Title: Mask
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing/characters: Naruto/Ino, Neji/TenTen, Sakura/Sasuke (Briefly mentioned)
Theme: Halloween
Word Count: 441
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the characters.
Summary: A Halloween masquerade has dawned upon Konoha.
A/N: For the Halloween contest at the Naruto/Ino Livejournal Community.

Mask

A masquerade on Halloween beamed upon them, the cool fall night dressed up elegantly upon the streets of Konoha as was everyone else. Awkwardness and bravado fell into step as masks hid friend from enemy, the village idiot from the Hokage undistinguished. Undistinguishable, since the said idiot was not clad in orange or extroverted behavior.

He stood before her, their masks smiling down upon each other. She wore blue, he wore black. His hand extended towards her, she grasped it softly. They said nothing as his arm slipped upon her waist and hers upon his shoulder. Giggles of an uncomfortable situation arose all around them. The caged bird and his unarmed mistress shifted next to them, and the raven haired boy shifted uncomfortably beside the pink haired girl. Three taps echoed into the stars, three taps with only time for him to breathe once, three taps before their fingers entwined and life began.

The music yelled into the wind, and the first hundred fumbling steps took place. Naruto laughed nervously and she laughed back. His shoulders slump into ease, his arm tightening upon her protectively. They breathed deeply behind the masks that hid them from the world, lost in the movement they practiced so discreetly between missions and friends. His fingers brushed upon her pure platinum hair and he could feel her smile.

Hesitantly, fingers danced across his shoulders, upon his neck, touching his mask briefly before pulling away softly. Their dance slowed steadily to a stop, his hands touching her cheek, shielded from his eyes. Slowly, carefully, she fell into his spell, closing her eyes as the cool October wind carried her away and she was free. So she smiled. Ino smiled.

She tugged at the smiling mask before her, until her bright blued eyed, ramen loving Naruto came to be, grinning cheekily at her. She bowed gracefully, and he bowed back, and the spur of energy came rushing back as he jerked her into his arms, her head tilted and their noses brushing-

Something painful collided with the side of his head, and he yelped, releasing her. "Ino!" he whined, giving her a mixed look of pain and frustration. She smirked a bit, her sharp blue eyes taunting him. Her hand brushed upon his, dropping two pieces of candy before she drew him close. He was fully aware of how she smelled like flower, and how he shuddered inwardly to her lips pressed upon his cheek.

"Happy Halloween, Naruto."