The next morning arrived. Lee and I had crashed outside, leaning back to back on each other, snoozing away. Covered in a light blanket of snow, frozen half to death.
"Lee! Setsuki!" Tenten's loud voice roared, then I felt a slap across my face, it woke me up. Tenten slapped Lee as well, the two of us howled for a moment, before realizing we were cold. We suddenly clung to each other like magnets, shivering.
"W-What h-happened last n-n-night Setsuki-s-san?" Lee inquired.
"I d-don't know L-Lee-san.." I reply.
"Honestly, don't tell me you two were up all night training and fell asleep on the street! Setsuki your uncle was worried about you not coming home last night!" Tenten gushed. I didn't care, all I cared about was trying to warm up, and hugging Lee's freezing cold and shivering body wasn't helping.
Tenten took us back to the cafe where we downed at least 4 cups of boiling hot tea. It burned our mouthes, but at least it warmed us up.
As we sat, Tenten continued to ramble on about the ball in two days time, the only thing on my mind, and probably Lee's too, was finding that girl.
I spoke to Lee while Tenten continued to ramble. "Lee-san, you don't suppose some of the boys might know?"
"Like who, Setsuki-san?"
"I dunno, I'll go ask some!" I announce.
"Hey! I was talki-"
"YOSH! I will too, Setsuki-san!" Lee blurted, cutting Tenten off. The two off us split up to find people.
I first found Kiba and Shino chilling at the training fields, leaning against a fallen tree, Kiba leaning against the trunk, Shino facing away, against the roots.
"Ball? Kuh I'm not going..." Kiba scoffed.
"Why not." I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.
"Dancings just not my think ya know? Besides.. I have other plans... on that day.." His voice trailed off, as if hiding something, but I didn't pry. I rolled my eyes and faced Shino.
"Shino-kun what about y-"
Without shifting his gaze at the forest, he replied coldly. "..I don't dance..."
I groan. "You guys suck! ... Oh by the way.. do you happen to know who Ino likes?"
"Ino? She likes any guy with a fit body. Oh, and good looks too." Kiba replied, shifting his gaze to the sky boredly.
A lightbulb lit up in my mind, I click my fingers. "Right! That is obviously Lee-san!" Without saying goodbye, I was off, to find Ino.
"Ino!"
"Ugh, what do youwant? Can't you see I'm busywith my shopping!?" Ino snapped.
I ignored her remark. "Who's your partner for the ball?"
"Oh, well.. I'm surprised I don't have one yet! Clearly the boys around here have bad taste in women." She placed one hand on her hip and the other running fingers through her hair. "I mean, who could resist me?" She giggled.
"So... you don't have a partner?"
"Mmm, not yet, but I will.. why? Who's your partner Setsuki?"
"Me? Oh.. I don't have one yet, I'm trying to help Lee-san get a partner!"
"You still call him san? Aren't you two closer than aquaintances?"
I became silent.
"Why don't you go with him to the ball, considering you two are like, really close?"
"N-no, Ino, you don't understand! The only girl he's allowed to go to the ball with is the one that is in love with him!" I explain. She got a look of confusion. I gave her an eager look.
"M-me?" She started to laugh. "No way, I prefer handsome men! Shame Sasuke-kun isn't here... still, Lee just isn't... my definition of handsome." She explains.
"So you're not in love with him?"
"What? Good heavens no!" She laughed. I grumble to myself, then turn around.
"Fine fine, bye." I run off, jump over a few buildings.
Sure I would like to go with Lee to the ball, but Gai-sensei specifically said the girl who asks him is the one that loves him, and that can't be me! We're only friends..!
I found Shikamaru lazing about on a rooftop and approach him. "Shikamaru! Shikamar-"
"What?"
"Are you going to the ball?"
"No."
"Why not?"
".. Ngh, all that effort to learn the dance.. and get suits and stuff.. it's just too troublesome. I'd rather sleep.." He grumbles, not even bothering to open his eyes. I shook my head in disappointment.
"Hey Shikamaru, do any of the girls you know like Lee-san?"
"What? Erm.. I don't know... I don't get involved with all that love stuff.. it's too much trouble."
Again I shook my head, I said bye, then backflipped off the building and almost get run over by Choji who was jogging after a chip packet floating away in the wind. It flew into me and he grabbed it.
"Hey thanks Setsuki. I thought I was never gonna catch it." He sneered and pulled out the one remaining chip and munched it down.
".. Say, Choji!"
"Huh?"
"Are you going to the ball in two days?"
"Uhh.. will there be food?" I give a nod. "Then yes!"
"You'll need a partner..."
"Oh, oh! Hey maybe Ino will be my partner!"
"Sure! Good luck Choji!" I call as he began running off to find her.
I kept walking until I stumble across my dear friend Naruto.
"NARUTO!" I shout as I run up to him, giving him a big hug.
"WHA- OH! SETSUKI!" He grinned.
I ask him the same series of questions, and he said he was keen on asking Sakura. I tried to explain to him that Sakura wasn't gonna be here, but he didn't listen because he was on his way to get ramen, and apparently his ears don't work when he's hungry. So I let him go.
I began to run out of people to ask, and I couldn't think of any other girls... except.. her..
It was a long shot, but I may as well should try. I set off to the Inuzuka compound, looking for that annoying Inuzuka girl.
She found me. "Oh hey, what're youdoing here?" The redhead spoke.
"Kaze, who's your partner for the ball?"
She growled. "It's Akakaze. And I ain't going to no ball, eugh those things, dancing on time with people, gross. I don't like that sort of-"
"Who do you like?"
"Eh?"
"You must love someone?"
"PAH! LOVE?! BAHAHA! I ain't got time for that crap!" She walked away laughing. Well, that was my last attempt. Was Gai-sensei telling the truth?
As I wondered back down the streets, I saw Lee annoying Neji. I decided to join.
"Lee! Stop it! Leave me alone! I'm not going!"
"But Neji! You must! Tenten is wanting to go with you!"
"Tenten..? No! I'm not going!"
I but in. "Neji! You have to! Gai-sensei said it'd be good training!"
"Even more reason not to go!" He growled.
"Setsuki-san! How did it go?"
"I.. didn't find anything, and barely anyone is actually gonna go!"
Lee and I make a synchronised sigh.
"What are you two talking about?"
Lee spoke up. "Gai-sensei said there's a girl that is in love with me, and that I must set my heart to her, and he said she would be the one to ask me to dance at the ball on Christmas! But neither Setsuki-san or myself can find any clues on who it is!"
"... Well.." Neji looked between the two of us, a thought on his mind. "Why don't you just wait until she comes to you then?" Neji's tone made him sound like he doubted Gai-sensei's words. But he had a point.
Christmas Eve, everyone was getting excited. Particularly Lee. I was surpised Daisuke-kun hadn't come to me yet.
"Susumu!"
"Huh? S-Setsuki?!" Susumu sat up and faced me with surprise. "Where've you been all this time? It feels like forever."
"I know!" I start giggling. "I was actually wondering where you guys have been!"
"Well, lets see.. Komaru-sensei went on a mission ages ago, like, last month.. and Daisuke left at the start of the month with his family to visit some relatives or something for Christmas.. where have you been?"
"Oh.. I've been everywhere! I went on a mission last month with Lee-san's squad.." I went on to tell him about the mission, and everything I'd done since I got back up till this moment.
"Oh.. the ball huh? I'm not gonna go, it's too much trouble for me. Who are you going with?"
"I-.. I don't have a partner.. so I figured Daisuke would be, but.."
"Ah.. well, go ask around I suppose. It's not just the boy's job to ask you know." He mentions.
"But.. I don't know who I wanna go with!" I explain. He shrugs his shoulders.
"Why not that Lee kid? You seem fond of him?" I shook my head, then explained the situation. "Right... well.. go, ask the next person you see.."
I turn my head and scan the area, then look back at Susumu. "Erm... why are you.. looking at me like that?"
"You are the first person I saw! Susumu-kun, please be my partner!" I plead.
Susumu glared at me for a moment, then sighed deeply, mumbling something under his breath. "Suppose I shouldn't let those dancing lessons go to waste.." He looks up at me, then nods. "Alright.."
"YAY! Thank you Susumu!" I hug him.
"Y-yeah yeah, get off.." He doesn't like human contact too much.. ".. I gotta go find a suit or somethin.. maybe dad has something.."
"Susumu~!" A woman's voice called from inside - didn't sound like his mother.
".. What?" He grumbled. A woman walked out of the door, I've never seen her before. She had long light blonde hair that reached her thighs, and dark brown eyes, she stood somewhat tall.
"Lunch is... oh? Who's this?"
"Uh.." Susumu turned to the woman. "This is my teammate, Kuromizu."
"Setsuki!" I announce. She smiled sweetly.
"Kuromizu-san, nice to meet you. I'm Nara, Megumi. I'm Susumu's older sister." She introduced herself.
"Sister? You didn't tell me you had a sister!" I say. Susumu shrugged his shoulders, then faced me again.
"So... I guess I'll meet you tonight."
I nod eagerly. "Yup! Bye Susumu, Megumi-san!" I call before running off to find Lee. Surely the girl must've come to him by now!
When I found him, bad news.
"Waaah! Setsuki-san! I'm going alone!" Lee wailed. I pat his back. I kind of wanted to offer for us to go together, but I already had Susumu. "Lee-san, don't give up yet! She's running late! Yes! That's what it is! She's running late!"
Lee gave me a blank expression, then believed me. "R-right! Running late! Of course! That has to be it!" Lee smiled again, then something struck him, his jaw dropped. "OH NO!"
"WHAT?!"
"I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR TONIGHT!"
I realized I didn't have anything either. "OH NO ME EITHER!"
"SETSUKI-SAN, LET US GO SHOPPING TOGETHER!"
We bought Lee's suit, and we were after a dress for me. I had my mind set - I wanted a blue one!
I was surpised that Lee was actually accompanying me through the shop as we browse around.
"Are you sure you do not want a bright green one, Setsuki-san? It would show your bright youthful spirit!" He says.
"BLUE!" I shout.
"But I really think green would-"
"BLUE!"
"GREEN!"
"BLUE!"
"GREEEEEEEN!"
We smacked our foreheads together, glaring into each others eyes, so fiercely that sparks could be seen between em.
A minute passed, then we turned away from each other folding our arms with a huff. Then I saw it! A beautiful blue dress, it was perfect! I smile and run to it, pick it up off the hanger then hold it in front of me. "Lee-san! What do you think?" I had the biggest grin in the world.
"Is it green?" Lee asked, without turning.
"... No.."
"Then I refuse to look!" He stated. I pout.
"But... Leeeeeeee-saaaann.."
He turned, then his eyes widen. "W-woah! S-Setsuki-san.. that dress is... really pretty!" He seemed dumbfounded by the sight.
"Do you approve?"
"SETSUKI-SAN! I WILL EVEN BUY IT FOR YOU!" He cried, falling to his knees in joyful tears, his fists clenched tightly and determinedly. I was sure I felt my cheeks burn up a little.
Even with my refusals, Lee insisted on buying the dress and stated that we weren't leaving the store unless he paid. I was beginning to wonder how he always had to much money.
Late that evening, I slipped into my dress, then went to Takashi, so he could zip the back of it up.
"You look stunning, Setsuki." He said with a soft smile. I blush, then smile. "Now lets go do your hair and-"
"No! I want to do my hair!" I ran to the bathroom and locked the door. I stared myself down, contemplating how I would do my hair. After 10 minutes I gave up thinking, I brushed it, tied it into a ponytail, and the shorter bits at the front stayed hanging down, it looked nice.
Takashi escorted me to the Hokage building, where the ball was to be held on the ground floor, where chairs, tables and any other furniture had been moved to the walls, creating a large empty space to dance in. After arriving he went to find some sandwiches and said he'd be going home if they didn't have salad sandwiches. When I saw him sit down with a plate full of sandwiches I was sure they were salad ones. I look around for Susumu and everyone else, some people were standing on the floor, talking, some at the buffet tables, and some walking around going to the bathrooms to check upon their appearance.
Finally, Susumu arrived, and he looked half decent, although the clothes did look a little big on him.
Kotetsu and Izumo stood on the stage in front of the mic. Kotetsu announced that the dancing would commence in 10 minutes.
"Do you know how to dance Setsuki...?" Susumu asked, as if scared of the answer. I answered truthfully.
"Nope."
He whined.