I apologize for the people who tried to read chapters 19 and 20, but couldn't see it. For some reason, only chapters 1 through 18 showed up, but it most definitely is fixed now!
Just as a reminder, since I have been asked questions, Kagome and Kagura are NOT from Inuyasha. This is NOT a cross-over. I just used the names as an old tradition between my friend and I.
Anyways, time for a new chappie!
Disclaimer: Naruto is NOT mine.
Chapter 21: R and R
The morning seemed to come so fast.
"Can you tell me how Sasuke Uchiha has been doing?" Kagura asked at the front desk of the hospital.
"Hmm. . ." The nurse rummaged through a few charts, "Ah, yes, Sasuke Uchiha. Well, he's been here for the course of three days. His recovery has been phenomenal. He's being released today."
"Great, so he's alright." Kakashi nodded to the nurse. "We're going to check up and see if he's awake."
"Alright, he's up on the second floor." the nurse smiled to both Kagura and Kakashi.
Kagura began walking up the stairs, and Kakashi followed behind her.
"It's good that he's alright. Now that everyone is back in order, maybe we can gather up the squad for a bit of relaxing, hm?" Kagura turned down the hall.
"That does sound good. But let's see how Sasuke is doing before we make any plans."
Kagura nodded. Both came down the hallway toward a room. A chart rested in a small container and big bold words stated: Sasuke Uchiha on it. Kakashi opened the door, with Kagura following behind.
Kagura giggled quietly, "So that's where she's been." She whispered.
"She told me she was watching Naruto's apartment. . . But I guess this is where she's gone, since she never came home when Naruto returned." Kakashi whispered as well.
Before them, they could see Kagome sound asleep in the hospital, sitting in her chair. Both her and Sasuke were dead asleep. Kagome's head was next to Sasuke's on the pillow, her hand still clasped lightly on Sasuke's.
"This is definitely a change. . ."
"I knew it." Kagura snickered.
Kakashi sighed, "She probably just passed out that way, you can't make a sudden judgment like that."
"Right, right." Kagura rolled her eyes, "We better wake them up then, huh?"
She began to walk over to where Kagome was sleeping, to nudge her awake, but Kakashi stopped her.
"I have a better way, we don't want Kagome panicking over seeing this." he pulled her out the door, shutting it quietly.
"Oh. . . I see. Psh, I always think it'd be best if we make her jump. She needs a bit of comedy in her life now."
"I don't think she'd see this as comedy, Kagura. More like torture, or spying." Kakashi lightly knocked on the door.
"Huh?" Kagome slowly opened her eyes.
At first, she had no idea where she was, until she noticed the familiar window and the rose in the vase. She was still in Sasuke's hospital room. It didn't take her long to look down at her hand and notice that she was still holding Sasuke's palm. She cringed, blushing a tad bit, and let go of his hand.
"Eh?. . . Someone is at the door. . ." Sasuke was woke up by Kagome's movements.
"I got it. . ." Kagome got up from her seat and walked over to the door. She stretched her arms before opening it.
"Kagome?" Kagura found it funny to act surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"Can we come in?"
"Uhh. . ." Kagome rubbed the back of her head, "I was uhh. . . Bringing Uchiha some water. . . Yeah. . .and go ahead in."
Kagura snickered a bit as she walked in. Kakashi followed after.
"So, you're alright, kid?" Kagura sat at the edge of the bed, near Sasuke.
"Yeah, fine."
"Good, because we've got a few things planned."
"Planned?" Kagome took a seat back in her chair.
"Well, it was my idea. I figured since we're all so stressed, and since everyone is getting along now, that we all go for a tiny vacation."
"Do you really think we have time for vacations, Kagura?" Kagome tilted her head to the side, crossing her arms.
"You certainly need one, miss grumpy."
Kakashi sighed, "Anyways, we're just going to take a small trip to the beach, just a night. That way we can all rest up before another mission."
"I guess that sounds good." Sasuke nodded slowly.
"Right. . ." Kagome agreed smugly.
"Okay, it's settled." Kagura patted her hands once on her lap as she stood up, "Let's get Sasuke outta here and onto the sand."
Kakashi smiled behind his mask, slightly and stood up. Kagome got up from her chair, throwing her small back over her back.
Just as Sasuke was ready and out of bed, they all walked out of the room. Kagura walked slow, just as Kagome was doing. She tended to walk slow when nothing was really going on.
Kagura leaned in toward Kagome's ear and whispered, "Why didn't you tell me you spent every night with him, hm? I knew you liked him." She snickered.
"I do not, will you stop?" Kagome crossed her arms again.
"You two like each other, and it's more obvious by the day."
"We do not. . . Leave me alone." Kagome sighed, There is no way that I like him. . . Right? Kagome quickly shook out of the thought, that was stupid of her to think. Wasn't it?
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Sasuke was quickly checked out of the hospital with full recovery. He was on his feet and ready to go out again. Kagura spread word to Naruto and Sakura, also letting them know about the tiny trip she had planned. Naruto was ecstatic, and Sakura was excited. Both packed their things quickly.
It was Kagome and Sasuke who could care less if they went or not. Kagome just threw two pairs of clothes in her bag along with a small book, just to tide the time. Sasuke packed his essentials as well. Naruto practically stuffed his bag when Sakura neatly folded clothes and swim wear in her bag.
They were all scheduled to meet later that afternoon at the usual training spot. This time, Kagura and Kakashi weren't late, the last thing they needed was to be yelled at for being late for vacationing.
All stood in front of the three old wooden posts, awaiting the call to leave. Kagome leaned on a post with her bag in hand while Sasuke stood with his bag strapped over his shoulder. Sakura happily made sure her bag was shut properly, while Naruto just stood with his over-stuffed yellow back pack.
"We're going for a night, not a year." Kagome commented at Naruto's baggage.
"So?! I wanted to make sure that I had everything! You can't have too much on a vacation!" Naruto grinned happily while snickering.
"What did you pack?" Sasuke asked, not that he cared.
"Ah you know, clothes, trunks, ramen. . ."
"That's it?" Kagome crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Well. . . There's about twenty packages of it."
Sakura sighed after finishing the check of her bag, placing her hand on her forehead.
"Honestly, Naruto, do you know how bad ramen is for you?"
"Eh, it doesn't bother me. I've eaten ramen everyday all my life and it's done nothing to me at all." Naruto held up a peace-sign with two fingers, "Cause I'm the best ninja there is, staying in shape! So no ramen is going to bring me down!"
"Until you die of a heart attack." Kagome scoffed.
"Alright, everyone! Enough! I just got back from calling for a car. We'll be leaving in a few minutes, got it?" Kagura shouted.
"Right." All four said in unison.
"Okay, ground rules while we're there. . ." Kakashi announced, "We're going to be at a large beach, it's alright to go on your own, but don't stray off too far. And just don't wreak too much havoc. . ."
All three teens stared at Naruto, whom looked at all of them curiously.
"What?"
"You heard sensei, no tricks." Sakura commanded.
"Sheesh, you all act like I pull pranks all the time."
"You do, loser." Sasuke turned his head.
"Gerrrr, Sasuke!" Naruto ran over toward Sasuke with a clenched fist, but Sakura pulled him backward.
"Don't even start!"
Just at that moment, a black jeep-like car pulled up ahead where the dirt road was. It was just a few feet west of them. Everyone was lead by Kakashi and Kagura, and all filled up the car. They were off on their journey to the beach.
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The drive in its entirety took about two hours, taking them miles away from the confines of Konoha, and out in the oceans blue. All cleared out of the car and made their way toward the beach.
It was amazingly large; wooden floors created a board-walk and was lined with shop after shop. The squad was fairly amazed by the complexity of the area.
"Alright!! Let's get ready and in the water!" Naruto began running forward, snickering and smiling.
Kagura chuckled, "Okay, Okay, go ahead, Naruto. Everyone can go, but keep a close eye and make sure you stay in the same area as us."
"I got it already!" Naruto was already close to a dressing room to get changed.
"I'm going to get changed too, I'll see you guys at the beach shore!" Sakura smiled before dashing off to a changing room.
Sasuke nodded his head once before walking off as well. His intentions were to just sit on the sand and watch the waves, he wasn't in the mood to swim.
"I'll get a few bottles of water for everyone, I'll meet you over at the beach chairs, alright Kagura?" Kakashi closed his one showing eye in a sign of smiling before walking off.
All that was left were Kagome and Kagura, whom was smiling very brightly, too brightly.
"Huh? What's with the huge grin?" Kagome asked.
"I've got something special for you, c'mon." Kagura grabbed Kagome's hand and ran off.
"What? Where are we going?" Kagome tripped a bit, not expecting to run like this.
"You'll see." Kagura still grinned.
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They arrived shortly to a dressing room, close to the beach area. Kagura shoved Kagome into a dressing cubical, then tossed a bag over the open space above the door.
"Put that on." She said.
There was silence, besides the ruffling of the bag. Kagome was taking out whatever was inside it, you could hear her scoff.
"What the hell is this?!"
"It's your gift, now put it on. I know you didn't have one before, so I figured it'd be nice."
"No way. . . ."
"You don't put it on, and you sleep on the porch when we get home." Kagura said coldly.
"Feh, like that'd bother me."
"With that on, I'll take all of your clothes at home."
Kagome sighed.
"Fine. . ."
"That's my girl." Kagura smiled again, placing her hands to her hips.
It was another five minutes before the lock on the door clicked and slowly opened. Kagome slowly stepped out, her arms covering herself and her eyes staring to the ground.
"Come on, let me see."
"It's too revealing. . ."
The only thing seen on Kagome, without her arms covering them, was what was below her waist, to her bare legs. She was wearing what looked like a swimsuit, just her arms were covering her chest.
"Just show me, it's not like you should hide anything, you have a beautiful body, Kagome."
"I don't care about that. . . I just don't like showing this much skin, it's demeaning, you know that."
"You remember our deal, just show me."
Kagome growled a bit, shuttering at the fact that she had to lower her arms. She finally did so, not wanting to have to spend an entire night in a two piece-bikini. Her suit was the color of black for the top, and red for the bottoms. A blush appeared on her face, knowing that she exposed her small belly and her almost bare breasts.
"I hate this. . ." She said under her breath.
"Alright, you look perfect, now you can go out there and swim."
"You never mentioned anything about me going out in public with this on. . ." Kagome's eyes almost flared at Kagura.
"What did you think? I was going to make you try it on and then take it off? Put two and two together, Kagome, we're at the beach, I bought that so you could swim and possibly tan, you should thank me."
"I'm fine not swimming. . ."
"And I suppose being as pale as Orochimaru one of these days? Phew, that's pretty ugly and sad if you ask me."
Kagome clenched a fist.
"Alright I got it!" She stormed off, grabbing a thick white towel that was lying on a rack.
She wrapped it around her body, covering her chest and lower torso. Kagura crossed her arms and shook her head, laughing slightly and clenching Kagome's clothes in one hand, that she picked up from the cubical.
"It's great when she gets so angry and forgets something."
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"Stupid Kagura. . . Making me wear something as demeaning as this. This is why I hate people sometimes." Kagome was practically storming off.
Kagome stomped her feet so hard that sand flung everywhere that she walked. She just stared down as she walked.
She heard a cough.
"Ack. . . Hey, mind where you kick the sand?" came a familiar voice.
"Eh?" Kagome looked up and stopped walking
Sasuke was sitting in the sand, near a large rock where shade was given to him, wearing a blue pair of swim trunks, and his shirt sitting to his side. He wiped sand out of his eye.
"Oh, Sasuke. . . Sorry."
"What's your problem?"
Kagome crossed her arms, "What does it look like? Have you seen this stupid drab on me?"
"Not really, the towel is blocking whatever is underneath. . . Unless I'm wrong about something." Sasuke raised his eyebrow slightly.
"No, I'm wearing something underneath. . . It's a damn two-piece swim suit that Kagura made me wear."
"Ah. . ." Sasuke went back to staring out at the ocean.
"Heeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!" screamed another voice.
Kagome turned around, noticing a blonde-haired, orange trunks-wearing boy run his way quickly.
"Hey, Kagome, Sasuke. Why aren't you guys in the water?" His words were fast, he seemed hyper, as usual.
"I don't feel like swimming." Sasuke didn't turn his head.
"I'd rather not swim either. . ." Kagome turned away.
"Well, you can't swim with that stupid towel around you. C'mon, you're specialty is water, right? You should be excited and swimming, since water is your element and all!" Naruto walked over and tugged at her towel.
"H-hey, let go!" Kagome pulled her body backwards.
She didn't think too hard about that move, her first reaction was to move away, but that was the wrong thing to do, considering that her movement just made Naruto's tug tighter, and completely pulled off the towel. Her entire body was revealed with her red and black suit.
"Whoa. . . You were hiding that?" Naruto almost drooled, looking Kagome up and down, staring at her curves and well. . . Everything above the stomach.
"Quit staring!" Kagome turned slightly red as she punched Naruto in the face, sending him flying backward and away from her.
Sasuke looked up to Kagome, since his attention was caught. He blinked a few times, looking at Kagome as she huffed from her anger. Shaking his head to get off of staring, Sasuke looked ahead again.
"Stupid Uzumaki. . ." Kagome scoffed.
She sat down in the sand, next to Sasuke in the shade. The sun wasn't her best friend today, and she wanted to keep away from it.
"Now you know how I feel." Sasuke suggested.
"It's my time to say he is a loser now, huh?" Kagome chuckled a bit, sliding her towel toward her again.
She began to wrap herself with it again.
"You don't need to put that back on, you know." Sasuke tried to not look at her.
"What? Why?"
"Uh. . ." Sasuke scratched behind his head a bit, "It's hot out, you shouldn't cover yourself so much with such a thick towel."
"Um. . . Okay? But I'd rather not show any skin like this. . ."
"I know this isn't like me to ask. . . But why do you hate showing skin so much? You're a girl, and you aren't fat or anything, nothing close to, I don't get why you have to cover every part of you."
"Because. . . It's a disgrace to show so much. I'd rather not be known as a slut."
"You wouldn't be if you showed a small bit of your stomach."
"Like you know." Kagome turned her head to the side.
Sasuke shook his head, "Fine, do what you want."
Kagome narrowed her eyebrows a bit, wondering why Sasuke even brought something like that up. Why should he care if she covered her skin or not?
She had to ask. . .
"Do you think I should cover myself less?"
"That's not something I should make a statement about. It's up to you." Sasuke coughed a bit, lowering his voice to an almost whisper, "I wouldn't mind if you did either. . . "
"What?" Kagome didn't quite hear the last statement.
"Nothing, I didn't say anything else. . ."
"Uh, alright."
Both were quiet again. It seemed that random silences were becoming almost a disease between both Kagome and Sasuke. For a reason unknown, it was becoming harder to speak to each other normally.
Just at the moment, both Sakura and Naruto walked up toward them. Sakura wore a one piece, red swimsuit, cutting into a v-shape on her back, and a small white circle on the front, at the top of her chest.
She walked with Naruto, who was rubbing a new bruise on his eye. He was groaning in a bit of pain.
"Hey, you two! Why don't you go for a swim? It's nice in the water."
"Naruto didn't tell you, I see." Kagome said, chuckling a bit.
"Aw, come on, please? It'll be fun." Sakura smiled.
Kagome sighed, as well as Sasuke.
"I guess a few minutes in the water won't hurt." Sasuke said.
"Yeah. . ." Kagome stood up.
Sasuke stood up as well with her. They both turned toward the pink and yellow-haired teens and nodded. Sakura grinned as she started to run toward the water. Naruto stopped groaning and ran after her.
Kagome looked at Sasuke for a minute, he looked back at her. He noticed she had a different type of gleam in her eye, and somehow knew something was coming.
"It's been a while since we actually challenged each other ourselves, huh?" Kagome grinned.
"Let me guess. . . Last one in the water is a loser?"
"No. . . last one in the water buys me a chocolate shake." Kagome laughed a bit as she started to run as fast as she could.
Sasuke shook his head at the fact that Kagome suggested she'd be the winner. Yeah right. . .
He began to run right after her, catching up quickly, and seeing her face for a split second, smiling, before he passed her. Kagome smirked as she started to run faster. They were both soon running the same speed, running together.
They both arrived at the same time to the water, where they could see Naruto and Sakura splashing at each other in the shallow end of the ocean. Kagome's feet kicked through the water as she slowed down from the ocean's push. She tilted forward, and noticed Sasuke coming close behind.
"Psh, I won, you know it!" Kagome grinned.
"You wish." Sasuke smirked as he came from behind her, nudging him with his shoulder and knocking her down.
Kagome gasped a bit, "You bastard!"
She got a hold of his hand and pulled him downward, tugging him into the water. Kagome took her other hand, and splashed him in the face. Sasuke shook his head, spitting the salt water out of his mouth, making sure it targeted toward Kagome's face.
He laughed with his eyes closed.
Naruto and Sakura looked at Sasuke for a minute. He was laughing? And not maniacally as they expected his first laugh to be? That was odd. Naruto just laughed and went on with playing his game with Sakura. She quickly rejoined.
While Sasuke had his eyes closed, Kagome growled before she pushed more water in Sasuke's face, then lightly kicked his chest to knock him on his back into the ocean's hold. The tide pushed him backward, as he managed to get up, still laughing a bit.
"That's what you get!" Kagome crossed her arms, smiling slightly.
"Oh yeah?" Sasuke stood up, walking back over toward Kagome after he stood up.
"That's right." Kagome stood up as well, taking a balance with the small waves.
Sasuke stood in front of her, finally finishing to walk through the heavy waters. He put up both his palms, suggesting a wrestle.
"Then let's settle this, since you're the one who's buying the shake, not me." Sasuke smirked.
"Oh no, you're buying, I'll make sure of it." Kagome grinned as she put her hands up as well.
Both pushed themselves toward each other, pushing back and forth, still trying to keep their balance.
The sounds of the waves in the water got louder and louder. The sounds of splashes were silent compared to it. Naruto and Sakura backed away, trying to shout Kagome and Sasuke's names.
A wave was forming their way. They figured that neither Sasuke nor Kagome wanted to be pushed down from a wave, but none of them listened.
They just continued wrestling until the wave became larger and larger, raising over Kagome and Sasuke until it came to a fall. Both were pushed down and up toward the shore.
It quickly dissipated after pushing their victims, and the water pulled itself back in the water.
Kagome coughed up water, then rubbed the salt burn out of her eyes. Sasuke had done the same, shaking his head, but it rubbed into the sand. He felt a weight on him and opened his eyes.
His vision was blurry for a moment, until he saw the brunette girl above him, lying on his chest. Kagome looked down to see Sasuke below him. She immediately blushed.
"Whoa. . ." Naruto tilted his head to the side, "That's awkward."
"Yeah. . . It is." Sakura did the same.
"Just wait, she'll punch him." Naruto laughed a bit.
Both stared at each other for a few seconds. Sasuke blushed, but it was hardly noticeable, since it was just a small and light shade of pink.
"Uh. . ."
"I-I'm sorry. . ." Kagome stood up and wiped dirt off her stomach. She shook her head, to try and get the shade of red off her face.
"I-it's fine." Sasuke stood up as well, getting the sand off his skin.
"She didn't hit him." Sakura reported.
"That's weird."
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Kagura and Kakashi were sitting on white beach chairs, watching their squad before them.
Kagura laughed, "She just bluffs to me, and then my proof gets more legit."
"Haha, you tell her that, she'll have a fit." Kakashi shook his head.
Both were wearing their swim wear, except Kakashi still had his mask and headband on, covering his eye and face. Kagura wore a purple two-piece bikini and a pair of dark sunglasses.
"It'll be just a matter of time before we literally have to pry them apart."
"Hm. . . I don't know, we'll see."
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"S-So umm. . . What now?" Kagome tried to start a subject with the entire group.
"Well, I'm going to go get some ramen or yaki soba." Naruto stated, "I'm hungry!"
"And I'm out of sunscreen, and I want some ice cream or something." Sakura added.
"We'll see you two when we head back tonight, okay?" Naruto waved before walking away.
Sakura followed.
Another silence. . . Yet again. But this didn't last as long. Kagome had her back turned, she paced a bit, but Sasuke walked next to her.
"I have an idea." He said.
"Huh? What?" Kagome turned and looked at him, thinking she was blushing still.
"Let's go get some shakes, I'll buy." He smiled a bit as he walked forward.
Kagome tilted her head a bit, then smiled a small smile before following.
The sun was starting to set a bit, making the sky pink above the two teens as they headed toward a stand for their chocolate shakes.
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An hour had passed.
"Alright, let's round it up, everyone." Kagura said.
All the squad were dressed in their clothes, after Kagome wrestled Kagura down for her entire outfit again. The black jeep was in front of them again, and they all filled the car. Kagome sat in the back seat, with another seat in front of her. It was a three row seat car, and Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura were sitting in front of her.
She'd rather none of them see her bright smile as she stared out the window. It would be awkward if they knew she was the only one smiling, and thinking about the first good day she had in years.
That feeling she'd felt as she looked at Sasuke, ever since the hospital, didn't go away. It had annoyed her a few times, but she began to get used to it, and actually enjoy it. She was still curious as to what it meant.
But she was starting to get a sort of idea. . . She definitely didn't hate him anymore.
And if she was the only person believing this, it was fine.
But she was wrong, apparently.
Sasuke had his head turned the entire trip back, draining out the conversation with Naruto's loud voice as he talked to, what he was hoping everyone, about how great the yaki soba noodles were.
He didn't hear a word, or think about the food or ocean at all. He was smiling slightly out the window of the car, thinking about not really anything, just the feeling he had in his heart. It had been skipping beats all day, that it was a wonder he hadn't had a heart attack yet.
Oh well. . . He was starting to like the feeling he had in his heart, that traveled to his stomach.
He didn't know exactly what the feeling meant either. . . But he knew one thing.
He definitely didn't hate her anymore.
To be continued. . . End of Chapter 21
Preview to chapter 22:
Another mission. . . .
The group is overjoyed to know that this one is actually a tough one. There was a chance of danger in this one, actually!
But it was definitely unexpected for a certain member of the squad.
"Tell me her full name! I know you can remember it!"
"I-I'm not sure. . . There was one wanted poster of her. . . But I forget her name. . ."
"Damn it, REMEMBER!"
Do we perhaps have another battle at hand? Maybe a long one? To the death?
"Was it Shinra Takai?!"
Would this be the last reuniting?
Next time on Naruto The New Chronicles, The stand of the last two.
Ah yes, a great preview, ne? I'm excited for this one!
Sorry for the long-awaited update. I had been doing a lot lately, so this update had to be postponed. But I made it a tad bit longer to make up for my absence, hope that made it better!
Anyways, expect the next update!
Hugs
Ninja Chan