By RequiemofDementia
Chapter Thirteen: Date, Date, Date
Airen shook her head, baffled, as she sat in the Hitomi estate. To say that the wedding had been unusual would be an understatement. She would never have been able to imagine Shinzui dressed for anything other then battle, if she had not seen it with her own eyes just then.
Riki sat across from her, sullen and silent as always, the same, dependable stone giant that he had always been. Next to Riki sat little Chie, the red on his cheeks clearly showing that he had something on his mind.
It did not take Airen long to figure out what that was, either. "It was a beautiful ceremony," she said softly. Little Chie nodded. "It's a pity that Hinata-chan wasn't there." Chie's blush grew, as he slowly nodded.
"Still going on about that?" Riki's eyes drifted to Chie slowly. "Just ask her already."
Chie's eyes went wide with shock, and he began to stammer again. "Oh… n… no, I… couldn't…"
"You can." Riki took a sip of the tea in front of him. "You should."
Chie looked towards Airen, who nodded slowly as well.
"A… alright…" And with that, the tiny ninja was gone.
Airen smiled a little, looking at Riki. "That was sweet of you, Riki?"
He looked up to her slowly, his voice soft. "Are you still here? I thought you had someone to ask as well."
Airen's cheeks flushed red.
Akamaru yapped, as Kiba faced off against Chie. "Stay away form Hinata-chan." His voice was ominous, as his eyes narrowed.
Chie's eyes lowered, but his soft voice held determination. "I am sorry, Kiba-kun, but I cannot do that."
"Is that so?" Kiba advanced on the little one, not scared at all of starting a fight of Hinata. He was not about to let someone just slip in and steal Hinata from right under his nose.
"Yes, Kiba-kun."
Kiba growled at how calm Chie remained, and then his hand balled into a fist. He pulled back, and then swung forward in a powerful punch.
Chie's tiny hand came up, pushing the hand off course faintly, causing Kiba to overbalance and fall forward. Chie sidestepped, so Kiba did not run into him as he fell. "Please, Kiba-kun, I do not wish to hurt you."
Kiba leapt up, growling again, as his foot lashed out towards Chie. He was not going to let this shy little thing beat him.
Chie ducked under the kick easily, his own foot slapping against the only foot that Kiba had on the ground. Once again, Kiba fell. "Please, Kiba-kun."
Kiba flipped back up to his feet, his eyes narrowed. What was happening here? How was this timid little thing beating him so easily?
The two squared off, and Kiba saw it then. In Chie's eyes, there was no anger or rage, only hope. That struck a blow to him. This was not a fight for Hinata in Chie's eyes.
"We are fighting over who gets Hinata-chan!"
Chie shook his head slowly. "We are not." Kiba took a step back. "We cannot decide who gets Hinata-chan. Only she can decide that. This is senseless violence."
Kiba stood there a moment longer, thinking on what Chie had said. And then he nodded. The boy's words had wisdom. "If she chooses you… treat her right." Kiba's voice was hurt, as he slowly walked off, leaving Chie alone to watch Hinata and Kurenai speak.
"Let go of me, baka!"
Riki did not let go of her, however. He carried her straight to her room, tossed her in, and then held the door shut.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I made Chie go ask, so I could get some peace and quiet. If I am going to get that, I need to make you ask too."
Airen's fists started to beat against the door. She was not going to be bullied into this.
"H… Hinata-chan?" Chie's voice was even smaller then usual, but it stopped Hinata in her tracks.
She turned to face him quickly, her eyes meeting his own before lowering quickly. "Yes, Chie-kun?"
And that was when Chie hit a small problem. He had not planned this far ahead. He stood across from Hinata, the tip of his toe slowly trailing through the sand, as he tried to think of something to say. "Y… you look lovely today."
Hinata blushed, as she smiled a little. "Thank you, Chie-kun. So do you."
Chie blushed as well.
Kurenai smiled a little at the scene. Two kids, both so timid and shy, trying to talk. It was very cute.
Riki had finally let Airen out of her room, after she had changed clothes and put on make up. "I'm not going to do this!" Airen said. Riki just grunted, as he pushed her out the front door, shutting it behind her.
She stood outside the Hitomi estate, having just been forced out of her own home. Now what was she doing to do?
With a sigh, she turned, and began to think about where she could find Iruka.
Hinata sat on a tree branch, as Chie walked under her slowly, his hands carefully folding another small piece of paper.
"You like origami, Chie-kun?"
Chie nodded slowly, as he looked up to her, a smile on his lips. "I do. I think… being able to create something so beautiful… using just paper… is a real talent." His cheeks flushed red, as he lowered his eyes again.
"You are very talented, Chie-kun. Your creations are beautiful."
He smiled timidly, as he looked up at her slowly. "One day, I hope to be talented enough to make something as beautiful as you."
Airen stood outside the door, nervously looking at her hands. How was she supposed to do this? What was she going to say? Maybe she just should not knock, and just go home.
The dilemma was solved for her, however, as the door opened from the outside, Iruka about to step out. "Oh. Hello, Airen."
Airen's cheeks held a blush, as she smiled. "Hello, Iruka-kun." She looked about quickly. "Lovely night."
"Yes," Iruka said softly. "Is that why you are still outside in it, and not asking to come in?"
Airen blushed a little more, her voice soft. "May I come in, Iruka-kun?"
Iruka smiled as he stepped back, letting Airen in.
"Baka."
"Hey!" Anko elbowed Riki firmly enough to send him tumbling from the chair. "I'm sharing, aren't I?" On the table before them, two small cups of sake waited.
Riki pulled himself up off of the ground, his eyes meeting Anko again. "That has nothing to do with it."
Anko decided it was easier to just elbow him again.
Hinata looked over at her house, and then back to Chie, a tiny little smile on her face. "Perhaps I can see you again some time, Chie-kun?"
His face was red, but he slowly nodded, his lips curled into a smile as well. "I would like that, Hinata-chan."
For a moment, silence stretched between the two, Chie's hands nervously folding paper, while Hinata steepled two fingers before her once again.
Then, Chie quickly leaned in, his lips meeting Hinata's cheek before he ran off into the night.
Hinata touched her cheek faintly, her smile spreading a little, before she turned towards the Hyuuga household.
Airen stepped out of Iruka's house with the faintest of smiles on her lips. It had been so easy! After dropping a few hints about it, she had finally just asked. And Iruka had said yes! She skipped down the road, giggling to herself softly.
Riki nudged Anko, knocking her off her chair, and then chuckled softly. She looked up at him. And then, uncharacteristically, he reached one hand down slowly, helping her back up.
Shinzui held Rei's hands in his own, a small smile on his lips. She smiled as well, as her eyes met his own. "I missed you, Shinzui-koi."
He smiled softly, his lips meeting her forehead gently. "We have a whole lifetime, Rei-koi."
Together, the two of them cuddled deeper into the thick blankets.
Author's notes.
The problem with a fluffy sister asking you to write a story is she demands fluffiness. Here is the first chapter to fulfill the fluffiness quota.
Chie and Hinata! It's so cute! Can we keep them!
Airen and Iruka! Her idea, don't ask me. I just make it work.
Riki and Anko! Drunk mischeif?
Rei and Shinzui, married at last! I did not do the wedding, because I don't know what a ninja wedding would be like. Those who ask nicely, IN REVIEWS! might manage to talk a story dedicated to the wedding out of me.
Enjoy!