I've enjoyed reviews for this the most, so far. I re-read this and felt so embarrassed because the concept is ODD, but, as long as it doesn't catch on, I'll manage. And if you observed me to see how I come up with plots, it's a lot of blank staring into space, warm showers, and sleep. Soooo much sleep.
Just in case: Flipping someone off = giving/flipping the bird = giving someone the (middle) finger = a gesture that means 'f*** you'.
Enjoy!
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When Sasuke awoke the next morning, his first thought was that he didn't turn off the bathroom light. It was the first thing that caught his eye, and, well, with the sunlight seeping in through his window, it was a bit annoying.
His second thought was about the other body in his bed.
He lied on his side, staring at the tangle of dark hair in his view. Even though she was turned away from him, Sasuke remembered her well—most notably, the many expressions she made last night and how her body felt working against his own. He wondered if he enjoyed himself too much, because he wouldn't mind doing it again—right now—if she happened to wake up in that mood. But then he began to think of ways to get her in that mood in the event she didn't wake up that way. He also wondered if this was the beginning of a playboy lifestyle or an extended, intentionally drawn out fling with a complete stranger. Either way, he'd like her back in this position—preferably without him having to wear a dress first and mutually clear states of mind.
Sasuke turned on his back, wincing at the minor soreness he felt, and brought his arm over his eyes. Two months ago, he would have never pictured himself in this position. He honestly saw himself as a street bum of sorts, which hadn't been such a terrible possibility. He never truly thought he could make money by his own means, and this particular job would have never seemed plausible if he hadn't experienced it. And now he was sleeping with strangers. If that was ever to happen, he would have sworn it would be a hidden lifestyle of his as a big-shot.
He lifted his arm, glancing at the mess of hair again, and smirked, settling back in place.
He probably wouldn't have met her if he was a big-shot, so maybe—just maybe—this was a bit better than what he had expected. This would certainly rile his father's blood, if he ever found out. Indeed, his life choices haven't been great since the falling out, but the fact that he was making his own choices without some sort of safety net was quite exhilarating. His supposedly bad choices, especially, were beginning to excite him.
From the corner of his eye, he saw the woman begin to shift. Silently, he watched her and actually took the chance to marvel at her form. She stretched, her exhale low and prolonged, raising one arm above her head, elongating her legs under the comforter, but froze as though something stopped her. She brought her arm down slowly, her head moved up and down then side to side. It was then that she shot up, long hair covering her exposed back, and frantically looked around his apartment.
And for the briefest of moments, he wondered how she looked when she woke up in the comfort of her own home.
When she began to move out of bed, Sasuke set his arm over his eyes, parting his lips slightly, and feigned being asleep.
She yelped, the blankets leaving his body in a swift tug, and then she yelped again, to which pillows were thrown over his exposed member. He contemplated on whether or not he would have awoken from something like that. He decided it was a definite maybe and groaned, moving sluggishly. He looked at his ceiling, breathing in deeply, then looked to the side on an exhale. The woman was standing, blanket wrapped around her like a cloak, and stared at him with wide eyes.
Her face was rather pale, but maybe she wasn't feeling well from the alcohol.
"Who are you?" she squeaked.
He stared at her for a long moment, appearing as though his mind was processing why she was here. "Sasuke," he replied frankly.
"N..." She shook her head, blinking rapidly. "I didn't... We didn't- I-I-I- Why am I here?"
"You made me bring you here." He ran a hand through his hair, shutting his eyes. "That was new for me."
"I made you...? No, I was... Satsuki was the..."
Sasuke exhaled, covering his eyes again. She was fun. "I tried telling you last night, but you were persistent."
"You mean...I insisted we...?"
"Aa. You approached me after the show and insisted on talking to me privately. I tried turning you away, but you wouldn't budge. I only brought you here so you could use my phone, but it seemed you had other plans."
"O-oh my... I thought...I thought you were a wo- uh. Satsuki, I mean, I... I'm so s-sorry." She paused, he could hear her breathing pick up, and she mumbled something about never drinking again. "I-I should... I should go."
Too much fun.
She made this too much fun.
"That's it?" Sasuke looked at her, one eye peering under his arm. "Do you always use guys or just the ones dressed as women?"
She shook her head, face red. "That's not it! I, um, I-I just... I don't think this was...a-a good idea. I think we should... We should try and forget-"
"Tck, figures." He looked away. "The first time I give myself to a girl, and she was just looking for cheap fun."
And her reaction was almost instantaneous.
She rushed over to him, leaning on the bed, spewing apologies with shaky breaths and rushed words. She was a danger to herself, if he thought about it. Fun, but a danger.
"-and I honestly never meant to hurt you!" she gushed after some long speech. "Should I- Do you need- I never meant for this to happen."
He turned to her, looking at her bright face and mortified expression. And then he decided she wasn't bad company. "How do you plan to make up for this?"
"I... Well, I honestly don't know...what a person would do in this situation."
"A good person would take responsibility."
She blinked at him, plump lips parted. "So... I'm sorry, I'm not sure...what it is you want."
"Save us both the humiliation of a one-night stand."
"You mean, we should...?" She gaped at him, her expression morphing. "I... I can't possibly do that."
"Not in to guys?"
"It's not that." She stood, pulling his blankets around her tighter. "It's... Well, for one thing, I don't even know who you are."
"Sasuke Uchiha. What's next?"
"It has to be more than just-" She stopped, frowning. "Uchiha? The missing Uchiha?"
He quirked a brow at her. "I'm missing?"
She stepped closer, really looking at him. "Are you Fugaku Uchiha's son?"
"That depends. Who said I was missing?"
She opened her mouth but was interrupted by someone banging on the door. She jumped, pressing herself against the wall.
"Teme, open up!"
Sasuke groaned, running a hand through his hair. This was going to be an interesting morning.
He pulled himself out of bed, ignoring how the girl covered her eyes at his nakedness, and located his boxers. After he put them on, he strolled over to the banging door, undid the locks, and opened it. Naruto stood there, still in last night's make-up (which didn't look so good now) and his hair a mess. He was in his street clothes from yesterday, so he must not have made it home at all.
Naruto's hands slammed down on Sasuke's shoulders. "I need your help," he said, frantic. "Okay, a friend comes to the club every night, and I always take her home, but I couldn't find her—she didn't call—and I'm afraid something might have happened."
"You waited until now to tell someone?" Sasuke drawled, eyes stuck on Naruto's smeared mascara. "Isn't this a police issue?"
"You don't understand! Her cousin told me to watch over her, and she's the freaking daughter of-" Naruto's eyes locked on to the dark mass behind Sasuke. He stared for a moment, rattled by the large pale somethings staring back at him, but then his wide eyes grew wider. He pushed Sasuke aside, numbly walking toward the figure, and pulled the blanket from her head. "Hinata?"
"N-Naruto..."
He blinked, head shaking, eyebrows furrowing. "What are you doing here?" He attempted to pull the blanket from her. "Why are you-"
"Stop!"
But he had already seen a glimpse of her exposed, bruised skin before she pulled the blanket back in place. Naruto stared at her harder, no longer looking worried but highly intimidating. He looked back at Sasuke and took note of his bruises and scratch marks coming from his back down the length of his arms.
"What...?"
Looking harder still, he saw Sasuke had lipstick stains on questionable places of his body.
"What...?"
Looking back at Hinata, it was clear she had worn lipstick at one point, but the scattered clothes on the ground confirmed everything.
He looked between the two, mind engulfed in a whirlwind of realization. "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
There was a mandatory break.
After Naruto's anger-induced hysterics left the dark-haired girl in tears, Sasuke ordered the blond to wash his face and for the other to take a shower. While Naruto muttered out his frustration in the kitchen and the woman occupied the bathroom, Sasuke threw on sweatpants and a T-shirt. He reclined on his semi-made bed and waited for the two to come out.
When they entered after about thirty minutes, Naruto didn't look any happier, and the woman was dressed in last night's clothes with Naruto's jacket draped over her shoulders. She sat down on his couch, Naruto leaned against a wall, and Sasuke alternated looking from one to the other.
"So, we found her," the Uchiha said. Naruto rolled his head in his direction, eyes looking like they could kill. "Something wrong, friend?"
For ten seconds—Sasuke counted—Naruto's face progressively became feral and dark. He sighed, his hand raised at his side, and shook his head. "You have no idea why this is bad."
"What part is bad?"
"You-!" He stopped, breathing, and spoke slow. "Does the name 'Hyuuga' mean anything to you?"
"Should it?"
Naruto shook his head, huffing, and looked at the ceiling. "This can't be happening." He looked back at Sasuke, furious. "Wasn't she drunk last night?! Did it not cross your mind to not sleep with a drunk girl?!"
"So, you knew she gets drunk like that."
"That's why I take her home!"
He shrugged. "I did all I could to avoid the situation."
"Don't give me that bullshit! And you!" He turned to the girl, storming over to her and leaning on the couch. "That was you last night! Where did you get these clothes?! Why do you have these clothes?!"
"Naruto-"
"And you do not go off with strangers! Why do I have to tell you that?!"
"I just wanted to meet Satsuki!"
"Don't even try that," he warned. "Because you did a whole lot more than just 'meeting', didn't you?"
She tried forming her words, desperate, but found herself leaning away from him the longer he stayed next to her. "You never wanted to introduce me, and I-"
"I told you every day—every day—stay away from Satsuki! Stay away! Did I not say that?!"
"You did, but-"
"You were sober when I said this, so don't blame the alcohol!"
"I wasn't-"
"Do you know what Neji is going to do when he finds out about this?!"
She gasped, tears of either embarrassment or frustration springing forth. "I'm capable of doing things without him knowing what they are!"
"Before he left, he told me to watch over you! You were there! What if you're pregnant?! What if you caught something?!"
Sasuke flipped him off.
"Did you even think of that?! NO! Because you were drunk!" He turned back to Sasuke, marching across the room and yanking him up. "Drunk, Sasuke! What made you think that was right?!"
"You don't think much after clothes start coming off."
"Will you get serious! She's Hinata fucking Hyuuga, and her dad can have us both banned from the country if he wanted!"
"Hyuuga?" Sasuke said blandly. "What is it with you and Hyuuga?"
"Give me a break!" Naruto threw him down. "Out of the three companies your dad competes against, Hyuuga is one of them!" He huffed, forcing both hands through his hair. "And you just had sex with the heiress of the company like it was nothing." He shook his head, feet restless. "You don't know her dad, man... You don't know." He pressed his lips into a thin line, eyes wide and chaotic. "Fuck."
"Calm down. We got this figured out."
Naruto looked down at him, eyes crazed. "The hell are you talking about?"
"She said she'd be my girlfriend."
Both his and the woman's eyes went wide.
Naruto looked back at her, causing her to pale. "Take it back." He stormed back to her, trapping her against the couch. "Take it back right now, Hinata."
"W-why are you always trying to tell me what to do?!"
"This isn't me telling you what to do! This is me looking out for you! What do you know about him, huh?! Nothing!"
"I could get to know him!"
"He's a bad decision, Hinata! His whole life has been bad decisions!"
Sasuke flipped him off again.
"Don't you know he's-"
"The missing Uchiha! Yes! And, quite frankly, my father would think this was a good decision!"
Naruto fell silent, staring at her blankly. He pushed off the couch, pacing the room, and they watched him. Neither was used to him being so enraged, and one found it amusing while the other was completely terrified. After a while, Naruto exhaled, leaning against the wall again. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself in to," he muttered. "You just... God!" He dropped his face into his hands, trying to calm down. It was too much for him to find out in less than twenty-four hours.
He just couldn't believe she had actually done that.
He didn't even recognize her on stage last night, and he hadn't even seen Sasuke leave. He knew she was lonely, and for some reason had taken a liking to Sasuke's other persona, but he didn't know she would risk her credibility because of it. This needed to be fixed.
He looked up, looking at Sasuke, searching for that honesty that was so hard to find. "How serious are you?"
He shrugged. "Serious enough."
He shook his head, his tongue pressed against his teeth as to not say anything, and turned away."Are you serious about this?" he asked the woman.
She swallowed hard, trying to meet his gaze. "Well...certain things would have to happen first..." She wrung her hands, peeking at Sasuke. "I don't want you to think I used you...b-but I can't just become your girlfriend either. We should...get to know each other better."
Sasuke thought about that. He would definitely like to see her more, but now this was starting to sound serious. He threw around the idea earlier just because his poor choice of words wanted the amusement to last longer. Now...he'd have to put in effort.
"And," she went on, "you should go back home. Your family is worried."
"I'm not doing that."
"Teme," Naruto growled.
"I don't see what going back has to do with anything."
"Can you think of other people just once? This isn't about whatever issues you think there are back home. This is about taking responsibility because you made bad fucking choices."
"I'm all for dating her, but I'm not going out of my way to do it."
"Are you-!"
"It's okay." She stood, pulling the jacket tighter, and bowed. "I'm very sorry for what happened, Uchiha-san." She looked at Naruto. "And I'm sorry for worrying you, Naruto."
The blond took a moment to breathe. Now he wasn't sure what was aggravating him more. "We have class tomorrow," he said pushing off the wall. "I just...really need to get you home."
And they left.
The week went by rather slowly for many reasons.
For one, he didn't leave his apartment much. That wasn't completely different from what he normally did, but it didn't help speed things up.
Second, Naruto hadn't come back. Then again, it wasn't like he lived particularly close to where they worked, and since he was probably busy with classes, it's not like Sasuke was going to go visit him either. And he certainly wasn't worried over what had become of their friendship no matter how mad Naruto had been, but he noted this would be the first time in a long time that he had actually managed to make Naruto angry.
And he hadn't even done anything to him.
And third, which wasn't an issue but a passing thought, he concluded he liked sex. Sex was pretty okay. Sex was pretty—really—very okay. Thinking about sex dragged the day on and on, and, at times, he really wanted to have sex. The scratch marks on his back and arms were slowly healing, and the fading hickeys on his neck and chest were reminders that he'd want to experience it all just like that again.
But maybe...everything had to be like that time, too—give or take a few aspects.
He did, maybe, spend a good portion of the week on his phone, and maybe, just maybe, he looked up the Hyuuga corporation. The current person in charge was a man named Hiashi Hyuuga. His wife died five years ago, leaving him with two daughters—the youngest, Hanabi, and the eldest, Hinata. He also took in a nephew, Neji, who was currently studying abroad to one day work for the company.
There were also rumors that Hiashi planned to merge with the Uchiha empire, but he refused to believe his father would agree to something like that.
There wasn't much to be said about his daughters, but he guessed he knew why. All that was given about the eldest was that she was currently attending college and would one day take over the Hyuuga legacy, making her the first female heir in their bloodline.
She really was...something like his opposite.
"Yo."
Sasuke stared, still trying to wake up, as Naruto stood on the other side of his door, bundled up in a jacket. "Long time no see," he muttered.
Naruto shifted from foot to foot, frowning. "We need to talk."
"About?" Sasuke turned, heading back towards his bed and plopped down face first. There were about five hours left before they had to go to work, and he had hoped to sleep until then.
Naruto entered, closing the door behind him, and sat on the couch, resting his arms on his knees. "I don't think I overreacted, so I'm not going to apologize."
"Mm."
"But I will admit I should have—talked—about it better. You gotta understand, Hinata... Hinata is..." He sighed, wiping his face. "If you knew her like I do, you'd know she doesn't do things like that. And then she does it with a guy like you."
Sasuke turned his head, face in his pillow, and looked at him. "What's with this sudden problem with me?"
"Oh, come on. You're not exactly made for dealing with people, let alone chicks. Sometimes I wonder if you're all there." Naruto pointed at his head. "Look... You're my friend, don't get me wrong. It was just...a shock...to know that you... That you..."
Sasuke waited. Naruto was really trying to convey the right emotions and thoughts, and if he was a little more awake, he might have really wanted to know what they were.
Naruto looked at him, incredulous. "It's not even you that surprised me. When I realized she was the one who walked up on stage with you..." He yelled, flinging himself backwards. "Man! I've known you both for so long, and never—not even if someone would have told me—would I expect this to happen."
Sasuke stared at him a moment longer before sitting up, forcing his legs over the edge of the bed. Now that he was functional, he had stuff to say, too. "You've never brought her up before."
"Hinata?" Naruto laughed. "Who I am with her and who I am with you are completely different people. Besides, until that night, she didn't know about you either—at least, not that I knew you."
"When did you meet her?"
"Eh... Some time...in high school. I used to pick fights with her cousin, but then I became friends with him. I met her some time after that." He frowned at the ceiling. "And then after that, the company her dad runs started to pick up." He nodded approvingly. "They actually accomplished a lot, huh?"
This was all news to him. Sasuke had known Naruto since they were children, and the blond had never been good at keeping secrets. However, after Sasuke transferred to a different high school, it seems Naruto had gotten better at that. Then, by chance, he met another person whose family owned a company? He didn't tell him that? He supposed he wouldn't have cared, but he felt a bit betrayed that he never knew.
Naruto looked at him. "I never told you about her because it honestly never crossed my mind. I guess I didn't think you'd get along with her. Or Neji."
"Do you like her?"
"What?"
"Do you like her?"
Naruto sat up, exhaling. "I've been wondering about that... I found out she had a crush on me once, but we never talked about it. I heard her tell a friend, so I never brought it up. So, when I saw you two..." He groaned, rubbing his head. "It just confused me, alright? You both confused the hell out of me."
"So, did you come here to tell me to stay away from her?"
"Tch! I came here because you're my friend, and I kinda missed talkin' to ya, teme. That and to tell you to call Itachi. He's been showing up at my dorm lately, and I don't feel right saying I don't know where you are."
"He'll probably start following you."
"Yeah..." He stood. "Uh, I kinda like his opinion of me, and I wouldn't want him finding out...about this job, so..."
"How is that girl—Hinata?"
Naruto paused, thrown off by that question. "Eh... It's no offense to you, but she's not exactly proud of what she did. And the last thing she heard you say didn't help either."
"Hn."
Naruto debated with himself, knowing he shouldn't say too much. "The thing about Satsuki... She just really looked up to that part of you. It sounds dumb, but you kinda ruined that image for her."
Sasuke didn't respond.
"Hey, I have stuff to do before work, so I'll catch you later... Unless you want to come."
"I'll pass."
Naruto stared at him again, jittery. "We're good, right?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I was never upset."
"Yeah... Yeah... You just... For a guy that has so much to offer, you waste it in the strangest of ways."
"I've been told that." He lied back down, concealing himself in his blanket. "See you at work."
Naruto held back a smile, shaking his head. Sasuke didn't seem bothered, and it wasn't like he wasn't expressive when it came to anger. Still, he felt like he should make it up to him. He just had to think of a way how. "Kay, well, see ya." Naruto walked to the door, pausing when he touched the handle. "Hey."
Sasuke grunted.
"Do you like her? Hinata, I mean."
"...See you at work."
He didn't know what he had expected.
But maybe it was safe to say he did.
Since the first day he worked there, when he was thrust into this environment, when he walked onto the floor, she had been there. He didn't expect her to be there—she just was. However, she wasn't there that night.
She wouldn't be there tomorrow.
And, in two more months, she'd make no appearances either.
"Father."
Fugaku Uchiha looked up from his laptop, looking at his eldest son. "Itachi."
"Has Sasuke been found?"
"Found?" Fugaku leaned back in his chair. "He is not lost. He left of his own free will, and this constant worry that both you and your mother express is quite unnecessary."
"Father-" Itachi stopped himself. "How is mother?"
"Hmph." He looked back at his laptop. "She's been at her mother's, so I wouldn't know."
"I see... Pardon my intrusion." Itachi bowed his head. "I will be on my way."
"Very well."
Itachi turned out the door and walked out of the over-sized house that was officially too big for his tastes. Anyone they hired to cook, to clean, or to maintain it would have the day off, and he wondered how his father was okay with being alone in such a large space.
Then again, his youngest son had been gone for over four months, his wife was too distraught to be around him, but he was okay with that.
He clamped his jaw and focused on getting into his car. He would have thought Sasuke would have been found by now since he filed that Missing Person's Report, but, as the police saw it, he was an affluent young man with the resources to leave of his own free will. If he had been just two years younger, then they would have exhausted themselves with finding him because he would have been a minor. Then again...maybe he should stop thinking of Sasuke as a child.
His brother was nineteen, and he was well aware of what should and should not be done. He didn't know what would possess him to interrupt their father's business meeting and say all that he did, but he must have known the repercussions of it all—meaning, Sasuke wanted this. Maybe he didn't want to get cut off completely, but he did want to make his own decisions, but he was incredibly bad at doing that. Itachi partly blamed himself. Even as children, their position in life could be a stressful one, so Itachi always had a major role in what Sasuke did and didn't get himself in to. He never thought...this would happen, though.
And where the heck could Sasuke have gone if Naruto didn't know where he was? He didn't have any other friends (at least none he knew of), so there really wasn't anywhere he could have gone or anyone who would know about him.
Maybe he should start following the Uzumaki...
When Itachi was secured in his car, he backed out of the long driveway and began yet another trip to Naruto's university. He lived in one of the dorms, and he wished Sasuke would have done something like that if he wanted to have more freedom.
As he drove out of the gated neighborhood, he began to eye the streets. It was then that he spotted a speck in the distance coming from the sidewalk. He focused on it, projecting his own wishful image to it, and, as he passed it, his car came to a screeching halt. He put the car in park, tore away his seat belt, and shot out of the vehicle.
"Sasuke!"
Fugaku clicked and typed away on his laptop, checking bank accounts and cellphone records. He had only cut Sasuke off for a month, but his son hadn't tried to access his money or use his cellphone in months. It's possible that he opened his own account and bought his own phone, but he would still need money. Where would Sasuke get money? He wouldn't have been able to get jobs in any of the other businesses without someone informing him, so just where was he?
Why hadn't he come back yet?
Perhaps...he was unable to come back. Perhaps something happened to him in that first month, which is why he had not seen or heard from him.
Fugaku scoffed, waving the thought off. The mere idea was ludicrous because Sasuke was an Uchiha, and bad fortune was not something they encountered. On the outside, sure, it would seem otherwise, but these were the beginnings of an even greater future. He's sure Sasuke was fine. Sasuke must have covered his tracks quite nicely for him to not have been spotted by anyone.
Sasuke was absolutely, positively okay...
Fugaku focused on his laptop again, accessing credit cards that may have been opened in his son's name.
"Father."
The man looked up, surprised to see both his sons in the doorway. "Sasuke... You're—here."
His youngest looked at Itachi, staring him away, before walking forward. "I was—wrong—before."
"Wrong?" Fugaku sat up straighter. "You are apologizing?"
He frowned. "I'm admitting that I was wrong."
"And you want to come back?"
"I don't want to be disowned."
He regarded him for a moment. "Where have you been?"
Sasuke shifted on his feet, looking around the room briefly. "I got a job. Worked for awhile. But it's not for me."
"You got a job?" Fugaku looked at his laptop then Sasuke repeatedly. "Where?"
"I don't remember."
"You didn't open any bank accounts?"
"I did. I used a different name." He looked at him quizzically. "Were you looking?"
"Of course not." He closed his laptop, sitting back in his chair. "It's been four months. You worried both your mother and Itachi."
"Yeah, I got that lecture already." He paused, finding his words. "The thing is-"
The man sighed, shaking his head. "You are my son. My attitude, my scowl, my awkward tendencies. You are no doubt my child." He looked at him for a moment, almost tempted to smile. "I will not apologize for steering you in the right direction because, unlike me, you make poor choices."
He shrugged. "Had to start somewhere."
"Well, if that's the case, is it out of your system? If you are back for good, then you will go back to preparing for your role in the company. While you were away, the Senju, Hyuuga, and even Suna have announced the future heads of their companies. I have stalled because I want both you and Itachi to take over, but I wasn't sure if you were coming back."
"Is that how it is?"
"It is. You have objections?"
He shook his head. "But I do need you to teach me something."
Fugaku's eyes widened slightly. This was an occasion he had only ever thought would happen in his dreams (yet that still evaded him), but it had finally happened. For once, Sasuke actually wanted to learn from him.
He wiped his face, covering his smirk. "Alright. What do you want to know?"
Two Weeks Later
"Whaaaaat? So you quit?"
"Aa."
"But it was so much more fun with you around."
"You'll survive."
Naruto and Sasuke were seated outside a fast food place, enjoying the cold. It was a while since Naruto had seen him, and now he knew why.
"It's not like I'm not happy that you're back home," Naruto said, face propped on his hand, "but you could have told me before just up and leaving."
"You found out, so stop complaining."
"Neeeeee, Sasuke, when are we ever gonna hang out?"
"We're doing that now."
"Keh! Could you have at least picked a closer university? It's like you're trying to get away from me. Are you mad?"
"No. It didn't matter what university I chose; it still wouldn't be anywhere near yours, and I come home every day anyway."
"And then you have those cram classes or whatever, then you go to your dad's job. What happened to you being lazy?"
He shrugged, squinting as a cold wind fluttered by. "What are you even going to school for?"
"Oh, ya know... Gotta make sure I make a lot of money."
"So, why are you still working in drag?"
Naruto stared at him, surprised. "It's fun, Sasuke. I honestly thought you thought the same."
He huffed, a laugh. "It was easy money. I can't possibly live like that."
"I guess so... It was just more fun when you were there."
He chose to ignore that. "About that... Her."
Naruto scrunched a brow. "You still think about her?"
"No idea what made you think that."
"Well, you called me out here for a change, and I can tell you were trying to build up to something." He sighed. "But if it's about Hinata, you shouldn't bother."
"Mm. I'll keep that in mind." He leaned forward, staring for a long time. "What university do you go to?"
"Eh, it's nothing impressive. I'd hate for that high opinion you have of me to fall."
"It can't get any lower." He paused. "You should show me some time, anyway."
Naruto made a sound, some kind of laugh. "I'm gonna be away for a month, so I couldn't even I wanted to."
"So, you don't want to."
He shrugged, picking up his drink. "You wouldn't be interested."
The weather was getting colder.
Sasuke had just arrived on campus, his mood not particularly high because of the weather, and made his way to the largest building.
Shinsei University was a school that had one of the highest graduation rates and produced a great deal of successful people in fields ranging from Engineering to Business. It wasn't acclaimed as one of the best universities in Japan, but, he supposed, it didn't have to be. He was never one for attention, and the scenery wasn't half bad to look at.
He wondered why Naruto didn't want to tell him that much.
But he couldn't gawk because he had things to do, and if he forced himself to be out here any longer, he might just turn around and go home. He couldn't do that, though. He had reconstructed who he was, and he decided to use that potential of his to actually get somewhere in life. He may even make a name for himself, but, he could handle all that later.
Once inside, it became considerably warmer. Everything was as clean as his own university, but there were more colors and wall-sized windows. The halls were packed with people going to and from classes, but there was a lot of organization in the way they filed about. Along with three other people, he took an elevator to the third floor. The people he shared the ride with looked at him frequently, and he wondered if they knew he didn't go here.
That had to be close to impossible.
When the elevator stopped, they all got out—the destination being the library.
Shelves of books and rows of computers spanned from left to right, and study rooms were located in various places. Opposite him, most of the wall was one giant window that overlooked the back of the campus, where a lake with a large fountain in the middle could be seen. He looked around. There were quite a few people here, and it wasn't as deathly quiet as his library. He could see why Naruto must have liked it here. The atmosphere wasn't dull, and the maturity level was still pretty high. It wasn't bad at all.
Sasuke began walking, looking between the bookshelves.
Over the course of a little over seven days, Sasuke discovered that, if he dug deep enough, he could find information about anything or anyone, which is exactly what he did after that outing with Naruto. Another thing he discovered was that Naruto was indeed reluctant to tell him about where he attended school because he, in fact, had something to hide. But Sasuke had kept digging, and he would keep digging from now on.
Sasuke came to a stop, nearly at the other end of the room.
It was thanks to Sasuke's digging that he found a dark-haired woman dressed in an over-sized sweater, fitted jeans and boots, who was looking through a row of books.
It was thanks to Sasuke's digging that he discovered Naruto had gone to the same school as a certain female because his family was indebted to the Hyuugas, and both sides saw it fit to stay in touch for financial reasons.
And it was a big thanks to Sasuke's digging, and Naruto's slip of the tongue, that he had nearly a whole month to get to know Hinata Hyuuga for himself.