You'd be surprised how much more writing you do if you simply use a smaller font.
Anko tugged me along through the village, Hiro-kun had declined the offer to join us saying he and his parents would be out enjoying the festival (that just-so-happened to be on the same day Anko had chosen for us to meet) with his parents and younger sister.
I wasn't reluctant per-say but I hadn't done this before, not with anyone other than Anko and Hiro-kun and other than a few missions I didn't know any of these ninja personally.
"I can see them!" Anko exclaimed waving her hands manically in the air and catching the attention of Gai and Kurenai (who Asuma had insisted on bringing along)
They welcomed us warm enough and Kurenai actually thanked us for the opportunity to gather as a group of regular friends, I had to insist that it was all Anko's idea for about five minutes before Asuma finally insisted we move on and have a look around.
A festival during a war may seem foolish, but it helped raise the morale of the entire village and not just the ninja either, literally everyone cheered up during a festival. I knew for a fact that Hizashi, Hiashi and Maya along with Neji (whom I had taken to calling Ji-chan) would all be out tonight enjoying the festivities.
They'd promised not to embarrass me if they saw me with my friends, which meant they were going to embarrass me if they saw me with my friends. I was eager to avoid such a scenario.
"Lets grab something to eat first," Anko grinned "I'm starving!"
I snickered and shook my head, "You're always hungry." I informed her and she gave me a gentle friendly tap over the back of the head.
"A good appetite is a sign of youth!" Gai insisted and Kurenai snorted.
"Or a fat stomach."
We laughed (well, Kakashi kept that cool I-don't-care face on) and moved towards the nearest food stand. They were serving these steaming dumplings, piled with three on a stick and being sold dead cheap. I held my stick hesitantly, I'd never actually…eaten junk food since becoming a Hyuuga.
They were so formal and etiquette amongst those closest to the main family was so uptight that I'd not had finger foods in absolutely years. I watched Anko bite into hers, she seemed to have no qualms with manners and even Asuma was eating like a pig.
Gai had already devoured his, Kurenai was nibbling hers and Kakashi had politely declined. I peered at mine again and took a tentative bite.
"This is delicious." I smirked around my full mouth and then continued to eat my food, relishing every bite until there was nothing left but the blunt stick.
Anko seemed pleased enough with the result as we all finished, I passed her my stick out of pure habit and she tossed them both with extreme accuracy into the nearest bin. Kakashi made a nonchalant comment about it.
"Impressive."
Anko snorted at what she assumed was his derision, but after I nudged her she caught her tongue. Anko took everything as a challenge, but I was still worried about what had happened. Clearly, through my inadvertent meddling (or, you know, my general existence) Anko had not ended up in the chunin exam and hadn't been taken by Orochimaru.
I was more than happy at the result, but it also worried me a lot too. It meant that my existence was changing the way things were happening without me even doing anything.
"Come on, there are plenty of things to do!" Asuma cheered as we moved to the first mildly entertaining stall.
"Plus," Gai muttered to Kakashi "it's not like we'll ever do this again."
Kakashi nodded in agreement, but little did they know this would be our tradition for years to come. Hey, the little things mattered.
The night was going great, it was starting to get late but the festival continued even as the number of people started to dwindle down we stayed. There would be a huge firework display near the Hokage's monument that lit the Hokage's faces up brilliantly.
"I think it makes them look terrifying," Kurenai admitted to me and Anko "bad enough they're always watching, when the light dances on their faces they look almost alive."
I giggled, enjoying the company and the chance to make new friends, when I was hit in the side of the face by a rather hot food substance I later learned was somebody's ramen.
I slapped it from my face, I meant it when I said it was hot because it scalded my skin red raw. Anko was already off screaming at someone furiously and Kurenai was trying to help me as I blinked boiling water from my eyes.
That'll do wonders for my Byakugan.
"-the hell is your problem?!" I heard Anko screech as my vision finally cleared.
Kakashi placed a cold bottle of water on my face and made me hold it there, before he also turned to see who had so brazenly lobbed their food at me.
I saw a group of my older Hyuuga cousins sneering over at me, and I pacified my anger and made to do the same with Anko.
"Anko it's fine-"
"No!" She interrupted "It is not, fine," she spat the word "they just attacked you!"
I smiled at her, hiding my pain under a forced joy. I'd get them later, when they were sleeping probably, I knew where they all slept so it wouldn't exactly be hard.
"It is." I insisted smiling at my relatives.
They hated that clearly, and it looked like one of them was reloading when Gai, Asuma and Kurenai decided now would be the time to step in and join Anko. Kakashi was stood beside me, making sure I kept the soothing bottle of icy water on my face.
"You're her family," Kurenai nagged "you're supposed to look out for each other."
Isamu, the ring leader of this particular group of Hyuuga (he was my third cousin thrice removed, and his siblings were nice enough singularly but gathered together they were foul creatures) snarled, actually snarled! At Kurenai.
Asuma took a warning step towards them and they started to slink away, but not before Isamu turned back to me.
"Wedding soon freak, you'd better watch yourself."
I watched them walk away, waving and smiling as they went. When they finally were out of site I pulled the bottle from my face and hissed a stream of curse words; effectively turning the air blue.
Anko moved over to check me but I flapped my hands and waved her away, my face still stung but the burning sensation had stopped.
I was more worried about my eye, the one that had been hit by the scalding water and alas, there were no mirrors anywhere near.
"I should probably head back." I muttered ruefully to Anko who sighed, glancing over at the fireworks, they hadn't even started yet.
"Stay." I ordered turning and starting the walk back to the Hyuuga estate.
Anko tried once to follow, before I told her it would be fine and insisted she rejoin the others. A few more steps along the path and I was joined by Gai.
"I don't watch them anyway." He insisted, "And it is very un-youthful to let a young lady walk home alone."
I scoffed "I'm no lady."
We walked home in a companionable silence but I still believe that Gai needn't have bothered, I didn't see any of my family until I reached the Hyuuga gates where I was practically ambushed by my brothers and sister-in-law. And Neji, of course but he wasn't involved other than sleeping silently in Hizashi's arms.
Maya was the first to notice us, and she raised her eyebrows in that knowing way when she saw Gai.
"Who is your friend?" She asked with a wink and Gai bowed deeply.
"I am Maito Gai, it is a pleasure to meet you."
I didn't slap my own face but it was a near thing.
"What on earth has happened to your face?" Hiashi demanded taking a great stride forwards and lifting my chin up.
Gai looked like he was about to explain the entire story when I jumped in and stopped him.
"I tripped, and uh-" I forced a blush "threw my ramen on my face."
I looked down at the floor, lie, complete lie we didn't even eat ramen. Not that they knew that and nor did they need to.
Hizashi snorted a laugh and jostled Neji into consciousness and so he started to wail. Hizashi sighed and started cooing at Neji to get him to sleep again.
I turned to Gai.
"Thanks again for walking me home Gai-san," I bowed to him now and he chuckled.
"Please, just Gai, and it was a pleasure I assure you." He bowed again to my family "I hope you all have a lovely night."
Once he was out of sight Maya nudged me excitedly.
"He's kind of handsome."
This time I did slap my face (the un-burnt side) and cursed whatever god ruled this land.
"I, do not, like, Gai."
Hiashi nodded.
"Suuuuure."