Chapter 3: Party Complete
I jumped off the couch, grabbed Brooke's hand, and pulled her toward the door. "Come on!"
Brooke snapped up her keys and wallet as we passed by the table. "Um, Mike? Where are we going, exactly?" She didn't protest as I pulled her out the door, pausing for a moment to allow her to lock the door.
"Game Hop. This game supports 5 players. We need a multi-tap." I started pulling her toward her truck.
"Shouldn't we leave a note for the boys?" She paused for a moment to get my answer.
"No. We'll be gone only a few minutes, and this way, we can be ready when they get home." I pulled on her hand hard and quick, nearly pulling her off her feet.
She regained her balance and shrugged. "Ok. But if they get mad, I'm blaming you. I don't need them yelling at me after last night." She climbed into the truck.
"That's fine. But trust me, when we start playing, if they were mad, they'll completely forget about it." I buckled up and fidgeted impatiently, waiting for her to start the truck. "Now, come on, let's go!"
She started the truck. "Alright, alright, relax. We're going"
We started off, and I turned to her. "Alright, alright, relax. We're going."
As we started down the street, I turned to her. "Does anyone have to work tonight?"
She shook her head, ponytail flapping. "Nope. Everyone has the night off."
I smiled. "Perfect."
Within the hour, four of the five of us were sitting in the living room. Rob was at work for another 10 minutes. People were starting to look bored with waiting, so I made a quick decision.
"How 'bout you three make up characters now? That way, when Rob gets home, all we have to wait for is him to make up his." I held the first-player controller eagerly. I was anxious to get started again.
Brooke shrugged. "Ok. Well, since I'm 'player two', I'll go first. But, everyone turn around. This way, our abilities will be a surprise when we use them." There were a few minor arguments, but Brooke stood her ground. We all turned around and Brooke went to work.
"Ok, name. Ah, this'll work." I heard her move the controller for her name. She hit the continue button and mumbled to herself.
"Hmm. Skills. Well, this one's obvious. Definitely this one. Hmmm, what can I do for the last one? Hmm. Why not?" I heard the sound that indicated that her character was done.
She turned as Andrew chose his name and abilities, and Russell finished it up. As soon as he had finished, everyone turned to face the screen again.
"Ok, can we start now?" asked Russell.
"I thought we were waiting for Rob." said Brooke. Looking at her, I saw that she was just as anxious to get going as everyone else.
"Yeah, why not? Rob can jump in when he gets home," I decided. I looked around at everyone else. "Get ready for the ride of your lives." I pressed start, and the world went black again…
I 'woke' up standing on the sparkly spot on the living room floor, and looked around again. Everything was the same as before. I moved toward the common area of the living room, and saw Hinata graciously walking with Sasuke and Gaara, talking quietly. Child-like as I was, curiosity overcame me and I moved toward them, wanting to be a part of the conversation. Suddenly, a hand grabbed my collar and yanked me out of the room, shutting the door to the living room as I was pulled down a hallway. A voice accompanied the quick travel.
"Riso, son, do you have a death wish?"
The movement stopped and I was turned around, looking into the big blue eyes of my dad, Naruto.
"Because that's what'll happen if you go out there. Or have you forgotten what you did today?"
I gulped. In all the excitement of coming back, I had completely forgotten about Sasuke and the mochi. "Oh, yeah," I whispered.
"Besides, I have a job for you. Uncle Neji is flipping out because his daughter hasn't come home from training with her cell yet. Gaara and Shino's sons have returned home, but she is still not here. Tenten is sure that she's fine, but Neji is worried sick. You remember all the stories that we've told you about what's happening with the branch family members, right?" Naruto's eyes, unusually serious, bored into my own.
Memories rushed into my mind. In the past 15 years, someone had been hunting down branch members, presumably to gain the secrets to the Byukugan. Stories about how branch family members committed suicide when captured alive to keep the secrets of the Byukugan from the enemy. The seals that they all still bore wiped all known memory or the Byukugan from their bodies, hence the reason that so many were attempted to be captured alive. To make things worse, another group seemed insistent on killing every last member of the branch family. The branch family was being hunted. Suddenly, a memory found my consciousness that stopped me cold. I remembered a story that my aunt Tenten had told me just recently, when I had asked about the constant worry that Uncle Neji was under. When she was six months old, my cousin, someone whom I had gotten so close to I called big sister, had been kidnapped. Someone had managed to break into the house, into her room, and take her into the night. After a half-day's search, they found her and killed all involved. However, Neji was taking no more chances. He installed thick wooden lattice all around the inside of her room, effectively turning it into a cage. She was escorted to school and training, and, if she was not there or bathing, she had been kept locked in that room. Her meals were brought to her, and she wanted for nothing, as Neji bought her everything that he could think of to keep her happy. But the one thing that she wanted most of all, she told me once, was to be free. I used to come over to her house and sit outside the door and talk to her to keep her company, since no one but Uncle Neji, Aunt Tenten, Mom or Dad were allowed inside. Finally, on the day she graduated the Ninja Academy and became a genin, Uncle Neji removed the cage and her restrictions.
However, there was only one memory that wasn't there, and that was going to cause a problem. I couldn't remember what she looked like. I was about to tell my dad I had other plans when I heard a rumble coming from the living room. My eyes widened.
"Alright, I'm out of here!" I said, running outside. I had gotten to the gate when I heard my mom's voice:
"RISO"
Gulping, I ran towards the center of the village.
As I was walking toward the village, another 'head's up' display flashed in front of me.
GAME PARTY COMPLETE
CHANGING REALITY STATUS TO LEVEL 10
HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!
"Huh. I guess Rob jumped in too." I cocked my head to the side for a minute. "I wonder what 'reality status' means?" I shrugged and started towards the village once again, the display forgotten in a few moments.
Once in the village, I started to look around. "Well, I'm not exactly sure who I'm looking for, but she's a genin, and I assume that she has the Byukugan, so we'll start there," I said to myself. I started looking at every female genin that walked by. There were a few pretty ones, but none with the Byukugan. I looked around and something caught my eye. I couldn't help but stop and stare. A genin stood there, facing me, chatting with anther female genin. She had long, brown hair pulled up into two long, HUGE pigtails high on her head. She had one of her pigtails in her hand, and was wrapping the end of it around an extremely sharp looking kunai. The other pigtail hung down, trailing at least a foot of hair on the ground. I couldn't tell if she had the Byukugan, because she had a pair of dark goggles over her eyes, but at that point my mission had basically been forgotten. A dark green hitae covered her forehead. She was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and black pants. Dark green vines and leaves print wrapped around the outfit. The shirt was tight, revealing that she was beginning to fill out, and the pants hugged her hips before becoming baggy and loose. As I stood and stared, she finished with the first pigtail and worked on the other. In a matter of moments, she was finished. Looking near her feet, I saw the kunai dangling less than an inch above the ground, with the last foot or so of hair wrapped tightly around the handle. The other girl walked away and she began to look around, almost seeming slightly lost.
What the heck, I thought. I moved towards her. I mean, this is just a game, right? What harm can this do?
"Hey, pretty lady," I said as I sidled up next to her. "What say you and I go get some dango mochi and explore puberty together?" As I spoke, danger gripped me and I grabbed her ass.
Her head whipped around. "Why you little rat! If you don't move your hand, the amount of medical attention you'll need will keep your grandchildren in debt!"
I hastily removed my hand. "Wow, the AI on this game is really advanced!" I mumbled to myself.
As I turned to go, I felt a danger sense in me go off. I turned to see her clench her fists.
"Did you just say GAME?" she asked, tone red. "Which one are you"
My eyes widened. "Oooops, gotta go…uh, bye!"
I turned to run and felt my collar wrenched back until my back was pressed up against her front.
"Mike, when we get outta this, you are soooo dead." she whispered in my ear.
I pulled away from her and turned around. "Brooke?"
She looked around, then pulled me off to a secluded place behind some bushes. Looking around one more time, she pulled the goggles down around her neck and looked at me. Her face was quite pretty. But what stopped me in my tracks were her eyes. The pale lavender-white of the Byukugan stared back at me. Suddenly, all the missing memories flooded back. She was my branch family protector, the member assigned to make sure nothing happened to me. I remembered standing next to her for the first time when we graduated the Ninja Academy together and her cage was removed. The fact that she started wearing the goggles to hide her eyes to avoid being hunted. I even remembered her name.
"Nami?"
She smiled at me. "So, you finally got all your memories? Mine decided to blindside me as soon as I got here, Riso." She ruffled my hair. "You know, you're a cute kid. But, no more hitting on your big sis, ok?" She smiled.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Giant bugs!"
"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't this a Naruto game, not a B-movie?" I asked, cocking my head. But Nami had already run towards the disturbance. As I started to chase after her, the full realization of what happened hit. I had just hit on my cousin!
We got to a housing district and saw what was causing such a ruckus.
"What the hell! Now I think I've really flipped my wig!" A six foot tall bug was walking around, asking for directions.
It walked up to a guy and asked him, "Could you tell me where to find my masters friend, Riso? It is very important that I speak with him." The guy pointed at me, then ran away screaming, a dark stain spreading across his pants. The thing walked toward me.
"Master Ryuko requests your presence, Riso." What else could I do? I followed him, Nami trailing behind. About a block later, we saw another kid, lying on his back, a butterfly perched on his finger. He had spiky brownish-blond hair and was wearing a pair of sunglasses. He had on a pair of shorts and a high collared coat. Upon seeing him, memories flooded my head again.
He was Ryuko, son of a leaf nin and a sand nin. His father, Shino could control bugs, while his mother, Temari used a giant fan. Their child inherited the ability to house the bugs in his body, plus developed random abilities by working with different teachers. But who knew he could make his bugs grow? When I thought about it, I realized the only person this could be.
"Hey, Andrew, what's up?"
"Ahh, so he found you. Good work, then. Hey, is that… Brooke"
Nami shook her head, pigtails shimmying. "No. My name is Hyuuga Nami, just as this is Hyuuga Riso and YOU are Aburame Ryuko." Nami shot Ryuko a look.
Ryuko shrugged. "I get it. But…what happened to you!"
Nami looked confused.
"You look all…scary."
I watched Nami's eyes get wide. But she smiled. "I don't know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment."
I popped up. "Definitely a compliment. You've got that hot, ass-kicking chick look to you."
Ryuko chuckled. "Oh, so you're into young girls now, Mike?"
I bristled. "It's Riso. And Nami's two years older than me!"
"And your cousin, don't forget," Nami chimed in. "Ototo-kun."
"Don't take it like that," I said. "I'm not hitting on you…again."
Nami whirled around to face me. "So, you're saying I'm not cute enough to hit on?"
I waved off. "No, no, n…Ow!" Something had just pegged me in the back of the head.
Nami looked confused. "What? I didn't hit you…yet."
A voice floated from behind me. "Why can't you guys stop flirting with anything with two legs that doesn't share your sex? Or is that the M.O. of this place?"
I watched Nami's eyes go wide again. She pulled up her goggles to hide her eyes. "Where are you?"
"I'm up here for crying out loud."
The three of us (and the giant bug) looked up into a nearby tree. After a second, a figure with waist length silver hair and bright red eyes emerged. Nami sighed and removed her goggles again.
"Geez, Suisaiga. You scared me." She shook her head. "And what's with the attitude? You're never like this at home, Russell."
I popped up again. "Yes he is." I lowered my voice. "Funking prink." (A/N Ryu: Cookie points to whoever can identify that line!)
All of the sudden, I felt a presence next to me and I was lifted up by my collar…again.
"What was that?" Suisaiga pulled me closer.
"Um…nothing."
"Hey, um…guys? Where the hell are we?" Another voice popped up. Turning, we saw a tall young man with black hair and bright turquoise eyes. "All I know was I came home, was attacked by a controller, and then I ended up here."
Nami smiled. "We're inside the game, I think, Kama."
"Oh, ok."
We sat down in a circle. Nami opened the conversation.
"So, what now? Do we just live here like we were meant to, or do we try to get back home?"
Ryuko shook his head. "I wish SOMEONE…" He looked at me. "Would have warned us about this. It would have made things a bit easier."
I smiled. "But that would have ruined the whole surprise thing. By the way…Surprise!" I got a serious look. "Besides, I came here without knowing what was going on."
"So there you all are." A female voice broke in.
Nami slammed on her goggles while the rest of us turned to face the voice. Nami turned a split second later. Then, she sighed.
"Geez, mom. Freak us out much, ne?" said Nami as she removed her goggles again.
"You know," I spoke up. "You should just leave those things off. They're more trouble than they're worth."
Tenten smiled. "Riso-chan, you know why she wears them, although I think that she can do without them now." She turned to Nami. "You're strong now. You can take care of yourself, no matter what your father thinks." She turned back to me. "And besides, Riso-chan, you shouldn't be talking about trouble, what with what you did this morning"
I gulped. "So, you know about that, huh?"
Tenten laughed. "Riso, the whole village knows. It's not easy to keep a secret here." She turned to Nami once again. "In fact, Nami." Nami looked up at her mother. "Give me the goggles. You no longer need them."
Nami looked worried, but did as her mother asked and handed over the goggles. "There we go. You have a very pretty face, so show it more"
Nami got a frightened, deer in the headlights look. She lifted her hand and pointed over my shoulder, then hid behind Tenten, not as though it would work. Tenten stood there, with a set of large pigtails coming out of her sides. I turned around and saw one of my best friends, Sabaku no Ikari.
"Hey guy, what's up?"
"Not much, just checking up on Nami. Dad told me that Neji-san was freaking out and blowing stuff up cause he thought she got lost. Or at least that's how dad put it. Nami, are you alright?"
Tenten skipped out of the way to reveal a wide eyed and blushing Nami. "Y…Y…Yeah, I'm fine."
"Wow," he said, eyes widening. "You look very pretty without your goggles on. You have beautiful eyes."
All I saw then was a blur as Nami ran towards home. "Riso, can you tell me why she doesn't like me?" Ikari asked with what looked like a tear in his eye.
"Dood, she's got a bigger crush on you than mom had on dad. She just doesn't think she can compare with any of the rest of the girls struggling to get your attention."
Ikari blushed. "Ero-sennin said to try the direct compliment route, especially when it comes to their eyes. Sakura-san and Ino-san have been trying to help, but I just can't seem to get through to her"
Tenten giggled. "Riso, come here. I have a wonderful idea." I walked over to her, and she leaned over and whispered in my ear. After a minute, I laughed and said, "That will be my pleasure. I've been waiting to try that out, anyway."
I took off, catching up to the winded Nami. I stood behind her, and without letting her know I was there, took stance. I first activated my transformation technique, making myself look like Ikari. Then I used Kage-Bunshin, making about twenty copies of myself.
"Nami-chan, will you go out with us?"
Nami turned around and her jaw dropped. Then she assumed the look of doom. "Riso, this is the dirtiest trick you have ever pulled in your entire life! I am going to put you into the ground!'
She started to attack the Bunshins, until she hit one that didn't go poof. She attacked one coming up behind her, and it was me. My copies disappeared, and I transferred back to normal form. However, there was still one Ikari left. She looked back and forth between me and Ikari with a look of utter horror. Ikari looked at her and smiled. "You are a very tough opponent as well as being pretty. But you never answered my question," he said, blushing. "Will you go out with me?"
I sat up a bit. "I tried, man. Geez, you both like each other, go out! I mean, you both have been spying on each other for months."
Nami tried to duck and run, but she got hauled in by the pigtails by a highly amused Tenten. "Now, now, my little one, don't you think you owe this young man an answer to his question?" Tenten asked gently. She looked down at Nami. Nami's cheeks looked as though they had roses growing out of them. She looked over to Ikari, whose face wasn't much better. "Nah, tell you what. Ikari? A quiet dinner tomorrow night sound nice?" She looked at him and he managed a nod. "Yes? Good. It's a first date then!" Tenten giggled. "We'll make sure that you two have plenty of time…alone."
I laughed as we all walked our separate ways, headed for our homes away from home.
End chapter 3
: Am I being patient enough for you?
Mech: Yes, your patience is impeccable. Don't worry though, it shouldn't be too much longer.
Mitsune: So when do you think people will notice?
Mech: What?
Mitsune: Gaara's kid is a wuss.
Flonne: He's not a wuss, He just understands the power of true love, hehehe.
Squall: Love is for fools, and he is a wuss.
Mech: Zip it grumpy, you won't think he's a wuss after he gets pissed. He's a helpless romantic, is all.