A/N: Yeesh… I'm starting to consider starting up a Rika-Haters Club or Community or something. I mean, just about every reviewer wants her dead – and with a number of creative suggestions as to just how she dies too. o.o; But bless your crude imaginations… reading the reviews was a joy. Thanks so much for the support, people!
You know how it goes. You can skip this or read it if it concerns you or if you're nosey enough. :)Do tell me if you find it annoying and would rather me reply reviews at the end of the chapter instead of before it…
esther: Geeshh… I just melt when I see such long reviews.. :goes starry eyed: I'm so happy u enjoyed the fic. Sounded like you were having a good time reading it! Makes me feel all jumpy inside.. :)Is Rika related to Orochimaru? Well, obviously not. Orochimaru is nothing compared to her… He's evil, but she's on a whole different level! And about Naruto and Sasuke making out… Mitsuka may just jump in anyway and ask for a threesome. -.-; So you like Shika's scheming self? Well, this chapter may get you squealing fangirlishly again then.
Fortune Cookie Otaku: Fav list? Wahooo! I feel so special! And about the sensei's getting involved… ok, I'll have you warned not to expect too much, but I'll try to alter a few bits here and there in the ending just for you!
koori no tenshi: yesiree! Here it is!
ayuka-chan: no smile? Damn.. I feel so disappointed with myself now… Was Kakashi's appearance bad? Well, a little more sappiness in this chpt. Hopefully u've gotten over the near-death chpts… I mean, I watched, I wailed, and I wept. Neji almost… :gasp, sob: died! He had a friggin hole in his chest, for crying out loud! No, make that TWO holes!
Heh: My dear, you are just one of the many who want her dead. Join the club. :) Meh… should we all just start one? Buahahahaz… But maybe she ain't worth it…
FireDragonBL: Yay! More reviews from you! Glad you liked the chpts. And there will be just a little more Kakashi at the end of the fic. Patience:)
DotDotDotMan: Did I make you feel better? Waah! X) Your review made ME feel 20 times better too! Made me all smiley for the rest of the day. My family and friends were starting to wonder what was up with me… And your battle suggestions are rather interesting… I've got all these fight images in my head. But the fic's already written and done, so I can't change too much.. And oh, please, do cuss all you want. Let the brat and her bodyguards allow you some stress-relief. Let your anger flooooww…. I sound like some shrink now, don't I? And about the 'cold-guy-from-her-village' idea, as good as it was, the storyline's quite different. Trust me, Rika IS mad about Neji. Like, really truly is. XD
Maruku-Kenshin: I've been watching out for shinobis from other villages ever since I read your review. I think I'm getting paranoid. Keep seeing all these shadows running around. And just found a Kunai pinned against my bedroom door a few days ago telling me to update or else. o.o; Hehez, thanks for the review!
KawaiiMisha-san: Wah? Lucky for you, there's almost no Mitsuka in this chpt. But I warn you to just wait for the upcoming updates… Poor Sasuke's in for it. :clutches head: Wahh.. I get so stressed just thinking about what MY OC would do to Sasuke… Meeeeh!
Thlaan the Badger/Spork-Loving Gennin: Whoa, you're almost as organized as Shika.. got the whole Kill-Rika plan thought out. :looks at Jim Carrey: Mmm… nicely done…
brrt: Ooh, my friend, your perceptive skill are amazing. Now, will the story turn out as you have predicted, or will it not? There's only one way to find out, isn't there? But really, I almost choked when I read you review. I was like, "Just who the hell gave it away? Was it me? Did I bloody say something to let the whole thing slip up?" Hehez.. Keep guessing! Oh, but don't guess too much. Cuz it's always nice to be surprised, ne? For all you know, you may get surprised that it turns out as you predicted! MAY…
YoungSasuke: Wahh… I feel so bad for what me as the fanfictionist is doing to my beloved Sasuke… The poor boy. I drag him through the darnest things, don't I:throws a few teddybears and chocolates into the apple crate:
Sakura Uchiha Sasuke: Ooohoo.. I love you for loving the fic… Yes, Kakashi IS an idiot. But he's such a hot one… Heherz
shinjowy: Ah, we all want Rika dead, don't we? Really, I am seriously considering starting a Rika-Haters Club…And Neji and TenTen sure need a lot of comforting… Neji somewhat gets his share here…X)
marshmellowgang: Oh, she doesn't need exercise. What she needs is to get torched on a stand for all the world to see… :joins your angry mob: Like I've said before.. that Rika-Haters Club is very tempting…
hujin: Rika in croc-infested waters? That is simply disastrous! Your right… how would the poor crocs feel? I mean, we're talking about Rika here. I think the 'ten-meter-radius' thing applies for them too, ne? XD
RedLotusNin and IceHunterNin: Mah… everyone's reminding me about how I torture Neji and Sasuke. It's not me! Really! It's that damn Rika! I'm not gonna write about the camp though, but there WILL be references towards the end. And damn, your eating/swimming rules almost killed my pea-sized brain.. hehez.
TimeShifter: As I've mentioned before, the fic is completed… sorta. And I didn't make any reference to the Kyuubi, though you have stuck it into my head as a smart idea. But I'm rather inexperienced with the fox…X) Omigosh.. I was just about to type out the ending and how the story turns out. Darn you! Unconsciously influencing me… :mumble grumble:
boredathome: Gyah! Such a nice long review from yah! But c'mon, with Rika as an OC, it's too easy to categorize her as evil. I mean, Orochimaru could stand next to her and look like an angel.. o.o And about Tsunade's part in this, I'll have you relieved to know that she definitely did not approve of the trip Rika has planned, but she had to go along with it in order for the marriage to happen, the Leaf and Mist villages to be closer, and for this whole stupid plot to work out… XD But if you want Tsunade's chip in on the whole thing, just wait till the end of the fic. She starts making smart choices. Hmm.. better try not to give too much out..
Kaeru Soyokaze:gazes in awe at your pose: I…I want to join you in your quest to save the bishies! Save them all! May Rika DIE! Hmm.. getting rather emotionally repulsed by my OC…
Kumori: Oh oh oh! I read your review and suddenly got all pressurized to post this next chpt. So here it is! I'm so glad you're looking forward to it! Thanks for reviewing!
Millie-chan: Yes, I am rather proud at how just about every reader desires to stick a knife into my OC. And now that my life is on the line, it IS best for me to make sure Rika suffers, isn't it?X) For the sake of Neji, Sasuke, me and all of humanity, I do think it is best if she dies. XD
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Right! I have wasted enough of my time and your energy used to scroll down the page. So on with the fic!
Wedding Crashers
Chapter 6: Crashers Unite
The next evening, the boys watched as the girls loaded their luggage into the back of the van.
"I can't believe we really can't get out of this." Ino wept as she clambered into the vehicle, "Sasuke-kun is so… unsafe."
"Sasuke, Naruto, don't forget me! I'll be back!" Sakura cried and waved a handkerchief dramatically at her two teammates, who just stared questioningly back at her.
Rika laughed as she latched on to Neji's neck, "Haha… I finally get rid of you useless annoying creatures."
TenTen dumped her bag into the boot and slammed the door shut, then silently climbed into the van.
Neji stood there, watching his female teammate board the van, having not missed the tear he saw slip down her face. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, before clenching his fists and growling through gritted teeth, "Get off me." He flung Rika away and leapt off at ninja speed.
"NEJI!" Rika looked around, but saw no sign of him. "Where did he go?"
The van drove off, and the other boys waved the girls away.
"Far, far away." Naruto said without turning his head to face Rika, then disappearing to go after Neji.
Rika glared at the direction blonde had left.
"Away from you, that is." Sasuke said bluntly, and vanished along after Naruto.
Rika felt her face boil.
-
Naruto and Sasuke had followed Neji's trail, and they ended up on top of one of the rocky heads of the four Hokages. Neji was standing at the edge of the earthy cliff, looking down at the sun setting over the village, casting its orange glow over city's shallow buildings. His feet were merely two steps away from the drop-off.
"NO! NEJI! DON'T DO IT!" Naruto cried, "SUICIDE IS NOT AN OPTION! WE CAN HELP YOOUUU!" He ran up to Neji and latched on to the older boy, preventing any movement.
Neji craned his neck back and glared at the blonde, "What are you screaming about? And let me go."
"Let him go, you idiot." Sasuke walked up to them, "He's not jumping."
"Oh," Naruto let go, "You're not?"
"Thank you for caring." Neji said icily and stared back at the sun, not letting the scowl slip from his face.
"Well that didn't sound very genuine." Naruto mumbled and looked down at the village, "Bearing in mind that I could have had saved your life if you were committing suicide."
Neji sighed, "Trust me, I was considering it."
Sasuke thought back about a certain blonde bodyguard, and made what he decided was a very wise commitment, "If you're jumping, I'm coming along."
"Wah?" Naruto gaped, "Not you too! Well, if you both go, then…then I'm jumping too!"
"You're just saying that cuz you feel left out." Sasuke mocked knowingly, earning a sniff from Naruto.
"Ha. I can see it in the papers." Neji chuckled, "Three Bodies Found Dead in Front of Hokage Head Sculptures" He drew the imaginary newspaper headlines in the air with his hands.
Sasuke mischievously added, "Bodies are identified to be runaway bridegroom, an genius clan's last associate, and dead-last idiot. Idiot was found to have no brain, as expected."
"Haha… Idiot…… Which one of us is that?" Naruto laughed, then stopped. By process of elimination, he finally answered his own question in his head, "HEY!"
Neji and Sasuke laughed at him.
Neji looked down at the ground far below them, walking slowly to the edge of the cliff, "I… I don't think I can live with this."
"H-Hey… you're not really gonna jump, are you?" Naruto stiffened.
"Wait for me…" Sasuke walked up, sounding a little serious.
Naruto glared, "You're not suppose to be encouraging him!"
"Don't be stupid, you two." Neji stepped up to the tip of the cliff and sat down, letting his feet dangle off the edge.
"Phew…" Naruto breathed out in relief and knelt down next to Neji, "You were saying?"
"…I can't take this anymore. She… She's just so…" Neji paused for words.
"Bitchy?" Naruto suggested.
"Snobbish?" Sasuke offered.
"Leachy?"
"Obstinately obsessive?"
"Irritating beyond all measure?"
"Egocentric and brattish to the core?"
"Impossible and murderous to live with?"
"Damned to be the bane of all human existence?"
"Distasteful, gross, stomach-upsetting and excessively oily? Oh wait… that was the disgusting prawn soup I ordered yesterday… Meh, sounds like her anyway…"
"Easy to skin, slaughter, dice up into 42 pieces, burn and then bury deep within the most unfathomable trench of the earth?"
"Pes- Why 42?"
"It's the numbers of the letters from the order of the alphabet which spell the word 'bitch' all added together. Like, A is 1, B is 2, etc. So add 2, 9, 20, 3 and 8 all up and you get 42."
"Oh… that's pretty smart… Oh yea," Naruto turned back to Neji, "What about pesty, loud, annoying, bothersome and sickening all shoved together in one package?"
"Hey, they kinda sounds like you…" Sasuke teased.
"SHUDDUP!"
Neji laughed, "Yea, all of what you guys said, and worse. I was going for distressingly crushing and overwhelmingly suffocating."
He allowed his face to fall as he drew circles on the sandy ground. The boys heard him softly say, "It's… too soon. Tomorrow. Less than 24 hours away… Naruto, I know you said that fate isn't always the one in charge. But this time I've been given a one-way road." He paused and then whispered hoarsely with clenched fists, "…How am I gonna get out of this one?"
It was then that Naruto had it set in his heart that he was going to help his friend out. Though he and Neji weren't exactly the closest of the lot, a friend was a friend, and Naruto had never and would never let one down. It was his way of the ninja.
"With our help." Naruto said softly. "Trust me."
Neji looked at the blonde in surprise, then sighed hopelessly, wishing the sun wouldn't set and so the next day wouldn't come.
The three ninjas continued gazing down at the peaceful village, silent and lost in their own thoughts, until the red sun finally vanished beyond the dark horizon, only to await its rising to signify the beginning of the coming morning.
-
"This is it!" Naruto walked in front of Shino, Kiba, Chouji, Shikamaru and Lee, who were seated and having their dinner at a local restaurant, and stamped his foot on the bench.
"What do you want?" Shikamaru asked in his usual dull tone, pushing Naruto's foot away from next to him and off the bench.
Sasuke walked casually up to them while Naruto continued his speech, "We have got to help Neji. The wedding is tomorrow and we can't let it happen! This is our friend in peril! We must do something to save him! He may be lost forever to the personified cup of poison named Sokake Rika! He may not survive! We have got to-"
"In short, we gotta crash Neji's wedding." Sasuke calmly summed up.
"EXACTLY!" Naruto yelled, causing the other diners in the restaurant to stare.
"Would you keep it down?" Kiba whispered roughly at Naruto.
"NO! I mean…" Naruto dropped his volume and whispered as fiercely as he could manage, "No! How can we just sit aside and watch our friend get married to some bratty nutshell? We gotta hatch a plan!"
"Man," Shikamaru slurped up his soup, "How bothersome are you? Haven't we discussed this before? We've been hatching so many plans and none have worked."
"That's cuz you don't put any effort into it!" Naruto pointed at Shikamaru, knowing well how the lazy boy was really a genius at strategy.
"Hush!" Lee said, "Look, you really wanna talk about this, I think we should go to some place where people can't hear us. Everyone in the village knows about the wedding, so talking about crashing it is definitely going to get some people interested."
"Oh. Ok…" Naruto whispered in reply to the older boy. Eyebrows did have a point.
The boys finished their dinner and they made their way to a dark deserted alley.
"Okay, what do you want, Naruto?" Shika asked in annoyance.
"Crash Neji's wedding!" He said firmly.
"And how are you planning to do that?"
"I... don'tKnowAndThat'sWhyI'mAskingYou." Naruto said quickly.
"You sure we can't kill them?" Sasuke inquired for confirmation.
"YES." The other boys chorused.
"Oh, but how satisfying it will be…" Kiba relished the idea.
"Shika, we're asking you cuz I know you're real smart with some high IQ thing, so come on, think of something already!" Naruto pestered him.
"I don't even know Neji that well…" Shika mumbled, getting nods of agreement from Kiba and Chouji.
Lee got serious, "But even so, he's my teammate. And I'm not letting my rival get stolen by some annoying girl. I'm in." He said to Naruto.
"Well, he's not our teammate." Chouji reasoned.
Naruto closed his eyes for a while, then opened them and looked up at his friends, the pools of sapphire seeming to glow intensely "Guys. This isn't some small thing. He's getting married. It means he'll be living with someone he doesn't love for the rest of his life, and had no say in it. It means crushing the part of his life where he could be having fun at the age we're in, or doing more missions, or sparring and winning other genins. And it's unfair to him, and to whoever else loves him. And it can really break a person. He's broken enough already and us as his friends are here to glue him back together again. This marriage is just going to tear him apart more." Naruto clenched his fists, "I say we crash it."
The boys stared at him, "Whoa… that was the deepest shit, Naruto." Kiba said, then smiled, "Crash it, eh? Sounds like fun. Count me in!"
"Me too!" Chouji grinned.
Shino gave a thumbs up.
Shikamaru sighed, "Ok, ok… I'm in too. And I've already got the perfect plan to boot the bitch. It's one hell of a plan, so it took a few days to evaluate. But it'll only work if we ALL pitch in and do it right."
"Ha. I knew you were thinking of one from the start! You were just waiting to see if we all were gonna agree to helping Neji!" Naruto grinned. "So we're all in?"
The boys looked at each other and nodded their affirmatives.
Sasuke smirked coolly, "Let's go crash this wedding."
A/N: Yes, Shika was planning it all the time. The genius' mind had been working away from the very start, and he was just waiting to see if the other were even in on helping Neji out. The strategist he is….
And how did you like that Neji/Sasuke/Naruto sappiness? Aww… they're so funny together!
-sylver