up all hours of the night and day wondering just when someone or some group will make those threats a reality and attack his teacher's family.
"I'm worried for when Naruto reaches puberty." Minato mumbles out.
"Can't he just take medicine or something to stop the fox features from ever appearing?" Kakashi asked.
Minato shook his head, chuckling lightly. "If that were the case, I'm sure Kushina would've taken such a thing a long time ago."
His smile faded as he watched Kushina plop down next to Naruto, long crimson hair riding the breeze as she picked up speed to catch up with her son.
"No, he'll have to learn to control it. Kushina's would always come out whenever she got excited, dark red tails just like her hair and fox ears sticking out. The first time it happened it surprised me yes, but I wasn't afraid…I've never had a reason to fear her. I always thought in fact that made her look pretty and that she was strong to handle all the stares, the taunts…"
He swallowed before continuing and Kakashi frowned at the darkening of his mood.
"But I never thought someone would want to kill her because of her family background, something neither you nor I can even control. Kushina can have a bad temper at times, but not enough to hurt anybody, I wish people would understand that and look pass their misconceptions."
Kakashi turned to look at him fully then, trying to ignore the abrupt pounding of his heartbeat getting louder against his chest.
He'd blocked it out when he came across his father's corpse that stormy afternoon in their home and he'd made sure to pay no attention to the twisting sensation in his gut during the funeral.
People died, it was a fact of life.
Even people close to him…
"Kakashi you've been an excellent student and I knew I made the right decision making you in a sense a bodyguard over Kushina and Naruto when I wasn't available." Minato's voice brings him back, smiling again as if the last few minutes hadn't happened.
'Why is he saying that?'
He patted his shoulder affectionately, stepping forward to join his family.
"If anything happens, please watch over Naruto."
Kakashi shook his head, reaching for his arm before he could get too far.
"Nothing will happen. Don't even say 'if'." He speaks firmly.
But in the end, 'if' is always a possibility. A chance that the worse will indeed occur…
Kakashi keeps a good two to three crowd lengths from Naruto as he leaves his morning classes, his scent has already been traced by him he's sure and he knows to take cover whenever he looks back over his shoulder that he needs to be among a good deal of students to look like he belongs from his trek to the bookstore, the cafeteria, and the campus computer room.
Of course, grey hair isn't exactly the norm for 20-year olds.
And it's highly unlikely he'll see anything unusual without Hinata's presence.
The sun comfortably warms up the coolness of the morning by around noon, clouds clearing out and he sighs as Naruto heads off campus to the nearest bus station.
He's getting annoyed with this game of hiding, teeth becoming slightly sharper, eyes narrowing in quicker watchfulness to anyone who gets too close to him.
'Where is he going?'
Does he know he's following him? Maybe he wants to lead him on a wild chase around the city.
He sits on the farthest end of bus 374 that he picks, it's a well-known route that takes tourists and workers to the museum and fine arts district of downtown Konoha.
He waits exactly 2 minutes before getting off after Naruto, blending into the crowds as he sees the crown of his blonde spiky hair heading the opposite way.
Right to the Hyuga chain of hotels.
-X-
'This can't be happening.' Neji thinks.
Naruto's appearance sticks out like a thorn to the slew of reporters, business associates, and hotel journalists going to cover the opening of the Royal Peninsula's newest dining and spa centers that Hiashi had boasted would be the largest and fanciest of Konoha's luxury hotels.
Shouldn't he be in class right now?
But for some reason he isn't.
His bright orange jacket and worn black sweatpants stand out among a sea of plain black, blue, and gray suits.
"Mr. Hyuga, will this spa the Royal Peninsula asserts truly be on level with the spas and bathhouses the city of Yuga offers; your main top competitor for tourism in getting the true hot springs effect?" A journalist asked.
Neji nodded, clearing his throat before speaking into the mic again. "Yes, my Uncle and I scoped out the best areas of Konoha when it came to building the Royal Peninsula. The thermal baths, massages, and saunas we offer are based on a mix of the latest technology and connecting with experts in the fields of physical and spiritual health."
He went on to answer a few more questions regarding the official opening day, gifts, and exclusive members options before moving them to the guided tour of the lobby and the VIP rooms.
And meanwhile out of the corner of his eye he watched as Naruto stood back, gaze never straying from him.
'What does he want?'
He would have to walk past him in order to stay with the rest of the group, sighing under his breath as he began walking forward.
Well, he wouldn't let him ruin this.
He had worked too hard in preparation for this day, the weather was perfect during the brunch session and if everything continued to go nicely, they could expect another 5-star review for a Hyuga resort.
"Hey Neji hold on, can I talk to you a moment?" Naruto called out to him, reaching a hand out.
"I'm busy." He hissed back quickly, brushing his hand aside.
Naruto frowned, clenching his hands into fists at his sides before uncoiling them. "I just need a minute. It's about me and Hinata. I know you might think I'm some type of monster, but I-"
Neji held his hand up, stopping him from saying any more.
"Everything I need to know about you Naruto I'll find out in due time." He stated without even staring at him.
And he kept walking forward before any of the reporters could look back to see what was causing his delay.
To wonder of his connection to Naruto and create a storm of gossip.
Naruto, fortunately doesn't seem to move to follow him.
A columnist asks if it would be okay to take pictures and he turned to him with a nod and smile to describe the layout and color choices used for the different hallways.
When he looks back again once he's done talking, Naruto is no longer there.
-X-
'This isn't good.' Kakashi notes.
Whatever happened inside that hotel has created a brewing storm.
Naruto's foul mood builds a wall that obstructs people from getting too close, from hurting him… It's something he's probably done so much now over the years he doesn't even realize it anymore. Timid glances and worried stares at his scowl stop people in their tracks more than once as he makes his way around the city.
Kakashi isn't sure if he should intervene before his temper gets any worse or continue to stay in the background.
He's been on his trail since he left the Hyuga's latest new hotel. Watching as he oddly enough made his next destination be the Hyuga manor.
Hanabi greets him in excited surprise and Hiashi with confused silence.
At least Neji had spoken to him.
He doesn't get to step inside, but Hiashi eventually relents and they talk for a bit outside by the garden.
Well, Naruto talks and Hiashi listens.
Hiashi never cracks a smile at any of Naruto's jokes or at his praise of his oldest daughter. He nods at the appropriate moments, shrugs, or simply shakes his head at the questions and topics Naruto brings up.
From his vantage point in the trees, Naruto might as well be talking to himself or the wall.
'I don't know if he's done anything to change their opinion of him, but he's trying.'
And when Hiashi excuses himself and leaves him alone on the patio, he grits his teeth at the upset in Naruto's expression before it quickly morphs into a grin when Hanabi pops up to ask if everything went well.
"Yup, hopefully next time he'll let me inside!" He laughs.
Hanabi waved off her father's behavior. "I don't see why they're so worried, you aren't anything like Kiba described with big sharp teeth or fur all over your body. He thought you were part fox or something!"
She doesn't notice the smile leave his face briefly.
The next place Naruto visits is Kiba's apartment.
He gets the door slammed in his face as soon as Kiba opens it.
"Hmm, guess I maybe deserved that." Naruto hummed to himself quietly.
His eyes are darker now and tired, he reaches for his phone within his pocket and types out a message before heading to Ichiraku. The dinner rush is just beginning, last rays of sunlight giving the sky a mix of violets and reds as the streetlights begin to come on.
"Had a rough day?" Teuchi asks as he watched Naruto finish off his second bowl of ramen much slower than normal.
Naruto shrugged, smiling half-heartedly. "I feel like I'm a ghost."
Teuchi cocked his head in puzzlement and Naruto only shakes his head, not wanting to go into detail.
Hinata comes up to his side a few minutes later, donning a pristine white coat and navy blue scrubs as she hopped onto the bar stool beside him.
He can't make out anything they're saying but Hinata orders a meal for herself and they eat in relative silence.
It's only when they're going home again does the concern of the brewing storm erupting manifest.
The nails have sharpening on Naruto's hands, a low growl rumbles from deep within his chest as he gives everyone beginning to stare at him a cold look.
"-And your cousin acted like he was too good to talk to me and then your father seems to believe I'm not important enough to say even a few words to! To make matters worse, I know somebody has been on my back all day and if he keeps following me, I'm afraid I'm going to lose it!" He snapped and this time when he turns around, Naruto finally pinpoints him.
'Crap.'
Scarlet eyes sharpen, hair bristling up.
"You." He mouths, stepping forward.
Hinata stops him quickly before he can do anything else and his heart skitters watching the sight of Naruto not recognizing him and questioning what he wants with him.
His glare is too eerily similar to Minato's, freezing him in place.
And his mind whirls at the memory of Minato glaring down at the men who had hurt Kushina that fateful night when he hadn't made it in time.
The men he hadn't been afraid to kill.
He shakes off the images only to see the pair is gone, people pushing past him sending him annoyed stares for standing still on such a busy street at this time of day. A cool sweat has formed at his brow that he shakily wipes away. He's a terrible guardian and he whispers for his old teacher to forgive him for creating such a mess.
'Spies aren't supposed to be caught that easily…'
-X-
"I can't believe you spent all day trying to get away from one guy while trying to get into the good graces of three other men." Hinata mused.
Naruto huffed, sinking down further in the bench.
Hinata didn't have to word it that way!
She teasingly ruffled a hand through the edges of his hair making him sit up again.
"Why didn't you tell me? I would've gone with you! I knew something was wrong when you weren't at the apartment even when clinicals ended so late." Hinata questioned, lavender eyes studying him curiously.
Naruto pouted. "I had to do it without you! They had to see I was sincere about my feelings for you and if you were there that would've probably influenced them to think you had pushed me to talk to them."
And he smiled as Hinata's cheeks warmed, blushing prettily as she glanced down at her shoes.
"O-Oh, well still! I'm sorry they were so rude to you, it's going to take time though. Maybe we should let that investigator they hired know you aren't a bad person since he's going to report back to Neji and father anyhow."
Naruto scowled, clicking his tongue. "Or I can punch him for bugging me all day pretending to be a student and going to the exact same places as me!"
Hinata shook her head, giggling lightly. "Naruto, we're trying to make things better, not worse!"
Well, things couldn't get much worse in his opinion.
"They…they acted like they couldn't really see me Hinata, as if they were looking straight through me. People used to do that a lot to my mom and me whenever we went out shopping or just around the city. At times, I truly believed we were transparent and at any moment someone would just walk through us not realizing we were there." He whispered.
Hinata smiled, leaning her forehead to press against his as her fingers moved to brush along the sides of his face. His gaze softened at the action, cheeks beginning to burn a light pink at his whiskers.
"I can see you just fine though."
-x-
Almost had Hinata truly quit, but I realized she still needed to work at the call center for later plot related reasons lol. (I think I was projecting my own need to move outside of my current job to bigger and better things, I don't believe people should work at jobs knowing they make you unhappy/stressed no matter the amount of money and like Hinata, I want to pursue other options the medical field offers.) I hope you guys didn't find Neji, Hiashi, and Kiba's behavior to be too hard on Naruto, I don't want them to immediately trust him though I don't want to them to be overly harsh on him either.
More Kakashi, Naruto, and Hinata interaction for next time!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow! (Almost to 250 follows and 150 favorites, hooray!)