(X) A Night of Good & Bad.
Your kiss, it made me smile.
Heart strumming like a guitar,
the sweet surprise lasted a while.
But, now I have to know who you are.
-Naruto Uzumaki-
The Ball had begun half an hour ago and the gym, where it was taking place, was almost packed up with kids dancing, jiving, eating, conversing and basically just having fun. Since it was a modern theme, the gym was decorated with flowers, tulle, twinkling lights and there was even a disco ball in the middle of the dance floor.
"Where are they?" a very worried girl paced in front of her friends. She was wearing a halter neck, beaded and floor-length dress.
Her cousin brother, Sasori rolled his eyes and impatiently said, "They'll be here, Konan."
And as if on cue, the whole room fell silent. Numerous heads turned towards the gym doors as it swung open and a cold breeze blew in. Seven undoubtedly fabulous looking girls strolled in, hand in hand. Half of their faces might have been covered by masquerade masks, but everyone knew who they were; the so-called seven deadly girls. It was an irony however, seeing as how, tonight they surpassed even the gentle and charming features of an angel. Explicitly gorgeous, graceful with each step they took and an amiable aura floated around them.
Every boy in the decorated room gawped at them even if they may be related, friends or merely strangers and school mates to the girls. To them all it was a sight worth seeing. It would be a lie to say that the stoic ones' eyes didn't linger on certain girls. Envious stares from girls wished to penetrate them, excluding their friends of course, who instead, beamed brightly as the girls approach the rest of their groupie.
"Troublesome," a certain lazy genius yawned but stifled it at once when his gaze landed on a girl grinning at him. She wasn't in her signature four pony tails tonight. Her hair was let loose and curled into a complicated style. His yawn turned to a smile as he spoke again, "But, you know how to make an entrance. I'll give you that." He could see her eyes exaggeratedly roll behind that antique mask.
"A 'nice to see you' would have been welcoming," she said sardonically, but he didn't care, because what she said next would be treasured in his heart for as long as he lives.
"You're unnaturally handsome tonight lazy ass," Temari smirked with honest mischief. He just stuffed his hands into his pants pockets and shook his head, a smile never faltering in his face.
"Yeah, well nothing compared to you, Temari."
This time she smiled. Not smirk or grin or anything else she usually does. She actually smiled and he felt like the happiness man on earth. Not that he'd ever admit it of course.
.
"Hinata-chan! You look AMAZING!" Naruto declare as he took hold of her right hand and twirled her around. She was so giddy with excitement that she didn't faint but rather laughed a merry laugh that sounded like bells of heaven to the blonde guy in tux.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun," She meekly said; her head hung low from a sudden embarrassment. Feeling a hand touch her cheek, the girl looked up and saw him grinning at her, "Why thank me for your beauty?"
Something in her screamed with the feeling of love and she smiled at him gratefully. Tonight, she's not going to let her shy self get in the way and ruin the perfect moment for her. She was going to have fun and enjoy every ounce of it with the man of her dreams.
Naruto might be oblivious to her feelings, but even so, he had always had the knack for making her feel good about herself. He was like the bright sun shining down on her, enlivening each and every dark corner in her life. She was grateful to him for it. No scratch that. She loved him for it.
"Come on, let's get you some punch and me some ramen!" he exclaimed and gently dragged her, sniggering, to the beverage table.
.
"Whoa? Ino is that you?" Kiba asked with genuine surprise. The girl was wearing a blue tiered dress with its skirt longer at the back and the front only reaching to her knees. Ino sarcastically curtsied before the boy, "Yes milord, 'tis I, Ino Yamanaka." When she straightened up from the gesture, both of them fell into fits of laughter.
"Excuse me, but may I have this dance," a voice interrupted their guffaws. Recognizing it, Ino twirled around to see a hand extended to her, palm facing up and the other hand folded behind the person. Ino was in ecstasy when she saw it belonged to Sai. Smiling politely and trying to calm her beating heart, she placed her hand on top of his and said, "Yes, you may."
She turned to Kiba and told him that she'll see him later before going to the dance floor with her crush. It was a moment she'd never dreamed of coming true. However, one boy was both shattered and glad at the same time whilst he watched the two sway against the music; Glad because Ino was having her wish come true right before her eyes and shattered because it wasn't him who was granting the wishes of the girl.
"You should really tell her Kiba. I can see you're falling for her more than you wish to," He heard Choji say from behind him, but he didn't dare tear his gaze away from Ino.
"I can't," He explained, "But as long as she's happy… then so am I."
Choji sighed, "I still say it's worth a try." Kiba just remained silent.
.
"Hey Hyuuga! Grumpy as ever I see," Tenten joked at her best friend who, by the way, was sulking in a corner while he leaned on a table and watched the dance floor.
He jolted up ever so slightly before turning to face her and millions of thoughts rushed through his mind at what he saw. Neji hadn't really paid any attention to what the girl had been wearing until now. Tenten was wearing a grayish silver and beaded one-shoulder ruche gown. It complimented the girlish curves that she usually hides beneath all those baggy tomboyish shirts of hers.
"Oi! Neji! What's wrong with you?" Tenten waved her hand in front of the said prodigy's face. He snapped out of his thoughts but kept his gaze running up and down her, trying to comprehend that this was Tenten. He'd never even known that his best friend had medium length hair! She looked incredibly stunning tonight.
The girl noticed her friend observing her outfit and without hesitation she asked, "Does it look bad? Ino literally went up my throat and forced me into wearing th-."
"It's perfect," Neji interrupted her blabbering. He'd been taken aback by her question and mentally smacked himself for making her think as much. Sure she had asked him with a smile and no hurt rang in her voice, but Neji knew Tenten and her eyes said otherwise. She might not obsess about her looks but she's still a girl and she does care in a way. Besides, he meant what he said.
She smiled a smile he'd never seen her use and said, "Thank you."
.
'Tch. Annoying.' The youngest Uchiha thought to himself as he watched, as Naruto calls him, Bushy brows flirt with Sakura. He knows Sakura isn't flirting back but rather just being the polite the girl she is. But still, it irked the young prodigy, hearing the flirtatious compliments Lee was giving his best friend and it annoyed him even more when his noticed from the corner of his eyes, that the girl had a slight blush visible on her cheeks.
"Ah! My, my, Saku-chan! You look ever so youthful tonight!"
"U-uh… Thank you I guess."
"My youthful cherry blossom, you should be dancing the night away!"
"Eh- I don't know about that Lee…"
"Come! I shall escort you to the youthful dance floor!"
"Umm… Thanks but no thaaa-." The girl never got to finish her sentence since Uchiha had pulled her away and was now leading her to the dance floor, well away from the creepy Lee. (In his opinion anyway)
The pinkette was confused but complied, though her gaze never tore away from the gentle hands clutching her gloved ones. Contact of their hands was sending unusual tingles all over her body and she was shocked about it
. Sasuke had half dragged her to the other side of the dance floor so that there'd be no disruptions and before they knew it, they were entangled and swaying with the soft music.
"Sasuke, why'd you do that?" she asked, looking up at him and emerald met onyx
"Hn."
"Sasuke?" she tried getting an answer once more.
Without anymore hesitation, the boy replied, "I have obligations as your best friend." Sakura's eyes were questioning him once more because she didn't understand. Sighing, the raven haired boy explained, "I can't let flirts near you or else who knows what they might do."
She knitted her brows at him as they kept on dancing, "The others don't seem to have a problem with it. Not even nii-san"
"They don't worry as much as I do," He informed her indifferently. Sakura just rolled her eyes and gave up, knowing he wouldn't give a straight answer. It's not like she didn't believe him, but she couldn't help but feel a hidden meaning in the answer. She shrugged it off and focused on their dancing once more.
.
"Excuse me. Quiet down for a while kids" a blaring voice requested through a microphone. Noise subdued and everyone focused their attention to their principal standing on the stage set up on one side of the large decorated gym. When she was sure she had the room's acknowledgement, Tsunade continued on with her speech, "As everybody in this room knows, tonight is a special event for the school. Right here, right now, we'll officially be announcing the new members of the Akatsuki-." Hoots and cheers intervened with her speech but she patiently waited for it to subside.
"When we announce your name, please step onto the stage so we can entrust you your team uniform and badges. So without further ado, Kurenai and Asuma, come on over annunciate this year's members!"
Cheers and applause erupted as Tsunade went aside and let the two teachers take their place on stage. Kurenai had said a small speech before calling upon the new Akatsuki and one by one they hopped onto the stage.
"The new members for this year, people! Congratulations and I know you'll all do great!"Asuma screamed on the mic and the room erupted once more. Standing on the elegant stage were Itachi, Deidara, Konan, Yahiko, Nagato, Tobi, Kakazu, Hidan, Zetsu, Sasori and Kisame. They students were surprised to have only one female member but they didn't really care. The newly formed Akatsuki were all strong and smart. Everyone was sure that they're going to love them. Several wolf whistles, hoots, thunderous applause and deafening 'congratulations' were heard from their fellow school mates. It made the new team beam with pride and gratitude.
"Tobi is loved! All of us are loved!" Tobi jumped up and down in joy with his arms flailing around. They laughed fondly at the weird but really kind boy.
"Hey Deidara?"
The said teen whirled around to face the owner of the voice and he grinned down at her. "What's up Shizashi?"
"They're what's up," she replied, pointing over at the two figures standing not that far away from them. They were at separate corners, both bored to death. The pair had been stealing glances at one another the whole night yet they didn't go near the other let alone converse.
Deidara understood what Shizashi meant and knew that she's planning something. "What are you gonna do about it un?"
"Get them to dance," She articulated.
The blonde boy's eyes gleamed. He liked her idea and would bet anything in the world just to see what would happen. Besides, those two stubborn friends of theirs just simply needed a push. This was definitely worth it.
"So will you help me?" she looked hopefully at him and in return he furrowed his brows, "What's in it for me?"
She didn't falter nor waste time to answer. "I'll owe you one."
Deidara brightened up, "You got a deal!"
.
Ino looks back and forth from her lazy genius of a friend and Temari. Not surprisingly, Shikamaru was just yawning his head off whilst leaning against a wall, his legs crossed at his ankles, and completely oblivious to what was happening. Choji was by his side- no surprise there- munching on something.
The girl half grunted half scoffed as she stomped over to her two friends and smacked Shikamaru right on his head, causing him to jerk up and give her a daggered look. "Troublesome. What do you want?"
"You don't even see that do you?" she stated instead of questioned while she tapped her high heeled foot impatiently on the floor.
"What a drag Ino. Just spill it out," Shikamaru ordered her lazily, returning to his the position he was in a couple of seconds ago.
Before she could completely lose patience, she harshly pointed to her right using her perfectly manicure finger and said, "Temari and another boy. Flirting."
Shikamaru bolted up and focused his attention to where his over dramatic friend was pointing at. He felt a pang of jealousy curse through him and his hands clenched. There, by the refreshment table, was Temari along with a boy. He distinctly remembers that the boy's name was Takeshi and was in the same class as Temari; a junior. The lazy genius froze on his spot and glared when he saw that both persons were having a laugh at something Takeshi had said. But that's not all there was. Takeshi was so awfully close to the girl that their shoulders were brushing and she didn't even mind! He just couldn't believe it! Temari. His Temari of all people was allowing another guy to flirt with her! Ok so maybe she doesn't have a clue about being his, but still.
And before he knew it, he had lumbered over to the guy and Temari, rage burning his eyes.
.
"Crap Ino, you've done it this time," Choji told her as he watched Shikamaru talk with the boy. His jaws were tense and he most certainly did not look lazy at all that moment.
"Che. He's too lazy to make a move and now he's paying for it," Ino proclaimed. She saw Shikamaru drag an aggravated Temari to dance, leaving behind a perturb Takeshi.
"You better hope Temari won't kill you for this," Choji taunted the blond by his side, "Kiba might not be there to save your sorry ass."
"Tsk. I don't need him to be my knight in shining armor," Ino crossed her arms and held her nose high, "Beside, Temari should be gratified. I did her a favour."
Choji shook his head in disappointment and continued on eating, but from the corner of his eyes, he saw Ino dolefully glancing over at Kiba, who was squabbling with Kankuro yet again. Gaara was trying hard to ignore the two while Matsuri and Sari purposefully chose to be oblivious to their existence and just had fun talking with one another.
.
"Tell me again how we ended up like this?" Itachi frowned, not allowing onyx to meet amber.
Chisayi sighed and said, "We've been blackmailed. By Deidara and Shizashi," She groaned, "I can't believe that girl!"
Itachi looked around and spied Deidara annoyingly grinning at him, Shizashi by his side. The Uchiha remained indifferent and rested his hands on Chisayi's hips, "I don't know what your friend blackmailed you with but I know you and I both don't want our secrets out. Might as well comply… They're still spying on us."
The girl in front of him of him nodded and placed her hands on his shoulders, "It's just one little dance right. No biggie."
"Hn"
Howbeit, it wasn't just 'one little dance' to the stoic Uchiha. No, it was something he'd want to treasure because right now, he's having that picture-perfect-moment with the girl he's fallen in love with. He stayed calm and in control on the outside, but in reality he wasn't. Nervousness tormented him. Little did he know that it was exactly the same for the girl in front of him.
A dainty figure slipped into the room without catching unnecessary attention. She scanned the room and not a moment too soon, her eyes landed on the boy she was looking for. As she approached him, she noticed that Gaara, Matsuri and Sasuke were by his side.
.
"I can't believe Hinata-chan left early and didn't even tell me! I don't care if she was exhausted or had some other stuff to do, I just wish she told me…" Naruto brooded and whined to his.
"Dobe. She left. Get over it," Sasuke said, clearly losing patience.
"But teme!"
"Hn."
Matsuri sighed, "If you had made a move tonight, she might have stayed."
Naruto looked at her as if she'd grown a head or two, "Are you screwed? Hinata doesn't like me!"
"Just shut up already Naruto," Gaara ordered him monotonously.
"Hmph!" And with that Naruto crossed his arms and kept muttering under his breath. He suddenly noticed someone coming towards him and he looked up. It was a girl wearing a white-fuchsia strapless tulle ball gown and her orange hair was in an up do. Even though the top half of her face was hidden behind the mask, this girl was obviously stunning.
She held out her hand and Naruto shook it. As they did so she said, "Dance with me?"
He was taken aback and was trying to form an answer in his mouth. Unfortunately for him, it was Sasuke who replied, "Just go already dobe."
Naruto reluctantly nodded and escorted her to where the rest of his school mates were swaying in tune to the romantic music.
When she wrapped her arms around his neck, she said, "It's nice to see you Naruto."
He twirled her around and asked, "Who are you? I don't think I've ever seen you before…"
"Trust me, you have."
"Really? When?"
"All the time, Naruto... You just have to look hard."
He furrowed his brows at her, "What do you mean?"
But instead of giving an answer, what the girl did next took him by surprise.
.
"Alright!" Shizashi high fived Deidara!
"That was so funny! They don't even know we threatened both of them by telling that we'd spill about their feelings for each other!" Deidara chuckled.
The girl looked over at her best friend and the guy she was dancing with. They looked so cute and almost as if made for each other. Neither of them spoke, but she could tell that they were savoring the moment. She smiled at the bigger picture she could see, "It was definitely worth it."
Blue met Black when the two stared into each other's eyes. It was as if suddenly they were falling and being absorb into each other. Shaking of the feeling, Deidara spoke again, "Itachi is going to kill me after this."
"Nah- He'll be too busy hanging around my friend," Shizashi giggled, tearing her eyes away from the boy.
"You so owe me for this," he reminded her and she nodded with a smile.
"I know."
.
Naruto POV:
*She's kissing us!*
*And it feels so…right.*
*Baka! You like Hinata remember!*
*I know Inner!*
*Pull away from her then!*
*I wish this was Hinata instead*
*Get away from her already!*
"NARUTO!" I heard someone hollering at me from across the room and I pulled away from the kiss. I didn't say anything because I was still in shock and just watched her panicking.
"I-I need to g-go. I-I'm sorry," She turned around and was about to go, but I held onto her wrists.
"Who are you?" I asked her once more, because I was getting really curious now. The kiss… I know I shouldn't feel like this but it felt good. It's as if this girl was the one for me.
She looked around her , as if expecting someone to pounce on her any minute. "I really need to go."
"Just tell me who you are! Please." I was so not letting her go until she tells me. She can't just kiss me and leave.
"Open your eyes Naruto. You know who I am." And with that she jerked her hand away from my grip and ran out the ball. I was still staring at the door she had gone out of when Sari came over to me with Kankuro and Kiba.
"Who was that girl?" Sari asked, also looking at the door.
I didn't turn to face her when I whispered my reply to myself, "I don't know …"
I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that I didn't hear what Kankuro and Kiba had said next, but I didn't care. I need to find out who that girl is.
.
Sasori POV:
I was having a drink when suddenly something vibrated in my pants pocket. Keeping the glass aside, I reached for my phone and flipped it open to answer.
My uncle's remorseful and urgent voice kept ringing in my ear. The things he had said cut me deep and tears stung my eyes. This can't be true can it? There's just no way…
But I can't push reality away when it's right in front of my eyes.
"Nii-san what's wrong?" Konan asked me and suddenly everyone's attention was on me.
Shutting my phone away, I answered them with a croak, "Sakura, Konan… we need to go."
For some reason they didn't say anything and I saw fear in their eyes. I couldn't blame them. Without another word, the three of us rushed out of the ball, leaving our perplexed friends behind. They'll come after us soon enough though.
This night was not ending the way I had hoped it would…
Well this was a boring chapter... anyways, Who was that girl that kissed Naruto? Who does Ino really like? WHat's up with Shizashi and Deidara? Why and where was Sasori and his cousins going to?
xD