Okay, I skipped the rest of the land of waves because I was genuinely getting bored and couldn't be bothered with two or three more chapters of team Kakashi vs Zabuza and Haku. Honestly, how boring. Sorry if you guys wanted to read it, I just got a little bored. And hey, you should know what happens anyway.

By the way, after Haku told Naruto he was a boy, Eira fell out of the tree and Naruto was like WTF SERIOUSLY. If you were wondering their reactions :3

"WAKE UP, WAKE UP, IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY!"

"Huh wha?" I sleepily opened one eye, but then my eyes shot wide and I sat up quickly when I saw Naruto's face an inch away from mine.

"Naruto, don't do that!" I complained, holding my head.

"Sorry..." he scratched his head sheepishly but then began giggling stupidly.

"It's VALENTINES DAY!" he screeched. I visibly jumped, once again startled by his annoying outbursts.

"Can you stop that? Yeah, I gathered," I grumbled, dragging myself out of the tangled sheets.

"I-I got you something," Naruto's tone was more nervous as he said this, unsure of whether I'd accept it or not. "I mean, it's not like... I mean I'm not... I mean..."

"I get it," I cut him off, laughing. "It's a friend thing."

Naruto nodded his head vigorously before pulling a small package out of his pocket and thrusting it in my face.

"Um, here you go!" I took the package carefully and smiled. It was incredibly badly-wrapped and the shiny red wrapping paper had a small stain on, most likely from some food or other. Not bothering to be careful, I tore the paper open to find a plain black box.

"Open it!" Naruto urged.

"Calm down, I was about to, geez!" I gently removed the lid from the little box and gasped.

"Naruto..." Inside was an expensive-looking silver necklace. It's silver chain looked so delicate, with intricately-woven links. Attached were two intertwined silver rings.

"Naruto... It's beautiful," I murmured, awed. "You shouldn't have..."

"Ah, it was nothin'," Naruto grinned, visibly pleased that I liked it. Suddenly, more to my surprise than his, I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him.

"Thanks," I grinned, pulling away. His eyes were still wide from surprise, but he quickly regained his composure and grinned widely.

"I've got a present for Sakura-chan too," he told me excitedly. My smile faltered a little when he said that. Sakura would likely reject him, poor kid. I smiled inwardly when I thought about the 'special present' I had bought for a certain someone.

"So... Are you getting a present for anyone?" Naruto asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Yes I have..."

Naruto obviously noticed the mischievous edge to my tone and regarded me with a worried expression.

"Oh god, what are you planning?"

"Nothing!" I smiled innocently. Naruto shot me another worried glance before bounding out the door, calling,

"I'm gonna go give a present to Sakura-chan!"

"If he got me this, I wonder what he got Sakura," I murmured, looking down at the beautiful necklace. I closed it and placed it carefully on my desk, before getting dressed in my long-sleeved fitted red hoodie and black skirt that I'd made Kiba buy for me, along with my usual black combat boots and thigh-high black socks. I tied my hair up in two loose pony tails on either side of my head, then looked down at Eriko.

"I didn't forget you, don't worry," I grinned, pulling out a chew toy and a bone, both with ribbon tied around them. Eriko barked happily and took the chew toy in her jaws and nuzzled the bone. Suddenly she dived on me, tackling me, and began licking my face.

"Get... Off..." I gasped between giggles. When she finally stopped licking me, I stood up and brushed myself off.

"Come on," I laughed, heading out of the door as she bounded happily behind me.

I made my way through the streets until I came to the house I was looking for. After I'd knocked and waited for a few minutes, the door opened and a tired-looking, pyjama-clad Kiba stood in the doorway, yawning.

"Yo dog-boy. Happy Valentines Day." I thrust the small package at him, and the confused boy looked at the packet of cheap dog biscuits in his hand.

"These are for Akamaru, right?" he asked.

"Of course not, they're for you, silly. THESE are for Akamaru," I smirked, pulling out another package and giving it to him. This time it was more expensive, pedigree dog biscuits.

"Ha, ha. Very funny Kihara," Kiba said sarcastically.

"I figured that the mutt should have the cheaper ones, I hope you don't mind."

Kiba scowled and was about to slam the door in my face but I wedged my foot between the door and it's frame.

"What do you want?" he snapped, reopening the door.

"...Can I come in?" I asked after a while. Kiba stared at me stupidly.

"Do you want me to spell it out for you? CAN - I - COME - IN?" I repeated, saying the words louder and slower than necessary.

"Um... Sure?" he opened the door a little wider, allowing Eriko and I to enter.

"Hm, nice," I commented, observing his house. Suddenly Akamaru bounded downstairs and tackled Eriko, and the two barked excitedly, greeting each other with doggy-kisses. Kiba and I stood awkwardly, looking at the two dogs.

"So... Is there a reason for you wanting to come in?" Kiba asked after a minute.

"Not really. It's just, Naruto's out and I'm bored, so..."

"Ah." we lapsed back into an awkward silence.

"Uh... Do you want a drink?"

"Sure," I nodded and sat down on the couch, glueing my eyes to the TV as Kiba went into the kitchen. Some documentary about a vet was playing. I found myself widening my eyes in horror and disgust a I watched, because it was about a vet that didn't look after the pets he was supposed to be taking care of, not stitching properly after operations and stuff. Eventually Kiba came back holding two glasses of Coca cola and sat down on the couch opposite.

"What're you watching?" I didn't respond, but I could sense his horror, equal to mine, as he watched, indicating the one thing we had in common - our love of animals.

"That's disgraceful... Why I've never sent Akamaru to a vet to heal him."

"Dude, there's no vet in Konoha anyway... There's plenty of medic nins."

"Hey, you didn't call me mutt for once," Kiba smirked, causing me to pick a cushion up from the couch and chuck it at his face.

"Hey!" he gasped in annoyance as the cushion jolted his hand and made him spill his drink all over himself. I couldn't help it, and burst out laughing.

"Shut up."

"S-Sorry," I gasped between laughter. "Hang on."

I stood up and walked into his kitchen, searching until I found a tea towel. When I walked back in, he was wringing out his grey shirt.

"Here," I took hold of the end of his shirt and attempted to wipe it.

"Nah, it's okay," Kiba pulled his shirt out of my grip, but then pulled it over his head and threw it on the couch.

"Uh, Eira?"

"Huh?" I looked up and blushed, realising I'd been ogling at him.

"Nothing," he laughed and sat down with his legs crossed on the couch.

"Geez, I don't wanna be a teenager. I'm becoming a pervert or something," I muttered under my breath.

"What?" Kiba asked. I hadn't realised he could hear me. Dammit, i forgot about his oversensitive hearing like my own.

"Nothing." I sat down slowly on the couch opposite. He seemed to notice my stiff movements, though.

"Are you alright? I get it, you don't like me, but no need to act so awkward," he muttered.

"Well if I'm so bloody awkward, why am I still here?" I demanded, suddenly annoyed.

"Wait, I didn't mean-" Kiba hurriedly tried to rephrase, but I'd already stood up and stormed to the door in a huff.

"Whatever, Mutt."

I stomped off in a random direction, too irritated to pay attention to where I was going, until I found myself almost bumping into a tree. I sighed and leaned against it with my eyes closed, my back sliding down it until I was sitting down.

I didn't know why I was so irritated, Kiba hadn't exactly said anything terrible. He just annoyed me though.

Suddenly I spotted a streak of pink and before I knew it, Sakura had bounded over, followed by Ino.

"Hi?" I made it sound more like a question.

"Pick one!" Sakura displayed a bunch of pieces of paper in front of me.

"Why?" I asked suspiciously.

"Just do it!"

I hesitantly removed a piece of paper from the group and turned it around. Written on it was the number 24.

"Cool. What's this?Am I 24 years old? Am I contestant number 24? What's going on?"

"Well..." Ino began, excitement clear on her face, which just made me more suspicious. "You've just been entered in our Valentine's day..."

"Oh no."

"BLIND DATE!" the two yelled together.

"...You're kidding. Right? Please be joking."

"Of course we're not," Sakura grinned. "Your date will be at your house at six. Be ready. Oh and, Eriko, pick a card."

Eriko took one of the pieces of paper in her teeth and laid it down on the floor. Number thirteen.

"Awesome, same goes for you Eriko!"

"Hang on... Eriko's participating?"

"Yup! We also got Akamaru and a couple of other random pets around the village to join in," Ino explained. "There's also the jounin like Kakashi and Asuma joining in!"

"You're kidding..."

"Nope. Well, enjoy your dates, they'll arrive at six!"

With that they were off. I banged the back of my head against the tree repetitively.

"What're you doing?" I heard a familiar drawl. I looked up to see Kakashi standing above me, an Icha Icha paradise book in his hand.

"Hey, old man," I greeted with a wave.

"You do realise I'm in my twenties?"

"What, with all that grey hair?"

"It's white," Kakashi corrected.

"Are you sure, old man?" I asked, adding the 'old man' again to annoy him. I stood up and fell into step beside him, although he didn't glue his eyes away from his book as we walked.

"Perfectly. Have Sakura and Ino included you in their little... Project?" he questioned.

"Unfortunately, yes. They've made you take part, haven't they?"

"Yeah.. I'm too old to play childish games."

"Are you sure, Mr Pervert?"

"I'm not a pervert!" Kakashi raged.

"Says the one reading Make-out paradise," I smirked. Kakashi shrugged, not bothering to argue with that.

"I'd best be off now. I have somewhere to... Go," Kakashi informed me, before giving a wave and walking in a different direction. What a liar. I'd seen him spending his mornings talking to rocks.

It was 3:00 so I decided it was a smart idea to head back home. That'd give me enough time to bathe Eriko and shower and get ready myself before 6:00. On the way home I spotted Naruto.

"Hey Naruto!" I greeted with a wave.

"Hi! Have Sakura and Ino got you involved with this too?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah... How do you know what house to go to?"

"They wrote me instructions on how to get to the house without telling me whose house it was," he explained.

When we reached the house, I ran straight upstairs and bathed Eriko. She had very muddy paws.

"You excited for your date, old girl?" I asked as I lathered dog-shampoo into her fur.

"Arf!" Eriko barked happily. She just hoped her date was Akamaru.

"Glad to know one of us is," I sighed.

"Crap."

I'd just realised I had absolutely nothing to wear for my date. It was already half past four and I only had an hour and a half to get ready... And nothing to wear. I didn't even have enough money to go and buy an outfit. Suddenly I had an idea.

"Oi, Naruto! I'm just going over to Sakura's, okay?"

"Alright," he called back, before I shot out of the door. I ran as fast as I could until I sped to a stop at Sakura's door and knocked. Within a few seconds, Sakura had opened the door. She was already dressed, in a cute little red dress with spaghetti straps.

"You have nothing to wear, right?" she asked knowingly.

"How did you know?"

"I just know these things. Which is why I've already picked something out for you! Come in!" she invited. I stepped inside and followed the pinkette upstairs to her room, to see a dress laid out on the bed. It was a black, strapless cocktail dress. But it was SHORT.

"I can't wear this!" I gasped. "Have you seen the length of it?"

"Don't worry! You have skinny legs, it'll look fine on you!"

"That's not the point! I want to look like I'm on a date, not a prostitute!"

"Calm down, it won't look bad on you. Trust me," Sakura reassured. Heck, why was I even getting so worked up about it? I was turning into such a girly girl! Geez.

"It'll do... It's a pretty dress. Thanks Sakura," I smiled. A genuine smile... Yes, I actually smiled at Sakura. I then waved goodbye, grabbed the dress and wished her luck on her date, before speeding out of the door. When I reached home I put my hair in rollers and slipped on the black dress and looked in the mirror.

"Wow..." I murmured. It actually looked really nice. Well, I was pleased with it anyway. I then pulled out my very-rarely-used makeup bag and opened it, pulling out eyeliner, mascara, smoky eyeshadow and lipgloss before applying each of them one by one. I then pulled on some knee-high black socks but fixed them so they were bunched up a little and only reached my mid-calf, then slipped on my combat boots. I couldn't resist it. If I was going to wear a pretty dress, have my hair curled and wear make-up, I had to wear casual socks and shoes.

I then opened the lid of the little black box on my desk and carefully pulled out my new, delicate silver necklace.

"Hey- wow. Eira you look awesome!" Naruto grinned, entering my room.

"Thanks," I laughed. "Hey, could you help me put this on?" I held out the necklace to him and he nodded, evidently pleased from his smile that I was going to wear the necklace he'd gave me. He took the necklace from me and carefully placed it around my neck before fastening the clasp.

"Thanks Naruto," I grinned.

"Anyway, I'd better get going, I don't wanna be late for my date!" he waved and ran out of the door.

"Bye! Have fun! Make sure you don't blow her up," I called after him as I pulled out the rollers, leaving my raven-black hair in loose curls tumbling over my shoulders.

"Do we look good or what?" I grinned to Eriko as I placed a small black bow in my hair. I'd placed a little black flower in Eriko's hair - fur - just above her right ear, combed her fur so that it looked soft and perfect, painted her paw-nails black and filed them, and even put a black collar decorated with diamonds - fake of course - around her neck, which she was incredibly proud of.

"Arf!" she agreed. It was five to six, so we went downstairs to wait and sat on the couch. I stroked her absent-mindedly, staring blankly at the animated images of tellytubbies bouncing across the screen.

Six o'clock dragged by, then ten past six, then twenty past six...

I was panicking by now. What if they didn't show up? What if it was Kakashi? I'd heard many stories from Naruto about how Kakashi was always hours late for just about everything, so I was wondering... Could it be him?

Suddenly, at twenty-five past six there was a knock at the door, and I jumped up to answer it.

I slowly opened the door, praying it wasn't an adult or anyone I disliked. Soon the door was fully opened and I stood and stared at the person standing in front of me in the doorway.

"Hey."

So when I wrote this chapter it was actually valentine's day XD But that was on the other site that I upload this story to so yeah :P Anyway please review and tell me what you think ^.^ Also thanks you guys for your reviews! I'd reply to each individually but I honestly never have time T.T Even for something as short as that, so I'm putting thanks here :] Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed

Sayonara!