Normal
"Speech"
Thought
Kyuubi

Warnings: I do not own Naruto. Rated "M" for language and adult situations.

Chapter 19: Getting all dressed up.

Myra smiled at him. "Well go see who it is this time." She pushed him towards the door and headed into the kitchen. The cold bowl of ramen still sat on the counter where Naruto had left it for her earlier that afternoon. It didn't smell very appetizing to her so she rummaged in the fridge and found an apple and some peanut butter. It wasn't much, but it would satisfy the hunger until dinner in a few hours. Myra found what she hoped was a clean spoon for the peanut butter and smeared a spot on the apple. She heard the door shut and Naruto came running into the kitchen with a large white box.

"What's in the box?" She took a bite of the apple. The blonde shrugged. "I guess I should open it." He started to tear into the box. He found a note in the pocket of the very nice black blazer jacket.

Naruto,

Since you didn't do as I asked you and let Myra sleep, I highly doubt that you found something to wear to the party this evening. I had Shizune and Sakura pick something out for you. Please tell Myra that the dinner is cocktail formal. I am sure she will understand, even if you don't. Dinner is at 7:30pm. I expect you and Myra there at 7PM.

Tsunade.

Naruto handed Myra the note. Myra looked at it in confusion. "So what does it say?" He looked up at her. "You can't read?"

Myra chuckled. "I can't read that silly. I can speak the language, reading it is a whole other trick I haven't picked up yet." She took another bite of the apple.

"It says that Sakura and Shizune pick clothes out for me to wear tonight." Naruto turned back to pulling out the rest of the contents of the package. Besides the black blazer, there was a nice pair of black slacks, and a deep red orange silk tuxedo shirt. Naruto kept looking at the shirt in funny angles. "Amazing! The color changes in the light."

Myra felt the shirt. It was silky smooth. She would definitely have to thank Sakura and Shizune later for picking it out. Then she would have to remember to apologize to Naruto later for stealing it. Myra smiled, "I think I have a dress that will match, if not I know I have a skimpy little black one that will work." She munched down the last bite of apple. The blonde sighed heavily.

"Have I mentioned that I don't really want to go?" Naruto looked apprehensive. Myra kissed him on the head and opened the balcony door.

"I don't want to go either, but we don't have much of a choice. I'm not thinking of this party as a political hob knob with the snobs… I am looking at this as an opportunity to get dressed up, go out to a nice dinner, and meet your friends to have a good time." She stepped out on the balcony and jumped over to her own. Naruto got up and rushed to the edge of the balcony. "Where are you going?"

Myra giggled, "I'm going to get dressed. Meet you down stairs in 20 minutes." She opened her balcony door. Naruto slumped back inside his apartment. Myra walked into her apartment and hurriedly tried to find that dress. Edgar and Poe fluttered in the door way and perched on chairs in the kitchen. Myra continued to search through boxes.

"Aren't you going to lecture me or something?" she asked the crotchety bird.

"I am not going to lecture you. I am sure you already understand the story of the birds and bees." There was a serious tone to his voice. Myra had come across the box marked "shoes" and found a nice pair of strapy black high heels she wanted to wear.

"Do you hate Naruto that much? Cause I really don't understand the hostility. Poe, can you please talk some sense into Edgar?" the girl started to tear through other boxes.

"There is nothing to explain to Edgar that he does not already know. I can not change his mind for you. Edgar is merely trying to protect you. I want you to be happy for a change." Poe tilted her head. Edgar turned his back on Myra.

"I don't hate Naruto. I actually like him, he reminds me of one of your Father's good friends. But I do not think a relationship at this time is a wise idea." Edgar hoped up to his perch. Myra finally found the deep red and orange dress. She stared at it for a few minutes.

"Love is never a wise idea Edgar. But I am young, what do I know of wise ideas. I am willing to explore the possibilities. Sure I'm going to be worried every time he goes on a mission." She slipped off the clothes she had on and replaced it with the red orange dress. Myra looked at herself in the mirror. The dress by itself wasn't anything special. Her curves in the dress made the dress special.

"I just want to know that you are sure about this." Edgar sighed. Myra stroked Edgar's feathers.

"I'm not sure about anything at the moment. Ask me tomorrow when I've had a chance to come down off the endorphins." She smiled as she brushed her hair. Myra left her long black tresses down around her shoulders, but pulled back the sides and bangs to keep from eating her hair. She ran in the bathroom, brushed a little bit of powder on her nose, sprayed a little perfume, and put on a little bit of black eyeliner to bring out her eyes. Myra hopped towards the front door as she put her shoes on. She turned to the ravens.

"How do I look?" She grabbed a black wrap from the same box she found the dress in. Poe looked at her beaming. "You look lovely."

"Thank you Poe." Myra expected the compliment from Poe.

"You look very nice." Edgar sounded sincere. Myra smiled. "Please behave this evening. Don't do anything stupid." Edgar still had his back to her.

"Thanks Edgar." She closed the door behind her. Myra hurried down the stairs of the apartment building. She hadn't worn heels in a while and it was like learning to walk all over again. Myra was stepping down the last few steps when she tripped. She was trying to twist her body so she would land on her butt. Before she hit the ground, she was swept off her feet by a very strong pair of arms.

"I thought we weren't going to make this a habit." Naruto smiled at her. She raised an impish eyebrow.

"Maybe I like falling just so you can catch me." She kissed him. There was a groan from the other side of the street. They both looked over to the figure leaning up against the street lamp. Shikamaru looked rather cool leaning against the lamp in his tuxedo. Naruto shook his head.

"I would tell you two to get a room, but Lady Tsunade would have my hide if you two are late." Shikamaru pushed himself off the pole and walked towards the couple. "I was just about to call for reinforcements because I have orders to drag both of you to this troublesome party."

Myra playfully sneered at Shikamaru. "I am never late to a party… Everyone else is merely early." They started walking towards the Hokage complex. Naruto was becoming very tense the closer they got to the complex. Myra was a little worried about him.

"So Shikamaru, tell me what I should be expecting so I am at least prepared for the worst." She clung to Naruto's arm. Shikamaru shrugged.

"I'm not sure what you want me to tell you. I can give you tactical information on most of the guests, but I think you are asking for behavioral information in a social setting. I can't tell you anything along those lines." Shikamaru kept his hands in his pockets. Naruto was becoming very pale. Naruto was winding himself up tighter and tighter. His stomach cramped and the wave of nausea started to envelope him.

"You can't tell me because you don't know or because it's classified information?" She asked the shadow weaver. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. Myra had to elbow Naruto to get him to breath. "This is no good. I'm going to have to get him to relax." She thought helplessly.

"A little of both, and I really don't care. Give me a game of Shogi any day over a bunch of old men sitting around posturing." Shikamaru was looking at the clouds gathering over head. They arrived at the Hokage complex none too soon. Naruto was a lovely shade of green. The clock in the entry made it evident that the trio had arrived 15 minutes early to the 7pm deadline given by Tsunade. Myra had an idea how to unwind the nervous blonde.

"Shikamaru-kun, I need a few minutes with Naruto alone. Would you please inform Lady Tsunade that we are here and we will be on time?" Myra smiled while Naruto continued to turn chartreuse. Shikamaru grumbled and continued down the hallway to the party.

Myra waited until the shadow weaver had turned the corner before she pushed Naruto into an empty room, locking the door behind them. She got him to sit down in a chair. Luckily, off in the corner there was a wet bar with water glasses. She got him a glass of water and handed it to him. He nearly spilled the water he was shaking so badly. Naruto sipped at the water.

"Maybe if you tell me what's wrong I can help calm you down." Her voice was soothing and her warm hands massaging his shoulders helped a little. But Naruto couldn't get past the horrible knot in his stomach. His thoughts were lost in the "what ifs" and worst case scenarios that plagued his mind.

"This is not a good time to have performance anxiety issues. You need to calm down or you're going to be very sick." She moved so she was kneeling in front of him. He nodded and sipped at the glass of water. Then the thought struck Myra like a bolt of lightning. An impish grin crossed her face as she looked up at him. There was a sultry devious tone to her voice, "I know how I can calm you down…"