Author's Note:
Well… I have two pieces of advice for you readers. If you have a bipolar/ contradicting/ unfair grading/ B of a teacher…. then please make sure to review your notes every night or you'll fuck up that class. (Sorry venting unfair professor.) My next piece of advice is always say please and thank you…. Screw that! Have fun reading! ;p
When the beta polls are done… LOOK UP TO VOTE FOR NEXT STORY!!!
Final Voting:
Yay! The winners are Hina and Haku! Sorry for the Zabu and Haku pair… Anyways let's see how the odd couple turns out….
Chapter 24: The Fox Cupid
Sakura was wiping away her blood from the walls and decided to head over to the hospital. A frown was still upon her face. A chunin came running up to her, "Sakura-san, Tsunade-sama wishes to see you right away!" Sakura raised a brow as she switched her direction and ignored the chunin. The chunin was startled at her new personality but shrugged it off. Sakura glanced at a pink petal that fell from the tree above. Sakura sighed as she picked it from the ground. Her eyes glared at the petal, "You're so useless." She crushed it and moved on.
Ayame shook her head as her father sighed. Teuchi frowned, "Ayame? Please, just say something…" His daughter's frown deepened, "So, all this time? No wonder you always caught Naruto-kun as a child." Teuchi rubbed his temples, "You can't say anything. But as for Arashi… I really don't see the need for all these secrets." Hinata moaned as she stood up. Teuchi's sweat dropped. Crap, I left her there all night… Hinata looked up to find a nervous ramen keeper and a sad waitress.
Hinata blinked for a while and smiled as best she could, "Everyone has secrets, don't worry it's safe with me." She got up and walked away. The ramen keeper watched the girl leave. Hinata walked on with her feet dragging her. Her head was burning but she ignored it. Her eyes kept down as she watched the pebbles below her mix with the dirt. She felt her head bump into someone. Without looking up, Hinata mumbled, "Sorry, ma'am."
Haku smiled, "Heh, seems everyone mixes up my gender." Hinata looked up to find an extremely pretty boy. Her blush rised. Haku smiled, "Hinata Hyuuga, right? I'm a friend of Hikari's." He lifted a hand to shake but Hinata simply glared and walked on. Haku smiled sadly, "Are you hurt?" Hinata huffed but her head won over and she fell. Haku sighed as he came to help the girl. Hinata growled, "Just go away…"
Haku smiled and continued to help until they reached a café. Haku ordered two glasses of water and gave Hinata a small pill. Hinata raised a brow. Haku smiled, "You look like you have a hangover. Here, this will help." Hinata nervously took the pill and drank it down. Haku crossed his arms and spoke, "Well, would you like to tell me why you hate Hikari?" Hinata's eyes watered and she looked down with a trembling cup in her hands. Haku came over and held her hand, "It's okay. You don't have to tell me." Hinata gave a sad smile and continued through her cracked voice.
"Hikari took away Naruto-kun. He was special to me. Ever since I first met him, I knew he was different. Even though, everyone always put him down, he never gave up. I loved him from afar, but I never had a chance. He was always crushing on Sakura… and now… Sasuke. Before I got to even tell him how I feel and how I appreciate what he did for me, Hikari just up and came while Naruto-kun just up and went. I miss him so much."
Haku listened and he frowned, "I see… but did you ever think that there was a reason for Hikari disguising herself?" Hinata looked up, "I know… but it still hurts. I lost him forever…" Haku chuckled and Hinata looked up. Haku looked up at the sky, "If I changed my hair color would I not be Haku? If you changed your wardrobe, would you not be Hinata? You see, it was never the inside you cared about, it was the inside. On the inside, is Hikari still not her sunshine self?"
Hinata gasped and looked at Haku. He's right… Haku looked down at the girl and smiled, "Besides, if you truly loved Hikari, would gender matter?" Hinata opened her mouth to retort but lost her voice. I admired him… that's not love. Hinata looked up at Haku and smiled, "Thank you… I think I should go apologize to Hikari, my friend…" Haku smiled and nodded. Hinata turned around and Haku tapped her shoulder. She looked over and gasped, "F-for m-me?"
In Haku's hand was a beautiful ice rose that would surely not melt easily. Haku gave a soft smile and handed it to her, "For luck, Hinata-chan. I'll see you around…" The boy departed in a swirl of mist and Hinata stood blushing like a fool. "Are you okay, miss?" Hinata jumped to find a waiter tapping shoulder. Hinata nodded and ran to find Hikari.
Sakura slammed the door open to find Tsunade looking over a scroll. Her smile was broad, "Sakura, today we shall get our revenge on Orochimaru." Sakura raised a brow. Tsunade waved a scroll, "This contains samples of infected blood cells of an unknown disease. With this disease, Orochimaru was able to manipulate many and create a seal, just like the one on Sasuke. If we find a cure, all his years of research will be down the drain!"
Sakura hid an evil smile, "I'll be glad to help in any way I can…" Tsunade smiled oblivious to Sakura's broken heart and tainted soul. The two started to work on it writing things here and experimenting there. Mistakes at this rate are not an option, for Orochimaru lives on. Besides, how long can Kabuto hold on to control of Orochimaru?
Sasuke groaned as Jiraiya wagged a finger, "Okay lesson one. Women love a mystery…" Kakashi sighed, "Sasuke has the looks down." Jiraiya pouted, "Fine, lesson fifteen. Women love those who shower them with gifts." Sasuke scowled, "I don't take Hikari to be one who loves gifts." Jiraiya whacked his head, "Wrong! ALL women love to feel cherished and know they are loved. Gifts are the way to go." Sasuke grumbled as he rubbed his head.
Kakashi smiled as he held Arashi's hand. They went into a lingerie store only for Jiraiya to get kicked out. Kakashi smiled and handed Arashi to him. He dragged Sasuke into the store and Sasuke whined to get out. The saleslady smiled as she waved, "Come back anytime!" Jiraiya growled at the smiling Kakashi and the pissed off Sasuke. "How did you get that deal?" Kakashi pointed to Sasuke, "Simple, I'm single and he has the money."
They walked on and Sasuke shuddered. I can't believe that woman ASKED to model for Hikari's likes. Yuck… He glanced down at the bags and a faint blush spread his face. He looked up at the perverts with his son. They'll corrupt Arashi and me… Sasuke kept walking until they stopped once more. Sasuke looked to find Ino's shop. He inwardly groaned. Jiraiya ran inside, "Ino, dear!!!"
Ino was reading quietly until she jumped at the sound of the famous pervert's voice. She grabbed a kunai and hissed, "You're not getting anything you perv." Sasuke scowled and stepped in, "I asked for Kakashi's help, not yours…" Jiraiya stuck his tongue out and Kakashi waved, "Hello, Ino-chan. We came to make an order." Jiraiya stepped up and grinned, "Ten dozens of red roses, please." Sasuke shook his head, "Sunflowers." Jiraiya raised a brow, "But women love roses, red roses." Sasuke turned to Ino and gave her a cold look, "Sunflowers. A dozen sunflowers."
Jiraiya mumbled as they paid and Ino gave each one a weird look. They kept hopping to get ramen to jewelry to glass dishes! Sasuke huffed as the weight started to build. Afterall, only he was carrying the bags. Jiraiya kept talking about the lessons which he already channeled out. Something glinted in his eye as they passed a store. Sasuke stopped for a minute and went inside.
Arashi looked around for his father and tugged Kakashi's arm, "Uwncle Kwakwashi? Where's pwapwa?" Kakashi smiled and turned around to look for Sasuke. Did he leave? Jiraiya growled, "Che, weakling. Can't even carry a few bags." Sasuke stood next to him and growled, "Then perhaps you would like to hold the bags?" Jiraiya jumped a little seeing Sasuke come back so quickly, "N-no. You're doing a fine job." Kakashi smiled, "Neh, Sauske-kun, where did you go?" Sasuke shrugged and walked on.
Tenten sighed as Neji walked back and forth, "Neji, you've been at this for hours! Will you just stop and tell what's wrong?" Neji turned to her and sighed. He motioned for her to scoot over, and she did. He sat down and looks at the setting sun, "There is this feeling, I can't explain it. It's like my stomach does flips and by breath becomes unsteady. Whenever I even think of this person, I just shut down and only think of them."
Tenten blushed a little and squirmed in her seat, "I know that feeling. Neji, you like someone…" Neji froze and turned to look at Tenten. Tenten blushed and looked away. Neji chuckled a bit, "Is that it? A crush?" Tenten chewed her lip, "It could be more…" Neji's chuckle turned into a soft smile, "Maybe…" The two looked at the sunset. Tenten glanced at Neji. Neji was happily content and watching the sun set. He stood up and started to walk away. Tenten gripped the log. Now's your chance. Tenten stood up and shouted, "Neji! Wait!"
Neji turned around with a smile that made Tenten's stomach do cartwheels. Neji chuckled, "Thank you, for helping me understand." Tenten stuck her hand in the air, reaching for him, "Where are you going?" Neji smiled and turned on his byakugan, "To locate a certain fox." He jumped off just as the sun set. Tenten frowned and gripped her other arm. She stood in the dark, silently sobbing. Of course, I'm never good enough.
Hikari huffed as she traveled throughout the center of the village. All day, she was trying to locate Arashi as well as try to improve her technique. She jumped from roof to roof and sighed. Okay, I should just wait at the Uchiha Manor… "Hikari-chan!" Hikari turned around to see good old nervous Hinata. Hikari smiled and came up to her, "Hey Hinata-chan…"
The taller blonde looked to the short Hyuuga. Hinata blushed and bowed, "I'm so sorry, Hikari-chan! Can we be friends?!" Hikari smiled softly and came up to hug her, "Hinata, you've always been my friend." Hinata looked up and smiled a bit. Hikari glanced at the rose in her hands and a strange glint was in her eye, "Ah, Hinata-chan, what's with the rose? Could that be from Haku???" Hinata blushed heavily and shook her head, "Hikari, I should tell you this before something else happens…" Hikari looked on intently.
"Ever since we were kids, I always admired you from afar. My feelings grew and grew each day. You were my inspiration and hero. When I found out Naruto wasn't real, the love of my life was gone… I was hurt. But now I realize, all I did was admire you and looked up to you as a role model… Naruto was never really gone… he just changed shape and color…" Hinata looked to see Hikari's reaction.
Hikari panicked on the inside. Wow… Hinata loved me… I missed that one by a long shot! I just thought her father made her to be discreet and weird…I guess I'm not the sharpest pencil in the bunch. Subconsciously, Hikari was chuckling and scratching the back of her head. Hinata stared nervously. Hikari snapped out of it, "Err… I guess I have to say sorry for not realizing you liked me… and um we're still friends. Have fun with Haku!" Hikari quickly departed the awkward area and left Hinata blushing red.
Neji smiled as he came across Hinata. He noticed there was an ice rose in her hand. He rose a brow but shrugged and spoke, "Hinata-sama, did you happen to see where Hikari went?" Hinata jumped a bit but nodded and pointed in the direction which Hikari exited from. Neji whistled happily as he jumped onward. Hinata's sweatdropped. Did he eat something strange?
Hikari was dashing towards the Uchiha Manor when Neji shouted, "Hikari!" Hikari jumped a bit but turned around. Her sweat dropped more when she saw Neji with a soft smile. She nervously waved, "Hello…" Neji smiled back and came closer. Hikari freaked and jumped back, "Why are you smiling?" Neji shrugged, "People smile when their happy." Hikari nodded nervously as she kept backing up as Neji kept stepping forward. Soon, Neji's hot breath was on her neck. Hikari sniffed the air. He's not drunk…nor do I smell a drug…
Neji grabbed her waist and caressed it. Hikari flinched, "What are you-" Neji smiled and put a finger to her mouth. Just as he was about to kiss her, he felt something grow painful at his stomach. Neji grunted and fell back. He looked up to find the sharingan spinning dangerously. Sasuke snarled, "If you ever attempt to court her again, I won't be hesitant to kill you."
Jiraiya and Kakashi watched the scene and Arashi was smirking at Neji. Neji watched the Uchiha take out his sword and growl, "Get gone." Hikari looked at the utterly confused Neji and sighed. She pushed Sasuke aside and helped Neji up. She smiled kindly at him and sighed, "I'm sorry Neji, I just don't like you the way Tenten does. In case, you're just as blind as me…Friends?" Neji slowly nodded before he left the embarrassing scene. What did she mean by, like Tenten…?
Neji thought back to what Tenten said. I know that feeling… He gapped and turned to where Tenten was. When he found her sitting and crying on the log. Tenten stood up as Neji approached. She looked away and sniffled, "Why are you here?" Neji sighed, "Well, I think I don't like foxes anymore. They seem to have bitchy males." Tenten chuckled a bit hen spoke, "So what do you like now?" Neji sat down on the log and shrugged, "I guess pandas. But I like really dangerous pandas. Ones that can hold against loads of sharp weapons."
Tenten turned around shocked, "What?" Neji smiled directly at her and patted the log spot next to him. Tenten, shocked, obeyed. Neji scooted closer. Tenten blushed, "You like me?" Neji smiled, "You like me." Tenten kept blushing as he got closer. Tenten whispered, "How did you know?" Neji chuckled, "A little fox told me so…" Tenten frowned but Neji smirked and closed the distance, "I'm glad she did. The Hyuugas are known to have a blind spot."
Hikari turned around to Sasuke, utterly pissed. Sasuke glared as he deactivated the sharingan. Jiraiya and Kakashi slowly backed away with Arashi. Kakashi smiled to his godson, "Neh, Arashi, why don't we go home and see what's for dinner?" Arashi smiled and nodded. The three disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Hikari's gaze snapped back to Sasuke.
Sasuke hissed, "What the hell was that?" Hikari glared at him, "That was Neji being confused. As for you, you could have killed him!" Sasuke snarled, "Nobody but me can touch you that way." Hikari snorted out in laughter, "What am I? A doll?" Sasuke glared at the laughing female, "No, you're mine." Hikari's laughter ceased, "Bullshit. You don't own me. No one can own me."
Sasuke's glare softened, "Look, can we just pretend it never happened?" Hikari glared harshly at Sasuke, "I don't know. Can you pretend the massacre never happened?" Sasuke bit his tongue. Hikari pointed a finger to him, "You should learn to think what you're saying. And another thing, I'm NOT yours." Sasuke looked down with his fist balling. His voice was turned down to a low whisper, "Will I ever be yours?"
Hikari watched the male in front of her break down once again. She desperately wanted to come and soothe him. Just for them to forget the world around them and run back to the worry free days when they were kids and mistakes were okay. Hikari bit her lip and leaped off. Things are never so simple Sasuke. Things are never so blunt.
Pein looked at the sky. It's raining again. Scrolls were scattered around the room. He looked over to one scroll. It had a simple word circled in red, 'Konnichi'. Another had 'Uzumaki' on it. Pein smirked as he picked up the final scroll. Kushina Konnichi. Now Kushina Uzumaki. Formal ninja of the Whirlpool country. Currently KIA as a Konoha ninja. Also in relation to Aiko Uzumaki. Both are the very same wife of Arashi Kazama.
Pein smirk grew wider. I finally figured out your past. You may be dead, but from what I hear, you left behind a daughter. Heh, seems your grandson is of Uchiha blood. You were always the kind of person that attracted demons, huh? Konan shook her head as Pein insane laughter came yet again. She plead to the gods. Why did we have to suffer?
Itachi stood before Tobi. He took a deep breath, "Tobi, where have you been lately?" Tobi shrugged, "I was just going around doing pranks seeing our plans are on hold." Itachi's sharingan blazed over Tobi, "Are you sure?" Tobi smirked under his mask, "Aww, Itachi-sempai… Where else would I go?" Itachi glared then shooed him off. Konoha, if you remembered…
Not far from a distance of the Rain Village borders, a lone figure stood. He pushed his glasses up and smirked. "My, my. I've gathered so much information from staying hidden. Now who would have known Sasuke had a child? This child is certainly something to get a hold of. Ah, it seems Akatsuki is secretly against each other. Hmm, but when is the correct time to strike their downfall?" Kabuto grinned devilishly. Two months…
Tsunade waved the sand ninja goodbye. She sighed sadly, "Hikari will be sad to hear you didn't say goodbye. She'll think you're angry at her." Gaara frowned, "I was. But then again, I know what her situation is like, so I do forgive her. Suna needs us, so we have to go. As for Hikari, give her our blessings and tell her to trust us better. No matter what, Suna is on her side." The three siblings ran off, leaving Tsunade utterly shocked. Suna is only allied to us because of Hikari?
Hikari looked over the stunning and somewhat perverted gifts sent to her from Sasuke. She snorted at the gifts and walked aside. One gift particularly caught her eye as she left. Hikari backed up and picked it up. It was a crystal vase in the shape of a swirl. Inside were exactly twelve of the biggest sunflowers she had ever seen. She smiled and placed it in the kitchen for everyone to see. Seems this is the only gift Sasuke thought about. She happily bounced to go into her private baths. The steam calmed her down and she started to doze off.
Meanwhile, a random man was one step away from curing cancer on the other side of the world. All he had to do was put in a single drop of sodium. A loud scream, yet distant, made him jump, spilling the cure. And this was how Jiraiya ruined the cure for cancer.
Hikari held a towel closely to her body and she was pure red. Both with anger and embarrassment. Jiraiya looked like he was in heaven yet meeting his greatest fear. Hikari snarled, "Jiraiya, why the hell are you in my spring without putting up a sign for males only?" Jiraiya gulped. Forgetting was not an option. For the rest of the night, Hikari attacked the poor man brutally leaving other men praying for Jiraiya's sake.
Traitors on the ends of evil. Ends tied on the strings of good. A lone figure watches it all unravel. Who will come out on top of this foreseen war?