---Book of Paradise---
(Part 7, Selection 2)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Inuyasha.
Um…I'm sorry that this part was posted a little late. I err…got lost on the…road of…life? ((Smiles sheepishly))
Longer. Just like you guys requested. (Sigh) So…tired…
"Thank you for coming to the party tonight" Tenten greeted Kagome, Naruto, and Sasuke at the door. Sakura was already inside.
"Where do we put the presents?" Naruto exclaimed excitedly, juggling a large box in his hands.
They all carried the presents in plastic bags so no one knew who gave whom what present.
"Just under that blanket to your left!" Sakura called out from somewhere from the inside.
"Alright then…" Kagome made sure nobody was watching before slipping hers under the blanket and tossing away the bag. Naruto and Sasuke did the same.
"This is stupid" Sasuke sighed, taking a seat on the couch and staring out the window.
"You could at least be a bit enthusiastic, Sasuke-san" Kagome offered.
Naruto instantly ran up to Sakura, "Hi, Sakura-chan! Could I help you?"
"Sure" Sakura smiled, fixing the Santa hat on her head a bit, "Could you hold the end of these lights please?"
"You've come a bit early" Tenten explained, "Nobody will really be coming until the party starts at 8pm. But of course, Gai-sensei and Lee is here already" She paused for a minute, then her eyes widened, "Oh, SHOOT!"
"What?" Kagome replied, alarmed.
"I forgot to tell Kakashi-sensei the time to the party!"
Kagome calmed down a bit, "Ah…don't worry, I told him it started at 5pm"
"But why…? It's really early and he still hasn't come yet anyways"
"Exactly my point…!"
Sasuke, who was listening to the last part of the conversation, admitted, "Good idea. He won't be late then"
Tenten's eyes widened in realization, "Ohh! So technically, if you told him that the party started at 8, he would've probably arrived at 11pm or something like that…"
"Naruto you baka! You DON'T hang the lights on the ceiling like that!"
"But Sakura-chan!" Naruto whined, "What's wrong with hanging it on the ceiling fan?"
"It's ON right now!"
"Ohh! So, you're supposed to put it on like--"
SMASH"NARUTO YOU IDIOT! YOU DON'T PUT THE LIGHTS ON THE CEILING FAN AT ALL!"
Kagome cleared her throat, "Well…ahem…where's Gai-sensei and Lee-san? You said they had already arrived…"
"They're busy cutting down the Christmas tree. Then we need help decorating it"
"Oh, alright then. I think I'll just leave them to themselves…"
Somewhere in the Forest…
"THAT'S RIGHT LEE! USE YOUR YOUTH TO CUT DOWN THE TREE!"
"Like this, Gai-sensei?" Lee was crying with joy. He used an axe to chop the bark and chips of wood off the base of the tree.
"WHAT YOUTH THERE IS TODAY!" Gai cried out enthusiastically.
Ino passed by, "Uh yeah…sure…woud you mind lowering your voice a bit?" She shot them a crazy look, rushing off to another Christmas party.
"Can you catch the tree, Gai-sensei? It's going to fall!" Lee yelled out.
"Of course!" Gai-sensei lowered his voice a fair bit (Thankfully), "And if I don't, I will not open my Secret Santa gift tonight!" He struck his 'Good Guy' pose, "That's a-AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The tree creaked on its stump and promptly fell on Gai, successfully toppling him over.
"Gai-sensei! Gai-sensei! Speak to me!" Lee sobbed, kneeling over his teacher.
Ahem…Back to the Party…
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Kagome called out enthusiastically, "Hello? Oh! Neji-san, Hinata-chan! Come in, come in!"
Neji and Hinata stepped inside, sliding their gifts under the blanket. Neji boredly took a seat beside Sasuke and Hinata ran off to greet Sakura and Tenten.
"Yeah…" Kagome sighed, "It's 8:00, people are beginning to come now-"
The doorbell rang again.
"-Oh! Iruka-san! Kakashi-san! Come in!" The miko repeated again, 'I wonder what Inuyasha is doing right now…?' That was a random thought…
"Sorry about that" Kakashi scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I got lost on the road of life and…"
"You're not late, don't worry" Kagome smiled.
"…And this lady needed help with her groceries and…eh…? Oh…"
Kagome giggled at his antics and gestured them both in. Kakashi slid his hand under the blanket and… A firm hand gripped his wrist, stopping him from exploring blindlessly anymore further.
"Kakashi-sensei, later" Sakura scowled, and then completely slapped his hand away.
Kagome opened the door for the last time, "Lee-san…? How was the tree?"
"GAI-SENSEI!" He cried out loudly.
"…Pardon…?"
"GAI-SENSEI'S HURT!" Lee dragged the tree in as Kagome brushed off some snow, leaving Neji and Sasuke to help set it up.
Lee carried his sensei in and Kagome took him (Quite grudgingly)) and lay him on the couch, "I'm sure he'll be just fine, Lee" Kagome sighed. Gai was just unconscious.
Suddenly, Gai-sensei woke up, lighting Lee's spirit up too.
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE--"
"--WOULD YOU TWO JUST SHUT THE HELL UP?" Tenten nearly screamed from the back of the room, stopping her quest in hanging up plants to tell them. The girl twitched for a bit before finally being content and stated again.
Kagome yawned a bit from all the activity that was going on and leaned on somebody's shoulder.
Kakashi nearly jumped, but then realized it was only…Kagome… There was a mild blush spreading about…
"Hey! Look what I found!" Sakura called out, holding up an icy metal pole, "I found it outside and thought that we could use it for decoration"
Naruto approached.
"Hey" Neji got an idea. A bit mean…but still an idea, "Naruto…I dare you to lick that pole"
Sasuke smirked, catching on, "…or are you a chicken?"
Naruto started to fume, "I'M NOT A CHICKEN, SASUKE-TEME! I CAN DO IT! BELIEVE IT!"
The kyuubi angrily snatched the cold metal cylinder from Sakura and without a second thought, pressed his tongue onto the freezing surface, "Thsee! Therae! I bdid ith!" (See! There! I did it!)
Neji and Sasuke smirked in victory, where as Sakura just stared incredously.
Holding the pole, Naruto proceeded to take it off.
One jerk.
Two jerks and a harsh pull.
"Ith's snot cobming ophff!" (It's not coming off!)
Hinata walked by, "N-Naruto-kun! Oh! W-What happened! Oh my god! L-let me h-help you w-with that!" She fidgeted nervously and stared at his half frozen tongue in horror, rushing him to the kitchen sink to find some warm water.
Sasuke snorted, "What a loser"
After a couple incidents and exciting chatter, it was now time for the main event.
"EVERYONE!" Naruto screamed excitedly, now that his tongue was freed, "IT'S SECRET SANTA TIME!"
Excited chatter from the girls emerged. ((Of course, always including Maitou Gai and Rock Lee))
They all sat down on the couches as Iruka pulled the thin blanket off the table, revealing all the neatly wrapped presents underneath, "Find the gift with your name on it…-"
He couldn't finish the sentence as the majority of the party nearly trampled the table.
"Where's mine?" Lee cried out in despair.
"Here?" Kagome offered, picking up a single sheet of paper.
"Eh…? YES I GOT A PRESENT!"
After a bit of debate and protesting, everyone decided (or agreed) on spinning a candy cane to see who would go first, it would all just go clockwise from there.
"I found it!" Tenten notified, holding up a cherry flavored one. Dropping it on the table, Neji grasped it and gave it a hearty spin.
It landed on Gai-sensei.
"It's my turn!" Gai sighed with glee.
"Get on with it" Naruto grumbled, "Make sure to go fast on thick-brows too!"
Sakura whacked the kyuubi upside the head.
He opened a cylinder shaped gift, wrapped in wrapping paper that had books all over it.
"What…is this?" The sensei held up a roll of something grey. A piece of paper was attached to it, "Shut…up?" He stared, traumatized. It was duct tape. Precisely, Kakashi bought it to tell him to tape his mouth with it.
"That's wonderful!" He cried out suddenly, startling the silent group.
'That's just great…' everyone else thought bitterly.
Beside Gai-sensei was Lee, of course, "I will open my present!" He called out with joy.
"WAIT!" Gai perked up, "THE GIFT IS A LONG, YOUTHFUL LECTURE ON YOUTH!" the teacher beamed and dragged Lee somewhere private. Lee was crying tears of joy. Even when they were long gone, you could still hear the echoes of their voices.
"…Hard work…springtime of youth…wintertime of youth…summertime of youth…"
"…What about…fall-time of youth…?"
"…Ah, yes…that too…"
"…Wow…"
"Disgusting" Neji stated, looking away from the screen.
"Yeah…" Kagome and Sakura chorused, along with Tenten, Naruto, Kakashi, and Iruka. Sasuke and Hinata nodded silently.
"Well…Naruto, you're next…" Kagome coughed, trying to forget what just happened.
"YES!" He pumped his fist in the air and snatched his present, nearly tearing the prize in the process. He gasped and his eyes widened, in a spit second, he was hugging the pulp out of the poor sheet of paper.
Ichiraku RamenFree Month's Supply of ramen.
No exchanges or refunds.
"THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANK YOU" He started hyperventilating on his seat. Hinata offered him a cup of water.
"Sakura…it's your turn"
"Alright!" The kunoichi cheered, picking up her wrapped parcel. Ten packs of hot chocolate.
Hinata smiled sheepishly, "I didn't know what to get her…" she whispered so that Sakura couldn't hear, hoping that she would like the choice of gift.
"Awesome!"
Hinata was happy.
Sasuke's turn. He wasn't so much enthusiastic as to this even, but nonetheless, he picked up his present, "Oh yes, I got something from Santa!" he grounded out sarcastically.
He perked up a bit as he pulled out a brand new Fuuma Shuriken! The last one had been tainted with Naruto.
Neji smirked, 'So I was correct in assuming he'd like that…'
"O-oh! It's my turn…" Hinata whispered, fingering the large box.
The Hyuuga girl gently tugged the red ribbon off and the unfolded the green paper, "T-hank you…" she murmured to whoever had given her that present. It was a smooth, leather-covered diary book with a pen.
Neji just sighed, 'Let's just get this over with…' He tore off the wrapping paper and found a set of new kunai in silver, a 100 pack, and a gleaming new forehead protector secured onto beige fabric, "Thank you" be bowed randomly. Sakura secretively smiled in relief.
"Tenten! You got new hair ties!" Naruto exclaimed.
Tenten slapped her forehead exasperatedly, "NARUTO! That present is for ME to open, not YOU!"
"Sorry…" Naruto whined, "The wrapping paper was just so…shiny!" ((The only wrapping paper Sasuke had left in the house))
"Fine, fine" Tenten grumbled. She gave him 'the best gift he could ever imagine' and he repaid her by not letting her open her own.
Iruka just quickly opened his not to draw attention to himself, "Eh…never mind" The chunin twitched, his face turning red as he stuffed the present under the sofa.
"Byakugan!" Neji whispered, his veins bulging by his eyes. What did Iruka get? Neji dropped the power immediately. Obviously, it was from Gai-sensei or Lee. He wanted to vomit, why on earth did Lee think that Iruka would wear a green, spandex suit?
Kakashi.
"He's got the biggest box…no fair" Sakura whined and pouted. The box was a big as her.
Everybody but Kakashi noticed Kagome's smug smirk.
He looked all happy, but froze when the box shook a little, "Stand back! This thing is alive! CHI-"
"-Ahh! There it is! The coupon was just under this huge box! -"
"-DORI!" Kakashi punched the box.
Everyone blinked. There was paper. Flying. Inside. And there was a hole. Going right through the box.
"Kakashi you baka" Kagome twitched.
"Eh…" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
Everyone immediately started digging through the openings in the box, curious to what could be so big inside.
"Oi! Oi! It's mine!" Kakashi cried out, shaking his hands back and forth.
"Ahh!" Tenten and Sakura suddenly screamed and backed up against the wall.
"Eh…?"
"I didn't know what else he liked," Kagome mumbled under her breath, gloomy, "I'm scarred for life…"
"It's okay Kagome…" Hinata hugged her and Sakura and Tenten comforted her.
Meanwhile, Kakashi was happily jumping, almost literally, off the walls, "Icha Icha Paradise Volume 4! The last book!"
"It has me as the main character" Kagome spat bitterly, "I'll kill Miroku…"
DAMN STRAIGHT! GO GET HIM KAGOME! HUNT HIM DOWN WITH A BUTCHER KNIFE AND STAB IT BETWEEN HIS LEGS! Inner Sakura encouraged. Sakura scrunched up her nose, "Eww…"
It was only Kagome left now. She enthusiastically opened the present and sweat dropped as a card fell off saying.
To Kagome, from NarutoAlright then…he sorta forgot…
'What could it be?' Kagome questioned as she fingered some soft, blue type of material. She pulled it all the way out, "Oh!" Her eyes lit up.
It was a set of shuriken, and custom designed miko clothing with white bottoms and dark blue tops. There was the Konoha symbol stitched onto each piece and she had recieved a forehead protector, signifying that she was officially accepted into this village.
"I love it!" Kagome smiled, "Thank you Naruto" she pecked him on the cheek as he turned red and Kakashi, who had turned from his book to see this, surged with jealousy.
"Alright!" Sakura clapped her hands together, "It's time to party!"
Tenten turned some music on and got out the drinks, adjusting the lights and beckoning people to have fun.
Fifteen Minutes Later…
All the couples were dancing together. Kagome sighed wistfully.
"Would you like to dance…?" A voice asked.
"Eh…?" Kagome turned around to come face-to-face with Kakashi, "Oh…" She heavily blushed, "Sure…"
He tucked the book into his pocket and led her to the dance floor, smiling in soft victory. She accepted…
"-Wait!" Kagome cut off his thoughts, "Who the hell would put one there?" Her eyes widened.
"What…?" Kakashi looked up to where she was pointing.
There was mistletoe.
On the ceiling fan.
And it was on.
"Naruto" the stated at the same time.
Pausing for a moment, Kakashi looked into Kagome's embarrassed eyes and kissed her. Her second kiss… It better be only!
Kakashi wasn't expecting Kagome to do anything, so when she started to kiss back…
It was bliss.
END! (Yawn) I'm tired on Christmas… can you imagine that? I need to refuel for BOXING DAY! Lol what did you think? I can't update on the 30th TT… Anyways, read and review onegai!
Sayonara,
Tenshi-Battosai
Merry Christmas, minna-san!