Echoes in the Rain

Marcella: Hm…

Black Kanji: What?

Marcella: Where's LightBender?

TSOH: I don't know.

KatDemonLizzy: I don't either.

Mirabelle456: Don't look at me.

Marcella: ((evil look)) We-ell, maybe we should update the chapter for her.

TSOH: ((disbelieving look)) How stupid are you?

Marcella: ((Defensive)) Not very!

Black Kanji, KatDemonLizzy, and Mirabelle456: Could have fooled us!

Marcella: Whatever. Want to help?

TSOH, Black Kanji, KatDemonLizzy, and Mirabelle456: ((shrug)) Why not?

LightBender: ((appears)) Why are you all gathered around my computer? Why are my files open? Why are you listening to 'Iris'?

Marcella: ((guiltily)) Uhhhhhhhhhhhh…… it was Kankuro's fault!!!!!!!!!!

KatDemonLizzy: I knew that this was a bad idea….

LightBender: I'll just pretend this never happened, ok?

Everyone: OK!

LightBender: Just a few notices: One, it's always Kankuro's fault! Two, I'm too lazy to make Ino/Kankuro work, so I'm making up an OC. I think you meet her in this chapter. She'll show up more in the sequel. Three, I'll try and describe the girls' clothing but I can remember all the fancy Japanese words, so try and deal with it. Also, I'm too lazy to describe the boys' clothes. I'll tell you colors, though. Well, I don't own anything.

Marcella, TSOH, Black Kanji, KatDemonLizzy, and Mirabelle456: R&R!!

Kankuro felt very jealous of Neji when he saw Tenten. Despite what Temari had told him last night about Tenten and Neji breaking up the previous month because of Hiashi. Dressed in a clingy, light green yukata and her long, wavy brown hair loose, she looked ladylike. But, she also seemed like someone you wouldn't want to mess with. Ino had also done wonders with her make-up.

"Hi puppet boy!" Tenten said cheerfully. She looked him up and down and her smile widened. "You look so cute!" She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him briefly. Kankuro didn't understand what was so cute about wearing red. But, he wasn't going to question it.

"Thanks. You look nice," Kankuro managed to say after she released him. Just then, Temari, Sakura, and Ino appeared.

Temari was wearing a turquoise blue yukata that was still slipping down one shoulder, despite how tightly it was tied. Her sandy hair was in the same style it always was it. Her turquoise eyes were outlined heavily in black pencil, accented by the pink-red lipstick she wore. ((AN: I only wear mascara occasionally. My friends have to tie me down to get make-up on me at the dances. Give me a break!! Please?))

Sakura wore light pink with a darker pink pattern of flowers. Flowers that suspiciously looked like sakura flowers. Her pink hair was gathered up in a messy up-do. The light purple kimono Ino was wearing was extremely low cut and her blond hair was half up and half down. She had the most make up on, outlining everything she could. It worked for her though.

"Where's Hinata?" Gaara asked quietly behind Kankuro as they were talking cheerfully. Temari wasn't yelling at Kankuro about his hair. Not yet anyways.

"She was behind us, wasn't she?" Sakura asked Ino. Ino nodded.

"I'm here," said a small voice from behind the girls. The parted and Hinata stepped forward. Nobody could tell, but Gaara was struck speechless.

The icy blue kimono she wore showed all the curves that were normally hidden by her overlarge jacket. Because of its lightness in color, Hinata's skin seemed even more like porcelain. Her lavender eyes were outlined in black and her lipstick was bright red, giving her a dramatic air. Her normally straight indigo hair had waves in it now, cascading down her back. Her eyes were fixed on the ground and she was playing with her sleeve.

Nobody said anything. Temari was waiting for Gaara to speak, but when he didn't, she took control of the situation. "Well, shall we get going? We don't want to be late!"

The small group left Tenten's apartment, after they made Tenten put away her weapons. Before, she had been complaining about how there was no place to put a weapon in such a clingy outfit. But, she had found some places. Ino let her keep the small kunai she had placed on a chain around Tenten's neck. Tenten was disappointed and commented on it. How was she supposed to fight with a four-inch kunai?

"Tenten, we're not fighting! We're going to a ball!" Sakura cried after five minutes of Tenten's complaining.

After that, Tenten just grumbled under her breath about it.

Gaara fell in step with Hinata, who was near the back of the group. She still was looking at the ground, but she knew he was there. Looking around, Gaara brought his face close to her ear and whispered, "You look very….nice."

"Thank you," Hinata said, unsure of what to say next. There was a pause before she said, "You look…very unlike yourself."

Gaara laughed softly. Before either could say anything more, they arrived at the building. "God Is A Girl" by Groove Coverage could be heard from outside. Brushing the water off of their clothes as they entered, they entered a darken room. There were tables and chairs scattered around. Musical equipment was against one side of the room.

People were scattered everywhere. Shikamaru was sitting at a table, dressed in a dark grey. Choji, in scarlet, was talking to his pale best friend. Shino was sitting there also, dark glasses on.

Sasuke was standing off in his emo corner, being emo. Dressed in pure black with the Uchiha fan on the back, he certainly fit the part. His dark eyes were fixed on a pink haired kunoichi, who shyly met his level gaze. Sai sat in the opposite corner, a paintbrush moving smoothly across a scroll. He was painting the scene, as they all found out the following day.

In honor of the occasion, Kiba had cleaned Akamaru thoroughly. He stood like a living sentinel at his master's side. Lee, who had been standing next to him, came running over and attempted to hug Sakura and Tenten, who were standing side by side. He managed to hug Tenten, but not Sakura, who ducked underneath his arm.

"Youthful flowers!" Lee cried happily. "You have youthfully arrived at the youthful ball!!!"

"Yeah," Tenten said distractedly, looking around. "Where's Neji—"

"Right here," said a quiet voice from her left.

She turned and nearly ran into Neji. She backed up hurriedly and nearly fell. Neji caught her, causing her to blush bright red. Smiling faintly, Neji asked, "Would you do me the honor of saving me a dance?"

Stuttering, Tenten said, "Neji, we broke up last month, remember—"

"According to Ino, you still like me."

Tenten spared Ino a glare. Ino smiled complacently back. "But—well, fine."

Just then, Tsunade entered the room, on the arm of none other than her former teammate, Jiraiya. As she entered, many more citizens of Konoha entered. Kurenai trailed after Kakashi, Anko, and, to Kakashi's obvious annoyance, Gai. Tsunade made her way over to their little group.

"Gaara, I'm glad to see you came," her tone was mild.

"It's not as if I could miss it," Gaara replied lightly. In the background, the song changed.

Tsunade smiled brightly. "I have to make a big speech in a few minutes. You'll have to be there and say something. Positive, preferably."

On that note, she and Jiraiya left. Sasuke approached the group, just as Konoha's number 1 hyperactive ninja joined the group. Naruto had an arm in a sling, crutches, and a neck brace. Obvious signs of the fall he suffered the previous day. Sasuke tried to restrain himself, but he smiled slightly.

"Teme!!! Look what you did!!!" Naruto half shouted.

"If you hadn't insisted on—" Sasuke began to say, but Sakura stopped him when she grabbed his arm.

"Sasuke-kun, want to go for a walk?"

A brief nod sent them on their way. Naruto wandered off to go bug Jiraiya. Ino walked purposefully over to Sai, smiling flirtatiously. Tenten had disappeared, along with Neji and Lee.

"Kankuro, what, or who, are you looking at?" Temari asked her brother, who looked at her, blushing mildly.

"No one."

"Who is it already?" Temari's tone was bored.

Bashfully and looking at the ground, he said barely audibly, "The ambassador of Suna's daughter."

Temari stood on her tiptoes to get a good look. "Sora? My old friend?"

"Yeah."

Temari resisted laughing, but couldn't help smiling. Tsunade began her speech, meaning that Gaara had to go join her. After a five minute speech, Gaara said two sentences and the ball officially began.

Gaara rejoined Temari, Kankuro, and Hinata. Hinata smiled and complimented him on his 'speech'. As he was about to reply, Shikamaru approached.

"Well, troublesome woman, I know this is troublesome and all," Shikamaru said, taking a small box out of his pocket. "But, will you marry me?"

Temari stared confusedly down at Shikamaru as she comprehended what he asked. As she figured it out, she screamed and hugged him fiercely. Finally, she stepped back and said, "Yes, Lazy, I will marry you."

Shikamaru placed the ring on her finger and straightened up. Instantly, Temari started kissing him. Kankuro managed to remind them that though he had given his permission didn't mean that he wouldn't withdraw it. Temari smiled evilly and told him to go talk to his crush.

"Hey, Shikamaru," Gaara asked while Temari and Kankuro enjoyed a cheerful argument.

"Yes, Gaara-sama?"

"Why are you marrying my sister?"

"Well…" Shikamaru said, running his hand over his hair. "I'm marrying her because I love her, as troublesome as she is."

"How do you know if you love someone?" Gaara's eyes were fixed on the small girl who was dancing with Kiba and Naruto simultaneously. The boys were literally fighting over her. Hinata was laughing, but her thoughts were preoccupied with a red haired boy standing with his siblings.

"It's really troublesome, but you feel different around them. Happy but nervous. It's super bothersome. Kind of anticipation and happiness."

LightBender: Well, how bad was the chapter?

Gaara: When do I get to kiss Hinata?

LightBender: ((ignoring Gaara's question)) Next chapter will be the last chapter, I'm afraid. Well, actually, I'm not afraid.

Gaara: If I don't get to kiss Hinata, you should be afraid. Very afraid.

LightBender: ((shivers)) Review before Gaara gets me!!!!!!!