I'm SO IMMENSELY sorry for not putting up a chapter sooner!
Would you believe me if I said I got lost on the path of life?
No?
Okay.
Well I was working on my other one, okay!?
Read that one too if you want.
K, here it is, chapter six
- - Suzuki Yumi '.'
CHAPTER 6
I got up bright and early to train the next morning. I jumped out of bed and threw on a t-shirt, sweatshirt and shorts. I strapped on my leg band with my kunai and shuriken in it. I slowly reached up to the shelf above my bed and grabbed my necklace with the Uchiha symbol and I put it on, tucking it under my shirt.
"Okay Autumn, no more slacking," I told myself, "If you're going to kill Sasuke, it better be soon." I walked into my bathroom and looked in the mirror, deciding which way to wear my headband today. I tied my hair into a neat little ponytail and I put my headband around my head like a normal person. I nodded in approval at my appearance and I ran outside.
I walked casually to the training grounds. I looked around to see if anyone else was there, and when I saw no one else, I quickly turned on my Byakugan and ran to a practice dummy. I ran my fingers along my face, feeling the veins that appear as a side affect of using it. I grimaced and then readied myself to practice. After a while I got used to Byakugan vision. I started by using the Hyuga gentle-fist fighting style. I flattened my hands and hit the dummy, forgetting how good it felt.
I smirked.
I hit it again and again, reaching a 64-Palm technique. By the time I was done I was panting. I turned off my Byakugan quickly. I looked around to make sure no one saw it. I then decided to try out some kunai throwing and shuriken-jutsu. I sat up on a nearby tree and I threw a kunai, aiming for the heart. I hit it perfectly. I then tried the same with a shuriken, ending up with the same result. I tried the same thing from a different branch, except I aimed for the brain, a certain part of the brain, actually, the part that would shut off your entire body if damaged.
I smiled when I got it.
I was still hiding up in the tree when I heard someone walk in. I watched as the parson walked past, observing my dummy. I only saw them from the back, so I didn't know who it was.
"You can come down now." The person informed me. I jumped down, realizing who it was.
"Only someone like you could realize I was there, Sasuke." I said with a sinister smile. He turned around.
"What are you doing here this early?" He asked.
"I don't like training when other people are around." I said, lying.
"Oh…" He said, seeming to be thinking about something. He pulled one of the kunai out of the dummy.
"Good aim," He complimented, though his voice seemed to imply something else, I wasn't sure what it was.
"Thanks." I said, taking the other kunai and shuriken off the dummy and lifting it up to bring it back into the shed.
"I want to use it." Sasuke said blankly. I turned around slowly and put it back in its place.
"Why do you want to use it?" I asked, trying to sound like I was just curious.
"Because I always train in this spot, and every smartperson around here knows not to use it." He said, sounding angry with me.
"Well I'm sorry mister!" I retorted unnecessarily. This can't end well!
Sasuke glared at me while I slowly walked away.
"You're not getting away that easily." He said with a slight edge in his voice. I whipped around.
"You want to go? 'Cause I'd do it anytime." I challenged proudly. The corners of Sasuke's mouth turned up slightly.
"Hmmm." He said, seeming deep in thought.
"Hmmm? All you can say is 'hmmm'?" I asked rudely.
"You're the strangest person I've ever met." He said blankly. I furrowed my brow in confusion.
"No one has ever openly threatened me before," Sasuke said, pausing, "And lived." I shuddered.
"Maybe it's just because I'm above your level." I said with a smirk.
"We'll see about that." Sasuke said angrily, reaching for his shuriken. I smiled. My moment is coming…
"Sasuke! Stop that right now and get to your training!" A voice yelled. A man with gray hair and a mask on said. The man looked to be in his twenties. He walked up to me, leaning down slightly.
"I'm sorry; did Sasuke lose his temper on you?" He asked me. I couldn't see his mouth, but I could tell he was smiling from his eyes. I didn't say anything. The man walked over to the dummy and observed the puncture marks.
"So…accurate, this wasn't you, was it Sasuke?" The man asked. Sasuke looked over his shoulder, his hands in his pockets.
"Ask the girl." He said calmly. The man turned to me.
"They were, umm me." I said nervously. The man walked up to me.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"A-Autumn." I said, stuttering slightly.
"I'm Kakashi Hatake," He said, "Congratulations on becoming a chunin." I raised my eyebrow.
"That's chunin level, Autumn." He explained. I nodded slowly.
"Sasuke can't even hit a dummy that accurately." Kakashi whispered, smiling. Sasuke turned around and glared.
"So…" I said, "Let me get this straight, I'm a chunin, just like that?"
"Yes." Kakashi said.
"Awesome!" I said happily.
"You remind me of Naruto…" Kakashi said. I smiled.
"I have to go out for celebratory ramen!" I said happily.
"Now you really remind me of Naruto." Kakashi informed me.
"Thank you so much!" I said, running off into the distance. I went back to the apartment buildings and I ran down the hall to Naruto's apartment. I banged on the door and it opened slowly.
"Naruto guess what!" I yelled.
"What?" He asked.
"I'm a chunin!" I said, smiling so hard it hurt.
"How?" Naruto asked.
"Kakashi saw what I did in training, and he told me I was a chunin now!" I exclaimed.
"Wow, good for you!" He said, turning to go back to bed.
"Stop right there mister! We're going out for celebratory ramen, my treat!" I demanded. Naruto turned around and smiled.
"Give me thirty seconds." He said. I closed the door, and, sure enough, about twenty five seconds later he was out and ready. I eyed him up and down, noticing something different today.
"Where's your jacket?" I asked, still looking at his black t-shirt.
"It's hot out today." Naruto said point-blankly. We walked to the ramen shop in silence and once we got there, the chatter was back on.
"So, how's life?" Naruto asked. I paused, and then I decided to explain part of the Sasuke ordeal to him.
"I got into an argument with Sasuke." I said. Naruto looked interested. I opened my mouth to speak, but then the guy passed us our ramen. I ate a huge bite and then went on with my explanation.
"I was using 'his spot' at the training grounds." I said, taking another bite. Naruto swallowed.
"That couldn't have ended well; Sasuke's so full of himself." Naruto said bitterly. I nodded.
"Well, anyway," I said with my mouth full, "Kakashi broke it up, so it was all good." Naruto sighed.
"It would have been a good match." He said. I smiled.
"You're right, I half wish Kakashi never showed up." I said.
"But then I would have missed it!" Naruto said, "That's it," – he pointed his chopstick at me – "Next time you're going to fight him, invite me."
"Hopefully there isn't a next time." I said, lying. Hopefully there isn't a next time where he walks away ALIVE! The curtain in front of the shop opened up and we looked to see who it was.
"Oh, hi Shikamaru," Naruto said. Shikamaru sat beside me, leaning on the counter and eyeing my empty bowl.
"Hi Naruto," He said blankly. Naruto opened his mouth wide;
"Did you hear!? Autumn and Sasuke-" I clapped my hand over his mouth to stop him from continuing
"Autumn and Sasuke…" Shikamaru urged Naruto. I sighed and took my hand off of his mouth. I just don't want Shikamaru worrying about me all of the time
"Sasuke and I had a little bit of a disagreement, either way, I'm a Chunin now." I said, trying to "whatever" tone.
"A chunin?" Shikamaru asked, "Awesome." I smiled.
"Were you… hurt at all in your 'little disagreement'?" Shikamaru inquired, clearly concerned for my wellbeing.
"Nope, Kakashi broke us up." I explained. Shikamaru's mouth became a little "O".
I paid for my ramen and we left.
"So…" I said awkwardly as Shikamaru and I walked down the road. He shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Sasuke? What happened?" Shikamaru asked.
"It doesn't matter, it was just a petty little disagreement," I said, waving the subject off. We walked in silence. Shikamaru grabbed my upper arm, making me flinch.
"Autumn, I need you to tell me what happened," He said sternly.
"Fine, but only if it's over lunch," I said.
"At this rate, people are going to think we're dating," Shikamaru said with a smirk. I smiled.
"You know what?" I said to him cheerfully, "I don't really care what they think." Shikamaru smiled an actual smile. It was genuine and… unexpected.
"Me neither," He said, immediately going back to a straight face.
"Shikamaru," I said, resting my head on his shoulder as we walked, "You're the best friend I've ever had."
"…Thanks?" Shikamaru said awkwardly. We walked slowly down the street toward a restaurant. I looked in the window, spotting Sasuke eating calmly.
"Maybe…we should eat somewhere else," I said hastily.
"But I'm hungry," Shikamaru protested.
"Well, I just ate and-" I started.
"Autumn, you have to tell me what's going on, right now," He said angrily.
"I-well, um, I…don't want to talk about it," I said, looking away from him. He grabbed my arm and turned me around, he looked so serious and… scary… I gulped nervously, my throat feeling dry. People were starting to look at us.
"Let's talk about this," I turned away, "Somewhere else." Shikamaru followed obediently like a little puppy as we went to his house.
"Why my house?" He asked.
"I haven't been to your house in a while," I said blankly. Shikamaru shrugged and we walked in.
"I'm home!" He called into the air. We walked to his room together and I closed the door cautiously, going to sit beside him on his bed. It sunk when I sat on the fluffy blanket.
"Shikamaru, Sasuke and I aren't exactly, on good terms," I said.
"I gathered that, but what are you implying?" He asked me, raising his eyebrow.
"Well I kind of," I prepared myself to say it, "I… challenged Sasuke to a fight and it was about to happen but Kakashi came and broke it up!" I said it so quickly it felt inhuman.
"Oh," Shikamaru said, "Oh!" He had a sly smile on his face.
"What!?" I screamed defensively.
"Someone needs to put him in his place, and you seem like the type," Shikamaru said.
"Oh, back to your jealousy?" I asked Shikamaru, nudging his side with my elbow. I noticed his see-through shirt for the first time since I first met him.
"Why do you wear a see-through shirt anyway?" I asked him.
"I don't know, fashion statement?" He said nervously. I reached out to touch the criss-crossed lines of his shirt. I traced the lines with my finger, thinking. His lean muscles were hidden under the shirt, not very prominent. This may seem strange but for a moment I wondered what he would look like with his shirt off.
"Don't you get cold from it?" I asked him. He shook his head.
"Not…really…" He said nervously, eyeing my finger.
"No offense, but what are you doing?" He asked me. I smiled. I pulled it away quickly.
"Nothing," I lied. He raised his eyebrow.
"Really?" He asked. I pursed my lips.
"Want to go out for supper today since lunch was a failure?" I asked him, smiling. He gave me that intense look again, the one where his eyes look like they have flames in them, but this time, they danced across my face, as if analyzing what I really meant by that.
"Like… as a… date?" I said nervously.
"Well, if people are going to think that anyway we might as well have fun with it," He said finally, but I didn't believe him.
"Shikamaru… you don't have to… do that…" I said.
"What do you mean?" He asked me.
"I actually kind of… like… you," I said, I think he knew I didn't have much experience with this. He was silent for a while as if thinking.
"I… not that way… Autumn, don't take it personally but, I just don't feel like… you know," He said. I smiled through my apparent misty eyes, my vision of him was blurred until he was just a green and black blob.
"No, I don't know, I never know because you never tell me what you're thinking or how you're feeling," I said quietly, "I'll be leaving now," I got up to go.
"Autumn," He called. I stopped at the door, clutching the rough metal doorknob so hard I thought it would break.
"I don't want to do this anymore," I explained, "It's too complicated, all the fighting, and the ups and downs, I just can't do it." I paused, breathing heavily, wondering if he would say something.
"I never want to see you again," I left through the door and I slammed it running down the hall, hoping his parents wouldn't see me. I made it to the door quickly, panting and crying.
"Autumn, honey," I heard his mom say. I swore quietly and acknowledged her with a slight grunt.
"Shikamaru, he doesn't know much about girls, but, if he… hurts you in any way, emotionally or physically, let me know," She said. I looked briefly at the hand marks that were still on my shoulder.
"Sure," I lied.
"Okay, see you," She said, sounding slightly skeptical of my answer. I opened the door and closed it hastily, running down the stairs to the road as fast as I possibly could. I ran to my apartment building and I slammed the door to my own apartment, running and jumping on to my bed, stopping myself from crying. Sometimes, not crying was best. I sat for hours, just thinking, until I realized why I always overreacted at these kinds of things. I needed to tell someone. I got up and walked over to the door to Naruto's apartment and I hesitated, thinking. He wouldn't understand this… I looked skeptically at Kiba's door across the hall, and I knew I would have to do it. I knocked loudly and more rapidly then I wanted to, but my hand had its own ideas.
"Yes?" he asked from behind the door.
"Kiba, it's me, Autumn…" I said slowly. He opened the door, looking concerned.
"What's wrong?" He asked me. I smiled half-heartedly and walked in. He moved me over to the couch and we sat beside each other.
"I didn't… know who else to talk to," I said quietly, shyly.
"It's okay," Kiba said.
"I, well, Shikamaru and I…" I started, and I told him most of the story, not leaving out any detail, describing every feeling, every thought I had toward Shikamaru, in short, I poured my heart out in front of Kiba. When I finished my story, I was gasping for breath.
"Autumn," He said sternly, "Autumn, breath!" I snapped out of it and I returned to breathing normally.
"Autumn, you do realize that Shikamaru likes you," Kiba explained. I titled my head in confusion.
"He likes you more than you could imagine, it may even go as far as love," He explained blankly. I felt like I had just been shot and then saved by the stupid doctors when I was finally accepting the fact that I was going to die. I felt like, pain, but joy at the same time, but isn't that what love is about? The churning, sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see the person, and happiness of being in their presence, but the horrors you have to endure in order to stay together. To me, ours felt like a forbidden love, just because of a stupid promise I had to fulfill, but I would have to endure that.
Everything Kiba had just said was right, and I knew it. And everything he just said about Shikamaru, applied to me as well. I vowed to myself then that I would never reveal this revelation.
"Autumn, it isn't as complicated as you think, just a normal teenage relationship," Kiba said, breaking the silence.
"You're awesome Kiba," I said with a smile. He nodded and I left with a new aura of hope. I went to my apartment and I slipped into my pajama's hastily. Sleep eventually came to me.
I had a dream that night. It's not very often I dream, but I did. I was running, running as fast as I could from the town, from my brother, everything, but then I realized everything was chasingme. All the people, they wanted me gone, away from their lives, as if my existence disturbed them, but, at the end of the road, Shikamaru was waiting. I called out to him, but no matter how much I ran I couldn't reach him, and I knew I had to drop my heavy bag to reach him, but my heavy bag carried all the important things I owned like my photo album and my letter from my brother, and I couldn't just leave that, it held too many secrets, and because of my stubbornness, Shikamaru grew tired of waiting and he turned around and left. Then someone called my name, a soft, gentle voice, an angel?
I woke up in a cold sweat, realizing what the voice was Shikamaru's mother.
"What…are you doing here?" I asked warily, rising from my bed.
"I could tell something was wrong when you left so abruptly yesterday," She explained, "And now I know something's wrong." I blushed; I must have been screaming his name in my sleep or something.
"Autumn, what's going on?" She asked, sitting beside me.
"Shikamaru…" – It hurt saying his name - "he doesn't understand, that we feel the same way, he doesn't…get it," I mumbled, almost uncomprehendingly. She wordlessly put her arm around me lovingly, like I was her own daughter. She looked at my shoulder, which must have become bruised from yesterday; I hadn't realized how hard he was squeezing it. She raised her eyebrow.
"He… was worried about me, he wanted me to explain why I was being so hesitant and paranoid," I explained as if that was explanation enough.
"Autumn, I need you to come and talk to Shikamaru, he's being very depressed," She said.
"Is that why you came here?" I demanded, "Not to make me feel better, to make your son feel better!?" I ripped her arm off my shoulder.
"Well I'm not buying it!" I exclaimed.
"Autumn, I came here because I was worried about you,"She explained, "Now tell me about you argument."
I explained it to her, leaving out the Sasuke part and the shirt part, just starting with dinner plans.
She nodded.
"Shikamaru's afraid of commitment," She finally said.
"Oh…okay…" I said, rather confused.
"The best way to be comforted is by going to see him Autumn," She informed me.
"What time is it anyway?" I asked her.
"8:00 AM, I made sure I came when Shikamaru wouldn't be awake," She said. That's odd; he's normally up around this time to come see me… I nodded and I ran to their house wearing just my nightgown, getting a few strange looks along the way. I threw two kunai up right under Shikamaru's window, jumping up and balancing on them, one foot on each. I knocked on the window, looking straight at Shikamaru, who seemed to be moping on his bed, shirtless. He walked over groggily and opened the window, and I tumbled in, landing at his feet.
"Hello?" He asked. I got up slowly, wiping my nightgown off. I realized that I felt very exposed because I wasn't wearing a bra, and I didn't like it.
"Shikamaru, I felt kind of, well, I…" I started. Shikamaru took me over to his bed and put me on his lap, which felt uncomfortable but I didn't say anything about it.
"I-I'm really sorry, I didn't mean-" I started, but he cut me off, putting his finger to my lips to stop me from talking.
"I should be the one saying sorry," He said, breaking the silence. I smirked.
"No, no you shouldn't, I'm always the one overreacting," I said. I reached out to touch his chest, it was so warm. I traced the contours of his muscles with my finger, much like I had with his shirt yesterday.
"But I'm the one that makes you overreact," He said.
"Shikamaru, I've been… horrible, and I'm sorry, I don't want to… make you sad anymore, because it makes me sad too…" I stuttered. Shikamaru smiled a warm, loving smile. I removed myself from his grasp.
"Now what do we do?" I asked him.
"What choice do we have?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Eventually word will spread around," Shikamaru said.
"So?" I asked.
"You have yourself a boyfriend," He said. I thought I was going to choke on my own spit. I made a coughing noise and then I put my arms around him..
"Hey Shikamaru?" I asked after a long time.
"Yes?" He asked me.
"Your mom said you're not usually up before 10:00 AM, but… you're normally up at like 8:00," I explained. He smiled down at me.
"I… wake up early to see you…" He said hesitantly. I felt all warm inside after that comment.
"Anyway, I have a mission," Shikamaru said, "See you… later…" He seemed to blush slightly after that.
I then went back home and went to sleep, I was very tired.
I awoke with a knock on my door. It better not be Shikamaru, I justspoke with him.
"Yah!?" I yelled out to the person behind the door.
"It's Kakashi, can we talk?" He asked. I furrowed my brow, confused. I threw on my robe and opened the door, my hair a tangled mess and the make-up I didn't care to wash off yesterday rubbed all over my face.
"Remind me to wait until you're awake and ready next time I visit you," Kakashi said.
"Oh, you're nice," I retorted. Kakashi smiled, or at least I think he did, stupid mask.
"I just wanted to tell you that I've found you a new team," Kakashi explained, "They're both chunin, but you're going to have to be their leader, I think they need… guidance…" I raised my eyebrow. Ok. I like being in charge.
"Who are they?" I asked skeptically.
Kakashi and I went outside and I saw two blonde heads huddling in a corner.
"This, Autumn, is your new team," Kakashi said, gesturing to the two blondes. They turned around quickly.
"Hey! You're the crazy people I met in the marketplace!" I screamed.
"We're not that crazy!" The boy protested.
"No, not crazy at all!" The girl added. They both crossed their arms and went back-to-back.
"How are you so… synchronized?" I asked them suspiciously.
"We're like brother and sister!" The boy yelled.
"Twins! We're like twins!" The girl added.
"We're like peanut butter and jelly!" The boy said. The girl hung her head.
"But I don't like jelly," She muttered.
"Jam then!" The boy said enthusiastically.
"Okay!" She agreed. I shook my head. If I didn't have to kill Sasuke I would leave right now.
"Kakashi, you must really hate me or something," I said to him.
"Don't underestimate them, they're two of our most talented chunin," Kakashi informed me, "Good luck." With that, he left. I crossed my arms.
"So… now what?" I asked them.
"Well, there aren't very many missions right now so…" The girl started.
"I'm not sure what we should do," The guy finished.
"Introductions?" The girl asked. I nodded and sat down.
"I'm Autumn U-" I started, catching myself (thank god), "Autumn."
"I'm Marshall," The boy stated.
"And I'm Sabrina!" The girl shouted. They turned back to back, sticking their fists into the air heroically.
"And we're Konoha's golden-haired duo!" They exclaimed. I frowned. These guys are going to be a real handful.
"How about we go our separate ways for today, I'm sure we all need to train," I suggested subtly.
"I guess," Sabrina said with a hand-flick.
"We shall part," Marshall added. I yawned and walked back to my house, taking a nice little nap. I woke up to see Naruto leaning over me.
"When did you get in here?" I asked him curiously, sitting up.
"You really should lock your door at all times," Naruto advised. I half-smiled.
"More importantly," I said, "Why are you here?"
"The pervy-sage gave me a day off from training, so, here I am," Naruto said.
"Pervy-sage?" I asked.
"The toad sage, Jiraiya of the sannin," Naruto explained, "He peeks on girls all the time." I laughed.
"So, ready for ramen then?" I asked.
"Well I was going to see if you wanted to have a picnic but ramen is good too," Naruto said.
"I like the picnic idea better, we're probably going to die from all the salt in ramen one of these days," I stated. Naruto laughed and we both went to my fridge. Naruto pulled out a picnic basket he had brought. I started placing items in there. I packed lots of fruit and vegetables, milk, and some cups. I had just gotten started on making some sandwiches when I heard the door open.
Why DON'T I lock it?
"Hey guys, I saw Naruto with a picnic basket and I decided to join in," Choji said with a smile. I smiled sweetly back.
"Should he come?" Naruto whispered to me. I shrugged.
"He does eat a lot," He protested.
"We have to be friendly," I warned him.
"Want to invite Kiba?" I asked Choji. He nodded and left. I made sure to make two different kinds of sandwiches and a lot of them.
Kiba and Choji came in together a while later and I was already prepared to leave. Naruto and I linked arms, smiling. I reached out to Kiba and he linked arms with me, Choji also linked arms with Naruto. The people here in Konoha are like the family I never had.
I shook my head.
Did I just think that?
Yes I did. I mentally slapped myself. You can't kill Sasuke when you get attached to people like that!
Naruto spread out a big checkered cloth (classic picnic) and I put the food down. Choji immediately started eating. I took a small bowl out of the basket and poured milk in it.
"Akamaru!" I called after the small white dog. He ran over, barking, and lapped up the milk.
"Oh my god!" A voice screamed, I saw the silhouette waving frantically and running towards us, "We saw that you guys were having a picnic!"
"Slow down! You know I'm not as fit as you!" A girl voice yelled. Oh god, Sabrina and Marshall. But where's Sabrina?
Sabrina came running up from the other side, sitting down on the blanket with a plop.
"So I brought pickles," She said, pulling out a jar.
"Yay!" Kiba said in a high-pitched girly voice. Sabrina went to hi-five Kiba and she missed, smacking him in the face and landing face-first into the sandwiches. Choji glared at her with a look of twisted agony.
"Not the sandwiches!" He screamed, "No! No…" Sabrina jumped up and took a bite of one sandwich.
"Still tastes good," She said happily. Naruto turned to me, raising his eyebrow skeptically as if to say "you know these people?" I stood up, gesturing for Sabrina and Marshall to come forth.
"Introduce yourselves," I hissed.
"I'm Marshall," Marshall said.
"And I'm Sabrina!" She added. They went back to back.
"And we're Konoha's golden-haired duo!" They exclaimed. They both shot their hands into the air, emitting fire. Sabrina made a "ksha!" sound effect when the wisps of fire came out.
Kiba eyed them like they were crazy, Naruto looked confused, and Choji eyed the pickles.
"His eyes are ridden with gluttony," Sabrina whispered to Marshall loudly, speaking about Choji.
"He's a little on the plump side as well," Marshall said. I cringed. Oh. Big mistake.
"Plump?" Choji asked, the veins poking out slightly from his forehead. Choji got up and charged at Marshall. Sabrina giggled and pulled him out of Choji's way. She threw him into the air and he balanced on her shoulders. Sabrina took a fighting stance.
"We fight as one!" Sabrina yelled.
"One single entity!" Marshall continued.
"In two different bodies!" Sabrina finished heroically. I shook my head.
"Please don't fight," I muttered. Marshall jumped off of Sabrina's shoulders.
"Alright master! Whatever you say!" They said in unison, saluting and sitting down. Choji seemed to have calmed down, so he sat back down and we all ate in silence. Sabrina opened the pickle jar and grabbed a pickle, slowly taking a bite.
"OW!" She screamed, rubbing her eyes.
"There's always one damn pickle in every bunch that squirts you in the eye," She mumbled. I raised my eyebrow. She looked up, smiling innocently, and she gave everyone a few pickles. I slowly nibbled on my sandwich, looking earnestly from person to person. Sabrina and Kiba both reached for the last pickle, but then Choji knocked them both half-way across the field.
"The last morsel must be savored," He said, grabbing the pickle and eating it. Sabrina threw a small temper tantrum because she wanted the pickle. Marshall sat calmly (for once) and slowly folded his napkin in his lap. He then rolled it into a ball and threw it at Sabrina.
"Oh my god! Napkin war!" Sabrina screamed, breaking out of her tantrum-mode. She picked up Kiba's napkin and threw it at Marshall. Marshall got up and grabbed Naruto's napkin right out of his hand, throwing it at Sabrina. She hid behind Kiba, who got hit in the face with it. Sabrina laughed evilly and threw her hands into the air. She galloped over to me and reached around me, grabbing the whole stack of napkins and quickly rolling them into balls.
Marshall furrowed his brow angrily and took Choji's food-covered napkin, earning a glare. Instead of rolling it up he threw it straight at Sabrina's face, getting Choji's small food portions on her face. She turned around, gasping.
"This, means, war," Sabrina whispered, scowling.
"Bring it," Marshall challenged. Sabrina picked up a rolled up napkin and formed some hand-signs, covering it in a moving orb of water. She smirked, doing so to the rest of them, and she quickly bombarded Marshall with them. He cowered in fear, curling up into the fetal position. I looked to Naruto, Kiba, and Choji, who all stared. Naruto smirked, Kiba looked discontented, and Choji's face was completely blank. Marshall was wet from head to toe. I resisted my urge to burst into laughter and I stared at them angrily. I started to pack up the picnic stuff and Kiba leaned toward Naruto, whispering something. Naruto gasped and giggled. I whipped my head around, glaring. I wondered what they were talking about.
"Watcha whispering about?" Sabrina asked, jumping in. She gasped loudly.
"Autumn! I didn't know! You and Shikamaru!" She exclaimed. I jumped slight, startled, and I immediately blushed. I didn't think it would be that.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She asked, sounding appalled.
"I just officially met you this morning, and you expect that the first thing I'll do is tell you about my boyfriend? Besides, it's none of your business," I mumbled.
"Boyfriend!?" Naruto asked.
"So it is true!" Kiba exclaimed. Crap! They tricked me into admitting it! I blushed madly and it reached all the way to my ears. I dropped the picnic basket and I ran off, embarrassed.
I didn't want to talk to them about it.
Especially not Sabrina.
Or Marshall.
I heard them call after me but I ignored them and ran to the one place that was more comforting than my apartment, the ramen shop.
I'm still ever so sorry! If there's ANY way I can make it up to you guys I will do it immediately!
Anyways, the next one will come... err... eventually
Stay youthful! (I sound like Gai don't I?)
- - Suzuki Yumi '.'