/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/

Chapter 2

A Waitress's Admirer

"So, anyway, where are we going to eat?" Rei asked as they walked down Konoha's streets. There were people hurrying by, going into shops, and kids running around. There was a mix of good smells coming from nearby food stands. This was the place where they grew up, they grew up with these familiar faces, with the hyper kids. Nothing could compare to their peaceful village.

"Well, we can go to that place up the street. I hear that theres an all-you-can-eat buffet there!" Masura suggested, pointing ahead of them.

"That sounds fun! I'm in!" Jin said, sniffing the air. Everything seemed to be twice as good, now that they were shinobi.

"Ok, me too!" Rei piped up. There then was an uncomfortable silence. Wait,

…Something evil is going to happen! I know this silence she thought.

"I was wondering when you guys are going to couple up! I mean, now is the best time as ever! Seeing that Jin here is already about to go on a date tomorrow! Aren't you the least bit jealous, Rei? That girl is moving in on your guy!" Hizume taunted.

"BAKA!" both Jin and Rei hit him with a vicious punch to the head.

"You seriously think I want him? He's too stupid for me," Rei said, with a nerve mark and crossing her arms.

"Besides, she's too bossy and scary for me," Jin said shrugging. Hizume started rubbing his head. Man, that actually hurt.

"Hehe, I knew that'd happen. I won the bet," Masura said, nudging his twin. Hizume grunted as he gave him a couple of coins. Next time, I'm going to do worst if he brings up anything like that! And they call themselves chuunins? Rei thought, rolling her eyes.

When they made it to the restaurant, Rei looked up at the title.

"Chikoya Dinesty? What kind of place is this?" She asked, astonished at how huge the place seem to be as they crept forward into the tall building.

"Dunno! Never been here!" Hizume said joyfully, folding his arms behind his head. Jin and Rei slowly turned their heads to him and Masura.

"I thought you guys said that this place had great food!"

"Well, that's what we heard!" Masura said defensively. Just as Jin was about to throw another retort at him, a waitress calmly came over in an apron, had brown hair that softly rested on her shoulders, and narrow looking eyes with an upside-down red triangle resting on both of her cheeks. She walked toward them at the entrance, smiling at them.

"Excuse me, is this a party of four?" The waitress asked politely. Now thinking of it, thought Hizume, she IS kind of….cute. As he was thinking this he nervously nodded, blushing.

"Now may I show you where your seats are?" She asked, not noticing how nervous he looked.

Hizume just nodded, now daring to look up again. As the waitress started walking through a maze of tables and chairs filled with people, Hizume shuffled his feet. Masura looked over at him, immediately knowing something was going on with him.

"Hey, something wrong?" Masura whispered to him, softly nudging him on Hizume's side. He didn't answer back, but just looked at him as if all his worries suddenly lifted. Masura looked take-a-back and just gulped, deciding so ask him again when they sit down. Rei and Jin exchanged looks off curiosity and worry.

"Here is where your table is, just ring that bell over there," the waitress pointed to a bell at the end of the table, " and I'll come right away to take your order!" She finished, leaving with a smile. Everyone shifted into the seats. Jin sitting with Rei on the right and Masura on the left. When Hizume didn't sit down right away, they noticed him staring at the waitress shuffling through the maze of tables once again.

"Hey, Hizume, you okay?" Masura asked, arching an eyebrow. Hizume nodded as he took his seat next to Hizume.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you have a thing for the waitress!" Jin said, taking his revenge. As he said this, Hizume perked his head up in shock, blushing.

" Is it really that obvious?" He nervously asked.

"Bro, I know you like the back of my hand!" Jin said while showing him the back of his hand to prove it.

"Oh, you don't think she hates me do you? Did you see how she just left in such a hurry like that? Maybe it's something I said?"

" Uh, hate to brake it to yah but you DIDN'T say anything!" Rei said emphasizing on the last half of her statement. Hizume surprisingly took it really bad and started digging his fingers into his head.

"I knew it! That's why she already hates me!" At this, Masura nervously smiled, sweat-dropping at him.

"Hey! Don't sweat it! I think she probably thinks it's cute!...Yah!" he said, patting his twin on the back gently.

"And this is coming from a person who has never dated or even DANCED with someone in his whole life?" Jin asked, causing Rei to chuckle.

"Oh yeah! I'd feel MUCH better!" she added in sarcastically.

"Neither have YOU two!" Masura shot back. Jin looked at Rei and suddenly said, holding out a hand while imitating a lower tone, " Why, madam, would you care to dance?" Rei played in, " Why, dear! I'd be delighted!" she said, taking his hand as they very un-professionally danced around right beside the table.

" Hey! That doesn't count!" Masura crossly said.

"Guys, should I go ask her what her name is?" Hizume asked sounding helpless.

"I think you should ask her on a DATE!" Rei said as her and Jin sat down in their seats once again.

"Bu-but, that'd be UBSURD!"

"Woah! What's with the big words?" Masura asked.

"Don't talk about her so carelessly!"

" Hizume, you don't have to be so…so protective!" Jin said picking up the menu. Hizume blushed at the thought of being protective about her, and instead of saying something else, decided to pick up the menu and look for his order. Masura and Rei looked at each other and shrugged as they picked up their own menus.

After a while there was a scary-ishly long silence. As the seconds drew on by, the silence got thicker. Everyone at that table became more and more uncomfortable until Jin gathered the guts to talk, trying not to upset Hizume again.

"Uh…so is everyone done yet?" He asked nervously. Everyone just decided to nod and Rei reached for the button, pressing it. There was a soft ring and the waitress started scuffling toward them once more. She picked out a small pad and pen.

"So, what will your order be?" She asked. Masura answered with his order, followed by Jin and Rei's. As the waitress finished writing down Rei's order, she glanced up at Hizume. Hizume was tongue-tied. He wanted to ask her name, but he thought it may be rude. Masura softly nodged Hizume. He whispered in his ear, "Yoh, she wants your order…you know? The food you want from the menu?" Apparently, something clicked in Hizume's mind as he suddenly softened his face into a smile.

" Sir? May I please have what you want?" She asked not really knowing what he was thinking. Is he going nuts? Or is it some disease?... must be very emotional she decided.

"May I know your name?" Hizume asked in his sweatest tone. This made the girl chuckle.

"Hana, yours?"

"Hizume,"

"So….what's your order again?"

"Oops, I'm sorry, I completely forgot to tell you when you told me your beautiful name, unlike mines,"

"Oh, I wouldn't completely say that!" Hana said, chuckling again at his last comment. As this conversation continued, Jin whispered, "When did Hizume come up with this stuff?" Masura shrugged, equally puzzled.

"Maybe you rubbed off on him," Rei whispered back. Jin sweat-dropped and then shrugged, "Well, one thing is for sure, we won't get our order for a while until they realize that the world won't wait around forever." Rei nodded, also sweat-dropping.

"A-men to that, bro," Masura said, agreeing with Jin.