NARUTO'S FIRST DATE CHAPTER 14
It seemed winter already started announcing its arrival. Leaves and grasses started changing color into a shade of yellow, red, orange and brown. The weather was starting to get chilly and the temperature was decreasing. Even though the weather was very suitable for sleeping on your room with heater (which Shikamaru did). Uzumaki Naruto was out here, in the middle of the training ground, with his teammate Sakura and his teacher Kakashi. He was so lost in thought he was practically forgot why did he end up here, since this was the first day off for the Konoha Five members.
He was sitting on a nearby rock, simply not participating on the training. He was thinking about a certain gorgeous brunette. His beautiful silken hair, his deep, untouched eyes, his magnificent pale white sking and his eye-catching handsome face. Further more, that voice Naruto adored... the way he called his name...
Naruto...
Naruto...
"Naruto!"
"UWAAAAAH!" Naruto was snapped out from La-la Land rather roughly. Neji's gentle voice in his mind turned into Kakashi's loud shout.
"K-Kakashi-sensei! What are you doing?" he snapped angrily.
"I'm supposed to be the one who ask you that, Naruto..." Kakashi 'tsk tsk'-ed and put his hands on his hips. "We're in the middle of training... and you're daydreaming..." The jounin rolled his visible eye.
"... huh? I-I am?" Naruto pointed to himself dumbly.
"Yup, and you muttered a long line of pathetic 'why it wasn't me'... and I don't get it clearly but I heard a name started with 'N—"
"Awawawawawawawa!" Naruto flailed his arms frantically, trying to shut Kakashi up and kept the truth sealed from Sakura's curious ears.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"N-nothing! I-I'll be going home! It IS my first day off!" Naruto rose to his feet and strode past the confused Kakashi.
"Then why did he come here in the first place?" Kakashi scratched his head. But he shrugged and took his favorite porn book from his pocket. "Sakura! Keep on!"
Now, where was I?ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Wrapped in a thick sweater in his favorite color, shocking orange. A handmade maroon scarf he got from Iruka encircled on his neck, long dark blue pants with pockets on each side of its thigh and a pair of dark blue gloves that match his pants, Naruto was officially annoyed. He stomped along the streets to his favorite place, Ichiraku ramen.
That Kakashi-sensei! Why doesn't he just butt away from my love life! Further more, said it aloud! Where should I put my face if Sakura hear it? he thought grumpily.
As if fate was working to make him screwed today, the blonde heard a chorus of high-pitch girly squeal and thundering sounds of mob. Convinced by that smoke he could see from afar, he started pondering what happened when a pair of hand grabbed his scarf and pulled him into a warm chest.
"Ssssh!" Uchiha Sasuke put his finger in his lips in anticipation.
"S-Sasuke? What the—"
"SSSSHHH! Be quiet and play along!" Sasuke shushed and ordered the frowning blonde.
"What do you—" Naruto was practically confused, at least after he heard those high-pitch scream approaching.
"SAAAASSSUUUUKEEE-KUUUUUNNNNN!" definitely Sasuke's mob of fangirls.
Naruto smirked as he saw the terrified expression on Sasuke's face and decided that he will help. He wrapped his arms around Sasuke's neck and smiled seductively.
"Well... you've promised me a date today, haven't you, Sasuke-chan?" Naruto added a purr on his voice, rubbing circles on The Uchiha's back.
The crowd gaped their mouths at the scene.
Sasuke took the sign and smirk. He wrapped an arm around the blonde's waist, pulling their bodies closer. "I'm sorry, sweetheart... I met... hindrance..." Sasuke spoke in a low, slow tone. He touched their foreheads together.
"I promise I'll make up for it..."
"S-Sasuke, haven't we gone too far?" Naruto spoke slowly from the corner of his mouth.
"It's okay, just until they butt off..." Sasuke whispered, before he leaned and brushed his lips against Naruto's slightly frozen one.
Chaos ensued on the mob of fangirls. Jaws dropped to the ground, a few fainted with face as white as a corpse and the others screamed in terror. And Naruto felt like he needed one too. Before all of them practically ran away, exclaiming that they're hallucinating and they needed sleep.
After the street was deserted from any fangirls ever existed in this world, Naruto, even when he still in a state of shock, let out a loud laugh. Crackling while clutching his stomach. Sasuke on his side was laughing too.
"Did you see their faces?" Naruto squeezed out.
"Yeah! It's... amusing!" Sasuke covered his mouth with his hand, trying to camouflage his laugh.
After a while, both of them calmed down after took a few deep breaths.
"... Thanks..." Sasuke muttered.
"No problem, only next time... no kiss!" Naruto said strictly. He wiped his lips with his hand.
Sasuke just merely shrugged. "Hey... why don't we have a real date? Now after all of this..."
Naruto wrinkled his nose, nervous. "Well—I..."
"NARUTO!" A loud voice called the blonde's name, cutting his sentence. A blur came hurtling at him before he felt a hand with familiar sharp nails grabbed his own, and pulling him rather roughly, away from Sasuke.
"Oh-HEY!" Sasuke wanted to subdue the 'kidnapper' but he was already late for training. He spat and continued his way to training ground, where Kakashi and that large forehead were waiting.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Naruto and whoever it was turned sharp into a rather dark and deserted street. They halted abruptly, but the 'kidnapper' (now Naruto noticed he was hooded) didn't released Naruto's now slightly raw hand.
"LET GO!" Naruto yanked his hand away. "Just who the hell—"
"I. saved. you!" the other one pulled down the hood to reveal Inuzuka Kiba's face.
"You—KIBA !" Naruto pointed a disbelieving finger at the dog-boy.
"Oh no, I'm Orochimaru can't you see? OF COURSE I'M KIBA! WHO THE HELL DID YOU THINK I AM? BAKA!" Kiba bonked the blonde on the head.
"OW! ITTAI! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" Naruto bellowed.
Kiba, clad in deep gray hooded jacket with those trademark fur on its sleeves, it was zipped halfway to reveal his dark green vest. Long brown baggy pants completed his appearance, he just sighed at his friend's behavior. Arguing with him is not a wise thing to do... he rolled his eyes.
"Well you see— I saw you and Uchiha... kissed, haven't I? And I know it clearly that you didn't fancy it... and if I let you... YOU COULD BE HARRASED! OR EVEN FURTHER MORE! HE COULD'VE –beep- YOU! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT? YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL!"
"Fine... hey, what's that?" the blonde pointed at Kiba's other hand, who held a small red package with blue ribbon tied around it.
"Oh, this?" suddenly Kiba looked clumsy. He blushed when he showed Naruto the package, in a shape of heart. "Hehehehehe, you see... it's from Neji, we—"
But Naruto didn't catch the rest of it, in his ears it was just a random buzzing sound. His brain has just vaguely remembered that this boy had a special relationship with Neji right now. Neji. And he remembered that the reason he went to the training ground even though it was his day off was to avoid meeting with this dog-boy. Who'd love to visit him in his house, invited him to a morning walk or something similar. He didn't want his feelings for Neji overwhelmed him and made him mad at the dog-boy without a proper reason. It'll surely destroy their friendship. Yes, he still considered Kiba a friend...
"—and so it's our first date today... oi, Naruto! You're listening, right?" Kiba snapped his fingers at Naruto's face.
"Huh—o-oh! S-sure... uum... g-good luck," he felt like digging a hole and dive in it without a need of coming out again.
"Thanks, buddy! Now—better get going!" and after that, Kiba gave the blonde a pat on his shoulder as a thanks and launched off to his meeting place.
Naruto slumped his shoulder with a heavy sigh. His mood to go to Ichiraku was demolished in an instant. Now, better get home... or maybe do something useful... maybe pay Neji a visit on the hospital?
Wait a minute.
If Neji was in the hospital, how could he date Kiba?
That brand new information struck Naruto. And as realization hit him, he made his way to the hospital fast, to make sure a certain brunette was still there, resting on his bed and not going out and dating a certain dog-boy.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
"NEJI!" Naruto shouted, forgetting all the fact that he was in hospital, as he slammed the door that lead to Neji's ward.
It was empty. The bed was unmade showing the occupant leaved rather hurriedly. He couldn't be in toilet since there was one in here... and Neji couldn't be on the ICU room since Naruto saw that Neji could be categorized as 'too healthy' to be in one.
So... Neji was really... Naruto sighed sadly and closed the door slowly it barely made a sound. Contrast with the way he opened it.
He dragged his feet along the hospital corridor. Feeling the need of going home grew stronger and stronger, he decided to obey it. The Kyuubi's vessel pushed the 'down' button on the lift and waited for the door to open.
7th floor... 6th floor...
"Naruto?" a voice called, certainly bewildered at Naruto's weird behavior. So un-Naruto...
Naruto turned his head rather lazily to right where the voice came, and his eyes widened in an instant.
"Neji?"
The Hyuuga made a 'Shhh!' warning similar to those Sasuke made. Neji was clad in peach colored jacket that he didn't bother to zip up, his thick, white shirt came into view. Contrast with his upper appearance, he wore dark blue and rather loose denim. And Naruto couldn't deny that he was totally gorgeous. Neji flicked his hand towards him, signaling Naruto to come closer near him.
Naruto ignored the opening lift and approached the Hyuuga, Neji looked to his right and left cautiously before gesturing Naruto to follow him upstairs, where the sheets was drying in the sun (A/N: that place where Naruto and Sasuke had a battle in the anime/manga).
"Thank goodness you're here, Naruto..." Neji said when they reached upstairs.
"Uh, yeah... you okay?" Naruto asked, gesturing to Neji's wound.
"Fine, Shizune-san did her job greatly!" Neji glanced down at his right thigh, where bandages covering his wounds were hidden beneath those fabrics.
"Great then," Naruto smiled broadly. "By the way Neji, shouldn't you rest?"
Neji blushed slightly. "Uh, well... I have something important to do."
"Is that date with Kiba, right?" Naruto said, rather mockingly.
Neji's eyes sent wave of curiousness to him. "What? How did you—"
"Humph, yeah I know! I overheard you guys yesterday!" Naruto said again, a little louder, he couldn't mask his jealous tone completely.
"So? What's with you and that snappy attitude?" Neji put his hands on his hips.
"I'm not snappy!" Naruto snapped. "Just... nah, not important..." he jammed his hands to his pocket. Still sulking.
"Naruto, something's clearly wrong, why don't you—"
"Nothing's wrong with me!" Naruto cut off harshly. "And you—why don't you just go off to that precious date with Kiba?"
"Just what the hell is wrong with you? Last time someone was out with Kiba didn't make you act like this!"
Naruto squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, before retorted back. "Because... because it—it wasn't YOU!"
"... what?" Neji blinked a pair of wide Hyuuga eyes.
"C-Can't you see? All of the time I had with you, all the blush and stutter and... and those jittery I always had!" Naruto took a deep breath.
Neji didn't blink, he also seemed forgot to breath.
"I... I-I like you, okay? You may think I'm a weirdo or freak... but this is the truth! I-I... on the beginning I didn't know what to do about this... and then that Kiba came in the picture and he said he'll help me! But now he's dating YOU? That's the biggest hit on my life! But you couldn't possibly understand how it is felt if your crush is dating someone else..."
"Don't speak as if you know everything..." Neji said, his expression neutral but his voice sent chill down Naruto's spine.
"What do you know?" Naruto whispered with a cracked voice.
"What do I know? Oh... perfectly everything!" Neji jammed his hands in his pocket. "I know PERFECTLY how people felt if their crush's going with others, since I WAS on the same position as you."
Naruto was speechless.
"... and I think... you should know the truth..." Neji added, his voice now softer.
"Truth?" Naruto echoed.
"Yes, about yesterday... about me, about us..." Neji shifted his gaze to the sky, took a deep breath before fixing his gaze back to his blonde company.
"You see, Naruto—"
Flashback"Hinata?"
"Yeah, I wanna date her!"
"NO YOU CAN'T! DATE HER AND YOU'LL REGRET YOUR MOTHER GAVE BIRTH TO YOU!--oouch..." Neji winced at the sudden pain, he clutched his thigh.
"Puh-lease!" Kiba clasped his hand, pleading.
"No! Never!" Neji said strictly. He gave Kiba an angry/murderous/scary glare.
"C'moooon... if you help me I'll set you a date with that crush of yours!" Kiba pleaded with his best puppy eyes, and since he hang around with dogs a lot, his puppy eyes were irresistible. (what the hell does that suppose to be mean...)
"Uuuugh..." Neji's wall of ice was starting to crumble.
"Neeeeeejiiiii... pwweeeezzzeeeee?" Kiba tugged at Neji's hospital gown.
"No, no, no, no..." Neji, being a good big brother as he was, preventing this dog-lover from dating his dearest, fragile cousin.
"Say yes or I'll spread a rumor about you who love to wear frilly lingerie!" Kiba blackmailed him.
"WHAT? YOU JUST CAN'T-----Aaaaaargh! Fine! Goddammit, you gave me deja vu!" Neji massaged his temple, memories of Naruto pleading at him like this came back to his mind.
"You're da best, buddy!" Kiba jumped and hugged Neji, he nearly kiss him, if Neji didn't smack his face with his mighty kettle.
"Get your stinky mouth away from my cheek!" Neji warned.
"Fuh-ine..." Kiba rubbed his abused nose. "So so so... what are things that Hinata like? What place does she like to visit? What is her favorite color?"
"Kiba... here." Neji gave the dog boy a box, wrapped in a red paper with blue-black ribbon around it. (A/N: remember something?). "My suggestion: You should take a bath, you smell like dog-shit."
"I am?" Kiba asked, sniffing at his own body.
"I need something solid to smack you," Neji huffed. 'And he said he'll help me...'
"What's this?" Kiba shook the box, guessing what was inside.
"Chocolate, Lee gave it to me, but I don't like sweets and it looked more like a valentine gift..." Neji shuddered at the thought of Lee giving him chocolate for valentine gift.
"I see, thanks!"
"Remember! Not more than three hours!" Neji reminded/threatened.
End FlashbackNaruto's jaw hung low when Neji finished telling him what happened. "So... those words you said..."
"Kiba and I was discussing about what kind of words he should say to express his feeling... cheh, I knew I shouldn't trust that boy, he's a complete zero in romance..." Neji shrugged.
"... but you said 'boyfriend'..." Naruto asked suspiciously.
"Kiba was the one who told me to use that word when practicing with him... he said for more animism..." Neji told the dumbfounded blonde. "Weird boy, huh?"
"... but he kissed you!"
Neji visibly paled. "Bleargh! I'll do harakiri (1) first before he did! He didn't kiss me. He just whispered that he will fulfill his promise to me..."
"Oh..." Everything was crystal clear for Naruto now. And this misunderstanding has bring him big trouble...
"Sooo... Naruto, about the words you've said..." Neji reminded, he turned in a cute shade of pink.
"OH! I-I... uum, that's—I—it's..." Naruto scrambled at his words, scratching his own cheek sheepishly. He immediately regretted what he had said after Neji told all of these.
"I've told you that I was on the same position as you, haven't I?" Neji relaxed Naruto a bit by giving him a small smile.
"Uh-huh... and that's when..."
"When my crush asked me a help to date a certain pink-haired shinobi..." Neji informed, he pulled out his hands from his pockets and rested it on his sides.
"Oh..." Naruto let out a dumb 'Oh'. His unsatisfying IQ clearly couldn't help at time like this. "That person must've been a stupid for not noticing your feelings!" Naruto tried to find a right encouraging words.
"Yeaaah... I mean, I have feelings for him ever since he beat me in chuunin exam... but I couldn't show it, or even give a hint... so I just kept it for myself..." Neji said truthfully.
"Oh... um, you must be—" and it was his brain FINALLY gave him some clue about who it was. "Wait a minute... beating you in the chuunin exam, date a pink-haired shinobi, and... a 'him'? B-But... an only person I know that match with those descriptions is..."
"I see you got it..." Neji gave him a knowing smile.
Naruto's expression was completely priceless. It was like he was told his cat was crashed by a bajaj(2). But it was a sincere and happy one in the same time. His mouth was slightly hung low as the result of the shock.
"So..." Neji approached the smaller boy and held out the blonde's hand. His other free hand caressed Naruto's cheek "Seems like both of us were stupid enough, eh?"
Naruto blushed in five different shades of red. But he gave Neji his purest and happiest smile. The genius also returned it with same amount of happiness. The taller boy leaned down slightly and gave his new boyfriend a kiss on his forehead. Erupting more blush (if possible) on the blonde's cheeks.
"You know, this is not my type of place to do romantic things..." he glanced around. "Shall we go back to my room? It's freezing here..." Neji pulled the blonde's slightly closer.
Naruto entangled his fingers with Neji's and nodded.
"Yeah, why not?" he led the taller boy back into his ward. That smile kept plastered on his face.
Tomorrow will surely be a fine day! Surely!
-TBC-
(1) Suicide, samurai way
(2) A three-wheels vehicle, originally produced in India, usually in bright yellow or orange color. The annoying thing from this vehicle it's the thing is SO noisy. I swear you couldn't sleep if you're in this vehicle with the machine on. Well, only info... if you don't know yet...
Author's note: Waaaaiii! Confession! Okay.. I know, not enough fluff scene... but I promise the next one will have fluff... hehehehe, thanks for those who reviewed! Thaaaaaannnkkk yyooooouuuuu! I love you all and they always give me encouragement! sniff... okay, after this I'm banned from the net but don't worry, I'll keep writing! The only difference was I let my partner Yuki handle the posting problems! See you guys and keep on those reviews coming!