Hello everyone! So, I announced yesterday that I would be doing a short series as a continuation of the Mardi Gras oneshot I wrote for NaruHina month. I just want to thank y'all again for all the positive feedback you gave on those stories and I'm glad they went over so well because I truly enjoyed them!

Now, I announced that I would be posting the new chapter Friday (tomorrow), but I realized that some people might not have read my NaruHina month stuff so I figured I'd post this today for all of them.

So, here you go! I'm really looking forward to exploring the world of Mardi Gras with my favorite characters :-)

Chapter One (Oneshot from NaruHina Month)

She shouldn't be here. When her friends had suggested this trip, she had initially told them no. Why hadn't she listened to herself? Now that she was here, there was no going back.

Hinata sat with her friends Sakura, Ino, and TenTen around a table for breakfast at the hotel where they were staying in New Orleans. It was Mardi Gras and she had agreed to go on an all girl trip with her friends after much begging and pleading on their part. She had been hesitant at first-the drunken revelry and occasional toplessness was not really her forte-but her friends had been so insistent and she didn't like to disappoint.

Her three friends each had some beaded necklaces on which had been acquired by… rather immodest means. When they first arrived, she had seen people wandering around with beads of every color hanging around their necks and at first it all seemed rather fun. However, apparently the rumors about flashing at Mardi Gras had not actually been rumors and she had quickly discovered that there was a price to pay to gain such colorful accessories. There were, of course, random strands strewn about the streets from various parties, but Hinata did not want to pick those up as her friends had suggested because then people might think that she had… her face turned bright red just thinking about it.

Looking around the dining area, she noticed most of the occupants were around the same age as she and her friends, somewhere in their twenties, and all had on the same colorful beads. Her friends certainly did not have as many as others did and, admittedly, had all been rather drunk the evening before when they had gained them. Hinata shook her head, pretty determined that she would not be joining them again that night in the French Quarter. She had read up on a lot of the history of the city and was planning to find some kind of tour or something more to her tastes.

As she continued her scan of the room she accidentally locked eyes with the only person currently eating alone. He was tall, tan, and extraordinarily blond. His was not the blond that came from a bottle, but the kind that came from having naturally light hair and spending a lot of time in the sun. His blue eyes caught her own and after a second, he smirked, causing her to squeak in embarrassment at having been caught staring and look away.

TenTen heard her outburst and looked at her questioningly, but when Hinata shook her head and said it was nothing, she took her word for it and continued her conversation with the other girls.

As Ino, Sakura, and TenTen planned out their day's activities, Hinata dared to sneak another glance at the beautiful blond man across the room. To her surprise, and mortification, he was still looking her way and caught her gaze again. Now thoroughly embarrassed, Hinata began to eat faster, wanting to get away quickly before she did anything else.

Suddenly her friends started whispering and elbowing one another, which caught Hinata's attention. She looked in the direction they were all looking and saw the blond currently crossing the room, hands in his pockets. He walked leisurely, as if he were taking a stroll, but he clearly had a destination in mind and it seemed that their table was it.

Hinata wasn't sure what to do with herself. It seemed as if he got more attractive the closer he came. He was wearing a simple white tshirt and jeans and she still somehow felt as if she was the one not dressed to see anyone. Around his neck hung those same accursed beads and she began to panic, thinking that perhaps he was a pervert and had come to town for Mardi Gras for the sole purpose of making women lift their shirts for beads.

By the time he reached their table, Hinata was quite worked up. However, she took a deep breath to calm herself, trying not to judge the guy just because he was wearing some colorful accessories. After all, her friends each had some and she knew that they were all good people.

The man looked around their table, nodding to all the women as he greeted them, "Good morning, ladies."

His tone was polite and Hinata was feeling bad for making some hasty judgments, even if she had not voiced them out loud.

"Well, hello there!" said Ino, looking him up and down. He, however, took no notice of this and focused his gaze solely on Hinata.

"Hello, miss," he said to her, flashing a smile that made her stomach flutter.

Seeing that this handsome man was rather focused on their shy friend, and deciding that he seemed harmless, Hinata's three friends shared a conspiratorial glance before standing up.

"Huh?" the young woman was confused. "Where are you going?"

"Oh, we're going to head up to the room to finish getting ready. You just come up as soon as you're done!" Sakura said, shooting her a mischievous smile.

Hinata looked to TenTen for help, but her friend just shot her a slightly apologetic look that also said, 'It's for your own good.'

And in a flash, she found herself alone with the gorgeous young man.

He watched, looking slightly amused, as Hinata shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do or say.

"Um, sorry about earlier," she said, thinking that maybe he came to confront her about staring at him during his breakfast. "I didn't mean to disrupt your meal or anything. I just was looking around and happened to catch your eye. I do that a lot, actually, um, people watch, I mean. So I wasn't trying to single you out or be creepy or anything…"

Clearly talking to strangers wasn't one of her strengths.

Again he flashed that charming smile and Hinata felt her cheeks heat up as she heard his low voice.

"It's no problem, I didn't think you were creepy."

She looked up, thankful that he was being nice about the whole thing. Honestly, she wouldn't have blamed him if he had thought she was creepy or weird. It certainly wouldn't be the first time someone called her that. Maybe she could like this guy.

"I was just noticing you didn't seem to have any beads."

Oh god. She spoke too soon. He was a pervert! He had just come over there to get her to take her top off!

The blond chucked at her horrified face, and figured he should probably reassure her.

"Relax, I was just going to offer you one of mine."

Apparently that had not made things any better.

"I'm not going to-to… I'm not going to do that so you can just leave if that's what you came for!" Hinata tried to sound outraged, but her voice wasn't quite cooperating. Despite her sputtering, however, she felt she got her point across. Take that, perv.

He raised an eyebrow. Apparently this kitten had claws.

"You realize that you don't actually have to expose yourself in order to get a necklace, right? Jeez, where did you ladies go last night, Bourbon Street? It can get a little crazy over there."

Hinata's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"Seriously, I was just offering to give you one. As in, just hand it over without asking for anything in return. I figured it was a shame that a pretty girl like you didn't have any. I even have one that matches your eyes."

The blond lifted part of a light purple necklace that did, indeed match her eyes. She felt a little bad about her outburst, but was still on her guard.

"S-so, you wanted to give me one of your necklaces?"

"That's right."

"...And you don't want anything in return?"

"Well, I definitely wouldn't say no to your number, but I'm not going to hold it hostage or anything. It's yours if you want it, no strings attached."

He pulled the beads over his head and Hinata began to reach for it, but stopped.

"But, um, I thought that it was a rule that girls were supposed to… you know…"

The blond sighed and shook his head. "Nah, that's just something some guys say. It might be those guys' rule, but it's certainly not like an official Mardi Gras rule or anything."

The bluenette still looked skeptical and he sighed.

"Seriously, I went to college down here so I've been to my fair share of Mardi Gras. A lot of people think that the French Quarter is the only place to go, but there are actually a lot more events that go on elsewhere in the city. There's really something for everyone."

Hinata was starting to feel silly for reacting so badly, she tentatively reached over and took the necklace he was holding out. Instead of putting it on, however, she played with it, thankful for something to keep her hands occupied as she tended to fiddle with them when nervous.

She glanced up shyly to see his blue eyes still fixated on her. His stare was intent, but not unkind, and she again felt heat creep into her cheeks.

"Um, thank you," she said, "I really like them."

"I'm glad," he replied with a smile. "There are a couple of events that give out actual glass beads instead of the plastic ones and I usually go around collecting them. But I felt like you should have those."

Touched by the gesture, she gave him a shy smile.

"Now, I know I said I wouldn't ask for anything in return," he began and Hinata tensed, waiting for the other shoe to drop, "but I would actually love to know your name."

Her eyes widened, and she chastised herself for being so silly. "I'm Hinata," she said, giving him another smile.

"Hinata… I like it," he said. "It suits you! I'm Naruto, by the way."

"It's nice to meet you," she said politely and he grinned.

"Tell you what, Hinata," he began as he slipped a piece of paper into her hand, "I'm staying here too, obviously, and I would love to see you some more. So, if you want to hang out or if you get tired of partying with your friends you can give me a call and I can show you some places that are a little less, uh, rowdy."

She nodded, and said, "I would like that a lot, actually."

"Great!" he said as he stood up, "Well in that case, I look forward to hearing from you!"

And with one last smile, he turned and walked off towards the stairs leaving a flushed and smiling stupidly Hinata in his wake. She was no longer regretting agreeing to this trip.

There you have it! Something new tomorrow :-)