AN: alright! 6 freakin reviews…Wootage! You guys are all awesome! To respond to one in particular sorry the last line shouldn't read "Shino said happily" it's supposed to be Kiba that was my mistake. It was 2 am after all…. Anyways that's not important. What is important is the next chapter right? I've gotten a few Asuma-Kurenai requests…but I can't guarantee devious grin or can I? Hehe you won't know till its over. It should be a few chapters long not too many. I hope you will all enjoy this and keep those reviews coming thanks guys again! Also I use my creatiovie license here and put Kakashi on a different team when he was training. Please don't mind it I simply find it increases the emotional strain on Kurenai I'm evil.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. BLEH!
And so Kurenai had agreed to the small ploy the three had come up with. All three had been trying to think up creative and exotic dates for their sensei. Kiba was by far the most excited; almost sure his man would win. After all he had skills.
"Iruka-sensei can't fail to win Kurenai's heart!" Kiba said triumphantly as he wrote out the remaining date details on his paper. As Hinata came closer he hid it away, not willing his date to be known yet.
"Kaka-Kakashi-sensei will win Kurenai's heart, he's handsome, kind and they seem to be similar in a lot of things." Hinata said softly as she to put the finishing touches on her date outline. However Shino was the most laid back.
"Ah, yes. But I have found Kurenai's soul mate, just you two wait and see. Perhaps a small wager should be put on this?" he said smirking beneath his high collar. He believed this to be a bet he could not lose.
"You think you can beat my Iruka with your Asuma? Your ON!" Kiba said jumping to his feet instantly. Akamaru barked his approval. Shino's smirk only grew.
"What does the winner get?" Hinata asked shyly. Both Shino and Kiba looked over at her. Neither had even begun to question what the prize should be… gold? Diamonds? Food?
"How about the winner gets a prize that we will all decide upon a later date?" Kiba said. He had no idea what they should win. Perhaps if given some time something of interest would turn up. Hinata and Shino both nodded their heads.
"Fine then, the man Kurenai chooses is the winner. If it is your man you win a prize as well. Now the dates will begin in two days time on the eighth. Then each jounin will have his date and Kurenai will decide after the third date on the eleventh who she will spend Valentine's Day with. Agreed?" Shino said. The other two team mates stood there taking it all in. After a brief pause both nodded. "Then let operation Stupid Cupid Commence full throttle." And with that they all headed off with their date outlines to their respected jounin victims…err candidates.
Kakashi had just finished off a bowl of Ramen and was speaking animatedly with Naruto who was still polishing off his third bowl. Hinata blushed as she headed towards them. She had been seeing a lot of Naruto lately and hoped she would not lose her nerve this time.
"Ah Hinata always nice to see you. So what kind of date have you set up?" Kakashi asked as Hinata smiled shyly at him. She passed him the outline she had made and he scrutinized it. After a quick smile he nodded his approval.
"Hinata what are you doing for Valentine's Day?" Naruto asked nervously. Hinata's blush increased ten fold. Was he trying to ask her out? She wanted to scream her joy to the world. But she remained quite silent attempting to speak and failing.
"N-n-n-n-nothing Naruto-k-k-k-k-kun…. W-why?" she replied nervously. Kakashi let a smirk reach his lips. It was about time Naruto asked the Hyuuga girl out!
"Did you maybe want to come over to my place and watch a movie or something?" Naruto asked not making eye contact. She was so cute. Hinata's ten fold blush, if possible, increased perhaps another ten fold. She smiled so brightly that Kakashi could not hold back his chuckle.
"I would l-love that Naruto-k-kun!" Hinata said happily. With one last smile to Naruto she waved goodbye and headed back towards her home to await the 8th and Kakashi's date with Kurenai.
Shino had ventured off to find Asuma however this was proving most difficult. Ino and Shikamaru were too busy locking lips to care where Asuma was and Chouji...well his love for food was no help to Shino. He was about ready to give up until he found the ultimate clue…a cigarette butt…. (This will make sense soon…)
Kiba had had no trouble sniffing out Iruka. He had passed him his SUPER DUPER DATE PLAN as he had so titled it. Iruka had read it over several times and was smiling brightly. That Kiba sure had quite the wonderful imagination!
"So Iruka, is the date to your likings then?" Kiba asked happily.
"Kiba you are a genius! It's so perfect! I am going to show Kurenai the time of her life!" Iruka said with a large grin plastered to his face. Kiba had a mirrored grin upon his. His choice was by far the best. He simply could not wait to show up Shino……
Kurenai sat in her apartment. She was so very touched by her team's intent to make this a happy holiday that she was driven to near tears as it all sank in. They truly cared about her with all their hearts. It was a real treat to have people like them looking after her, even if she was the elder.
"Kurenai?" a familiar voice said. The faint scent of cigarettes wafted into her room. She smiled knowing already who had come to visit her.
Asuma shifted his feet nervously as he entered Kurenai's apartment. He was supposed to meet up with Shino today to have gotten his date outline, but he had seen something in the market that he had to get for Kurenai. He felt odd giving her a gift before their intended date but he knew how much she would love this.
"Asuma! What do I owe this visit to?" she asked happily as she gave him a large hug. He smiled and hugged her tightly back, never moving his left hand from behind his back.
"I have a surprise for you Kurenai!" he said with a large smile. Her eyes had obtained a curious sparkle as her attention diverted to his hand. What could it be? She was so excited that she nearly knocked Asuma down trying to wrestle it away from him.
"OH! I want to know what it is already. Lemme see!" She shouted pouncing on him. He laughed and using only his right hand to keep her at bay. Neither was really trying for if they were the fight would not last long, both being jounin and all. Their little brawl was interrupted, however, by Shino.
"Asuma-sensei you did not meet me as you promised. I have…." Shino took a good look at what he had intruded in on. Kurenai's hair was tussled and her arms were around Asuma. Asuma's right hand was against Kurenai's chest (:O) holding her back. They both straightened up and smiled nervously at the odd boy. "As I was saying I have your date outline if you'll follow me we can discuss it." Shino said. He turned and headed towards the outer hallway motioning Asuma to follow.
"Give me a minute Shino." Asuma said. He smiled at Kurenai and passed her the parcel. "I hope you like it. I saw it in the market place and I knew I had to get it for you." He said smiling. He headed out to follow Shino, not waiting for Kurenai to open the parcel.
Excitedly she ripped open the package. Her red eyes lit up like a child on Christmas (or Hanukah, or kwanza, or whatever you celebrate) and as she took the parcel out of the wrapping she let out a gasp. There in her hands was the most beautiful red Chinese silk shirt she had ever laid her eyes on. The red matched her eyes perfectly and the embroidered phoenix seemed to leap out of the silk. This had not been a cheap present.
"Asuma-kun…" Kurenai whispered to herself softly as she looked lovingly at the beautiful shirt she now called her own. A large smile touched her lips. Perhaps this would be a good valentine's day after all?
"Shino how'd you find me?" Asuma asked as he and Shino exited Kurenai's building and headed towards the park. He lit a cigarette as they walked. Shino sighed. Was Asuma that dense.
:I had two clues. One you are very good friends with Kurenai and I figured that if you weren't at home or working with your team you were visiting her." Shino said. Asuma nodded that was true.
"Alright, that's true enough. What was the second clue Shino?" Asuma asked curiously. Shino chuckled slightly and pointed down the path they had just walked.
"You left me a trail of cigarette butts from your house all the way to Kurenai's. I simply followed the bread crumbs if you will." Asuma sweat dropped. Did he really smoke THAT much?
"So my date with Kurenai is on the 10th. Hmm you seen to have this all figured out. A romantic dinner for two at Chez Izuki's, followed by a walk in the park. Classic and very romantic." Asuma agreed. Shino kept a smug look on his face.
"If I'm correct, you might not even require that to win Kurenai's heart." And with that he headed off. Asuma scratched his head. What had that kid meant about not even needing that?
"Weird kid…." And with that he too headed off home.
As the 7th of February arrived everyone's mood seemed much better. People were happier as the holiday of love approached quickly. Most missions were fast ones, after all, even Tsunade, the hokage had someone special to be with.
"Tsunade-Chan, are you almost done? Our reservations are at 7!" Jiraya said hastily to Tsunade. She smiled and nodded as she finished off the last report of the day.
"Shizune, I'm heading out now, put everything on hold until tomorrow got it?" with a nod Tsunade was off for a fun filled evening. And she wasn't the only one. Even cold hearted Sasuke Uchiha was smelling the flowers, well one particular flower.
"Sakura-Chan…." He said as he approached the pink haired shinobi. She smiled and turned around.
"O, hey Sasuke-kun. What can I do for ya today?" she asked happily. He let a small slight smile touch his lips. For the past few weeks Sakura had been melting the ice that surrounded his heart and now, he felt ready to tell her just that.
"Come with me please, let's go for a walk in the park." And with that he placed her hand into his own and they headed off towards the park both with slight blushes on their faces.
Kurenai watched them all from her 5th floor apartment excitedly waiting for her first date. She now sported a pair of black pants and the silk shirt from Asuma. As her fingers numbly fondled the silky trim of the collar she couldn't help but think back to when she and Asuma had first met.
"What a freak! Look she has RED eyes! RED! What's wrong Red eyes got some kind of disease?" one teased.
"Ya freak! You're SOOO ugly! Nobody wants to play with you!" another shouted. The biggest one pushed her into the mud. She refused to cry. She had promised father before he died that she would never cry again.
"HEY LEACE HER ALONE OR YOU'LL HAVE ME TO DEAL WITH!" a slightly bigger boy said. The others fled in fear as he growled lowly at them. Kurenai felt a hand take her own and help her up out of the mud.
"Thank… thank you." She said shakily, almost unsure if he was actually trying to help her or just trying to fool her. He let a smile reach his lips. He shook her hand and held it firmly.
"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt ya. My name is Sarutobi Asuma." He said. Kurenai was beginning to feel a bit safer now and a bit more trusting. Perhaps this Asuma was seriously being a nice guy to her, despite her odd looks.
"Thank you Asuma-kun, my name is Yuuhi Kurenai." She said softly. He let go of her hand and proceeded to look for any wounds she might have received.
"Don't Worry Kurenai-Chan, I'll be your protector from now on. If anyone so much as looks at ya funny, they'll have me to deal with!" since then they had been nothing but the best of friends.
But was there perhaps something more then just friendship there? She had met Kakashi in quite a different way. They were still back in the academy. He was put on her team along with Asuma. He had always been quite the looker, always cute with his silver locks and his dazed eyes…well eye now….she had had quite the crush on him, almost like Sakura and Sasuke…
And Iruka. She had met him after both of her other would be suitors. He was always handsome and always kind. He was never that strong and she had become his friend at first out of pity. He had lost his parent's and she felt bad for him. Her team had helped him train and get over that horrible part of his life, and she never regretted her decisions to take him under their wing.
"Guys come on! He's all alone and he's so very sad! Can't we let him train with us, just for a little while?" a 17 year old Kurenai asked. Both a young looking Kakashi and a young looking Asuma sighed. Kurenai and her soft spots. She had always been too kind for her own good. "
"Fine, but if he slows down our progress I'm getting rid of him!"Asuma said harshly. Kurenai smiled and nodded. It was after all an even trade. Kurenai headed down towards Iruka a large smile on her face, her red eyes blazing with joy.
:Iruka-kun… will you join us in training? I would love you to." Kurenai said. Iruka wiped his eyes dry of his tears and smiled taking her hand.
"Thank you, Kurenai-Chan." He said softly following her back to her team.
as the memories flew back to her Kurenai realized what a touch choice her team had given her. Her childhood protector and best friend, her childhood crush and her protégé… what the hell had she gotten herself into now! Perhaps operation Stupid Cupid really was…stupid?
(An: the whole situation with Iruka is true see episode 144 of the anime. I like having Asuma as sort of the main choice but craps gonna go down and …no must zip mouth. Next chapter is Kakashi's date…it gets…messy shall we say? Hehe. I love the conflict I've built up around who she will pick. They all have past ties to Kurenai nad she cares deeply for each for a different reason. The silk shirt she was given I actually own one. It's SOOO PRETTY! And it would definitely look really good on Kurenai! Kep those amazing reviews coming guys! Arigatou all and next chappy should be up in the next week or so, cause I'm heading to Niagara Falls for the week, so expect a bit of a delay but not much thanks again guys!)
