p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman" Melanie checked herself in the mirror readjusting the cap on her head to fit over her low pony. She had on a pair of light blue skinny jeans, a black fitted shirt and a blue vest with white on the sleeves. Green, fingerless, gloves adorned her hands and around her waist was a belt with several Poké Balls hanging from it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"Ding Dong/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"em style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span/span/emspan style="font-size:
12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"The distant sound of the door bell ringing had Melanie scrambling around her bathroom. She grabbed her phone off the charger and spared one last glance in the mirror. She bounded down the stairs taking two at a time. Taking a moment to regain her breath, Melanie opened the door and burst out laughing. She couldn't help it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /spanThere stood Naruto clad head to toe in his costume; his em style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"bright yellow/em costume. It was a onesie with a lightning bolt tail. The hood of Naruto's costume had two eyes where his forehead was and black tipped ears. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span"I choose you, Pikachu," Melanie said not caring how cliché she sounded. Naruto stared at her in amazement. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span"You didn't tell me you were going as Ash Ketchum!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /spanMelanie giggled. "You never asked." She looked down, embarrassment creeping up on her, "do you like it?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span"Yeah, you look cute. I love your glasses; they give the costume a personal touch. Plus now we can enter the couples costume contest! We're going to win, believe it!" Naruto grinned placing his hands behind his head as they walked towards Shikamaru's house. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /spanThe conversation flowed easy between the two. Naruto stopped in front of a house and gazed longingly at it. It was by far the biggest one in the neighborhood being closer to a mansion than a house. It was a modern Victorian style with a wraparound porch./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span"All the mayors of Konoha live in that house; it's passed down from mayor to mayor. One day, it will belong to me." He cast a sidelong glance at Melanie "I will be the best mayor ever. Even better than Mayor Riding is now, believe it!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /spanMelanie smiled warmly at him. "Why don't we go say hi?" Before Naruto could respond she bounded up the path way. By the time Naruto reached her side she had already knocked. The door opened revealing an older woman with long brown hair speckled with gray. She had soft blue eyes and a gentle smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span"Melanie dear! It's so good to see you," the woman said pulling her in for a hug. "Your parents just left. They said you have a costume party tonight?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in 258.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span"Hello grandma! I do, this is Naruto my date." Melanie gestured to the blonde. He managed to compose himself enough to shake the hand offered him. "Is Papa here?" span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in"span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;
font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:1" /span"He should be in the study. Why don't you two say hi while I look for the camera?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanWith one last hug from her grandmother, Melanie guided Naruto throughout the impressive house. With each room they passed Naruto let out a soft whimper. "It's even better than I imagined." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanMelanie grinned to herself coming to a halt in front of a massive door. She knocked lightly before going in. Naruto hesitated, why did he think it was a good idea to dress as Pikachu? Squaring his shoulders, he lifted his chin and took his first step into the office that would one day be his. Melanie was sitting in an arm chair across from a huge mahogany desk. She chatted animatedly with the man across from her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanMelanie's Grandfather, Charles Riding, was a remarkable man. He stood at six foot two and his hair was completely gray. His dark brown eyes were serious but softened considerably as he listened to his granddaughter. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Papa, this is Naruto Uzumaki. He's going to be the next mayor of Konoha; the best one there ever was." Naruto gapped at Melanie's introduction a hint of pink dusting his cheeks. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Believe it! I will be so amazing they will carve my face into the side of a mountain!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanCharles laughed dropping his hand onto Naruto's shoulder. "Is that right young man? Well I guess I should tell you some of the things I've learned, huh?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanMelanie excused herself as the two entered into a discussion about politics. She found her grandmother in the kitchen pulling out a fresh batch of cookies – sugar cookies, her favorite – from the oven. Melanie's mouth started watering as she took a seat on a bar stool. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Here you can help me frost these," her grandmother said handing her a bag full of frosting. Melanie grabbed an apron to keep her costume clean. She had just finished frosting her fifth cookie when Naruto and her grandfather entered the kitchen. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Well young man, come back anytime you wish. We love the company and Cecile makes the best meat loaf in all of Konoha." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanWith cookies in hand, the young pair was ushered out the door promising to be safe and to return soon. Moments later they arrived at Shikamaru's house. People were scattered around the lawn holding red cups. Loud, eerie music could be heard from inside the house. Costume choices ranged from Katniss to several sexy pirates to every super hero ever invented. So far Melanie and Naruto were the only two representing Pokémon. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanNaruto led Melanie inside to where a huge group was huddled. She saw Sakura eagerly talking to Sasuke in the corner. span style="mso-spacerun:yes" /span"What are you supposed to be?" Melanie asked glancing at Sasuke's normal clothes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Hn." Sasuke detached himself from the wall claiming to need a drink. Sakura followed, glaring at a few girls who were ogling him. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Melanie this is Shikamaru. Shika this is Melanie," Naruto introduced the two. Melanie scanned the boy in front of her. He had brown hair in the shape of a pineapple and was dressed like SpongeBob. She briefly wondered if he did that on purpose or if his hair always looked like that. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Welcome to my party," he let out a long sigh, "this thing is becoming way too bothersome." He smirked slightly as he took in the duo and their costumes. "Why don't you two find Kiba? He's in charge of the couples costumes and I'd say you're in the running for first place. Last time I saw him, he was mixing drinks in the kitchen." They thanked him and headed towards the kitchen/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Melanie, you wanna dance?" Naruto asked as they passed a room where the music was coming from. In response she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the crowd. Melanie was glad that Shikmaru actually had em style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"Halloween/em music playing. She wasn't sure where he found the music, but she liked the darker tones of the songs./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanOne particular song had couples pairing up, shifting closer together. Naruto gave her a questioning look as Melanie turned around and pressed her back against his front. She brought his hands up rest on her hips. It was a bit awkward because of Naruto's costume but Melanie didn't mind. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"I didn't know you liked dancing like his," he whispered into her ear. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanShe shrugged leaning her head back to rest on his shoulder. "I don't really know someone who doesn't." She had been letting Naruto set the pace of their movement but it was a tad off beat so she took over. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Sorry," Naruto mumbled. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanShe shrugged letting her mind go blank as they danced together. Melanie could have danced all night but Naruto suggested they should find Kiba and enter into the couple's costumes contest. They walked into the kitchen only to find it abandoned and a sign saying em style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal"do not touch/em on a blender and various bottles. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"Want anything to drink?" Naruto asked. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /span"No thank you," Melanie wrinkled her nose./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanNaruto grabbed two water bottles from a cooler passing one to Melanie. "Lightweight," he teased bumping his hip into hers. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanShe scoffed. Their conversation was interrupted when the eerie Halloween music suddenly turned off. Melanie followed Naruto back into the living room where the speakers had been set up. Shikamaru stood glaring at a person who was holding an iPod. They argued for a bit before Shikmaru threw his hands up and stormed away. He brushed past Naruto and Melanie muttering about how bothersome teenagers were. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanThe lights cut out causing girls to scream. Naruto slipped his arm around Melanie's waist pulling her close to his side. When the lights came back on the guy with the iPod pushed play allowing the beats of "Sexy and I know it" by LMAFO to course throughout the room. What Melanie found to be particularly amusing was the group of people now standing in the middle of the room. They had used the darkness to make a grand entrance. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanThere were six guys and one girl in total. Four of them portrayed each of the Avengers, one guy was Hawk Eye and the girl was the Black Widow. The last guy was dressed as Loki. He kept running around the room demanding people to bow down to him and yelling out how much he hates Thor. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanMelanie glanced up at Naruto as his grip around her waist tightened. His face was pale and he stared at the girl of the group like he was seeing a ghost. His grip became painful as the red-headed girl let out squeal and rushed towards Naruto. With her red hair and blue eyes and her slim figured clad in back she was an opposing force. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman"span style="mso-tab-count:
1" /spanMelanie flipped her hat backwards. "Pikachu, its Team Rocket! Hurry and use thunderbolt!" She yelled pointing at the red head. Her voice rang out in the quiet room. The red head stopped in her tracks confusion setting in. Melanie grabbed Naruto's hand and pulled him away from the group. She brought him outside figuring fresh air would do him good. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:
.5in 1.0in center 3.25in left 417.75pt"span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:Times New Roman" /span/p