Here's the next chapter for you my lovely reviewers. I couldn't help but laugh at some of my inbox messages and reviews. You guys/girls are to sweet. I am so honored that you would send me well wishes, and how well the last chapter was received. It made me work even harder on this chapter even though its short. I decided that I was going to break the festival into a few chapters. I am falling asleep as I write this. I'm still really sick so I apologize if this is a bad chapter. I would like to shout out to all of my loyal reviewers, favorites, and followers. Shout outs to my new reviewer RingoHime. I was asked why I do the shout outs, I do it cause I love my reviewers, and I want to show my appreciation Ok let me shut up. As always reviews are not necessary but are inspiring.
"Seriously forehead keep your beast under control!" Ino screeched as she pointed at a smirking Gaara.
"What the hell Banshee it's too early for this shit." Kiba growled appearing from the hallway.
"I must agree miss Yamanaka." Itachi's voice came next placing a hand on Sakura's shoulder. Gaara instantly frowned and placed his arm around her waist drawing the medic towards him. It was done subtly enough that the women wouldn't notice, but Itachi sure as hell had. His brow raised slightly. Gaara's eyes returned to the still fuming woman. He honestly hadn't done anything THIS time. It seemed that once again Sai had challenged Gaara to a game of mess with Ino. The only difference was he now intended to get Gaara in trouble with the medic.
"Ino there is no way that Gaara has been messing with you. He's been with me until you busted down my door ranting." Sakura sighed leaning back into Gaara's chest subconsciously as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Gaara responded by fully drawing her into his chest and resting his chin on her shoulder. That earned a growl from the Inuzuka heir and glare from Itachi. Gaara knew that he was openly challenging the men on either side of him but in all honesty he didn't care. Sakura was his and until she said different she would stay that way.
"How else would sand get in my mascara that for some reason was replaced...with.. ink..." Gaara smirked and counted down mentally. Three, her fists balled. Two, her eyebrows fused into a unibrow. One.
"SAI!" Now she was turning and stomping out of the house.
"Well now that the screeching terror is gone let's get ready to go." Kiba scoffed.
"You have no room to talk Kiba Inuzuka. If I took away or vandalized your porn collection you'd flip. For Ino it's the same." Sakura rolled her eyes as Gaara chuckled into the crook of her neck.
"Hey you're getting a little close don't you think?" Kiba growled moving to grab Sakura's arm. Gaara shifted the two of them away just enough for Kiba to barely miss.
"Isn't that for Sakura to decide?" Gaara instantly regretted those words as she tensed against him. She pulled away and without a word went to her room to get ready. Itachi sighed and exited the room as well.
"You need to back off of MY woman before you get hurt." Kiba glared with a fang filled growl.
"I will not dignify that with a retort Inuzuka-san." Gaara replied before taking his leave as well. Kiba punched the wall but let it go. Gaara was taking the kid gloves off and so would he.
There were paper lanterns hung among the roads that held the happy sounding citizens of Konohagakure. None of which were lit at the moment. They were to be used later for a light show. Kiba could tell each lantern was holding different liquids and chemicals to create new colors. He could smell them a mile away. That however was not what was making him so uncomfortable, or uneasy. It was the fact that Gaara, Sakura, Itachi and Himself were sat on a make shift stage as celebrity guests. He didn't mind the attention at first in fact he liked it more and more with everyone who approached asking for a picture of himself and Sakura. Some telling him that they made a handsome couple. No what bothered him and made him want to commit mass murder was the same attention given to Gaara and Itachi. Especially Gaara he decided. Itachi had managed to piss him off ore than a little bit not to long ago, but it had nothing on the way Gaara made him want to rip his head off.
"Kiba your growling again." Sakura scolded him with a look of warning.
"Yeah I got it Hime." Kiba shot back rolling his eyes and pissing her off to the point her fan began to call out in protest as her hand squeezed it. It was either that or she would ruin the beautiful kimono that had taken so much effort to make let alone design. Itachi raised a brow and shook his head. None of the four let the anger or discomfort show as they smiled and greeted each person who made their way over to complement them.
"Kiba your jealousy is going to be your downfall if you continue." Itachi offered a small amount of advice acknowledging another group coming to take pictures.
"Stuff it Uchiha I don't need your advice." Kiba smiled at a passing group from his clan and noticed Gaara holding Sakura close. Another group wanted a picture of them and Gaara was taking this as an advantage every time. He would hold her to close for Kiba's liking. He especially hated how good she looked right now. She wore a furisode of crimson the sleeves of which gave the illusion of flowing cherry blossoms of silver. Colorful patterns of a phoenix holding the Haruno crest cover the entire garment. Her hair was pulled up into a bun held in place by a hair stick with the clan symbols for each of the mens clan dangling from chains as charms. Her makeup was barely there but it accented her natural beauty.
Itachi was next, and he did what he always did. He drew the pinkett into his arms and kissed her forehead causing a blush to spread across her cheeks. Kiba hadn't cared until he heard Itachi's response to an elderly couple's comments about keeping Sakura close. Itachi looked into Sakura's eyes and merely said he planned to do just that.
"It'll be over soon and we can all go get changed and enjoy the festival." Sakura sighed feeling frustrated. She looked over at Kiba smiling at him in his silken green kimono signifying nature and its power. Her eyes scanned over the detail of the silver embroidered clan symbols almost invisibly dotting the fabric it was a mystifying effect. It would shimmer and shine each time the light hit them otherwise going unnoticed. Itachi was wearing a deep blue kimono to signify his calmness, and stability. It was almost identically made except his kimono had black dragons wrapping around him signifying the elegance and sorrow of his once powerful clan. Gaara wore an almost rust red silken kimono calling attention to his passionate signalling his power, and passionate feelings that he dared not show. The symbols for Suna and shadow embroidered on the trim in a gold. Each color was specifically chosen by Sakura from the traits she thought were their strongest.
Finally after hours of greeting and pictures and a lengthy opening ceremony they were free to change. Which each quickly moved to do so happily. Kiba was the first to emerge from changing followed soon by Gaara whom leaded against a wall waiting for Sakura who came out last. She was radiant as ever donned in a pair of black jeans with legs that were clearly to baggy. Her long-sleeved gray shirt hugged her form but was hidden behind her black leather trench coat that ended at her ankles. Her black knee-length lace up high-heeled boots hidden just under her pants. She let her hair down and was currently shaking her hair out as she emerged.
"Sorry I took so long. So shall we enjoy ourselves?" She smiled as Gaara winked at her. Each man had a set amount of time with her alone before they would all meet up for dinner and then fireworks. Each man had a plan but which would fail and which would succeed was still to be determined.