(Sorry for the wait again, been busy but here you gooooooo)
Blackout
It was a shocking event. Naruto rapidly put his hand down over the 2 leaving the joker untouched. Naruto breathes heavily and picked up five more cards from his deck. Sasuke placed his 6 of diamonds over the joker.
"Uh..didn't see that coming" Sara states. "Why didn't he used the joker he placed down?"
"...i think he has something under his sleeve" Choji answers curious about that too.
Ino was appalled. Naruto was going to lose against Sasuke if her memory serves her right about the cards that were played. Though, who would have thought jokers would be used in this game. Also the fact that Naruto was enjoying himself with that small grin of his. She smiles at that but saw a change in Naruto's expression.
Sasuke can feel himself pinned in a corner. Just like when they were kids. Naruto found his way through a difficult path. No matter how fast he was, Naruto would think of a way to beat it. Sasuke feared that Naruto lost that drive in him but this proved he still has it. He picks another card up to replace the one he put down.
Naruto was beginning to rub the edges of his cards. He realized that feeling locked away inside him was about to come out. He needed to stop himself. His eyes were shadowed by his hair.
Sasuke placed a seven over his six then the eight in his hand. He replaces his cards with new ones and was in luck. He was able to put more cards down. He quickly placed them down that he didn't realize, Naruto stopped moving. Ino and Sara took note of this from the side lines. "What's he doing!?" Ino thought confused. Sasuke was going to win if Naruto doesn't move. Ino shifts her eyes to Sasuke's side and was surprised to see no cards on his side or in his hand.
It was quiet for awhile until Naruto closed his cards in his hand and placed them down. He exhales.
"Well I guess you win-" Naruto said raising his head to Sasuke but was stunned to see him go over the table and grip his collar, almost lifting him from his chair.
This sudden reaction caused Ino and Sara to jump from their seats.
"Calm down Sasuke" Ino spoke to him not wanting things to escalate.
"Whats going on here?"
Another voice caused the group to turn their heads to the door. Anko was standing their with one eyebrow raised. Sasuke restrained himself and sat back down.
"A-anko..you see-" Ino said gathering her thoughts for an answer.
"Nevermind that...there is something important I have to tell your club" Anko tells her.
"What is it?" Sara asked.
"The first festival of the year is going to be in October...all the clubs in the school is expected to provide something for everyone" Anko explains.
"Ah...now I remember, last year's festival was great though I didn't get to see them all" Ino said.
"And the food was tasty" choji said with a grin. "So many vendors, so many different types of food.."
"Wait wait….so does our club need to participate?" Naruto said remembering how chaotic the festival was with people walking everywhere, talking, screaming, singing. It was a horror trying to get to class.
"Yes...you need to be able to attract the students to your club" Anko tells him.
"That means I can't keep it a secret but" Ino whispers to herself but then realized something she didn't like.
"Why do we have too" Naruto said with a heavy sigh. "We will be swarmed with the queen of hearts fan boys the moment she gets the cards out...even before that"
Ino bit her bottom lip and squeezed her fingers. Anko takes a deep breath.
"Fine then...just don't do anything...though if you did that...this club won't last too long" Anko tells them.
"What do you mean?" Ino asked shocked.
"In total there are three festivals in this school...the first is where every club participates but the second and third are the festivals were the most popular clubs shine...then theres the main one...the city festival where clubs from different parts of the school show what they have" Anko exclaims.
"If that's the case…" Naruto said sitting up. "We just need to cut the queen out"
"Uh?...what are you getting at?" Sara said with a glare, surprised to hear something that rude from him.
However, Ino just turned her attention to him. Sasuke also did the same. There was a different expression on Naruto's face. It seemed more, confident.
"Think...if we don't let anyone know that the queen of hearts is the club's president...it equals" Naruto said hitting his hand with his fist. "Fairness...if we add her in...it won't be unfair to the other clubs since almost the whole student body will come to our club because of her…"
"So you want her to not be part of the club" Choji states.
"...not exactly" Naruto said softy.
He hesitated to answer after noticing everyone's eyes on him. He didn't think they would be attentive at what he was trying to say. His thought process was, without Ino then this club will fail and done. No more festival or club. He will have his isolation back. Though, that thought stopped after he felt something sting his spirit. Well more at his subconscious. He knew it was bad to think that way. Then his eyes shifted to something that should never have shifted too.
Ino's eyes were staring into his. It irritated him and the way they were now was different than the other times. It was like they were asking him for help.
"...she can still be part of it but...in the shadows" Naruto said in a lower tone.
"Like behind the scenes" Sara said and snapped her fingers. "That can work...she can plan it out while we just follow her"
"Sounds good" Choji said.
"A great idea...though, Ino wouldn't enjoy her own club then-" Anko said until Ino intervenes.
"No, this can work" Ino said having her head turned to Anko while Naruto sat back down. "It will be fair and I can make this club great"
"Well then...I hope to see you guys in the festival" Anko said leaving the room.
"Well I should be leaving too…" Choji said turning his head to the window. "It seems like the rain is falling light...rather go now then when it starts pouring"
"I should too" Sasuke said gathering his cards up.
"Good thing I brought my umbrella" Sara said pulling it out.
Choji left first then Sara. Though Sasuke walked passed Naruto and whispered.
"Try that again….it will be more than cards that your losing" Sasuke whispers then leaving.
Naruto just closes his eyes and picks his bag up. He starts walking to the exit. Meanwhile, Ino continues to stand in the same place.
"You were enjoying yourself again" Ino spoke quietly.
"Hm?.." Naruto said, and turns to Ino.
"You hate playing cards...yet you still pick them up" Ino said sliding her hand into her pocket. "I would think...if you hate something so much...you wouldn't bother yourself with it"
"hey..I needed to join a club to graduate" Naruto tells her. "Not because I want to go back to playing cards-"
"Yet there was other clubs...you didn't need to bother with this one...plus" Ino said lowering her head a little. "You don't like me….the popular girl that everyone loves...and that's the reason you don't-"
She pauses causing Naruto to feel a sense of danger coming from her fist. Hear it comes. He thought winning in their first card game was going to make her forget what Anko told her but no. His eyes then gets attracted to the purple covered cards.
"We aren't leaving until….I beat you" Ino said to him in a serious tone. "And when you stop seeing me has the popular girl"
It should come to be a surprised for her to do this but Naruto was more focus on the colour of the cards. "Purple...how many decks have that coloured cover?" he thought. The colour itself just zips through his brain and connected it to the short haired girl he meant before he moved. It must have been a coincidence. All girls like purple. That's right.
That's what Naruto concludes but there was a small cloud of doubt in his mind. There was one thing that would prove him wrong. He reaches his hand out. Ino wasn't sure what he was going to do. He had his hand over her cards and it kept going closer to them until she felt the heat of his finger tips touch her hand.
"Ahi" Ino said jolting and dropping the cards that spread everywhere on the floor. "N-Naruto what were you!"
Naruto didn't pay attention to her and kept moving his eyes from each card that fell. It didn't seem like there was one that was different. A sigh of relief left his mouth. He turns around to the door.
"Hey!..your not going to leave until you help me pick it up!" Ino said with a growl.
"I was not the one who dropped it" Naruto said shrugging his shoulders.
"Grr-" Ino said until a loud thunder clap was heard outside. "Oh"
The rain started pouring once again. It was not good for Naruto and he was definitely not going to walk through this kind of weather. He can hear Ino snicker with a smirk. He glares at Ino.
"Whats the matter...why not go" Ino said, beginning to gather up her cards. "And get sick again"
She mutters under her breath. Naruto's eye started to twitch after that comment. He wasn't going to fall into her game. Instead, he thought of a better way.
"Alright...I'll listen to you" Naruto said stepping out. "Might as well wait in the classroom...much quieter there"
"Wait what-" Ino said having her plan backfired on her. "Naruto help me-"
"Sorry...you told me to go and plus" Naruto said already out in the hallway. "Your playing a game...52 pick up!"
"NARUTO" Ino shouts and hears another bang of thunder.
Ino growls louder and picks her cards up faster. "That idiot!" she thought getting the last card. It was a good thing she kept the other card in her back pocket or it would have been 53 pick up. She hears a fizzing noise that lasted a few seconds until it went away along with the lights in the room and in the entire building.
Ino jolts after hearing the wind create a whistling noise when it clashes against the window. There was a light sound of thunder banging in the clouds in the background. She decides to leave the room. Sadly, it was worse since the hallway was pitch black. There was some light coming through the windows but not so much. It was going to be difficult walking down the stairs. Plus, the noise coming from outside keeps making her jump.
She was afraid and wasn't sure what she can do. Leaving the school wasn't a choice since the weather wasn't great and staying in the school was worse. Being in a big building alone in the dark, only in her night dreams that happens. Then she remembers, there was one other person in the school still. She stops walking after feeling no floor once she stepped one foot forward. She can feel the railing too which means, she is at the top of the staircase. Another loud bang echoes through the building causing Ino to yelp and bend her knees and grip the hand rail. She needed help. She is too afraid to go down.
An idea pops into her mind. She pulls out her phone and turns it on. She could use her phone as a flashlight but seeing the battery level, it won't last her that long. She should stop texting in class. A second idea comes to mind. She goes to her contacts and slides to Naruto's name. She had her finger over the message icon but from past experiences, he hasn't answered her messages. She grips her phone and decides to turn on the flashlight feature.
A beam of light comes out from her camera, showing her the stairs in front of her. She begins to walk down them. Once she reaches the floor, she shines her light everywhere to see what's around her. Though, she still wasn't sure where she should go. She gulps and starts walking forward slowly. It didn't sound like the rain wasn't going to ease up anytime soon. It kept hitting the window. She was breathing out her mouth. She felt the temperature drop. Her light was slowly dimming down. It was a matter of time until her phone reaches zero.
Another bang of thunder is heard but much louder than the others and more ferocious like a lion roaring through the skies. At the same time, Ino felt something hot touch her shoulder. The sound and touch caused her to scream and drop to her knees. Her phone hit the floor and the light blinks until it stops. Ino held her head and shut her eyes tight, shaking in fear.
She soon feels heat against her face. She slowly opens her eyes and saw light beaming to her. It was bright. She could hardly open her eyes wide enough to see who was behind the light..
"Heh...scared of a little thunder...Queen of hearts" Naruto said holding his phone to her.
Ino was surprised to see him. She rises up and was relieved to see him. Though she wasn't going to show it. She coughs and turns her head away.
"No...but you yes" Ino states.
"Hmph...well then, if thats so.." Naruto said turning around. "You will be fine by yourself"
"Ah..wait wait-" Ino said pulling his shirt. "No, I was joking…"
"Oh" Naruto said in a sarcastic tone, looking over his shoulder.
"I am scared.." Ino said in defeat, not liking how her plan backfired again.
"Hm" Naruto starts walking away from her causing her to let go of his shirt.
Ino rubs her arm. It didn't seem like Naruto cared. She reaches down to grab her phone. She can feel a crack in her screen. Something she didn't want her phone to have. She tries turning it on but no good either.
"Hi..what are you still standing their?" Naruto asked.
"uh?..I thought.." Ino said confused.
"If you're scared then come with me...it looks like I have more power on my phone than yours" Naruto said entering a classroom.
Ino speeds runs into the classroom.
OOO
Naruto placed his phone on his desk with the light beaming up to the ceiling. It wasn't strong enough to cover the room but only around his desk. He takes a seat and leans back. Ino walks down the aisle, feeling weird being in their classroom even though school was over. She takes her seat in her desk.
"I never thought this would happen" Ino spoke playing with her fingers.
"Me either" Naruto said a bit annoyed that it did.
"How long do you think we will be here?" Ino asked.
"Judging from the weather...for awhile" Naruto said having his head turn to the window.
"...I hope my parents don't get too worried about me" Ino said.
Naruto didn't reply and kept looking at the rain, sliding down his window. It seemed like their conversation ended. Ino begins to tap her desk. Since the room was empty, the tap can be clearly heard.
"Can you stop that?" Naruto asked facing her.
"Hm?...what?" Ino said turning to him and starts tapping faster.
"...you know" Naruto said noticing she sped up her finger.
"Hmm.." Ino said looking to the board then tapped hard on her finally one. "Alright...only if you agree to play me?"
"Heh...your still on that?" Naruto states.
"Why does it bother you so much" Ino said turning her whole body to him.
"hmm...I told you the reason already" Naruto answers.
"Yes but...it was so vague...and unbelievable...why would playing cards cause you to lose your friends" Ino exclaims.
"...if the game your playing had a wager...then it turns into something else" Naruto replies. "..gambling"
"That's true...that's why there is casinos...and some card games are made for gambling" Ino exclaims.
"You can say that but...almost anything you can turn into gambling...and it doesn't have to involve money" Naruto tells her.
"So...like deals instead...like you did with me" Ino states. "In that game of speed"
"Ya.." Naruto said in a low tone, still feel something choking him from behind about that card game.
"So what was the deal attached to speed that made you hate playing cards?" Ino asked curious.
"Hmm...putting it simply..if i were to lose that game...i lose everything" Naruto answers looking up at the ceiling.
"..oh..uh...such high stakes..though how is it even possible" Ino said crossing her arms. "Losing everything so your friends left you after that card game then?"
"Hmm..not really but the thought and feeling I had during that game...I was young so...something like that just made me scared" Naruto said seeing his hand shake. "I lost the joy in playing cards"
Naruto turns back to watching the rain fall. Ino felt bad that he had that kind of experience playing cards. It didn't sound like he was the one who came up with that kind of deal. Who ever he was playing against must have been the one. She made a fist. If only she was there, she can stop that from happening.
She unclenches her fist, realizing what she was thinking. Also the fact she had a full conversation with Naruto. Is he still sick she wonders or could it be because they were alone. She didn't feel irritated but safe and in this kind of situation that was best. Still, she did learn a little more about her serious classmate. Though, she doesn't think calling him a friend would fit. Oddly, she doesn't think his view about her hasn't changed. She pulls out her deck again.
"I understand but….not all card games will have such high stakes...and the people you are having the game with are different from that one person that you played with years ago..you can't let one game stop you from playing" Ino said shuffling her deck. "I saw you enjoying yourself when you were playing Sasuke-"
Naruto slowly turns his torse to Ino. He reaches for his phone then turns off the light.
"Hey!.." Ino said raising her voice.
"I'm not going to play speed with you" Naruto tells her.
"Grrr...here I thought we were having a moment" Ino states with a tick mark. "We still have the light from outside..we can still play..its no different from when we played at your apartment"
"It is.." Naruto said holding back his anger.
"Rugh..just play me" Ino said shoving the cards in Naruto's face.
"Sorry if I'm not following orders...queen of hearts" Naruto said trying to push the cards away.
"Stop calling me that!...where did that come from too!" Ino yells.
"Don't know but its fitting!" Naruto replies.
"Fitting!?...oh really" Ino said slamming the cards on her desk. "why!? Tell me...Tell me why I am."
"Because…" Naruto said a little hesitates when seeing Ino's piercing eyes look deep at him.
"You can't judge a book by its cover" Ino said in a serious tone, leaning in close giving him the best intense glare she ever made.
"Saying the person that thinks that I slack off" Naruto said glaring back but leans away from her.
"Thats.." Ino said, moving back with a small frown. "Ok...maybe I miss judge you too since...you look like your napping in class"
"Sometimes" Naruto said softly.
"What!?" Ino shouts.
"Can we drop this...your getting too loud" Naruto said blocking his ears with his hands.
"Grr im only this loud because your making me-"
"No more like empty classroom...creates more space for your voice to just echo all around..and the fact that your close to me-" Naruto said until getting a hit on top of the head which surprised him.
"Enough!" Ino yells.
Naruto gulps and didn't reply this time. She had her fist up causing goosebumps to appear all over his arm. There was a dark ora around Ino that Naruto can feel. He didn't think she would hit him and yet, it felt familiar. He starts rubbing his head. "Its been awhile since i got hit in the head...well there was that time when my mom hit me with the frying pan.." he thought until he hears Ino cough a little.
"Sorry...but not really you did deserve it" Ino said resting her chin on her hand while looking at the board.
"Uh..uh" Naruto said slowly.
"There are types of people I hate…one being those fanboys of mines...I didn't ask to be popular...I just, acted myself…" Ino states then shifting her eyes to Naruto. "The other type would be the worse type...someone judging who I am as a person by the way I look and social statues...and not for the girl behind the name...my true self"
Ino slammed her fist on the desk causing to flinch. His eyes were on her.
"Those eyes of yours...they look like they judge whoever they see-" Ino states.
"You may know half….though...tell me this" Naruto said lowering his tone. "What else can my eyes judge off from what they can see?"
"What do you mean?" Ino asked, confused.
"Do they only see appearance...or?" Naruto said slowly narrowing his eyes on her.
"Or...what is he getting at?" Ino thought until having an idea pop into her head. She covers her chest and leans back. "Does he have x-ray vision?" she thought with a light blush. "No wait...thats impossible...plus don't think he is the type" she thought lowering her arms. "So what is it then...what else does his eyes see…"
"From that reaction...you don't understand" Naruto said sighing and looking away.
"I-I do!" Ino said raising her voice.
Suddenly the lights turned back on in the building. It startled the two in their seats. Naruto turned his head to the window and notice the rain falling lightly. It was finally time to leave but there was a small little voice in his head he wanted to ignore. Though, not answering it would be worse. It involves the person next to him.
"The power is back on...and its not raining like crazy!" Ino said in a cheerful tone.
"...I'll show you what I mean" Naruto said getting up from his seat and starts walking toward the exit.
"What?...hey wait.." Ino said running to him. "Your not making sense"
Naruto then stops in front of the doorway causing Ino to stop in her tracks behind him. He then awkwardly turns to her. Ino stepped back a little with a disgusted expression after looking at his new expression..
"Come to my place after school tomorrow" Naruto said with a forceful grin on his face, trying to hold back his anger for suggesting this idea.
(not sure how long the next one will be but it will be up once its finished!)