Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, however I do own these sentences I write.

Summary: Hinata thought two years ago was hard when everything was crashing around her, but now doing life differently, she didn't realise the difficulties and conflicts of being I. Uchiha's personal assistant.

AN: Very Special thanks to Rileyyy, HinaHyuugaSan, HinawithLove, Hinata6, and NwonderLAND for reviewing. The warm fuzziness makes me write. :3

Also, thank you so much for your concerns for the possible appendicitis. Thankfully it wasn't it. Actually, we don't know what it was, just that it killed me for almost two weeks. Never what to go through that pain again... :S

Enjoy reading! :)

Undertow

Chapter Three: Undercurrent

Hinata remembered a time when she was a disgrace to her family. It was hard then, she barely had any money, hung with the wrong people and did some shabby things (at least some people thought they were) that could never be erased. She could admit she tilted off the rails.

But Hinata was thankful for that dingy time even if she made herself forget, like she was doing right now, because it made her worldly. She knew things her family never would understand. Like how people were animals, vicious – greedier than her own flesh and blood. In the right situation, people were barbaric.

That's why today (or should she say this coming week?) was the day Hinata was not looking forward to, but nevertheless she would face it because it was nothing like back then.

Now, let's say you had a situation (or a person) you did not know how to handle and due to this you took the easy, sometimes stupid, way out? Mind you, what was this simplicity you ask? Why, to ignore and run of course.

Don't get her wrong; Hinata is trying to shove a backbone into her spine, however she was still a mere girl in her complexities. She liked things straightforward. If they were hard to define she erased them to the best of her abilities. Although since she was human with a fair few faults, often things got worse.

Going back to the dresser, Hinata checked her laptop to see how the scan was doing. Seeing that the next step was ready to go, she flexed her fingers over buttons to bring up Shisui's file and typed a few commands.

As it processed, she went between the wardrobe and her bed, where her suitcase rested, to verify that she was packed. Methodology sorting, she noticed the tremble in her hands. She tried stopping it by clamping them together, but instead, they got worse. Breathing in and out slowly like her old employer, Kurenai, showed her, she paced the rooms of her apartment to clear her mind. Eventually she cupped a hot mug of tea to calm her.

She hated this feeling of being trapped like an animal. She didn't know which way was right, or what was up and down. She didn't want to go on this trip, and there was no way out unless she magically combusted. She triple checked her temperature to make sure. To her displeasure, she was perfectly normal.

In that case, she hoped the bars would soon rust.

Peering over the steaming rim whilst in her bedroom, outside, the light licked the horizon with golden rays that moulded, transformed and spilled into purples, blues and pinks. Lowering her eyes to the computer, her eyebrows furrowed; the desktop screen was showing but no programs were up. She searched for the file and found it was gone. She stepped away from the machine in frustration; there wasn't enough time to redo it.

Removing the hair tie while running fingers through long, silky dark hair, she pulled some dress pants on—she refused to be further uncomfortable by wearing a skirt—and a matching jacket. The white collar-up shirt she was already wearing. Closing the laptop and locking the suitcase, Hinata set out for her doom.

Or was it into her escape?

Hinata did not know, but as the limo pulled up she became further unprepared for this. Hands twitched again even as she clasped them tightly together when she sat on a seat after greeting Itachi. Constantly she must remind herself it was not the time, it did not matter. They were a quarter of the way there; the office was far behind them. She had a week to collect her thoughts.

She touched the window, following as rain slid away. Outside was a blur compared to the little enclosed space she was in. Seats were vinyl, rich within their colour, and surfaces were padded. This was her bubble, a sheltered word. Safe is what she should feel.

However, outside was also mechanical. It stretched far and wide, tall and strong. Stone established and remoulded what was once there. It perceived as everlasting, strong within its fragility, a deceiving mystery. Still, that world was genuinely fake, similar to Hinata's bubble.

She glanced at the man sitting further down the seat. She tried being discreet by checking her laptop simultaneously, but knowing her she probably failed or it was unnecessary. Damn, she wanted a glass of wine; that tea did not help.

"Don't you think it's rather early to drink?"

In response to Itachi's statement, Hinata's head turned to look at him before snapping away again. She distracted herself by pretending to type. "Of course..." She honestly didn't know she was looking at the bar that intently. How embarrassing. "Just a bit thirsty. I was seeing if there was anything n-normal."

She squirmed. That was pathetic. Did she really need to elaborate? She tried finding something—anything amongst the ice and bottles.

He hummed dismissively.

Aha! She finally saw some water. Her fingers grazed over a glass bottle were red liquid slowly moved around—the temptation was high, who cared what her boss thought of her—before she picked up the bottle of water.

She poured a glass. "Would you like some?" Insecurity touched her lips.

He didn't respond straight away, hence she knew he must have caught onto her little act. She didn't know why she tried; people have told her time and again that she was easy to read. It was deflating; couldn't she grow any further in life? Become a stronger person?

She rolled her shoulders, trying to get rid of the stress. Maybe it didn't matter, she had amazing friends who— He nodded and relief rolled over her in waves. She happily complied by fetching another glass.

Hinata straightened up as she waited for Itachi to take it.

"Are you sure you can part from some—" his dark grey eyes were intense, almost challenging "—You seemed awfully thirsty."

He gained a small lopsided smile, if you could call it one, chimed their glasses together and then returned to what he was doing. All seriousness set back into place, shattering the possibility of him having any sort of facial gesture only moments ago.

Hinata became flabbergasted. She hated double meanings. She was terrible at reading between the lines save a few rare times, this being one of those exceptions.

The driver cleared his throat, making both Itachi and Hinata remember where they were. "We're here, Mr. Uchiha." When the door opened, Itachi thanked the driver by tipping him. Hinata tried speeding up what she was doing so she could get out.

Surprisingly, Itachi opened her door. "Done?"

She didn't look at him as she quickly finished the upload onto her USB and stepped out to see the driver getting the luggage instead. "I think so."

Who was she kidding; she was never going to be ready.

The airport was crowed as she pulled her suitcase alongside him. They paused as Itachi checked their planes departure time, and Hinata being the curious person she is, watched one take off. Once again, Hinata felt insignificant in such a large building, especially when she was about to catch something with such an amazing amount of power.

"It's fifteen minutes behind schedule."

She turned to him in worry. "Are we going to be late?"

"No."

He walked away, probably to find a seat. She made him pause by saying his name. "Is it all right if I buy a few things?" When he turned around to face her she tried finding any reassurance that he wasn't agitated by her. After all, what she wanted to do was trivial. "You can c-come if you want," she added, fiddling with her clothes.

When she was given the affirmative she was shocked he followed her if not somewhat disgruntled by doing so. "A-ano, you don't h-have to if you don't want to."

He shrugged, not minding. She gave him a confused look.

While weaving though the crowds, people's heads turned and stared at Itachi. Hinata almost giggled if it wasn't for his callous composure.

Ignoring the gossip plus fashion section, Hinata bought several business and medical magazines. As they stood there, people's eyes continued to glaze over Hinata, dismissing her, for the likes of Itachi—why couldn't people be like this at the office? She looked at him from the corner of her eye to see what they may. Try as she must, all she saw was a man, but then they probably saw a multimillionaire in the wrong place.

"Um, excuse me, do you know where the toilets are?" The woman grinned coyly.

Itachi observed her before deciding to rest his hand on Hinata's back, directing her away from what she was doing and bringing her into the conversation.

"Hinata, I believe..." He looked pointedly at the woman.

The woman got a weird glint in her eye. "Sora," she said, answering his unasked question.

"Ah yes, I believe Sora said she didn't know where the female bathrooms were."

The woman obviously blushed.

"Sorry," Hinata said sadly, looking around. She stood on her tippy toes, trying to help. "I haven't needed to go."

The woman nodded her head, understanding. "So, if you don't mind me asking, where you's off to?"

Of course Itachi minded, he didn't know her.

"Flight forty-seven," Itachi smoothly responded before Hinata said too much.

Although the woman looked like the cat who ate the canary, she was getting more agitated the longer she stayed, especially as she watched Hinata turn in a different direction.

"I think I'm catching that flight too!" She clapped her hands together.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh!" Hinata pointed to a sign which, really, was simple for anyone with a half-witted brain could figure out. "It says the bathroom is that way."

Although shaky, the woman maintained her smile. Perhaps she was being genuine, needing direction and he was overly critical. Too bad the sign was in the woman's line of direction.

"Ah, thank you... Maybe we'll see each other again!" She said cheerfully, leaving.

After a small pause of silence Hinata said, "She seemed nice."

He wanted to strangle her.

The flight was awkward with arms almost touching – Hinata tried avoiding contact at any cost. The muscles in his face were relaxed as he leisurely read a book, which Hinata thought was such a beautiful contrast if she wasn't burying herself in the problem from this morning.

Clicking yes to further analyse Shisui's file, she watched as numbers and letters spilled over the page. She tried to stop it... until it was gone. Completely vanished. Erased. Just like this morning, the file was gone from the computer – it, for lack of better words, selfdestructed.

It rang warning bells – wasn't there a virus like this recently? She pulled Itachi away from his book, quickly showing him. She began to freak out further due to there being no way of contacting anyone until the plane landed.

Itachi's reaction was significantly less noticeable, though it took him moments to say anything. "Calm down," he said. His words were ineffective. Why did it seem like she was the sole person fretting over this? It isn't her company. She just works there!

"How can you say that?" She closed the laptop, hiding the trouble away.

His eyes were darker then she remembered. "Kisame."

Well that didn't help; in fact it made her rather confused.

Seeing her in the flesh after so many years was different, Hayato thought as his distant niece sat with them. Even though she was petite, she radiated with serenity and confidence. The confidence was hard to see, but he could. He hated it.

"Welcome, Itachi Uchiha," Hayato said. "Ah, Hinata is here, too. I thought the rumours were only, well, rumours."

Hinata kept her eyes lowered. Dark chairs curled around the table and windows were tinted so people couldn't look in but the room's occupants could look out. She had only met Hayato a few times when she was younger but in contrast to her father's, this conference room was larger and richly furnished.

Between her father and him, she didn't know which of the two were worse. In job comparison, her father could stand on his own two feet.

"It's good she's doing something different."

Itachi's stare was fixated. "I believe this isn't a social gathering."

You insolent, little—

"Of course, where were we?" Hayato agreed. He placed some papers on the table. "First things first," he said, cutting to the chase. "The contract—" he pointed to a section "—this would be more beneficial."

"For you or for me?"

Hayato skirted around the edges.

Their first meeting went into the late hours of the night with Hinata monitoring the deal. She kept a special eye on what Hayato said. Nothing was supposed to be missed; she had to write everything down, and when the time was needed, said her input. She was not a spectator.

Even if she was supposed to pay attention in the meeting, which she did, it was hard. The worry gnawed her since the incident back home needed attention. Walking beside Itachi to their hotel rooms, she managed to muster enough courage. "Do you want me to go back to the office? I can ensure— I could do..."

"I've got a friend who's checking the computers."

He was out of his element trying to reassure her, though what he said worked. She exhaled deeply. She didn't know how much she needed to hear that.

"...Kisame?" She questioned. He grunted.

Multiple meetings have happened thus far. For some, Hayato's son was there to learn, hence the setting was uncomfortable, and often inept at times. Hinata wondered when her fingers would bleed by how much typing she had to do.

The meetings reminded her of her workspace. She squirmed in her seat from the belittling statements her uncle caressed her with. So subtle and soft, and always coming. It was a dog eat dog world.

It was around nine o'clock at night when she opened the door to Itachi's hotel room with the statistics he asked for. She looked around for him, going though the kitchen and putting the few rare dishes away while doing so, before she saw a shadowy figure on the balcony.

She stopped at the threshold. Pale light caressed his skin. His side profile barely showed; she traced the contours of his face, the finely, beautifully constructed person. Although Hinata could see him, he was enigmatic, complex within his ridges.

Clutching the folders to her chest, she silently slid the door open.

His eyes were unearthly foreboding; they were endless in colour, always devouring. She was slighted, tipped, tumbling, drowning. He was untouchable, something too unreal for the world. Nothing could touch him yet everything did.

It brought goose bumps to her arms.

At this time and place, he became softer around the edges. Hinata was proud for knowing this person even slightly. Her father would have loved her to be like him. In another universe where their roles were reversed or if the world was vaguely tilted on its side everything would be different, but the now wouldn't be. It would be unusual, entirely wrong, a dream. That was not life. Unrealistic.

"You wanted those documents?" Hinata said, not quite hearing herself. She thrust them out, looking away from him.

She slowly felt emptiness touch her hands. Papers shuffling dispersed the night air. "Thank you," Itachi said equally low. Hinata tilted her head down, going.

"It's a peaceful night, don't you agree?" Hearing Itachi talk again, she misplaced a step. Snippets of light danced in his eyes.

Out of all responses to his mirth on her incapability of proper body function, she stuck out her tongue. Not only clumsy, but now she had to be childish.

"Yes, the moon is beautiful this high up," she said, trying to repaint the situation, eluding the last few seconds of her life. She indecisively transferred weight from one leg to the other. After seeing no harm in doing so, Hinata joined Itachi's side at the railing. The cold metal bit her skin. "But, the rain would be better." Her mouth pulled wistfully.

"Then there wouldn't be any sky."

She looked at her arms, also seeing a faint glow on them. "You can feel it, smell it instead."

He hummed at that.

For a long time they stood in each other's presence not saying another word, it was nice in comparison to all the meetings. Although, sadly, Itachi's phone rang.

"Hello."

"It's Kisame." Itachi didn't respond so Kisame continued on. "You know that thing you got me to check? Well, it's not a virus—" there was a pause "—someone's stealing your information."

Hinata's eyes widened at what she heard.

"Fix it. No, find them." For a long time Itachi stood there as Hinata teetered around worriedly. The phone was still tightly clasped when he connected eyes with her, freezing her. Calmly, a little bit too calmly, he said, "I want you to be on call at all times when I'm unavailable. This doesn't escape us."

She nodded sharply, biting her lips.

Days later the deal was finalised. They could go home.

"Are you planning to stay for longer?" Hayato asked. Pleasantries were good to keep up no matter what, especially when in a partnership with the Itachi Uchiha.

"There are certain engagements in which need addressing."

"That is too bad," Hayato said. He continued on, "I was going to introduce my daughter. She went to Harvard University you see, and has several diplomas in business, medicine, biotechnology... and the list goes on. I'm sure she is highly adequate." The hint was simple, he wanted Itachi to hire her. The minor degrading clues Hayato dropped about Hinata throughout the meetings became very clear.

Itachi became harsher around the edges. "Partnerships collapse, are you sure this one wont?" he said easily. His voice was threatening.

You could suppose Hinata was flattered that Itachi held her with such a high regard, however questions popped up instead. Hinata was led to believe she knew Itachi until his interactions with her distant relatives rectified the notion. To be friends with someone isn't to recognize a few likes or dislikes, you were supposed to go under the surface, under all the superficial qualities and build up from there.

They were the very first building blocks to a friendship that will last.

Hayato paled. "Yes... it won't," he said, agreeing. "I just hope my daughter does well like us." He was trying to clear everything up. He laughed nervously. "I am also training her to run after me—" his son opened his mouth with hateful eyes, Hayato shut him up with a chilling look "—I'm sorry, I'm just so proud of her, I can't help but spread the news."

From Hinata's place at the table, her smile was empty just like Hayato's similar but vastly different eyes. Itachi's face remanded hard, and her smile gained some meaning.

"It was nice doing business with you," Hayato said, stretching out his arm to shake.

Itachi eyed his hand, opting to nod. "Yes," he agreed in a cold impersonal manner.

Hayato swiveled around in his chair with an almost smug expression on his face. He tried nailing it down when the large screen in his conference room alerted him of the person on the other end accepting the call. Hiashi's cold and hard expression flickered onto screen. Hayato weaved his fingers together.

"Hello Hiashi, how are you?"

For a long time Hiashi's white eyes peered into Hayato's without a trace of emotion in them. "Fine," he finally said. "How's the company?"

"Good. I just finalised a partnership with Mangekyo Sharingan."

There was a slight tightening of Hiashi's lips that Hayato wasn't quite sure about, before he nodded slightly. Hayato continued on, "Actually, that is one of the reasons I called. Have you been keeping tabs on your ex heiress?"

Hiashi's eyes narrowed. "That is none of your concern, Hayato. If this is all you had to say, my time has been wasted. Have something important next time."

Hayato nodded and the call ended. His jaw clenched.

Back home at Itachi's company, walking through the corridors to his office, there was a small lap in time as Hinata and Karin crossed paths. The red head glared so venomously that it made Hinata's stomach clench with charring claws tearing down her back. She trudged on with breaths rattling.

It brought the dilemma she was thinking about before the trip forefront compared to what she was called in for now, the hacker. She needed to talk to—more like tell—Itachi soon.

With her hand on the door, she collected herself. Be professional, Hinata told herself after another calming breath. Entering the office, she stilled when she saw who was there. She hated that fake smile of Sai's. It made her nerves run thin. And that odd glint he got in his eye that looked like nothing was there – something well refined, captured and bolted down, never to be seen again. Manifestation grew and polluted her system. She... she detested it that it hurt. A lot.

"Kisame, Sai, this is Hinata Hyuga, my personal assistant," Itachi said.

"Hinata, it's been a long time," Sai said.

"Yes, it has." Her smile also felt fake. Hinata did not like this welcome home greeting.

"So this is the one I've been talking to on the phone?" His grin was sharp.

She looked between her boss and the person she just met, and answered for herself. "Yes."

"I believe he was being rhetorical, Hinata."

"He... he might have been serious."

The blue man laughed. She did not see what was so funny.

"As much as I like you being friendly with my assistant Kisame, I think there are more important matters."

Kisame sobered up. "Kill joy."

"This business saved you."

Kisame waved his hand dismissively. "I would have found a way." Itachi's eyes narrowed. Kisame then grinned and said, "Well, this is a serious matter I guess."

Itachi signaled Hinata to sit. She did. He started to debrief her.

"Incidentally as you know, someone is hacking the computers—"

"And they haven't gotten very far," Kisame added, kicking his legs out to lazily cross them

Itachi ignored him. "These two are going to be working here until we find this person. You will be the one to guide them." He laced his fingers together.

Itachi stared pointedly at Hinata. She squirmed. "Y-you want m-me—us to go u-undercover?" She asked weakly.

"Yes."

She didn't respond.

"Isn't that great?" Sai eventually said, bored with nothing more being mentioned.

Her head rolled. How was she supposed to carry out this?

"—that should do. Dismissed."

Hinata snapped up, following the two men out, deciding what she needed to say could wait until another day where her boss wasn't so heavy with burden. She dearly hoped what Itachi said at the end wasn't too important or that Kisame would tell her. She refused to ask Sai. At lease she could be helpful for the next couple of days.

"Hinata."

Against what everyone thought or knew about Hinata, she swore in her head. What do people expect? Habits were easily picked up. Kisame was the last to leave the room. He looked at her before shrugging, closing the door on her.

How disheartening.

It was intense being in the same room as Itachi with no one else. Stifling.

"Look at me."

Because she is Hinata and he is Itachi, and she is small and weak while he is powerful and strong, the scales were always tipping away, his way—light, light eyes redirected themselves—and she was no exception. How was she supposed to not look at him when demanded?

"You're avoiding me."

They had only been back for one day; she didn't understand how he knew so quickly. Her lips parted then shut. Saying she was the laughing stock of his company was stupid, especially due to the reasoning and possible consequences. Did she want to get fired? Not really. But then again did she like tarnishing someone's reputation, to take someone down with her? It was terrible timing but what could she do?

"I think I quit," she said. He raised an eyebrow. She buckled, curving into herself and added when she didn't want to, "B-but I can stay for this last project if—"

"Why?"

She stumbled. Really, why? Everything was already said and done. The backlash is happening, what would stop it? This wouldn't. It would follow her everywhere and he would still be there, enduring it.

"I... I don't know..."

Sometimes the easiest route wasn't always the safest, the smartest.

His jaw tensed. "Perhaps you should reconsider."

She nodded, attempting to straighten her shoulders.

Her ground was crumbling from beneath her feet – the void was swallowing her, caressing her. It was time to plunge, to stop running from troubles. She was a stubborn girl, liking to make sure of things, so after this slip up—her eyes gained a determined look—she would work harder to secure her job. After all, now Itachi may think she was flighty.

She will ignore the rumours and show them wrong, if she could.

AN: Bleh, this chapter was hard to write. Still not happy with it, though right now I don't have time to obsess over it...
Please review? Help the writer get her fix? x)

Slight edit: 6/01/12.
(It still needs adjusting/fixing and complete re-writing in areas though. I can't believe I posted this, lol.)