Chapter 14: Lens Flare

Tokyo

Hinata was looking at a shiny new computer and an almost empty bank account, but at least she was assured that she could work confidently without losing any more of her pictures, thanks to Tenten and Naruto.

From her shiny new computer, she sent out her photos to the imperial committee.

A week later, the Inbox (1) in her email made her whoop with joy. She'd made it to the next round.

But first, she had to go see him.

She reached for her phone and dialed his number. He picked up right away.

"Hinata?!"

"Naruto? It's me."

She must have misheard it, but he sounded really surprised that she would actually call him. "Hi." He cleared his throat. "Good evening."

She glanced at the clock, surprised to see that it was already this late in the afternoon. "Did you make it through?"

She heard the smile in his voice. "I did."

"Me, too!"

"Congratulations, Hinata. But honestly, I was kinda expecting you'd get through."

"Right?! I never doubted it for one second! I'm unstoppable!" she said with a laugh, feeling a little flutter in her stomach when she heard him share in her laughter at her joke.

His laugh was low-pitched and slow, appreciative.

God. To hear him do that while they were on a bed…

She shook her head. "Anyway, I'm coming over to your studio. Give me your address."

"Wait, what?!" he responded, his voice really squeaky. "Now?!"

"Where are you located?" she insisted. "I'm riding a high. Tenten saved my photos—thanks to you! Then I made it through to the next round. And, I finally have a new computer so Kiba can now get off my back and stop harping about how old it is! I think that deserves a celebration. And I also really want to see you personally because this wouldn't be possible without you."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh. So?" she asked again. "I need to see you. Where you at?"

I need to see you.

No fair. How could she reduce him to putty without even trying?

Of course, Naruto gave her his work address despite actually being busy. She'd called him while he was in the middle of a meeting with a client—the editors of another magazine who wanted to negotiate a contract for his photography services.

He tried to end the meeting with the magazine quickly, not even looking at the contract terms as closely as he'd like—and probably cheating himself out of getting paid fairly—because all he wanted was these people out of his office ASAP before she came over. How strange that he'd been excited to meet with the editor of one of the largest Japanese men's fashion magazines earlier, but now, he couldn't wait to kick him out.

God, this man droned on too much! Naruto thought with frustration he hid behind his smile because his ingrained politeness wouldn't allow him to be rude. But the editor didn't seem to get it as he kept calling him by his last name, which Naruto recognized as a sign that he wanted to talk about his mother.

Ugh! Hurry up and get out of my office!

When he could no longer stand it, Naruto deliberately and pointedly looked at his watch, ashamed to be so rude, but his desire to see Hinata overrode the feeling of embarrassment. But finally, the editor got the message. He quickly rounded up his staff and said good-bye.

Good riddance!

Of course, Naruto waited in eager anticipation for Hinata's arrival, gathering up whatever he had in the office for her to drink. He always had drinks ready for clients whenever they came over for meetings. However, because he felt regular ryukucha green tea and coffee wasn't enough for her, he also popped into the convenience store located on the first floor of his office building. He grabbed a few more varieties for whatever she might like: sports drink, bancha, sencha, mugicha, houjicha, water, and some fizzy drinks. That done, he rushed back upstairs to the eleventh floor because he only had an hour to clean up his office before she would arrive.

Of course, his breath caught when she blazed through the doors noisily, ooh-ing and aah-ing when she'd glimpsed his equipment—the latest one that had cost him an exorbitant amount.

"Oh, my god!" she cried as she rushed to gaze at the massive camera more closely. Professional courtesy prevented her from picking it up. "Is that the newest Nikon D6 DSLR?! With the precision focusing and 14FPS?!"

She didn't even glance at him, he thought with amusement. She'd gone straight to the camera like a bee to a flower. But he was smiling at her as she most definitely, blatantly ogled his camera and its lens, drool fairly dripping down her mouth.

"Hi, Hinata."

She ignored him, eyes still glued reverently to the camera. "That is the most gorgeous thing on earth! Man, I just bought a computer so I need to save up some more money if I want one of these!"

Would you like to touch it? he almost asked, but he held back. There was no way he was going to compete with a shiny new toy she was suddenly obsessed with. Nope. Maybe she could handle his camera later.

After.

Whatever that meant.

A flutter began in his stomach.

"Hinata?" he said again, more loudly this time to finally get her attention.

She whipped around as if finally realizing where she was.

And then beamed at him.

His heart leapt, basking in the life-giving glow of her. He knew he would never forget that smile.

It was full of sunlight and joy, wrapping him in some kind of euphoria and enchantment—made even more wonderful because she finally looked into his eyes and said his name, warmly, like how a lover would speak it.

"Naruto."

Belatedly realizing that she'd ignored him even though she'd raided his headquarters, Hinata opened her mouth to apologize for drooling over his shiny new camera.

"Sorry! I just—"

But her words died in her mouth when she finally got a good look at him. Her mouth suddenly felt dry, and she couldn't help it when she swallowed and then her teeth gently nibbled on her lower lip.

He was wearing a charcoal gray suit, but he'd shed the jacket. She saw it hanging neatly over a swivel chair. He'd kept his three-piece suit's vest and tie on, the latter a silver and purple patterned mix that spoke volumes of his incredible taste. As always, it was neatly tucked inside the vest.

"Oh, wow," she said breathlessly. "You look so different. In a suit."

He smiled hesitantly and then brought a self-conscious hand to rub the back of his head. "Yeah, I had a meeting with a client."

Of course.

"I mean, you always look good, but you're even more gorgeous today," she blurted out, unable to resist complimenting him.

Because.

Not only was he in a suit, something about him rolling his shirt sleeves up to his elbows called to the most feminine core of her, that here was a man who worked hard and took his craft seriously—just as she did hers. She continued to gaze at the lean muscles of his forearms until it sent a shaft of desire so powerful inside her, her knees almost buckled.

Damn.

Hinata realized she was quickly developing a fetish for Naruto's arms and hands.

She swallowed thickly, awkwardly cleared her throat, and continued to stare at him even though she knew that each lengthening second made her rude but she just couldn't help it.

He was so effortlessly sexy, it was so unfair.

But then Naruto blinked rapidly before that startled expression stole over his features again and his flush darkened even more. Hinata found it adorable that he could get flustered with an honest compliment.

"Um, thank you." He was still looking at her, blinking. A couple times he opened his mouth to say something, but he must have changed his mind, and closed it. Instead, he smiled—a shy, small one, and then fell back into silence.

She didn't mind. She continued smiling at him, appreciating that sometimes, calm moments were welcome for both her and him.

Then she grinned at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare. I'm just a little startled. I forgot you're a proper photographer. I've just gotten used to seeing you in a more casual setting at the festivals." Then she glanced around at his stylish office. "Everything in here feels so classy compared to mine and Kiba's studio."

It was true. The walls were slate gray, the shelves on the wall were black, his other cameras and various lenses arranged neatly on them. He had the latest and newest gadgets, the ultramodern lighting systems, the neat backdrops and stands.

Hell, even the area his studio was located in was trendy. Jinbocho, an area of Tokyo known for the hundreds of used-book stores and popular curry restaurants, was undergoing a revitalization process, becoming a place for trendy young people to hang out for shopping and cuisine.

"But I liked your studio, too!" he suddenly said. "You guys chose the place really well."

"It is, isn't it?" she affirmed with a pleased laugh. "It's not in the most fashionable part of Tokyo, but the Ochanomizu area is accessible and people love going there. In other words, it's super cheap and cozy."

"It was lovely and fun."

Again, they smiled at each other. And Hinata definitely liked the more peaceful turn their relationship was heading towards. She didn't mind it now even though, technically, he was an obstacle to her success, that he was still a rival for her dream job.

Hinata glanced once more around, wanting so badly to touch that Nikon, but then she belatedly realized why she'd come over.

"Thank you for Tenten, I don't know how I could ever repay you."

Before he could respond though, Hinata added, "Actually, I do know." She reached into her bag and grabbed the akabeko, the small wooden cow painted red whose head bobbed up and down, that she'd hastily wrapped in her hand towel. Quickly, she unwrapped it, strode over, reached for his hand and placed it in his upturned palm. "Because of you and her, I actually had photos to send in for the contest. Without you, I wouldn't even have made it through to the Tokushima round, so thank you so much. I mean it sincerely."

He stared at it and then looked up at her face. "This is for me?"

"Yep," she said, and while he held it gingerly in her hand, Hinata pushed gently at the little cow head, making it nod up and down and then sideways. She laughed, loving how cute and adorable it was.

He was smiling at her, which went straight to her heart, piercing her with how incredibly sweet it was.

"Thank you."

She kept grinning at him, her smile wide because she was loving this feeling of pleasing him instead of always provoking him.

"So that little photo project I mentioned in my note?"

He nodded.

"I went to visit Temari, the first ever female nebutashi."

"Oh, wow." His expression said he was impressed, which made Hinata gloat, glad now that she'd given up her evening in a comfy bed to be with Temari and her family.

She pointed to the akabeko he was still cradling gently in his hand. Naruto didn't seem to want to put it down. "Anyway, her grandmother's from Fukushima, and she makes those traditional toys. Temari had them at her place, and I offered to buy a bunch of Chiyo-baa-chan's crafts so that I could have souvenirs for my family from my trip to Aomori." Again, she reached forward to poke the little cow head, which bobbled again and caused her to break out again into a smile. "This little guy is for you."

"Hinata."

She looked up at him, and her breath froze. He looked like he was going to lean down and kiss her, which she would have welcomed, but he didn't. Feeling a little disappointed, she shook her head and reminded herself that he wouldn't do shit like that because he was a gentleman—and who was obviously with that model.

So she opened her mouth and blurted, "Yeah, so! There's a reason why I'm here!"

The sound was loud and jarring in that quiet office, which ruined whatever that moment between the two of them was. His eyes fluttered with surprise, and Hinata breathed a sigh of relief, glad to talk business, reminding herself again the reason why she was here in his office. "Right! Did you get the money I sent you for the Aomori hotel?"

Thankfully, he seemed to have shaken off that mood, too, and he nodded in response. "Yes, but I think you sent me too much, though."

"Did I?" She looked at him. She'd discussed it with Kiba, who had agreed with her that the original amount Naruto had sent about the hotel was probably lower than the real one. They'd then decided to up the amount by a few thousand yen.

"But you left me so quickly in the room all by myself." He was smiling, though, and Hinata loved it when he added in a humorous poke at her. "I thought you were back to hating me again."

To set him at ease, she quickly replied, "No, Naruto! It wasn't you. You've been very kind, actually, but I didn't think I could afford staying one more night with you."

He grimaced. "Oh, right. I'm sorry."

She laughed. "Don't be sorry! You're good company. I'm just poor. And as much as I appreciated all you did for me in Aomori, I don't think my wallet, or Kiba, would've approved of me racking up too big a bill."

She recognized the sign that he was about to offer to let her not pay for anything and cut him off with a shake of her head. "No. We agreed to split the cost, remember? Just let me do this. I don't like being obligated to other people."

She couldn't see it, but there was a militant gleam in her eyes that made Naruto say, "That's fair."

She nodded, and to get him off the subject, she launched into an excited account of her stay with the nebuta-shi siblings. Hinata felt it was okay to tell him now because they'd both gotten through the next round.

Naruto nodded. "Oh, I remember seeing those now. Those photos you took were really good. The brothers and their sister. I loved that picture of the two of them lifting her up in the air when they were celebrating the end of the festival. I should have known you were the one who sent those in?"

She beamed at him. "So you recognized my style?"

He tilted his head. "Yeah, I think I can. You've got a way of taking photos that convey a lot of energy. They're very raw and natural." His look was hesitant when he asked, "Did you see mine?"

She shook her head. "Not online. I'm sorry. It's not only yours specifically, though. I do it for everyone, for all my competition. I don't usually check out the other photographers' work."

"Oh." He seemed disappointed and he looked down at the akabeko again then looked up and smiled. "Right."

Seeing that disappointed look on his face prompted Hinata to impulsively say, "I don't know if it's against the rules, but can you show them to me now? The ones you sent in?" He took in a surprised breath. "Only if you want to?"

Maybe it was her imagination, but he seemed to be beaming at her, his smile brighter than the others she'd ever seen on that handsome face.

"Okay."

She followed him when he walked over to one of his shelves and then gently placed her bright red gift next to one of his sleek cameras, that expensive Nikon she'd admired so much.

"You can use my table if you want."

She sat on the swivel chair that Tenten often liked to spin around in. She glanced once more at his chic, luxurious office and waited while he went to another table and brought out some photographs in A4 size. He spread them over the surface in front of her.

She picked them up and admired them silently, instantly drawn in by the beauty of his shots. "Oh, wow…"

Hinata hadn't been lying. She really thought he was one of the best photographers in the world. She loved what he captured, the smiling faces of the children in their mothers' arms as they pointed upward towards the mikoshis. There was one of a woman in a brilliant kimono, her arms spread, caught in a dance movement that swirled the fabric in a veil of gold, red, and purple.

"Naruto, these are mouth-wateringly exquisite." She looked up and met his gaze, which had been initially anxious and apprehensive, but now changed to relief and happiness when he'd heard her praise. He seemed embarrassed that she'd said so much, so she turned back to his photos, slowly soaking in the details of his style, his use of stark cropping, the black and white tones.

She could feel him watching her, but he didn't say anything else.

Presently, she heard him say, "Hinata, would you like a drink?"

She nodded in reply because she was still busy studying his photographs, she couldn't take her eyes off them. There was so much to admire and, admittedly, something to emulate.

He was back. "Which one?"

And she looked up to see him holding an array of drinks in his arms, maybe twenty of them, which he set down carefully in front of her, one by one.

She laughed. "So many to choose from!"

He blushed and that little smile of his was back again, one hand in the pocket of his trousers, the other at the back of his neck. "Yeah, sorry. I think I went overboard when you said you were coming over. I just wanted to make sure I had something that you liked."

Her smile slowly died.

Shit.

And then. Oh. My. God. Her heart screamed a protest, recognizing the lengths he'd made just to please her.

She was dead, she knew. All her efforts to make excuses, to make herself actively dislike him, gone in a flash as soon as she saw him standing with those bottles of drinks that he'd chosen specifically just for her.

It was hard to hate someone who was this nice.

Everything in her recognized his skill, his ability to capture images that resonated with others, the proof of it lay in the pictures spread on the table. The professional photographer in her accepted the gauntlet he'd thrown when he'd entered the challenge. She wanted very much to annihilate him, her rival who stood in her way… but despite her hostility towards him, he remained kind and helpful, and so damned unflappable with her behavior that she wanted to make him lose that control over himself. But even those times he looked flustered, he was so endearing, she felt charmed despite vowing not to be unaffected by him.

She loved the way he clammed up and pressed his lips together, that frown that puckered that little area between his eyebrows, and the way he would just flush really red for a few seconds before his blush would ultimately even out over his skin. Judging from the crimson tint of his neck and arms, she bet that his blush covered his entire body.

And that would get her imagination all fired up again because she could easily picture him without clothes on.

It was strange because despite being shy, he exuded so much masculinity without even trying. Maybe the reason was because he worked in fashion that he always looked elegant and put together.

"You want to go grab dinner with me?" she suddenly blurted.

But without waiting for his answer, she immediately shook her head.

Nah. Fuck that.

The demon inside her was out in full force, no longer wanting to listen to that angel—who was now fading into nothing and didn't really have the will to fight anymore.

Hinata purposefully strode up to him and stopped a foot away, her eyes determined.

Surprise had him frozen to his spot so Hinata pressed her opportunity.

"Naruto, will you let me get you out of my system?"

There it was again. That look that never failed to drive her insane because he was just so adorable whenever he was flustered by something she did.

"What?!"

"We've been dancing so much over this thing between us."

He was looking at her, his expression suddenly tense.

"Do you know the feeling of wanting someone so much that you hurt with it?"

He shook his head even though she suspected he knew exactly what she meant.

"No? Well, I do. You're so beautiful and I just want to touch you. I just want you so much, I'm dying with curiosity. We could be so good together in bed. I need to get this feeling out of my system. "

"Hinata." He shook his head, and he seemed to be genuinely bewildered by the whole thing. "This seems so sudden. Maybe we should talk first?"

She didn't blame him because she was just as surprised by her own unpredictable fits of insanity.

"I don't want to talk. Hell, there's no room for talk. I'm just being honest, expressing my opinion."

"You think honesty's going to make me want to sleep with you?!"

"Is it not working?"

"No."

"Shit, I must be losing my touch."

He didn't even crack a smile at that joke. She grinned at him despite that. "You sure you're not curious how this could all go down? Not even a tiny bit? I'm here, I'm ready. I don't even need to be romanced and all that jazz."

He shook his head vehemently. "No. I'm not curious at all."

"Liar." She glanced at his pants then smiled at the flush on his cheeks.

"You want me just as much as I want you."

He shifted, tried to hide the evidence, but he still tried to resist, trying for anger this time around. "Holy shit, Hinata."

But she knew he didn't really mean it. There was no ire in his tone. Instead, she fell back on her favorite tactic to counter him, something that worked in the past.

She teased.

Her tone was cajoling. "Maybe I should help you out, Naruto? How about we test it out in our minds first? I could paint more vivid pictures of you and me kissing and doing a lot of interesting things on a bed." Her voice was low and inviting. Her eyes were merry and her lips were quirked up to a sultry curve. "You came to visit me in my studio. Surely there was a reason for that." Her smile became even more luminous. "Well, I'm here now, offering myself to you."

"Yeah, but..." He closed his eyes. Swallowed. Then he tried one more time to resist.

His voice sounded bewildered. "God, Hinata, you're either a nightmare or a dream."

"I can't be both?"

His response was a startled laugh. His eyes were now open to gaze at her but finally, Hinata sensed an opening when he said, "You move fast once you get an idea in your head."

"No. I just don't like to waste time, mine or other people's," she answered him honestly.

He closed his eyes once more, seeming to grapple with the decision, left both of them in silence, even though she was literally aching, throbbing between her legs because she was so close to getting what she wanted.

She took one more step towards him, made sure her breasts brushed against him and trailed her fingers over his arm.

"Naruto…"

He sighed.

Resistance is futile, his nerdy inner voice said to him.

Eyes still closed, he wrestled within himself. Why was he even thinking about rejecting her?

A part of him recognized that he wanted to take things slow, in an orderly, measured pace that made sense for him. But with Hinata, he realized that this was impossible. She was never going to fit into any of the boxes he'd expected and hoped for in his mind. The reality was, she was unpredictable and quirky. She was also chaotic, but honest and endearing enough to break down this ideal progression he'd wanted for whatever this thing, this relationship between them was.

God, he instinctively knew if he said yes, she would ride roughshod over him, his body—and probably his heart.

Maybe Tenten was right. Maybe he was trying to guard his heart by resisting Hinata.

But Hinata's words rang true in the silence of his office now. There was too much emotion, too much hunger, too much desire overwhelming him that he was finding it hard to be practical about the whole thing.

Get her out of his system, indeed.

That was a good way to phrase it.

Because she was right. He wanted her.

He opened his eyes and didn't bother hiding it anymore. She'd teased him this long, had painted those images so vividly in his mind. And now she was more than ready to make it a reality for both of them and no longer remain just a figment of their imaginations.

Hinata was standing in front of him, literally telling him she wanted to have sex with him, seducing him with her candor, and he was doing his best to fight the attraction between them even though it was so obvious.

"You don't hold back at all," he said.

It was a fact, he stated it plainly. And typically Hinata, she didn't even deny it.

"I don't."

But the expression on her face when she looked into his eyes was the most vulnerable he'd ever seen her. "I recommend almost-dying once, it makes things so clear for yourself. The experience cuts through the bullshit in life and makes you go for what you want."

She didn't miss his involuntary glance at her throat and neck.

Hinata smiled ruefully, making her even more alluring, the softness in her expression cutting through the severity of her honest admission.

She stepped even closer one more time, their bodies flush against each other now, and placed a hand on his heart. He knew she could feel the pounding in his chest, feel the rapid expansion and contraction of his lungs because he was feeling breathless.

"That means I want you, Naruto, and I'm going to be upfront about it."

Sage advice. He should probably take it and say the same thing to her.

To calm his mind, he glanced around at his office and his eyes lit on that beautiful gift from her that had blasted through the armor around his heart, sending him into a freefall he couldn't control. He'd almost kissed her but had stopped himself because of how dangerous this would be.

As if lending him support, though, the little red akabeko cow was bobbing its head, slowly, up and down, seeming to say: Go for it. You can do this.

Naruto brought his gaze back to her and finally smiled. "Hinata, nothing here in my office is comfortable. We're going to my place."

She finally laughed, victorious. "You're on."

Notes:

I tried linking a short akabeko vid on youtube but it wouldn't let me :( but if you copy-paste this あかべこ the little red cow should come up.