As the small group of friends watch Choji move off to find something wrapped in bacon and figure out where things went wrong, a small voice chimes up to draw their attention away from the bemused young man. "Well that was definitely unexpected." They all turn to see the smiling face of Hotano Nahima backed up by Samui staring directly at Naruto. She is wearing an ocean blue hōmongi style kimono that has an ocean scene on it that depicts small fishing boats, seabirds and coastline with brown cliffs topped by a dark green forest. The obi is a sea-green color while the obiage is a pearl white color as is the obijime. Her collarbone length light brown hair has had the last few inches dyed a sky blue and curled so that it frames her face.
Naruto is completely caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the young noble from the Land of Lightning and stares at her in open mouth disbelief. "Uhhh, Hotano-sama how nice it is to see you again. I didn't know that you were coming to this festival too."
Nahima places a hand on Naruto's arm and lets out a girlish giggle. "Well, since Darui and the others were coming to this festival my father felt that it would be a good chance for them to escort me and my brother here before escorting us down to the coast to take a boat back home." She glances over at Hinata appraisingly before stepping in closer to Naruto. "When I found out that you were also going to be here it felt like I was destined to make this whole trip. If I had known before they picked me and my brother up I would have asked that Darui to make a detour through your village and ask you come along. Once you and the other meet us at the capitol we could have all traveled here together and spent several days together talking."
Hinata make a mental note to send a thank you gift to the Hokage when she gets back to the village for keeping Naruto's attendance a secret. She bows to the noble from the Land of Lightning and introduces herself. "Greetings Hotano-sama, it is a pleasure to meet you my name is Hyuga Hinata." Remembering what Hanabi had told her of the mission she and Naruto had protecting the twin siblings from the Land of Lightning, Hinata decided she should interject herself before things gets complicated for Naruto. By the worried look in his body posture she is pretty sure he needs a moment to collect his thoughts.
Thankful for the interruption, Naruto pulls his arm away from Nahima's touch and gestures towards Hinata. "I'm sorry the whole Choji thing has got me a little flustered, Hinata this is Hotano Nahima of the Land of Lightning. Hotano-sama, Hinata is…"
"From the Hyuga clan, of course, I should have recognized her family name the moment I saw those pale eyes." Nahima gives Hinata a slight bow in response to the one she was just given. "They are the same as the eyes of that little girl who was following you around like a love-sick puppy the last time I saw you Uzumaki-san." The girl's eyes look Hinata up and down blatantly accusing Hinata of doing the very same thing. "Your sister perhaps?"
"Damn." Temari whispers in Shikamaru's ear as the young noble's slight hits the truth of Hinata's past of silently admiring Naruto from afar more than the girl could possibly know about.
"Anyways." Nahima makes a dismissive gesture with one hand as if bored of the topic already. "I had asked that Karui woman to come over here and tell you that I wish to speak with you privately, Uzumaki-san. Unfortunately, she got tripped up in her own personal matters and did not get to relate my request quickly enough, so I came over to make my request personally."
Karui, who had been about to deliver the message to Naruto when Nahima had appeared, opens her mouth to say something in her defense. Her response is held in check by a cold stare from Samui, so instead she bows apologetically and steps away from the group. She needs a drink after all of this drama, she didn't know Choji was dating somebody, not that it mattered. Relationship status didn't come into the conversation, which had been mostly about good places they had found to eat during their time as shinobi.
"Okay, sure. What do you want to talk about?" Naruto's posture relaxes as he waits patiently for Nahima to start speaking. He quickly becomes confused as the girl gives him a perturbed look and places her fists on her hips.
"I said I wish to speak with you privately." Nahima then looks directly at Hinata's face and then down her outfit before looking back at Naruto. Who does this person thinks she is wearing a furisode kimono to a party like this, it's like she is flaunting her unmarried status. She is most likely blatantly advertising so that Uzumaki Naruto will notice. 'It's pathetic if you ask me.'
Naruto takes in a deep breath through his nose as he prepares to let Nahima know that she can go talk to a damn wall for all he cares if she is going to…
"That's quite alright, I need to go to the powder room and check my makeup anyways." Hinata interjects before Naruto can release his obviously building tirade is her defense. "If you will please excuse me, Naruto-kun." She places a hand on his arm and lets it slowly slide off in a loving caress as she lets her use of Naruto's name with an honorific hang in the air like a mic drop before giving Nahima a little bow.
"Sure Hinata, whatever you need." Naruto is so thankful for interruption, and by the relieved sigh coming from Shikamaru he is not the only one who is happy that Hinata stepped in and calmed him down before he had one of his nearly famous outbursts.
Nahima's mouth drops open a little as she watches Naruto stare at Hinata as she steps away with lovesick smirk on his face. To give herself a moment she quickly gesture towards a nearby corner for them to talk. As soon as they reach the corner, with Samui a polite few steps away, she turns and stares directly into his eyes. "I had wanted to discuss with you further about my offer of a marriage alliance, but by the way you were looking at that girl as she walked away I am going to guess that she is more than a teammate to you, Naruto." There, if that Hyuga person can call him by his first name then she will do the same.
Naruto hunches his shoulders and holds out his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "When we reached the Land of Fire capital you didn't give me a chance to tell you that I was dating somebody. I was caught off guard by your offer that you were out of sight before I could collect my thoughts."
"So… pale-eyed girls… that's your type?" Nahima does her best to hide her hurt feelings behind a look of honest curiosity in her dark brown eyes. She has read about people being attracted to only certain types of people in the love stories she has read. She knew that Naruto had acted very protective towards the young girl the last time that had met, but had assumed that he just liked younger women. He was just protecting his girlfriend's little sister who has a crush on his as well. So it seems that he prefers pale-eyed women with a more mature figured, that Hinata person definitely fills out that outfit she is wearing. Nahima has to force herself to not cross her arms over her girlishly under-developed chest as a wave of inadequacy surges through her psyche.
Naruto's mind freezes as his brain tries to come up with an answer to the girl's question. 'Damn why does this girl always come up with weird questions?' He had never really considered being attracted to a certain type of woman. The comparison between Hinata and the only other girl he had ever really cared about is so stark that it would be easier to compare the sun and moon than come up with a commonality between the two girls. Besides thinking about his old teammate in that kind of way right now is seriously putting a damper on his good mood. Tonight is his big night with Hinata, and he doesn't want to get distracted from his goal.
Hinata makes her way towards the ladies room, thankful that she has an excuse to get away from yet another female coming on to her boyfriend before she gives in to the less polite voice in the back of her mind and says something un-diplomatic to the obnoxious little noble. She knows that the girl stands no chance with Naruto, but just seeing somebody with designs on him caused her to nearly forget her job as a diplomat and slap that girl for being so forward with her boyfriend. Her thoughts are derailed as the one person she was planning on avoiding all night stops right in front of the ladies room and gives her a friendly smile with one eyebrow raised. Hinata comes to a complete stop and bows deeply to the smiling man. "Nishimura Tomogiro-sama, it is so nice to see you again." She hopes that her face is not betraying just how big of a lie she just told to the noble from the Land of Wind.
Tomogiro shows no sign that he noticed the strained look upon her face as he returns the bow. He is wearing burgundy colored robes with dark blue colored cuffs and high throat hugging collar. The large cuff and collar are accented with an asian dragon embroidered in silver thread. His long black hair, which reaches halfway down his back, makes the silver circlet over his brow with its triangular cut amethyst stand out. "I feel the same. I was very pleased when I heard that the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan's leader was part of the delegation from the Leaf Village. I actually came to this celebration hoping that your father was going to be here so that he and I could discuss the offer I made late last year." He raises his eyebrows questioningly to see if Hinata is going to be forthcoming with a response to his offer.
Hinata, not wanting anybody to walk by on their way to the restroom and overhear their conversation, glances about for some place more private. She sees a slight open space near the doors leading to the balcony and gestures that they move over there to discuss things.
As they are crossing the room Tomogiro places one hand on Hinata's and gestures to the dance floor just as the band begins to play their next song. "How about we dance as we discuss the future?" He shakes his head and smiles coyly as she tries to find the right words of refusal. "You are not about to refuse a polite request from a member of the royal family are you, I thought your father would have taught you that it is rude to out-right refuse a royal request. You wouldn't want to cause a diplomatic incident would you, Hinata-chan?"
Hinata, her mind a little flustered at hearing him address her so casually, cannot think of a polite way to get herself out of this pickle she is in without causing a public scene. She had promised her father that she would not bring shame to her family while on this mission. Unfortunately, the very words on her tongue right now would make her boyfriend very proud, but not her father. She glances over at Naruto and thankfully he seems completely distracted by his conversation with Nahima so hopefully he will stay that way until her business is concluded with Tomogiro. "Just one dance." Hinata relaxes her body and allows him to pull her onto the dance floor.
"That is all I will need." Tomogiro takes Hinata's left hand and expertly slides an arm around her waist. He begins to guide her about the dancefloor without ever breaking eye contact. "So, I have been patiently waiting for a response from either you, or your father. Honestly I was hoping that the acceptance letter would be from you personally, or even a surprise visit from the both of you to the capital."
Hinata flinches away and bends into the next twirl of the dance as he leans dangerously close to her ear. "I thought that your parents had changed their mind once otou-sama explained the requirements of such a request to a member of the Hyuga clan."
Tomogiro shrugs slightly just before dipping Hinata through the next twirl. "They did, but I am the middle son of the Wind Daimyo's youngest brother. I will live a life of ease and I will have everything I could possibly want given to me by just snapping my fingers." As he pulls her out of the dip he brings her face so close to his own that is causes Hinata to blush. "Almost everything it seems."
An easy kunai throw across the room, the people close to Naruto hear a growl-like sound escape his throat just before he speaks. "What the hell?"
Shikamaru, who is keeping tabs on Naruto while he is talking with the young noble from the Land of Lightning, looks up in the direction Naruto is facing and rubs his forehead in frustration. He is going to put in a request for a long vacation once he is done with this mission. That is if he doesn't have a nervous breakdown before he get back to the Leaf Village.
Temari's voice almost purrs as she spies what is causing Naruto's exclamation and her boyfriend's frustration. "Oh my, things look like they are about to get even more interesting." The embarrassment caused by Yukata is probably going to be completely forgotten once Naruto loses his cool and makes a very public spectacle, because there is just no way he will just stand over here quietly while Hinata is dancing with a handsome noble. She really should try and help Shikamaru before her younger brother is put into a predicament by an argument between his best friend and one of their nation's heirs.
Naruto leans to the side to ask a question of Shikamaru as he walks up, but his eyes don't veer from the dancefloor. "I thought she said that she was going to the bathroom?" His eyes flicker across the room for a split second and then back towards Hinata. "That is nowhere near the bathroom."
"Well, with the way they are twirling about they will be probably be near there soon enough." Nahima says as she makes a circular motion with one finger. "Maybe that's where they started."
"You're not helping the situation." Shikamaru says as he looks over at Temari for some assistance.
"Who is that… guy?" Naruto almost said 'deadman', but a clearing of the throat from Shikamaru jolted him just enough to keep him from making a death threat out loud. No, that would not have been a threat it would have been a prediction of just how short of a life this guy was going to live. Yeah, that's going to be this guy's new name, 'Mister-soon-to-be-living-the-rest-of-his-short-life-in-agonizing-pain'. He can't help but let a mirthless smirk turn up one corner of his mouth.
Temari leans over and speaks softly so that only the other three can hear her voice. "That is Nishimura Tomogiro he is…"
Before he can stop himself a sound of recognition escapes Shikamaru's lips. "Ohhhhh…" Shikamaru can't help but cringe at stupid slip he just made, and he knows exactly what is coming next.
Naruto's eyes tear away from the dancefloor and glares at Shikamaru with a promise of violence if the man doesn't start explaining why he just said 'ohhh' in such a manner. "Why does it sound like you recognize that guy's name in a way that I am not going to like, Shikamaru?"
"Wait…" Temari's mouth drops open as if some pieces of information she knew suddenly came together and completed a puzzle. "Oh my." As Naruto glances at her and then back at Shikamaru, Temari pauses to try and decide whether to help her boyfriend in what is about to become a sticky situation, or just watch the show. Fortunately, if there ever was a person to come up with a good plan it is Nara Shikamaru. 'Let's just see how that mind of his comes up with a fix this time.' If he doesn't come up with a good one quickly and needs some help she can hold that over his head for a while.
The pleasant smile does not leave Tomogiro's face as he glides across the dancefloor with Hinata. "From the very moment we met last year I could not stop thinking about you, Hinata." When she averts her gaze he puts a little more flourish into his movement to force her to look back into his eyes. "So even when my parents decided not to pursue a match between the two of us I choose to accept your clan's terms. I personally wrote to the elders of your clan just after the Winter Solstice to see if my personal acceptance would be satisfactory. Once they said yes, I wrote your father asking to discuss his terms in more detail."
Hinata nearly stumbles as her body stiffens in surprise. She had no idea that her grandfather had gotten involved or that her father had received another correspondence from Tomogiro. "I… I thought that I explained in my last letter that I would be a poor choice as a wife." Her posture becomes more assured as she finds the words to re-explain her situation. "I already love someone deeply, and I have loved him for as long as I can remember. There could never be room for another in my heart for as long as I live."
Tomogiro does not seem to be bothered at all by Hinata's words. "I know, but when we last talked you admitted that he did not know of your feelings and had not even shown any signs of ever feeling the same, at least from what I was able to get you to confess. I am a patient man and I am sure that given time, you could find room in your wonderful heart to love me as well." As they go through the next turn he brushes his body ever so slightly against Hinata's, causing yet another blush of embarrassment to color her cheeks. "That is unless your situation has changed. Is it possible that the young man glaring at us right now is the very man in question?"
Hinata looks over Tomogiro's shoulder in concern to see Naruto looking, eyes narrowed angrily, in their direction. What is she going to do now? How can she quickly explain everything to Naruto before… oh no, what is Temari saying to Naruto to cause him to look at her like that? Did she just tell Naruto-kun about Tomogiro and his proposal?
Deciding that Shikamaru was taking too long Temari jumps right in and starts talking. If she has guessed wrong hopefully he will jump in and correct her before anything bad happens, hopefully. "Well, last summer the formal treaty between the Five Great Nations, which followed the groundwork set in place by the Five Kages at the start of the last war, was signed. The Land of Fire was host since it is in the center between the other five nations, and the hero of the war is a citizen of that country. Dignitaries from each nation were sent, as well as various diplomats to attend the signing and the celebration that followed."
Naruto remembers all of the talk about the big treaty signing. He also remembers being relieved that it was between the leaders of the nations and shinobi were there only as security and assistance when needed, except for the Kages of course. He didn't feel like being paraded around and asked the same stupid questions over and over again by a bunch of people who had no real clue what the hidden villages had sacrificed to win the peace everyone was enjoying. The Hokage must have been pretty sure that he would have gotten drunk and made an off-hand comment, potentially undermining the fragile peace, so she found a nice long mission for him. Not too far away just in case something did happen, but far enough.
Temari, noticing Naruto's distraction, lets out a little sigh before continuing. She tells them that from what she has heard from people she knows in the capital of the Land of Wind, Nishimura-sama became infatuated with someone that he met at the treaty signing. What makes that of any significance is that he is quite the ladies' man, and as you can see very handsome too, so for him to suddenly stop showing up at events with a new woman on his arm each time is major news. "My guess is that the woman he became obsessed with is the one he is dancing with right now, if the big smile on his face is anything to go by."
Shikamaru places his hand in a calming gesture upon Naruto's shoulder while he gives Temari an annoyed look. "Ino came up to me and Choji one day last year and told us that she had heard that Hinata's father had been contacted by the family of a noble that she had met at the signing. Hinata and the rest of her team had been escorts for the diplomatic squad sent to the capitol for the treaty signing, as well as extra security at the capital. I don't know much more of the details except that shortly afterwards she received some letters from him in the mail. At least that is what I heard from Ino, but how she found out I have no clue." He slightly increases the pressure of his hand, wishing the whole time that the Hokage had picked somebody else for this assignment. "Obviously, nothing came of the correspondence since it is you she is dating." Hopefully that added comment will sooth Naruto enough to keep him from saying or doing something really stupid.
"Not that it really is any of my business, but either he isn't giving up or she never really told him no." Nahima knows that she should be ashamed for trying to take advantage of the situation, but why not if that gives her a chance to get Naruto for herself. She would be a fool to not seizing the chance while it is available.
If it wasn't for Tomogiro's firm grip around her waist, and the unwanted attention she would get for the scene she would have to make breaking free, Hinata would have done just that when Naruto suddenly looks down at Hotano-sama with his mouth agape. 'What did she just say? I hope this dance concludes soon so I can go to Naruto-kun and explain why I am out here with Tomogiro.'
"I can now understand why your father has not readily agreed to my offer." Tomogiro nods his head in Naruto's direction. "That is the famous Uzumaki Naruto is it not? I guess even someone of noble blood can be the second option when compared to someone so famous." His voice has no hint of malice, but there is still something unsettling in the way he said 'second option'.
Tomogiro's smile loses some of its beauty as Hinata looks over at him nervously as he continues to speak. "I had heard that he had fallen into a sad drunken state after a young woman he fancied broke his heart." His left eyebrow arches victoriously when it is obvious that Hinata was not the one who did the breaking, but instead she is the one who came in and mended the broken pieces. The odd way he said 'second option' is now clear; he is saying to her that like him, she too is a second option.
Hinata tightens her grip as a warning for him to be careful, noble blood or un-diplomatic move by her be damned. "Before you make any other comments let me say that I know he cares for me deeply."
Tomogiro shakes his head side-to-side ever so slightly in disappointment. "Odd, I noticed that you didn't say the word love, but instead used the word cares." His smile crooks into a less than handsome smirk as he notices something in her eyes. "Ohh, so he hasn't said that he loves you, Hinata. I think that is quite cruel, because it is such an easy thing to say. Hinata, I…"
Hinata wrenches her hand free from Tomogiro's grasp and covers his mouth with her fingertips to stop him from saying those words aloud. The first and only man to say these words will be Naruto and no other, diplomatic decorum be damned.
"What the hell." Naruto cannot help but point across the room, drawing unwanted attention from those nearby. "Why is she touching his lips? Did he just try and kiss, Hinata?" His lips curl up into a snarl as he imagines using a rasengan to the man's face tearing his lips right off and leaving a bloody gaping hole in the center of his head. He barely makes half a step before he feels hands gripping each of his arms and a gasp coming from Nahima. Naruto turns his head from one side then the other to see that Temari and Shikamaru are both nervously shaking their head from side-to-side as they hold on tight. Samui has stepped up as well, putting herself protectively between Naruto and Nahima, and also in position to help the others restrain him if necessary. Nahima is obviously shocked by the almost palpable anger emanating from Naruto as he stares across the room.
Shikamaru lets go of Naruto's arm after a warning glance and holds up both hands in a calming gesture. "Don't do it Naruto. You'll not only embarrass yourself, but Hinata and possibly the entire Leaf Village if you are not careful what you do and say." It's more what Naruto might do then say that Shikamaru is worried about right now. Words can be said to smooth out misinterpretations and things said in the heat of the moment, but punching a defenseless noble across a room usually requires a lot more than words to make amends.
"I can't just stand over here and act like nothing just happened." He watches in growing irritation as Hinata snatches her hand away from the man's face and blushes as he smiles.
"Quite right, I think it is time to dance." Everyone is caught off guard as Yukata, who had noticed the commotion and snuck up to see what was going on, grabs one of Naruto's arms and pulls him towards the dance floor before the others can react. That is all it takes to spur Naruto into action and he takes the lead heading towards the dancefloor.
Not for the first time tonight and very likely not the last Shikamaru rubs his temples in complete frustration. "Oh man, can this night get any more complicated?"
"You know better than to ask that out loud." Temari points across the room towards a shocked looking Choji whose face is now focused on the dancefloor. Choji lifts up three little appetizers on toothpicks absently up to his mouth and bites down hard, leaving only half of the toothpicks in his fingers. Temari then puts a hand on Shikamaru's arm and gives him a little shove. "It's time to either man up or start crying." She turns her gaze back to the dancefloor knowing exactly the look he is about to give after her little verbal jab.
Hinata is feeling very self-conscious as she pulls her hand away from his lips, noticing that Tomogiro is smiling like he actually enjoyed her touching his mouth. The fact that he slowly licks his lips while staring directly into her eyes only helps to increase her unease. "I-I-I am sorry, but those words should not be said to someone so casually."
He picks up his tempo with the dance and shrugs slightly. "My apologies, I did not mean to offend you Hyuga-san. Though I must admit that it wasn't just your beauty that caught my attention last year, there was a sadness in your face when I first saw you that made me want to reach out and offer you comfort." Tomogiro raises his eyebrows suggestively as he says the word 'comfort'.
Hinata remembers that day well, and why her mood had been so down. She had been doing some shopping in the capital when she had overheard Kiba talking with some friends that he had made during the war from the Hidden Cloud Village. She was about to walk away when the conversation had switched over to Naruto and what had recently happened in the Land of Lightning. Naruto had gotten into a drunken fight in a bar with Killer B and the two of them had pretty much destroyed the place. She couldn't take anymore once one of them described the Hidden Cloud ANBU finding Naruto passed out with his head stuck in a sake barrel. Before she could make it back to the hotel her team was staying at a man in an expensive kimono had stepped up and asked her for directions.
Tomogiro lets out a guilty sigh as Hinata is remembering the first moment they met. "It really hadn't been my first time in the Fire Nation's capital, but it seemed an easy way to get you to show me around the city and get to know this frail looking girl with pale eyes filled with sadness. So I dismissed my entourage and walked up like a lost tourist."
Showing him around the capitol had been a much needed distraction till it was closer to dinnertime and she could go hide in her room without her teammates becoming suspicious. She had avoided anything that would make her think of Naruto and changed the subject when his questions might veer anywhere close to that topic. She knew that if she begun to open up that her tears would begin to flow, leaving her physically and emotionally vulnerable. Just thinking about how terrible that time had been, thinking about Naruto in so much pain that he would…
Suddenly the delicate yet firm grip on her hands breaks for a moment as she is sent twirling, and then the hands are replaced by strong calloused ones. Hinata blinks to focus her thoughts on what just happened and the pair of bright blue eyes staring intently into her own. Wait, Tomogiro does not have blue eyes.
After running off with Yukata, Naruto had gone to the band and put in a request for the next song, the first one that he could think of that would suit his immediate need to speak with Hinata. After that they inserted themselves into the crowd, in the spot where they would need to be to intersect with Hinata and the noble. You know, the one who might go missing after tonight. Now that he has switched dance partners for the moment Naruto is very concerned by the look of pain and sadness in Hinata's eyes. "Are you okay? What did that creep say to upset you, Hinata?" His eyes narrow in a promise of violence as he looks deeply into her eyes for the truth.
Hinata pauses for a moment to enjoy the sensation of Naruto's presence before she tries to answer his questions. "No, I mean I am okay. We were just …" Before she can say anymore it is time for them to switch partners again and Naruto is replaced by an ambassador from the Earth Nation that she has met before when he came to her home once as a guest to discuss a treaty with her father over dinner. While they exchange some quick pleasantries Hinata finally focuses on the song, realizing that she had become distracted while talking with Tomogiro and a new song had started. She also realizes that during this new song she and Naruto will meet up two more times before the dance ends.
Temari nods in admiration as she watches the dancers move about on the floor. "Well done, Naruto." She looks over at Shikamaru and smirks as she watches him analyzing the dance moves to figure out what Naruto may have in mind. "See, this is why you need to learn how to dance. If you had, then you would already know what he is going to do and exactly when he plans on doing whatever that might be, Shikamaru."
Shikamaru gives her an annoyed glance before turning back to analyze the pattern on the dance floor. Not this again, his mother had tried to make him take lessons when he was younger, but she had given up when all he did was stand in the corner studying the intricate pattern in the woodgrain of the dance studio's floor. Now he has a girlfriend who bugs him to go dancing nearly every time they go out together. The one time he did relent all she did was hang out on the dancefloor with Ino and Sakura, while he was stuck listening to an inebriated Kiba mouth off about pack hunter tactics, and a brooding Sasuke who acted like none of them were at the table. The only positive was that Temari barely stopped looking at him the whole time, like she was up there dancing only for him.
He glances back over at Temari knowing that her information will help him figure out if things are going to just be bad, or diplomatic incident bad if he doesn't get involved. "So tell me about the pattern of this dance? Are they going to exchange dance partners again, and how many more times will that happen?"
"The dance is about two lovers who are torn apart by circumstances out of their control." Temari scrunches her nose at Shikamaru when he gives her an annoyed look wanting a quick concise answer to his questions. "They are torn apart when they are very young when her parents pass away and she goes off to live with one family member after another until she goes to live with her uncle in a different village. The two lovers are finally reunited when he comes into her new village to trade for some silk that her uncle's business sells."
Temari points out on the dance floor as Hinata and Tomogiro are reunited and begin to dance again. "The tempo slows for a while as they dance about happily renewing their love. They are pulled apart as war sweeps into the land and she flees while he is caught up in the war. She finds him later on the battlefield mortally wounded, and they will dance slowly for a while before death separates them, but only for a short time. They will be finally reunited in the afterlife where they will never be separated by anything ever again." She probably should tell him about the last scene in the dance, but that might make the scowling look of concentration on his face permanent.
"You are going to get a splinter in your tongue." As she walks up to the bar Karui reaches down and pulls the toothpicks out of the bacon wrapped stuffed mushrooms that Choji had grabbed off the tray from a passing server and dumped onto his small plate. She lays them down by the half eaten toothpicks and gives him an apologetic smirk. "Listen, I am really sorry about messing up your evening with your date. I would like to make it up to you somehow. How about I buy you a drink?" Karui avoids using the word girlfriend just in case it might make Choji feel even worse.
"Don't worry about it, Karui." Choji picks up the mushroom and pops it into his mouth, staring for a moment longer at his girlfriend dancing with Naruto before turning his back to the whole thing. "The drinks are free tonight by the way." He gives Karui a mocking look about the futility of her peace offering.
Karui, happy to see that he hasn't lost his sense of humor, gives a little shrug and points to a jar at the bar. "I'll leave a really big tip for the bartender, would that be sufficient, Choji?" She produces some money that makes Choji wonder just for a moment where she could have possibly hidden it in the outfit she is wearing. "I'll even tip up front so there is no way I can back out." After she places the money in the jar Karui gives the bartender a few hand gestures for two drinks and for him to make them tall.
Once served Choji picks up the glass and stares at the cloudy yellow liquid for a moment wondering if the citrus smell is just coming for the lemon wedge and cherry garnish, or if there is lemon juice in the strange looking drink. "Okay, I have to ask. What did you order?" He is about to take a tentative sip when he catches a glimpse of Yukata now dancing with some rich good looking noble with a big smile on her face. In frustration he hammers down about half of the tall glass before the harsh liquid catches in the back of his throat inducing a round of violent coughing and pounding on the bar.
Karui pats Choji on the back trying not to laugh at his obvious mistake. "It's called a whiskey sour, I came across a bar during one of my missions that served this imported alcohol made from corn and rye. I love the sweet and sour contrast so much that I can't help but order it whenever I find a well-stocked bar." She takes a modest drink and nearly starts coughing as well. When she looks over at the bartender he gives her a wink and nod. 'I guess he thought the tip was a bribe to make the drink really strong. I can barely taste anything but the alcohol.' She blinks a few times at the tears pooling in the corners of her eyes hoping that it doesn't mess up her makeup.
Choji, his voice straining from the burning sensation running down the back of his throat and all the way down to his stomach pats the bar a few more times. "Yeah, that is some drink." He cautiously takes a sip and lets the liquid flow across his palate so that he can taste what she was saying about the drink. As it makes its way across his tongue and down his throat, Choji can understand why she likes the drink so well. The sharp taste of freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with a solution of sugar, imported from the islands inside the Land of Water if he is not mistaken. The alcohol itself tastes like it was aged in charred oak barrels which adds a pleasant smoky flavor. "This is really good. I bet you could come up with all sorts of mixtures with this alcohol."
Karui nods as she takes another sip. "That's what the guy told me, but I liked this one so much I haven't bothered to try any others."
Choji slaps one big hand down on the bar and then motions the bartender to come over. "Well, let's ask the bartender about some of these other options."
As he resumes dancing with Hinata, Tomogiro smiles like he is having the best night of his life. "I see that Uzumaki Naruto has joined us on the dance floor with some lucky young lady." He chuckles as Hinata does a double-take looking over at who Naruto is dancing with and seems more confused than ever to see a smiling Yukata in her boyfriend's arms. "She seems to be enjoying herself quite a bit, and is showing off a little I do believe."
Hinata can see by his smirk that Tomogiro thinks that Yukata is showing off to all of the other women in the room, but she knows better. Her suspicions are confirmed when Yukata's face sours as she spies Choji at the bar drinking with Karui. Hinata is worried that Yukata's overreaction to a minor misunderstanding earlier is now quickly escalating into a possible relationship ending game of one-upmanship, unfortunately her thoughts on how to reverse this escalation is interrupted by Tomogiro's voice
"I am sure them dancing together is nothing to be worried about. He does seem to only be paying attention to the two of us." With that Tomogiro tightens his grip around Hinata's waist and goes into the next twirl with an exaggerated flourish. As Hinata lets out a gasp of surprise his smile broadens while his eyes take on a mischievous glint and roams downwards a little.
Hinata knows that she needs to find a polite way of warning Tomogiro that he is playing a potentially deadly game. He has been cloaked in the protection of being a noble his whole life and has never met someone like Naruto who sees everyone as an equal. It is a property that allows him to talk to the heart of nearly anyone he meets, but it has also gotten him into trouble by being so bluntly honest with people as well. Unfortunately, saying that her boyfriend is the jealous type would only provoke Tomogiro to have more fun at Naruto's expense. 'I just hope Naruto-kun remembers that he promised the Hokage that he would be on his best behavior while on this mission.'
"See you soon, and do give my best regards to Uzumaki-san." Tomogiro smiles as he breaks contact to now dance with another woman while Naruto steps up to momentarily take his place.
"I don't like the way he puts his arm so tightly around your waist." Naruto's nose flares and makes his whisker marks stand out oddly. "If his hands touch you in a way that you don't like just signal me, I'll come over and break them off." Naruto smiles as he images the guy trying to make that irritating smile with his own hands stuffed in his mouth.
Hinata goes pale at the thought of just how bad of an idea that really is, and how much trouble just saying that out loud in Tomogiro's own country could cause. "Naruto-kun please don't, he is of noble birth and…"
Naruto just shakes his head. "Hinata, I…" Before he can say anything else or give Hinata more time to beg for restraint he is gone again, off to dance with several partners before returning to dance with Yukata.
When Tomogiro rejoins her he presses his body even closer to Hinata's, and then matches her tempo when she tries to put a little distance between their bodies. "I can't tell you when I have enjoyed a dance this much. It is most likely because I have not had the perfect dance partner before tonight. I do wish we would have had the opportunity to dance together last year." He leans closer, nearly pressing his cheek against Hinata's, and whispers in her ear. "I think that would have been a night neither one of us would have forgotten." As Hinata's body reacts and pulls away slightly he turns his head and looks deeply into her eyes. "I will have to thank the band later for selecting this song. It has such a wonderful culmination don't you think."
It is at this moment that Hinata remembers the story this dance is based upon, and that the two lovers embrace in a love filled kiss at the end as their spirits can finally be together for eternity. "Tomogiro-sama, that is only an option in this dance, an option that I will not allow to happen." Hinata stares at him and tucks her lips against her teeth to make sure that he understands that there will be nothing for him to kiss. "Naruto's lips are the only ones that I have ever kissed and will ever kiss. Please do not force me to make a scene that my father would deem shameful in a diplomatic setting to protect what only belongs to my boyfriend. If I have to say that I am protecting my honor I will, do I make myself clear."
Tomogiro says nothing in return, he looks deeply into her eyes as if evaluating her every word as well as her body language. As the song reaches the point where they will part for the last time he rubs his thumb of his leading hand along the back of hers and gives her a little smirk.
Just as Hinata begins to lean away his grip loosens and he is gone. Naruto quickly replaces the noble and wraps his arm around her waist firmly. She lets herself be drawn against his body and the two of them fall into rhythm with the dance. They say nothing to each other; instead their bodies say everything as they dance. Just as it is time for them to break apart again Naruto tightens his grip and rushes Hinata off of the dancefloor and out onto the balcony overlooking the city.
The door leading out onto the balcony is closed behind them by a quick tug of the chakra threads coming from Kankuro's fingers. Samui steps up beside him and takes a firm stance in front of the door that lets anyone coming close know that it is currently closed to the public. As she joins them Nahima stares at the door with a mixture of schoolgirl curiosity and excitement of what may be happening behind those doors.
A few moments later a surprised Yukata finds herself staring into the very annoyed eyes of Shikamaru who is doing his best to keep pace with the dance as he figures out where he is supposed to put his feet next. When Yukata tries to bring up the subject of Choji, Shikamaru just shakes his head not wanting to get any more involved than he has to in other people's relationships than he already has tonight.
A/N: About a year and a half ago I had to have some surgery done. Well, unfortunately in a few days I am going to go back under the knife and my doctor says the expected recovery time is going to be much longer than my last surgery.
So what does this mean for the next chapter? Honestly I don't know. Hopefully Chapter 56 will be out by the end of next month, but that depends on how soon I can sit at a keyboard and put my thoughts on screen. So that will have an impact on whether it might be mid-August before a clean, well edited chapter will be out. The next few chapters a very important, well technically that all are to me, and I want to make them the best I can before releasing them for you all to read.