I was excited for two reasons; first being the ceremony in itself, and second I get to hang with Ino. The actual announcement doesn't happen until much later tonight, but for now we are having a big parade and open market. We don't really do currency here in the little community, the royals pay the humans for any electricity bills or pluming or property. The humans treat us like the Amish, a separate community. The royals pay for what outside needs we have, like computers.

We learn about currency when in school, but only the royals have to deal with it. I guess they own parts of large companies; like some place called Walmart and another Mcdonalds. Once, my mom convinced a royal to buy me a happy meal for my seventh birthday. I don't really remember the taste, but I know I loved the food enough to not share. I can't wait to see Walmart, the place has everything! I saw so many funny videos of things that happen there when watching on Youtube.

Well right now I need to focus on the present. Where is that Ino? The floats are about to appear and we helped built one. It's got this big turkey to celebrate the human holiday, Thanksgiving. I looked on my tablet to see if Ino had messaged me something, but the only message was Hinata saying she couldn't join us again, family rules. I can't wait to just blabber about what people will make our pack, but I still can't find Ino. I bet she found some poor idiot to flirt with. Ino may be my best friend, but she gets around a lot.

"Hey Bill-Board Brow!"

I didn't need to turn around to know it was Ino. She used to put articles on my forehead, because it's the only not-small, in fact too larger, body part I have.

Ino sarcastically, "What? Don't I get a hug?"

"Course you do, Ino-pig!"

We gave each other a big hug, but I kind of always hate hugging her. Her shoulder always jabs my neck since she is like average height. We also have the problem of who leans left or right? We just always collide and it looks so awful! Looks as if we secretly hated each other and couldn't hug right because we didn't want to touch. Finally! It ended.

Ino laughingly, "Well, oink oink! Where do you want to sit?"

We laughed and picked a nice area of grass in a hill to lie. We could see the floats and after a bit of catching up and comments of the parade we got to the conversation I've been waiting all night to have!

Ino started, "So first thing's first, obviously the odds are really high for us to have at least one royal heir to in our mists. If you had to choose, in order, who'd you want to be stuck with? Neji is automatically with Hinata as Gaara is to his siblings. So either choose Sasuke, Neji with Hinata, or Gaara with his siblings."

"I think Neji is number one, mostly because of Hinata. Also, Neji is really smart and I know he has a lot of experience with humans."

"Yeah, but what royal doesn't have a lot of experience with humans?"

"I suppose that's a fair statement. Who is your first?"

I don't even know why I bothered asking.

"Sasuke! I might as well be stick with something I can at least look at!"

I never told Ino, but I think Neji and Gaara are attractive too. I feel like she tends to judge on looks more than anything else.

She continues, "My second would be Gaara, maybe. I'm not too sure with his super creepy, older brother!"

"Wasn't there talk that he was too old for Temari and Gaara? So, he'd join a pack more his age?"

"Yeah! Totally forgot! That hasn't been decided though… If he does join a different group, I'll be so happy!"

I have to admit to Gaara's brother never seemed too friendly, but I never met him so I can't say for sure.

Her, "My third is obviously Neji. Reason being because Hinata, as great as a person she is, will be probably stick with Neji all the time. Neji is such a bore! We'll never get to do anything! I mean it's like really obvious that a royal will lead whatever pack they join and Neji I cannot listen to!"

"I've never really heard any of his speeches, but I'm sure they're at least well informed."

"Who cares! I'm a person. I don't care if what you say is true or false. I just want to hear something interesting!"

I rolled my eyes and smirked.

I continued from where I left off, "Well my second would be Sasuke because I'm afraid of sibling rivalry with Gaara and Temari."

"Yeah, I haven't heard anything about those two, but I've heard siblings can't live their lives without at least a few fights. Well at least with Hinata and Neji you never have to worry about that. Hinata is too sweet and shy to stand up or question Neji's decisions. She needs to stand up for herself!"

"Maybe with her parents, but I've never seen Neji ever force Hinata into anything she didn't want to do. Neji does a good job looking out for Hinata."

"Hm… Maybe. Well anyways is there anybody in particular you really want to be in the pack with?"

"Well… Other than you and Naruto, of course, -"

"Ugh! I hate that annoying kid! He never shuts up and he is so stupid!"

I couldn't help but giggle because Naruto and Ino are so much alike! She kept asking me what's so funny, but I couldn't tell her. Eventually she gave up and answered the original question herself, "There is that guy Shikamaru, but everyone calls him Shika. He is a hunk! He could be warm in my hugs anytime!"

"Don't you mean legs?"

She gave me a light bunch to the arm and continued, "I talked to him a bit online and learned a lot from his friend Chouji. You remember Chouji don't you? Fifth grade?"

"Oh yeah! He was in our school for a year and then transferred. Never said why though."

"Well he is still just as fat as he used to be."

"Ino! Is that all you remember of him?"

She obviously ignored the question and kept going on about Shika. Sometimes it really irks me that Ino is so judgmental. I mean she is kind to all people to their face and doesn't like bullying, but behind their backs, privately she kind of makes fun of people too.

Eventually she moved on to talk about a boy named Kiba. I guess he is really into dog's and has a puppy. I can't remember what the name of the puppy was because Ino talks so damn fast! Then she talked about Lee. I guess he is really sweet and tries really hard, but again Ino got judgmental about his looks. His eyebrows are apparently really bushy, I wonder if that's the kid Naruto talked about once that he called Bushy-Brows. Naruto and Lee spend a whole week camping together, assuming that was the same person. Sounded like I would be great friends with Lee since Naruto got along with him so well.

"Oh and there is this guy I want you to meet!"

Here she goes again. Already going cupid on me even though we don't even know who will be in the pack. I guess my "soul mate" is named Shino, according to Ino. He really likes bugs. I may think little black spiders are cute, but I still hate bugs! They are always biting me! I guess that's why humans hate us.

It didn't take long for Ino to go back talking about herself. I kind of dozed off after that. The floats are really beautiful and everyone was clapping when the dancers went by. It was kind of funny that one trumpet blew its last blow when the band had already stopped playing. Everyone gave a smile and laugh when the kid froze in the middle of the street, not knowing what to do, and blushed from embarrassment. A woman, probably the teacher, came and helped him off the street and he went and joined his family, assuming that's who they were.

The parade was over which meant the markets opened up. Everyone couldn't wait for the funny t-shirts and friendship bracelets. Ino even made us get a pair of friendship bracelets. Hers was an open rose with the stem going around her wrist, while mine was cherries going all the way around side-by-side. We thanked the woman and continued on.

We bumped into a few people and had a few nice chats that probably didn't need to last as long as they did. I don't mean to sound like a impatient five year old, but the conversation was obviously ending and Ino just kept extending.

We saw Naruto eating Ramen and I waved to him, but I didn't get to chat since Ino pulled me to some stand with boots. I may not like skirts or be keen on make-up, but I do love me my boots. I think it's that entire monkey's fault! You know the one from Dora, Boots? I always want big colorful boots now! I still haven't figured out the heel thing, but there is enough flats for me to choose from. I called these the pirate boots. They had buckles on the side, silk black leather, and they were slim. Usually I find boots that latch onto my legs and I have barely any room for my skinny jeans; although, today I wasn't wearing pants, I wore shorts. The boots matched my bright brown shorts and I couldn't decide if they were worth getting. It was really hot day today so I wouldn't wear them today, and I have quite a few boots at home, so I don't need to overstock. I was going to let the next fortunate soul have them, but Ino already asked the man if we could take these pirate boots and the ones she picked out. The man agreed since he saw his creation being put into good use and that was our "currency" in this town, respect.

It was lunch time, my belly told me so. Ino and I went to a taco stand. The man chatted with us a bit and served us our tacos. Ino as prissy as she can be is still a pig and got everything on top. She spilled it everywhere as she ate and we laughed. I had my super plain taco, or as Ino calls it super bore. I guess it's kind of like our lives, Ino always has more than she could ask for and I have just barely enough.

The markets were closing up and if I hadn't just eaten I'd be jumping in joy! It was finally time for the elders to announce the pack for the year, which is if there is only one. Sometimes, and very rarely there, is enough kids for two groups or a few do better in smaller groups so there is one large group, the "main", and one smaller, the "side" group.

"You got ants in your pants?" Ino said smiling at me.

"Hell YES!"

"Me too!"

We hurried back to our little spot on the hill. I could see Naruto on the other side. I hope this isn't a sign that Naruto and Ino's differences will never be settled and I will always be dragged to one side. I started to feel sick as if I was a little kid with stage fright and was giving a speech in front of hundreds of people! What if I'm in a small group with people I don't know and no familiarity at all in my new life? What if I get picked and Ino doesn't? What if...I never get picked? Is that even possible?