You're not like the others
2
Could you be an angel?
I rush around the apartment, throwing clothes everywhere as I go.
"Iruka!" I roar. "IRUKA!"
"What babe?"
I wince immediately at being called babe.
"I thought I told you not to call me that!" I pause in my rushing around and look in the direction of my fiancé's voice, my brow wrinkling.
"I know," he returns, annoyingly jovial as usual. "But I just think it's sweet!"
I grit my teeth. "It ain't," I return before moving to the living room. I peer down at him from the doorway. "Do you know where my dress is?"
Iruka turns to look at me from his position on the sofa. "Which dress?"
"The bridesmaid dress."
"You lost your bridesmaid dress?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I don't know!" I explode. "It's just…gone."
Iruka raises his eyebrows. "Are you sure you've not packed it?" He gets to his feet, padding over the soft blue carpet with bare feet, heading for the bedroom where our suitcases lie.
I follow after him grumbling. "It's not there Iruka," I gripe. "I've already looked. Why are you looking where I've already looked? For God's-" I go quiet when Iruka retrieves the maroon bridesmaid dress from one of the suitcases, turning round and holding it out for me to take.
"…thanks." I mutter lamely.
Iruka smiles at me. "The way to go is to just not get stressed." He informs.
"Yeah," I take the dress from him and then motion towards him with it. "Sorry for yelling at you."
Iruka's smile turns understanding. "Don't worry about it, I understand. Your best friend's getting married; you're bound to be a little stressed."
"Yeah, but I shouldn't be a bitch to you." I return.
Iruka shakes his head. "You're never a bitch." He says and then he heads back to the living room.
I am too a bitch. I watch him go and then groan quietly, sitting down on the bed. Iruka and I are the weirdest couple ever and, honestly, I have no idea why or how this relationship is happening. I'm loud, uncultured, boorish, cheeky and sexual, while Iruka's kind, gentle, and the biggest virgin you can be while not actually being a virgin.
I stare down at the dress on my lap. How had my life come to this? I'm stuck in a relationship with a guy that I definitely do not love while my friends get married all around me. All excitement's gone.
I puff out my cheeks and then stare aimlessly in the direction of the door.
Oh whatever.
"Looks like it's going to rain."
The statement is harmless, but for some reason I feel a strong urge to strangle Iruka.
"Mm." I reply distractedly.
I rest my head upon the window of the car, feeling the cool glass against my skin as I gaze outwards. Grey storm clouds are gathering above us as we race down the motorway, indeed threatening the earth below with rain. Well Shizune's not going to be best pleased if this weather continues I think to myself. Though knowing Shizune, she'll somehow manage to force the weather to be nice for her big day.
Shizune has always been a bit anal, a bit of a perfectionist, but since she got engaged to Genma she's turned into a regular bridezilla. Only the other month I had found her crying over chair placement. Chair placement. She'd been worried that people wouldn't be able to sit down comfortably. It had taken me half an hour to get it into her head that people shift around on chairs all the time, and that, regardless, of their placement, they'll all be moved by the end of the night. I dread to think what she'll be like on the actual day of her wedding.
Thankfully I get to spend a week just chilling with -hopefully- the normal Shizune. She and Genma are getting married at a real swanky hotel, and so they've invited all the guests to spend the week there, all expenses paid. Should be fun, and maybe I can ask Shizune for some advice on…Iruka.
I look over at him, trying to hide the distaste on my face. Good God. I'm pure evil aren't I. Feeling bad, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. Iruka turns slightly at my touch and casts me a smile.
"Not long until we'll be following Genma and Shizune down the aisle eh?" He says.
I feel a thrill of fear ripple up and down my back and hastily remove my hand, placing it in between my thighs.
"Not long!" I confirm, trying to sound excited.
"I still can't quite believe I've got you Anko," Iruka continues, his eyes on the road, a happy smile on his face. "I'm the luckiest man in the world."
You so aren't.
"You sure are." I quip, and Iruka laughs uproariously, half shocking me to death.
Just as he begins laughing, the first few fat droplets of rain begin hitting the car, trickling down the windows all around us. I look away from my fiancé, blocking him from my vision, and peer back outwards, gazing at the rolling hills and meadows that we're currently rushing by.
Iruka stops laughing and then reaches out to put the radio on.
"Help! I need somebody. Help! Not just anybody. Help! You know, I need someone. Help!"
As Iruka begins singing jauntily along to the Beatles, I crane my head to look up at the sky. Whoever's up there has a fantastic sense of humour. I grimace and slump back into my seat. Help indeed.
It takes us a few hours, but eventually Iruka and I arrive at the Grand Hotel, and grand it is indeed. It's absolutely massive and positioned in the middle of the country. In fact it looks like a great manor house, with pillars of marble leading up to the steps that enter into the grand establishment.
I can't help but wonder if their bar is good.
"Here we are," Iruka announces as the car wheels crunch across the stones towards a parking place.
I glance around and spot some cars that I recognise immediately. Kakashi's already here, as are Asuma and Kurenai.
The rain continues to plummet down on us as we park and Iruka pulls the keys out of the ignition. He winces as he glances outside.
"I don't know if I brought an umbrella." He mutters.
I grab my umbrella from under the seat and brandish it at him. "I've got us covered."
We step out of the car and into the rain, which splatters onto my boots, down my neck, and down my cleavage before I can get my umbrella up. I grimace as I peer down at my boobs and see what appears to be a small swimming pool down there before turning to look at Iruka.
The poor man is already sopping wet as he struggles with his broken car boot. Eventually he manages to pop it up and he retrieves our luggage hurriedly. I watch him, making no effort to cover him with my umbrella. This must be how Voldemort feels on a daily basis, no care for other people's feelings, maybe even vaguely enjoying watching his fiancé struggle with suitcases.
Once they're out, Iruka slams the boot back down and we rush to the hotel. The inside is even grander than the outside and we emerge, soaking wet, into a huge foyer. The floor is made of polished oak wood, while the walls are marble as far as the eye can see.
"Hello." Greets the hotel receptionist from, I swear to God, miles away.
I'm surprised we can even hear him. He seems to be on the same wave length because he waves in an over the top manner.
"Hi!" Iruka returns and he and I begin trundling over to the white haired man at the desk.
He's a few years younger than I am, with just past chin length white hair, purple eyes, and extremely sharp teeth.
"Welcome to the Grand Hotel, I'm Suigetsu. Are you more wet people for the wedding party?" He enquires once we collapse at the desk.
"That's right," I reply. "Mitarashi and Umino."
"Cool," he hums and then he scribbles something down on the piece of paper in front of him.
I glance down at it and see that he's written the number '10' next to my name and a '5' next to Iruka's.
"What's that?" I question.
Suigetsu glances down at the paper and then looks back up at me. "Uh…You're the tenth people here?"
"But we arrived together though." Iruka returns, looking completely puzzled as he gazes down at the sheet.
I've already cottoned on to what the younger male is doing though as I see another '10' next to Kurenai Yuhi's name, and, interestingly enough, '8''s next Kakashi and Asuma's. Ok, so it's kinda weird that he's rating wedding guests on their looks out of ten, but hey…I got a ten. So…
"Thanks." I say, grinning at him.
Iruka's face becomes even more confused and he looks from me to Suigetsu and then back again. Suigetsu nods solemnly -as if he's doing a great deed for all mankind and not just filling in boredom by rating people- and then looks at our suitcases.
"You can leave those bad boys here; one of our bellhops will take them up to your room for you. Miss Katō requested that all wedding guests go into the smoker's lounge to meet her before heading up to your rooms, so if you'll just head to the left," Suigetsu indicates his head to a large archway which seemingly leads into another huge room. "You'll find her."
"Thanks!" Iruka says gratefully and I nod my head.
We then begin towards the archway, heading towards a room filled with comfy sitting chairs. It's all very grand, but this place is obviously made for just chilling. A fire crackles in its hearth at the far end of the room.
As soon as we enter, Shizune is upon us.
"Anko!" She calls, rushing towards us.
"Shizune!" I return, embracing her into a huge hug.
"Anko!" Shizune repeats. "Genma just told me he doesn't like the colour white that much and the whole wedding is white themed, and now I'm wondering whether we should even get married because what's the point if he doesn't like white? I never knew he didn't like white, there's so much he doesn't know about me-"
"Shizune," I shake her. "This is just pre wedding jitters. Shut up."
"I never even said I don't like the colour white," Genma appears behind his half sobbing fiancé, a bewildered look on his face. "I just said it wasn't my favourite colour."
"But you love the colour white, don't you?" I reply, smiling sweetly at him, though my eyes glint.
Genma gets the hint. "Yeah I love the colour white. Honey, I love the colour white."
Shizune untangles herself from me and then smiles broadly at him. "Perfect!" She announces. "The wedding is back on!"
While Genma's face grows pale at the idea the wedding was ever off, Shizune turns to Iruka.
"Iruka!" She exclaims, pulling him into a hug. "How are you? I hope Anko's not being too much trouble."
"I'm not a child." I butt in moodily.
Iruka laughs. "She's perfect," he returns. "Hardly ever wets the bed anymore."
Shizune and Genma start laughing while I glower at him before changing the subject.
"Who else is here?" I enquire.
Shizune directs her attention to me. "Well Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai turned up about half an hour ago," she pauses and then leans forward slightly. "Kurenai's a bit lala right now because of all the hormones, so try not to wind her up."
"I will try my hardest." I return solemnly.
Shizune nods importantly along with me and then raises her finger. "Oh and Tsunade turned up with her plus two's."
Ah yes, Tsunade, Shizune's boss/other best friend.
"Oh yeah, what're they like?" I enquire while Iruka and Genma begin chatting.
"They're really nice!" Shizune returns. "And one of them is very good looking-"
At these words, Genma turns his head to look at her. Shizune grins.
"Just checking you were listening," she replies before looking at me again and winking. "In fact, you should come meet them! Come along." She grabs me by the arm and then yanks Iruka away from Genma.
We walk a few short steps and are then met by the sight of three slightly older individuals, relaxing into their chairs. One is Tsunade, Shizune's busty blonde boss. The other is a guy called Jiraiya who I've met once or twice. He's a laugh, if a bit touchy feely when drunk. And the last one is what I would call heaven in human form.
My mouth drops open.
"Anko and Iruka," Shizune gestures at my fiancé and I. "Tsunade, Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Orochimaru I don't think you've met Anko and Iruka yet."
Orochimaru gets to his feet, his golden eyes glinting as he extends his hand out. "Mm. Perhaps not," He concurs.
I just stare at him, feeling electrical shocks of lust and remembrance shoot through me at the touch of his hand. It's him. It's the man I met outside the bar two years ago. I'm holding his umbrella right now, in my other hand.
"Greetings Anko."
I'm about to fall over.
An: Hello my lovely babies! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! UnderTheHood (You're gonna make me blush!), Guest, NinjaSheik and Ghostsammeo. Your reviews mean a lot. Also thank you to the people who have favourited/followed this story!