Sasuke grumbled into the white, down-filled pillow. His eyes were still closed, but he got the feeling he wasn't in Kansas anymore. There was the smell of sweet, peachy body mist and fruity hair products. Like he was in a girl's room or something. Smoothly, he flipped over and got a face full of blond hair. Platinum blond hair.
His first thought was; Oh shit, it's Ino.
But then he realized Ino wasn't with him and Hinata on this business trip. In fact, she was probably dragging Shikamaru and Choji around the globe, looking for the latest and greatest designers. No doubt she'd be contacting Sakura who would contact Hinata . . .
He closed his eyes with an angry grunt. That little bitch wasn't any of his concern. Just so long as she was ready to get down to business, then he was cool. If she didn't want to be with him, so be it. He had hundreds of women throwing themselves at his feet anyways. Pick one, any one will do.
Exhibit A: the blond bartender who was sleeping soundly next to him.
Sitting up, he slid from the under the apricot down comforter and tugged on his straight-legged dark-distressed Citizen of Humanity jeans. His fingers slid into the back pocket and he pulled his pack of cigarettes out. The least he could do was have a good smoke before leaving this chick to wake up by herself at –he checked the alarm clock's neon blue lights- seven in the goddamn morning.
He sank into the cushy whicker chair near the sliding doors of the hotel room and propped them open with his bare foot. The cool, salty ocean breeze filled his nose and his fingers fumbled with the pack. That damn smell, making him think of her once again.
A growl of frustration bubbled in his throat but he swallowed it back. No wonder his father said office relations were never meant to be. No matter how much he wanted to forget Hinata, he couldn't, because she was always in his face about something. Always in his face because well, she worked there, they were the co-bosses of Hyuga & Uchiha Co-Op.
"Shit," he barked softly, shaking his hand and glaring at his lighter. The damn flame had burnt the tip of his thumb. He groaned. Today was the day he had to sign documents. Hinata had sent him the message in text.
No doubt after fucking his red ass, he had thought bitterly.
Frustrated and pissy, he bit clean through his cigarette and nearly gagged on the god-awful taste filling his mouth. Spiting the damned thing out, he expected it to start raining, just to fit his mood, but it didn't. It was still sunny and bright-blue as ever. The seagulls wheeled over the deep blue waves of the ocean, diving and swooping. Little kids danced in the sand, their mothers and fathers close by incase something happened to them.
His parents never did that for him. They were too busy fussing over Itachi and his uber-coolness. They loved that their eldest was the smartest, the greatest, the best-at-every-fucking-thing-that-crossed-his-mother-fucking-path. Nothing about little baby brother Sasuke.
His onyx eyes rolled so hard, they could have fallen out of his head.
He had doted on Itachi. Listened to his every word. Dared himself to be just as good as his great elder brother. Then maybe Fuguka would give him the time of day. So his mother didn't have to worry about him so much. He could become a great person as well.
"Yeah right," he snorted, as a knot formed in his chest.
He had to get out of here before he started sniveling like a sissy.
Grabbing his Ralph Lauren rugby Polo shirt, he slipped his feet into his sensible shoes and was out of the door in a flash. All he left was his pack of cigarettes and a lingering smell of delicious cologne. That girl wouldn't even realize he was gone.
Just as he turned the corner to his hallway, Hinata was right there glaring at him. She was dressed in a slouchy indigo long-sleeves top that hung off her right shoulder, her black bikini top strings creating a V up her shoulders and around her neck. Tight white Ann Taylor shorts accented her long legs and perky butt. Her raven-dark hair was in a tight, low ponytail, black Dior shades perched on top of her head.
Her arms crossed over her large bust and her eyes narrowed. "Where the hell have you been, Uchiha?"
He didn't even answer, just shoved his hands in his pocket, curled his lip and skirted around her. She turned swiftly on her white canvas peep-toe March Jacobs cork wedges, marching after him. Reaching out, her long manicured nails gripped his shoulder and with a strength he didn't know she had, spun him around to face her.
Her pearly eyes were mere slits, she was clearly pissed. "Where were you? I asked a question and you are supposed to answer."
His eyes narrowed, angry bubbling inside. "You sure you want to know?"
"You are my co-worker! I should have known where you were! I haven't seen you around for three days, Uchiha! Where the fuck were you!" Her voice was a dangerous hiss.
He blinked. Three days? Was that seriously right? He was sure he had done at least fives girls, so three days probably was logical. That meant he had another two days left. Hurray.
Her head snapped back as he looked her straight in the eye. He didn't have to say anything, and it clearly hit some nerve inside of her. Though he didn't think she had that nerve anymore. Especially by the way she was treating him these days. Especially with the way she was treating him these days.
Her throat went dry and she pursed her lips. "That is so typical."
She turned and marched away, her shoulders squared. He turned around and threw open the door of his suite. What the fuck? Why did she have the right to get angry and he didn't? Why was he the bad guy all the time! Couldn't there be someone else who did that job? Couldn't he be the knight-in-shining-armor, come to rescue his damsel-in-distress?
The door slammed shut as he held back rage. He wanted to cry, but didn't, since it was way out of character. Maybe smashing his fist into something would help him. Break a nose. Maybe break his nose.
He snorted; Maybe get a goddamn life, asshole.
His bare feet padded across the carpeted floors to his suite's awesome bathroom. After a quick, hot shower, he'd head down to the gym. Pound a few bags, lift a few weights, work up a good sweat. He was a guy; he didn't have the luxury of stuffing his face with whipped cream and ice-cream. Cry to his friends over the phone. His tears were sweat damnit. And he would sweat until he could sweat no more.
-
Her eyes stayed on her whiskey. She didn't even drink whiskey, but it was nice once in a while, just to stare at anyways. Stupid, stupid, stupid, Hinata. That's what she was thinking. All this time, he was out with some girl, or possibly girls, getting some while she was drooling over Gaara and getting none. And now she was getting pissy over him because he was out with said girls.
It's only a natural instinct. He probably hated being alone as much as he hated being ignored. It's human nature to go with someone for the feeling of having someone close. That was probably why their affair was so treasured to her. Hanabi was off in France, TenTen smelled of gunpowder and Chanel No.5 and Neji just wasn't exactly the hugging type.
She sniffled, dropping her head in her newly manicured hands. That was so stupid, to act like his mother. She wasn't his mother. She didn't tell him what to do. She didn't raise him, give birth to him, conceive him.
That didn't cheer her up. She still felt like shit.
And knew exactly why.
Five fucking days. Five fucking days since she arrived here. A Friday too. How wonderful. Now she had two more days to go and she'd be scotch-free. Wouldn't have to deal with anyone like this every again. Just get up and go, don't look back, and sure as hell don't act sad.
She knew why she was all over Gaara. Because she likes to be looked at. She likes to be acknowledged for her intellect. She likes to be heard and not be the one hearing. She likes that he was willing to do things different and compromise a certain way.
And she didn't even notice Sasuke was gone until today.
"How lame," she blurted and the bartender gave her a sideways glance, cleaning out a tumbler. Quickly, she gobbled down some peanuts and chugged her whiskey. It burned her throat and brought tears to her eyes. Now she had a reason to cry. This shit burned. Burned good.
She raised a shaky hand and he came back warily. Noticing she wasn't completely hammered, he refilled her glass of whiskey. With another wary glance, he moved down four feet and appeased a group of giggling ladies in need of refreshments.
Hinata sniffled, wishing Hanabi was there beside her. Then they could giggle too, and make up jokes about his job. That was fun for her. Hanabi was always fun for her. Neji should be doing this, not her. But then again, she loved the late nights and the drama of her office. Just not when it was about her.
Her white leather Balenciaga bag began vibrating and she reached inside. Tearfully, she tapped the screen of her Palm Treo and listened to the recorded message on her Voice Mail. It was Neji, saying that she had two days to seal the deal or Fuguka and Hiashi would come down for her.
"Let them," she growled/slurred, and tossed the electronic device back in her bag. She downed her drink and slid off her chair. The world was spinning a little bit. The girls giggling were becoming a troublesome thing. For the love of God, would someone shut them up . . .?
"Look," she snapped, scowling darkly and threateningly at the gaggle of preppy, twenty-one-year-old girls in tight brightly colored bikinis and espadrille heels as they quickly gasped and smothered their surprised looks. "Today, isn't a very good day, okay? I've got too many things to do and possibly not enough time to do it. I have a fucking ex-boyfriend who currently hates my guts, a new love interest and God knows what else is coming after me. So please, please, please, could you SHUT UP?"
The girls nodded in union, a look of empathy on their plastic faces. Hinata gave a sigh of relief and left the shocked bar on wobbly legs. Let the world go on around her, just keep it quiet and out her way, damnit.
In the hallway outside her suite, she let her forehead touch the cool white door with the gold accents and antique brass handle. She hated herself. She hated Sasuke. She hated Gaara and his hotness. She hated Hyuga & Uchiha Co-Op. She hated her father. She hated her boss, Fuguka. She hated Itachi. She hated Neji. She hated Hanabi. She hated Shino and Kiba. She hated Sakura and Naruto. She hated everything and everyone.
But she especially hated herself.
Why, you ask?
Because behind that door wasn't a smirking Sasuke who would be waiting for her to come back and fuck her silly. It wasn't a giggling Hanabi who would teach her how to perm her hair by herself in the bathroom sink. It wasn't an over-zealous Kiba and quiet-confident Shino to give her warm bear hugs and stroke her hair and make her laugh out loud. It wasn't a perky Sakura to sip lattes with and whisper about Sasuke to. It wasn't an obnoxious Naruto to exclaim that Sasu-teme was a jerk and deserved a needle up his ass.
Tears poured down her cheeks as she checked her thin, white Gucci wrist watch. Ten fifteen . . . a.m. Nice. It wasn't even happy hour yet and she was already drunk and crying over spilt milk.
Her world tilted dangerously suddenly and large, warm hands grabbed her shoulders, holding her steady. She closed her eyes and spun around, throwing her arms around Gaara's tight waist. She didn't care anymore. She just wanted to get laid and fall fast asleep. It would help with the pain. She'd be pushed over the brink of ecstasy, drown in that sea of pleasure. There was no pain in pleasure.
Sasuke had taught her that.
I feel that this Gaara relationship isn't going to get very far . . . Sadly. I had really been hoping it would go somewhere, but then I realized that she was going back to Japan eventually and he was to stay here in the states to keep things running so yeah . . . Don't worry, I'll think of something, just gotta give me a second.
R&R Please and Thank You!
Oh, and one more thing! Did any of you realize that Shino has NO love in the anime? I find this incredibly sad . . . I might get him a girlfriend. Think up names and I'll see what I can do! X3 (Yeah, I'm a Shino Lover. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?)