Sunday, September 8th, 2013.

Hey, guys! What's up? Are you all in school yet? (I started a month ago)

BTW, I think I'm gonna mix the Fun Fact thing with a News sort of thing. Like stuff that happened to me during that past two weeks. Or whatever.

Fun Fact/News: This past Friday was picture day at school, and it rained so freaking hard at the end of school. It was ridiculous. No one thought it'd rain. The worst part - just about nobody was wearing their normal shoes and jackets or whatever. We have uniforms at our school, and this year, there are apparently only 6 days of free dress (no uniform days). We were going to take advantage of it! So all our shoes and outfits and stuff got wet. I had just gotten new flats and I walk home, so I had to call my mom to pick my sister and I up. But my shoes still got soaked in the short walk from the edge of the building to my mother's car. If I had my usual tennis shoes, I would've just walked home because I also had an umbrella. But I didn't. And the jacket I wear to school now doesn't have a hood, so I could let my umbrella just protect my backpack from getting soaked. (Stupid new policy about school-color-only jackets or sweaters..) Then, when we got home, it was only sprinkling. Why's that weird? I live BEHIND the school - that's why I walk. BEHIND it. Yet it was raining cats and dogs over there, but sprinkling here. But that's Tucson rain for you - it will rain on one side of the street, but not that other. And that has happened before. My sister and I have seen it.

Book/Anime Rec.: Um... Inuyasha. If you didn't already know, it's a story about a girl who falls in a well in her family's temple and ends up getting sent back in time to 500 years ago in the same place, and shattering the sacred Shikon Jewel Shard (that was apparently in her body) that makes evil demons stronger if they get ahold of it. So, she partners up with half-demon Inuyasha to put the Jewel back together whilst making friends with another demon, a monk, a demon slayer and her demon pet along the way. They also meet other friends, but she only travels with the ones I mentioned before. InuYasha: Final Act is the ending to Inuyasha, not really a sequel. The original anime didn't end the series, so they made another to do it. Weird, but that's the way it is.

I watched InuYasha in English, but I decided to see Final Act in sub. I was shocked to find out out that Usopp from One Piece's voice actor is InuYasha. INUYASHA! Cowardly Chronic Liar Usopp=Brave and Brash Inuyasha? WTF? (Don't get me wrong, Usopp's one of my favorite characters) Then I found out he did Ranma, too. (I read a couple volumes in my day.) Dayum, dude. No wonder Usopp's voice acting was so good...

Anyway. New chappy.

Around 3.3k words.

The AN makes it nearly 5k.

Dedication: You all, because I love you.

Disclaimer: Me no own.

AotW: I'm watching FMAB for like, the 3rd time on TV, recording it (it's on Toonami, Saturday nights; CartoonNetwork's Adult Swim). Effing obsessed with it, one of the most brilliant anime ever made, IMO. #3 on my faves list. I need to bring myself to finish FMA, though. I procrastinate... I like it, but I'm too focused on other stuff. I prefer Brotherhood though. I could spend hours looking at FMAB clips and trailers and shit like that. And the English dub is one of the best dubs I've ever heard. #2. Second only to Hetalia because why? You can't beat funny accents.

The difference, if you didn't know, was that FMA was first and when it was still being aired, it progressed ahead of the manga so it had to take a different route in plot and stuff. Arakawa approved the changes though. So, because FMA was such a giant hit, they used their sales to create the remake to match the manga - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The plot, goal of the characters, who the Homunculi are, etc. are some differences in them because of what happened. Some characters were made up for FMA (Dante) and some didn't even EXIST in FMA that did in FMAB (The Xing peeps - love you, Ling!).

To Lili and Sakura's Fan, who reviewed but I couldn't reply because you didn't have accounts: Thank you for your reviews.

Speaking of which, I'm still doing the 100th, 25th, 75th, etc, reviewer-gets-a-one-shot thing. The only thing is that I need to write those one-shots. So if you hurry to review, you may be the 175th! There's 173 as of right now. Thanks guys!

There's a lot of romance splotches, but mainly NejiTen. There's also some SasuSaku at the end, so don't worry.

Chapter 36: Thankgiving Part 2; Of Freedom, Plans and Romance

Recap

"… So, seriously. How'd Kiba-kun lose?" Mitsuki asked, breaking the ice.

"Mitsu!" He whined. She giggled and stuck her tongue out at him. His face fell.

Everyone laughed.

End of Recap

Still Sasuke POV

"We'll tell you over our girl's night," Ino winked.

"Girl's Night?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah. 'Girl's Day Out', or something. That was the brilliant idea I had earlier before Shisui interrupted me." She glared at him, and he scratched his head, laughing sheepishly.

"So… you want to arrange a girl's night." Temari repeated.

"Exactly! You, me, Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, Karin, Mitsuki, Hana, Mura… you know! Kurenai-sensei, Anko-san and the other adults can come, too, if they want!" Ino explained, excited. "The whole day to ourselves – just us ladies!"

"And what about us guys?" Shikamaru asked, butthe look on his face said that he already knew the answer before even speaking.

"Forget you guys. I don't care what you do as long as you leave us alone." The love just oozes from her, doesn't it?

It sure does, Inner.

You better have detected the sarcasm.

"And what of boyfriends?" Sai asked from beside her.

Ino kissed his cheek with a sorry look on her face. "Sorry, Sai-kun. Just us girls, I'm afraid. Boyfriends will have to back off for the day."

She watched the rest of us like a hawk, and I was confused why.

"Do you think there's another couple here besides the ones we already know about?" Of course Sakura knew why Ino was acting like that. She knows Ino better than anybody.

"I don't think, I know. And no, I don't mean the thick romantic tension between Kiba and Mitsuki." The two mentioned blushed heavily and one (Kiba) denied it. Not like anyone believed him.

Not even her brother, who was glaring him because he knew Kiba liked his sister.

Or his mother, who was snickering behind her hand. Hana rolled her eyes at her brother's denail. Why even bother, Kiba?

I noticed Neji and Tenten shared a glance, and had what seemed to be a quick, silent, conversation. What?

Then, they both sighed.

"Well, whatever. We were going to tell you anyway." Tenten said. "Or I was, really."

"You're pregnant!" Ino jumped up, pointing.

"What? No! What the he- heck, Ino?!" Tenten stood as well.

"You and Neji have finally connected the strings of youthful love that has bound you together since you were children!" Lee exclaimed, jumping up as well.

"… What?" Naruto said.

"You lost me at 'youthful'." Kankuro commented.

Tenten groaned, ignoring them. "Yes, Lee-kun. We did."

My mother gasped. "He proposed? But you're so young!" Really, Mother? Really?

"So you did do the act! I was right all along!" Ino jumped in again.

"No, you thought I was pregnant Ino."

"You could be and unaware of it."

What the hell is going on?!

I have no idea.

"Whoa! Calm down guys!" Temari exclaimed, motioning for everyone to shut up and calm down.

"Ino, they're both virgins, sheesh. Otherwise they'd-… you know what? Nevermind that." She shook her head. "Anyway, Mikoto-san, Tenten isn't engaged, either." She turned to Tenten. "And you, Tenten, I believe, have something to tell us."

Finally, someone using their common sense. Thank you, Temari.

By now we all knew what the secret was, but we let her speak regardless.

"Neji-kun and I are dating." Again, we already knew, but knowing it doesn't mean it still wasn't surprising when hearing it.

I must say, Naruto's face was one of the most surprised, and one of the most priceless.

However, Hiashi takes the cake on that one, but we'll get to him later.

"Yes!" Hinata squealed, leaping up with her sister to glomp her friend. "It's about time!"

I've never seen her so energetic and excited before.

It was obviously for a first for Naruto, too, judging by the entranced look on his face. Lovesick puppy.

Shikamaru turned to Naruto, and so did Karin.

"I'll accept the pay within a week from today. Check is fine." Shikamaru said.

"I want mine in cold hard cash within a week from today as well. By 9pm. Sharp. In my hand. Or the pay doubles every two hours and I'll track you down. I can do that in the most literal sense." Karin almost looked scary.

"What?!" Hiashi exclaimed.

Neji, surprisingly, ignored him. "You guys bet on me?!"

Shikamaru nodded. "Naruto, after hearing about Mitsuki when he came back, bet she and Kiba would get together before Neji ever got a girl."

Again, cue blushes from the aforementioned teenagers in denial.

"Naruto also bet that Sasuke would get a girlfriend before Neji, but only because he kinda believes Neji is purely asexual, whereas Sasuke actually plans to continue the line of the clan, and he will have to find a woman eventually. Proving his sexuality. Neji, however, doesn't appear to have a motive to do the same." The look Neji gave Naruto after Karin's explanation was actually kind of terrifying.

And hilarious because Naruto looked like he was about to shit his pants. Today… today is a good day.

But I was pretty surprised as well that Neji was the 2nd of us to get a girlfriend. He and Sai were the last people anyone would suspect, yet they were the first to be in a relationship.

It was kind of insulting, but kind of not. Only because we're in that "unlikely" category, and if the others in this category can get a girl first, so can we. It's reassuring, in a way.

But that'd insinuate a relationship with Sakura, which I was conflicted about…

Anyway.

"Excuse me?!" Hiashi demanded, referring to the news of his nephew's new relationship.

"Just what she said, Uncle." Neji said, looking sternly to his relative. Standing up to him, huh?

"Neji, what have I told you about her? She's just with you for the money," Cue Tenten and Lee and Gai eye-rolling, and gasps snorts from the rest of us. "The Hyuuga needs someone with status and wealth. Not some no-name orphan girl whose origins are unknown."

The whole table went silent. Even the animals stopped eating and turned toward us. Tenten's brown kitten hesitantly went up to her and nuzzled her leg with its head. He did NOT just say that! Not that we knew this, but even if we did, you don't just say stuff like that!

But surprisingly, Tenten only seemed slightly peeved, like she had heard this enough times before.

Neji, however… looked like he was going to kill somebody. Even Hinata looked mad. Not Neji-Mad, but mad nonetheless.

Hanabi's reactions was one I didn't expect – the poor thing looked like she was appalled, angry, afraid, and about to cry.

Temari looked like she was barely controlling herself to not jump over the table and attack Hiashi herself. I don't know if it was just my imagination, but it seemed Shikamaru was calming her down.

Their arms looked closer together, as if their hands were, too… Are they holding hands under the table?

I snuck a glance at Naruto. Didn't he say something about knowing Tenten?

Needless to say, he was pissed, too. I could only hope Kurama didn't decide to go "Greedy-Bastard" on us and make Naruto let him out or something like what he did in Waves(1), back when he was totally evil.

That guy/beast really needs to decide what side he's on.

"Is that so?" Neji bit out, trying to sound calm.

… He actually sounded… kind of… frightening.

But just a bit.

If a different kinda guy than Hiashi was on the receiving end of that look, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they pissed their pants. And stop being proud – that look's fudging scary.

"Yes." The prick actually looked triumphant and as proud as ever, like he actually believed Neji would comply with his wishes.

And on an ego streak, he decided to talk more and dig a deeper grave for himself. Fool.

"This is just your hormones talking now, and if necessary, I can find you some women to satiate you until I complete your arranged marriage." I forgot the Hyuuga still do that… I'm sure we would, too, for the most part, had we had more members… and if Mom would have allowed that.

I wondered for a moment, about Hinata and Naruto. What would happen then?

Neji continued to simmer in anger.

"But I will not let you soil the Hyuuga's name by bringing that girl into the family. Much less even dating her. Even if you're just a Side-Branch member." … Yup. That guy's dead. He just had to mention the Side-Branch thing, didn't he?

"That's it!" Neji slammed his hands on the table and stood up. "I'm not going to listen to you slander Tenten anymore!

Everyone was surprised by Neji's outburst, but none of us were as surprised as Tenten.

Her eyes widened and she grabbed Neji's arm, trying to pull him down. "Neji-kun, it's alright! It's nothing new, and we already discussed this, remember? I'm fine."

"I'm not, and we all know you're just saying that. Let me go." He shook his arm free and stalked toward his uncle.

"I don't really care all that much about what you say about me. Not as much as I used to, at least. I don't care too much about what you say about Lee and Gai-sensei, or even your children and the rest of the clan, either. And to be honest, the vast majority about the others at this table. I just don't care."

Alright. I'm offended.

Most everyone else also looked affronted.

"But when you start talking shit about Tenten, that's when I start to care. My anger builds and builds and builds until I need to release it. So here I am! Letting it out." he snarled in his uncle's face.

Hinata looked terrified at what was happening, but more likely for the fate of her cousin.

Surprisingly, Hanabi was using Konohamaru's fingers to peak out of, and his arms to hide in. She was sitting on his lap. He was whispering to her, likely relaying the expressions of her family, since she could hear everything anyway. How cute. Looks like Naruto and Sakura may not have to set them up after all.

Lee looked pale, as did Gai. They were both scared, but also pissed off by Hiashi.

Ko was biting his lip so hard, blood was dripping down his chin. But he didn't seem to notice. He also began biting his nails (making them bleed as well as covering them in the blood from his lips; kinda gross) in a trance, also afraid of the outcome of Neji and Hiashi's… disagreement.

"As long as you reside as a Hyuuga, you must follow our customs. We will arrange a suitable wife for you one day in the near future, Neji. We can't let you dirty our blood with such filthy outsiders." He took a glance at his eldest daughter. "Such is the same for you, Hinata. Though you're a failure of a heiress, and even though you're not living with the rest of the family as a Hyuuga, you still are one. You will also have an arranged marriage. Your childish feelings will disappear eventually. And even if they don't, you will not be allowed to marry and bring in such filth either. Hanabi must abide by those rules as well."

This is how he talks to her? No wonder she's the way she is.

What a minute, she moved out?

Apparently.

I took a glance at her.

Hinata gulped, trying to stay calm.

Hanabi wasn't hiding behind Konohamaru anymore, but still looked angry and tearful.

Naruto, however… I could feel that dark chakra of the Kyuubi building up even more in him. Should've known hearing that about Hinata would piss him off even more than the rest of the talk did…

I gave him a look. "Calm down."

He tried taking breaths, but it didn't work. "I can't." Was what the look he gave me afterwards told me.

"'As long as I reside as a Hyuuga, I must follow the customs,' huh?" Neji repeated.

He leaned back down into his uncle's face. "Then you and the rest of the elders, hell, even the rest of the clan that believes that shit, can go fuck themselves. You've just lost your beloved prodigy, Uncle. Good riddance."

Time froze. He… didn't… did he?!

Lee dropped the glass he was holding, breaking it. But I don't think anyone cared.

"Neji-kun!" Tenten shouted. "How-… why-!... Take it back, Neji-kun! You can't do that!"

She was frantic, taking his hand and trying to motion him to reconcile with his uncle.

"I'm not that important – this isn't that important! You can't just-… you can't!"

Before Tenten could go on, Neji, shocking us all even further, –If he keeps this up, he's gonna give us all fucking heart-attacks– took Tenten's cheek gently and KISSED her.

Actual. Kissage.

Right in front of us, not giving even a single shit about it.

Just as stunned as the rest of us, and getting a bit red from the audience –many of which had dropped jaws, and a couple wondering why Hinata hasn't fainted yet– Tenten couldn't respond to her boyfriends sudden very public display of affection.

He pulled away soon after, and looked her into the eyes and said, "To me, you are." He lowered his voice, whispering. We strained to hear him. "You're important enough."

His voice rose to a normal volume. "I love her, and because of that, I'm completely willing to do this. I won't let you rule my life anymore, Hiashi." *Whistle* Wow. First name.

So you're not shocked that he just admitted he loved someone?

'Course I am. I just need to focus on something else now. My *imaginary* brain is kinda on overload. At this rate, it's going to explode and spray imaginary brain guts in here.

I'd like my brain free of imaginary brain debris, thank you.

Hiashi was fuming. "Neji-"

My mother interrupted him, her head bent low and her hair and shadows covering what we should be able to see of her face.

"…" she muttered.

"What?" Kankuro asked, not quite hearing her.

"I said, get out of my house!" She said standing. My father stood as well, beside her.

"Get out." He echoed.

"What?" Hiashi asked, astonished that they'd even kick him out of their house.

"Your behavior is not tolerated here. Get out of our home immediately!" My mother shouted.

Hiashi, shocked and angered, bristled for a moment and then stood up, his face red in anger.

"Hanabi." He demanding that she follow him. He headed toward the front door.

"No…" She whispered meekly.

"Excuse me?" He said slowly.

"I-I s-said… N-no!" Looks like the last little Hyuuga is standing up, too.

"Hanabi!"

"No!" Hanabi's voice grew stronger, and she stood. Judging by the elevation and position of her and Konohamaru's arms, I could tell the two were holding each other's hands. She was short, so her hand and Konohamaru's were still hidden beneath the table.

Aww… cute!

"I'm leaving, too, Fa- Hiashi. I'm going to live with Hinata-nee-san." Her voice was slightly shaky at the beginning, but by the end, her voice was clear and strong.

Pride was practically oozing off of us audience members.

"Mutiny in the home…" Kankuro muttered.

Unfortunately, because it was silent, everyone heard it. And everyone turned to Kankuro.

He blushed and fake-coughed into his hand.

But he was right – this was a mutiny of the Hyuuga children. Mutiny from Hiashi's own family. But he was the only one that had a problem with it.

Hiashi bristled once more. "All of you…" he gritted out. He huffed and hurried to the front door, Fugaku close behind him.

Hiashi turned to us just before he could exit the manor, the door open. I could see him from where I sat.

"You-… you'll all regret this! All of you will regret this! You will regret messing with the head of the Hyuuga clan!" And he quickly took his leave. And my father shut the door (loudly) behind him and returned to his seat.

God, that sounded SO MUCH like every lame villain that ever existed in the history of story-making.

After a moment of silence behind his absence, the table suddenly was alive with chatter and voices.

Namely – "Holy shit, Neji! I can't believe you did that!" "I didn't know he [Hiashi] was such an ass!" "Hinata, Hanabi, are you okay?"

It lessened slightly when Naruto shifted in his seat, and hugged Hinata, who was beside him. He hugged her tightly.

"I swear, if he didn't leave, I was going to fucking punch him." He said. "I can't believe he did all that. I'm sorry, Hinata-chan… Neji, Tenten-chan."

"Don't apologize. This is just the way he is." Neji replied to Naruto, as the blonde moved on to give Hanabi and Tenten hugs as well.

But allow me to note they weren't as tight and sentimental as Hinata's hug.

"I'm sorry about having him invited here. If I knew he was like that, I never would've done it." Mother said, looking down in guilt.

"Nah, don't feel like that. You didn't know." Tenten reassured.

"Geez, what is it, Matsuri? You look like you're gonna burst." Kankuro laughed.

We all turned to her jumpy and excited self in her seat. How odd...

"I'm sorry, but that was so freaking romantic! I loved it! I hate that it had to happen like that and all that jazz, but it was just so sweet!"

Silence.

Gaara coughed.

"Right… sorry. I'm a hopeless romantic… as you can see… hehe…" She scratched her cheek in embarrassment, reddening and calming down. Embarrassed, she looked like she was trying her best to shrink herself -and failing- and instead hid herself in Gaara's shoulder. Good Lord, did everyone take the love potion lately?

"… I forgot you were." Tenten commented.

"But thanks… I guess…" Neji said.

"But seriously, she's right." Kurenai comment. "That was really adorable. Without all the bad stuff and all. And I'm proud of you all. You stood up to him."

"Thanks Kurenai-san." Hanabi said, going up to hug her after Kurenai finished hugging her older sister. What?

Didn't Naruto say that Hinata and Kurenai knew each other before she graduated and were close?

That explains it.

"What a day…" Shikamaru sighed.

"Definitely." I agreed.

"But it was fun, right? Except, you know…" Sakura said, smiling.

"And the food was delicious." Chouza said.

"Agreed. We should do things like this more often. This was a lot more fun than I anticipated. Despite the impending repercussions of making enemies with a guy that politically powerful. Shikaku added."But you know. We'll be fine in the end. And we don't regret what happened here, either."

"Why don't we do this again on Christmas?" Inoichi suggested.

"Ooh! That sounds like fun!" Mikoto said, clapping in excitement. "A Christmas dinner!"

"It does sound like fun." Anko said. "If you wish to invite me next time, that is." It almost sounded like she was insecure…

Maybe she is? She has the reputation of being a scary lady that appears to have little to no friends. I'd be, too. And she's a woman. Women are all insecure about something.

…

"Of course I would!" Mikoto replied. "In fact, everyone here at this table right now is invited! If you wish to come, that is."

She turns to the Sand Siblings + Matsuri and Baki.(2) "Will you be here that long?"

The teens looked at Baki.

He thought for a moment, then shrugged.

"I may go back, to secure the economic stability of the Sand, mostly, but they have no reason to not stay."

"What about you're ex-boyfriend's wedding, Temari?" Kankuro asked her.

"He has a name you know." She said, rolling her eyes. "And the wedding is in late January. We have time."

"Why in the world would you go to your Ex's wedding?" Anko asked, appalled.

That doesn't make any sense.

Shikamaru sighed, nonchalant. "She would. And be the Maid of Honor." He already knew?

Matsuri shrugged. "Despite breaking up, they have a pretty good friendship."

"Holy crap, guys. Keep bombarding me with juicy information and make me explode with excitement, why don't you? Actually, keep doing it." Ino said. "You guys must explain everything on our GNO."

"Wait." Sai frowned. "But I don't want you to explode." He looked so upset...

"Oh, Sai-kun." she giggled and kissed his cheek. "I won't explode. It's just a figure of speech."

"Oh. That's better then." She giggled again, and laid her head on his shoulder, hugging his arm.

"Who said I'm going?" Temari questioned, referring to the Girl's Night thing. What do girls do on those things, anyway?

Don't know, don't care.

"I did. I'll even take over your body if that's what it takes."

"Just listen to her, Temari." Shikamaru groaned. "It'll save time, trouble, and effort and it's better than refusing her like that. You can't just say no to Ino and get away with it."

"See? Shika gets it. So what do you say?" Ino asked. "You gonna come?"

Temari sighed. "Fine. Just text me when and where."

"Of course." Ino turned to Karin. "Any opposition from you?"

"Sakura would probably just drag me there herself so I could suffer with her, so no. No opposition here, Milady." Karin answered.

"Great!" Ino cheered. "Mitsuki-chan, can I have your number later? Ooh, this is going to be so much fun!"

I rolled my eyes.

"Are you guys gonna finish this food or what? Because I will if you won't." Chouji said, warning us.

"Oh, right! The food!" Shisui exclaimed. "How could I forget?"

"Idiot." Mura rolled her eyes.

"But you love this idiot." He replied, grinning at her.

"Yes, I do." She pecked his nose. "Unfortunately."

"Mura-chan~..."

"Forget you guys," Naruto said. "Let's eat!"

Sakura giggled.

"Today has been a hectic day," she whispered to me, as the table(s) was once again filled with the chatter and laughter of people becoming friends.

"It has." I agreed, giving her a smirk.

"Today was so much fun, I can't wait 'til Christmas." She said softly, her left hand finding mine under the table.

I gave her hand a squeeze, enjoying her warmth. I small smile made it onto my lips, just long enough for only her to see. "Neither can I."

(1): The events of Waves is exactly the way they were (except for Zabuza and Haku's alive status) in the anime. It's not the way it was in ReWind.
(2): I forgot to add him in the seating chart, sorry.

HA! I wouldn't let you guys find out whether Sasuke wants to be with Sakura or not. Trolled ya.

I have special plans in mind for that, and I can't tell you. XD

STILL ACCEPTING CHRISTMAS PRESENT SUGGESTIONS!

QotW: What do you hate most about school? Or if you graduated college and are working, what DID you hate the most?

And congrats to all college students and college graduates!

Love,

Cherry.