Anko was trying not to fall down from the chair she was standing on, her hands were filled with balloons and colourful paper stripes. Gai was moving Kurenai's furniture, he cornered the chairs and couches along with the table, letting enough space for the guests so they could dance freely. He also brought some more chairs from his apartment and placed them near the other chairs. Anko smiled pleased when she saw her masterpiece finished, there was a big sign with red stylish handwriting that said "Happy B-Day Kurenai". The balloons were red and white, also she placed the little device she picked from the store, so that once Kurenai stepped inside it would pop out and spread lots of tiny red and white confetti all over her and around the place.
-Anko-chan, I finished placing the chairs around the living room 15 minutes before time scheduled, another record broken by the mighty me! his arm's muscles and grinning openly.
Anko placed her right hand over her hip and smiled. She found amusing the fact that she had so much fun fixing the place with Gai. Both shinobi were so busy taking things in and out, running all over Kurenai's place and making sure that everything was in perfect state for their friend. Anko scratched her neck, she felt her back quite tense, but the stress was worth the day. Gai was placing a little coffee table next to the dining one, muttering something about "for the gifts". Anko walked to the nearest couch, letting her body sink in the comfy furniture. As she guessed Izumo and Kotetsu came not long ago looking for her by Tsunade's orders, she explained the situation and both shinobi left not before assuring that they'll come with a big present for Kurenai and with some snacks for the party.
Anko closed her eyes and sighed heavily, all that shopping and arranging dragged her stamina almost to zero. Gai was making some final arrangements in the place when he noticed that his friend was dozing in the big couch, he smiled and looked through the window. It was already 5pm and judging by what the other jounin told them, Kurenai wouldn't arrive there until 8pm. He was sure that Anko would love to have a little nap before the big party, Gai walked silently to her and with extreme caution he picked her in bridal style and headed to Kurenai's bedroom. Gently he placed the kunoichi over the bed and with a final glimpse to his friend he closed the door and left the apartment.
---
Kakashi was looking to the little crack on his ceiling, with both arms crossed behind his head and his right leg flexed. His mind was swimming across the recent events and wondered if everything he felt was right. He blinked heavily and left a big sigh escape from his lips, sure things were getting messy and confusing for him and there was nothing that he detested more than not knowing what to do with the emotions that burst constantly in his chest. Kakashi was well known for his ability to hide his emotions to the point of extinguishing them. Of course there were sometimes, that those actions would drag him to the point of insanity but he was a shinobi, a good one in fact. He wasn't allowed to feel anything and in the case he does, he was instructed in not to show anyone what he was feeling.
Tortured, the copy ninja closed his eye firmly, unfolding his arms and facing up the wall. There was another crack on it, that followed the same path as the ceiling's one, he wondered if the apartment was about to crack down. Trashing the thought he buried his face over his pillow and tried to find some sleep, scratching his neck with his right hand. His chest felt heavy and found it hard to breath, but the silver haired shinobi was eagerly to find an end to this state. More than confused he was frustrated of letting all those years in constant training of how to suppress the human side to worth nothing. The sweating and trembling was a clear sign that he was losing his self-control, not to mention the lack of speech back then.
Angered he hit his face over the pillow, trying to think what was going on and why the heck his brain was making all those dreadful spins, making him feel nauseous. The only thing Kakashi was sure of, was that all this was her fault. If it wasn't for her constant presence and those weird things she does when she's around him, he would be peacefully happy resting over his bed on his free day, reading his Icha Icha Violence and maybe having some red wine. He would be centred and having a great time, safe and secure that everything he knew was the way his sensei taught him. Also he wouldn't feel that disturbing sensation in which the floor moves under his feet and the lack of air every time he saw her. Hitting the pillow with his face for the last time, Kakashi closed his eye and forced the sleepiness to come over.
---
Anko heard a muffled knock on her back, she grunted turning over, trying to ignore what she heard. Another soft knock shattered her peacefulness, feeling lightly pissed she stood up and walked to the door where she heard the knock coming. Not paying attention to her surroundings, she opened the door and shouted a simply "What?" to the person behind it. Genma blinked shocked and arched a brow, Anko felt how her cheeks started burning and with a light wave she left the shinobi in. Still embarrassed she pointed to a little table next to the dinning one. The shinobi shrugged and left the heavy black box over it. Before saying anything else Genma started to pull some cables from his vest and assembling what it seemed to be the stereo. Stretching her arms behind her head, she glanced at the cupboard's clock and realized that it was already 7pm. Must get a shower before the partyyawning she opened the door and revealed a smiling Shizune behind it.
-Hello Anko-san, ready for tonight?
-Not quite, must fix myself before the her scalp, letting the kunoichi in and pointing to the couch.
Shizune walked in with a silver wrapped box with a red bow on her hands, she placed the gift over the coffee table and walked where Genma was. He greeted her with a smile and asked her to sit next to him. Anko smiled when she saw the scene, feeling a pinch of envy running through her stomach but ignored it, once she remembered what she was supposed to be doing now.
-Ey guys, you don't mind staying here and receiving the guests while I'm out?
Both shinobi looked at the violet haired kunoichi and shook their heads, Anko grinned and opened the door.-Thanks guys, be right back. Make yourselves comfortable, but not that much eh!-. Winking, she left a pair of shinobi blushing badly in Kurenai's place.
---
Kakashi punched the pillow in despair, angered he turned over and faced the ceiling hopelessly. The last rays of sunlight disappeared, welcoming the artificial ones. The shinobi glanced at , feeling quite envious for its fresh and casual appearance. Sighing he sat and looked at the night sky, seeing how the stars managed to appear even with the light post shinning brightly against them. The alarm clock said it was 7:30pm, frowning he scratched his scalp and stood up. Looking for his shinobi sandals he caught a glance of a cobalt wrapped box, with a white ribbon over his desk. Kakashi scratched his neck and took it with his right hand.
Flashback
-U going, aren't you?
-Perhaps
-No, don't perhaps me mate! You're in or out?
Kakashi sighed and looked to his bearded friend. He distinguished a little flame sparkling in his friend's eyes, Kakashi could tell that even if he wasn't feeling comfortable on going, in some sort of way he felt that he owed him this.
-So?-. Leaning forward with his right brow arched.- In or out?
Kakashi shrugged and closed his visible eye.- In.
End of the Flashback
Kakashi placed the gift over the desk and walked to his closet. He pulled out a yellow towel and his matching slippers, placing them over the bed he undressed himself and wrapped the towel over his waist. The silver haired jounin walked to the bathroom and left the water run until it was hot enough for his taste. He looked at the mirror and checked his face, there were two circles under his eyes emphasizing his lack of sleep. A light red spot on his neck dragged his attention, he leaned closer to check the faded mark and once he got a clear image of it, he left a tiny smile escape from his lips. The steam coming from his back brought him back from his dreamy land, looking at himself for the last time in the mirror he sighed. It's for Asuma and Kurenai, that's all. Kakashi stepped inside the shower and allowed the water hit his exposed back, trying to suppress all those reminders that were brought back every time he glanced at the reddish spot.
---
Anko was running through the main street, trying to get to Kurenai's apartment before she does. Although Asuma volunteered to delay her and make sure that she would arrive there at the estimated time, Anko wasn't that sure that the bearded men could accomplish this task, after all the shinobi, despite his rough looks, he turn to jelly every time Kurenai was near him. Anko smiled once she saw the building in which Gai and her friend lived. Kurenai's apartment appeared to be inhabited and Anko could not do anything else but smirk, her commands were fulfilled. Forgetting about how tired she was and how inappropriate was to jump with her garment, she jumped to the nearest roof and then to Kurenai's floor. Making sure that her friend wasn't near, she knocked the door three times, in response the door was opened.
Even if the apartment was in complete silence and all the lights were turned off, she could still sense who was in the room. In the corner near the stereo were Genma and Shizune who smirked and waved to the kunoichi, next to the snack table were Iruka, Izumo and Kotetsu who greeted her with a nod, not far from them there was her superior Ibiki who stayed there with both arms crossed over his chest. He frowned and Anko felt a shiver running through her back, that look meant only one thing, she was in deep trouble once she got back to her usual chores. Anko gazed to her left and there was Suzume chatting silently with Ebisu, even though it was dark he was wearing his dark glasses. A hand landed over her left shoulder, she was about to drag a kunai when she realized who the hand was from, she smiled relieved.
-Everything ok?
-As you planed Anko-chan.
Anko nodded and placed the gift she was carrying on her left arm next to the other presents, proudly she looked around and realized that, even though most of the people she invited weren't there yet, at least the one that really mattered were there ready for the big surprise. Everybody was looking at her, expecting her to say something, but the only thing she could do in that instant was to nod. All the shinobi in the room smiled and nodded, she clapped and with some hand seals the room fell in complete silence. There were just a couple of minutes left before Kurenai's arrival, she checked with her eyes that everybody was hiding properly and that none of them were making noise. She glanced to her right and saw that Gai was grinning openly with his hand still over her shoulder. Anko smiled and hoped that his grin's shine wouldn't bring the whole set up down.
Pair of foot steps was heard in the outside, followed by Kurenai's voice, Anko couldn't tell what her friend was saying not like she cared, but she was getting impatient. She looked at her partners, all of them where looking at the door expecting the kunoichi to get inside. Kurenai inserted her key and turned right, making a little crack, she opened the door and with her right hand she searched for the switch. Anko smiled and clapped both hands.
-Katon Ryuuka no Jutsu
Kurenai jumped back avoiding the dragon fire technique and landing over Asuma. Blushed she help the bearded man to stand up, still shocked she looked to her apartment and stepped inside, realizing what was happening she smiled. Everybody started shouting their greetings and clapped, Kurenai smiled and walked directly to the mischievous mind behind the act.
-Surprised?
-Not as much as Asuma, when I landed on him.
-I don't hear him complaining.
-Baka
Both kunoichi burst into laugher and hugged each other. All the guests approached and started hugging Kurenai, giving her their compliments and wishing her the best. Genma took this as a sign for the party to start over and turned on the music. The room was filled with confetti, thanks for a simple gentusu that Shizune made, it looked like it wouldn't stop for a while. Izumo and Kotetsu were chatting with Iruka, while pouring some sake to the fruit ponche that was on the middle of the table. Anko rolled her eyes but smiled wider. Ebisu was talking with Suzume while drinking some unadulterated ponche. Ibiki with both arms crossed was talking to Asuma, as for the b-day girl, she was walking to any possible direction and admiring the decoration and the genjutsu that Shizune used on the room. Anko was about to walk to the door and close it, when a foot stopped her from doing it.
-Did you actually believed that I wouldn't notice this gathering, Anko?
Anko smiled and shrugged.- I tried, Hokage-sama.
-For tonight, I'm just Tsunade-sama.
Everybody in the room quieted and bowed to Tsunade, she grinned and walked directly to the snack table. She looked at the three surprised shinobi that were next to the ponche, Iruka greeted her and with a nod she glared at the two jounin.
-So? What are you waiting for? Give me my sake!
Kotetsu and Izumo shivered and quickly filled a glass with alcoholic punch. Tsunade drank it in one gulp and hit the table with an open hand.
-And you call this sake?!
Shaking both jounin pulled a bottle of sake from under the table and started serving an alcoholic Hokage. Everybody else in the room sweat dropped and chuckled.
-There's no much way left before those two have their own bells on their necks.
-Don't be so mean Asuma, they're just doing their job-. A reddish jounin replied with a silly smile on her lips.
-And you call yourselves a high ranked jounin?! Serve a decent drink for Konoha's sake or there won't be any paycheck for you in the next two months!
-Hai, Tsunade-sama!
The room burst into laugher, while looking at the scene in the snack bar. Anko glanced everywhere and smiled pleased, everything was going fine and the best thing was that Kurenai was enjoying the party immensely. Other jounins joined the party with presents, snacks and beverages, beverages that Tsunade accepted gladly and ordered her two lackeys to improve their barman skills. Anko was about to take a cracker from the table when a hand in her shoulder stopped her, turning her head she faced the green jounin who was offering his right hand. Anko shrugged and accept the offer and walked to the middle of the room. Both jounin started to dance to the beating song that Genma grant them, surprisingly the green gnome turned out to be a great dancer.
Anko wasn't sure if she was impressed or shocked for the unusual moves from her partner, but one thing she was sure, she was having a great time. Kurenai grabbed Asuma's hand and dragged him to the dancing floor, Shizune watched this and with a persuasive smile she pulled Genma along with her to the middle of the room. Ebisu was about to ask the same to Suzume, but both of them blushed immensely and decided to just watch the couples dance along with the music.
-So here you were hiding eh, Tsunade?
Anko looked to the voice's origin and smiled.-Now the party is completed.
Jiraiya glanced to all the shinobi and walked inside, Izumo was about to greet him personally when Tsunade pulled him from his collar and placed him next to Kotetsu.
-Now where were you heading to eh?
-Give them a rest Tsunade, they deserve a break from you once in a while.
A vein in Tsunade's forehead appeared and Jiraiya shivered along with the two jounins, fearing for their lives, they started serving more sake for the princess of Konoha. Anko was getting tired for the spinning and all those moves, she was impressed that Gai could manage so many moves and not sweat at all. Even Shizune and Genma stopped dancing, the only ones that remained in there, were her friend, Asuma, Gai and herself. The purple haired kunoichi pleaded Gai for him to stop but he was so focused in dancing like a gecko, moving through all the floor and spinning like a maniac, suddenly the only one dancing over the floor was Gai. Everybody in the room looked at the green jounin with amazed eyes and jaws about to hit the floor. Gai was on fire and was beating up pretty nicely. Anko could not help but to cheer and applaud him.
Gai finished his performance with an exhausted face, everybody in the room applauded him, even the stoic Ibiki. Anko approached him with a glass with ponche, the green jounin grinned and drank it in one gulp. He made his nice guy pose and accepted all the greetings coming from his public. He was about to bow, when his eyes caught a glimpse of something at the door that made him joyous. With a simple jump he landed over a chair and with a defiant look he pointed to the door.
-See that? Everybody recognizes my great talent at dancing. So that ties the score again, my eternal rival.
Anko felt a great kick on her stomach leaving her speechless, she turned her head and watched in horror what was at the door. There, was Kakashi wearing his usual attire but next to him, was a long purple haired kunoichi holding a big box, wrapped in cobalt paper with a white ribbon over it. Kakashi walked inside along with the kunoichi, he greeted all the guests and walked directly to Anko's position. She felt how her legs suddenly failed and began to shake, Kakashi's gaze was piercing her soul again, Anko begged and pleaded for this suffering to stop but he was still looking at her defiantly. Anko felt how her last breath left her body when he was in front of her, she closed her eyes tightly waiting for the hit but nothing came. Hesitating she opened her right eye and found out that not only Kakashi wasn't looking at her, he wasn't even there anymore. Looking to every possible direction she found him greeting Kurenai along with the long haired woman, in the nearest corner. Anko felt a cold stab twisting her stomach and for the first time in long years, she felt the urge to kill.
Kakashi hugged Kurenai and placed his gift next to the other ones, after waving his friends he walked to the nearest couch. Yugao was looking to all the directions, feeling uncomfortable by many strangers looking at her exposed face. Sensing her uneasiness, Kakashi tapped her head friendly and suggested her to sit down next to him. Tsunade drank the last sip of her drink with one gulp and glanced at the couple over the corner, she frowned and ordered more sake to Izumo. Jiraiya noticed this and couldn't help but smirk.
-Not as you hoped, I presume.
-Shut up, this isn't over until the very end.
Izumo was preparing Tsunade's drink, when Anko approached the table and ordered him a glass full of whatever he was serving. The jounin told her that it was strong and also bitter, Anko shook her head and looked at him with defiant eyes.
-Just give me your best shot.
Izumo looked at his partner and both shrugged. Anko took the red plastic glass and started drinking it without thinking, not separating her gaze from the corner in which Kakashi was sat. Anko requested another drink while glaring at Kakashi's nape, trying to pierce his scalp with her eyes. Kotetsu gave her another glass filled with ponche and sake, the kunoichi drank it fully and felt how her cheeks started burning. Gai appeared next to her and asked her if she was alright, she nodded still glaring at the silver haired jounin. Sensing the tension in the air, Genma looked for a song that would enable fresh the air. Once the song started, Gai felt a sudden burst of energy in his legs. Sensing that his friend was drinking too much, he approached her and offered his hand once again, Anko looked at him with a quizzical eye but agreed.
Both jounin walked to the middle of the room, dragging everybody's attention. Anko felt how the world spun a little around her. Must be the sake. She glared at the same corner she was looking before and without thinking she drank the drink she was holding. Gai took Anko's left hand with his right one, before placing his left hand behind her waist, he took the glass Anko was holding and threw it to Kotetsu who caught it with great ability. Gai smirked and looked to the same direction where Anko's eyes were looking.
-Now my eternal rival, this would be the first time that you'll lose.
Kakashi looked at the couple in the middle of the room, Anko was glaring at him with both cheeks redden due to the sake, but holding Gai firmly. He knew that she was no such a drinker but that night he noticed that she drank more than her limit could afford. Gai was looking at him defiantly also but with a hint of something that resembled happiness. Not sure if he did understand what was going on, he moved over so he could watch the performance properly. The green jounin pulled Anko closer and began moving her through all the space, emphasizing some head movements and making her spin once in a while. The music and the moves were so synchronized that even Iruka thought they practiced this. The violins were shrieking and piercing everybody's ears with notes filled with rhythm and passion.
Anko felt how her feet flew over the floor, not even feeling the surface under them. Her mind was spinning widely, her body was responding to Gai's moves and not sure of what was going on, she gave herself to her fellow. Gai hugged her tightly and with some harsh moves he managed to pull her closer to his face. The room was spinning and Anko felt how her stomach was about to ache. The entire audience was expecting the next move, Anko noticed this. She felt dizziness taking control over her body, her left hand firmly held and her right hand in Gai's back. Conveniently there was a light above them, making the moment even more dramatic. The violins kept shrieking, she glanced at the same spot she looked since his arrival and before she could do something else a pair of lips were gently caressing hers.
-.-.-.-.-
A/N: Now I'm pretty sure that no one was expecting this right? Hehehe I'm so evil. I was hearing at my Escaflowne OST when a certain song popped in my Itunes and well here is the result. Anyway I'd like to thank Prophet for making a great job in pointing out my mistakes and also for encouraging me to continue this. Also a special thanks to TwoTails, for giving me your support as well as your reviews. See ya on next chapter on Thursday at 8pm Central.