I really, really, really like this chapter. I had so much fun writing it, too! I hope you all like it, too
Kari went to sleep as soon as she got home. She did not wake up until three in the morning, and being too early to start getting ready for school; Kari decided to start watching Lucky Star.
"aimai san-SENCHI sorya puni tte koto kai? cho!
RAPPINGU ga seifuku... daaa furi tte kotanai puu.
ganbaccha yacchacha
sonto KYAACCHI & Release gyo
ase (Fuu) ase (Fuu) no tanima ni Darlin' Darlin' FREEZE!!"
She fell in love. Not only with the song and the opening, but she also fell in love with the anime. Kari spent the rest of the night watching the anime that Yui lent her and got up to episode nine when she realized that it was already 7:30am. Kari rushed getting ready, skipping her shower, and managed to be ready at 8:01. Perfect.
"Kari, are you ready?" Kari's mother asked her as she slipped on her messenger bag.
"Hai!" Kari answered with a smile and the two left.
Throughout the day, Kari's worries seemed to be almost nonexistent. All she could think of was Konata, Kagami, Tsukasa, and Miyuki. The only person whom Kari even held a real conversation with was Yui during Art class. They of course discussed Lucky Star, and the first volume of Cardcaptor Sakura.
As soon as Kari arrived home that day, she watched Lucky Star until dinner time. She ate dinner, and then went to sleep.
This was how Kari spent the rest of her week. Even on Saturday, she did not accept Shikamaru, Chouji, and Naruto's offer to go to the Arcade after their half day of school. However, when Sakura invited her to attend the Sakura festival in Konoha on Sunday, she very willingly accepted. Nothing could stop Kari from seeing the Sakura trees blossoming. She did not realize, either, that she missed them all week, and Sunday was probably the last chance she would be able to see them. It was already April twelfth, so she was lucky that they were still in bloom.
Sunday morning, Kari woke up at ten o'clock (which is early, for her anyways) and began getting ready. She took a shower and her mother helped her with the kimono. Kari had a special Sakura kimono that she wore every year to the festival. It was black decorated with pink cherry blossoms and the obi was a soft, light pink color. After putting on her kimono, Kari put her hair up in a smooth and elegant high bun.
At one o'clock, Kari heard her cell phone ring with her new ring tone: "Motteke! Sailor Fuku" by Aya Hirano, Fukuhara Kaori, and Endo Aya. It was also the theme song for Lucky Star... of course.
"Motte ike!
Saigo ni waracchau no wa atashi no hazu
SEIRAA fuku da kara desu ketsuron"
"Moshi, moshi," Kari answered.
"Moshi moshi, Kari-chan! Are you ready?" Sakura asked from the other line.
"Almost, I just need to put on my geta," Kari informed. She was currently retrieving her wooden sandals from her closet.
"Hai! Ino, Ayame, and I will be waiting outside your apartment in a few minutes. We'll walk from there, ne?"
"Kay, ja ne," Kari hung up her phone and put it inside her Sakura decorated purse. She slipped on her sandals and as she walked to the apartment door, she caught the reflection of herself in a mirror.
I don't think I have ever looked so Japanese.
Kari often acted more of an American and had more American-oriented interests, but today, she looked like she was born and raised in Japan.
Okasan must be happy. She smiled at her reflection. "Ittekimasu," she called and exited the apartment.
"Kari-chan, you look so pretty!" Sakura gushed when she, Ino, and Ayame met up with Kari.
"Thank you, Sakura-chan. You do, too!" Kari complimented.
Sakura was wearing a red kimono with a pink obi sash that was decorated with red Sakura blossoms. Ino was wearing a dark purple kimono, which was decorated with light purple Sakura designs. Ayame's was the same, except in shades of blue instead. Kari never really hung out with Ayame that much, as she did with Sakura and occasionally Ino. Ayame was a short girl with shoulder length black hair, which was short in the front and got longer in the back. Her eyes were a very dark brown, almost black. Ayame wasn't very beautiful, cute rather. Unfortunately, she was also somewhat dense.
The foursome walked to the special Cherry Blossom park in the center of Konoha, which was only a few blocks from Kari's home. The Sakura Festival was held here every year. The park was fairly big and was surrounded by what seemed to be a forest. Once passed the forestry part and into the inner area, there were paths and a countless number of Sakura trees. The paths were where all the booths would be set up for festivals. Even on the far North side of the park, there was a small Ferris wheel. Since it was not dark out yet, the festival game and food booths were not illuminated with colorful lights. However, the park was filled with Sakura trees that were blossoming. Cherry Blossom park was like a pink blob.
As they walked through the walkway of the park, Kari looked around at all the trees. She was beaming at all the blossoms that the wind blew around her. In the middle of the park, next to the park's Wish Tree, men were setting up a fireworks launch.
Ayame jumped up excitedly and shook Ino. "Ino-chan, look! There's going to be fireworks!" she exclaimed.
Ino laughed at her friend, "Aya-chan, there's always fireworks here." This was obvious. Sakura and Kari joined in on the laughter.
The group soon entered the pathway where all the food and game booths were set up. As they were buying chocobanana, three familiar faces caught Kari's eyes. "Naruto! Chouji! Shikamaru-sama!" she called out to her friends. As she expected, none of them were dressed in kimono.
"Kari, please, stop calling me that," Shikamaru grumbled when he approached Kari. Kari took a bite of her chocolate covered banana and stuck out her tongue so Shikamaru could see it. "Bite me," she teased. Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "Troublesome."
"Ah! I forgot my money!" Naruto whined. He also ordered a chocobanana, but only to discover that he had no wallet. Naruto pouted.
Sakura let out a huff, "Here, I'll pay." She paid her yen to the women inside the booth and Naruto happily ate his banana. "Arigato, Sakura-chan!"
"You owe me 300 yen, Naruto," Sakura informed.
"Sakura-chan, you can't just pay for me out of the goodwill in your heart!" Naruto pleaded. Sakura shook her head, "Don't call me that."
"Call you what, Sakura-chan?"
"That."
"Nani? Sakura-chan?"
"Hai. Don't call me Sakura-chan."
"Why?"
"JUST DON'T!" Sakura yelled. Naruto's face filled with fear. "Hai, Sakura-sama," he squeaked. Sakura began yelling again, but the rest allowed it to fade into background noise.
Kari surveyed the game booths to find one she wanted to play. She spotted one further down the path. "Let's play this one! Haiyaku, before someone else starts playing ahead of us!" Kari pulled Shikamaru down the path, followed by Chouji, Ino, and Ayame. She led them to a shooting game.
"I'm going for that prize!" Kari pointed to a stuffed Hello Kitty wearing a blue kimono. It was one of the big prizes, so she would have to hit the target in less than two shots. She paid the man 200 yen for three shots.
BANG! And a miss.
BANG! And another miss.
Kari sighed, "Well, if I get this one, at least I'll get a small prize." She said this more to herself than to anyone else.
BANG! And yet a third miss.
"Oh, kami-sama! Why do you hate me so?" Kari mock fainted.
Chouji took the gun next and handed the man his yen.
BANG! And a hit!
"That one," Chouji pointed to the Hello Kitty plush that Kari wanted. The man then handed it to Chouji, who gave it to Kari.
"Aw, Chouji, arigato!" Kari thanked and smiled sweetly at her friend.
"It's fine, I know you like Hello Kitty, Kari," Chouji smiled, "Now I want some Korean Barbeque... There's a stall here, isn't there?" However, as Chouji went to walk away, Ino grabbed his arm.
"Chouji, I want that plushie!" Ino pointed at a giant stuffed teddy bear. Another big prize. "I'll give you the yen for it. Please, Chouji! Oh, and Aya-chan wants that Monokuro Boo plush." Reluctantly, Chouji tried to win the two girls their prizes.
"Shikamaru-sama, I want shaved ice!" Kari pulled on Shikamaru's hand once again, this time dragging him to a shaved ice stall on the other side of the park. The two ordered their shaved ice, but as Kari went to pull out her money, Shikamaru stopped her.
"The woman shouldn't pay," he said in monotone and handed the cashier 400 yen in exchange for the two shaved ice snacks. Kari looked at Shikamaru in surprise. He looked back at her and raised an eyebrow, "Nani?" Kari just giggled, "Betsuni, Shikamaru-sama."
Shikamaru sighed out his favorite word and the two began walking again, eating their shaved ice. As they walked by one of the shop booths, a Konata plushie caught her eye. Konata was wearing her sailor fuku, which most Japanese schoolgirls wore. In fact, now that Kari thought about it, she did not know any other school that did not have a standard uniform.
"Oi, Shikamaru-sama, since you're so smart, I need to ask you something," Kari began. Shikamaru seemed curious. "Why don't we wear uniforms?"
He did not know the answer and shrugged. Kari blew at a piece of fallen hair from her bun. "I wanna wear a sailor fuku," she mumbled. Shikamaru laughed, "Yeah, I'd like to see you in one, too." Kari stuck out her tongue, "Pervert!" The two began laughing.
"Kari-chan!" TenTen's voice reached Kari's ears. She turned around to see TenTen holding hands with Neji and walking towards her. TenTen was dressed in a dark pink kimono with white cherry blossoms going up the left side. Neji was wearing an off-white Hyuuga robe.
"Konbanwa, TenTen-chan," Kari smiled, "Enjoying the festival?"
TenTen nodded, "Yeah, Neji and I are having a lot of fun. Oh, look! He won me Inu-chan." She held up a stuffed puppy that she was carrying in her arms. Neji just smiled.
"Well, we're going on the Ferris wheel now. Ja ne, Kari-chan!" She didn't even wait for a response as her and Neji rushed off to the ferris wheel.
Kari rolled her eyes. "You know, Shikamaru, I hate it when girls change once they like someone. It's troublesome."
"Yeah, I know. The boy would rather them stay the same, too," he added.
"Well, who cares? I want another toy!" Kari cheered and pulled Shikamaru to another game booth. This one was a ring toss. To win a prize, you would have to throw a ring over it.
"Yosh! They have Pokemon plushies! I think I'll aim for... Clefairy!" Kari paid 500 yen for five tosses. Sadly, she missed every time. "This isn't fair! I'm no good at these games," she whined.
Shikamaru sighed and tried the game. He did not win a Clefairy, but his ring did go over a Stantler. "I know it's not what you wanted, but take it and be happy," he said plainly and handed the toy to Kari.
Kari beamed up at him, "Arigato, Shikamaru-sama!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. Shikamaru turned a slight shade of red. "It's fine," he said and backed out of the hug.
The pair began walking again. Kari played with her Hello Kitty and Stantler, making them talk to eachother and such. She was actually acting somewhat childish. A handful of passer-byers gave Kari strange looks, but she didn't even notice them.
"Kari, you can act like such a kid sometimes," Shikamaru said with a smirk. She shrugged "Meh..." Kari wasn't really paying attention to what he said. "Ne, Shikamaru-sama, Shika means deer, doesn't it?" she asked.
"Uh... Yeah," he answered.
"You're a Stantler!" Kari laughed and shoved her Pokemon plush in Shikamaru's face, "I'm gonna name him Shikamaru-sama!" Shikamaru looked annoyed, but he really wasn't.
The sun was almost out of sight, but it could still be seen peaking over the horizon. The lights for the booths had all lit up and the park was very colorful. Kari and Shikamaru decided to take a rest and sat down on one of the numerous benches.
"Oi, Kari-" Shikamaru began, but he was cut off.
"Kari-chan! Shikamaru!" Lizzi came running up to them.
She was not dressed in kimono, just a black sweatshirt and jean Bermuda shorts. Gaara, the unfamiliar blond girl in her Study, and another unknown brown-haired boy, soon accompanied her. They weren't dressed up either. Gaara was wearing an oversize white and black sweatshirt and jean shorts. The girl was wearing a jean mini-skirt and white T-shirt. She was tall and had an athletic build. Kari thought she must be a third year. The other boy was wearing a black sweat shirt and loose jeans. He was also pretty tall but was slightly chubby.
"This is Gaara's sister and brother, Temari and Kankuro," Lizzi introduced them, "And these are my friends Kari and Shikamaru."
"Lizzi, why aren't you wearing kimono?" Kari asked persistently.
"I didn't feel like going through the hassle of putting it on," she laughed, "Plus, I was running late already. We just got here."
Kari understood and nodded. Her eyes then wandered to the Ferris wheel behind the group. She watched it go around and around. "I wanna go on the Ferris wheel!" she exclaimed.
Lizzi agreed, "Yeah! That sounds like fun! What about you, Gaara?" The quiet red head nodded. Lizzi then turned to his siblings.
Temari shook her head, "I just saw Konan and Yumi, you don't mind if I go meet up with them, do you?" Lizzi waved a hand as to say, "Go ahead." Kankuro had also found some other friends. The second years, Seiji and Kosuji, came up to him. "Kankuro-kun, let's go get goldfish!" they both said in unison and left for the goldfish scooping booth.
"Well, I suppose that it's just us four," Lizzi said and began to walk towards the Ferris wheel.
"Yeah, let's go, Shikamaru-sama!" Kari took his hand. She did not so much as pull it this time as just hold it.
The foursome rode the Ferris wheel a few times, seeing how Lizzi and Kari wanted to go on one time after another. Afterwards, they also went to the goldfish booth. Lizzi managed to catch one, as Kari was to no avail. Gaara and Shikamaru were indifferent to the attractions. Kari was then set on getting a water balloon, so they went to that booth next. Kari was holding Shikamaru's hand the whole time.
"Why is it I can't get just one prize by myself?" Kari complained as she failed at her second attempt to get a water balloon. The one that she wanted was red and decorated with pink cherry blossoms. It was the only one left in the booth.
The man who ran the booth saw Kari pouting. "I'll let you have one more try on the house," he smiled at her. He seemed pretty old and had balding, grey hair.
"Arigatou gozaimasu!" she bowed slightly towards him and once again, attempted to retrieve her favored water balloon, and alas, she did it! "Yatta!" she exclaimed.
"Sugoi! Kari-chan, that one's pretty!" Lizzi stared at it in amazement.
"I think it's a miracle that she even managed to get it," Shikamaru teased. Kari stuck out her tongue, "Meanie!"
"I think the fireworks are about to start," Gaara interrupted in a monotone voice.
The group moved towards the center of the park, so they could see them being launched. It was a very romantic seen. Among the stars, the fireworks spread out in various colors. The explosions of color caught everyone's attention. Kari, Shikamaru, Lizzi, and Gaara were soon joined by the rest of their friends. They all enjoyed the sight and took in the memorable atmosphere.
Shikamaru and Kari were still holding hands. Kari looked up at Shikamaru, who was looking down at her. She smiled and was thankful it was dark so he could not see her blush. Shikamaru grabbed her other hand and moved his face into hers. Soon, their lips locked as the fireworks finale started.
What they were unaware of, though, is that there was an unexpected viewer.
ZOMG! WHO ES UNEXPECTED VIEWER!?11?! ahem I guess that last line really tips off that there's not going to be a very carefree and happy chapter for a while... DRAMA! Dundunduuunnn. Hehe, I'm in a really crazy mood right now xD Hope you enjoyed it! Please review!