Hey, all!! Okay. First off, if ya read it, ya review it XD That's simple, right?? Hint.
Second: This is my...fifth fanfiction...but I'm still as lost as ever without reviews! Drops another huge hint.
Third: Naruto, not to mention Neji doesn't belong to neither I nor yours truly, so stop laughing.
Fourth...I'm REALLY hyper right now...if there's a typo, feel free to ask!! And maybe I'll fix it, too.
Fifth: Six is my favorite number.
Sixth: Enjoy!! Here's a cookie 0
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Chapter One - Kiss Me, Kiss Me
PreDance Frenzy
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January 1, Year of the Koi Pond
- 2:00 afternoon -
Ino and I had just finished the school year yesterday-
(it's the start of a new year, so eighth grade is over, technically, in ninja schooling. We're given about three-fourths of a year to practice - while school is important to some teachers and students ((cough, the green-spandex people, cough)), training is obviously much more vital.)
- and were walking in front of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, ready to pick a few flowers for arranging in various deliveries in Konoha.
And Sakura? She's probably sulking off somewhere like the little sulker she is. Sulker, in loss of a better, more specific word. Truth to be told, I hadn't seen her in the past week, but...no sign equals good sign.
"Oi, guys!" That loud, slightly over-the-edge obnoxious voice - Naruto's - but I am, indubitably, glad to see him.
"Hi, Naruto!"
He's clutching a sheaf of green papers in one hand. "They're invitations to the New Years' Dance!" he says exuberantly, handing out one slip to me.
"Hey, and I don't get one?!" snaps Ino, taking the paper from his outstretched palm.
"Ino!" he protests. "Hinata's first, because she's obviously more pati - "
"That's oka - " I start, but Ino's already shrieking her head off. And in the middle of the freaking afternoon, too.
"OH MY KAMI-SAMA! WHAT THE HELL!?!" She shoves the paper into the gutter and turns around to glare daggers at Naruto.
He blinks.
She glares swords. Pointy, venom-filled, razor-sharp swords. Oh, and another note? Don't get on Ino's bad side. For your sake and mine, please.
"I don't freaking EAT ramen! Why give me a freaking coupon! I HATE RAMEN! I HATE RAMEN! Is this some kind of sick joke - where are the real invitations?!"
Naruto looks shocked for a moment. Then he looks at his remaining papers, and at the gutter. "No!" he says, visibly upset. "That was my ramen ticket!"
"Where are the DANCE papers?" Ino continues to shriek, her eyes murderous. "Did you trade them for ramen coupons or some other idiotic stupid thing? NARUTO!! You better not have!"
"No," he snaps, and shoves the papers on to me. "Sorry, Hinata. I've got to get another coupon! They expire at four o'clock, you know! Thanks-bye - " He rushes off.
Third note; Naruto loves ramen. He even likes narutos, but...that goes without saying.
I examine the words;
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Beginning of Year Dance Party!
When: January 3, from 6:30 to 10:00
Held at: Konoha Dance Center
Invited: All villagers
Since there are so many villagers, we find it easier if you write down three possible partners of the opposite gender, or your spouse, of course. If you include reasons, then the pairings will not be random and you will enjoy the dance to a much further degree.
Thank you, and please come!
Hana Inuzuka
Manager of the Konoha Dance
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Dance? I wonder, a sinking feeling entering my chest. I don't know how to dance!
Ino gets the rest of the papers and her eyes widen excitedly when she skims it. "I can't wait to tell everyone!" she screams, her face overflowing with something other than the love of ramen, "This is freaking great! I can freaking get a cute date on this!"
She runs off like a lunatic, and I'm left wondering how in Konoha did I end up having a best friend like this?
...to dance... I know I'm not ecstatic...
So much for flower arranging.
January 2, Year of the Koi Pond
- 1:34 in the Inuzuka Household, early afternoon -
"Everyone handed in their dance slips, sis?" inquired Kiba, glancing over his sister's shoulder curiously. She nodded as he exclaimed, "Hey! That's Hinata's!"
She shoved him away, more than slightly annoyed. "None of your business," she grouched. "I've got a lot of work to do on these pairings. And plus, I don't need your help."
Kina sighed with a mock injured air, and, with nothing better to do, he went outside with a walk, dragging Akamaru along.
- 3:05 milling Konoha's streets, afternoon -
I've given up. I have nada to wear. It's hopeless. I'm not going. And I don't know why the heck I filled out that stupid dance form. I see Kiba walking along with his dog, but as soon as he catches my eyes, I also see TenTen, Ino, and Sakura right there in front of me - laughing, talking, and about to enter the Konoha Fashion Shop with two gigantic bags of stuff in tow.
Kuso.
They see me, and promptly drag me in. "I don't want anything! I won't!" I protest, but Ino shoves a red, glittery dress into my arms.
"Strip and change," she orders, shoving me into the changing room.
There really is no better way, I sigh.
- 4 hours later, 6:45, early evening -
Exhausted, I lie on my bed with a huge pink shopping bag that holds a baby blue dress. Hanabi had money - I'd used hers - but even then, the prices were astoundingly low. The dance seemed like a big deal...
I yawn...my eyelids feel heavy...
- A few hours earlier, 2:14 in the early afternoon -
Sasuke finished training, and he staggered into the nearest store to buy lunch. On the way he noticed that many of the villagers in the streets were laughing and giggling, with linked arms. Love was clearly in the air.
His teeth clenched.
- 7:30 that day -
TenTen reached across the counter to pay for her high heels - Sakura was searching for the right pair of earrings, Ino was looking for the latest and cutest hairstyle, and Hinata had gone an hour ago...
"Thank you," she said, just as Ino came over with fancier, redder (if possible), higher...high heels. "Aren't these cute?"
TenTen's eyes grew huge. "Yes!"
She looked at the cashier pleadingly. "I'd like my money back, please," she implored.
The cashier felt the murderous intent coming. AGAIN?!
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Beginning of Year Dance Form - Name: Ino Yamanaka
1. Sasuke - Reason: He's hot! And I've crushed on him for YEARS! PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!!
2. Shikamaru
Reason - He's quiet and doesn't annoy me...often.
3. Kiba - Reason: He's cute.
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Beginning of Year Dance Form - Name: Sakura Haruno
1. Sasuke - Reason: - I love him best! He's hot! And I've loved him for suuuuch a long time.
2. Kiba - Reason: He's not annoying and sometimes nice...
3. Naruto - Reason: He's cute in a weird ramen-ish way.
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Beginning of Year Dance Form - Name: TenTen
1. Sasuke - Reason: Because every girl likes him!
2. Neji - he's HOT. Reason: Did you SEE his butt?!
3. Kiba - Reason: He's cute and not annoying.
That can't be good...
Beginning of Year Dance Form - Name: Neji Hyuuga
1. I don't care. - Reason:
2. Couldn't care less. - Reason:
3. I really don't care. - Reason:
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Beginning of Year Dance Form - Name: Chouji Akimichi
1. Ino - Reason: Her hair looks like a banana.
2. Hinata - Reason: Her hair looks like cookies.
3. TenTen - Reason: Chocolate.
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Beginning of Year Dance Form - Name: Shino Aburame
1. Sakura - Reason: opposite sex
2. Tsunade - Reason: opposite sex
3. Ayame - Reason: opposite sex
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Beginning of Year Dance Form - Name: NARUTO UZUMAKI: FUTURE HOKAGE
1. SAKURA!! - Reason: Sakura
2. Sakura!! - Reason: Sakura
3. Sakura. PLEASE, SAKURA!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!! PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reason: Oh, and maybe Hinata, too.
- 9:37 night -
The dance is soon... thought Sasuke, wandering aimlessly on the streets. He couldn't sleep. I'm really not going. Too much bother...
- 9:37 -
Kiba snuck downstairs noiselessly, unable to sleep. Man, the dance is tomorrow! An it takes up the whole evening. I wonder who...? And I can definitely say that I can wait. A long time, too.
A stack of papers was on his sister's desk. Curiously, he glanced over. As...Bs...Cs... All the people of the village were arranged in alphabetical order. An idea formed in his head...
- 9:38 -
Sasuke was still walking when a small piece of white paper drifted across his path. Huh... He picked it up.
(Beginning of Year Dance Form - Name: Hinata Hyuuga
"Hey!" A brusque voice made him look up. "Don't look at that," commanded Kiba. By the light of the street lamp his face was shadowed. "Give it back!"
Sasuke rebelled. "I hate being told what to do," he deliberately drawled out. He knew how to specifically strike a certain nerve... Practice from seeing fangirls, he thought grimly. Slowly he raised the paper, and turned his head to look at it.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Name: Hinata Hyuuga
1. Naruto Uzumaki - Reason: He's a good friend.
2. Naruto Uzumaki - Reason: Well, he's only a friend...
3. Naruto - Reason: He's just a friend, which is a good thing.
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Sasuke's heart ba-bumped. "Here." Shoving the paper into Kiba's hand, the Uchiha prodigy walked off in a hurry, his mind suddenly disorganized.
No...I am going to the dance...after all.
January 3, Year of the Koi Pond
- 6:26 inside at the Konoha Dance Center -
So I'm at the dance.
I walk in feeling absurdly freezing in a dress that is knee-length with small, delicate sleeves - revealing too much, in my opinion. So I'm not used to things like this - it's not normal, but doesn't help anything,, either. High heels, I mean.
Naruto is in a navy blue jacket and shiny black pants. Hm. I think every guy is wearing some kind of dark top and shiny bottom. Shiny as in also the shoes.
A few are wearing all black, though, like -
Kiba.
And Kiba without a dog actually looks neat and not messy! His hair is slightly combed down and dress shoes don't look ridiculous on him.
And then there's the flash of bright, bubble gum pink. I'm loath to look, but...well, it's obviously Sakura. I'm not exactly on friendly terms with her, but I am glad she's not obsessing over Kiba anymore. Oh, no. It's Sasuke she's after. Again. Poor him...
"Hinata," says Naruto, his eyebrows raised. I look out; everyone else is on the dance floor ready to rock and roll.
Kuso!!
"Want to...?"
I nod. At least it's a fast song. The Macarena. So I get up to the lively - not to mention, misleading - music, and stumble over the hand, foot, hip, and arm signs. I totally know people are staring at me. Derogatory, of course. That's because I tripped three times and I think it's eight people's feet I've trod on. But then again, those are...sadly, understatements.
Thankfully, a few songs pass without me making a fool of myself.
But the next is a slow number.
Hana Inuzuka's voice comes on loudly; she announces, "The next song is called "Moonlight Shadows." You may swap partners if you please! Take it or leave it - it's just to spice things up and make it easier." I can swear she glances at me. Spice things up, hm...not me.
Naruto excitedly looks at Sakura, in her extremely tiny pink dress.
"Go on," I whisper, and he takes off - Thanks, Hinata! After a few moments more of trying to convince Sasuke to dance with her, Sakura reluctantly sighs and takes Naruto's eager hand.
I sigh, too. At least I'm not messing up Naruto's night.
Oh, well.
A tap on my shoulder - oh yeah, it was a partner swap. I take back my "ruining someone else's night." I'm definitely going to be a burden, most likely. I can't dance, I know I look horrible...
I turn around.
Kamisama!
I have no idea what my face looks like, but I should, any moment now, keel over and die.
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Okay. You caught me! This is the sequel to "The Life and Story of Hinata." How did you know?!"
Anyway, if you're interested in the same tone, and how this all began, read that first.
That was fun! It's been on my mind for some time now, in my dreams, even. Yeah, I know, sad, but to know exactly how sad I need you to review.
But then again, give me a few cookies, too, not just flames and sadness!
Here's an excerpt from my bored friend, September, whose favorite character is Neji
Did you know that Itachi is one letter away from "itchi?"
Thank you for reading (and feeling sad), and have a wunnerful Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and HYPER rest of year!!
Sadly, poignantly, saturninely yours,
President of the Sad Neji Sad Luver Sad Squad,
(sad) Lumberry