The longer the wait, the better the results will be, especially if the person who had to wait is young and has always been alone. Youth in itself makes you impatient, you want everything right away and often even an expectation of just a few hours risks causing a crisis. As if the opportunity that presents itself were one of those targets to be grabbed at the amusement park. If you have spent practically your whole life asking yourself questions and answering them yourself, finally having the chance to confront someone seems like such a magnificent dream that managing them becomes difficult simply for the fear of shattering them immediately after grasping them. Sometimes the results really go beyond expectations, the person is so taken aback by the sudden joy that they often risk losing it simply because they don't know how to move. And here it is possible to go from the most extreme solitude to having lots of people with whom to discuss, support and advise each other.
Sasuke now found himself right in the phase of worrying about crumbling the dream even before he had gotten used to the new life. This is the most difficult part, the sensation of constantly walking on a layer of eggshells kept him constantly in tension, the adrenaline generated by the situation often ended up keeping him awake at night. However he couldn't afford to get distracted, not now. The good idea he had had of gathering the whole family at home for a dinner had paid off for him. Madara and Izuna had always loved all of them despite the distance and silence. Obito, happy with Rin, he had finally found bliss in accepting himself. Shisui and Itachi were finally going to get a decent job that would do them justice.
No misunderstandings or resentments had emerged, everyone had given completely sincere explanations, listened to and understood by everyone. As for Sasuke, having understood that you can't always do everything alone was only the starting point of his increasingly downhill path. He had done something for others, his family and for himself.
He no longer mentioned to Itachi the incident that happened during the evening in which he had photographed him, the major seemed not to remember anything. Better that way, it was one of those mistakes that can make the happiness you just grabbed slip away from your fingertips in a few seconds, even if the subject in question is a sympathetic person like Itachi. Him having understood so late the various ways of loving and the correct way to put them into practice had been, for Sasuke, another of the devastating consequences of the deprivation of company and family. Sasuke could be doubly proud for having had the courage to face this much more arduous path than other young people his age.
The joys he had just grasped were the friends he realized he had around him and his family. Sasuke didn't want it to be just borrowed time, that once Madara and Izuna's stay in the city was over everyone would return to their homes and everything would return to the initial boxes. The dinner had been nothing more than the beginning, now it was necessary to give Izuna and Madara a more than valid reason to stay. Sasuke decided to start with the smallest one, Madara's situation was actually a little more complicated to unravel. He had decided to abandon his life after years, his house, his habits. The hope of finding his lost love in his youth had finally been shattered. After Obito, Kisame had been the first person Madara had sought out.
It was only like this because you didn't have his number, otherwise the exact opposite would have happened. No one knows better than me what it means to have an urgent need to fill the gaps, to give that love that has remained unexpressed for years. When the time comes you are not willing to wait a single minute longer. I can't help but understand you fully, Madara.
Sasuke realized that he had the same character as Madara. the major was now going through one of the greatest sorrows of his life. Kisame's heart no longer belonged to him, not in that sense at least. To make Madara emerge from suffering, the closeness of all of them would have been needed. Nothing would stop Sasuke from creating the necessary space in his life to accommodate them all. He had started with Izuna but obviously Madara was also included in this.
They walked together towards Genma's office. So similar that they almost looked like twins, yet it was clear how Sasuke paid obsessive attention to arranging his hair and clothing. He was wearing long black jeans that morning, his dark blue shirt was pressed impeccably with the first two buttons undone, a silver tag peeked out from time to time hanging from a black rubber cord, it was worked in such a way as to represent the hole in an ancient door lock. Izuna's black locks seemed to have a life of their own, slightly longer than his cousin's, spinning in every direction, without, in their slight disorder, appearing out of tune. One of the characteristic and comfortable white linen shirts outside the jeans, proceeded with his ever-present camera around his neck, looking dreamy. Sasuke had proposed a meeting with Genma following learning that he was a photographer. The manager had agreed to meet him without being too convinced. In fact, Izuna had worked on a few occasions portraying people, in the folder he was carrying with him there were mainly images of sunsets, glimpses of the city, an entire section was dedicated to backlit shots. He had rarely attempted portraits. Sasuke hoped that, despite everything, Genma might be interested, if Izuna had been hired the two cousins would have practically worked together, not to mention that the eldest would have had to move allowing the family to remain more united. Sasuke was tense, Genma had always been very selective. If he had been able to reject Itachi and his naturally elegant and graceful poses, let alone a photographer who was not in the branch.
I will try anyway, it is my duty to fight with all my means to remain united. If you don't work in my company, I will still try to find you a place that won't make you run away again, and Madara with you.
"Look, Sasuke, isn't she gorgeous? Give me time to set up the macro."
Izuna had stopped near a hedge of blood-red flowering oleander. An orange butterfly slowly moved its large wings and rested on one of them. Sasuke stopped sighing, going around in the company of a photographer armed with his camera also included this in the package. The cute little animal reminded him of Choji, the chubby cabaret artist at Susanoo, with that beautiful sparkling butterfly embroidered on his shirt, and the colorful pendant of the same shape. Sasuke smiled and hoped that life had a beautiful future in store for him too.
"Don't you think the color combination is beautiful? They are both two warm shades, however a contrast is not always necessary to make something stand out."
It was true. Sasuke watched his cousin choose the best shot first and the best shot then.
"Look, Sasuke."
The youngest had approached the camera display invited by his cousin. The butterfly was orange, the flower dark red. For example, a light blue would not have been needed to highlight it, on the contrary, such a clear contrast would have only distracted the observer's gaze from the subject of the photo. The redhead, on the contrary, welcomed his fellow man almost as if he were accompanying him by the hand. Sasuke smiled, he too had abandoned the contrasts generated by solitude to accept being held by the hand by the people around him. Each with a different character, from which however it was always useful to learn something by comparing.
He continued on the road a little more relieved and calm, Izuna possessed a very different temperament from the rest of the family, a contagious cheerfulness that within it boasted a good dose of positivity. His ability to naturally strike up a conversation with anyone, even strangers as if he had known them all his life, was incredible.
It was exactly what Izuna did that morning with that dark-haired boy with long hair and very light blue eyes who had found himself by pure chance in their company in the waiting room of Genma's office. He must have been around Sasuke's age. He said his name was Neji and little else, evidently embarrassed by Izuna's extroversion. Sasuke watched Neji while he talked to his cousin about the most absurd nonsense. Definitely beautiful, the diaphanous skin stood out framed by raven hair, the delicate oval chin line, the very large cut of the eyes tending towards a sweet and round shape. However, he appeared rather awkward and shy. Sasuke tried to identify with him once he found himself in the presence of photographers who would ask him to take this or that pose, perhaps taking nude or almost nude portraits. Or he tried to imagine what he might feel having all eyes on him, perhaps on a catwalk.
I think I know, you will feel your legs shaking and moving as if they were rusty and squeaky gears. You will have the impression of being terribly out of place, as if you were on a foreign planet that you are not suited to living on. You will come to regret having chosen that job that brought you there even if you had to fight and roar to get there. I was a bit like that at the beginning but not out of shyness, I simply didn't have the right tools to relate to others. Loneliness never teaches anything.
"I'm accompanying my cousin Hinata, she's in the last room taking some shots."
Sasuke had been jolted by the explanations of that almost unreal brunette in front of him. He wasn't there to run for office, therefore.
Well too bad, you're a rare type. A case in which the clear chromatic contrast does not clash at all.
The door to Genma's office suddenly burst open, Sasuke almost laughed when he saw the state the manager had reduced the blue cap of the bic he had between his teeth to. This time the bandana was black with red stars, identical to the shirt. Sasuke wondered if perhaps he hadn't used a piece of the garment itself to make the bandana. Genma looked at him with a grin while Izuna suddenly became serious, immediately realizing that it was his turn. Sasuke let out an imperceptible sigh wishing him good luck. He knew from experience that when Genma was interested in someone the conversation could even last a good hour; otherwise, he would throw the victim out of the room in a few minutes. Sasuke decided to take the opportunity to go to the bathroom, now or never. If Genma had been enthusiastic about Izuna, he certainly wouldn't have finished talking to both of them for an infinite amount of time, perhaps already explaining the new assignments to them. Once he returned he would talk to Neji, it was a real shame that a boy who looked like him didn't at least make an attempt to apply. Sasuke huffed as he placed his left hand on the bathroom door handle; he was not used to talking to unknown people, especially if he should have taken the initiative first.
The time has come to put a stop to it, these are the mechanisms that led me to sink deeper and deeper into loneliness, one spiral after another. In the best case scenario I will have made a new friend, worst case scenario he won't want to see me anymore but more than that certainly can't happen. The end of the world will still have to wait.
Sasuke had finally decided with renewed energy and a smile to open that door, when a sudden flash of light caught his attention. He had come from a door ajar to his left. Sasuke realized in that precise moment that he had never been in that part of the building, he usually posed for photographers in other rooms or outdoors.
"Try opening your shirt a little."
His voice boomed slightly as if the room were empty, a soft but constant rustling could be heard. Sasuke, as if attracted by a powerful magnet that was impossible to escape, brought his face closer to the crack in the door. The coolness of the air conditioner hit his nose and thin lips, the temperature in the studios was kept constant, forcing the subject to sweat would have been harmful to make-up, hairstyles and the skin itself. For now Sasuke could only see a window, a heavy black curtain prevented the sunlight from entering, a spotlight allowed the perfect lighting chosen by the photographer. Sasuke knew nothing about photography, however after years of working in the sector, he had understood how fundamental the perfect combination of light and shade was. The intensity of the light and its angle certainly could not be left to chance, the lens filters and post production did the rest.
How much truth remains in a photo?
"Move like this, very good."
The newly acquired certainty that a female subject was inside there instilled in Sasuke a curiosity he had never experienced before. He swallowed, feeling his mouth dry. He was forced to widen the crack in the door to see more of the scene. What appeared to be a gigantic humpback had been positioned on the back wall, the image of a dream Caribbean beach was struck by the powerful white light of the two spotlights on the sides to give the illusion of a majestic sunny summer day. A little further on, two fake palm trees gave a sensation of depth. Sasuke now had his mouth wide open and didn't realize he had opened the door almost all the way. The hum that he had heard at the beginning came from a large fan on the right of the set, it moved the air to give the wind effect to the hair and shirt of the girl who was at the center of the scene.
"Put your hand in your hair like you want to brush it out of your face."
Sasuke had taken several steps forward without realizing it, he was standing behind the photographer who hadn't noticed him at all, the shutter clicked continuously followed by the soft whistle of the flash charging. Beautiful black hair with blue highlights, probably natural, flew lightly against the background of the fake sea. The girl had tilted her head to the side, highlighting the delicate line of her chin. She was crouched on the floor in what appeared to be real sand, Sasuke could see it clinging to the snowy skin of her shapely thighs and shapely hips. Tiny glitter had probably been mixed in to make it look like diamond dust on the white skin. Everything incredibly tone on tone, her shirt was slightly darker and grayer than the background, the blue reflections of her hair seemed to be the waves that that fake sea could never have. However, the most extraordinary aspect, the one that had the power to literally take Sasuke's breath away, were her eyes. Large, sweet, the exact same light blue as the sea drawn behind.
It's you Hinata, I know. Like the butterfly from before you are exalted by your complementary colors. Your delicacy is not made for strong and clear contrasts.
A flight of butterflies now Sasuke felt in his chest and stomach. She seemed to have captured the dark man's thoughts, she turned a smile full of tenderness in her direction, a slight blush on her white cheeks.
"Start taking off your shirt, slowly."
The model's small hands rested on the third button, the one immediately above her toned breasts. She moved sensually no longer looking at the lens, but rather at the dark-haired man who was standing behind the photographer. Her delicate hands with well-groomed nails with transparent nail polish turned over her collar, allowing her white and fine shoulders to come out. Sasuke blinked his black eyes which had now become shiny several times, he felt an enveloping and intense heat invade his body despite the air conditioning. He shivered visibly but not from the cool air, the wisps of shorter hair framing his face following the shiver. His heart was beating so hard that it seemed to be lost in the void.
What the hell is happening to me? I don't even know her.
Hinata had placed the tips of two small fingers on her delicate lips making the gesture of throwing a kiss to Sasuke, an action evidently much appreciated by the photographer who took rapid shots almost crawling on the floor to get the best angle, too bad the nod didn't it was for him.
The brunette felt light, as if he were flying, a few moments later he was the victim of dizziness that made him stagger slightly. The light blue shirt landed on the bright sand blown by the fake wind. The model's face was hidden for a few moments by her long hair which she immediately pulled back, her blue reflections sent real flashes making Sasuke believe he was almost dazzled by them. Hinata was left with only a dark blue bikini tending towards electric, a color that was also artfully designed to match the reflections of her hair. Shapely but not exaggerated breasts, her slip with a deep V-shaped leg to highlight the soft line of her hips. She sat down on the light sand, one foot rested on the ground raising her knee, Hinata had mischievously crossed her legs to hide the blue triangle of her panties. Sasuke had fire inside. Despite the coolness of the environment he had started to sweat, some stains had appeared on his blue shirt, he began to hope that Hinata wouldn't notice them. If they had really been on that Caribbean beach he would have run to the beautiful creature who seemed to be nothing but waiting for him. She was one step away from doing so, in fact. The hum of the fan seemed to have turned into the babble of the sea, those harsh white spotlights in the sun.
Sasuke, damn, I've been looking for you for half an hour!
Izuna's voice took them all away from that limbo in a second. The photographer, the only one who had remained unaware of everything until that moment, suddenly turned to look at the two cousins. They were practically identical, however with two completely different expressions. The one who was in the center of the room, pale, sweaty, seemed to be on the verge of fainting; the other at the door smiling with those tufts of electrified hair in front of his face.
"Um, sorry..." An embarrassed Sasuke just had time to see Hinata's expression before turning to quickly go to Izuna.
The girl had first widened her big blue eyes and then narrowed them into a tender smile behind the tips of the index and middle fingers of that little hand so small it didn't seem real.
The two cousins quietly closed the door behind them and set off again along the bare corridor. It was incredible how there were no decorative elements either there or in Genma's waiting room. Only in his office had he displayed the various trophies won both personally at the various tennis tournaments, a sport he had practiced since childhood, and those as a photographer, organizer of major events and stylist. In some cases these victories were accompanied by demonstrative photos. Nothing leaked out about his private life and family, even Sasuke himself knew nothing about it after years of working alongside him.
"At that time?" Sasuke had noticed the blissful smile on Izuna's face.
"As a photographer I'm not suitable, the few portrait shots didn't suit him while everything else is a genre that doesn't interest him."
Stepping out into the sun and heat of the city again, Sasuke wondered what the hell was wrong with his cousin to be so happy then. However, he had spent almost an hour talking with Genma, knowing the manager this was usually synonymous with a positive outcome.
I get it, you don't want to stay here. You can't wait to go back to your old life, you probably had a different idea about your family. I understand that maybe you don't like seeing your brother suffer, in this case that's fine. Even though I was only a brother, I have one so I can understand you fully.
This thought pinned Sasuke motionless in the middle of the street. It would be hard but Izuna and Madara deserved happiness in whatever form it would take.
"Sasuke, what's wrong with you? Come on, let's go have a drink, I'm starting to get thirsty, by golly Genma didn't even offer a coffee."
Sasuke followed the resigned major. He was forced to stop again after a few steps, this time it was the other who made him stop by placing a hand on his chest. He looked at him beaming and smiling, the smaller one tilted his head sideways trying to understand something.
"He didn't like me as a photographer but as a model he did. We look a lot alike, you and I, it would have been like saying: green is my favorite color but I don't like green! And then he confessed to me that he was also very impressed by Neji and his cousin who was doing that audition that you liked so much, even though he was only there as a companion. The only promise I had to make to Genma was to get a hairdresser's session as soon as possible."
Sasuke's handsome face lit up with joy, his large, black eyes seemed to have two shining diamond rings inside. Everything seemed terribly perfect. It wasn't too good to be true, it was just real.
We'll all be here together then. I don't know your voice, I only guessed your name, however you have already become one of the deepest reasons for all my actions.