Chapter Six

The house loomed large in front of Hinata's eyes. She wasn't exactly what you'd call poor, even some would consider her rich beyond belief. But the Hyuuga had always been modest when it comes to superficial things. Seemed that the Uchihas were the exact opposite of them in this category.

There were numerous branded cars parker all along the driveways. Expensive statues were everywhere on the park, all clean and free from birds dirty waste. Whoever the gardener was, he'd done a good job. Sasuke guided her right to his house, his eyes never darted even once to all of those embellishments that the architects had thought thoroughly when he built this house. For once Hinata felt pity. All this things, though expensive and beautiful, were left alone and ignored.

When Sasuke opened the door, the view inside surprised her even more. Paintings were hung in so many parts of the walls. Standing lamps, chandeliers, Victorian wallpapers, practically any kind of ornaments that one can think of is in here. Hinata had never thought that Sasuke lived in a house this artistic.

"You want some drinks?" Sasuke asked, again, his eyes never really focused on either of all these beautiful things.

“N-Not re-“

“Shiro!” Sasuke didn’t listen to her and just shouted. “Shiro!”

A few seconds later, came a young boy to Sasuke’s direction, struggling to balance the tray he had in his hand so that it didn’t fall. He was wearing a man-servant garb, and his eyes showed nothing but fear.

“Y-Yes, Master?” he asked, his voice was squeaky and reminded Hinata of herself.

Sasuke didn’t even look at him. “Make us two juice, okay?”

“B-But I-“ Hinata tried to tell him that she really didn’t need anything to drink.

“That’s alright, Hinata,” Sasuke told her reassuringly, and that made Hinata almost felt guilty. This Shiro guy had a more or less same demeanor as she, and yet he’s treated badly.

After Shiro’s disappeared to the maze of the house, Sasuke led Hinata even further to his house. There were a lot of halls and what seemed like secret passages, but Sasuke knew his way. Somehow Hinata had this notion that he used to play hide in seek in his younger years.

She must have blurted what was in her mind, because Sasuke was looking at her incredulously.

“Ummm..” he began rather groggily. “No, I didn’t. My father forced me to take take-won-do and Violin when I was young.”

“Oh,” Hinata replied. She couldn’t decide whether she had to symphatize with him or not. Sasuke really didn’t look all that disappointed.

“The safest place in this building is my room,” Sasuke mentioned in some point of their trip. He searched for Hinata’s face, trying to study her expression, and then the corner of his mouth was curved up. “But I don’t think you want to go anywhere near there today.”

At this last sentence, Hinata had to exhale. She had been afraid that Sasuke would force her. He really did have the strenght to do it, and she really didn’t have the strength not to obey. They went to what Hinata deemed as the largest room she’d ever seen in a house.

It’s open space, and it led to many other rooms. There was a large TV, a few bookshelves full of books, another shelf filled with DVD and a few expensive sofas. It seemed like this was the Uchiha’s grandeur version of living room.

Sasuke gestured at the largest sofa, and she sat there timidly. He took a seat next to her, but kept the distance between them in the safe level. He was quiet, strangely so. Usually Sasuke would try to fill the silence between them with anything, even bad jokes. Hinata had wanted the boy to shut up and leave her alone in her peace, but now she wasn’t sure if she really wanted that.

“S-Sasuke,” she began, and then gulped. “Y-You didn’t need t-to do that.”

He was still quiet for a few seconds before responded to her. “I saw a part of the drawing that Sakura tore.”

Hinata held her breath. As much as she disliked Sakura for doing that, she really didn’t want Sasuke to go to a venture to hurt her.

“I saw my eyes,” Sasuke continued, his gaze still hadn’t focused to her. “You really did draw me. And she tore it to pieces. I was pissed off.”

Hinata didn’t know what to answer. Was he expecting for ‘I’ll draw another one for you later.’? Or ‘You can punch Sakura and I’ll not give a damn.’? Or maybe he wanted a ‘I’m pissed off, too. But unlike you, I can’t do anything about it so I just cry’?

But, she’d showed him so much of her vulnerable part. She wasn’t sure if she’s ready to show another of her insecurity. So she stayed silent, the only sound coming from her was her feet scrubbing to each other, an annoying habit she always did whenever she felt nervous.

After a long time, Sasuke finally gave up. He didn’t wait for an answer for her and got up. “Where’s Shiro? I’m thirsty already!” he stalked away from her, and then disappeared, leaving her alone.

“Coward,” Hinata heard Sasuke hissing.

Against her will, a rueful smile appeared on Hinata’s pale lips.

“True,” she said before Sasuke’s out of sight. “I am.”

-

Sighted-

Sasuke on the halls of the house, his fist kept punching the walls and his forehead leant against his other arm.

“Damn it!” he muffled to his skin. “What the hell I was saying?!”

-

-

it was already more than ten minutes, but Sasuke hadn’t come back yet. Hinata started to worry. If he were any other boy, then probably Hinata could toy with the possibilities that he’s lost in this huge labyrinth, but Sasuke was the owner of this house, and he surely had a map of his own house built inside his head.

Since her bag was beside her, she had this sudden tingling senses on her extremities. There were too many beautiful things in this house, and in this room alone, she could spot about seventy five. Her own inner artist was being challenged, and her boredom gave a great push to her desire.

After waiting for another ten minutes, she finally gave in and took out her sketchbook. Most of her pencils had been lost, but fortunately she always had one extra in her pocket. She was choosing her object when she heard someone stepping down the stairs.

Since she thought it was Sasuke, she turned around, but what she saw made her eyes widened so much they almost gouge out the eye sockets.

The man she saw was the more mature, taller, and effeminiate version of Sasuke Uchiha. And yet, no matter how uniquely androgynous his face was, Hinata couldn’t quite concentrate on it because the guy was half naked. Nothing wrapped around his body except for a small towel around his waist.

Her jaw dropped, but Thank God no sounds came. The guy, however, noticed her and Hinata quickly turned her back to him. Instinctively, she draped her hands over her eyes.

“I-I didn’t see a-anything!” she exclaimed before he could get the first chance to speak.

“That’s a lie. The last time I checked, my body isn’t see-through,” the guy replied. Even his voice sounded very much like Sasuke, only harsher, more bass-sounded.

Hinata’s eyes still closed, but she somehow could see him rolling his eyes.

“T-True.. b-but…”

before she could finish her sentence, she felt the sofa budged. He’d just sit beside her!! She tried to open one eye, expecting to see a fully-clothed man but didn’t.

As she progressed closing her eye again, the guy spoke.

“You don’t need to do that. I’m comfortable getting stared at.”

Despite what he’d said, she did it anyway. “Well.. I-I’m not comfortable.”

There was some sounds of paper being turned. He’s browsing her sketchbook. “Really? From what I see, you seem very familiar with male’s body.”

Hinata tried her best to keep her face from turning into a weird shade of color. She did done some browsing to have the perfect male body’s anatomy. And yes, she did practiced drawing male figures on the very same sketchbook that guy’s browsing. But that didn’t mean she’s familiar with the real thing.

Still keeping her eyes shut, she reached out, trying to find her book. “C-Could you please h-hand me my sketchbook? I-I’m very embarrassed but I can’t open m-my eyes..”

“Sure,” he gave her the book she’s asking for. “Can you do nude drawings, too? I did some modeling back there in Paris and-“

“That’s an interesting position you two have there,” Sasuke’s voice cut him off. Hinata opened her eyes, and saw that her hand was hovering above the guy’s crotch.

Oops.

-

Sasuke knew that it’s going risky to leave Hinata alone in the living room. But never had he thought that he’s going to be that out of luck today. Apparently, Itachi’s nudist soul came back to him today, and he had decided to watch some DVD in the living room, not in his own room.

Well, at least that means Itachi’s not watching any porn. All the DVD in the living room were rated NC-17 top.

As soon as he spoke out the words, Hinata’s hand came back to her sides, and she closed her eyes again. And while she’s at it, she inched further from his brother. Poor girl. She looked so nervous around Itachi’s topless body.

“Put on some shirt, will you?” Sasuke said as he placed the glasses of juice on the table. “Can’t you see that the poor girl’s terrified seeing your body?”

Itachi immediately lunged for one of the glasses and downed all of it in one gulp. “I’m not in the mood for hiding what I have.”

It took Sasuke nearly all of his willpower to not punch his brother right in the face. Itachi hadn’t been this mental a few years back. Sasuke even remembered admiring him when he’s just a tween. But then, a few years of college and this guy came back with a number of explicit tattoos, a boyfriend, and a pyromaniac/nudist/crazy-nut streak. The boyfriend didn’t stay on very long, but the other qualities stayed.

“In that case,” Sasuke said as he quickly pulled out some emergency blanket that he’d prepared in case this happened. He threw the blanket to Itachi. “You have to live with that when she’s here.”

Itachi seemed deeply troubled with the presence of the blanket, but at least he’s not taking it off. Sasuke stuffed himself in between Itachi and Hinata, as it’s the least he could do before Itachi’s crazy germs contaminated the girl.

“It’s alright now, he’s covered,” he told Hinata.

Hinata finally could open her eyes. Her cheeks were awfully red, contrast to her white skin and pale lips. She smiled to Sasuke weakly and when she talked, her gaze occasionally flew to Itachi.

“U-Umm.. I-I should be at home at three…”

“It’s still twelve o’clock,” Itachi answered before Sasuke could. “Wanna watch some DVD? I have just bought this flick about a suffering artist having a fling with one of his models-“

Sasuke closed his eyes, trying not to explode. “We’re not watching anything dirty, brother.”

“There are some edgy shots, but overall very artistic. You’ll love it,” Itachi finished, totally ignoring Sasuke.

Hinata blinked. And then blinked again. And again. And again.

Sasuke was somehow disturbed. The girl had just suffered a mental break-down, then he’d just insulted her and she’s nearly molested by a guy who’s out of his mind. Relying to his instinct, Sasuke prepared in case Hinata’s going to faint.

But she didn’t, and her answer to Itachi’s offer almost made him faint.

“Okay..”

-

So, his name’s Itachi.. and he’s 5 years older than Sasuke. He had just have one year in college, but then dropped it altogether to be an artist in France’s street and modeled for his equally impulsive friends. He experimented a lot and had just met with a large dose with cocaine when his parents found out about his misadventures and demanded him to take the first plane home.

That was interesting. At least, for Hinata. And the best of all, Itachi’s not just bluffing. On one point of the movie, there’s this impressive shoot that he paused. Then, he grinned and asked for Hinata to borrow her pencil and sketchbook. In just a few minutes, he finished a wonderful sketch with the shoot as the reference. Hinata was blown away and couldn’t hide it.

“Don’t just dwell at one spot,” Itachi advised as he gave back the book. “focus on the whole canvas, draw everything as if it’s just part of something big, treat every details equally.”

Hinata nodded vigorously. She murmured her thanks and Itachi responded by asking her number.

SAsuke, who had been grudgingly silent in the whole movie finally snapped out. “You’re not getting it, man,” he said, his voice was dangerously low as he pointed a finger at his brother. “I brought the girl here. You have no right.”

Deep inside, Hinata had wished for Itachi to balk, but he just shrugged and pressed the play button to continue the movie. Sasuke went back sulking. He couldn’t exactly went out from this room because he feared that Itachi’s going to make a move to Hinata again. On the other hand, he hated this type of movies, where it’s all dramas and melodramatic dialogues. He preferred some actions, some punches, cars, big explosions. Probably a few of Bruce Willis or Jason Statham.

At the end of the movie, Sasuke was sitting awfully close to Hinata. He hadn’t intended to be possessive, especially to a girl who he hadn’t recognized a few weeks ago, but with his brother’s presence, he couldn’t take chances. Girls had always liked Sasuke, but they loved Itachi. And he never could their reasons rational.

“I’ll drive you home,” Sasuke said to Hinata as he got up and gestured her to come with him. Hinata reluctantly did. She took a glance at Itachi, still covered in a blanket, smiling and nodding at her. There were a few studs on his ears, and his long hair was highlighted in different colors. Hinata had hoped that she could have that kind of looks: inimitable, expressive, and free. But school ground rules and her modesty always prevented her to.

Sasuke had already scurried off, and Hinata followed. She hadn’t gotten very far, however, when Itachi suddenly grabbed her hand and brought her ears very close to his mouth.

“Call me,” he whispered. Before then, smirking, he let go off the blanket and climbed up to stairs.

-

Hinata got into Sasuke’s car hyperventilating. She drew her sketchbook close to her chest and since the trip’s filled with awkward silence, she preoccupy her mind by taking another look at Itachi’s sketch.

Something she saw below his signature made her smile, despite of herself.

It was Itachi’s cellphone numbers.

Chapter Six Ended

AN
Sorry I haven't updated for a long time. Really sorry..!!