For the next four days I busied myself with helping Iruka with his students. Nobody acted like the tyrants they were before. And everyone worked hard. Naruko said it was no problem to do the costumes even with her usual work load. I was shocked to learn Deidara and Sasori helped out. Naruko grinned and said proudly, "I think we're beginning to get along."
I laughed and decided to go with it. By then I had knocked my feelings for Itachi to dust and was my usual self again. I accepted the fact I had a crush, but refused to show anything or say anything.
And it helped that I was so busy. I couldn't do much with my injuries but I did what I could. And the kids worked hard, Iruka was both shocked and pleased with them. And even more pleased when he found out two certain male students were expelled and a certain vice principal was fired. I preened a bit at dinner when we all gathered.
Iruka shared the news and looked at us. Itachi grinning next to me and I smirked proudly. Iruka rolled his eyes grinning, "Thank you, you've made my life easier." Itachi and I grinned at each other and gloated just a bit.
On the fifth day it was the day of the festival. Iruka and I arrived early so that we could help the students set everything up before the festival actually started. Naruko rode with us, to make last minute adjustments to the costumes. Waitresses wore a cute black dress with a frilly white apron and the guys wore black slacks, a white button up shirt and black vest. The cooks were in the back with tiny burners and Shikamaru was boss there since he was the only one who actually knew how to cook. When we tried cooking different things to see how it went, we chose the best cooks to be under Shikamaru. Which wasn't much but they made good sandwiches.
Tables were set up, the room decorated and everything looked perfect when we arrived. And once we made sure everything was set, adjustments made and food ready, the festival started. Everyone took shifts so that they could enjoy the festival and I waited until Sasuke and Naruto were free to go look around with them. We stopped to eat some cotton candy, Itachi arriving just then and joined us to watch a small play before Sasuke and Naruto had to return to the cafe.
I walked with Itachi back and we sat at a table. I grinned proudly as Hinata came up, blushing and said, "Welcome to Cafe 2-B. May I take your order?"
We ordered drinks and a sandwich, Kakashi joining us just then and ordering the same. Kakashi said, grinning proudly, "There's talk through out the school about this class. Iruka's status has gone up."
I smiled, happy for him and when our food came Iruka came and joined us with his half eaten food. He asked Kakashi and Itachi, "What do you think? About my class?"
Itachi nodded his approval and Kakashi smiled at him, "Very nice. I never would have recognized them."
Iruka blushed a bit, and smiled proudly. Then he looked at me and smiled widely, "And it's all thanks to you Ariana."
Hinata and Kiba brought our food and after they left I held up my soda in salute, "It's what friends do Dolphin. And I didn't do much."
He snorted and I laughed, "I just played the tyrant School Teacher. You have that down, but I'm just a tiny bit better. And my aim is better."
He laughed and we grinned at each other, eating our food. Taking a bite, I nearly choked when a body slammed into me from behind and I heard a squeal, "ARIANA!"
Coughing and eyes watering I looked over at pixy like black hair and vibrant green eyes. Itachi was about to grab her but froze when I squealed back happily, "FUMIKO!"
Turning in my seat I gave her a proper hug and laugh, coughing a bit, "It's been too long! How are you?"
I stood and looked down at the smaller woman as she said happily, "Fantastic now that I've found you! You've grown casts I see!"
Laughing I asked, "What are you doing here? I thought you had a job in America?"
She snorted, waving her hand, "I got fired for hitting my boss, so I decided to come visit!"
I rolled my eyes and said, "Let me guess, he pissed you off for calling you a name and trying to make a move on you at the same time."
She nodded and snorted, "Yes, Men."
She then noticed we were being stared at by everyone at the table and saw Iruka and Kakashi's grins, "Kashi! Dolphin! Howdy boys!"
She glomped them, almost making them fall over in their chairs and after they managed to say hello she saw that Sasuke and Naruto who had come to see what was going on and grinned, "So who are these cutie pies?"
Realizing they didn't know who this was, I was about to introduced everyone when she suddenly gasped, pointing at Itachi, "Itachi Uchiha!"
He blinked and then she pointed at Sasuke, "And Sasuke!"
She glomped Itachi, him too startled to do anything and scowled at me as she glomped a rigged Sasuke. I shook with laughter and grabbed her gently, "Chill Fuu. Your scaring them."
She blushed slightly and saw that we were being stared at by everyone in the room. I introduced Naruto and then Naruko when she arrived. Fumiko pulled up a chair and said, "Well I'm Fumiko Suoh. Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Ariana."
I nodded sipping my drink innocently, "Yes, we went to college together."
Kakashi laughed and said, "You haven't changed Fumiko! Still a spazz."
She stuck out her tongue and then turned to me, "So tell me why you look like you lost a fight?"
Iruka gasped dramatically, "Ariana lost?"
Kakashi joined him, "The horror!"
We rolled our eyes and Itachi smirked, "Well you did."
Sasuke smirked with him, "With a truck."
Naruto grinned, "No, with two!"
I rolled my eyes and said, "Right, rub it in."
Fumiko laughed, "Well tell me later. If you don't mind i'll crash at your place."
I nodded and said with a smile, "But you'll have to excuse these two love birds. They're staying over too."
We started making kissing faces and Iruka turned red and threatened to shove a sandwich in our faces. We got up, voting to go look around before harm was done to us. Sasuke and Naruto wanted to show Naruko and Itachi something and Iruka had to go back to watching the students. Kakashi joined him.
So Fumiko and I started checking things out, catching up on years apart. She told me about her various jobs where she did good work but clashed with her bosses. So she decided to try her luck here. We found a secluded place area in the back of the school where we wouldn't be heard and I told her about the bomb under Itachi's car and my bikes brake line being cut. I had to reveal my powers and to my shock and delight she said, "That's so cool! Your all super hero like!"
I laughed, relieved, "Not quite."
She smacked her fist into her hand and gasped, "That explains so much!"
Then she looked at me seriously, leaning in and studying me closely. Feeling like I was a bug under a microscope I asked, "What?"
A big grin spread across her face and she practically squealed, "You have a crush!"
My hand smacked over her mouth and I hissed, "Not so loud!"
Her eyes sparkled with mischief and I grumpily let her go and glared, "I do not."
She snorted like a horse and said, "Right, so who is it?"
I knew I was blushing like a fool and tried to will it away. She stared at me expectantly and I stubbornly glared back until she finally grinned, "It's Itachi isn't it?"
The startled look of disbelief on my face told her the answer and she squealed again. Rolling my eyes with a groan I said, "Not you too."
She giggled, "Oh I take it Dolphin and Kashi know then. And? Come on, details!"
Taking a seat on the nearby bench she sat next to me, bouncing eagerly. I took a deep breath and said softly, "I can't tell him Fumiko. I can't let him know."
She stopped bouncing, grew solemn and asked gently, "Itachi right?"
I nodded, looking down at my hands and forced the rising feelings back to the back of my mind, "It won't work. And if I say anything, I might lose him."
Looking up into her vibrant green eyes and said, "I waited so long for him. I can't risk losing him now."
Fumiko frowned slightly and studied my stubborn sad face. She finally smiled softly, "Ok. I won't say anything."
Relief flooded through me and she slung her arm over my shoulders, "So my dear friend. You can't reveal your crush and I can't find mine. So lets be merry and terrorize people!"
Laughing, I agreed and she helped me to my feet and we went to find the others.
