Starry Nights

Chapter 4

Company

GOMEN NASAI!!! I was sooo busy for the past couple of weeks with homework and projects and all that!! I am sooo sorry!! T-T I don't know if you guys like my story anymore, it's not that I don't enjoy writing it, because of this, I am not just sitting around, staring at people in 6th period. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter; it was 4 pages, front and back, top to bottom, on regular notebook paper. My hand started cramping after I finished writing this. Well, hope you guys enjoy reading this!

AYA'S P.O.V. THIS TAKES PLACE AT THE END OF CHAPTER 2!!

I left for work after I met all of Naru-chan's friends. Tenten, Lee, and Hinata seemed really nice and they were really friendly to me. I'm glad they don't think I'm weird just because they met Ayu before they met me. I decided to come back to the training grounds after work and buy them some lunch, if they are still there of course. If they aren't, well, I'm sure Naru-chan wouldn't mind eating the food.

I got to my flower shop and opened the door. I flipped the "Open/ Close" sign to "Open" and walked over to the counter and started drawing flower designs. I sold flowers in my shop, but I added home- made card as well. Adding to that, I sell flower wreaths too. I noticed that I got more costumers when I started selling the cards and wreaths than I did when I only sold flowers.

I was working on a new card design when I heard the wind chime, that I tied to the front door, sound, signaling me that I had a costumer. It was a very young girl, 5 or 6 years- old, that entered my shop and she seemed somewhat lost.

"Konnichiwa," I said gently. "Are you lost, little one?"

"Hai. I was wondering if you could help me find an Aya-nee-chan. My kaa-san comes her every day or so, and she told me if I ever got lost, I was to come here and ask for help from an Aya-nee-chan," the little girl answered.

"Ah. I see. I assume that you are the daughter of Midori-san. She mentioned something about having a daughter come here if she was lost. Anyways, what is your name little one?" I asked her nicely.

"My name is Hana Yuki," she answered me.

"Hai, Yuki-chan. Do you want to find your kaa-san or do you want to wait here for her?" I asked questioned.

"Ano, I would like to stay here if you don't mind," Yuki replied.

"Of course I wouldn't mind. Here," I said while cutting a fresh white lily from my flowerpot. "This is for you. Are you hungry? Thirsty?" I asked her, heading to the back room to get some water for my plants and me.

"Hai. My I have some water please?" she asked me following me to the back room.

"Sure thing. Do you want just water or do you want some juice?"

"Juice please!" Yuki answered while smiling broadly.

I giggled slightly. "Alright, alright. Just don't get too hyper okay?"

"Hai Aya-nee-chan!" Yuki nearly shouted as she took a big sip of juice that I gave her. I smiled happily, knowing that I got her to forget that she was lost to acting like what every 5 or 6 year-old would.

"Aya-chan? Are you here?" I heard a voice in the front room. 'I know that voice.' I thought to myself. 'I thought she would be here sooner.'

"Hai! I'm in the back. Please wait right there!" I shouted making sure that they heard me. I walked up to the front, holding one of Yuki-chan's tiny hands. Yuki was happily sipping the juice and she had the lily tucked behind her ear.

"Konichiwa Midori-san. I am guessing that you are here to pick up Yuki-chan, right?"

"Oh Aya! Thank you so much! I've been looking everywhere for her! Don't wander off like that again Yuki! I thought I had lost you!" Midori-san scolded Yuki.

"Gomen nasai kaa-san. There was just a necklace in a shop window that was so pretty! I wanted to look at it closer! I'm sorry, I promise I won't do it again." Yuki-chan apologized.

"Oh Yuki. I'm not angry with you. I was just scared!" The mother told the daughter. "Thank you again Aya-chan. I hope she didn't bother you too much." Midori-san thanked me.

"Oh no, Midori-san. Yuki was no trouble at all." I assured her.

"Arigatou gozaimasu Aya-nee-chan for the lily and the juice!"

"You're welcome Yuki-chan. Don't get lost now!" I waved to the mother and daughter as they walked off, hand in hand, to their house.

I glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed that it was closing time. I hadn't realized that Yuki-chan had gotten lost about 2 hours ago. Time really does fly when you are with the people you care about. I flipped the "Open/Closed" sign to "Closed" and locked the doors. I headed towards the Ichiraku Ramen Stand and ordered ramen for all 13 of us. I don't think Kiba-san would mind sharing with Akumaru. I ordered the same for everybody, 13 miso ramen, just to be fair.

I walked towards the training grounds and prayed that they were still there. Apparently, luck was on my side today because they were still there training. I walked up to Naru-chan and asked him if he wanted ramen. Of course, that was a very dumb question, considering it is Naru-chan, and that he loves ramen. I handed him one order of ramen and continued on to everybody else.

Sasuke-kun and Neji-kun were the last two ninjas that I needed to ask if they wanted ramen. Why were the last ones? Well, 1. As you know, I am shy around cute boys and 2. They were sparring so I decided to wait for them to finish until I handed them their food.

"A-A-Ano, S-Sasuke-san? N-Neji-san? W-W-W-Would you two l-like some r-r-ramen?" I asked them sheepishly.

"Arigatou, Tenshi-san," Neji-kun thanked me.

"P-Please, call me Aya. W-What about you Sasuke-san?" I asked.

"Hn. I'm not hungry," he responded, while walking away.

"Oh, okay," I said looking slightly disappointed.

"Forget about him, Aya. Why don't you eat it? I'm sure you are hungry. After all, you just finished working and you probably didn't have anytime to eat."

"Oh, well, I g-guess I'm a little h-hungry. A-Aritgatou Neji-san," I thanked him.

"You're welcome. And please, just 'Neji-kun' will do."

"H-Hai, Neji-s- I mean Neji-kun." I said, while blushing and looking down.

"Let's go eat with everybody else, Aya," he suggested.

"Hai."

We walked over to where everybody was eating and joined them. 'I think I'm really going to like Konoha. Hopefully, I can lose my shyness here, too.' I thought to myself.

After we all ate, we just sat down and chatted with each other. I even got Neji-kun and Shino-kun to talk a little. Everyone laughed and Neji and Sasuke smirked once in a while. Naru-chan started doing crazy things, like timing how long he could stay quiet without talking or making a sound. While he was doing that, everybody else was trying to make him laugh by making funny faces and tickling him. We finally got him to laugh after 2 minutes. Guess Naru-chan just isn't the type to stay quiet for a very long time. Unfortunately, every day comes to an end, and before we knew it, we were watching the sunset and made our way home. Soon, Neji-kun and I were the only ones left walking home.

"A-Ano, Neji-kun? Shouldn't you be heading h-home?" I asked him. We were walking, just the two of us.

"I think I should be asking you that Aya. I am, after all, a ninja and very capable of taking care of myself. You, on the other hand, are just a normal citizen and you do not know how to defend yourself if you were attacked this very moment," he said. I knew very well that he was strong, but if you ask me, he was being very arrogant.

"Well, if I were attacked this very moment, I know that you would save me because if you didn't, Lee-kun, Tenten-chan, Naru-chan, and Hina-chan would be very angry at you and they would start doing very bad things to you and Lee-kun and Naru-chan would team up and beat you up. An I know that if they did team up, you wouldn't have a chance, now would you?" I shot back at him. I knew that he knew that that was true, so he would probably drop the subject.

"Hn. Well, either way, if I head to the Hyuuga compound, I wouldn't be allowed in. I have to be home by 4 or I get locked out." He replied shrugging.

"Oh. I'm sorry. If you want, you could stay at my house, Neji-kun." I offered.

"Won't your parents mind if you bring home a boy?" He asked.

"Well, I'm sure they would mind," I said glancing at Neji-kun, who looked slightly disappointed. "If they lived with me. But unfortunately, I don't know where they are. I haven't known where they are since I was 9." I told him smiling sadly.

"Oh…I'm sorry. I guess I shouldn't have brought that up." He apologized.

"No, it's okay. You didn't know. So anyways, are you going to take up my offer or leave me to go home alone?" I asked him. Of course, I knew that he would take the offer. I mean, where else can he find a place to stay?

"Well, if you don't mind, I'd take up your offer. I won't be trouble, I promise. And if you wanted me to-"

"Neji! It's ok. Calm down. You can stay. I don't mind having company anyways." I interrupted him.

"A-Arigatou, Aya."

"No problem, Neji-kun."

When we stopped at the front gate, Neji's jaw dropped. For someone who didn't have parents, my house was pretty big. Especially when there's only one person living in it.

"Wow…"

"Is that all you can say?" I asked him, slightly amused.

"Yeah…pretty much," was my answer.

"You know, you should close your mouth, unless you like that taste of flies." I advised him. He quickly shut his mouth closed and I giggled at his reaction. I thought I saw his pale face turn pink when he turned away, but I guess it was just my imagination.

"Come on. Let's get in before it gets cold." I told him, opening the gate to my house…er…mansion. I gave him a small tour of my mansion: my bedroom, his temporary bedroom, the kitchen, bathroom, dining room, and living room. Then I made Neji-kun and me some dinner while he was taking a shower. He finished before me so I asked him to set the table. By the time I was done, I found Neji on my couch reading one of my novels.

"Do you like that book?" I asked him.

"Yeah…it's pretty interesting." He replied.

"I know. Well, I finished making dinner, so why don't you put down that book and come eat?"

"Hai. Itadakimasu."

"Dig in Neji-kun," I replied smiling. After we ate dinner, Neji wanted to help me with the dishes.

"You are the guest! I'll do the dishes and you can relax!" I protested.

"But you made me dinner and I was taught to repay someone who did me a favor!" He argued back.

"Well, you have a mission tomorrow and you need to save up your energy!"

"Actually, 1.) I'm off tomorrow and 2.) Washing dishes hardly takes up any energy. And you let me stay at your house over night! The least I can do is wash the dishes!" He snapped back.

"You already set the table!"

"You know what? This is useless! I'm helping you whether you like it or not!"

"No you're not!" I love getting people to argue me this way.

"Yes I am!" He argued back.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"NO!"

"Yes and that's final!" I shouted! "HEY!!!" I glared at him. He smirked. He used the 'Reverse Psychology' trick on me.

"Fine. You can help." I said, sulking.

We washed the dishes together and after we were done, it was about 8. I told Neji-kun that I was going to take a shower and that I would be in my room if he needs me. The last that I saw of him for the rest of the night was his back facing me.

…or so I thought.

Once again...I am sooo sorry!! I might not be able to get the next one out until I finish my English project. I'll try my best to get it out before Thanksgiving though.