It was dark as they were walking up the hill. Thankfully Shino's fireflies had led them safely to the rest of the groups that had already arrived.
"Seriously! Why didn't any of you BOYS think about bringing a freaking torch!" Ino yelled and hit Chouji and Shikamaru and gave Kankuro and Gara an evil glare. The boys all sighed simultaneously which amused Temari.
Temari was slightly uncomfortable in her new shoes. They were stilettos after all and she hoped that the other girls were wearing nice revealing clothing as well just to tease them boys. They had all made it safely to the top of the hill. Temari turned around to see all of the Leaf village's lights; she was entranced and believed that the lights looked like colourful diamonds. Shikamaru caught Temari looking at the city with her rare childish eyes and smiled.
"Oh Kami, Temari you look sexy!" Sakura blurted out with wide eyes. As everyone turned to look at Temari, Ino quickly jumped in.
"Hey everyone, Ino baby is here with her sex appeal, there's plenty to go around alright boys?"
Temari gave Ino a thankful smile, she wasn't used to this much attention and Ino on the other hand loved it. Ino knew this about Temari and that's why she selflessly offered to distract the attention away from her and with the attention on her began...
"Alright we are here now, how about you and Chouji now go set up the snacks alright! I see Lee carried up a massive table so put everything there.." Great Shikamaru thought to himself, Ino's already bossing us around.. "and Neji can set up some of the lanterns and Gaara can keep Naruto away from anything electrical and..." I'll just keep staring at her like I don't care "Tell Kiba to see if he could get us some music and Shino can get the blankets ready for sitting on, oh and of course make Sakura offer everyone a beverage!" Ino was a very demanding persona indeed and when she gave her orders to her boys, they would make sure to get it done precisely how she wanted things done.
"WHAT?" Sakura exclaimed "Why do I have to be the bartender all of a sudden? And why did you single me out like that I am a fem.."
"Oh Sakura I thought you had realized that you are one of the GUYS with your massive strength and all" Ino fiercely answered back ready to challenge Sakura's unwilling defeat.
"Ino-Pig" "Billboard Brow"
"Umm excuse me you two" Temari grabbed the two girls by hand and told them not to be so childish towards each other. "You are better than this, acting so immature towards each other! I won't tolerate this behaviour and you both know I will not hesitate to challenge you into sparring with me for punishment."
She stared at the two girls who simply stared back at Temari at a loss for words. Ino knew that Temari was attempting to fix her strained relationship with Sakura and was thankful to her and decided to "grow up" and apologized without delay to the two of them. Sakura was astounded to see Ino actually apologizing to her, but it felt like the tension had been lifted. She smiled towards Temari nodding her head in agreement. Temari was happy that her plan worked, now she needed to get her second plan into motion.
"Good, now Sakura could you fetch the other girls and meet me by the tree over there, if the boys ask what is happening just tell them that we are ...umm.."
"powdering our noses!" Ino butted in smiling defiantly.
"Um 'kay then. Be right back." Sakura replied with doubt evident in her voice.
Ino and Temari had a quick catch up chat and Ino bear hugged the sand kuonichi. Temari stole a look at Shikamaru who had begun to walk over to the two of them, before being stopped by Naruto who was being his-usual-goofball-self. She was smiling at Shikamaru's failed attempt to approach them, but then she suddenly snapped herself out of her thinking and joined the anxious girls.
Tenten had been unwilling to be anywhere near Temari, she was still holding a grudge against the Sand Princess since she defeated her in the phase three of the chunin exams, a few years prior. Temari understood Tenten's resentment and wanted nothing more than to mend the bitterness that had been created during the Chunin exams. She knew exactly how it felt to have hate eat away at people and didn't want that for Tenten, who looked like a decent girl. She chose to bridge the gap.
"Look Tenten, I'm sorry for treating you so badly back then, I really was heartless and I hope someday you can forgive me. I vow to protect this village as well as my own, please believe me."
Temari bowed to the girl who didn't know what to say. Tenten had a weakness when it came to caring for others.. and this one sentence had been one that she wanted to hear from the girl who almost killed her. Temari looked into Tenten's eyes which were filled with compassion as Temari offered her hand to the girl. Tenten grabbed her hand and shook it gleefully and at that time Temari recognized that they were on friendlier terms with one another.
"Just so you know Temari, I expect you to protect both villages from now on" giggled Tenten and Hinata smiled towards the two of them, admiring Temari's influence that offered sudden peace.
"Alright ladies, here is what we have brought you" Ino revealed a large range of alcohol.
"How in the heck did you carry this up the hill Temari?" Sakura was nearly squeaking, doubt obvious in her voice and was comparing herself to Temari.
"It's a secret" Temari whispered.
The boys were in the process of setting everything up just as Ino had ordered. They didn't mind because there were so many of them compared to the girls and Shikamaru refused to let the women do anything when there were men around.
He had wanted to be beside her, but for some reason unknown to him, she was colder than ever. Why did she kiss me and now she's acting like a total psycho? Unapproachable. Before Shikamaru could continue to reason the behaviour of Temari, Lee was asking him if Ino was his girlfriend.
"Lee are you serious? There is no way I could date a childhood friend and a member of my own team!"
"Why not" Lee was truly curious and wanted to know.
"She's like a sister to me Lee. I mean we've been friends for far too many years for romantic feelings to bloom overnight. I had a crush on her b..."
"I knew it" Naruto exclaimed nearly jumping for joy. What's that clown thinking? Shikamaru was beginning to worry.
"You should tell her. I'm sure that she'd be happy to hear that you return her feelings." Naruto covered his mouth when he figured out what he had blurted out, without thinking. He felt the tension rising in the air surrounding him and quickly dashed towards a bush saying he needed to relieve himself.
Shikamaru stood there frozen. Did he really just hear Naruto say that Ino had feelings for him? He rejected the idea of being with Ino. He didn't want her to care for him like that. He was flattered, she was a beautiful girl, but he didn't return her feelings and he sighed heavily when he knew that this was going to burden to his confession.
"Akamaru where are you boy?" Kiba roared
"He's over here with us, relaxing!" Kankuro replied sounding cheery. He was happy that Akamaru was sitting beside him and Gaara. They had nothing to help the boys with so they were simply sitting there feeling gloomy until Akamaru lay next to them.
"You're very loyal to Kiba aren't you boy?" Kankuro wondered if this animal would allow him to... Akamaru placed his head underneath Kankuro's hand and allowed Kankuro to stroke his fur. Gaara stared but kept his distance. Kankuro could feel Akamaru's smooth fur and he silently thanked Akamaru for allowing him to pet him. Kiba, impressed with Akamaru, continued tinkering with the stereo.
The girls were hesitant about drinking being underage and surrounded by boys, but they trusted each other and their boys. Hinata was first to open her bottle and took a sip much to the surprise of Sakura. She believed Hinata would be the first to flat out refuse to drink, yet here she was and..
"It's not as bad as I thought it would be.. the drink is fruity and sweet" Hinata murmured with a blush creeping onto her cheeks. This convinced the rest of them to try at least, and if they didn't like the taste they would refuse the drink.
"Temari you have different drinks to ours, why's that? Hinata whispered with her soft voice.
"It's more concentrated than yours ladies, I've been drinking for a while and.. anyway we have to get back to the boys soon so drink up alright" she skulled back the drink with no hesitation.
"Alright.. I-I'm ready to ha-ave me som-e fun" Ino had drunk too much.
"How many have you had woman!" Sakura was a little concerned, as far as she knew Ino had only had this one drink and was already drunk from it!
"I'v-ve had 'bout.. *counts* four, yeah four now"
Tenten allowed a laugh to escape from her lips at Ino. She was acting so silly and Tenten was amused by her, she stared at the other girls when they all were giggling together. Temari was pleased. Ino had been the one to plan this while Temari had been opposed to the drinking, but due to Ino's powerful persuasion agreed to buy the alcohol. She saw that Ino wanted everyone to have an enjoyable evening and was one of her strange way of caring for her friends.
She didn't want this feeling to leave her. She was feeling so happy on the outside, she wanted to, so desperately beg them for comfort the raging emotional storm that was tearing her apart inside but she knew this would be her final night out like this. With her freedom, surrounded by the people she cared about and that was more important to her than herself for the time being.
Kiba was dumbfounded as he uncontrollably blinked. He stood up straight. He sniffed in the direction of the girls. He blushed. Neji noticed his abnormal behaviour and asked what was wrong with him.
"Neji, don't tell the others.. but.. err.. the girls... they're... drinking.. drinking alcohol"
Neji was completely taken aback. His violet eyes seemed to come alive and he found a grin sneaking onto his lips.
What is he thinking? Kiba wondered but put his finger to his lips and signalled Neji not to gossip about this to which Neji nodded his head and helped Kiba with the stereo.
Naruto had come from hiding and Shikamaru grabbed him by his shirt and forced him to finish their previous conversation. Naruto was reluctant and tried numerous times to change the topic, but Shikamaru wouldn't let him. Accepting his failure he began spilling his guts and Shikamaru's eyes widened.
Author's Note: OMG stilettos can you imagine them? XD Much love 3