5 pm. One hour before the date. Just enough time to spend time with Akari before leaving. That's what Suki had planned as she brushed her her into a ponytail. She tied it with her favorite ribbon - a dark shade of blue with black stripes on the edges. The dress she wore matched; she decided it was time to wear a different dress apart from the purple one she usually wore. She was just about finished when she heard a knock at the window. She opened it and Akari jumped in from a nearby tree.
"Akari?! How did you get in the...never mind. What's up?"
"You tell me! I was going to meet you downstairs but I took an alternative route." She stared at Suki in surprise. "And what in the name of all that is good are you dressed up for? Don't tell me it's another interrogaton mission!"
"No silly!! I won't have one of those for a while, that's for sure. I have a date with Sasuke in an hour."
"Ooooh!! Another date!! What is it, number two?"
"Third, as a matter of fact. He met up with me in the park yesterday after Naruto left." She fixed the front of her dress and put on lip balm. "He seemed to acting himself - right up until I scared him."
"You scared him?! I thought the Uchihas had no fears!" Akari laughed.
"Well, looks like he got startled when I was right next to him staring," Suki giggled. "He turned around, made eye contact, and fell over. It was funny seeing him fall."
"Gosh, that guy keeps getting weirder," she said as she sat on the bed. "So where are you going now?"
"No clue. I'm meeting him at the shortcut; guess we'll just figure something out after."
"I thought noone else knew about the shortcut but you and Naruto! How did he find it?"
"He takes the same one, believe it or not. You see where I'd make a right turn at the crossroads? He makes a left. So we're gonna meet there at 6 then hang out."
"You're lucky not to be working for the rest of the week, and to actually go out with one of the eligable ninjas in Konoha. He wouldn't want to go out with someone unless he really really likes them."
"I know that much," she stated as she picked up her weapon pouch. She looked at it for a while and tied it around her waist. "I should get going now, so let's go."
"I have to go back to the flower shop," Akari replied. "I'm filling in for you, remember?"
"Oh yeah! Well, I'll see you later then!" She hugged her friend as she exited from the window. Suki walked through the front door and headed for the shortcut.
Sasuke sat in the ramen shop drinking tea slowly. It was 5:30, so he wasn't in a hurry. After all, he just had to go home and change, and he'd be set. Just then Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba walked in. As usual, Kiba had his dog Akamaru by his side. They spotted Sasuke and headed over to him, much to his despair.
"Hey Sasuke! Funny seeing you around here!" the dog boy grinned. "What's the deal? You look like you're getting ready for something."
"It's none of your business," he huffed. "What's the big idea bothering me, anyways?"
"Aww, come on! I just wanna chat with a former teammate!" Naruto said.
"Yeah! So, I heard that someone has a crush. I wonder who it is?" Kiba said as he nudged Sasuke, who turned pink at the comment.
"What are you implying?"
"Oh, just saying a reliable source told me. It's not someone we know, is it?"
He hung his head and sighed. "What's it to you dobes?"
"Oh! Does that mean...no way! It's not you, is it Uchiha?"
He turned to face him. "Yes, it's me. So what? I like someone, big whoop."
"Don't be so apathetic about the whole thing," Naruto said. "It's big news for us all, knowing you'd rather kill your brother than go on a date."
"By the way, who is the lucky lady that will be with you?" Kiba smirked.
"That is definately none of your concern," Sasuke replied as he got up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to be somewhere."
"Oh, and how did last night go Sasuke?" Naruto asked. Sasuke froze in his tracks, causing the two to snicker. He turned to face him.
"How did you...but I was...argh!! You did see me!!"
"Of course I did! Did you really think I wouldn't? I was your teammate for 3 years!"
"Whatever. Look, I have to go meet S...someone at 6. I'll see you guys later." He ran off to get ready. Kiba looked at Naruto and grinned.
"Which chick is he really meeting?"
"My best friend Suki," Naruto said. "We've been friends forever."
"Wait - you mean Sato Suki that used share ramen with you in first grade?" he asked. "The same Suki that played with Akamaru in the sandbox?"
"Yep. That's the one."
"Dude, this'll be one interesting day," Kiba said.
"It's going to be an interesting week," replied Naruto. "Let's just wait and see what happens."
Sasuke got himself ready to leave the house. He took a deep breath and looked out the window. He opened the door and headed for the shortcut to meet up with Suki. He went through the marketplace and turned into a hidden alley behind a fruit stall. He made sure that noone was watching him as he disappeared into the dark path. Running over walls and through trees, he made it to the meeting point in time. She hadn't appeared just yet; he was early, as usual.
He leaned against the wall to relax for a few minutes. The wind blew and a cloud of dust blinded him temporarily, making everything in front of him seem hazy. When he opened his eyes he saw a figure emerge from the dust. A blue dress with black stripes trimmed along the edges, the top revealing just enough skin to make any man stare, black sandals strapped on the feet, hair pulled back with a ribbon. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, or at the least dreaming. The dust settled to the ground, and he saw Suki looking at him, hands behind her back.
"Hey. Hope I didn't make you wait too long," she greeted him.
"No, you didn't," he said. He couldn't take his eyes off her - she was beautiful.
"Ok. So...where do you want to go first?"
"Umm...how about...dinner?"
"That sounds good. Let's go to the restaurant that's next to the flower shop. I heard they have good sushi there."
"Good idea." They started walking back through the alleys leading to the marketplace. Sasuke noted the pouch on her waist and blinked. "Why do you have your weapon pouch?"
"I can't be too cautious, can I?" she said smiling.
"That's true." He could feel his hands sweating again, and hoping she wouldn't notice he wiped them on his pants. "You look beautiful, by the way."
She blushed and looked down at her hands. "Thanks. You look great too."
"Thanks." He blushed a bit and smiled at her.
For the rest of the day they talked and ate, laughing at their silly antics from their childhood. After the meal, they left and walked through the marketplace. Sasuke stopped at a shop and bought Suki a small stuffed panther. She hugged him tightly as she accepted the gift. He was walking her back home when she hestitantly took his hand into her own. He was startled and turned red when she did, but when he looked at her she was just as nervous. He smiled and squeezed her hand gently, reassuring her. She looked at him and smiled sweetly.
The two reached the destination and sighed. Sasuke looked at her and held her hands. "Well, we're here. You'd better get inside now, before it gets any darker."
"Yeah, I probably should." She hugged him again, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thanks for the gift," she whispered in his ear. His neck tingled as she spoke softly. She let go of his neck and smiled. She went inside the house and waved to him before closing the door. He stood in the same spot for a while before moving away from the house. His heart was pounding in his chest so loudly he could hear it. He looked up at the sky and smiled. "This is going pretty well," he said to himself. "Pretty well indeed."
Back at Suki's house, she closed the door and sighed happily. This had been one of the best nights ever since she was in Konoha. She peeked out the window to watch Sasuke walk away from the house. She smiled as he disappeared around the corner and ran upstairs to her room. She took the ribbon out of her hair and changed into her nightclothes - a T-shirt with the kanji for love painted on the front and a pair of shorts. She climbed into her bed, facing the window and sighing once more. Her eyes closed as she hugged the stuffed panther to her chest and fell asleep.
Wow... Looks like things are getting a bit hot around here... WELL NOW! Since the storyline is a bit obvious now, I won't waste your precious time. Read on for the next event!
Kiba: No one wants to hear you anyways. You get too annoying.
Me: What was that? evil glare of doom
Kiba: Yipes! runs off
Me: GET BACK HERE MUTT!! chases
Naruto: sighs you kids...
