As Sakura, Ino, and Hinata pounded down the stairs, my heart began to race.
"What if did the wrong thing? No, this is for Sakura. I need to support her!"
Then suddenly, my legs flew in the air and I landed at the bottom of the stairs, on my ass.
"Ouch! Man, that fucking hurt!"
"Ooh, didn't know the 12 year old was such a potty mouth. Better watch your sister, Naruto." Said a deep and soothing voice.
I turned to see everyone smashed together on the couch, in chairs, and even on the ground. They were all smiling happily at me, even Sakura, so I assumed everyone was finally happy.
"I…uh, hey! Don't laugh at me you whores!" I said, getting up and stomping my feet. Everyone began to laugh harder and I blinked at the people sitting in front of me.
Their smiling faces crinkled up in joy. Tears streamed down their eyes as their laughter got louder and louder. It was a beautiful sight to see. Even Shikamaru, who seemed to be emotionless at times, laughed heartily along with everyone. Soon I began to laugh with everyone and I plopped onto a bright green bean bag chair that was on the side of the room where all the guys were. Suddenly I noticed that the room was totally segregated. Sakura, Hinata and Ino barely took up any space, while the guys had hogged almost all the beanbag chairs and most of the couch. I stood up, pausing the movie we were watching so I could get everyone's attention.
"Hey! Nonki! Why in the world did you do that?" Naruto asked me.
I pointed a skinny peach colored finger at him and replied, "Why, you ask, dear brother? Well, it's simply because we are completely segregated! And you boys have taken up most of the couch and beanbag chairs! Don't you see how rude all five of you are being? Look at them and tell me that you don't see it!"
All the boys slowly turned their heads towards the girls who looked quite embarrassed. They turned back to me, "So what now? Are you their spokesperson?" Sasuke asked me.
"No need to be snappy, chicken butt." I replied, "I was just saying that maybe…" I slowly broke off my sentence as I took Neji's hand in my own and guided him next to Hinata, where I let go of his hand, and he sat next to her. I took Ino's hand this time and put her next to Shikamaru.
In 5 minutes, I had fully integrated the group and everyone, while seeming a bit nervous at first, lightened up. Lee and I were at the end of the couch, but I was in the middle of him and Neji, and then there was Hinata next to him and next to Hinata was Naruto. Hinata seemed a bit scared from sitting next to him, but since Sakura was on the other side of Naruto, he was all too distracted by her, giving Hinata room to breathe. Of course next to Sakura had to be Sasuke and she seemed quite giddied by the fact that he would even sit next to her. Though he didn't really talk to her or Ino, who was on his other side. Finally next to Ino was Shikamaru, and he sat in a beautiful wooden rocking chair. He looked quite content sitting there, and he happily sipped some of the orange juice available to him.
"See, this is better right?" I asked, feeling very proud of myself.
Sasuke looked up at me and said, "You are so goddamn corny when it comes to being a romantic."
"What does that mean?" I asked while scooping handfuls of popcorn into my mouth. "Damn this popcorn is good!"
I could feel the rush of the butter melting in my mouth. The soft crunch of the popcorn against my strong teeth led way to the wonderful feeling of satisfaction when I swallowed. I snapped back to Sasuke, who was talking to me in his usual exceedingly boring voice.
"I mean that, you were obviously going to put me next to Ino and Hinata next to Naruto and such. It's such a fucking obvious move and so unoriginal."
"Sorry I don't meet the Uchiha standards. Unfortunately for you, I don't play by someone else's standards." I replied while winking and sticking my tongue out.
Sakura began to giggle and I turned to everyone else. "How much popcorn should I go get?"
All at once everyone began to shout answers and then out of the blue, Naruto looked at me dead in the eyes, but with the goofiest smile on his face, and said, "Just bring it all!"
Everyone began to laugh heartily, saying how silly Naruto was, but I continued to look at him dead on, as if no one was there. He looked back at me with the same eyes.
"I understand, Naruto. Later, I'll find you and we can talk."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that night, when everyone else went upstairs to eat dinner, Naruto and I offered to clean up the den for Sakura. She was happy that we offered so that she didn't have to do it and quickly left us alone.
"So…" I started out. "You wanted to talk to me?"
"I'm so glad you got the message." He said quietly.
"Kind of hard not to." I replied.
"I guess. Well, it has been 2 weeks since we last talked. Like, actually talked."
"I know, Naruto."
"And then on the phone, when I was trying to-"
"Please!" I said suddenly, which definitely caught him off guard. I didn't mean to yell it, but I just didn't want to think about the whole incident. I took a breath, "Please, can we just not? I just don't want to…"
But I knew I had to now.
"What? What is it, Nonki?" Naruto said, worry tinged in his voice.
"Nothing. I didn't mean to yell Naruto, I just…it's uncomfortable for me."
"I can see why that's true."
"And honestly, I know we'll have to talk soon, but…I have a question."
"Shoot." Naruto said. Even though his voice didn't sound worried, I could see the obvious hints of anxiety in his face, as if he had waited for this talk ever since the day he had kissed me.
And he probably had.
"Why in the world did you kiss me when you proclaimed that you love our sister? Doesn't that make you a cheater and a liar?"
He looked away from me, obviously not expecting me to get straight to that particular question.
"I love you both. You know that…it's just…lately Naruko has been acting weird and well…" I could see a slight blush creep from his cheeks.
"Well what?"
"You've been…growing…"
I was shocked beyond words. "Oh. I didn't…why are you even noticing things like this if you and Naruko are a couple?"
"There are lots of things that you don't know about Naruko and I…things I would rather not discuss with you. That's just the end of it."
"This is exactly like the time when I was talking to Sasuke about it!"
And speak of the devil.
"Are you guys coming…whoa, intense moment?"
"Uchiha, leave." I hissed.
"And since when did I take orders from a 12-year old girl?"
"Well, I'm almost 13. You can even ask Naruto and Naruko. They would know, wouldn't they?" I spat.
"Nonki, I'll talk to Naruko."
"Oh no, it's no longer about when you tell our parents! There is something else going on, that you guys have half-dragged me into and I will not stop until I end this little conspiracy game. Tell you what: let's call off our M.A.D. game and play a better game. First one to get in Nonki's way will pay a price okay?"
Naruto's face paled. "Nonki, you don't have to do this…"
Sasuke put his hand in front of his friend. "What will we call this game?"
"I don't know, Uchiha. You name it."
Sasuke mocked thoughtfulness until he snapped his fingers.
"How about we call it Cat and Mouse?"
"And I assume you guys will be the mice?"
"Since you already made the rule that you will deal out the punishment, then sadly, we must be the mice."
"Let's establish the rest of the rules. No actual fist fighting is allowed. For each time that I get a hint and/or clue as to what is going on out of one of the mice, I get to dole out a punishment I see fit. Think of it as extreme truth or dare. And no matter what I say, you must do it."
"Well, is there any way for us mice to 'punish' you?"
"Hmm, I think not. I think you can set 'traps'. If I fall for a trap then you can relish in it and I can't pursue the mouse that set the trap for 3 hours. Are the rules clear?"
Sasuke grinned devilishly. "Painfully clear."
"Naruto?" I asked.
He nodded.
"One of you please pass the message to Naruko."
"Let the games begin!" I said and rushed upstairs for my food.
The next day, Naruto and I went back home, after Neji gave me my shuriken back, where Naruko met us with open arms. She said that she had errands to run so she couldn't make it to Sakura's. I nodded and Naruto nodded as they went to their room and I went to mine, planning my revenge.
"Oh, this oughta be good…"