Chapter 13: Interruption

"…"

"…"

"F-Father? Neji? Aren't you going to say something?" Hinata asked nervously, gaze shifting between the pair.

Neither had spoken in the past 10 minutes now.

She was beginning to think they had both gone into shock permanently.

Naruto shook his head from beside her. "It's too late; you broke them. I never thought you would resort to manhandling me when it came time to reveal the truth."

Hinata instantly reddened, directing her stare to him. "E-Eh?! I wasn't 'manhandling' you! Besides, I had to do something to get your body to react."

He smirked making her face only burn even more. "And that was the only thing you could think of?"

"Well, no…"

But that doesn't matter at the moment!

Their waiter returns to see if they're ready to order, arching a brow briefly at the blank stares Neji and Hiashi still have on.

He hadn't served them alcohol yet as far as he knew.

"Give us another 5 minutes or so." Naruto speaks up for the table and it's this that finally seems to bring Hiashi back to life.

"So, I have questions." He muttered, clasping the tips of his fingers together against the table as he evened out his breathing.

If he could handle being head executive of the Hyuga Hotels and Resorts, surely he could handle…whatever this was.

Naruto nodded, his fox ears had disappeared as quickly as they came, though he wasn't sure if he could truly chalk it up to his mind playing tricks on him, needing glasses, or simply just hallucinating for the briefest of seconds.

Perhaps his water had been spiked?

"How long has this been happening?" Hiashi asked slowly, gesturing to his head.

Naruto looked thoughtful for a second. "Since I was about 12 or 13."

"Right, and what exactly did Hinata just do to make those fox ears appear like that?" He continued, white eyes narrowing.

'Okay, is this a trick question? I better answer this carefully.' Naruto gulped.

"Err, well she-um she groped me sir."

"…I'm sorry I asked." He muttered, pinkish hues lighting his own face as well.

Whatever little was left of his appetite was now gone with that mental image hanging over him.

'Where did my eldest daughter's shyness and innocence go?'

"Father, this is just something that happens to people in Naruto's family when they reach puberty! Things relating to well, um reproduction and what not make his fox ears and tail-"Hinata rambled.

Hiashi held up a hand to stop her, shaking his head as her words started to blend together.

"Tail?! Hold on, I need a minute to take this all in." He stated, rubbing his forehead slowly as he shut his eyes to ward off the growing pounding.

Neji's hands too were noticeably shaky as he reached for his lemonade, downing it all in one go.

"We don't need to run from this table; do we?" He questioned.

Naruto restrained back a scowl, no he was not some crazy bloodthirsty monster. If he truly believed he was in danger, wouldn't he have already gotten up by now?

He opted for just saying a small no instead.

The rest of lunch is painfully quiet.

Hinata plays and slides with her food against the golden plate, this had been a horrible idea.

And now father and Neji can't even properly look her in eyes without frowning or gazing away. This isn't what they signed up for when she had suggested they meet for lunch, finding out your boyfriend can gain fox features that he doesn't even know how to properly control. Yes, she wasn't sure what she had expected their reaction to be, but it wasn't for them to be this quiet.

She bit her lip as she felt her chest grow tight, letting her hair fall over her eyes to obscure tears surfacing up.

Naruto's hand envelopes hers beneath the table, warm and comforting her silently as she reminds herself to stay strong and peer back up at them.

Neji sighed, setting his fork and knife down on the edge of his plate.

"Hinata, you know this is going to require some time to…understand."

"But we want to understand though, don't think otherwise." Hiashi continues for him.

His gaze is directed more on Naruto than her as he says this, clicking his tongue as he leaned forward.

"I want to know more about this, I'll ask my top advisors and researchers to look into all they can find on Uzumaki family history and connections they've made throughout the generations with other clans in and around Konoha." He explains.

Neji shot him a look of confusion, he was going to go such great lengths for this man he barely knew?

Why?

'Would he do the same for me? Hanabi?'

Naruto wasn't even family…

Though he and Hinata seemed so close that he could start to picture a sparkling ring on her finger and Naruto's presence around the manor becoming more and more common.

And maybe Hiashi saw that too and was already trying to start adjusting.

His stomach twisted and he suddenly wished he hadn't gulped his drink down so fast in order to avoid conversing anymore over this subject.

Clearly, this topic was far from over.

He gritted his teeth though and stayed silent, watching through the bangs of his chestnut hair as the faintest of smiles reached Hinata's lips and relief shine through in Naruto's cerulean eyes.

"You don't have to do that Mr. Hyuga, Hinata and I have already investigated and read all the books we could find at Konoha's public library, we didn't find much." Naruto pointed out.

Hiashi shook his head, smiling too for once since this whole situation had started.

And it's then Neji realizes he really is the odd one out maybe for having these ugly feelings still, this uneasiness of Naruto breaking up the normalcy of the Hyuga household.

"You just didn't have the right connections." Hiashi voices.

Neji searches through Hyuga family heirlooms later that evening, albums and packages filled with gifts, photos of travels, and traditions that have been passed on throughout the years.

He can feel Hiashi's stare on him before he even gets to the second box.

"Find anything useful?" He asks, bending down beside him. It had been too long since he'd gone into this storage room in the far back of the manor, dull light overhead shining on silvery webs and blankets of dust.

Neji shakes his head because of course it's probably next to impossible to find anything outside of Hyuga history amongst this clutter, low sigh escaping from his lips.

"To be honest Uncle, I'm not sure why you even agreed to help them."

Hiashi brushes away grime falling too close to his nose, shaking his head.

"What did you think I would do? Hinata is essentially living with a half-human man who has basically zero control over his urges. I need to help them somehow before this worsens and people start asking questions regarding Hinata's sanity and if Naruto should be kept locked away."

Neji grew quiet then at that, shuffling more papers around.

'Was this out of nobility or simply to save face?'

His stomach burned and coiled the more he thought about it.

"You know uncle, it isn't that he doesn't have 'control' really. Hinata did say it got triggered by like sex or-"

Hiashi coughed, stopping him from going on as he became flustered once more.

"I'm aware of what she said, please don't repeat it!

-X-

'This is a cruel game you're doing.'

The annoying whisper of his conscious, making his heartbeat quicken and sweat dampen his palms. He kicks off his boots into the corner, cold tracks of ice and muddy leaves falling into the depths of his carpet.

But Kiba pointedly ignores it, reaching for the phone he's tossed into the dark corner of his room.

'She didn't recognize my voice then, she won't recognize it now.' He assures himself.

Hinata and Lilac are like two different people after all.

At least that's what it seemed like when he had first called Jewel after Hours all those weeks ago.

If his boredom hadn't gotten the best of him that night, he never would've known…

'How can I help you dear?' Her voice had come out in a purr, dripping like honey with faux sweetness and care.

And he had instantly recognized it as Hinata despite the alteration in her speaking and tone, knot building in his throat.

'Hinata can't be a call girl though.'

But then again, she never had told Shino or him what she actually did for a job, only that she desired to work as an eye doctor and in the meantime she simply helped out Ino and Sakura at the odd jobs they did.

"Nothing much, I-I just…I guess needed a pick me up. Never done this kind of thing before." His voice came out scratchy and a light groan escaped his lips at how utterly lame he sounded. He was no better than the animals he worked with who always changed their pitch and growls whenever mating season approached.

He needed to throw his voice too.

She giggled and he pictured her nodding as if she had already picked up on his nervousness.

How many times had she done this? Talked to other guys so breezily without any care?

Did Naruto know this is what she did for a living?

"Don't worry dear, all of this stays just between you and me. For the next hour, I'm yours."

The beginnings of an addiction…

And slowly, he couldn't help but to crave these late night talks. At times he was sweet to her, regularly talking about how much he liked her company and other nights…the nights when his jealousy consumed and teased him, he was bitter and coldly asked if she enjoyed playing with men's hearts like this.

Still, it provided the perfect escape from the loneliness that had been building up in the days since Tamaki's breakup with him and Shino bluntly telling him he loved his best friend.

The more times he requested her, the more he learned about things Hinata had never shared with him before.

Her goals for after college, new activities she had learned, books she liked to read…

Her boyfriend.

And that's when the fantasy ended at Naruto's name being whispered out in a pure accident, that this was all a façade and Lilac didn't exist. Lilac was only a mask, donned in the night and coming off again when sunlight inevitably returned in the morning.

Hinata still loved Naruto.

"I didn't know call-girls could have boyfriends Hinata."

The words had slipped out before he could think them through, she had gasped and immediately hung up on him.

He woke up in late in the afternoon the next day, deleting the call service from his phone history.

That was weeks ago now and somehow he could still force a smile at her when they saw each other in the halls, even pretend his heart wasn't sinking when he finally agreed to catch dinner in the student center with her and Naruto one night as he watched the pair sit comfortably close.

But, his desires were catching up with him again…

Hinata could be working tonight, overhearing her mumble that rainy nights usually meant more callers.

He flicked on the lights of his bedroom, glad the rolls of thunder hadn't taken out the power as his room became flooded with a bright yellow.

Rain pattered against his rooftop lightly and he shut his eyes for a moment wondering what to do.

It only takes him 2 minutes to look up the company again online, scrolling through lists and lists of numbers bombarding him with fees, options, scenarios…

'Crap, has it gone up since the last time? I spent so much money beforehand and they've already changed their rates again.'

And he glanced over to his wallet quickly, sick with himself when he was relieved to see he had enough for up to an hour.

He swallowed the glass in his throat and dialed.

"Jewel after Hours, how can I help you?" A high-pitched feminine voice answered.

'Not Hinata.' Kiba wrinkled his nose, pushing his ear away from shrillness of her talking.

"I-Is Lilac available?" He muttered softly, dropping his voice an octave as if his neighbors could suddenly hear him despite the rain and howling wind.

The woman on the other end snorted, giggly voice dropping completely at the mention of Hinata. "Hold on." She grunts out.

He hears her hiss that she shouldn't be this popular with the men, heels clacking loudly against the tile as she walks away.

'What type of double life is Hinata leading?'

"Wait, I don't even know what I'll say if she's there. Does she even remember my voice from back then?" Kiba whispered-yelled aloud, panic seeping into his skin.

Seconds turn to minutes before he hears another voice on the end again.

"Sorry sweetie, she's currently taking a private call. Though, if you're really in need of some release I can-"

He breaks the call before she can even finish, slumping down into his sheets.

'Busy, she's always busy…'

Neither Lilac nor Hinata have time for him.

Akamaru strides into the room, licking at his toes before hopping onto his usual spot at the end of the bed.

Old age hasn't stopped him from sensing when his master is upset.

And he emits a low whine until Kiba stops pretending he isn't there.

He sits up sluggishly, reaching out his fingers to scratch behind his ears until his tail eagerly thumped against his black and blue pattern bedspread.

Any other day he would've laughed at how crappy his reflection stared back at him as he got ready for bed, auburn hair far messier and untamed than usual, defeated dark bags under his eyes showing just how much sleep had been avoiding him for a good while.

His eyes track back to dusty photos lining his desk ending with a group shot of him, Shino, and Hinata on their last day of high school.

Hinata beams at the camera, lavender eyes hopeful and bright for the future as she clutches her diploma in one hand and a bouquet of pastel red and pink flowers Neji had given her tightly to her chest in the other.

It's hot out that day he recalls, each going home to change before celebrating with ice cream and gift exchanging.

Kiba sighed, setting the frame face down.

'What am I doing to myself?'

-X-

"I say it was a success!" Naruto hummed, hanging his coat back up again in the closet.

After all, Neji and Hiashi hadn't ran off or fainted in terror, that had to count for something!

And he believed Hiashi when he said he would look into his family history, if not out of a desire to help him but to make sure Hinata didn't one day come home to them with fox ears of her own.

Yeah, they still didn't exactly know how his fox features worked…

"I wouldn't exactly call it a 'success' at how pale they looked when we left, however I'm hopeful father will find out something useful. He'll probably be able to do a much thorough search and get permission to study the books at the central library I wasn't able to access in the public section." Hinata noted.

Naruto nodded, reaching up behind her rub her shoulders tenderly. If he slid her dress down just a bit more, he'd have perfect access to that cream skin of hers.

"So…can we relax now on your family not freaking out about me?" He murmured into her neck.

Her blush darkened, shifting herself out of his grasp just as Naruto moved to bite into her.

"I suppose, but now that they know you'll have to cool it with your behavior or at least attempt to." Hinata mused.

Easier said than done!

"And if I don't want to?" He asked back coolly, leaving the question hanging in the air as he stepped closer to her once more.

A knock at the door interrupts him and Hinata smiles sheepishly before going to check who it is.

"Open up, it's me! I know you're there!" A familiar voice cries out.

'Hanabi?'

Indeed through the peephole she sees her sister hopping up and down.

"Finally, the neighbors were going to start thinking I was crazy if you didn't let me in!" She huffed out, as Hinata cracked the door open, eagerly stepping inside and pushing off her grey rain boots.

Hinata blinked, following after her into the kitchen. Her hair was tied up in a loose ponytail, blue cardigan and striped sweater swishing with every movement she made.

"What brings you by Hanabi? You didn't call or text to say you were coming." Hinata asked.

A smirk lighted up her face and she frowned.

"I can't visit my sweet older sister?" She questioned.

Okay, this really can't be a good sign now…

And when Naruto came up beside her, said grin only broadened.

"Great, the main event is here! I want to see it too!" She announced with a clap of her hands, stepping onto a stool as she gazed at the pair eagerly.

Naruto sent Hinata a puzzled look. "What's she talking about?"

Hinata shrugged, clearly as lost as he was. "I was about to ask the same thing."

Hanabi scowled, pushing a brown lock away from her face. "Don't play dumb! I didn't walk all the way in this cold, wet weather to not see Naruto's fox ears and tail as well! It's not fair that Neji and father got to see it and I didn't!"

Oh.

Hinata could feel herself becoming red, shaking her head. "Um, you don't understand Hanabi, Naruto can't just make his fox qualities appear when he wants…"

Naruto scratched a hand through his fair, unsure what to say as well. "Yeah, Hinata's right! Certain conditions have to be met first."

Hanabi wrinkled her nose, very much reminding him of Neji at her annoyed expression. "Well, I can wait. You met said conditions with Neji and father after all."

Why must Hinata have such difficult family members?

"I-It's not that easy to do Hanabi! Besides, it's private. I-I only showed father and Neji to be a one-time only thing so they would stop investigating Naruto so heavily." Hinata spoke up again.

At their shared flustering she paused, clicking her tongue.

"Geez, you guys act like it's something so secretive and inappropriate."

"It is! Naruto gets those features when something perverted or erotic is happening!" Hinata explained in one breath.

There, now she would stop asking.

But instead Hanabi looked utterly confused, pouting out her pink lips.

"I don't understand. Just show me."

"No." Hinata reaffirmed.

And Naruto meanwhile moved to pour himself some juice to watch, Hinata was simply going to continue with her roundabout descriptions unless he did something…

"It happens whenever I look and play with your sister." Naruto grinned, bumping his hip into Hinata's side eliciting a squeak out of her.

She had felt his desire in that simple brush of skin.

His fox ears return then, knowing grin at what he had planned once her sister left…

Hanabi immediately leaps up to touch his ears curiously, tugging at them making them disappear just as fast.

"Ow, you don't have to try and rip them off you know!" He scowled, rubbing at his sore head.

It wasn't like they were glued to his head like Neji had seemed to think too.

"Wow, so it is real! Though, I didn't see what caused it to happen…?" She trailed off, still uncertain what to make of the sudden appearance and vanishing act going on.

Naruto smirked, Hinata's face growing hotter at his antics as he leaned into her side.

"Well you heard her Hinata, she wants to see what 'excites' me." He muttered lowly.

Hinata pretended to be very interested in her apple juice instead, Hanabi fortunately unaware of the rising tension between them.

"You're impossible, I'm not going to corrupt my sister!" She nudged him once Hanabi became preoccupied with getting a snack for herself from the fridge.

Naruto simply chuckled.

True, they had done enough Hyuga family corrupting for the week…

He needed to save some for the weeks ahead!

-X-

"Ladies, make sure you're still taking your 30 minute breaks! Shizune and I do keep track of the logs and if you clock in and out!" Tsunade broadcasted as she weaved a path around the office.

Weekends can be frustratingly busy.

There seemed to be no pauses from the constant influx of callers, many requesting for membership renewal, scheduling dates with fees, hour long sessions with beginning rates and scenarios…

It seemed like nobody had taken a break tonight.

Hinata smoothed her flats against the tile, rubbing the center of her forehead to ward off a migraine as she shut her eyes for a minute.

Naruto had stated the stress brought about dark circles under her eyes, visible even with the amount of make-up she applied.

And as much as slouching usually caused her to have sore muscles by the afternoon or evening, all she could think about was sleeping.

She had a clinical plan of care to write up involving the two patients she had visited earlier on the surgical unit and online reading that still needed to be done.

"Lilac, want some water?" A voice called out to her through the haze of ringing phones.

'Petunia' is one of the few older women here who doesn't care much about the race to be most popular call-girl of the red-light district.

In fact, she had no idea why she needed the job in the first place, revealing on one of her first nights working that she was a lead accountant at one of Konoha's downtown firms. Maybe it was the thrill of knowing she could still attract younger guys. Most of the men she saw flocking to her didn't know she was close to 50 from all high-end make-up and exercising she did.

'And I suppose the extra money never hurts...'

"Thanks, I guess I'm just getting winded from the non-stop sound of phones ringing, moaning, and snickering from all sides of me." Hinata murmured, sitting up to accept the cool drink.

She presses it straight to her head, pounding not as relentless as before.

Petunia twirls a finger through her golden locks, hazel eyes continuing to study her curiously while looking around to outside.

The city is covered with a mist from the off and on rains, streets damp and icy in certain spots. Nevertheless, she could make out the faint sounds of cheering and mayhem going on in glitzy bars and clubs surrounding the call center.

"Hmm, I can't wait to get out for a night on the town whenever my caller gets her. He kept bugging me for a date until I finally gave in. Oh, I do hope his voice matches to his looks!" She purred out with a wink.

Hinata controlled the urge to roll her eyes, she would either be happily surprised or happily disgusted.

Ino even had an ongoing betting game with Sakura that most women would be on the latter end.

"I've heard you, Blossom, and Daisy are in medical school? Tough environment to get through, but very rewarding in the end." She continued on brightly before taking a swig of her own drink.

Hinata only nodded, keeping her lips set in a firm line.

Small talk or not, she didn't need more rumors involving her being spread around.

And she let Petunia jabber on about jobs, men and money, giving polite smiles or nods in agreement whenever it was her cue to give an input.

"Petunia baby, is that you?!" A man yelled out from across the sitting area to them.

They both turned to see a man who appeared to be in his 30s, short and stocky build to him as he beamed and waved to her fervently. What was left of his black hair had been mussed over with gel, too tight matching suit completing the image as he shuffled closer.

Petunia grimaced for a fleeting second before creating a foolproof smile to greet him in return.

'Looks like we have another happily disgusted winner!' Ino's singsong voice of an announcer played out in her head.

Oh, if only she was here to witness this.

Her phone rings from within her pocket, Naruto's name flashing across the screen.

"I thought you would be sleeping by now." Hinata whispers, moving to the second floor by the bathroom.

She can hear the sleepiness in his voice as he tries to hold back a yawn and fail, covering her mouth to hide her giggling.

"Wanted to check on you to make sure you're okay. I've been up grading student papers Iruka assigned me; now I know why spellcheck is so necessary." He sleepily huffed and she can hear the sound of his ink pen scratching out another error.

"I've been so busy tonight too, makes sense since it's a Friday. I'm going to try and take a snack break soon before my headache worsens."

Naruto hums his agreement, perking up. "Yeah, oh try that chicken and pork ramen I packed you! Let me know what you think of it since it's different from the typical brand I buy."

"You're my go to ramen connoisseur!" Hinata mused.

Because before Naruto had moved in, she simply bought whatever product she saw first without much care to the taste which Naruto wasn't having.

"So anyways…what are you wearing?" Naruto teased.

Hinata blinked before realizing what game he was playing. (Considering he watched her get dressed before she left.)

"You first." She crooned back.

"Where's Lilac? She has a client at the front desk for her!" Shizune's voice rang out from the sea of calls and her body froze up in alarm.

'I have a client? In person?!'

"Ah, sorry Naruto; I'm being called back." Hinata spoke quickly, standing up from her crouched hiding position.

Naruto lets out a whine, groaning that she can't leave now at the best part.

"I'll make it up to you when I get home if you're still somehow awake; I promise. I love you."

He chuckled, sound of his chair rolling back coming into the background as he stood and stretched. "Love you too and I'll go boil a pot of coffee now! Oh, and punch any guys for me that gross you out!"

Shizune sends her a questioning look at how long it takes her to squeeze her way to the front entrance while she tries to ignore frantic thumping pattern her heart has taken on.

None of her callers tonight or from even the past weeks had wanted to meet in person…

"Sorry she took so long, we tend to get an increase in calls during the weekend." She apologizes to the man as Hinata steps into view.

And time stops.

Kiba stares back at her.

Shizune pats her shoulder lightly, shaking her when she doesn't speak. Can't speak.

The pounding in her head returns back at tenfold speed. A dizzy nauseating sensation crawls and washes over her, vision becoming hazy.

'No, no, no…why is Kiba here of all places?'

"Lilac, this man is specifically requesting you for a date."

-x-

I was going to wait until after Christmas and New Years to update this story again, but there was such great feedback last chapter I thought; why not? Early Christmas present! Looking forward to your thoughts on Kiba and what will happen next!

Hope to all my readers as well you have a safe and happy holidays, I'm personally glad to be off this year and not working. (Patients don't like to be in the hospital at this time of year anyways and I don't blame them, unless it's medically necessary of course.)

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!