I own nothing in this fic, except Hmai-Li. My twin doesn't own anything either. Not even Hmai-Li. She thought of "Horse Devour" though.
Hanabi strayed in the kitchen, helping Hmai-Li with her latest creation: Something she kept calling a "Horse Devour", whatever that was.
It had cherries.
But no horse.
She dutifully put every cherry where it went...except for the ones she put in her mouth. Hmai-Li was too busy with the rest of dinner to notice. Though Hmai-Li spent every waking hour in the kitchen, she somehow managed to forget to start dinner on time.
Hanabi was hoping for a story, but if she prompted Hmai-Li, Hmai-Li would not give her a story, she'd give her a look and say: " Hanabi, you know I don't like gossip."
She had to be sneaky about it. She sat munching on a cherry, trying to think up a good way to get another story out of Hmai-Li, when Neji came in.
" Hmai-Li, could I have some of your salve?"
Hmai-Li was one of the few Hyuugas who knew anything about modern medicine. The Hyuuga medics were backwards, and their solutions often involved horse dung.
Hmai-Li nodded and went to get it.
" Yeah, what for?"
Neji held up a noticably bumpy red arm.
"Poision ivy."
Hmai-Li snorted.
" Neji! Don't you know what poision ivy looks like?"
Hanabi giggled. Neji frowned.
" Of course I know what it looks like! I had no choice in the matter! Give me the salve already!"
Hmai-Li looked over at Hanabi and raised an eyebrow. Hanabi smiled. Hmai-Li had sensed a good story.
Hmai-Li grabbed the salve, and held it away from Neij, as if he couldn't easily overpower her. She grinned at him.
" What do you mean 'had no choice in the matter'? Did you do it on a dare?"
Neji was not happy. He sent Hmai-Li a look that would have withered anyone else. But not Hmai-Li. She was herself, and being herself, she was not intimidated by things that should have set off the alarm bells in her head.
" C'mon, Neji, no story, no salve! We won't tell anyone, right Hanabi?"
Hanabi nodded eagerly. Neji rolled his eyes.
" Like I can trust you gossips. Just give me the salve."
Hmai-Li shook her head and grinned.
" A story for the salve Neji. Pay up!"
Hanabi hopped off the table to be closer to the conversation.
" Was it that girl on your team, Tentai?"
" Tenten, Hanabi."
" Really? I thought her name was Tenshi!"
" No Hmai-Li, it's always been Tenten."
" She probably changed her name."
" No Hmai-Li. I said always!"
" Did she make you go get all poision ivy-y?"
"...That's not a word Hanabi."
" Eeeep! That was it! That was it! I knew it was Tenshi!"
" Tenten! Her name is Tenten! And no, it was not her fault!"
" Neji has a girlfriend, Neji has a girlfriend!"
" Shut up Hanabi!"
" Neji and Tenshi, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. That's kissing, Hanabi."
" I can spell!"
" Never mind! Forget the stupid salve!"
Neji stormed out of the kitchen. Hmai-Li and Hanabi blinked.
" Well, someone is rude!"
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