NARUTO'S FIRST DATE CHAPTER 16
Sun ray perforated through Naruto's window and on through his curtain, resulting a soft glow of gloomy morning sunlight inside his room. The blonde curled up in his bed, hugging his pillow, tangled up between sheet and blanket. He groaned slightly when he felt cold air swept through his thick white blanket. Naruto cracked open his eyes and blinked twice, adjusting it to the sunlight, groping the sheets around him in progress. He sat upright, wide eyes when he found the lack of warmth beside him.
"Nae-jee?" he called with fresh-from-sleep voice.
There was no answer.
Where did he go? Naruto threw the blanket away and stood sleepily, scanning his room for a brunette's presence. His eyes caught sight of a paper lying on the desk beside his bed. He bent down, rubbing his eyes and took the paper. There were neat hand-writing on it and Naruto recognized it immediately as Neji's.
Naruto,
I'm sorry I left without saying a word, I was about to wake you but you look so tired so I made this instead. I forgot I made a promise to Hiashi-ojiisama that I'll help Hinata-sama in her training today... I'm already late, hope he doesn't kill me... so that's why, see you on the rehearsal. I promise I'll pay you a visit again, just tell me when you're available, okay?
Neji
"Ano baka..." Naruto half-grinned. He crumpled the paper and tossed it to a nearby trash bin. The blonde took off his night cap and threw it to his bed before made his way to the shower.
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Today wasn't snowing and the sun glowed on the sky although streets and houses were still covered in thin layer of snow. Naruto, clad in his winter clothes, only this time with blue scarf instead of maroon and black gloves, was munching on his toast while walking along the street of Konoha, heading to his favorite place on earth, Ichiraku Ramen. Two toast breads weren't enough for a person with appetite like him, so he settled down for ramen. Hot, steamy, delicious ramen. And if he was lucky, the old man would always give him a free bowl of his all time favorite miso ramen. He popped the remaining of his last toast into his mouth, grinning as he imagined his ramen.
"YO, NARUTO!" a hand slapped his back, made Naruto stumbled forward a bit. He swallowed the improperly chewed toast due the shock.
"(cough cough) Goddammit, Kiba! You nearly give me a heart attack!" Naruto whirled angrily at his 'attacker'.
Kiba gave an apologetic grin at his friend. "Sorry..." he rubbed Naruto's back, helping the blonde to subdue his racing heart. Akamaru jumped around them, the pooch seemed happy enough today.
Naruto nodded his thanks at Kiba and tightened his scarf around his neck.
"Where are you going?" Kiba asked, catching up to Naruto's pace as he jammed his hands inside his pockets. The Inuzuka boy was clad in his usual fury jacket, only it looked thicker with all of those extra clothes inside. His pants were black and long until it reached his ankles, deep green boots were hidden beneath it. and a mismatched mitten was slung on his neck.
"Ramen, you?" Naruto asked back.
"Just taking a healthy morning stroll, but maybe I'll go with you, may I?" Kiba stared at Naruto, when the blonde nodded Kiba ruffled the blonde's hair.
"Thanks! Now if I---" Kiba stopped talking but still walking, his eyes started shifting to different parts of Naruto's body and his nose made a light sniffing sounds.
"What?" Naruto felt uneasy at Kiba's behavior.
"You... what have you done?"
"E-eh... What? What?" Naruto frowned quizzically. "What's wrong?"
"Well, it's already faint but... you... uhm, have Neji's scent all over your body..." Kiba informed.
"Ackt!" Naruto nearly tripped when he heard that. He balanced himself upright, blushing madly. He refused to look into Kiba's black eyes and nailed his gaze to the ground below. His pace became faster.
"I-I-I... I- I mean, no, what I, uum... no, I—" Naruto blabbered. Damn, he forgot that the Inuzuka have sharp nose. Now, what should he do?
"Ha! I know! You little rascal!" Kiba grinned and gave Naruto a tight half-hug. His other free hand ruffled on Naruto's blonde mane until it looked like some tea bushes.
"W—puh! Whaddya mean?" Naruto struggled for breath.
Kiba leaned in and whispered. "You were in BED with HIM, last NIGHT weren't you?"
"WHAT?" Naruto blushed into a deep shade of red. He nearly chocked out his toasts. Didn't see that one coming... but the 'in bed with him' part was right after all...
"C'mon... spill the detail, dude! It's okay! Everyone will experience it someday!" Kiba encouraged, pinching Naruto's cheek playfully. But it only emitted more blush on Naruto's face until no one could tell the difference between Naruto's face and a tomato.
"DETAIL? WHAT DETAIL?" Naruto pushed Kiba away. "I didn't do anything!"
"Liar liar pants on fire..." Kiba put his hands on his hips. His eyes boring hole on Naruto's face.
"Well.. I...okay," and it was that time when Naruto decided to tell Kiba, after all, thanks to Kiba he was able to be with Neji. I'm sorry, Neji... "We... slept together last night..."
"WOW!" Kiba's enthusiasm leaked out. His tone became faster and higher as he talk. Akamaru also jumped around, feeling his master's enthusiasm.
"Slept together! There must be an improvement on your relationship! Tell me tell me!" Kiba shook Naruto's shoulder impatiently.
"O-o-o-o-o-o-okay okay!" Naruto stammered, he experienced difficulty in speaking since Kiba shook him like a bartender shaking those martinis. "We... are... together, that's all!"
"Together? Together like... as a couple?" Kiba jumped up and down slightly.
"Well..." Naruto blushed again. "Yeah..."
"SUGOOOI!" Kiba crushed Naruto's bone by giving him a powerful hug. Naruto's nose collided painfully with Kiba's collarbone. It was a wonder why Naruto didn't have nosebleed.
"Owowowowow, Kiba you're destroying my ribs!"
"Congrats!" Kiba shoved Naruto's into an arm length and shook the poor blonde's hand. Naruto grinned sheepishly as he rubbed his abused nose.
"It's about time you two got together!" Kiba rubbed his hands together due the cold.
"Yeah... maybe," Naruto said with a hint of proud in his voice. "Oh, I nearly forget..." the blonde said suddenly.
"I came to your house yesterday but you weren't there, we met on the afternoon but I forgot to tell you this... I... umh, wanted to apologize... I... was an ass to you a few days ago, it's... well... sorry, for shouting at you like that..." flashback of his misunderstood about Kiba and Neji's relationship flooded back into Naruto's mind.
"Ah, don't mind it..." Kiba said with a wave of his hand. Actually he already forgot about that, since his mind was preoccupied with Hinata at that moment.
"Really? Thanks!" Naruto was glad that Kiba forgive him. Or so he thought...
"By the way..." Kiba lowered his voice an octave lower. "Have you two kissed?"
"KIBA!" Naruto slapped Kiba's head with a 'mind-your-own-business' manner.
"Ouch! Sorry sorry! Hey, look... there's Ichiraku!" Kiba changed the subject before more damage was made to his precious body.
"Great! Ramen here we come!" Naruto snatched Kiba's sleeve and dragged the unsuspecting Inuzuka towards the small restaurant.
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"—And so I decided to use the Uchiha House as our rehearsal place... don't forget, okay? We'll come here evry day after lunch." Tsunade said, eyeing the view of Uchiha manor around her with satisfied expression.
"No way..." Sasuke murmured, but it was loud enough to catch the Godaime's hearing.
"Yes way, Sasuke..." she smiled. "Well, you're all alone in this big... or should I say, spacious house..." Tsunade said carefully not to mention about Sasuke's murdered family. "You wouldn't mind we use it for a little while, would you?"
"I mind... can't you just find or rent some place else? And Sakura, don't you ever think of bringing that home..." Sasuke said.
The pink-haired girl blushed in embarrassment as she snatched her hand away from one of Sasuke's belongings, his shoes, to be exact. This was one reason why Sasuke didn't fancy the idea of his house been used for the rehearsal place. Fangirls. Two of them. It wasn't even twenty minutes yet and they already cast glances at his stuff hoping that they could bring it home without him noticing it.
"Oh! Edelweiss! Very youthful! Neji-kun, Tenten! Come here come here! Look! Aren't they cute?" Lee was amazed at Sasuke's garden. Sasuke's mother's garden, to be exact. He squeezed his face to the freezing window that separated the living room from the garden so he could get a better view of the immortal flowers.
"Lee, the Godaime is speaking..." Neji reminded, catching Lee's arm and shook it slightly so the green-clothed boy wouldn't sink to his own fantasies.
"Oh shimatta!" Lee turned and decided to stay put, well... maybe until Tsunade finished speaking.
"And so I'm already satisfied with your roles and the script..." Tsunade waved a pile of papers in her hands. "So I will not tolerate any objections, we have little time..." not too far from her, Hinata and Tenten held the copies of the script. With a nod from Tsunade, they walked around, passing everybody their script.
"—Now, I want you guys to learn the script well... after half an hour we'll start our first rehearsal," Tsunade finished and took a seat on a nearby couch.
Naruto flipped the pages uninterestedly. He scanned a few lines before decided to find out what role he got. He turned back to page two, where the list of roles were written and scanned it one by one.
Prince: Uchiha SasukeHeh, no wonder... Naruto made a mental note.
Odette's Sister: Hyuuga NejiWhat the... Naruto frowned. Neji wouldn't like that.
Odile: Yamanaka InoHey, Ino wouldn't like this either...
Rothbart: Hyuuga HinataHeh? Is that baachan crazy or what? Naruto frowned, the further more he scanned the page below the more he got an uneasy feeling.
Lead Fairy: Rock Lee
Odette's Father: Aburame Shino
Swan: Haruno Sakura, Aburame Shino, Tenten
Fairy: Inuzuka Kiba, Nara Shikamaru
Villagers: Akimichi Chouji, Tenten, Hyuuga Neji, Inuzuka Kiba
Neji got double role...and so these people Naruto stated the obvious. He found his name on the very bottom on the page.
Odette: Uzumaki Naruto"WHAAAAAAAAATTTT!" a soft 'thud' of papers met wooden floor was heard, indicating that Naruto dropped his script in shock.
Everyone also have similar expression, only they didn't drop their script. Sasuke eyed the script for a while before a rather happy smirk plastered to his face. Neji seemed to controlling himself from dropping his jaw to the floor. Kiba was killing the urge of burst out laughing. Shikamaru and Chouji already started snickering. Lee nodded in amusement. Tenten and Hinata have rather sorry expression on their faces. Ino and Sakura seemed like they will pass out. But Sakura was the first to regain her control back.
"What does this mean? Tsunade-sama!"
"Huh? Oh—you see, I heard from Jiraiya that Naruto have this jutsu called Oiroke no Jutsu and he looked so cute in it so—"
"ARE YOU EXPECTING THAT I'LL USE THE JUTSU THROUGHOUT THE PLAY? I'LL DRAIN OUT MY CHAKRA! BESIDES--" Naruto half-shouted. But he swallowed back his last words.
Neji will not like it...
"Who said that you will use that jutsu throughout the play? You just need to use that jutsu once and let our make-up artist dressed you, in that form, like that!" Tsunade said, she looked very happy and pleased with herself.
"Make-up artist? Do WE have make-up artist?" Kiba said, catching a weird details on Tsunade's words.
"Why of course, plus director and a costumes arranger!" Tsunade cocked her head to her side. Motioning someone to enter.
Now all jaws dropped to the floor. Even Shino showed signs of shock on his face.
"What the hell are YOU guys doing in HERE?" Kiba pointed a shaking finger at figures that just recently entered the room.
"Now that's a not nice thing to say to your helper..." Temari said, adjusting her huge fan on the red sash on her waist.
"You should be thankful that we wanted to help you..." Kankurou added. "Ne, Gaara?"
"..." Gaara crossed his arms on his chest.
"Ah, Shika!" Temari said gladly as she approached her boyfriend and gave him a kiss on the cheek, recovering the boy from state-of-shock in a rather blunt way. The shadow-user blushed.
"Why me? Why ME?" Naruto muttered pathetically. He didn't have any intention to pick his fallen script.
"Oh, Naruto come on..." Tsunade bent down and picked Naruto's script for him. "You're one of Sasuke's closest friend, you two get along pretty well... isn't it brilliant?"
"Brilliant my ass..." Naruto mumbled.
"Stop whining!" Tsunade said strictly, slapping Naruto's face slightly with his script in her hand. "Okay, everybody! Let's start our rehearsal!"
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"NO!"
"Do it, Naruto!" Temari ordered.
"Over my dead body!"
"DO IT BLONDIE!" Temari hissed, her hand ran through her fan dangerously.
Naruto grumbled and held Sasuke's hand half-heartedly. Ino and Sakura started nailing Naruto's voodoo doll to the wall. Tsunade gave a satisfied smile at Temari.
"Good, now give more emphasizing on it, you two are supposed to be lover!"
"YOU'RE CRAZY!" Naruto shouted desperately.
"Of course I'm not, but the script is..." Temari said, pointing to the script.
Sasuke sighed and pulled Naruto closer by pulling the blonde's waist. Naruto's body slammed to Sasuke roughly, the blonde's yelped but his shout was muffled on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Is this enough?" Sasuke peered through Naruto's golden locks to the blonde girl and her brother.
"Nice, Uchiha! You're born an actor!" Kankurou gave a thumb up.
"He's clearly taking advantage..." Kiba whispered as he peered to Gaara beside him.
"Hope that Hyuuga didn't cause havoc after this..." Gaara said in monotone as he pointed his chin to Neji, who stood in the far corner with Lee.
"Yeah... by the way, Gaara... have you heard the greatest news this day?" Kiba brought the subject of 'Neji-and-Naruto-are-together-great-we-did-it' back up.
Gaara said nothing, but the way he stared at Kiba clearly reflected curiosity.
"They're..." Kiba motioned to Neji and Naruto. "—together..."
Gaara's eyes widened slightly and it went back to its normal size rather dramatically.
"Oh..."
"Just 'oh'?" Kiba was not satisfied by Gaara's reaction. "C'mon, we did it! Be happier like 'hey, is that true? Great!' or 'you should've told me earlier' or 'wonderful, let's throw a party!' or something like that..."
"Oh..." said Gaara.
"Whatever, pal..." Kiba scratched his head, it felt like talking to brick wall, except he did say a few words. "Now, will you excuse me, I have a Hyuuga to tame..." Kiba gestured at Neji, who started squishing his script.
"It's suicide..." Gaara informed with an impression like Kiba will try bungee jumping from a helicopter from the top of Niagara waterfall with time bomb tied on his chest. Well, approaching a moody Neji had the same risk.
But the Inuzuka didn't hear.
Gaara sighed and decided to watch the scene unfold before him.
"Hey, buddy!" Kiba said cheerfully.
Neji glared at him. "What?"
"Snappy, aren't we today?" Kiba teased, Neji just snorted and focused back to whatever he was doing before Kiba came. And since he was doing nothing it made him frustrated.
"Jealous, huh?" Kiba went straight to the point. His voice was a whisper so Lee couldn't hear. But it didn't look necessary since Lee was so serious in reading the script he practically didn't pay attention to anything else.
"Of course I'm not—" Neji shook his head as he folded his arms. It was when Lee decided to cut off.
"Oh look, Neji-kun! There's kissing scene here! So Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun are going—"
SLAM!
The next thing Kiba knew was a puff of smoke and the bob-haired guy was flat on the wall, the wall itself was cracked in Lee's body shape (like in those cartoons). While a snorting Byakugan wielder stomped away with his hands jammed inside his pockets.
"Hey!" Sasuke stared desperately at his destroyed wall.
Kiba stared, pale as a ghost at the poor boy on the wall. And he decided not to annoy a certain Hyuuga ever again if he's on this kind of mood. Luckily it was not him.
"Okay... you're jealous enough..."
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oo0 Few hours after the rehearsal, 8.00 pm 0oo
Naruto ran through the streets of Konoha, his eyes scanned the view around him for a certain brunette. Neji had left earlier than others so Naruto was worried he was sick or something... but Neji was not a type of guy who will fall sick just because the drastic change of weather... and when he phoned Hinata to ask whether Neji was home or not the timid blue haired girl just said a slow 'I don't know where he is either, but surely he'll come home soon'.
And Naruto had a bad feeling that he was the one who caused that...
"Neji!" he shouted. But just like the few past minutes, no answer provided.
"Neji!" he repeated. The street was still deserted, both from voice of the Hyuuga and crowd.
Naruto ran through the silent street, maybe it was his fault, searching in deserted place like this, but he knew that Neji would always prefer a quiet, or maybe even eerie place to cool his head down.
"Neji!" he shouted louder.
When cold wind answered him, he quickly hugged himself, sneezing in progress.
"Damn, I had enough!" he said in frustration. "Oi NEJI! You have ears or NOT?"
"Of course."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Naruto jumped out of his skin as he launched himself a few meters to the air.
"Funny, first you're calling me desperately, now you're shrieking when you see me..."
"Neji!" Naruto felt himself grinned but also wanted to slap that pale white face.
"The one and only..." Neji stepped out from the shadows.
"What are you doing, shouldn't you be home?" the blonde ran to his brunette.
"I believe I must ask you the same question, what are YOU doing here?" Neji pointed to the ground to stretch his words.
"I was worried about you! Thought you were sick or something..." Naruto said truthfully.
"I'm fine..." Neji chuckled. "I'm only... thinking of something..."
"About?"
"You." Neji said simply.
"Eh..." Naruto felt blood rushed to his cheeks, resulting dark shade of rose red.
"Just kidding..." Neji laughed a bit when he saw the blonde's face.
"Oh..." Naruto blushed, but now in embarrassment.
"But that's partly true anyway..." Neji shoved his hands inside his pocket.
"Really?" Naruto's face lit up a little. Neji gave a small smile and ruffled the spiky locks.
"Hey... that bastard, haven't done anything, right?" Neji examined the blonde's face.
"You mean?" Naruto corrected some mess Neji had made with his hair.
"I..." Neji scratched his head. "—just don't fancy that idea of you and Sasuke got those roles...who knows what he will do to you? Judging from his last acts. Just thinking about it boils my blood..." after that, they fell silent for a while.
"Are you... somewhat... jealous?" Naruto asked, carefully.
Light pink spread on Neji's cheeks. The Byakugan wielder shook his head in an attempt to shove it away, but it didn't work. "Well..."
Naruto chuckled. "Don't worry... I can defend myself, I'm a shinobi, remember? Besides..."
"Besides?" Neji repeated in curiosity. Naruto smiled before he gripped Neji's shoulder for support for him to stand on his toes and gave the Hyuuga a light kiss on his slightly frozen lips.
"I'm taken..." Naruto gave the famous foxy grin as he cupped Neji's cheeks and patted it slightly.
"You... got a point..." Neji blushed as he touched the place Naruto's lips had been.
"I'm sleepy..." Naruto changed the subject drastically. "Better get some sleep... and perhaps some company..." Naruto stared hopefully at Neji.
"Gomen Naruto, ojiisama was pretty mad back then when I didn't ask for his permission to stay at... a 'friend's house'... so..." Neji didn't finish his sentence on purpose.
"I'm sorry..." Naruto lowered his head.
"That's okay... or maybe you want to sleep at my place? It's nearer from here... but only if you mind sneaking into it, or you'll have to sleep in the guest room, alone..." Neji gave pressure to his last word.
"You'll be surprised at how good I am in sneaking..." Naruto sneered.
Neji chuckled lightly. "Well then, shall we go?" he stretched out his hand in which the blonde took it happily.
"Yeah!"
-TBC-
Hira: I kinda love to write fluff right now... hehehehe... sorry if it's weird or something, I just can't make the fluff right without making the character OOC. Well then as usual, click on the cute little purple 'Submit Review' button and sent me a comment, constructive critics, praise, or whatever... just no flame, remember this is my first ficcie!