Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Pairings: Gaara/Hinata, Naruto/Sakura
Warnings: Slight Language
No Laws To Love: Part III: It's Not Called Eating, It's Inhaling
"This it?"
"…No…"
"This?"
"No…"
"This one?"
"No."
"How about this…?"
"I don't think so…" Hinata sighed. They refused; or rather Kiba and Naruto refused to leave until she boarded a bus.
That was problem one.
Problem two was that, she didn't know which bus to take back to where she lived. As far as she knew, there weren't any buses going through where she lived. Everyone there owned their own car and a chauffeur or two.
Problem three—Neji-niisan isn't picking up his cell. It was off, rather to say. She glanced quickly over to the four boys. Shikamaru was seated on the bench as Gaara was leaning on the pole, looking slightly bored or amused as the other two struggled with the different bus routes.
"I-It's fine, I'll just call for a ride. My residential areas aren't within these boundaries."
"Eh?" Naruto looked over at her; "We can't just leave you here!"
"How'd you get here in the first place?" Gaara spoke up from where he was standing. That had been the first thing he'd said since they took off from school.
"A-Ah, I got a ride from a friend," Hinata remembered the pink-haired girl's driving skills. Maybe it was better if Sakura stayed with being chauffeured around. Sakura might've been the perfect student, but passing a driving test is totally different from Chemistry one. That girl definitely had no talents with a dangerous machine. How that girl ever got her license, Hinata would always wonder.
"I got an idea!"
"What?" Gaara frowned at Naruto.
"We'll walk you home!"
"Uhhh?" Shikamaru who had seemed asleep sprung up right away.
"I-It's okay, I can just wait here. Don't worry!"
"Ah, it's fine, we'll walk you home," Kiba stuck his frozen hands into his pockets, "Sides, that's more productive than what we usually do."
"Alright! Then let's go!" Naruto pumped his fists in the air and took off in a direction.
Gaara turned to her, "Where do you live?"
"A-Ah, on M-Miyuki…"
He nodded, "It's this way then," and he followed the direction of Naruto.
The blond boy turned back at them, "Ne, Hinata-chan, is it okay if we stop by somewhere to eat?"
A loud growl could be heard. Immediately, Gaara and Shikamaru glared at Naruto.
Naruto threw his arms up, "Dude that's not my stomach."
Kiba smiled nervously, "Hey man, I think Naruto has a good idea," He looked at Hinata, "You hungry?"
The pale girl didn't want to admit it, but her stomach had been eating itself inside out for awhile. Her lesson—never skip breakfast and lunch both in the same day. It's one or the other.
"U-Um…I-I guess so. I mean, if you guys are hungry…"
"YAYY! This way!" Naruto skipped happily, "Hinata-chan, you like ramen, right?"
"U-Uh huh…"
Truth be told she never tried that internationalized food before. Her parents thought that all that sodium was bad for her body and image.
Shortening her strides and moving her legs faster, she was semi-jogging behind Naruto and Kiba, side by side with Gaara and Shikamaru, dragging behind them all.
The walk wasn't far, and when it came to food, the guys seemed more motivated as their walking speed was much faster. The five stopped at a small restaurant and opened the door, entering, as Kiba's dog, sensing the warmth, hopped out of his jacket and proceeded to walk on its own.
They selected a booth and slid in; Kiba and Naruto on one side, while Hinata and Gaara were on the other.
"Eh? W-Where's Nara-san?" Hinata glanced over, they were supposed to be an uneven number.
"AH!" Naruto immediately ducked under the table.
"…What now…?" Gaara frowned at the blond's explosion in the quiet restaurant, given that besides two other couples and some old men; they were the only large group.
Kiba's eyes widen and he too, seeks refuge under the table, "I-It's the she-demon! And Shika got caught!"
The red haired boy's eyebrow lifted, "She-demon…?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Hinata could tell that the end of Gaara's mouth was slowly lifting up into a smirk. It actually made him look a little bit scarier, but somehow, away from all his demented facials, it was more refreshing than his other expression. The other one seemed like he was going to murder someone for running over his dog or something.
"I'm…going to tell her…"
Yes, Gaara felt even more delighted as the looks of horror crept into the two boy's faces. Oh, how he loved torturing them.
A bell tinkled, signaling that someone had entered the shop.
Shikamaru trudged over, followed by a cute girl with chin-length blond hair and blue eyes.
"Kiba-kun, Naruto-kun, and Gaara-kun!" She smiled brightly.
There was no one more annoying besides from Naruto and Kiba's loudness than Ino herself. Gaara's smirk soon wiped away replaced by a crossed look.
If Shikamaru was planning on having his girlfriend dine with them, they'll have to be seated at a different table, because he refused to budge in anymore lest it be cold with the heater system off.
"Ah! Who's this?" The girl turned and smiled at her, "I'm Yamanaka Ino! Nice to meet you!"
Hinata smiled back and bowed, "Hyuuga Hinata, the pleasure's all mine."
"Aiyaa! She's so adorable!" Ino's head whipped to the side, staring straight at Gaara, who was seated beside Hinata, "Is she your girlfriend?"
The other two across the table blanched immediately, while Gaara stared back at her irritated.
"…No…"
"Oh? Then why is she here with you?"
The blond boy tapped on her elbow before Ino could pursue further into Gaara's agitation.
"Hinata-chan's our physics tutor…"
Her eyes widened, "Ooh…" She laughed, "My bad!"
"Ne, Ino, what are you doing here?"
"Oh yeah!" She slapped her fist against her palm; "I'm picking up dinner for me and Okaasan."
At the precise moment, Shikamaru appeared behind her, holding a plastic bag. The set it on the table and gave her a bored look.
"Well I gotta go now," she waved at them, "Nice meeting you, Hinata!"
"Bye," The guys chorused at the retreating pair.
A middle-aged man approached them, "Alright boys, what's it today?"
"The usual!" Naruto chirped and Kiba nodded and Gaara leaned back, "How about you, Hinata-chan?"
"A-Ah…um, whatever you guys pick…"
"She'll take the same as me," Gaara spoke up, "She'll get indigestion if she ate what you guys order with your ramen."
"HEY DUDE!" Naruto pointed back, "You just don't appreciate the pleasures in life!"
"And that's eating ramen…?"
"Sure it is!"
Kiba laughed as he leaned on one elbow, "Well, it's some of the few things in life you can depend on."
"…Until you get an upset stomach…" Gaara smirked, "Can't really depend on milk though, can you Naruto?"
The blond boy reddened and leaned over the table, reaching for Gaara's head, "SHUT UP!"
Hinata stared at their table etiquette.
Yes, she is one of those few people out there who were taught the strict 'no elbows on the table' rule that Kiba very much overwhelmingly broke. There was also the 'no slouching' rule that Gaara decided was not worth being on the list and 'please pass the soy sauce' never once crossed his mind as Naruto had his whole upper body across the table, trying to reach for Gaara's head.
"Okay kids," A tray came into view.
Five bowls? Is Nara-san coming back…?
"Naruto, I have the other ones coming right up," The man retreated.
"ALRIGHT!" Naruto grinned as he pulled two large bowls towards himself, while Kiba took the other large one.
There were left two small identical ones.
"Oh!" Hinata realized Gaara was waiting for her to pick one.
She pulled apart her chopsticks and proceeded to eat it how Kiba was. Turning to the side, she glanced at Naruto, who was already halfway through his first bowl.
Wow…
It's like he wasn't chewing at all.
That was because he wasn't. You see, Naruto was one of those people who were gifted with the power of slurping and swallowing whole both at the same time.
It's like…he's inhaling it…
As Hinata slowly made her way through the noodles, more bowls were brought. It took her one bowl to match with Naruto's five. And he was still going.
Gaara stared back, "Slow down baka, or you'll ch—"
"ACK!" Coughing and hacking were heard soon afterwards.
"That guy never learns," Kiba shook his head as he reached over and slapped the blond boy hard in the back. Which resulted in Naruto sputtering out some stuff and then resumed coughing.
"Hey," Kiba looked around, "Anyone seen Akamaru…? I bet he's hungry by now…"
"Go find him," Gaara stood up, "I'm going."
"Hey man, wait," Kiba moved out and peered around the small restaurant, "What about Hinata?"
"You guys wanted to take her home," He stuck his hands in his pocket.
"Oh no, Akamaru's in the kitchen again."
With that, the brown haired boy disappeared somewhere in the back.
Hinata looked at her watch, "Oh no, it's nine already! I have to go!"
It was funny how Neji-niisan hasn't even called her yet.
Is he really busy…? Or…or…did he forget about me!
"Uhhh…" Naruto slumped onto the seat, "I don't feel well…"
"That's because you ate too much, too fast, when you were too hungry," Gaara frowned at the bloated boy, "How are you going to get her home?"
"Uhhh…"
"T-That's okay. I should call my cousin anyway," She rummaged through her bag.
Now where was her cell phone?
Was it in this pocket…? Or this one…?
Or maybe…
"Oh no!" She dumped the contents of her bag out onto a tabletop, "Where's my phone!"
Nooo…
Now she couldn't even call Neji-niisan! What is she going to do? Uzumaki-san and Inuzuka-san were busy and she didn't know the way around here! It was dark and cold too.
"Did you have it with you?" A hand reached out and helped pick through her stuff and put it back into the bag.
"Y-Yes," She nodded, "I was using it right before I came into your class."
…class…
"Oh no!" It hit her; "I left it on the table in the lecture hall!"
Gaara stuck his hands back into his pocket, "Well…school's locked by now." He glanced at the girl. She had her head low and her hands resting still on the bag.
No…
There would be no way in hell she would be getting teary in front of him. She better not be crying. Given that Gaara had never had any experience when a girl starts crying.
"I…could go get it tomorrow…"
"Huh…?" She stared back at him, "B-But it's Saturday…"
He shrugged, "I'll find a way in…"
Gaara made his way to the door as her eyes trailed his movements.
"Well…? Do you want to go home or not?" He leaned against the frame, with his hands once again tucked in the pockets of his uniform.
"What," She looked back, "about Uzumaki-san and Inuzuka-san?"
"They'll get home eventually," He exited the shop as Hinata followed.
"Sides," He watched his breath in the cold night air, "I don't want to pay the bill."
End Part III: It's Not Called Eating, It's Inhaling
Hrm, I think this chapter was a bit longer than usual…heh, but that makes up for the long update I did earlier…
Thanx for all those reviewers out there really made me work faster, cuz people were like "WOW you finally updated!" Hahaha…bows gomenasai, I made up with this one, right?
midori: haha, yes I am quite a furuba fan I love Haru, however, I wasn't really modeling this fic after it. This was actually an inspiration from the korean manwha K2 Kill me, Kiss me by Lee something (haha) if you haven't read it yet, I encourage you do! It's really good! I love Ga-woon...hehe
Please Review!
Up next: Part IV: As Long As It Doesn't Get Worse Than This
Being escorted home by a disgruntled boy, whom she knew for less than three hours could be a problem for Hinata as she desperately tries to hide from the rampaging Neji as he sweeps the town, looking for his 'lost' cousin. Getting home in one piece before Neji does is her goal, but once again, thanks to her luck, detours and arguments ensue…along with the presence of…
Ame