Festival Fever pt. 2

It was the day before the festival. Everyone had been hard at work preparing for it all morning. Now it was mid afternoon and Ten-Ten had invited Sakura, Hinata and Ino to her house for the monthly club meeting of the club they had started for female ninja…only.

“Where could she be?” Ten-Ten wondered. Ten-Ten, Sakura and Hinata were sitting in Ten-Ten’s living room waiting for Ino. “Maybe she got caught up at the flower shop or with her decorating team.” Sakura suggested. “Even if she did she should have been here by now.” Ten-Ten replied. Fifth-teen minutes later there was a knock on the door; Knock, knock! “There she is.” Ten-Ten said getting up. Ten-Ten opened the door and saw a horrible site.

“Ino, what happened to you!?” Ten-Ten asked astonished. Ino walked in and dropped herself on the couch. “A whole bunch of guys came in wanting to buy flowers for their dates.” She answered. Ino’s clothes were torn, she had scratches all over and her hair was tossed all over her face with thorns tangle in it. Ino let out a heavy sigh. “The worst were these two guys who both just had to have the last bouquet of pink roses.” she said. “Who were they?” Sakura asked. “I’m not sure I couldn’t see their faces, but, they both said they must have them because they match their dates’ hair.” Sakura thought about what Ino had told them.

“Amazing how men can be such animals, but also so sweet at the same time.” She said. Ino was trying to pick the thorns out of her long, blond hair. “What do you mean Billboard Brow?” she asked. “Think about it,” Sakura said, “They both wanted the pink roses because they match their dates’ hair; that was a sweet gesture do you think?” there was a moment of silence while the girls thought about what Sakura had said. “Well I guess you’re right Billboard Brow, but still the guy who ‘won’, won by telling the other guy his shoe was untied, plus he ran off after only paying me half of what he was suppose to.”  “Wow, you must have had some day.” Ten-Ten commented. “W-Will you be able to catch the guy?” Hinata asked. “I may be able to spot him tomorrow. Whoever has the pink roses is my thief and when I get a hold of him…he’ll be my victim.” Ino smashed her fist into her hand. “Ino, why didn’t you get cleaned up before you came here?” Sakura asked. “There wasn’t enough time Billboard Brow, besides I wanted to come and get this over with.” She answered. “Well on that note lets get started, shall we?” Ten-Ten asked.

The four girls sat down at a table in the den. They ate rice cakes and dango while drinking tea. “T-This is delicious Ten-Ten-san.” Hinata complimented. “Yeah, Ten-Ten-san did you make it?” Ino asked. Ten-Ten blushed. “Yes, well actually Neji-kun and me made it together.” She told them. “‘Neji-kun’; you like him, don’t you.” Sakura said. Ten-Ten stopped blushing. “O-Of course not! Why would I like my teammate? Well, I do like him but I don’t like him.” She nervously said. Ten-Ten broke out in a small sweat; the three girls stared at her. “Uh Ten-Ten-san, it’s okay to tell us the truth,” Sakura assured her. Ino put her arm around Ten-Ten. “Yeah Ten-Ten-san, you don’t have to lie to us. We’re your friends; Hinata-san, Billboard Brow and I.” She said. Sakura let out a sigh. “Ino, could you please give it a rest.” She said. Ino looked at her confused. “Give what a rest?” she asked. Sakura let out another sigh. “Nothing…”

After the girls finished eating and talking they left to go do some more preparations for the big event taking place the next day. “See you later Ten-Ten-san!” Sakura called from behind her. “See you at the festival Sakura-san.” Ten-Ten replied. Sakura looked down at her watch. “Seven o’clock already?” she thought. “Might as well go before it’s too late…”  Where was she going and why?

Sakura arrived at Naruto’s apartment twenty minutes later only to find a note taped to the door. It read: “Out at the ramen shop for dinner; be back soon…”  Sakura let out a heavy sigh. “‘Be back soon’; yeah right. You’d think he lived at that place.” She said to herself. Sakura started to walk home.

When Sakura got home it was eight forty-five. She went into her room and closed the door behind her. “Oh what a day…” she thought. She put on her night gown and sat on the floor to read her new book. Knock, knock! “Sakura, time for dinner,” Her mother called. “I’m not hungry,” Sakura answered. “Honey you have to eat.” Her mother replied. “Mom, can I just go to bed?” She asked. Her mother let out a sigh. “Fine dear; good night.” “Good night Mom.” Sakura put her book down, she got up and pulled out her kimono from her closet and laid it on the bed. The kimono was white with red flowers and trim, with a deep V neck line. Sakura picked up her kimono and held it up to herself in front of her mirror. She stood there for several minutes staring at her self in the mirror. When she was done she hung the kimono on a hook on her door and got into her bed. Right when she was about to turn off the light her eyes stopped on a picture she had on her nightstand. It was of her and Naruto. “Naruto…”

Meanwhile Naruto was down at the ramen shop; eating his sixth extra large helping. “Naruto, shouldn’t you be getting home? You do know the festival is tomorrow, don’t you?” Ayame asked. Naruto slumped forward on the table. “I know Ayame-san, but what’s the point of going if you don’t have a date.” He replied. Ayame gave Naruto a confused look. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Well you see everybody I’ve run into says that if you don’t have a date, there’s no point of going in the first place.” He explained. Ayame looked thoughtfully at Naruto, who looked and was very miserable. “Naruto you don’t need a date for the festival; festivals are big celebrations for friends and family that love each other and want to be around one another.” She told him. Naruto looked up and smiled. “I guess you’re right,” He said. “But still there’s this girl that I wanted to ask.” Ayame came from behind the counter and took a seat next to him. “Oh so I see. It’s not the ‘date’ that you want it’s the girl.” She said. Naruto nodded. “Yeah,” “Who is she?” Ayame asked. Naruto slightly blushed. “It’s Haruno Sakura.” He answered. Ayame smiled. “Ahem…Well if you still want to go with her then you should ask her.” She told him. “It’s too late now; Sakura-chan’s probably already in bed.” He said. Naruto got up from his seat and walked to the door. “Thanks for all your help Ayame-san.” He said. Ayame only smile at Naruto as he walked out into the night crowd.

Naruto walked home thinking about what he should do. “Should I go over to Sakura-chan’s house?” he wondered. He walked past Sakura’s house, but didn’t see a light on in her room, so he went on. He went home and went straight to bed. Not knowing what lie ahead of him the next day at the festival.