DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto
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Chapter 4: Shopping Escapades
"What? What's happening?" a panicked Ino exclaimed
"Are you dying dobe?" Sasuke added.
"Shut up teme!"
"Naruto, what the heck is wrong?" a slightly irritated Sakura said.
"I just remembered that classes are starting TOMORROW!"
Everyone just sweatdropped at Naruto's reaction.
Neji just raised his eyebrow and said, "We know dobe."
"WHAT!"
The others just stared at Naruto as if he grew another head. The silence was broken when Saime spoke up.
"Onii-chan I forgot to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I'm not going back to France for a while. I'm staying and studying here."
"Hn."
The girls beamed at the information that their new friend will be staying with them.
"You don't need to worry onii-chan, I arranged all that stuff before I got here. I have my schedule and all my stuff. All I need to do is go to school tomorrow."
She then turned to look at Gaara.
"Guess what Gaa-kun, we're going to be classmates again."
Temari looked at the girl and thought, 'Finally, someone to break down Gaara's cold exterior.'
"All right! This calls for a major shopping spree!" Ino yelled out.
The others sweatdropped but agreed nonetheless.
"Sorry guys. I'll take a rain check on this. I need to make sure our house is still in one piece." Kankurou said.
The other boys' thoughts were in the lines of, 'Lucky him'.
Everyone, excluding Kankurou, hopped into Sakura's car (coughhummercough) and went to the mall.
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At the mall…
The place looked a little less crowded than usual. The gang stayed in the center of the mall for a little while to talk.
"Okay! To make it easier…" Ino began…
"HI GUYS!"
The others turned to look at the person who yelled. It was Inuzuka Kiba, wearing black baggy jeans, sneakers a white shirt and his trademark gray jacket.
"Where's Akamaru?" asked Naruto.
"Oh, I left him at the vet for a little while. It's time for his checkup."
"Ahem, as I was saying, to make things a little easier, we'll separate into pairs. I was thinking of groups but since Kiba's here, we could go in pairs."
"Sure Ino." the other girls replied and the boys just shrugged or stayed silent.
"The pairs will go like this, Tenten and Neji, Hinata and Naruto, Saime and Gaara, Temari and Kiba, Sakura and Sasuke and me and Shikamaru. We'll meet at the food court in two hours."
The others just shrugged and went their separate ways.
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With Gaara and Saime
The duo was looking around the mall, trying to find some clothes and stuff when,
"Hey Panda!"
"What?"
"Why not do a little snooping for old times sake?"
At first, Gaara had this WTH look, then he suddenly broke out into his evil guy smirk.
"Why not?"
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With Sasuke and Sakura
The pair was walking aimlessly around the mall. They were enveloped in a semi-awkward silence until Sakura's phone rang. She received a new text message.
_Sasuke: Hey!_
She turned to face her companion but he looked like nothing happened so she replied to the text.
_Hey yourself. We're right next to each other you know._
_Sasuke: I know._
_Jerk. So what's the deal?_
_Nothing much._
_You know, you're a much better person to talk to through texts._
_Sasuke: It's a lot easier texting you know._
_Hn._
_Sasuke: That's my line._
_OMG. You're actually playing along._
_Sasuke: Hn._
_Back to those responses eh. To think that I actually am enjoying this conversation._
_Sasuke: Aa. What are we gonna do?_
_I for one am not in the mood to shop right now. I have no idea what to do. You decide._
_Sasuke: Want some coffee?_
_Sure._
Thanks to their walking around, Sasuke and Sakura were actually only a few paces away from the coffee shop. They entered the quaint café and ordered their snacks and drinks; Blueberry cheesecake and a frappe for Sakura and Mocha Sponge cake and a cappuccino fro Sasuke. They then sat down on two comfy chairs with a small table in between them near the window.
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With Naruto and Hinata
The two were aimlessly wandering around the mall. Once in a while, Hinata would look at Naruto, not exactly meeting his eye but just observing him.
'Its nice to enjoy his company like this. Why can't I just come clean and admit that I like him. Oh wait, it's so obvious that almost everyone knows; everyone except Naruto himself that is.'
At this thought she frowned, not knowing that the blonde boy's eyes were on her.
'Grrrr…. Why can't he notice how I feel for him? He's so dense!... But… That's what makes him who he is. I wouldn't want him to change. Even though he might be the densest person on earth, I wouldn't trade him for the world.'
A voice suddenly interrupted the shy girl's mental monologue.
"Hey Hinata!"
"Y-yes Na-naruto-kun?"
"Want to go get some ramen? My treat!"
"Sure Na-naruto-kun."
They walked to the ramen stand on the first floor of the mall. When they entered, it dawned upon Hinata that her companion was a frequent patron of the establishment, seeing the look of familiarity and closeness the owner/chef and his daughter were giving him. They sat on the stools directly in front of the counter and the daughter, Ayame, walked toward them to take their orders.
"Hi Naruto, will it be the usual?"
"Sure thing Ayame-nee-san. What about you Hinata-chan?"
Blushing at the affectionate –chan at the end of her name, she shyly announced her order.
"S-some beef ramen please."
"Right away!" With a warm smile directed at the two, Ayame strode to her father to tell him the orders.
Hinata and Naruto were then engulfed by silence as they waited for their food. After a few minutes, their meals were served to them and they began digging in.
"Hey Hinata-chan…"
Naruto said after a few bites *ehem-BOWLS-* of ramen.
"Yeah?"
"You know you look prettier when you smile."
Hinata almost choked on her food and then calmed down.
"T-thank you Naruto-kun."
"Hey, you said my name without stuttering. You shouldn't be so shy around me you know."
Hinata then smiled a breath-taking smile then continued eating.
When they were both done, Hinata offered to pay for her share but Naruto declined the offer and got up to pay their food. Hinata was then contemplating the past events not noticing that the owner whispered something to Naruto and he began to blush a deep red. His blush was gone a few seconds later and they walked out of the stand.
Good luck kid. She's a keeper.
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With Neji and Tenten
Coincidentally Neji and Tenten wound up going to the arcade.
"Hey Neji, wanna go play some games for a while?"
"Why not?"
The two entered the noisy arcade and settled for a shooting game.
"Are you sure you can handle this Tenten?" Neji remarked, smirking at Tenten's furious face.
"You're going down Hyuuga!"
With that the game started…
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With Kiba and Temari
The pair wandered around the mall till they were too tired to walk.
"Wanna go sit down Temari?"
"Sure."
They wound up sitting at the edge of the fountain near the center of the mall. Temari had a distracted look on her face, staring at her reflection on the water. Suddenly drops of water splashed on her face.
"WTH?! Kiba!!!!!"
With that she splashed him back thus starting a water fight between the two. Before they got soaking wet, Kiba said,
"Ok ok I give! We're going to get soaked."
"No shit Sherlock! My shirt's all wet now"
With a sheepish look on his face Kiba apologized..
"Sorry sorry. I was just playing. C'mon, I'll buy you a new one."
With that Kiba extended his hand to Temari, who shyly took it and set of to Temari's favorite store.
Unbeknownst to the two, their hands were still linked as they disappeared through the large groups of people blocking their way.
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Back with Neji and Tenten
The game finished with Neji just scoring five points ahead of Tenten.
Neji just looked at her and smirked.
"Oh just shut it Hyuuga."
Tenten blushed a deep red when she felt Neji leaning in to whisper into her ear.
"Not bad, Tenten…"
Then he tucked a strand of a loose lock of Tenten's hair behind her ear and walked off.
He looked back at the dumbfounded girl still in front of the shooting game they just played.
"Hn. Are you coming or not?"
Tenten snapped out of her reverie and muttered, "Stupid Neji…" before following after her companion.
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With Shikamaru and Ino
It seems that Ino was the only one who really shopped. Poor Shikamaru, he was the only one who got dragged to the every store in the mall.
"Troublesome… Isn't this enough Ino?" Shikamaru pointed to the 3 bags Ino was holding and the five bags he held for her.
"This is the last store Shika, I promise." With that the blonde girl entered the shop.
"Troublesome…" Shukamaru muttered before following the girl in.
When he entered, Ino already had a dress in hand and was heading for the fitting rooms.
"Wait for me here Shika."
Shikamaru made himself comfortable on the couch near the fitting rooms.
A few minutes later, Shikamaru could feel his eyes drooping, almost falling to a peaceful slumber. That is until,
The sight that his mind registered before he shut his eyes made him snap then wide open again. There in front of him was a gorgeous Ino in a figure hugging black mini dress that reached up to mid thigh. It was sleeveless with a nicely cut hole in the middle of the chest to show some skin. Shikamaru had to turn away to hide his blush.
"I-it looks f-fine Ino…" he stuttered out and got up to go outside.
"Huh? What's with him?"
Ino then looked at her reflection, twirling around in the cute dark blue summer dress she was donned in.
After paying she went outside to see Shikamaru leaning on the wall looking disturbed.
"You okay Shikamaru? It was just a summer dress… Geez.."
Shikamaru looked at Ino's retreating back with confusion.
'Shikamaru you idiot. You were seeing things.'
With a shake of his head he went after Ino.
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Sasuke and Sakura again…
With their snack almost finished the two sat idly on the chairs looking at the people passing by the café's window.
'I had it with this silence!'
"A-ano S-sasuke..?"
Sasuke looked at the girl in front of him with confusion in his onyx eyes.
"Hn?"
'OMG! HE'S SO CUTE WHEN HE'S CONFUSED!.'
'Shut up you!'
"I wa-as wondering…"
"What is it Sakura?"
"W-why did you stop texting me that day?"
Sasuke knew what she was talking about and was about to answer when…
"HEY FOREHEAD! IT'S TIME TO GO TO THE FOOD COURT!"
The pair saw Ino with Shikamaru trailing behind her.
"Nevermind. Let's go Sasuke."
With that they got up to follow Ino.
Unknown to Sakura, Sasuke had something running through his mind at that moment.
'I will tell you Sakura. Just you wait.'
The two's eyes then met and Sakura just smiled warmly at her companion.
'Just you wait…'
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A.N.: I finally updated! :P Hope you guys enjoyed this… Read and Review… Comments and suggestions are highly appreciated… Thanks you guys!