Chapter 8: A Mixed Night Part 2

The group of us all spread out in a large circle across the floor of Kiba's living room, and you could tell that all of us were really excited. Even though we technically are adults, we still love doing all the things that we used to do as teens. (Seriously, I think we never grow up..)

Kiba sat at the head of the circle (even though there really isn't a head of a circle, but oh well, use your imagination) and everyone watched him with such intensity I don't think that they would really notice if Konoha was under attack. (Well, maybe they would..)

"Is everyone here who wants to play?" Kiba asked, looking around the circle.

I looked around too, and noticed that there was somebody missing. It was my Mr. Antisocial, like usually. (He played last time we had a party, didn't he? Or did I beg him to play?) I got up from my spot in the circle and turned to Kiba with a smile.

"Hold on for a second, okay?" I asked sweetly.

"Sure." he said after a moment, looking at the others, who were all ready to play already. "Just hurry, okay?"

"Yep!" I called as I walked out of his living room.

I walked out of the house, having a hunch that he would be outside in the wonderful night air. Sure enough, I found him leaning against the wall, looking up the moon that shone brightly overhead. I walked closer to him and tapped him on the shoulder, pulling him out of his la-la land moment.

"What?" He asked, glaring at me with a hint of irritability.

"Well," I said, scratching my head, "we were just about to play Truth or Dare and I wanted you to join in. How about it?"

"No thanks." He said, looking back up into the night sky.

"Come on!" I cried, throwing my hands up in the air. "You did it last time we had the party! Why not do it one more time?"

"We're not kids anymore, Esther. You know that plainly." He said, pointing at me. "I came to make you happy, but if you all want to act as kids, be my guest. I like it out here perfectly fine and I want you to enjoy yourself."

"I won't enjoy myself if you're not with me. I've been gone for four long years and it seems like you're not happy that I'm back." I said sadly, glancing down at the pavement below us.

"Look," He said, putting his hand in my shoulder, "I've been all alone for so long, then you showed up and I thought I wasn't. Then you left for four long years and you think that I would stay the new me? No. I went back to my old self, and everything went back to normal too. You can't just expect me to change back into what I was the moment you walked back into this world."

I guess that he was right. He waited, but he had to go back to the way things were without me. I guess little old me was expecting too much of him in this short little time. By Boggy, I'm so stupid!

"Sorry." I said, pushing the hair out of my face so that I could give him a smile. "I'm going in to play the game. Wish me luck, okay?"

He nodded. "Sure."

"Okie dokie, pancakes!" I cried happily, turning back into the house, where I could hear everybody talking loudly.

"Finally!" Everybody cried when I walked back into the living room.

"Sorry everybody! Let's get started with the game!" I apologized, sitting back down in my spot in the circle.

"Okay!" Kiba said, putting the bottle down on the floor in the center of the circle. "I'll go first, then!"

He spun the bottle around and it landed on Hinata. Everyone called out her name, and a large blush formed on her face, probably from all the attention that she was getting. Kiba smiled widely and pointed at the blushing purple haired girl.

"Truth or dare, Hinata-chan?" He asked, giving a little laugh.

It was all silent for a moment, even though we all thought we knew her answer. Of course this shy girly was going to pick truth. It was in her nature of cour-

"Dare." She replied quietly, making everyone hang their mouths open in disbelief, like a bunch of guys seeing a gorgey girl passing by them on the street side.

"Dare? Are you serious Hinata?" Kiba asked out loud, out of disbelief, but there was a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

"Y-yeah." She said, nodding.

"Okay then, we all heard her loud and clear." He said, giving a small laugh. "Hmm, this is good! Hinata, I dare you to...hm..." Soon, he broke out into a wide grin. "I dare you to do a dance!"

"A dance?!" She squeaked, her face turning a beet red color.

"Yep." He said, nodding. "You know, a nice little dance that you always wanted to do, something like a dance Ino or Sakura would do."

"Hey!" Ino and Sakura said, throwing dog boy a look.

"What? I was just saying.." He said, scratching his head.

" I'll just do truth.." She squeaked, retreating into her invisible turtle shell.

"Gosh, she's such a wimp!" Ino said aloud, bringing the girl on the verge of tears.

I couldn't take it anymore. "Shut up, Ino!" I screeched, turning towards her. By Boggy, she finally shut up! Oh pancakes and Tammy Dodger did that feel good! I just sent the blonde a cheery smile and turned back to Hinata. "Look, Hinata, don't worry. Just go and have fun! I know you can do it!"

She looked at me for a second, her little tears pooling up in the corners of her eyes, but then she gave a small smile. "Thanks, Esther-chan. I guess I'll do the dare, Kiba."

Kiba gave a smile. "Awesome! Cue the music, Tenten!"

"Okay!" Tenten called, getting up from her side of the circle.

Hinata got up from her spot as well, standing in the middle of the circle with her head down, probably finding that beet red face from everybody. Soon, a loud, upbeat song filled the room, and everyone's eyes looked up, most with interest, wondering what the shy girly's dance would be like.

Soon, Hinata looked up and she gave a small smile and started to dance. It stared out a little awkward, but the little turtle girly pulled through with it! It was really cool and everyone was looking on, watching Hinata show a little bit of her secret side. I wooted and hooted like a owl and soon some other joined in with me. Tenten finally got up and turned off the song, and everyone was cheering really loudly for her.

"That was awesome, Hinata!" Kiba said, applauding her."Guess there's more to that shy Hinata, huh?"

She blushed and gave a small smile. "Whatever you say, Kiba-kun."

She picked up the bottle from the ground beside her and sat down next to me, giving me a wide smile before she put the bottle down and spun it around. Everyone held their breaths and the bottle slowly stopped and landed on Chojii.

"Truth or dare?" Hinata asked, pointing at the chubby guy. (Chubble Bubble!)

Chojii gave a small smile. "I think I'll slide with a truth."

"Okay." Hinata said, rubbing her head for a second, trying to think of a good question for Chubble Bubble. Finally she gave a small smile and turned back to him. "Is it true that you want to get married in the future?"

He looked down for a second, the back at Hinata. "Yeah, I guess. It depends if any girl would ever want to marry a pig like me."

As soon as he finished talking, something flew across the room and hit hit smack in the face. (Gooaaal!) He rubbed his head after a moment, and shot a look across the room to no other than the blonde demon herself. Ino just sat there throwing him a look and she finally spoke after a moment.

"Seriously, don't talk down about yourself. I've been on your team for like ever, and you need to have more confidence. If your lazy butt of a best friend can get a girl, you can too!" She said, pointing over to where Shikamaru and Temari.

"Hey!" Shikamaru and Temari said, giving her a look.

"What?" She replied shrugging. "I was just making a point."

"Okay." I said, turning to the blonde. "Can we get on with the game already?"

"Why are you asking me?" She snapped back, turning her gaze towards me.

"Okay, okay." Chojii said, picking up the bottle. "No fighting, okay?"

I shrugged and turned away, watching the bottle spin. If Ino was on the face of this world, I don't think there would ever be a day when I would ever not have a fight with her. It's like dog versus cat, good versus evil.. Blonde versus Brunette. And you know the brunette's always going to win! (No offense to any blondes.)

The bottle continued to spin, and everyone was watching to see who its next victim would be. It finally slowed down and at last it found its next victim. It was none other than Rock Lee, the bushy eyed caterpillar of Konoha.(See, I was right! Everyone does resemble an animal!!)

"It is I!" Lee cried aloud, throwing a fist into the air.

"Okay, okay." Chojii said, a little smile playing his face. "Truth or dare?"

"That is an easy answer." He replied, giving a wide smile. "I pick dare!"

"Alright." Chojii said. "I dare you to... wear Neji's clothes for the rest of the party."

"Hell no." Neji replied coldly, turning to Chojii. "He is not touching my clothes."

"Too bad." Chojii said, shrugging. "It's his dare and if he says yes, you'll have to go along with it."

"Come on, Neji!" Lee replied happily. "Are we not a team? It is only a dare!"

"I've had enough of you just being on my team." Neji replied, staring at him.

"So are you going to do it or not?" Ino asked impatiently.

"We shall do it!" Lee replied, getting up. "Come, Neji!"

Neji looked at him irritability and got up. "Fine. But I'm burning my clothes as soon as you're done with them."

The two of them left the room, and we all chatted quietly amongst ourselves. This was going to be good. I always wanted to see Neji in green spandex! I looked over at Tenten, who had a small blush glowing on her face. I did not want to know what panda girl was thinking about...

Soon, the two guys returned and it was so funny! Neji was a little shorter than Lee, so his clothes rose up a little bit on Lee, making him look hilarious. But Neji.. He was the cream of the crop. The green spandex squished against his body, looking strange with his gray eyes and clear complexion.

Tenten looked up at him and he looked away, a blush playing on his face now. Some of the guys cheered, but I couldn't stop laughing! It was too funny!

The game went on after that, a lot people getting stupid little dares to do around the room. Some were pretty funny, other just so stupid that they were funny in their own little way. Some of the guys chickened out and picked truth, but it was fun over all. As the party was winding down, the bottle finally landed on me.

"Finally, we get to you, Esther." Kankuro said, smiling at me. "Truth or dare?"

"Hm.. I dunno." I joked. "I think I'll do a dare."

"Fine, fine." He said, scratching his head. "I dare you to end this party by singing us a song. I always wanted to hear you sing."

Cat man wants to hear me sing? Oh merde. Well, i guess I'll have to please cat man just this once.

"Okie pokie." I replied, getting up from my part of the circle. I stood in the middle of the circle, looking around at everybody. "I picked a slow little song just for all of you. Here I go."

" I know there's someone
somewhere someone who's
sure to find me soon.

After the rain goes
there are rainbows!
I'll find my rainbow soon.

Soon it won't be just pretend.
Soon a happy ending!
Love...Can you hear me?
If you're near me?
Sing you're song,
sure and strong and
Soon."

I finished my song, looking over at everyone around me. Some were smiling widely, including cat man, while others just looked on, a blank look on their faces. I turned back around and Kankuro started to clap, along with Kiba.

"That was great!" Kankuro said, giving me a smile.

"Yep!" Kiba said, slapping my shoulder. "Who knew my twin sis could sing so beautifully?"

I blushed and scratched my head. "Flattery, flattery.."

"Well," Kiba said, getting up. "I guess the party's over. Thanks for coming!"

Everyone got up from their spot in the circle and gave Kiba a pat on the back. It really was a great party! I went over to him and gave him a big hug, telling him that I couldn't have thrown a better party. He just laughed it up and ruffled my hair, as if he really was my brother.

I walked out the door, telling the rest of the people goodbye as I went. As I stepped outside, I saw Gaara standing there, looking towards the door way, and our eyes met seconds later. I walked over to him and gave a cheery smile.

"Have fun out here?" I asked, putting my hands behind my back as I rocked on my heels like a little girl.

"Yes." He replied, his eyes drilling into me as if they were searching for something.

"What? Is something wrong?" I asked, cocking my head at an angle.

"No." He replied. "Let's head back before it gets much later."

"Okay."

We started to walk out of Kiba's house and onto the silent and uncrowded street. It was pretty much a silent walk back to the place that we were staying at. Finally, he broke the silence.

"That was pretty song that you sang." He remarked, some what randomly.

"Really?" I asked, turning to look at him. "I'm glad. I don't know why I'm singing it. Maybe because I kept it as a hope in my heart that I would see you again, and now I'm really here with you again."

He didn't respond, and I was starting to worry. Maybe little old me was bombarding him again with my stupid girly feelings. I just got back and it seems like I forgot how it was like before Gaara and I had been together, and maybe I needed to step back and give him his space.

We stopped outside the hotel and I turned and gave a small smile. He just looked back at me, staring at me silently.

"Well, good night, Gaara. Thanks for going to the party with me. I hope it didn't bother you too much." I replied softly.

He just looked at me again, staring at me like he was looking for something behind my eyes. What was up with him? Or was there something up with me? I was about to ask him, when he suddenly pulled me into a tight hug.

I blinked for a second, making sure that I didn't just waltz into la-la land. I just sat there, my head leaning against him so I could hear his heart beating. It was beating at a nice little rhythm, like a wordless song. I closed my eyes for a second, but then he gently pushed me away.

"Gaara?" I asked, looking back up at him.

"Sleep well." He said quietly, walking into the hotel without another word or backward glance.

I stood in the cold night air for a moment, watching him disappear into the darkness. What did I do? Or was it me at all? What was bothering Gaara?

AN: Yay! Another chappie up! Happy belated turkey day! (I did what you said Selene. Hianta's bad girl dance!! lol. You know Neji totally would burn his clothes if Lee wore them and I just had an urge to see him in green.) ^.^ Please review!!