Might be a little late but . . .
OMG! Naruto Shippuden ep 166!
I thought it would never come!
I LOVED IT! It was awesome! XD
And I finally saw Hinata's mother!
Disclaimer: I will never own Naruto.
Hey, when it comes to things like that, it's never too late ;)

Chapter 10: Hyugas are Unpredictable

I stretched as I got off my bed. After Hinata left, I went back to my house to get a real nap. It was now around 3:00pm.

Ugh, afternoons. I felt lazy today when usually I don't. I found myself thinking back to last night. When I was home making ramen, I had the sudden urge to go to the trainig area. Interesting. I guess you can call it instinct. Well, thank you, Instinct! Even though last night was embarrassing, I felt like Hinata and I bonded that night! I hope she feels the same way. I wonder if she'll be there again tonight.

. . . I wouldn't count on it.

"You'll talk to your dad?" Hinata asked.

"Yes. I hope this plan works. If it doesn't . . . well, say hello to your future husband," Taiki answered, smiling.

Hinata smiled, too. "Very well. I'll go get Naruto." The two nodded and then hurried away.

Someone tapped my shoulder. I was sitting at Ichiraku's happily slurping my favorite ramen when someone tapped my shoulder.

I turned around to meet the eyes of a Hyuga. "Hello, Naruto."

I gulped the ramen still in my mouth. "Hey, Neji. What's up?" Behind, I took my bowl and brought it in front of me so I could continue eating.

Standing still, arms folded, Neji glared at me for a while. I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable under the gaze. Beads of sweat started forming on my temples. What did I do this time?

Suddenly, horrifyingly, he started laughing. That can't be right. Neji? Laughing? Those are two things I would never put together, because them together is impossible! And now he's doing it right in front of me! It was scary!

He continued laughing; after a few seconds Neji disappeared in an explosion of smoke. After the smoke cleared, another Hyuga took his place, still laughing.

"I'm sorry, Naruto, I couldn't help it!"

I sat there, mouth gaping and eyes as wide is it can get. Hyugas are so unpredictable! First Neji was laughing and now Hinata pranked me! Hinata? Pranking? There's no way!

And then I calmed down, because now I was listening to Hinata's laugh. Of course I've heard her laugh before, but that's when we were young and just friends. Now I'm listening to it with my new feelings. It sounded beautiful. She just made me fall in love even more.

I started laughing with her. At first it was just a chuckle, but she looked so happy, I couldn't hold back. Too bad it didn't last long. A couple of seconds after I laughed she slowed down, wiping tears from her eyes. I started eating my ramen again.

"So how's it goin', Hinata?" I asked.

"Well, I have good news and b-"

"Bad news? Yeah, I want to hear the good news first."

Hinata smiled. "I was going to say 'better news.'"

My ears stood straighter. "Huh? And it has someting to do with me?"

She nodded. "Now, you wanted the good news first?"

Taiki took a deep breath before entering.

"Taiki." His father sounded mildly suprised.

"Father." His father was in his room, sipping tea. He sat across from him.

The head of the Shimizu sipped his tea again. "Do you need anything?"

"Are you still going through with the wedding?" Taiki had to hurry to get his father convinced to cancel the engagement. The plan was for Taiki to persuade his dad to turn off the wedding. Meanwhile, Hinata would tell Naruto of the plan and get him to come so all three of them can convince Hiashi to cancel. He told her to take her time since he might need some time to cool down his father, but he still had to hurry, since, knowing Naruto (from Hinata), he might just burst at the words "wedding cancelled" and run straight to here. He didn't want any disturbance; he wanted to speak with his dad alone.

His father took another long sip of tea, eyes closed. "No."

"Listen, Dad, I know it's been tough and all with the people of the Mist but seriously you have got to stop paring Hinata and me together because-wait, what? What did you just say?"

"No. We are not going through with the wedding."

Taiki was in disbelief. He couldn't believe that it would be that easy to tell his father the deal was off. "Uh, seriously?" he asked.

"Mm-hm. Hiashi and I talked it over and we believe that our children shouldn't have to go through this."

"Uh, wha- . . . really?" Taiki was shaking his head and staring at his father. Is this really his father? "And you already talked to Lord Hiashi about this?"

His father nodded.

"I . . . can't believe it," Taiki mumbled.

"Looks like your plan didn't go as planned."

In his dazed state, it took a while for Taiki to comprehend. "What? How did you know?"

The head chuckled. "My son, we are the Shimizu. We are masters of the mind, just like the Yamanaka of the Leaf. Once you have mastered the jutsu, you, too, will learn how to read minds." He chuckled. "And Hinata's little sister told us that you two were up to something. If you were really determined to cancel the wedding all that much, then I guess we didn't have a choice."

"Really?"

"Yes. And you were also right about that Naruto. He's at the door right now."

Impossible! Unbelievable! Unimaginable! This can't be happening!

Those were the thoughts of a man who had just heard that his crush's wedding was now cancelled. With that gone, a new window of opportunity has opened, letting the light of hope shine down from its gates.

Those were my thoughts as I rapped on the door of the Hyuga Compound. Even though the day was turning into a cool evening, I felt as hot as a tea kettle!

"Naruto, you'll break my door if you keep doing that," Hinata said. She put her hands on my shoulders in an attempt to slow me down. It worked. Just her touch would calm me down.

I turned to her, breathing hard. "Sorry, but you got me excited."

"I'm sorry," she giggled. I grinned, too.

That was when the door opened. A man stood at the threshold.

"Good evening, Ko," Hinata greeted.

"Good evening, Lady Hinata. Good evening, Naruto." He bowed his head slightly to each of us.

"I need to speak with Father, please."

"Certainly. I'll go get him. In the meantime, you two should come in."

We followed him inside and then Hinata and I went to the Hyuga courtyard. They have a training area right in the middle of their home! We waited in uncofortable silence.

A door to our right slid open. Taiki dashed out with a huge grin. "Naruto! Hinata! I have great news! We don't need to convince Hiashi to cancel the wedding!"

"Are you crazy?" I snapped. I couldn't help it; I was told that the three of us wereto convince Hiashi to stop the wedding and here he was shouting that we didn't need to do that! That was, like, the most important part of the plan, though! "Look, Taiki, I like Hinata, too! You can't keep her all to yourself! Get your own girl! If you don't want to do this Hinata and I will just do it ourselves! Don't stop us, you got that?" Yeah, that felt so good! I was right in his face. My face was probably red from both the run and my anger.

"I didn't mean it like that. I was going to say that we don't need any persuasion because both fathers have already agreed to stop the wedding." Taiki sounded hurt.

There goes that good feeling.

Just then, I saw Taiki's dad come out of the same room that Taiki exited. To the left of that was a hall, where Hiashi and the man at the door appeared. "What's going on?" he asked.

Unable to contain myself, I sprinted to the head Hyuga. "Is it true the wedding's off?" I blurted.

Hiashi was surprised at me suddenly appearing in front of him. Then he smiled. "You're just like you're father: fast."

I reeled back, embarrassed. I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry about that." Hiashi chuckled.

"It's alright. And yes, Hinata and Taiki will not be married."

I lit up. Was he serious? This isn't a joke? I felt the joy fill up my whole body, even my brain. Now that my brain was controlled by uncontrollable happiness, I just had to do it!

I HUGGED HIASHI! Yes! I hugged him! He just saved my heart from its downfall to its greatest depression!

"Hahahahahahaha!" I laughed and laughed. I bounced him up and down! Finally letting go of him, I raced to Hinata and Taiki.

"Can you believe this?" I shouted.

"I couldn't at first!" Taiki said, also laughing. We all laughed, not believing our luck. We laughed until the sun was completely below the horizon.

Taiki, Hinata, and I sat at the trunk of the tree in Hinata's courtyard. We were gazing at the stars. I had my arm around Hinata's shoulders, remembering "good news and better news."

"Now, you wanted the good news first? Well, the good news is that I like you too, Naruto."

"Too?"

"I already figured out that you like me."

"Oh . . . "

"And the better news is that Taiki and I have a plan on how to cancel my arranged marriage."

"What?"

I remembered how I shifted in my seat practically after every word Hinata said. As soon as she said "cancel arranged marriage" I wanted to go straight to the Hyuga Compound to confirm this. I had to sit through torturous minutes listening to the plan! But that's not how I work: make a plan. No, I just do.

I sighed.

"What is it?" Hinata asked.

"Nothing," I replied, and Hinata resumed snuggling to my chest.

Let's see: the night was clear; there was a soft breeze gently blowing; and I have my crush tucked with me under the shade of a tree. I think it was time.

"Hinata," I said. She looked up at me. With my other hand, I lifted her chin . . . and I leaned towards her. This was the moment I've been dreaming up with Sakura, yet I'm doing it with the girl I least expected to end up as my girlfriend.

Suddenly, my girlfriend exploded in smoke. There, where Hinata used to be sitting, was Taiki, holding his neck and gagging.

"Aw, Naruto, that was sick!" he cried. Well here's some news, Taiki: Same here!

Behind me, another puff of smoke exploded. When I turned around to face where Taiki (or where I thought Taiki) was sitting, there was Hinata, laughing again.

Hyugas are so unpredictable!

Taiki spoke again. "We thought it would be funny if you thought I was your girlfriend, but I had no idea you were gonna kiss me! Disgusting!"

Of course, I gagged, too. I mean, come on! Again with kissing a guy? Does this world hate me?

That night ended with me and Taiki continuing to bicker about the prank, and Hinata listening to our every word.

But yeah, that's how I got my kiss.

I make it sound as if this story is done!
Well . . . Maybe in the next chapter or so . . .
Man, I rushed through this chapter as if my deadline was in an hour!
Oh well, I was never really good at slowing down anyway ;)
Please review!
I SAW HINATA'S MOM!
Ever noticed Hinata looks like their mom and Hanabi looks like their dad?
I probably wasn't the first one . . .