AN: Thanks to all for the nice reviews! :) I wish i could type faster so the story will be finished sooner! I'm dying to type the ending! Anywaya, hope you enjoy reading part one of this chapter! And please remember to review!
Chapter Five: Picking Peaches
Early the next morning, Anko met with Kakashi in a clearing. "I talked to Iruka and he said that he would do it. The dance is in five days. Remember, you have to ask Kurenai beforeAsuma does. But you have to be fast cause I think Asuma already knows about the dance. Anyway, I can't talk so I have to go. See you later!" With that, Anko disappeared and Kakashi went to go meet up with his team.
It was almost noon. Asuma, Team 10, Kurenai and Team 8 were still waiting for Kakashi and Team 7 to show up.
"This is so troublesome. We've been waiting for almost two hours and we have to work all day in the hot sun," Shikamaru complained.
"It's just like any other day, Shikamaru, be patient." Asuma said, but even he was getting edgy. Asuma was thinking about the opportune moment to ask Kurenai to the dance and the sooner today's mission was finished the sooner he could ask.
Kurenai stood patiently. But Kiba was bored, " Kurenai-sensei? Kurenai-sensei? When are we gonna do something? What are we doing today?"
"Shush Kiba. We'll start our mission soon," was the short reply from his teacher.
Suddenly, one of Kakashi's nin-dogs appeared and gave Asuma a note. Kurenai went to where Asuma was and they read the note. It said:
Dear Asuma and Kurenai,
My team is picking in the strawberry field so your teams can start without us. The nin-dog will probably be late giving this to you but you can ask him about it.
Thanks and Happy Picking,
Hatake KakashiAsuma bent down and asked the dog, "Let me guess, you got lost on the road of life." The dog shook it's head.
Kurenai tried. "A black cat crossed your path so you had to hunt it down and kill it." Again, the dog shook its head.
The dog turned to Kiba, barked and disappeared.
Kiba smiled, "He said that he had to make detours in the forest."
Asuma and Kurenai looked at each other. Then Asuma turned to the genins and cleared his throat. "Today's mission is: help pick fruits in the orchard."
The genins groaned and complained. "What kind of mission is that?" "How troublesome..." "Can't they pick fruits themselves?" "How is this gonna teach us to be better ninja?"
Kurenai interrupted their protests, "We'll just have a contest then. It'll be jounin teachers versus genins. First to finish their part of the orchard wins."
That got their attention. Ino asked, "What happens if we lose?"
Asuma scratched his chin, "Hmm...If you lose...then all of you will have to...have to..."
Kurenai finished for him, "Run 50 laps around Konoha."
Ino thought about it for a moment, then she declared, "But if you lose, then you and Kurenai-sensei will have to run 100 laps around Konoha!"
"Done," said Kurenai and Asuma the same time.
Five minutes later, the teachers and genins had divided the area in half. One half was the teachers' and the other half was the genins. With that done, the contest began. Kurenai and Asuma decided to work on each tree together while the genin team decided to split up and have one person in each tree.
Asuma let Kurenai climb up first. She grabbed hold of a branch and was up the tree. He slowly climbed after her. Out of the distance, they heard shouts of, "This is my tree!", "I saw it first!", and more verbal disagreements.The jounin teachers just continued to pick the peaches off the tree silently, not saying a word to the other. She's so focused, Asuma thought, I shouldn't bother her.
Half an hour and fifty, full baskets later (yes they work fast), Asuma finally broke the silence.
"You know what time it is?" he asked Kurenai, who was still picking at a quick pace.
She stopped and squinted towards the sky, "It's about noon I think. Why?" Surely he can't be tired, she thought, we haven't been working for very long.
"I think that we should get lunch. I know we haven't been out that long but we wasted almost two hours just waiting for Kakashi. And besides, I want to check out how much our genins have accomplished throughout this short period. I bet we're far ahead though," he blushed, embarrassed that he was actually competing with his students and enjoying it.
Kurenai smiled at him. He was so laid-back and yet fun to be around. She thought about how he acted around his house...he probably is even more laid-back at his home. Kurenai this is no time to be daydreaming! You're on a mission and he's right there, her head screamed. She snapped out of her trance. "Umm...sure," she answered.
Asuma smiled back, " Okay then, let's round up the animals err.... kids I mean."
She laughed and he smiled. Asuma jumped down from the tree and offered a hand to Kurenai. She took it and he helped her down. Once again, instead of letting go right away, Asuma held her glance. But this time, Kurenai looked away after only a few seconds. It's as if she doesn't want me to look into her eyes again, he thought, I don't understand why but her eyes are so...captivating. Maybe it's because of their colour. Crimson eyes that shine will intelligence. I'm, still holding her hand...she probably wants me to let go. He pulled his hand away and blushed, "Umm...sorry about that."
"It's okay. But....Asuma?"
"Yeah?" he asked, hoping that she wasn't going to say something like 'don't ever do that again'.
"Umm...we should go find them," she reminded him.
"Oh right," he answered. Oh great she probably thinks I'm forgetful or something now, he silently thought in his head.
So the two started through the orchard, looking for their teams but both didn't know what they should say to the other. Thus, slience stretched on throughout their walk.
All of a sudden, there was a familiar yell.
" Asuma-sensei! Kurenai-sensei! We have something to show you!" shouted Ino in her singsong voice.
The jounins turned around to see their students neatly gathered around them. Ino had a misheivious glint in her eyes.
"We got something for you," Ino stated, still smiling.
Kurenai and Asuma looked at each other, giving the other an 'oh no' type of look. Neither of the jounins really wanted to see what their students had gotten them. Finally Asuma decided to break the silence. "Okay then," he said, crossing his arms over his chest, "Show me and Kurenai what you guys got us." It can't be that bad...can it?
Ino smiled and drew the others in a small circle discussing something. Kurenai tried to eavesdrop but all she heard was, "This is so troublesome...", "Are y-you sure th-that K-Kurenai-sensei won't be an-angry with us?", "I want to do it! Let me! Let me!", " Anybody want some chips?"
Then, the group opened up and Ino walked up to them. "Okay, we'll give it to you," she said in her sweetest voice, "But you and Kurenai-sensei have to put on of your hands out." Asuma shrugged and Kurenai bit her lip. She seriously didn't want to know what they had to give them. But both teachers put out one hand. Kurenai put out her right and Asuma put out his left. Then, in a split-second, Ino whipped out something shiny and silver and then they felt a cold, hard metal against their wrists. Oh... My...God...They...They...
Cliffhanger!! I feel so bad but I had to update!! Sorry and please review! :D