Chapter 4 ~ Festival of the Dragon
"Suki! Suki! Wake up!"
I groaned at the noise. I had went to bed very late last night and wanted to sleep late.
"It's the Festival!"
I bolted of my bed and began to change. I had completely forgotten that today was the Festival of the Dragon and Love. Yoko and Tsuyoshi had already dressed with Minako waiting for me with them. Finally done, we all walked out the inn and into a street full of decorations.
"How are they? I did them all with Iruka last night," Minako proudly said.
"It looks just like the ones back home," Tsuyoshi replied.
All the stands were full of games and prizes. Every year, I remembered that I would buy a dragon lantern and carry it around all day. One particular stand was selling lanterns.
"One Dragon lantern please," I said. The owner turned around and I gaped. "Iruka! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Minako?"
"Yes, but she made me watch over this stand," he replied mournfully.
"I'll help you watch it, you go and have fun with Sensei," I said. I felt so bad for him. He had spent the night helping Minako fix the decorations and now he had to do this? Selling lanterns wouldn't be that bad, I thought. His glum expression brightened at my offer and he quickly agreed. He climbed out and I took his place.
"I'll drop by later to see how you're doing," he said, waving. I waved back and sat in the cold to wait for the costumers to arrive. Luckily, a group of children passed by and forced their parents to buy them lanterns. But after that sale, business was soon dwindling. By midday, I had only sold about 5 lanterns and it was starting to get warm. The sun had come out and I longed to run through the sparkling snow. Soon, the Genins passed by and caught sight of me and stopped.
"Hey, how'd you get to work here?" Yoko asked.
"Iruka got me into this," I answered.
"How'd Iruka get to work here anyway?" Sakura asked.
"Minako got him to do it. I felt bad for him, so I offered to take his place. But my ability to persuade people to buy stuff really sucks. So far I've only sold about 5 lanterns since this morning."
"I have an idea. Naruto was selling candy before so why not you both team up? Buy two lanterns and get a free candy? The kids will love it," Ino suggested.
"Sure, why not?" I said. I would do anything to liven up the stand. It was so boring. Ino ran off to get Naruto and like she said, kids really did arrive and buy lanterns. Soon, I was all sold out of lanterns and Iruka arrived. He climbed back in and Minako appeared.
"Iruka! You sold all the lanterns!" she said. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he turned bright red. "Good, now I have something else for you to sell!" Iruka gave me a look and I shrugged. There was no way I was going to sit in there for the whole afternoon. When they left, Sakura and Ino began to giggle.
"I didn't know Sensei Iruka had a girlfriend," Naruto said. "Who would ever like him?"
"Not exactly his girlfriend, more like his crush," I said, laughing. "So, have you found someone to sign your lantern yet?" Sakura asked.
"No, how 'bout you?"
"Of course, I'm going to ask Sasuke!" she replied.
"And you're going to ask Tsuyoshi, right?" I pointed to Ino. She blushed and stared at the ground guiltily.
"How'd you know?" she said, her face burning up.
"I see everything. Com'n how else do you think I know? I've known Tsuyoshi for my whole life. I know his taste."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As night began to fall, couples everywhere gathered around the lake with their lanterns. I sat quietly by the side and watched the procession. Sakura really did ask Sasuke and they both set their lantern afloat. Kakashi shared a lantern with my sister and surprisingly, Minako had agreed to Iruka's request. Naruto had asked Hinata and I laughed silently as he draped an arm around her shoulders. Tsuyoshi and Ino's lantern was already afloat. I decided to sign my own lantern. That would still bring me good luck. I set my lantern afloat and watched it drift away when suddenly, it crashed into another one and became stuck to it. I quickly glanced at the name of the other lantern. Hyuga Neji. I looked around the shore of the lake and saw Neji. He glanced at my lantern and his and then at me. I turned away, my face burning up. I walked away from the lake as if nothing had happened and back to the inn, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Neji with a confused look on his face.
"Hey, sorry about your lantern."
"No, no, it's ok."
We stood adwarkly for a while in silence. My cheeks began to burn up again and I noticed that Neji was also blushing.
"Uhh, I.I gotta get back now," I said.
"Yeah, sure. Well, see you tomorrow," he replied, disappointed. I quickly walked away from the lake and back to the village, when I bumped into Misaki and Kakashi.
"What are you hurrying away for?" Misaki asked.
"Nothing."
"Com'n, you're my sister, I can see something's wrong."
"Can we talk in private?" I asked.
"Sure, we were both just going back to his place," she answered, pointing to Kakashi.
When we arrived at Kakashi's apartment, I took a seat in the living room and Misaki handed me a cup of tea. Misaki and Kakashi both sat across from me and sipped their tea. I felt like I was being interrogated for something I had done.
"So, what's the story?"
"It's.. it's about someone."
"Guy or girl?"
"Guy."
Misaki nudged Kakashi and he put down the book that he was reading. I looked at the cover. "Come Come Paradise," it said.
"So, what's with this guy? Do you like him? Or does he like you? Or even better, both of you like each other?" Misaki asked.
"Umm, well.. We aren't exactly in a relationship. You can say we're friends. But, I'm not sure if he likes me or if I like him."
"Continue," Misaki said.
I told her the whole story, except I left out names. She listened quietly for the whole thing, but had to nudge Kakashi for reading Come Come Paradise instead of listening to me a few times.
"Hmm, this is confusing. I've never met a guy like that. Kakashi, a little help here," she said.
"Well, I think I know who it is, but I'm not going to jump to conclusions. So, have you ever thought why he didn't exactly treat you like a friend? Maybe you were so popular among the other ninjas that he didn't even bother to compete for your attention. You were alone at the lake, correct?" Kakashi said
"Yeah," I answered.
"He saw his chance and decided to talk to you like a friend," Kakashi simply replied.
"But, but how do I know if he has feelings for me or not?"
"These things take time. You'll soon find out. I went through this stage when I was your age, don't worry about it," Misaki said.
"You sound like Mother."
"Ha ha, now get outta here and talk to him."
She shooed me from Kakashi's apartment and shut the door in my face. I walked slowly back to the lake and thought about what she had said. These things take time. I sat by the shore of the lake. All the couples had left and I watched the lanterns shimmer in the lake alone. I heard a rustle and saw Neji next to me, staring out to the lake.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey, mind if I join you?" he asked.
"No."
He sat down next to me and was quiet. I thought about what Misaki had said and finally decided to talk.
"Neji."
"Suki.."
"Never mind."
We had both spoken at the same time and my courage suddenly fled from me. We sat quiet again when finally, Neji began to speak.
"Suki, I want to talk to you."
"Yeah?"
"Well, tonight is the Festival of Love, right?"
"Yeah."
"And it is a tradition in your village to express your feelings to the one you love, right?"
"Yeah, what about it."
"I just wanted to tell you that."
He paused for a few seconds and my heartbeat began to gain speed.
"I..I like you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Cough* Ahem..He finally said it!!! That stuck up loser finally said it!!!! And I had to stop it here!!!! Please REVIEW!!! And I'll continue to write.. If you review...
"Suki! Suki! Wake up!"
I groaned at the noise. I had went to bed very late last night and wanted to sleep late.
"It's the Festival!"
I bolted of my bed and began to change. I had completely forgotten that today was the Festival of the Dragon and Love. Yoko and Tsuyoshi had already dressed with Minako waiting for me with them. Finally done, we all walked out the inn and into a street full of decorations.
"How are they? I did them all with Iruka last night," Minako proudly said.
"It looks just like the ones back home," Tsuyoshi replied.
All the stands were full of games and prizes. Every year, I remembered that I would buy a dragon lantern and carry it around all day. One particular stand was selling lanterns.
"One Dragon lantern please," I said. The owner turned around and I gaped. "Iruka! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Minako?"
"Yes, but she made me watch over this stand," he replied mournfully.
"I'll help you watch it, you go and have fun with Sensei," I said. I felt so bad for him. He had spent the night helping Minako fix the decorations and now he had to do this? Selling lanterns wouldn't be that bad, I thought. His glum expression brightened at my offer and he quickly agreed. He climbed out and I took his place.
"I'll drop by later to see how you're doing," he said, waving. I waved back and sat in the cold to wait for the costumers to arrive. Luckily, a group of children passed by and forced their parents to buy them lanterns. But after that sale, business was soon dwindling. By midday, I had only sold about 5 lanterns and it was starting to get warm. The sun had come out and I longed to run through the sparkling snow. Soon, the Genins passed by and caught sight of me and stopped.
"Hey, how'd you get to work here?" Yoko asked.
"Iruka got me into this," I answered.
"How'd Iruka get to work here anyway?" Sakura asked.
"Minako got him to do it. I felt bad for him, so I offered to take his place. But my ability to persuade people to buy stuff really sucks. So far I've only sold about 5 lanterns since this morning."
"I have an idea. Naruto was selling candy before so why not you both team up? Buy two lanterns and get a free candy? The kids will love it," Ino suggested.
"Sure, why not?" I said. I would do anything to liven up the stand. It was so boring. Ino ran off to get Naruto and like she said, kids really did arrive and buy lanterns. Soon, I was all sold out of lanterns and Iruka arrived. He climbed back in and Minako appeared.
"Iruka! You sold all the lanterns!" she said. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and he turned bright red. "Good, now I have something else for you to sell!" Iruka gave me a look and I shrugged. There was no way I was going to sit in there for the whole afternoon. When they left, Sakura and Ino began to giggle.
"I didn't know Sensei Iruka had a girlfriend," Naruto said. "Who would ever like him?"
"Not exactly his girlfriend, more like his crush," I said, laughing. "So, have you found someone to sign your lantern yet?" Sakura asked.
"No, how 'bout you?"
"Of course, I'm going to ask Sasuke!" she replied.
"And you're going to ask Tsuyoshi, right?" I pointed to Ino. She blushed and stared at the ground guiltily.
"How'd you know?" she said, her face burning up.
"I see everything. Com'n how else do you think I know? I've known Tsuyoshi for my whole life. I know his taste."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As night began to fall, couples everywhere gathered around the lake with their lanterns. I sat quietly by the side and watched the procession. Sakura really did ask Sasuke and they both set their lantern afloat. Kakashi shared a lantern with my sister and surprisingly, Minako had agreed to Iruka's request. Naruto had asked Hinata and I laughed silently as he draped an arm around her shoulders. Tsuyoshi and Ino's lantern was already afloat. I decided to sign my own lantern. That would still bring me good luck. I set my lantern afloat and watched it drift away when suddenly, it crashed into another one and became stuck to it. I quickly glanced at the name of the other lantern. Hyuga Neji. I looked around the shore of the lake and saw Neji. He glanced at my lantern and his and then at me. I turned away, my face burning up. I walked away from the lake as if nothing had happened and back to the inn, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Neji with a confused look on his face.
"Hey, sorry about your lantern."
"No, no, it's ok."
We stood adwarkly for a while in silence. My cheeks began to burn up again and I noticed that Neji was also blushing.
"Uhh, I.I gotta get back now," I said.
"Yeah, sure. Well, see you tomorrow," he replied, disappointed. I quickly walked away from the lake and back to the village, when I bumped into Misaki and Kakashi.
"What are you hurrying away for?" Misaki asked.
"Nothing."
"Com'n, you're my sister, I can see something's wrong."
"Can we talk in private?" I asked.
"Sure, we were both just going back to his place," she answered, pointing to Kakashi.
When we arrived at Kakashi's apartment, I took a seat in the living room and Misaki handed me a cup of tea. Misaki and Kakashi both sat across from me and sipped their tea. I felt like I was being interrogated for something I had done.
"So, what's the story?"
"It's.. it's about someone."
"Guy or girl?"
"Guy."
Misaki nudged Kakashi and he put down the book that he was reading. I looked at the cover. "Come Come Paradise," it said.
"So, what's with this guy? Do you like him? Or does he like you? Or even better, both of you like each other?" Misaki asked.
"Umm, well.. We aren't exactly in a relationship. You can say we're friends. But, I'm not sure if he likes me or if I like him."
"Continue," Misaki said.
I told her the whole story, except I left out names. She listened quietly for the whole thing, but had to nudge Kakashi for reading Come Come Paradise instead of listening to me a few times.
"Hmm, this is confusing. I've never met a guy like that. Kakashi, a little help here," she said.
"Well, I think I know who it is, but I'm not going to jump to conclusions. So, have you ever thought why he didn't exactly treat you like a friend? Maybe you were so popular among the other ninjas that he didn't even bother to compete for your attention. You were alone at the lake, correct?" Kakashi said
"Yeah," I answered.
"He saw his chance and decided to talk to you like a friend," Kakashi simply replied.
"But, but how do I know if he has feelings for me or not?"
"These things take time. You'll soon find out. I went through this stage when I was your age, don't worry about it," Misaki said.
"You sound like Mother."
"Ha ha, now get outta here and talk to him."
She shooed me from Kakashi's apartment and shut the door in my face. I walked slowly back to the lake and thought about what she had said. These things take time. I sat by the shore of the lake. All the couples had left and I watched the lanterns shimmer in the lake alone. I heard a rustle and saw Neji next to me, staring out to the lake.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey, mind if I join you?" he asked.
"No."
He sat down next to me and was quiet. I thought about what Misaki had said and finally decided to talk.
"Neji."
"Suki.."
"Never mind."
We had both spoken at the same time and my courage suddenly fled from me. We sat quiet again when finally, Neji began to speak.
"Suki, I want to talk to you."
"Yeah?"
"Well, tonight is the Festival of Love, right?"
"Yeah."
"And it is a tradition in your village to express your feelings to the one you love, right?"
"Yeah, what about it."
"I just wanted to tell you that."
He paused for a few seconds and my heartbeat began to gain speed.
"I..I like you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
AN: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Cough* Ahem..He finally said it!!! That stuck up loser finally said it!!!! And I had to stop it here!!!! Please REVIEW!!! And I'll continue to write.. If you review...