AN: Hello everyone! Thank you for all your wonderful reviews; they make my heart soar as always! I will now be including a reminder of my tumblr in every chapter for those whom may overlook the announcement on the front page.
As always, please enjoy!
Chapter 20: Fireworks
"Well, that was incredibly fun," Lee states with a pleasing smile, walking at my side as we disperse from the fading bonfire along with the rest of the trickling groups. "I am very surprised that I did not get motion sickness!"
"I know," I agree breathlessly, placing a hand to my warmed forehead. "That sure was a work out for me though, I'm tired already."
Just as I finish, the rumbling sound of a gong resonates throughout the entire festival, bringing attendees to divert their attention to the sound. The gong is hit a few more times, before dissipating altogether.
"Looks like the fireworks will be starting soon," Lee mentions upon noticing clusters of people beginning to move hastily towards the training fields.
"Then let's hurry to meet everyone, they should be there soon, or if not waiting for us already," I reply.
At the recollection of meeting with everyone for the fireworks display, I follow closely behind Lee as he creates a path for us to walk through. Within a short amount of time, we leave the roadside and near the grassy plains where huddles of people have set up blankets to relax in waiting. Maneuvering past sitting groups, we search for our previous company. From a distance, I squint to see Haruka shouting and waving her arms at us on a small mound. We briskly make our way over, reaching the area where Haruka and Jin are spotted sitting on their own blanket.
"There you guys are! I was worried you'd be distracted and miss the whole thing," says Haruka before patting the empty spot next to her for us to sit.
"We we're relatively close by, thankfully," I say, sitting myself down on the comfortable spread over the cool grass.
"Where are Tenten and Neji?" Lee asks, settling down next to me.
"They were just here," Jin replies. "They said they wanted to get a few refreshers for everyone."
"Ah, they're so generous," I sigh happily.
We continued to talk as a group until Tenten and Neji resurfaced from the distance, with drinks in their hands as told by Jin. We all settled in a close circle, chatting and sipping at our fizzy drinks. When we were all done, Tenten unraveled the sparklers that she bought and handed one to each of us. We lit them over the grass, and watched them ignite and burn in twinkling sparks of light. Haruka had tempted to touch me with one, and I cried whilst trying to get away from her. It was scary to be poked by a stick of burning light, but nonetheless, the friendly torture brought a smile to my face. After lighting a few more, a hush filled the whole field, allowing only the gentle breeze to rustle the untamed grass and surrounding trees.
Then, the tiniest and faintest trail of light whizzed into the sky before disappearing into the prevailing night. Until, an explosion of bright colors splashed across the deep lavender blanket above. With a thundering 'Boom!', the sound reverberated in my chest, shaking my whole being. Once it faded into falling fragments, resembling falling stars, another took its place. And then another, mixing and blending in perfectly brazen expansions of noise and brightly colored tints that crackled in the night sky.
As my back lay against the blanket beneath me, I take a moment to turn my cheek in order to spot Haruka whispering and laughing with her husband, while on the other side of them, I can see Tenten's hand shooting up to point at each distinct firework to Neji.
My attention lulls back to the fireworks, and my eyes succumb to the splaying flares. I'm only taken from the display when I feel something bump into my left hand. I turn over my left cheek, finding my roommate retracting his hand that nudged my own.
"Ah, sorry, Yamada-san," Lee apologizes hastily, folding his palms safely across his chest. "I did not see your hand there."
"That's okay, there's really not much space left on this blanket for you to put your hand anywhere else," I brush away his apology with a quaint smile.
He nods silently to himself, and without turning to face me, he opens his mouth to speak; "I did not say it before hand, but you look very cute in your yukata tonight." It's at the last of his sentence that his chin tilts in my direction, delivering me a complimentary grin of approval.
Another firework had gone off at the same time my chest had burst with embarrassment, "Thank you…" I speak faintly to keep myself from stuttering foolishly. "It's my mothers. Since she met my father in it, she said it was good luck, and decided never to give it away as a memento."
"That yukata really is a pretty thing. I am not surprised that it captured your father's attention at the time," says Lee with a warming smile. "Though, I do believe the yukata is not what kept your fathers attention, but who was wearing it instead."
His saucer like eyes crinkle with endearment at me, "Right?"
"R-right," I flush, pitching my stare away to refocus on the fireworks. One is about to go off, and when it does, the flittering sparks makes the silhouette of a rabbit. I can't help but point at it, "Wow, I didn't know they had fireworks that shaped into rabbits, or animals for that matter."
"A rabbit?" my roommate questions, pinching his mouth to the side in thought, "I thought it looked like a cat."
"That was definitely not a cat," I giggle aloud, before pressing my violet hues into his, causing us both to laugh at his faulty observation.
We lay on our backs, watching the vibrant scene play till the very end. After the grand finally of a dozen of fireworks simultaneously bursting one right after the other, our group remained still, allowing our amazement to subside and grant us with the ability to move.
Lifting up, I stretch my arms way above my head, and sigh in content when I release, "That was so great."
"Oh, yeah. That was probably better than last years," Haruka informs me, while also mimicking my stretching movement. She then grins expectantly at me, "So, the festival doesn't end for us adults till 2 a.m. I say we take advantage of the open bar stalls, have a few drinks, and enjoy the night life."
"Darn, that sounds like a lot of fun, but I actually have a mission tomorrow, so I can't stay out, " Tenten mentions with a hearty sigh.
"And I have an early branch meeting in the morning, so I will have to pass as well," Neji also states.
"Then what about you and Lee, Sho?" Haruka questions. "You'll join me and Jin, right?"
"Well, I will. I don't have anything important to do tomorrow," I say with an easing smile. "I'm just not to sure if Lee-san would want to come." For very good reasons, which I'll not speak aloud, I mentally spring up as if in actual conversation.
"I will join," Lee agrees with a grin. "My next mission is not until next week, and my resting day is actually tomorrow, so I do not have to train either."
"Are you sure, Lee-san?" I ask, throwing a worried look that begs, 'what about your thing, with the thing, that makes you do things you don't want to do?'.
"Do not worry, I will only be watching and keeping you company," Lee reassures me with a thumbs up, and another vague and wordless exchange that I convey as saying; 'I am aware of my thing, the thing that you know about, and will be able to stay away from said thing.'
Saying our good-byes to Tenten and Neji, the rest of us trailed back down the festive Konoha streets, paved with late night vendors hoping to catch the attention of the older perusing crowd. Passing a handful of open bar stalls with no open seats, we were lucky to find one wedged between a crepe and dango stand, with available stools to accommodate our number. Sitting in a straight line, Haruka sat next to me in order to chat while Jin reserved a seat next to my roommate, in order to talk about more masculine topics, I could only guess.
We all ordered simple cups of sake (except for my roommate) to start the approaching 12 a.m. morning. As we conversed in our separate pairings, Haruka momentarily deviated from her conversation with me, leaning across the linear bar table.
"Hey! How come you're not drinking?" Haruka raises her voice above the festival clamor, catching my roommate's attention.
"Well, that would be because I am not very good with alcohol," he answers honestly with a nervous chuckle.
"What?" Haruka squints her eyes critically, leaning so far that she's practically covering my whole chest. A mocking smile crosses her features, "Are you scared of getting sick or something?"
"No, not entirely—"
"They say the only way to build a tolerance is to drink more frequently," Jin adds in, taking a sip of his rice liquor. "But that might just be a misconception."
"That's probably a misconception," I intercept the notion, waving my hand dismissively in the air. "Lee-san just doesn't like alcohol very much."
"Yamada-san would be absolutely right," my roommate agrees, bobbing his head up and down.
"Hm? Is that so?" She lowers her dark eyes, blowing a puff of air in disappointment. "That's a bummer, alcohol can really loosen you up, if you monitor yourself."
Unfortunately, 'really loosen up' just doesn't even begin to describe the effects for Lee, I state mentally.
The subject is left at that, and we converse back to less probing topics. Haruka and I chat until our ceramic flasks are emptied, so we ask the bartender for refills. As the bartender retakes our cups, Haruka steps off her stool, "I'll be right back, I'm going to go look for a restroom," she informs me, before signaling to Jin of her bathroom needs.
The bartender places the two cups in front of me, and I tend my attention to my own, sipping lightly at it. Sake is really deceptive, so I can't drink too much, I advise myself.
I momentarily zone in on the conversation that my roommate and Jin are having next to me, and finding it not in my place to disturb them, my eyes fish out into the neighboring food stalls.I hone in on an individual buying a strawberry crème crepe, and my mouth almost waters at the sight. Ah, I should have ordered dessert at the restaurant, I sigh in regret.
"Here's that sake refill and water, gentlemen," the bartender announces while placing the drinks in front of my male company.
Nothing seems out of the ordinary, until an anxious tinge settles in my rib cage. It's in a split instant that I realize the bartender had placed the cup of water on Jin's side rather than my roommate's. With them being too consumed in their chit chatting, they both involuntarily reach for the nearest glass. All of my breath escapes me, watching in agonizing slow motion as the ceramic inches to my roommate's lips.
"W-Wait," I choke out, shifting on my knees on the bar stool to gain leverage. Clumsy as I am, the perspiration from the accumulation of drinks on the table causes my supporting hand to slip in place. Instead of grabbing the sake cup from my roommate's hand, my fingers knock into it, sending it to the table and spilling its contents.
Even though I caused a small mess, a massive catastrophe was averted due to my efforts.
Phew, thank god.
"Yamada-san, is everything alright?" I hear Lee ask the question in shock towards my spontaneous motions.
I nod quickly, grabbing a few napkins and wiping furiously at the puddle of strong liquor. I finish with another sigh of relief, looking up at my roommate with an embarrassed smile, "Everything's fine, except you almost—" my violet eyes widen, staring right at a drop of rice wine smack dap on his bottom lip.
I-Is that back splash from when I knocked it out of his hand?
"Hey, what happened?" Jin leans over, staring from my stiff form to Lee's clueless expression. Jin's sight pauses at my roommate, and he narrows his discerning eyes, "I think you have a little something there, right on your lip," he points out.
No!
"Oh, I do?"
Oh, Jeez.
I saw it coming. Once Jin had brought attention to the liquid stain, my roommate swiped it with one motion of his tongue. Oh no, I feel every hair follicle stiffen at the foreboding imagery, what's going to happen now? I gulp when my roommate reverts his attention back to me, his dark circles growing fuller as he leans dangerously close to me.
"Yamada-san," he addresses me with his face only several inches away.
"Yes?" I answer cautiously, leaning back slightly for a more breathable distance on my part.
"Are you going to drink that?" He tilts his head towards my sake cup.
I fumble for the words that aren't coming out as expected, "U-Um, well, I—" I'm unable to finish my sentence, having to witness my roommate disregard all prohibitions as he snatches the cup and downs it in one swig.
Oh. My. Goodness.
"Breaking your own rules tonight, I see," Jin grins at the statement, giving my roommate a congratulatory pat on his shoulder, "Now that is what I like to call character building." And with that, Jin also downs his Sake glass in attempts to catch up.
"I hardly felt anything with that one," Lee snorts uncharacteristically, flashing out his wallet to wave at the bartender, "I will have another, actually, get me about four more!"
"That is an insane request, especially if plan to take them like shots," Jin laughs, fetching his own wallet to capture the same bartender, "I'll join him for those four sakes."
This really is insane; you shouldn't drink sake like shots!
"Lee-san," I groan meekly in concern, tugging at his arm for some cooperation. "You can't be serious about drinking all those sakes by yourself."
"Oh, Yamada-san," he grins devilishly at me, before paying and receiving his multiple cups. "If you wanted to have one, you should have told me. I would have happily bought one for you!"
"That's not what I was trying to—"
"Better yet, you can have one of mine," Lee interrupts me, placing one of his cups in my hand. Turning to Jin, Lee clinks his glass against his before returning to clink against my cup, "Hurry and do it with me, Yamada-san," he informs hastily me, and without my ability to protest, his hand captures mine and ushers the cup to my lips. My mouth opens to allow the potent mixture to drain down my throat, and I cough when I finish, fanning my watering eyes.
Lee and Jin finish taking their shot, and slam the ceramic cups onto the bar table, ready to take the next one. Before doing so, Lee notices my lips pursing in detest, and chuckles boisterously at my expression.
"There, there, Yamada-san," he speaks to me in a lulling manner, stroking my head and ordering me a glass of water, which I take too willingly. "That should make you feel better."
"Mhm," I mumble, pouting at the fact that I have somehow managed to become the wet blanket in this situation.
"Sorry I took so long, I kinda got lost and—Whoa!" Haruka jumps in, placing her weight on me and staring in 'awe' at the scene of my roommate handling sake shots as if it was second nature. "You guys decide to go all out just when I leave? What the hell," my best friend curses at them, shaking her fists playfully.
"Don't worry honey, I wasn't going to mentioning the sake bombs until you got back," he smirks in her direction, and she lights up, clapping her hands together in excitement. Jin releases a laugh at his wife's elation, "I'll pick up the tab for this round, so don't worry about a thing."
"I don't think…" I attempt to voice out my opinion a second time, but it falls at the seams. I stare at my roommate fully, who appears to be enjoying himself more than usual tonight. And although he has consumed quite a bit of alcohol already, the setting hasn't yielded anything negative.
Maybe his behavior is situational, I ponder over the thought. If that's the case, then everything should be okay. At least I hope so, anyway.
It may just be positive thinking, but for my roommate's sake, I decide it's best to go along with it. Like I've mentioned once before: if you can't beat em', join 'em.
"Alright, I'm ready to take a sake bomb with everyone," I paint a mute smile on my lips, and my row of friends' cheer and clap at my willingness.
As the sake bombs are ordered and placed in front of us, we start the count down 3…2….1! We bang our fists against the bar table, parting the chops sticks settled at the top, and allowing the sake cup to fall inside the larger beer pint. As quickly as possible, I clench my eyes shut to rid of the discomforting wash of heavy barely spice prickling my throat. I'm the last one to finish, and I wipe my mouth of any spills, hurriedly taking my water to dilute the bitter aftertaste.
Allowing everything to settle, the mixture of my previous drinks along with this one has surfaced the unsteadiness that normally complements alcohol. I exhale in content, closing my eyes and swaying with the darkness behind closed eyes. When I open them, I view Lee laughing and saying something to Haruka and Jin, which I'm too distracted to make out.
"Come on, Yamada-san. Let us have some more fun," Lee says with a lustrous smirk, taking me by the hand and pulling me off my stool.
"See you guys later!" Haruka calls, with a wave from her and Jin.
"Ah," I'm unable to say good-bye back, since Lee has taken me away so quickly, that my words would never reach the bar stall at this point. As my hand is perfectly fitted in my roommate's grasp, my lesser sober mind somehow accepts this, squeezing back as I garner him with a question, "Lee-san, where are we going?"
"You will see," he says simply, without turning over his shoulder.
I nod to myself, choosing to remain oblivious and allowing my roommate to take me anywhere he pleases. All the while, I sweep my eyes over the many passerbys', loosely able to distinguish the patterns of each individual's yakata that I brush against. Lost in this colorful cotton sea, I don't notice that Lee pauses in his steps. I mumble an apology or two when I bump into his back, before tending my gaze to what's in front of us.
A game stall?
My roommate releases my hands, purchasing a handful of darts from the vendor, which will be thrown at the rows of balloons on a long wooden board. Settling behind me, he spins me around to face him.
"I want to make this a bit more interesting," he says friskily, taking my hands in one free palm, and guiding them to cover his eyes. I have to stand high on my toes to keep my hands where he wants them, despite already wearing elevated getas. "Closer, I can still see," he instructs me as his hand presses against my lower back, bringing me forward. I hold in a squeak when my chest knocks firmly into his.
"You sure are the perfect blindfold, Yamada-san," Lee leers, pinching a single dart between his thumb and index finger.
I stare squarely at the zipper part of his flak jacket, praying my face isn't as hot as it feels to be.
Unable to see his movements, I feel the shifting of his arm as it steadies for aiming. Although, I'm not sure how well he could aim being that I'm covering his eyes. I'm pulled from these thoughts of skepticism as I hear a 'Pop!' from behind me. My eyes blink wildly at the sound, and it's shortly followed with multiple noises of bursting inflatables. Once I assume he's run out of darts, I uncover his eyes and turn my attention to see a flawless vertical line of popped balloons.
How is that even possible? I gape, more impressed by the unfaltering pattern.
Before I can bask in my amazement, or even claim a prize for him, Lee catches my wrist and whisks me away in his desired direction. We stumble upon another game, this time, requiring the use of a hammer and personal strength. Amidst a gathering crowd, a low chorus of claps resounds as the latest individual attempting to ring the bell had very little ways to receive a prize.
The game is open again, and the vendor bellows for the next contestant to take a gander. My roommate tightens the wrappings of his bandages and waltzes on over, paying his dues and taking up the weighted mallet. He sends me a confident grin before raising the hammer ways above his head, and bringing it down on the force-absorbing base.
The onlookers watch in pure stillness as the metallic ball shoots up the 10-foot tall structure, without any intentions of stopping. A clamor of clapping hands erupts when the bell is struck with a clear 'Bing!' however, a simultaneous gasp settles when the bell is struck with enough force to break off and sling high into the air.
I slap a nervous hand over my mouth, watching my roommate clumsily search the obscure air in order to catch the falling piece. I practically shut my eyes when it lands in his hands, and exhale in relief. Even though the crowd is amazed and hooting, the game vendor is anything but delighted.
"I hope your ready to pay for that," the older man says gruffly, wagging a punishing finger at my roommate.
Just as I'm about to step in, Lee drops the bell and runs towards me, capturing my hand and pulling me back into the crowd. "Hold on tight, Yamada-san," he calls behind him, weaving through the mesh of bodies.
"What the—hey! Get back here!"
I hear the enraged game vendor's lagging voice, and I clasp my roommate's hand as tight as I can, not wanting to slip away. Unfortunately, during our rush, a pair of bodies close in on my outstretched arm, causing me to flinch and let go. I stumble backwards, brushing back and forth between passing villagers. I speak winded apologies, darting my worrisome eyes around my environment, hoping to somehow see the top of my roommate's head. I hear distinctive complaints from behind me, and as I turn over my shoulder, I see the dealer pursuing me close behind. I hold in my yelp and press forward, fitting my smaller frame underneath arms and around swaying forms.
"Lee-san—!" I cry out the last of his name, feeling myself lift entirely off the ground.
My heart knocks uncontrollably in my chest, watching the lit-up world below grow smaller in degree. I succumb to the realization that I'm being carried into the night air. The overwhelming sensation of being so far from the ground sends a shiver down my spine. I close my violet eyes shut, and unknowingly wrap my arms securely around my flying chariot.
T-Thank god I at least had a few drinks tonight.
"Do not worry, Yamada-san. You are safe with me now," I hear Lee say above my head, as he expertly lands on one roof to another. He then laughs, "I almost forgot how small you are! It took me a minute to find you in that crowd back there."
I reserve my answer to a tiny nod, quaking at the wind whipping at my cheeks and exposed ankles. My roommate notices my rather pathetic form, and gradually descends into a low traffic area. As I'm placed on my feet, I support my weakened frame against the wall of a building, trying to calm my sporadic heartbeat.
"Yamada-san," Lee speaks my name with utmost concern, tending regretful circles at me. "Are you alright?"
"Am I…alright?" I heave back, before pushing myself off the wall and stepping near him. "Lee-san, you were incredible!" I practically hop on my toes, "I mean, I won't lie, I was pretty scared for a moment. Especially when we were being chased and all, but you winning those games like that, and how you just swopped me up, and went 'whoosh' into the air—" I inhale a calming breath, releasing contentedly with a smile, "It was like a movie, it really was."
My heartfelt reply polishes away the remaining doubt in my roommate's eyes, and he grins broadly with a modest shade of pink catching his cheeks. The same tint crawls into my own skin, watching him gather closer to me and taking up one of my braids in his fingers.
"Having a sweet young woman compliment me as much as you do, Yamada-san," his eyebrows furrow in an interesting way, stroking my braid till the very tip, "Makes me very happy." Keeping his hold on my hair, an entirely new smirk spreads across his lips, spreading a tightening feeling in my stomach, "I think it is only fair that I should repay you with my actions."
Repay me?
O O O
"Faster, Lee-san. Please!"
"If that is how you feel, then I will not hesitate anymore."
I grip the chains of the swing set, bracing myself as I feel my roommate ease his hands against my back. With a forward push, I gain the momentum for him to drive against me with greater force. I begin to cry out in excitement as my whole body feels as if it will fall right into the vast twilight. The air sweeping against me as I'm swung back and forth simulates the effect of flying; except with the added comfort of being relatively close to the ground. After swinging for a couple of more minutes, I acquire my 'payment' in the form of childhood nostalgia. I signal my roommate to reign me in, allowing me to get off. Once my feet steady against the sand, I turn to view my roommate, gasping when I see him collapse onto his back.
I trudge past the swing set of the empty playground, practically throwing myself on my knees at his side. "Lee-san," I call his name apprehensively, glancing at his closed eyelids and flushed face. I bite down on my bottom lip, "Are you okay?"
"I am fine," Lee exhales out, regarding me with half closed eyes. "My head is just…spinning all of a sudden. I do not think I can stand straight."
Oh, it's just the last of the alcohol kicking in, I sigh in relief.
"Well, If you feel any sort of pain at all in your stomach, just let me know," I reply, brushing away the specs of sand from his bangs. "I want to make sure you're safe."
"Yamada-san," he speaks my name sluggishly, and I tend my eyes to his. "Why are you so kind?"
"Me?" I respond back curiously, before lowering my eyes at the flattery, "I'm not kind, Lee-san. I'm just…doing what any other friend would do. Or at least, what a friend should do." I smile down at him, "I'm sure I could count on you to take care of me if I drank too much."
Lee shakes his head at my answer, "I meant in general…not just tonight," he releases another clumsy breath, closing his heavy lids over those dark hazy circles, "it almost scares me how nice Yamada-san is."
"Why would that scare you?" I ask, tilting my head in a pure dumbfounded manner.
"Because I am afraid…of someone else noticing your kindness," he speaks almost inaudibly, with the apparent pink flush somehow stretching farther across his complexion. "If they notice, they will try to take you away…I am sure of it." With a low groan, his arm lifts to cover most of his features from me, "If I do not hurry, Yamada-san will leave…and I will be a fool out of luck."
Unrepressable warmth gathers at my cheeks, coloring my entire appearance, more so than alcohol ever could. I swallow my fluster as much as I can in order to form a coherent sentence, "You don't have to rush, Lee-san," I confess timidly, tilting a supportive smile. "I'm not going anywhere. Not anytime soon, at least."
I pause, feeling the same pulsing effects of a firework's show inside of me. My own mouth trembles, shaken to say the words that I promised myself to retain as long as it took. However, under the safe guard of my roommate's current condition, I'm selfish enough to speak.
"I really like you, Lee-san." I admit, curling my fingers hard against my lap. "That's why, I'll wait for you."
My roommate drags his arm down to view me, raising his large eyebrows high in revelation, "Really?"
I dip my head shyly, before lifting my chin confidently, "Really, really."
"That is good to hear," he sighs softly in content.
After a few steady rises of his chest, I hear the flag of unconsciousness raised as a light snore. I chuckle softly, finding it an astonishing quality of his to fall so perfectly asleep in a matter of seconds. As he lay peacefully, I allow myself the luxury of staring at his features longer than I ever would when making direct eye contact. I take in his bangs, which have fallen slightly out of place to expose a bit of his forehead, trailing my view down the bridge of his nose, to where just below; his lips remain parted in relaxation.
During my curious stare, a strange and rare occurrence takes place in this universe, where I'm neglectful of the cause and effects of my acted upon intentions. Predetermined thoughts that shouldn't be realized, because if I commit to them, I'll never leave myself alone. Experiencing them over and over again, in a merry-go-round of hauntingly intoxicating memories that I could regret and cherish my whole life.
It's in this night, under the precise pattern of stars aligned just above my head, that I lean to take something from my roommate without his awareness. The contact is a seemingly innocent implication of my feelings, just an insignificant brush. Yet, despite all the excuses I could fathom for it, I would still be considered a common thief.
That is, if I was ever caught.