Standard disclaimers apply. In case you can't tell, this story is COMPLETELY and TOTALLY Alternate Universe. And thus there is OOCness. We'll see how far I can get with it, neh? I've been plotting this ever since I finished Hidden in Plain Sight. I have over a dozen pages of notes, and trial and error starts. We're going to try this one, and hope it goes over well. I didn't steal any plots, ideas or whatnot, swear it on my prom dress (which still fits, thank god).
Review and tell me if I'm making a complete fool of myself in my sad delusion of being able to write. This is going to be harder to write than you know... animeverse. So make it worth my effort.
Background Information that may prove useful at some point:
The Konoha club: a martial arts club, members compete in tournaments if they wish, members can also be hired for media purposes (like movies and commercials et cetera)
Hyuuga Hinata: age 22, heiress to most things Hyuuga, works part time as physical therapist at the Konoha Club, of which she is a mostly inactive member
Hyuuga Hanabi: age 19, Hinata's younger sister, also a member of the Konoha Club, trying desperately hard to work her way up the members to beat Uchiha Sasuke
Hyuuga Neji: age 24, Hinata and Hanabi's cousin, trying desperately hard to have a life and control his cousins', obviously part of the Konoha Club, naturally one of the Konoha Elite
Uchiha Sasuke: age 23, heir to all things Uchiha, workaholic (course, when you're a workaholic at the Konoha Club, very few people mess with you) top member of the Konoha Elite, refuses to take the next step and become a mentor (like Kakashi and Kurenai) we all know it's because he sucks at dealing with people
Uchiha Itachi: age 28, and I can't tell you until he does about his family history. That would ruin the surprise. I can tell you he's a mostly world famous actor, notorious for his fight scenes (which he does all by himself, good boy have a treat)
that should cover most information needed for the first few chapter. Other AU biographies will be noted as soon as characters are introduced.
Descent into Rapture Chapter 1: To Begin
The lithe dark-haired beauty avoided yet another blow, almost pouring herself away from her lean attacker. Dark purple leather clung to her body, deadly looking boots encasing her feet, twin short swords reflected in her hands. She flipped into the air, landing on one of the containers scattered about the basement, intent on finishing him. Too bad Hyuuga Hinata was not used working in six inch heels. She toppled off the container a small "eep" audible.
"That wasn't in the script, sunshine."
Luckily for her, Uchiha Itachi was more than accustomed to charming, rescuing and otherwise sweeping girls off their feet. After all, he was a famous actor… and she was just a stunt double.
"I'm a rebel, Uchiha. Always gotta do things my way." She grinned mischievously up at him, from where he held her bridal style in his arms.
"Don't doubt it. After all, there aren't many other Clan heirs or heiresses running around the way you do."
"You mean in purple leather, or the whole working at the Konoha Club? Because Uchiha Sasuke works at the Konoha Club."
"But he doesn't let himself stunt." Idiot little brother…
"How do you… oh right, you're an Uchiha and in the business, I keep forgetting…"
"Because I keep charming the boots off you?" Sunshine, I know because I'm his brother, and I didn't spend thirteen years with him without learning something. Though I'm still debating why he won't let anyone know that I'm his brother… shame that he could never live up to me, or shame that I exist.
She laughed, wriggling herself free. "More like because you act like a twelve year old whenever I have to deal with you. I don't see you giving Kin this much trouble." She toddled off the set to check on her feet, anxious staff ready to assist and fuss and generally get in the way.
He followed her, filming couldn't continue if one half the scene had a sprained ankle. And she was fun to tease. And maybe he did like her… a little… enough to make sure she hadn't actually hurt herself.
"Could be because Kin isn't trying to kick me in the shins." he remarked reasonably.
"It's in the script." She shrugged, waving away overzealous lackeys. "Not my fault she doesn't want to do the fun parts of the movie."
More like she can't, sunshine. Not every beautiful girl knows martial arts…much less as many as you or your friends do. "So the seduction and espionage aren't the fun parts?" Pity…
"Not for me, and you know it. I get enough of the politics and fancy dresses and playing cards right when I'm not at work. And you should know choreographed fighting is fun, why else don't you hire stuntmen for yourself?"
"Fair enough." Itachi noted that she said nothing of seduction, dismay or relief, which pleased him, strangely enough. He juggled enough women; the Hyuuga heiress did not need to become one of them. Though admittedly there was something about the fighting that was more "stimulating" than the "sleepover scenes" as Hinata called them. Hinata and Itachi had their own fighting styles, whereas any good-looking male could pretend to be attracted to and seduce any good-looking female. The fighting was a little more personal, and more revealing of her character… and she did wear purple leather.
The first time she saw what Midnight had to wear, she nearly fell over laughing at the expression on her cousin's face. She had been hired because she could fight, and because she and Kin were physically similar. She hadn't questioned Akatsui Productions, it being given that all she would do was stunt, and nothing else. Her cousin, also a member of the Konoha Club, had gone with her that first time. He, not being heiress and caring a great deal for his cousin, was understandably more concerned about what might happen off camera than his naïve cousin. Although given what Hinata was going to be wearing, Hyuuga Neji had probably rethought that order of priority.
"Something wrong, Uchiha?"
Itachi was removed from his thoughts at the inquiring voice. He really didn't understand her, but he did understand her family's protectiveness of her.
"Nothing's wrong, sunshine. Unless of course you've managed to hurt yourself, in which case it was nice knowing you, I'll hold off the evil mastermind as long as possible, you can be out of the country in two hours."
"Sasori-san is not an evil mastermind..."
"Just slightly manipulative? And ruthless and heartless and--"
"And right behind you."
"I knew that. Why else was I spouting praises?" Itachi turned to his friend and partner of eight years with a smirk.
"Only you, Uchiha." Sasori pressed his temple in an attempt to maybe make all his problems go away. "How're you feeling, Hinata?"
"It's nothing. Uchiha actually has uses besides decoration. He caught me before I hurt myself. But this whole landing business is kinda dangerous in these shoes."
"I'll talk to the costume designers… but you've got most of the moves, so you're free to go… for now. Uchiha be back here in an hour, we're going to start the ballroom scene."
"So we're driving down to the set to get her?" Neji did not look happy.
"Yes, four hours in a car with me. But I'm sure you'll survive. You know she'd show up an hour before the doors opened, expecting to be ready in time. Normally yes. Not tonight. You know what's happening tonight. The press don't. Which means they'll be asking questions. And when the press asks questions, Hinata listens, and she has that annoying tendency to figure things aren't quite right. Coupled with the presence of all the Uchihas…"
"Yes… except the one she just left… I take it she still doesn't know Uchiha Itachi's full history." Neji fastened his seat belt.
"He doesn't tell her, or anyone else, so she treats it as none of her business. She's a decent person like that." Hanabi shrugged and started her car.
"Speaking of that… how the hell did you find out?"
"I… sort of stumbled onto a story that never saw the light of day when I accidentally decrypted the Council of Doom's security system." She fiddled with the radio.
"Someone's been naughty." (1)
"Right well… how do you find out all you know?"
"I establish contacts. And I talk to them… and send them gift baskets on their birthdays and Christmas… with sums of money instead of cheese."
"As always, the Hyuuga genius knows what he's doing."
"Hyuuga Hinata, heiress of a great deal of money, a decent percentage of the corporate world, one of the elite members of the Konoha Club, an excellent fighter. And yet goes into some sort of damsel-in-distress mode around me. I saved you from becoming one with the décor of your Rock Garden, when we previewed your skills. And today…"
"You are a royal pain in the heel, you know that Uchiha?"
"No, those boots are. I'm just a royal pain all around. Don't you have some kind of Hyuuga social function to be running off to tonight?"
"It's in eight hours, there's plenty of time to finish lunch and get that scene right." She shrugged, nibbling her bagel.
"It's a four hour drive back. You only need two hours to get ready? Are you sure you're a real girl?"
"Well I'm sure as hell not a real boy. Go ask the Wizard, he may even give you a brain." She flicked a crumb at him.
"Think I'll be able to get my heart back? There was this girl in weird shoes the other day… long black hair, grey eyes, traipsing around in purple leather." He smirked at her over his coffee.
She looked at him, mocking scorn written all over her expression. "Sure you don't have one of those because you're only famous for being the heartless playboy idol, possibly lacking a brain and the courage to admit it. If I could, I'd whip up a tornado to take you back to whatever dismal little town spawned you."
"How about you just hop into my little black Jag and I take you back to Konoha, where you live… and my hometown. Though I don't understand why you drive that silly little hybrid. You're the Hyuuga heiress…"
"And I'm trying to live my life without the Hyuuga notoriety, wealth and corruption. I pay for my car with my own money, for which I have a job, and I have a social life… kind of."
"So no family ties?" Now where have I heard that before? Oh right… ten years ago, from me.
"Not depending on the family," she corrected. "I couldn't just sever all ties to my family. But I am trying not to use their money and their name when normal people get by just as well without. Maybe it's a Clan heir thing; I doubt you've ever felt that way. You probably think I'm being selfish and silly." She smiled resignedly. She really had no idea who he was. And even if she did, he doubted she'd treat him any differently. A car door slammed, and black pumps strode purposefully toward them.
"Hinata!" One set of toes tapped impatiently.
"Hi, Hanabi. Why are you here? I—"
"obviously underestimated the importance of this function." Hanabi glared at her older sister over her sunglasses. "Now get in the car. Neji is probably arguing with your Sasori-san, so we can leave while the pretty boys sort out some kind of agreement."
"Why would Neji have bothered to drive his own car if you were… wait… Hanabi! You will not abandon our cousin four hours away from Konoha."
Hanabi ignored her, dragging her toward the car, much to Itachi's amusement. "He can hitch a ride."
Hinata couldn't help but laugh, freeing herself. "You think he'd get rides by flashing leg?"
"Nah, flipping his hair over his shoulder should work."
"I guess it'd depend on what he was wearing. Maybe…" she stopped, smiling completely unabashedly. "Hi Neji-niisan. So nice of you to pick me up."
"You two were making fun of me again, weren't you?"
"Maybe a little. Hanabi, can I at least change?"
Hanabi stopped and turned, taking in the leather and rhinestones. "Yeah… before you give the maids heart attacks. Ten minutes, meet you at the car."
(1) – Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode: The Harvest
Be a darling and review, if you please... otherwise those that do for some odd reason think I write inneresting stuffs will suffer.
And I may have to hunt you down and possibly tickle you. Your alternative is me gutting you like a violin.