Hira: Huweee... I'm busy like hell! All of those extra lessons were already started and it really annoyed me! Plus the end-of-the-semester exam last week:humph: Anyhow... I managed to finish this chappie! And again, it really helped me to improve my skill if you guys give a comment or two... hehehehe...
Neji: What took you so long?
Hira: Like I said I'm busy...
Neji: But you played all those games last week... besides, it's holiday.
Shikamaru: Hey, you haven't completed your mark for art just yet...
Hira: Shut up! Don't remind me about school! It's new year and new year means HOLIDAY can't you see? And Neji-san, please don't tell that...
Shikamaru: Whatever, girl... cheh, troublesome...
NOTE: On chapter 14 I wrote 'harakiri' for suicide. But then one of my reviewer with the name Momochi Zabuza told me that suicide in samurai way was 'seppuku'... well, 'harakiri' and 'seppuku' have a same meaning, only different in kanji... but then I realized that 'seppuku' is the more common one to use than 'harakiri'... and for that I'm sorry
Thanks, Zabuza-san!
Okay everyone, this chapter will start the new saga of this fic! Enjoy! Don't forget to R&R!
NARUTO'S FIRST DATE CHAPTER 15oo0 Few Days Later 0oo
Naruto shifted uncomfortably from feet to feet. It felt months after he knocked the door of this house, but nobody, NOBODY came out to at least greet him. He thought about what was wrong with him knocking at this door to meet that person. Maybe it was too early in the morning? Nope, it was already 7.00 a.m...
The blonde let out a desperate sigh, he turned his heel and was about to take the first step away when the gate behind him creaked opened.
"Hey... need something?" a girl, older than him, with long black hair tied in low ponytail greeted him. She yawned once, indicating she was just recently up.
"Huh--oh, yes... um, is Kiba inside?" Naruto asked the girl, must be Kiba's older sister, those red triangles on her cheeks and those sharp eyes told it all.
"No, he left very early in the morning..." Kiba's sister replied.
"Ah, I see... then I'll search for him myself, please tell him if he got home that I was searching for him..." Naruto gave her the message, but she interrupted.
"But wasn't he went to the Hokage Tower? I remembered him saying that Hokage-sama called all of you guys to gather at her office..." Kiba's sister pondered aloud.
"They did? All of us?"
"Yeah... at least that was what Kiba had said to me..." she shrugged in uncertainty.
"Oh, I see... thanks, neechan!" Naruto bowed politely and a few moments later he was back on the road, this time heading for The Hokage Tower.
But I didn't remember that old hag calling... or was it just me forgetting about stuffs? Naruto thought as he tightened his scarf due the cold weather.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
"Oh, Naruto isn't it?" Tsunade smiled as he opened the door after a knock.
Indeed, everyone was there... they was sitting on the random seats available in the room. His own team, Team 10, Team 8, and Gai's team. Yes, even his boyfriend Hyuuga Neji... he looked a lot more healthier than the first time Naruto visited him in hospital, a few of his bandages were already taken off and he didn't need to be carried around anymore. And that gave Naruto a wave of relief.
"Naruto-kun, ohayou!" 'ping'. Lee gave Naruto his trademark shining smile.
"You're late!" Kiba announced.
"Sorry... I forgot..." Naruto said sheepishly, before he took a seat beside Neji on purpose.
"Okay, since all of you are here... I will tell you the reason why I gathered all of you here..." Tsunade said, earning everyone's attention.
"I believe all of you are aware about our annual winter festival, who will take place three weeks again?"
"Yes! That festival is VERY youthful! I love festivals!" Lee said, giving Tsunade a thumb up, while a buzz of 'yes, of course' filled the room.
"Good, well... I want something different this year..." Tsunade added.
"And that will be?" Tenten sounded.
"I want ALL of you guys to participate this year..." Tsunade finished, giving everyone a wide, satisfied smile. But everyone's reaction was the opposite.
"What? Why?"
"How about mission?"
"How about my training?"
"Anybody sees my potato chips?" Chouji said and everyone glared at him. Moan of protest coming from each shinobi in the room save for Tsunade.
"Well, you could participate in a lot of stuff, you could sell stuffs there, make some interesting show or anything... and don't make faces like that, consider this a mission," the Godaime smiled, but she was cracking her knuckles.
Everyone gulped.
"How about making a food stand?" Chouji suggested.
"Nu-uh, cause you will eat most of the food..." Shikamaru sounded, continued by a nod from everyone.
"How about making a band?" Kiba suggested as his hands made a movement of a drummer.
"Shikamaru can't read musical score..." Ino said, Shikamaru nodded.
"H-how a-about performing a p-play?" the timid Hinata suddenly said.
Everyone stared at her. This sudden attention made her stutter even more.
"I-I mean.. i-if y-you don-don't a-agree... i-i-it's o-okay..." she started fumbling with her fingers, avoiding the gazes in the room.
"But that's brilliant, Hinata-san!" Lee said, grinning broadly.
"Yeah! Isn't it, Shino?" Kiba asked.
"..." said Shino.
"See? Even Shino agrees!" Kiba beamed. Everyone gave him a weird look, but it looked like everyone accepted Hinata's idea, except for Shikamaru, who, as always, said a play is so troublesome.
"How about 'Three Little Pigs'?" Naruto suggested.
"But we only have one pig..." Sakura said, glancing at her rival.
"WATCH YOUR MOUTH, LARGE FOREHEAD!" Ino screeched.
"How about 'Rapunzel'?" Tenten suggested.
"But there's too many of us..." said Neji, glancing around at the number of people.
"How about 'Terminator'?" Sasuke asked.
"Oh sure, if you wanted to destroy the village..." Naruto said sarcastically.
"H-how a-about S-Swan L-Lake?" Hinata said again shyly.
Everyone considered Hinata's idea.
"I agree!" Sakura suddenly said.
"Sasuke-kun will be the prince and I'll be the Odette! YEAAAAAH! SYANDAROOOO!" Inner Sakura jumped enthusiastically.
"Me too!" Ino pointed her hands upwards, her mind have no different from what was inside Sakura's right now.
"But it's a sucky romance story!" Naruto protested. All the boys have similar expression except Shino (but who knows what lies beneath those collar and glasses).
"SHUT UP BLONDIE!" Ino and Sakura showed their flaming fists at the blonde, who gulped and decided to stay silent. The other boys copied, there's nothing scarier than the wrath of girls who fell in love.
"Okay then, how about the cast?" Tsunade who only stayed silent and watched intently at her subordinates all the time asked. "Who'll be the prince?"
"SASUKE-KUN!" Ino and Sakura chorused. Sasuke raised a brow.
"Me! Me! I've always wanted to try the prince's role!" Kiba waved his hand. But no one seemed paid him attention.
"But I think the more suitable one is Nej—" Naruto quickly shut Lee up with his hand on Lee's mouth. Hell no! Seeing HIS Neji acted with a girl and not him! Like he will let that happen! Sasuke was fine, but Neji? It's a big NO!
"..." said Shino.
Neji just sighed at Naruto's action, but he felt slightly happy, Naruto sure was a possessive one. Fate was on Naruto's side today, nobody seemed to hear Lee trying to tell something.
"Okay, it's settled then... Sasuke is it?" Tsunade wrote on a piece of paper, while the said person just stayed silent. "Now... who'll be the Odette?"
"ME!" Ino and Sakura raised their hands in unison. You could see that a certain avenger started shivering.
"What—get a life, Ino-pig! The entire world knew that I'm the one for him!" Sakura glared at Ino as she shoved the blonde girl aside.
"Look who's speaking, large-forehead! You better do something with your oversized forehead before dreaming to be with MY Sasuke-kun!" Ino yanked Sakura backwards.
"Oh yeah?" And both of them started their daily quarrel.
"I think Hinata is more suitable..." Tsunade said.
"Tenten is pretty good too..." Lee added.
"How troublesome..." Shikamaru muttered under his breath.
"Now I prefer being a tree..." Sasuke mumbled.
"Okay then, let's just clear things up! Why don't we write the names on little piece of papers and make this random?" asked Kiba, pretty annoyed at him receiving no affection.
"Whatever!" Naruto shrugged, as he showed no interest on this play.
"NO! " Ino and Sakura turned to Kiba.
"Shut up!" Tsunade slammed her fist on her desk, creating a huge crack on the wooden material ("Damn, I must repair it again..."). "Ino, Sakura! Will you please be silent and listen to someone else? And Kiba, I don't want if Shikamaru is the Odette!" Tsunade half-shouted at the genins and chuunin, making a certain shadow-user has a 'why-me' expression. "I decided I'm the one who make the cast!"
"Tenten, Hinata!" Tsunade called, the owner of the names instantly stood up. "I want both of you to help me with the cast and script so you'll stay! Everyone else must come again tomorrow after lunch for the first rehearsal! That's it and you're dismissed!" Tsunade said strictly.
Everyone rose to their feet and left the room, leaving Tsunade, Tenten and Hinata inside so they could start working.
"I have a feeling that I'll hate this play..." Neji muttered as all of them walk back to their own houses, Naruto shrugged as response.
"That's good, I already hate it..." Shikamaru said half-heartedly.
"This is silly, I wanna go training..." Sasuke said, he jammed his hands inside his pocket and walked to the direction of the training ground.
"SASUUUKE-KUUUN! DON'T FORGET TO COME TOMORROW FOR THE FIRST REHEARSAL OKAAAY?" Ino shouted and waved. She got a mild 'Hn' from the raven haired boy.
Soon, everyone separated ways to do their own activities, leaving Neji and his boyfriend alone. Naruto already bid goodbye and turned to walk home when Neji stopped him.
"Naruto... mind if I spend a night at your house?" Neji asked slowly, making sure that no one was in hearing range. Naruto blushed at the question.
"But... it's very small and dirty... couldn't compare it to your house..." Naruto blushed as he remembered all of the empty ramen cups littering his house.
"It's fine... I'll help you cleaning if you like..." Neji said.
"No! You don't need to... it's um—well, okay... be my guest!" Naruto smiled and took the Hyuuga's hand, leading him to his small apartment.
sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
oo0 Later at Naruto's House 0oo
"Do you always eat ramen?" Neji asked, half amazed at Naruto's stock of ramen.
They were in the living room, Neji sat on the couch as Naruto was pouring hot water on his instant ramen on the kitchen before bringing the meal to the table in front of the couch. One hand holding chopsticks. The blonde sat down on one random chair, smiling as he smelled the scent of the dish.
"Well, not always... but they're the best food in the world! Want some?" Naruto offered but Neji shook his head in a polite 'no, thanks'.
"Suit yourself then," Naruto said, before declaring 'Itadakimasu' and started gulping down his ramen. The Hyuuga prodigy decided to help himself with some hot chocolate. He made himself a mugful and sat back on the couch. It didn't take long for Naruto to finish his meal, while Neji just drank a quarter of his chocolate. The blonde threw the empty cup on the trash bin and joined beside Neji.
"Didn't watch anything?" Naruto asked as he noticed the TV was off.
"I'm not fond of TV..." the Hyuuga replied.
"I wonder what are baachan's ideas for the cast and script?" Naruto asked as he encircled his arms on the Hyuuga's waist and leaned his head on Neji's shoulder, enjoying the Hyuuga's warmth, but blushing as he did so. Neji didn't seem to mind and placed his hands on the blonde's hair, caressing his spiky hair.
"Whatever, I just hope that Tenten didn't do, or even THINK of something crazy to the script—" Neji shuddered at the thought.
"Like what?" Neji smirked at the question.
"Well, something like... this," and with that Neji closed his eyes and tilted Naruto's chin up before clasping his lips with the other's in a soft kiss.
Naruto's eyes widened at the sudden contact, but after a few seconds he concluded that he loved this as he smiled between the kiss. He slowly slid his eyes closed as he kissed the Hyuuga back, applying pressure to the other's lips. Neji's hands found its courage to trailed the fingers down Naruto's jaw line before holding the back of Naruto's neck, pulling the blonde closer. Naruto's hands were enclosed on Neji's chest. The kiss soon became passionate when Neji's tongue started seeking entrance by licking the other's lips softly. Naruto made low voices after a gasp before he opened his mouth slightly, allowing the Hyuuga to access inside. The feeling of Neji's tongue roamed over inside his mouth stirred something inside Naruto. He could still taste a faint taste of chocolate. Soon he found courage to do the same. The new sensation overflow in Naruto's mind and he must gripped Neji's sleeves to prevented himself from losing control. Half filled chocolate mug remained forgotten.
After a few minutes that seemed like split seconds, they broke apart due lack of oxygen. Both flushed and their breath came in short gasps.
"I didn't know you could kiss like that..." Neji said, astonished.
"Want more?" Naruto grinned as he approached his face to the Hyuuga once again.
"I'd love to... but I think I'll pass for now..." Neji replied.
"Oh..." Naruto said, half-disappointed. He heaved himself back to the comfortable couch.
Neji half-smiled at the pouting blonde. "Well... better get some sleep..." he said after glancing at the clock that showed 9.00 pm.
"You can use my bed! Lemme sleep on spare futon!" Naruto said quickly as he hurried to the wardrobe and pulled out his white spare futon and thick green blanket.
"Well... " Neji scratched his chin unsurely. "Actually I didn't mind sleeping on the couch..."
"No! You're the guest! But—" Naruto blushed and cut off his sentence.
"But what?"
"Err... never mind, I just wondering..." Naruto blushed redder, grinning nervously.
"Wondering about?"
"No, it's just... I just wondering (mumble mumble)" Naruto muttered in such a low tone that even a bat couldn't hear.
"What? I can't catch that..." Neji leaned forward slightly so his ear was positioned in front of Naruto's mouth.
"I... just... would you—I mean... err, would you mind... err, sharing the bed?" Naruto was completely red after this. Neji too blushed slightly at the question.
"You mean... sleeping together?"
"No, cut the bed into two and I use the half... of course sleeping together!" Naruto said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. But he was still blushing, even redder. "So, uhm... do you mind?"
Neji half-grinned at how much Naruto's face resembled a tomato. "... none whatsoever..." he swooped down and carried Naruto bridal-style to the bedroom.
"OI! NEJI!" the only response Naruto got was a playful laugh the Hyuuga emitted.
-TBC-
Hira: Ha! Finished! Finished! I couldn't BELIEVE that I actually FINISHED!
Shikamaru : Wooo... fluffy...
Kiba : Now that you mentioned it... it's terribly OOC too...
Hira : Woots, okay... enough talking 'bout fluff! I know I'm bad at that kind of stuff (I even don't know how to make kissing scene! Well, at least after my friend told me...). So I'm very truly sorry! And sorry for grammar mistakes and other mistakes I made! Especially OOCs! Nobody's perfect right? Oh... and special thanks for my faithful reviewers! Hehehehe, so whaddya think?
Btw, my friend koku-kirin has made a NejiNaru story called 'Just A Man'... go and check it out!