Chapter 7 – A kiss below the lantern sky

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!!

His lips were soft. Luckily for Sakura he wasn't a sloppy kisser. If he was she would've quickly ran away from him. He deepened the kiss which sent tingling sensations up her spine. She was lost in the warmth of his passionate kiss. This also happened to be Sakura's first kiss. With a stranger on a festival night.

I wonder if Sakura knows that Sasuke-kun is kissing her right now…Ino thought.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked Ino as her face was full of concern.

Would I really tell this guy about what happened between me and Shikamaru? Oh well, who cares about that Shikamaru anyway. I should just tell! Ino thought.

"Well, before the Paper Lantern Night festival, I really liked this guy. I thought that he felt the same way too. And I told him how I felt about him. He didn't return my feelings! I'm so dumb and stupid!" Ino said tearfully.

The guy looked into her blue eyes sympathetically.

"Was this the heartbreak you were going on about earlier?" He asked gently.

Ino froze. Did she actually tell him about this before?

"Yeah, it is. I thought that this festival might cheer me up a bit," Ino said unhappily.

He wrapped his arms around her waist a bit tighter. "Are you still upset though?" He whispered.

Whoa, this girl has some problem. Heartbreak! I wonder what kind of a guy would actually hurt her? He thought.

"A little. He hurt me a lot." Ino whimpered.

Meanwhile…

"Kurenai? Can we take a break? I'm hungry," Asuma asked tiredly.

"Already? On missions, you last longer than this!" Kurenai said teasingly.

Asuma looked around the square. Not that many people were dancing anymore. Many people were eating, some probably went home (when the festival started, many people were dancing and most were tired at the end of the last song) and some were just hanging out and chatting casually with friends.

"Please Kurenai?" Asuma pleaded.

Kurenai laughed. "How can I resist that smile?"

"You can't resist!" Asuma said proudly and they both laughed quietly.

Asuma took Kurenai's hand and they both walked to the refreshment table for something to eat.

"I'm so sorry Chouji! What do I have to do to pay you back?" Naruto said quickly.

Chouji was furious. All of Naruto's rice, vegetables and meat were all over his father's kimono. His father was going to kill him and probably roast him for dinner! Why? Because Chouji's mother had sewn it as a present for his father's birthday and since his old kimono wouldn't fit him, he had to sneak into his father's room one night and take it. His father had many other kimonos and probably didn't know that his favourite one was missing.

"Naruto? Do you know how to sew?" Chouji asked impatiently.

"Chouji! Of course I don't! Why? Do you want me to sew you a kimono?!" Naruto replied rudely.

"Umm…Naruto-kun? I can teach you how…if you want to learn," Hinata said gently.

Naruto and Chouji turned around to see Hinata blushing like mad. "What'd you say Hinata?" Naruto asked with confusion.

Hinata blushed harder. "Nothing Naruto-kun,"

"Iruka, what do you think about me?" Anko asked.

Iruka started to cough at that moment. What do I think of her? Actually, what do I really think of Anko anyway?

"Iruka?"

"I think you're a great person Anko and you have a sparkling personality!" Iruka quickly blurted out.

Anko scowled. I meant, what you think of me as in a relationship! Gosh Iruka, hanging out with kids too much really does permanently damage your love life!

This might have been Sakura's first kiss, but it was one of the best! His lips were so soft and she never wanted the kiss to end. But it had to sometime. He parted away from her and opened his eyes. She also opened hers.

He smiled. "Good night stranger, I want to see you again soon," He said and then quickly kissed her cheek.

Sakura was left standing alone speechless. Two kisses in one night! She really wanted to hear those words and she also wanted for the both of them to stay below the lantern sky but it was getting dark. I wonder if I should tell the others tonight at Ino's sleepover? Thinking of the sleepover, what time is it anyway?

Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Was it the guy who got ice cubes and water all over his head? Sakura hoped that it wasn't! She turned around and saw TenTen!

"TenTen!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Who else would it be?" TenTen said with a smile.

"Look Sakura, it's nearly midnight and we have to find Ino and Hinata so we can actually get to Ino's house for the sleepover! I want to hear all the juicy details about all the guys you all danced with!" TenTen said squealing with delight.

"How am I meant to get Ino to stop dancing when she looks like she's in heaven right now?" Sakura asked pointing to Ino and her dance partner.

"Simple!" TenTen answered confidently.

What exactly was TenTen planning on doing? Other guys had asked Ino to dance with them, but Ino gave them all the cold shoulder. That's probably how much she liked him. Even though she had no idea who he was because of their masks.

TenTen walked over to where Ino was dancing and whispered into her ear. Ino then got a shocked look on her face, but then it softened a bit.

TenTen than ran over to where Sakura was standing with a stunned look on her face.

"What just happened?" He asked.

Ino turned to him with an unhappy look. "I'm sorry that I can't explain to you. But something just came up!"

Ino then struggled out of his firm grasp and ran away from him.

Shikamaru just stared at the girl that just ran away from him.

Was that for real? Or was it just planned right now? Shikamaru thought.

Ino ran towards TenTen and Sakura.

"I can't believe that you got her to stop dancing with him!" Sakura exclaimed.

TenTen smiled her cheekiest smile. "Believe it now Sakura!"

Ino stepped in between the both of them. It was already bad enough that she had to leave him just to play hostess at her sleepover party. But listening to your friends talk about how they got you to stop dancing with the guy of your dreams was not funny business.

"Can we find Hinata already so we can go to my house for the sleepover?" Ino asked impatiently.

Sakura and TenTen stopped talking and looked over to Ino who had an annoyed look on her face.

Sakura smiled at her. "Sure Ino,"

"Hinata, I really thought that I heard you say something," Naruto said and rushed over to Hinata.

Hinata blushed as he looked into her eyes. She was still getting used to Naruto being so loving and caring. He was the sweetest guy that she knew.

"Naruto-kun, its nothing," Hinata whispered softly.

Naruto smiled gently at her.

"Is there something wrong Anko?" Iruka asked nervously.

Just then, when he told Anko that she was a terrific person with a sparkling personality she changed. She refused to look him in the eye, she ignored him when he tried to start a conversation, and she stepped on his foot to try to make him look like a fool. What was wrong with her?

Anko scowled again.

"I don't feel like dancing right now Iruka," Anko snapped and walked away from him.

Iruka was left standing there with a confused look on his face. What had just happened?

Gai saw this hilarious scene and walked over to where Iruka was standing.

"Iruka, Iruka, Iruka, what did I just see right now?" Gai asked gleefully.

Iruka mumbled something but Gai didn't hear that.

"What was that? I didn't exactly hear that," Gai asked joyfully.

Iruka frowned. How Kakashi could put up with Gai's nosiness was beyond anyone's imagination. He was way too nosy! That's probably why he wasn't in a long term relationship with anyone.

"None of your business Gai!" Iruka snapped and walked away.

Lee had seen what happened and walked over to his instructor.

"Gai-sensei, you have many girlfriends, but not many friends, how come?" Lee asked anxiously.

Gai looked down and saw Lee's smiling face. He wasn't in the mood right now to answer that stupid question! Couldn't anyone tell by the irritated look on his face?

"Idiot!" Gai yelled and punched Lee on his nose which sent Lee flying in the air.

Hinata then saw Ino, TenTen and Sakura waving frantically at her. What was wrong this time? She looked at the sky. It had turned really dark and the moon was shining at its brightest this night. Was it time for the sleepover already? The sleepover! That's why they're waiting for me! Hinata thought.

"Naruto-kun, I have plans tonight and I'll see you soon!" Hinata said quickly and kissed Naruto on the cheek.

As long as its not plans to meet another guy Hinata, I'm not jealous! Naruto thought.

Hinata than ran over to Ino, TenTen and Sakura and they started walking back to Ino's house.

Kakashi finally managed to stop talking to Shizune as, Tsunade-sama needed her to help out with something. Kakashi was glad about that Tsunade-sama needed Shizune. Talking to her was like talking to Gai about youth and all those crazy things that Gai insisted that would help maintain youth.

Uchiha Sasuke started to make his way home from the festival now. He had kissed Sakura and got Hyuuga Neji mad. What could be better than that?

If Sakura found out that it was me kissing her, she'd probably never talk to me again, cos' I know that she's gotten over her crush on me…

"How long until we get back to your house now Ino?" TenTen complained.

Ino looked at the houses and shops that were around them. "Not that long TenTen,"

Sakura was still lightly blushing. Even thinking about that kiss made her go red.

Although, I really wonder who he was…

The girls continued to walk along the roads, but luckily they were able to see where they were going because of the many lanterns that lit up the streets.

They turned and Ino was looking through her kimono trying to find the house keys. It took her a while to find them and when she did, Sakura, TenTen and Hinata sighed with relief. If Ino hadn't found the keys, they'd be stuck outside in the dark!

Ino opened the door and they all ran in after Ino closed the door and locked it.

"Finally!" Sakura exclaimed.

Ino, TenTen and Hinata were in the guest room relaxing while Sakura stared showering

That guy that I danced with was so sweet! I wonder who he was though…TenTen thought.

"Hinata? Do you know who I danced with?" Ino asked softly.

Flashback

Hinata looked at the figure that was running towards her. It was Shikamaru and he looked troubled. What on earth would trouble him this time?

"What's wrong Shikamaru-kun?" Hinata asked when he stopped running.

"Ino told me that she likes me. But I told her that I already have a date for the festival and that l don't like her! This is troublesome! What do I do?" Shikamaru asked.

Hinata sighed. Ino trusted her and told her everything, Ino even told her that she confessed to him that she liked him, but he had told her that he already had a date for the festival. Right now, Ino felt like a thousand rocks had fallen on her and she felt that she'll never be able to recover from it.

Wounds will heal, the scars will fade, but the memories will last forever…Hinata thought.

Hinata looked up at Shikamaru. "Shikamaru-kun, she likes you but she feels heartbroken right now,"

"Can't you help me Hinata? I like her, but I don't know how to tell her yet!" Shikamaru pleaded.

Hinata smiled sympathetically at Shikamaru. "I know that I shouldn't be telling you this, but you know how Ino didn't want to go to the festival? She will be and she'll be wearing a red kimono with a lighter shade of red obi. Please don't hurt her again Shikamaru-kun,"

Shikamaru looked at Hinata happily. He would be able to tell her that he really liked her and cared so much for her at the festival.

"Thanks Hinata!" Shikamaru said and he ran off.

I wonder what will happen now that I told Shikamaru that she'll be at the festival and what type of kimono she'll be wearing? Hinata thought.

End Flashback.

Ino looked over to Hinata. Why was she so quiet? Ino knew that she was quiet, but not ever this quiet.

"I have no idea Ino, I mean with the masks and all," Hinata said quickly.

Ino looked disappointed but continued to stare out the window.

Hinata felt bad. She hated lying to people, especially to her best friends and Naruto. But she had to this time. Just this once.

TenTen had found a magazine hidden beneath some pillows and began reading it.

Sakura walked out of the shower wearing her pyjamas which consisted of white shorts and a blue singlet top as it was summer after all. Her hair was wet, but she used Ino's hair dryer to make it warm and dry.

"Ino? Are you still upset about what happened between you and Shikamaru-kun?" Hinata asked quietly.

Ino stopped staring out the window and looked at Hinata. She was still upset about it, but meeting that guy this night made her pain and anger disappear for a while.

"I'm still upset about it Hinata, but it doesn't bother me that much anymore," Ino replied gently.

Hinata was quiet for a while.

If Ino knew that she was dancing with the guy that broke her heart, she'd freak out! And if she found out that I told him that she'd be there, she'd never forgive me! Hinata thought.

TenTen looked up from the magazine that she was reading. Both Ino and Hinata were quiet. Weren't they just bursting to tell the rest about their night?

Sakura walked into the guest room where they would be having their sleepover party. She found a spot on one of the sleeping bags and sat down. This was going to be one long night!

Next chapter: Can you keep a secret?