A.N. - Oh god, sorry everyone. I was like sort of on a roll with updating everyday and then I had this family emergency come up and I had to go aaaaallllll the way to Virginia. Where I was was smack dab in the middle of nothing and right next to nowhere. I had no internet connection anywhere. So I am so sorry you had to wait for this chapter. But I made it extra long for you guys to make up for it. Seriously I think this is the longest chapter I have written to date! Cool right? Well anyway I really hope you all enjoy their carnival fun. And I don't know if I'm supposed to warn you all or not but I have put some fluffy love stuff in this one, I don't really know which citrus fruit its supposed to be under. Lemon is sex right? Well its not sex…yet. But its…I dunno, foreplay? Is there a fruit for that? Lol. Anybody wanna help the clueless writer out with this? It'd be much appreciated. so yes anyway please enjoy it and again sorry it didn't come when it was supposed to. But here is chapter 19 extra long and extra fluffy!
To HalfBloodPhoenix- Aw don't worry, more Gaasaku is coming. I have some in this next chapter actually. I hope you love it! Thanks for reviewing! Please enjoy chapter 19!
To Gothic Saku-chan- You loved it! Yes! Thank you! I hope it made you laugh a lot. I'm glad you thought it was hilarious. Thank you for reviewing and please enjoy this next chapter!
To superme383- You liked that? Great! It is so true. It happens in my group all the time. Usually my brother will make a joke and then my friend Robby explains it before laughing. Its funny…but the joke is always ruined. I am so happy you thought it was amazing! And thank you, you keep reading and reviewing you awesome reader/reviewer you. Hee hee. Seriously though I hope you like this next chapter and thank you for reviewing!
To xoLovelyEyesox- So…you aren't mad? That's great! Thank you. And thank you so very much for saying all three were awesome! Its fine you took long. It had me a little worried what with the whole brother thing but no now that I know you aren't pissed its cool. And I know what you mean. Junior year is insane! I am so glad mine is over! Good luck with yours and I wish you many many lots of patience. Lol. You're really gonna need it. You…loved their messages? Oh.…that's great. Really. I'm glad you did. Its just now…I have to apologize t them for beating them up. They insisted you were the type to be okay with it but I was so mad I wouldn't listen. Oops. Heh heh. I'm glad you liked them and that they made you feel better. Of course now I have to tell them that and I won't hear the end of it for a long time now. And they adore me? Are you sure you got the right messages or something? Lol. Jk. Adore them too, except for when they're idiots. (that's when the bat comes out.) but at least they were polite (You aren't just protecting them are you?) but I'm glab you're out of your funk. Their egos will grow so much when they hear that they helped you out. And I guess now that I'm not angry I can see that is a lot of determination…stupid determined brothers…they do love their competitions. But they all made it harder so ha! Their little plan back fired! Yes! Sorry. That'll just be my defense/ammo for when they try to rub it n my face they were right about you not hating us all for it. And unfortunately I didn't hurt them too badly. Its like they're invincible or something! But I have a theory. Your brain is ultimately what tells you if something hurts. All of their's are just so small they don't function properly so with them being so busy doing other important brain things like keeping you breathing they are just too stupid to feel pain! Brilliant theory no? hee hee. My sister thought so. Anyway glad that's settled and thanks for not being mad and I hope you love chapter 19!
To BluePanda22311- You are very welcome! it's a great word. I finally even got my friends saying it. You loved it! Thank you! Kankuro is great to me so I want him to have a good girl like the other guys. Though Yura can be quite a handful sometimes I thin she'll work well with him. Lol I know isn't it great? It just came to me and I loved it. So it stayed. Aw did you? Awesome! I giggled when writing it because he was just so clueless, saying things like 'I told her to clothe herself' that's even worse than walking inon her because its like this insult to her. Some girls are truly weird like that where thy get mad if you want to see them naked and they get mad if you don't. my friend s like that. I have a very perverted older brother and one night she was spending the night with me and he walked in on her getting out of the tub and he was like whoa put your clothes on girl and that made her angrier than f he'd been hitting on her like he usually does. (That was somewhat inspiration for that part) and I'm glad you liked the Temari Sakura joke thing! I hoped it would make people laugh. And yeah Gaara can only take so much girlyness. Lol Thanks for reviewing and please enjoy chapter 19!
To chikkachoo- Hi! Welcome back! How was your trip? Good I hope. Wow. You weren't kidding! What a review! Thank you! Thank you so much!
Okay…
You liked the Shikamaru thing!? Awesome! That just popped in the scene in my head while I was thinking about it and I laughed so I hoped others would. I am so glad you did! And yes naruhina is quite a lovable couple aren't they? And don't worry they settle everything, and what they don't they just worry abut when it comes. Fluff is a good thing. it's a very good thing. I really like writing it think. So there will be much more. Trust me.
Waffles have those nifty boxes. That makes them better. Me and my brother play connect four with them when we have breakfast. We use two different syrups, (Usually chocolate and maple) and waffles are just fun. Hee hee. And I just think Gaara is completely adorable in chapter 15. He has to deal with so many strange things…like the inner kiss. It was a little weird wasn't it? But cool right?
She is jealous I think. Of Sakura's relationship with Naruto. But its nothing to worry about because Naruto is head over heels for the shy girl. Naruto gets his courage boost from Sakura later and now he's gonna do something with it n chapter 19! Sasuke was a little random but I wanted him and Temari in the end of it and I figured just letting them pop up would work. He was checking Sakura's dorm to see if she was there since he couldn't find her anywhere else. Because while Naruto was enjoying his fluff with Hinata all the other guys who'd split up to look for Sakura still were. Hee hee. And yes Sasuke will get his fluff. Though with him and his girl it may not exactly go under fluff. They're not really fluffy people…I may make them be though because it could be fun! Glad you liked the waffle mission part!
Yeah I wanted to trick everyone and it worked mostly! It was great. But yes it was Naruto on the phone and Sakura's kisses to Naruto are nothing like the ones she has in store for Gaara, (Believe it! Lol.) I just want them to have an extremely close relationship (It goes with the story) and to be honest I have a brother I'm like this with. He's my best friend and brother so…that's what I'm basing their actions off of. Its hard to write what you don't know so I have to write what I do…
Yura is a bit naughty probably borderline slut since she flirts with Gaara and Kankuro both in the same chapter. Both are kind of harmless though. She just likes to have fun. She's very direct though isn't she? Eh, that's her style I guess. But yes I think she and Kankuro will work. I just liked him too much to force a fit with one of the girls from the show so I made him a girl. Hee hee. If only all relationships were that easy right? And yes I really hope the carnival will go well for everyone. I spent forever trying to make them do things I thought worked for them. But in the end I was like oh screw it and just rewrote it writing it having fun with it instead. I think it turned out better that way.
And thank you! I am really happy to hear you say they're always good! Its also cool they keep you on your feet. Does that mean I toss in stuff you don't see coming? And sorry I didn't update for a few days but hopefully this super long chapter will make up for it! And if all goes well I can go back to updating the way I was. Anyway…thank you for you super special awesome long review! I loved it. I laughed when I saw you gave one for each chapter, I was like she wasn't kidding. I hope you love chapter 19!
Hope everyone loves it!
FanggirlX
Disclaimer: Naruto and co not mine
"We're finally here!" Naruto cheered loudly, pumping his fist in the air as he leapt out of the car.
That was Gaara's sentiments exactly.
Thank god they were finally there. If he had to sit through one more round of 100 ramens on the wall he would have shoved sand down Naruto's throat just to shut the blond up.
He watched everyone else begin to head for the main gate.
They were like cattle, he mused. Moving in mass as one. He for one refused to be a cow. So he stood waiting to move once they were a good distance away.
Gaara felt someone touch his hand. He looked to his right where Sakura still stood, waiting for him.
"Come on. I know carnivals might not be your scene but it could be fun. I for one love them. The sights, sounds, smells, rides, foods. The list goes on and on. And this carnival is open all year round isn't that neat?"
He glanced at their joined hands and squeezed hers gently before moving.
She held firm to his hand though not letting him remove his.
"Come on we'll catch up with the others, maybe we can split up and go off in pairs or something. I know for a fact that's what Naruto wants to do." she said with a knowing smile.
And so it was that he was tugged along as she hurried to reach the others.
Once they paid to enter, the others were in a group laughing and pointing to things the each wanted to go do.
Sakura noticed that the number wasn't even. That meant they couldn't split up.
She was suddenly very sad.
She'd loved hanging with her friends and laughing at Naruto's goofy self the whole way here but once at the carnival she'd secretly wanted to have it just be her and Gaara.
Kankuro was the odd one left out. Maybe Yura would show soon. Sakura silently decided he could hang with her and Gaara till the cat girl did show.
Once he spotted her, Naruto grinned at Sakura and gave her a discreet thumbs up before grabbing Hinata's hand and rushing off with her in tow before the shy girl could utter a single syllable.
Temari met eyes with Sasuke who was standing close to her.
"Can you handle any ride?" she challenged.
"I'm sure I can handle more than you can." he replied smoothly.
"Oh yeah? Fine it's a challenge. First one to give in and not ride a ride loses! And we each pick rides taking turns. I'll pick first. So to the Ring of Fire we go!" Temari declared as she took Sasuke's hand and pulled him away with a smirk on her lips.
Sakura looked to Kankuro who was studying the games.
"You wanna try one?" she asked.
He looked to her as if shocked she and Gaara were still there.
"Huh? Oh, Sakura, I think I'll hang out here in the front playing games and chowing down on fair food. You know, incase that girl shows up." he explained with a grin. "So, uh what are you two still doing here? Go have fun. Besides I don't need you two cramping my style when she shows up."
Sakura could see Kankuro just wanted her and Gaara to go spend time alone. His subtle wink directed towards her was proof enough for that.
But he was also nervous about meeting Yura and didn't want Gaara to see him like that, she could tell that from his slight blush he was trying to hide.
Smiling she agreed, "Okay, Gaara and I are gonna go see what we can find to do then. Good luck with Yura."
He waved and then headed for the basketball shoot.
Sakura turned and flashed a bright smile at Gaara.
"So come on, lets go!" she exclaimed as she held her hand out to him.
He took it and they walked off.
Sakura then thought back to Temari and Sasuke. They were both fairly proud and competitive people. Not to mention stubborn. Would it really be okay to leave them alone together?
"Hey, Gaara?"
He grunted his acknowledgment as he continued to study his new surroundings.
"Aren't you worried about Temari? Don't you distrust Sasuke?"
"It is not a matter of my trusting him. She chose to leave with him." was his quiet answer as a certain ride intrigued him. He halted to watch it.
Sakura noticed this and was about to ask if he wanted to try it when he added with a snort, "Besides should he do something she disapproves of she can handle him well enough."
He flicked his steady gaze to hers and asked, "This one. Can we try it?"
Sakura, simply overjoyed that he was interested in the carnival, readily agreed.
So they got in line at the Pharaoh's Swinging Boat.
Turns out that the stoic Gaara was secretly a daredevil. Every ride he saw he wanted to try.
Sakura was willing to go on anything just to see the face he made as he analyzed the way each ride made him feel. Every new sensation a ride caused brought a different expression to his usually unchanged face. Granted the expressions weren't that different but to her, someone who'd learned how to see what he felt within his limited emotional displays it was wonderful to see him experiencing so many things!
After they had ridden several rides it was late after noon and Sakura was getting a bit hungry.
"Gaara, can we stop and get food please?"
He paused in his examination of the next ride and turned to face her.
"One more." he said pointing to a ride called the Scrambler.
Unable to say no to him, she nodded.
His eyes softened as he stared at her seeing that she was trying so hard to please him and he reached out his hand to her.
Ecstatic that he was offering his hand instead of her having to ask for it herself, she eagerly took it and allowed him to lead her to the line for the ride.
After twenty minutes they were finally walking over to one of the hanging cars to ride the Scrambler.
Gaara got in and held his hand out to help her up into the car because it was swaying a bit.
She nearly stumbled when her foot got caught on the edge but Gaara easily held her up.
"Thanks." she smiled up at him.
They sat and Sakura situated Gaara's arm so that it wrapped around her as she leaned into his side.
He remained silent but at her sudden closeness he felt his stomach tighten.
The ride slowly started to move.
It gradually sped up and soon they were swinging all around, gliding across the ground in what seemed a random direction every time it swung somewhere else.
It tickled his gut with every change in direction.
He liked this ride.
The wind in his face, the mixing and blending of the scenery around them making it seem as if he and Sakura were the only ones around, and he especially liked the small giggles of pure joy that came from Sakura every time she too was tickled by the change in movement.
The ride also forced her closer into him, that was another good thing to this ride. She tucked her head against his chest to keep her hair from whipping into her eyes.
Gaara looked down at her.
The emotion he felt when she touched him like this….it was indescribable. But the more he felt it the more he wanted to feel it. He was almost to the point that he craved it, needed it.
The ride began to slow down.
Sakura peeked out from where she'd hidden her face.
She smiled up at Gaara.
"I like this one. Its really fun. We have to do it at least one more time before we leave this place. Okay?" she said to him with a happy grin.
The red head nodded and reached across her to unhook their chain and bar.
He stood and exited the car first and then turned to help her down.
As they walked away from the ride Gaara led her off to the closest food stand.
Once they were there she studied the menu above them a moment before turning and asking him what he wanted.
He shook his head. He did not know.
Smiling she asked, "Gaara, if I order something will you split it with me?"
He shrugged. He would not agree to eating anything until he saw what it was.
She smiled, apparently taking his shrug as a yes.
She stepped forward ordered and paid. A few minutes later she was handed a piping hot plate piled high with some sort of bread covered in white.
It smelled sweet.
She showed it to him, holding it out for him to inspect.
He scrutinized it a moment before stepping closer and sniffing it. It smelled very sweet. He scowled when some of the white sugar tickled his nose.
"It's a funnel cake, Gaara. Its fried dough and powered sugar. A simple but amazingly great treat."
She pinched off a bit and offered it to him.
Staring at her hand a moment he sniffed it once more before deciding that he'd liked the food she'd done this with last time so he'd be willing give it a try once more.
He opened his mouth and she slipped the warm treat onto his tongue.
The food was good but he stopped focusing on the bread's strange sweet taste when her finger tip brushed his tongue.
He closed his lips around her finger.
Sakura watched, unable to move as he sucked on her finger, cleaning it of the sweet powdered sugar.
Once the sweet substance was all gone he had no excuse to keep her finger so he slid his mouth off.
As if in a daze Sakura pinched off another piece and held it to him.
Smirking slightly Gaara decided he had a new favorite food.
--
Naruto glanced at Hinata who was happily eating a stick of blue cotton candy. They'd just finished riding the bumber cars. Hinata didn't do much on them, she wasn't a very rowdy or rough kind of girl. But she'd willingly given it a try for him.
He'd tried hard to get out of her what exactly it was she wanted most from this carnival but when he'd finally asked the question in a way that made sense she'd softly replied that she wanted blue cotton candy before she left.
The blush that had dusted her cheeks as she'd answered him had been nothing short of adorable. He couldn't not just get it for her right then. So he they were standing off to the side while she enjoyed the strange fluffy food.
"So, Hinata, what ride would you like to go on?" he asked leaning against a big pole as he watched her eat her fluff.
She gasped and then looked down at her feet.
He guessed she was thinking.
"Um…w-well…I r-really like t-to ride th-the Hi-himalaya." she answered bashfully.
The Himalaya? He wondered.
Trying to think back to all the different times he'd been to these things with Sakura. Then he remembered.
Naruto chuckled happily, "Oh the thing that spins fast? Yeah ! Lets go on that next!"
It didn't seem really like her type of ride but if she said she liked it then she liked it and he would love to go on it with her.
Hinata nodded.
Then she glanced at her cotton candy and hesitantly offered it to Naruto.
"I can have some?" he asked.
She nodded timidly, not meeting his eyes.
"Thanks, Hinata!"
He pinched of a large piece of the blue fuzz and put it in his mouth.
It melted!
It was almost instantly gone!
"Hey, Hinata, is it supposed to vanish like that?" he asked confused.
"W-what?"
"That candy. It hit my tongue and poof it was gone." he clapped his hands at the word poof to emphasize it's disappearing.
She giggled quietly.
"Y-yes. I-it does th-that."
Naruto's eyes grew wide. He'd never had cotton candy before. Whenever he used to go to carnivals with Sakura he'd eat things that weren't sweet, like the big long hotdogs or the strange sandwiches or the pizza or things like that. Sakura ate enough sweets for the two of them anyway.
But…this cotton candy was actually good, even if it was very sweet.
"Well I like it! I shall call it ninja fluff!" Naruto announced happily as he pinched off more.
Hinata cocked her head to the side, "Ni-ninja fluff?"
Naruto nodded, "Yep, its fluffy candy that disappears quickly, ninja fluff! See it makes sense!"
She nodded, a shy smile on her features.
Naruto smiled back.
He wanted to ask her. He wanted to tell her. Right now.
But he couldn't. And it wasn't nerves anymore, he didn't doubt himself. No, Sakura's chat had taken care of that, his problem now was he wanted it to be perfect because Hinata was so special. And he was having a hard time coming up with the perfect scenario. He wasn't incredibly romantic and he usually had ideas he thought were good but actually turned out bad in the end.
He couldn't let his declaration of love moment be like that. Hinata deserved the best. So he had to wait.
After a few more moments the cotton candy aka ninja fluff was gone.
Naruto grinned at her and asked, "So we ready to go spin so fast we can't walk straight?"
Hinata nodded.
"Yeah we are!" he exclaimed as he took her hand and bounded off towards their next ride.
The line was fortunately short for this time around.
They got in line and got on in a matter of minutes.
Naruto sat where he would take the brunt of the weight of the ride when the speed of it threw them to the side. He didn't want to hurt her. That definitely would ruin his love declaration if she were bruised and sore from riding things with him.
She sat down beside him but was sitting stiff and scared.
"Hinata. If you sit like that you'll get thrown back when it starts. Here, sit like I am. Leaned back in the seat relaxed."
She nervously glanced at him and cautiously began to lean back.
Suddenly the ride started.
She was tossed-into something much softer then the back of the seat.
Unclenching her eyes, Hinata saw that Naruto had caught her.
He grinned, "See?"
She nodded and he settled her beside him so that his arm was around her with her head resting against it to cushion it from the hard seat.
As the ride started to speed up Naruto threw his free hand in the air and cheered loudly.
Hinata watched the smile on his face.
She was glad.
It was much more real, much more genuine then a lot of the ones he'd been using lately.
The ride shifted and started going backwards.
"Whoa!" Naruto exclaimed laughing his surprise.
Hinata smiled slightly. She was having such a wonderful time. She knew they'd come with a group but since it was just her and Naruto it felt almost as if they were on a date at the carnival, which was a romantic classic.
As if reading her mind the blond leaned down and whispered loud enough for her to hear over the other riders' shouts, "This is the best date I have ever been on! Thanks, Hinata."
She gasped. And stopped breathing.
Date? He'd said date!? So he thought that it was….and that it was the best…so…no.
No. There was no way she'd heard that. She had to be dreaming. She'd gotten lost in a fantasy again.
Discreetly Hinata pinched herself.
Wincing when she felt the pain she realized that it wasn't a dream!
Naruto really thought he was on a date with her. The best date he'd ever had.
Hinata looked up at his happy face as the ride ran around the wide ring. She was…on a date…with…Naruto…
She blacked out. The thought was just too much for the shy girl and without warning she'd fainted.
--
Sasuke watched with fascination as Temari climbed out of the Zipper after him. She was graceful in everything she did. And it was like she didn't waste any movement. Every motion made had a purpose.
There was nothing clumsy about this girl. In fact, she was nothing like Sakura. Which was why he didn't understand his attraction to her.
She smirked at him, "Ha! I do believe it is my turn to pick a ride."
Sasuke nodded.
"Alright…let me see. What is something the Sasuke Uchiha would be terrified to ride?" she said to herself as she searched the area around them.
Sasuke grinned a little wickedly, "Nothing."
"Oh yeah? Well I think I just found it!" she countered as she started off in a direction.
What ride could she possibly think would scare him?
Moments later Sasuke had his answer.
The Tunnel of Love.
The pinkest, girliest, ride to ever exist.
She wanted him to go…on that with her?
Temari stood confidently watching him with her arms crossed over her abundant chest.
He sighed his irritation and then nodded, "Alright fine. I'll go on this dumb thing."
"What's'a matter? You sound nervous." she teased.
Stuffing his hands casually in his pockets he replied, "As if."
Temari strolled up to him, and didn't stop until there was barely an inch between them.
Her greenish-blue eyes stared into his.
"Or are you just too scared to go into the dark with me, Uchiha?" she practically purred at him.
Sasuke took a step back.
"I'm not scared of anything. Especially not of you." he glared at her.
Temari chuckled and moved to get in line.
It's line was maybe one of the longest in the whole carnival.
His glare hardened when he muttered, "Of course she would pick the one ride with a two hour wait."
Temari poked his side.
"Hey, you can back out any time, Uchiha. I don't mind winning by forfeit."
He snorted, "Like I would give up to you so easily."
She got near his face again.
"Good, I never really like for things to be easy. Half the fun is gone if it is. Don't you think?"
Sasuke's eyes flicked down to her lips for a second before he smirked at her, "A good challenge is definitely better."
"Glad we agree." she replied in her voice that managed to make her sound tough and yet completely feminine at the same time.
She leaned over the railing and Sasuke let his eyes drift to her rear. She was certainly gifted when it came to bodies.
Temari was curved in all the right places.
Not to mention he'd seen her fight, hell, he'd fought her himself, he knew the muscle that lay underneath those deceptive curves.
"Its nice isn't it?" Temari's voice cut into his thoughts. He glanced up at her, her cocky grin told him she was indeed referring to the current object of his gaze.
Sasuke realized with a smirk that he'd been caught. Oh well, why deny it?
"Yeah. Its not bad. Maybe could use a little toning but other than that its is okay." he shrugged.
Her eyes flamed, "Toning? What the hell are you getting at, Uchiha?!" she demanded as she jabbed him hard in the chest with her index finger.
Damn. She was pretty when she was just normal. But a fiery and angry Temari was hot as hell.
He shrugged again feigning indifference. "I'm just saying you could use a little work."
She almost growled with her anger, "I'll have you know that my ass is fine! You wouldn't be staring at it, practically drooling over the damn thing if it wasn't!"
By now people were starting to stare.
"You're causing a scene." he informed her calmly.
"Do I look like a give a flying goat fuck?! You insulted my ass! Basically said I was fat and you care if I cause a scene!? You should be worrying a little more about your precious baby face than your damn image! Because I'm gonna break it!"
Sasuke was in awe.
She was a raging ball of fire and brimstone.
"Calm down."
"The hell I will!"
Sasuke opened his mouth to toss a witty comeback at her when her fist connected with his face.
Temari had really hit him! She'd even busted his lip!
The bitch.
Temari glared at him.
Sasuke whipped his hands out and caught her hands and held them up above her head.
"Look, bitch. I don't care what I say about your ass or any other damn part of your body. You don't hit me. Do you understand me?" he snarled at her.
That should do it. No woman stood in the face of an Uchiha's wrath and didn't back down.
Temari must have not gotten that memo however.
She pulled her head back and slammed it into his face.
"Fuck!" he shouted as he jerked his head away from another attack she was about to deliver.
"What is your problem!?" he shouted as he clutched his throbbing nose.
"Take it back! My ass is great and you know it. Now take it back, shithead!"
Sasuke grinned evilly at her, "You know a lady such as yourself should not be using such vulgar language."
"Fuck you! You see a 'lady' around?"
"No." he glared at her.
"Exactly!"
She brought her knee up hard between his legs.
Sasuke gasped and nearly fell to his knees. She'd put as much force into it as she could have.
People were staring, whispering to each other.
She glared them all down and shouted, "Anyone else?"
Heads whipped around quickly, facing anything besides the angry girl.
Sasuke had finally recovered.
He straightened himself and studied her a moment and then he mumbled, "Damn, you're something else. You know that?"
Temari locked eyes with him.
"And?" she demanded.
Sasuke shrugged, "And you're right. Things are much more fun when they aren't easy."
Temari studied him with critical eyes a moment then huffed turning away from him.
"So what was that? Some sort of test or something?" she asked after a while.
Sasuke grinned, "Nah. I was just bored. Oh and by the way. Your ass really is fine. It's the second best part of you to be honest."
He didn't once look at her as he spoke, just stared straight ahead.
But if he had, he would have seen the ever tough Temari no Sabaku blush like a school girl.
--
Kankuro sighed as he stirred his milkshake.
He was sitting at one of the tables leaning his chin on one hand as he stirred his milkshake with the other. The very image of boredom.
He had wasted hours on games, not to mention money. He had a load of stuffed animals he had no desire to keep to show for it and that was it.
And he had eaten his fill of food. Which was why he couldn't finish his milkshake. There was simply no room left inside him for it.
She hadn't shown.
He was sure she wasn't going to.
Kankuro knew he should've known. But he couldn't help it. For once a girl had been interested in him. Him! But now it looked like that wasn't true.
Someone sat beside him.
"You look miserable."
That was a pretty girl voice. Kankuro observed offhandedly.
Hold up.
He turned his gaze to his left.
It was her!
Yura!
The cat girl grinned at him.
"Hi. So you really waited for me?"
He glanced around then back at her.
"Nah, I didn't wait I had another date but I buried her under my amazing pile of plushies. I think she may have suffocated by now. Perhaps I offered a bit too much as way of gift?"
Yura chuckled, "Perhaps. So what are you going to do with all of those things?"
Kankuro shrugged, "Dunno. I was bored. I was supposed to meet someone here but she was a no show for a long while so I played games to pass the time. Now here is the riddle, my girl. Am I really good at games and won them all quickly and just lost interest or do I suck ass and just spent so much time on each game that even I had time enough to win a prize?"
Yura grinned coyly as she pretended to ponder his words, "Well in hopes of stroking your ego I am going to say it was the first one."
Kankuro nodded, "Yeah you guessed it. And no I'm not boasting. My ego doesn't even come into this. I just never knew I was so good at these carnival games. Never did them before."
"Well everybody has to be good at something, Konkers."
"Oh trust me, kitty, that is not the one thing I am good at." he grinned suggestively.
Yura arched an eyebrow, "Oh really? And what are you good at then?"
Kankuro chuckled, "You'd think it was kind of obvious."
Yura shook her head, "Nope. Sorry."
Kankuro indicated the large bandaged cocoon thing on his back, "I'm good at making puppets."
Yura nodded, "I see, so you are good with your hands."
Kankuro blushed slightly but nodded.
The cat girl laughed and he soon joined in.
Once their laughter settled Yura stood and turned to him.
"I bet you wasted a bunch of money on those games."
Kankuro nodded and grinned sheepishly, "Such was the price for entertainment."
Yura nodded, "Want to earn it back tenfold?" she questioned with a sly smile.
Kankuro's ears perked up.
"I'm listening."
Yura motioned with her finger for him to follow. While passing the huge pile of plushies a small black bear caught her attention.
She plucked it from the pile and studied it a moment. It wasn't very big but it had charming eyes and a dark red velvet ribbon around its neck.
Kankuro noticed and said, "That was the first one I got actually. I got better after my first try so most of the rest are huge."
Yura nodded, a soft grin on her pretty face, "This one is too small to get much profit. I'm going to keep it."
Kankuro stood and took her chin in his hand, "You know you don't have to give excuses. If you want one I would be happy to give it to you."
He then placed his lips to hers in a slow kiss. Much like she had done him back in the dorm hallway.
When he pulled away she was staring at him.
He winked and then picked up his plushie pile and walked away.
Watching him walk away a moment, slowly a smile spread on Yura's lips.
She'd finally found someone who would play along with her.
She was beginning to like this Kankuro a lot.
Smiling down at the black bear in her hands she nodded.
Yes. She believed she liked him a lot. Tucking the bear under her arm she hurried to catch up with the puppet master.
--
Sasuke glared at Temari. She stuck her tongue out at him before climbing into the small swan boat.
Muttering curses at her, he followed.
When he sat down he leaned back and continued to glare at Temari.
She smirked, "Quit pouting. It is so unbecoming."
Sasuke slouched even more in his seat. He was not exactly in the best of moods at the current moment.
He was sitting in a duck boat, next to an impossible woman, about to enter The Tunnel of Love. And his crotch still hurt like hell.
Temari leaned close to him, making him forget he was even mad much less what he was mad about.
Sasuke was happily stunned to realize that she was so close he could smell her shampoo. Coconut. No not just coconut. Actually she smelled something like a pina colada.
Temari looked to him out of the corner of her eye as they went into the tunnel's opening.
It was very dark and barely lit the only source of light being soft pink and red lights that just cast a gentle warm glow on them and the water…and the dumb duck.
"I've seen how you've watched me." Temari said.
Sasuke met her gaze.
"And?"
"And I know that look. You want me." she answered confidently.
"So what if I do?" he challenged.
"I want you to." Temari said with a sexy grin.
Sasuke's breath hitched.
Temari leaned close, "Look, I won't ask for a relationship. That's not the Uchiha style. I know that. I would expect no less. But, I am going to ask that for the next five minutes that you are stuck in this gay tunnel with me you let me have you to myself."
Sasuke stared into her eyes aided with only that soft barely there glow.
Not saying a word he leaned close to her and she met him half way.
Their lips joined and Sasuke instantly felt as if he were on fire.
Temari's lips gently guided his open and she slid her tongue into his mouth gently exploring him.
Sasuke met her lazy rhythm easily.
His hand found its way to the back of her neck and her pulled her closer.
Suddenly Temari was in his lap.
He felt her heat over his hardened member which had also forgotten as much as he had that it had been kicked not too long ago.
Groaning softly he nipped her lower lip.
Temari smirked against his lips.
"That's more like it." she whispered and their slow gentle kiss became heated and passion driven very quickly.
Sasuke easily lost himself in her taste.
Her hand snaked down between his legs and gently stroked him through his thankfully baggy pants.
"I didn't hurt you too bad earlier did I?" she asked in a way that sounded as if she genuinely cared and was taunting him all in the same breath.
Sasuke moved her hand to go harder as he answered, slightly breathless, "It still works fine if that's what you're asking."
She chuckled, low and sultry, "That's good to know."
He crushed her ready lips to his for another soul searing kiss.
--
Kankuro watched Yura work in awe. She was a natural. Selling things was what she was meant to do. She could convince anyone that they needed anything. He bet she could convince a blind man he needed a painting or even better a pair of reading glasses.
Her idea on how to get rid of his abundant supply of plushies had been to sell them to men on dates so as to impress their girls with their 'skill'.
He'd thought it wouldn't work, but sure enough it did.
Men noticed them and would send their girlfriend or date or whoever they were with to get a drink or snack and they'd hurry over and select something.
Then when the girl returned the man would surprise her with the prize claiming that he'd won her something while she was away.
It was simple. Simple genius.
Yura watched the last customer walk away with the final plushie to surprise his fiancée with a pink bunny rabbit.
She turned and grinned at him.
"So now we split it fifty-fifty, yes?" she asked holding up all the money they'd made.
Kankuro nodded and then stepped up to her and placed his hand on the bundle.
"How about we save it and use it to go out this Friday?" he offered.
Meeting his eyes she smirked, "Can't get enough of me can you?"
Kankuro laughed softly, shaking his head, "Actually, no I don't think I can."
Yura gasped letting her lush mouth drop open with her surprise and Kankuro took his chance, he kissed her, delving deep into her mouth.
Immediately overcoming her shock Yura came alive in his arms. Wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body tightly to his.
She met his eager kiss with her own ferocity.
Kankuro doubted this girl did anything half assed. Or with any less amount of ferocity.
Yura guided him back into a nook between two tents.
Kankuro found himself against the wall.
Laughing he shook his head.
He lifted the lithe cat girl and turned so that she was straddling him, with her legs wrapped around his body while her back rested against the wall of what seemed to be a fun house.
Yura let out a soft purr when he lowered his head and began kissing her neck working his way down.
Unable to hold back Yura grabbed his head and jerked him back up to meet her needy lips.
Kankuro felt her tiny fangs graze his tongue and a moan left him before he could stop it.
Her legs tightened around him.
Yura ran her fingers through his short dark hair and pressed his mouth even further into hers.
Kankuro took one hand and ran it up her thigh stopping just below the hem of her skirt.
Yura mewed softly and took his hand guiding him to exactly where he needed and wanted to be.
She gasped as his fingers came into contact with her.
Reaching out and pulling him in for a desperate kiss Yura silently urged him further and further.
Grinning like a mad man Kankuro decided that his new favorite pass time was petting his new kitty.
He whispered that to her as he nibbled the tender flesh of her neck.
Her velvet laughter filled his senses as she once again brought his lips up to hers.
--
"What do you want to do next, Gaara?"
Just as he was about to answer, thunder sounded in the background.
Sakura giggled, "Looks like we may not have much longer. Can we go on the Scrambler one more time?"
He nodded his consent and followed her to the ride.
Gaara learned something that day.
When Sakura said one more time she really meant three.
After riding the ride three times they left and began to head back for the front, thinking that with the rain coming the others would want to leave soon.
They almost made it to the main gate when the rain started falling.
Sakura looked up at the sky and smiled.
Doing a tiny twirl she looked to Gaara and saw his now very prominent scowl.
"You hate the rain don't you." she said.
Gaara took her hand and led her off to a small awning that hung over a now closed shop of some sort.
As they stood there facing each other, still holding one another's hand while the rain fell down around them Gaara quickly got lost in her deep green eyes.
Sakura smiled at him.
"I had a lot of fun with you today. Thank you for coming."
Gaara nodded, "I enjoyed it."
Her face brightened and she hugged him.
Gaara closed his eyes and held her to him.
When Sakura pulled back she met his stare, her smile still in place.
"I'm glad you enjoyed the carnival."
Gaara shook his head.
"It was not the carnival."
Sakura looked confused, "So you just wanted to get out a while? Away from the campus and prying eyes of that committee?"
Gaara shook his head, "No. Both are true. The carnival is good. I wanted away. But neither are the reason today was enjoyable."
Sakura stared into his black rimmed eyes and asked, "Then what was?"
Gaara brought his hand up to cup her face.
Sakura instantly leaned into his palm.
His face softened, showing how happy he truly was as he said, "I spent it with you."
Sakura's mouth dropped open and Gaara leaned in to kiss her.
He pressed his lips to her cheek.
"Thank you." he said softly.
Sakura felt tears form in her eyes.
She latched her arms tightly around his neck, "You are so very, very welcome, Gaara. Spending the day with you made it more enjoyable too."
He smiled slightly. It was barely the up turning of the corners of his mouth. But for one who wore a perpetual scowl it was a clear and beautiful smile.
Gaara placed his hand gently at the bottom of her neck and brought her close.
Leaning his head against hers he closed his eyes.
Sakura watched him silently.
Slowly he opened his eyes and they locked with hers.
He whispered, "I like being with you most of all."
Sakura smiled and replied. "I like being with you most of all."
Gaara let his eyes lazily fall to her lips then brought them back up to her gaze again.
"In the maze you were going to kiss me." he said.
Sakura nodded, entranced by the beautiful color and the intensity of his eyes.
"You didn't." he continued.
Again she nodded.
"Will you now?" he asked.
Her eyes widened and watched as he carefully approached her.
Mere centimeters away from her lips Gaara paused, granting her one last chance to push him away. To say no.
Sakura saw his hesitation and leaned the rest of the way gripping the back of his neck in the process.
Her supple lips met his in a sweet caress.
Gaara pulled back when he felt a jolt run through him.
Locking eyes with hers he leaned forward again and kissed her just as soft as before. He felt the same shocking thrill run through him. Once more he brushed her lips with his before pulling back to enjoy the sensation brought on by having Sakura kissing him.
Sakura sighed happily and lay her head on his shoulder.
Gaara hugged Sakura close to him, feeling for once in his life, completely at ease.
--
Naruto fought to reign in his fury. Damn his luck! First they get off the Himalaya and he discovers that she's fainted. It wasn't her fault. She fainted a lot. He should have known she would. He shouldn't have said anything. Surely his words had been what had shocked the poor girl. But he was determined to win her over so he would let that stop him.
Then he waits for her to wake up and after she does he calms her down and assured her it was fine. He then asked her if she would be well enough to ride the Ferris Wheel with him. A blush had covered her face but she had nodded.
So they'd gotten on it. They'd made it to the top of the wheel when it stopped. Thinking it was supposed to, they were fine. Until they heard the man down below announce to them that he was simply having a technical difficulty and that he would have it up and running in no time.
That had been an hour ago!
Now they were still stuck at the top of the Ferris Wheel and soaked because it was raining. And it was thundering off in the distance which meant with how his damn luck was going he'd probably get struck by lightening before he made it down from here.
Hinata shivered next to him.
Cursing quietly, he pulled her close to him.
"I'm sorry, Hinata." Naruto muttered miserably.
"B-but it's n-not your f-fault, N-Naruto-kun."
He looked grim, "It was my idea to get on this thing."
She couldn't argue that. It was.
"B-but you d-didn't know th-this would ha-happen."
He shook his head., "You don't get it. I'm not apologizing for just this. Today didn't feel special enough. And I wanted it to."
Hinata studied him silently as rain ran down her face.
"B-but w-why?" she finally asked.
His blue eyes met hers.
"Hinata, I wanted today to be special because I had something I wanted to tell you. And kind of ask you. And if today was special it would have meant more."
Her breath hitched.
What was he saying?
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck as he thought of his words, "I know it has lost all meaning now, because almost everything went wrong but see I swore to myself that I wouldn't leave this place today without telling you. So here it goes."
He took her hands in his and turned to face her completely.
Hinata watched amazed as he stared at her.
"Hinata. Today was supposed to be about you. I planned this whole trip so I could be alone with you. I love being alone with you. You are amazing and when I'm alone with you I see that even more. I get to see more of you. I love that."
Tears welled up in her eyes mixing beautifully with the ran drops clinging to her long lashes.
"The day I woke up next to you I knew I wanted to do that every day for the rest of my life. Now I know its way to early to plan anything like that. And I know I'm hard to handle. I know how strange I am. I'm loud, hyper, and more often than most clueless. But, I try harder than almost anyone around to do my best. Though that may not be enough to make up for anything…. What I'm getting at is, Hinata, for a long time I have been in love with you. Even if I don't deserve you I do love you."
Her tears spilled over. Gently blending with the rain.
"I tried everything to convince myself it wouldn't work out between us because I really didn't think I deserved you. But then Sakura knocked some sense into me." he smiled.
Hinata made a mental note to thank Sakura profusely next time she was with her.
"And now I see that it doesn't matter if I am worthy of you or not. Because as great as you are I probably never will be. But, Hinata, I swear to you that I will really work hard, as hard as I can every day to be someone you can be proud to call yours. I will love you with everything I have. And I will always take care of you even if you don't think you need it. I want to spoil you, and make you laugh, and hold you and spend as much time as possible with you. I give you everything I have Hinata. Which unfortunately isn't much. Its just my heart and my life but its everything I've got and I am praying that is enough for right now."
Hinata smiled, amazed that her dream was happening. She was tempted to pinch herself again. She refrained from doing so and took a shaky breath to answer him.
"Th-that's all I-I n-need." she replied happily.
Naruto's eyes lit up like the sun.
"You mean it!?"
Unable to speak she nodded.
Naruto cheered.
Then he was crushing her to him in a tight bear hug, "Hinata, you won't be sorry! You'll see! I will be the best boyfriend you could ever want! Believe it!"
She smiled happily and closing her eyes, lost herself in his embrace.
Naruto suddenly pulled her back and just as her eyes were opening he kissed her.
Tenderly, Naruto kissed her with everything he had. His lips moved against hers in a gentle dance of love and promise.
Pulling back he still held her close as whispered with a happy smile, "I love you, Hinata. I really do."
Hinata smiled and answered, "I-I love you t-too, Naruto-kun."
He brought her closer to him and tilted her chin up to kiss her once more.
The Ferris Wheel began to move.
But that little fact went unknown to the new couple sharing a sweet kiss in the rain.