InuYasha Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Another Yellow Brick For The Road ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: whymihere 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy / Shounen / | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 08.19.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 6.8K | Visits: 250 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy / Shounen / | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 08.19.2006 | Pages: 2 | Words: 6.8K | Visits: 250 | Status: Completed
Chapter 10
“Okay guys you ready for this?” Miroku began as the group finished eating. Since they were playing there were a couple of cardinal rules to, they followed before each performance. First among the rules was to make sure that after they arrived they checked the instruments before everyone arrived. The next rule required that everyone hit the bathroom before going on stage. There is a bit of an urban legend among performers that if you are okay five minutes before a show, at the two minute mark before going on you’d have to go and have no way of making it to the bathroom. Having his friends complain about Miroku’s need to make sure these two rules were followed, he excused himself from behind the small curtain seconds before it rose to reveal the band to the school.
Peering out to their dates, the band started into a few energetic songs to make sure the group of students danced and luckily for them it was a wise move. The Senior students and their dates cheered and danced as they played. Naruto had taken over the drums since Kagome had taken up the bass and was singing. Sasuke was talking to Duo as he played since Inuyasha wasn’t too keen on learning this song and danced with Ten-Ten as Sasuke played. After the first few songs, Inuyasha came up and took over for Kagome and let her go and dance with Shino who was standing on the wall waiting for Kohaku to get done with his work on the lights. At the third rotation, Duo was relieved to go and keep Ino from throwing a fit, and during a slow song the band let Inuyasha and Kagome dance along with Naruto and Hinata.
With one hand on Kagome’s waist and another in her free hand, Inuyasha smiled to ask her, “We finally get a stroll on the dance floor spinning around like a couple of dorks.” Kagome leaned in and kissed him gently saying that she was enjoying the time and glad Duo was singing the song appropriately. “So, you’d much rather be up there singing than down here with me?” Kagome stepped on his foot forcing Inuyasha to clench his jaws together in pain. “All right, I’ll remember not to say anything like that again. But, does this ruin my chances at any minor action tonight?”
Kissing him deeply for a moment, Kagome pulled back and rested her head on his shoulder telling him that was as far as he was going to get that night.
“I love it when Kagome is a bit abusive to him.” Naruto asked why Hinata would mention something like that to which she said, “Because like you he needs to be put in his place at times.” Naruto’s mouth gaped open exclaiming that he had never done anything to get put in his place at any moment during their relationship. “What about that time you got stoned and fell started making lewd comments?” Saying that he was cleared of charges due to circumstances beyond his control, Naruto gave her a kiss as an apology. “That’s good enough for now, but,” Her voice started to trail off. Finding Naruto’s face to be filled with inexplicable discomfort Hinata stepped back and worriedly asked him, “Naruto are you feeling well?” Excusing himself, Naruto made his way to the bathroom as nonchalant as possible.
“Is Naruto feeling well?” Kagome had just appeared behind Hinata holding a soda and saw what had just happened. The band had finished their set and made their way over to where Naruto had been dancing with Hinata. Hinata stared incredulously at her friend saying that he suddenly got a weird look on his face and headed off to the bathroom. “You guys going to go and check on him?” Knowing that it wasn’t as much a question as it was an order, Shino, Kohaku, Sasuke, and Shippou walked off to the bathroom while Inuyasha, Miroku, and Duo finished packing up the instruments as a house stereo played some music loud enough for only a few people to go out on the dance floor.
In the bathroom, Shino opened the door a split second too soon and hit Kiba on the head. “Sorry about that. You seen Naruto rush in here?” Kiba rubbed the slightly protuberant bump on his head telling his friends that the blond was currently in a stall. “Now that you mention it, the bathroom is smelling a bit more foul than when I first came in here.” Apologizing again for hitting Kiba, Shino let his boyfriend and the other two into the bathroom to hear the pained grunts of Naruto in the fourth stall from the left wall. Knocking on it Shino bluntly asked, “How is it that you get the trots so often?” Naruto cursed him saying that the milk he drank earlier was probably old and it turned his stomach. “No shit,” scoffed Shino in a pun-like manner. “Just be sure you wipe.”
“This is for when you get finished.” Kohaku tossed over a small can of rose-scented air-freshener much to the confusion of his friends. “I always carry one around in case I end up doing that. Just don’t ask me why, it’s something I don’t even understand about myself.” His actions going unquestioned, Kohaku also threw a book of matches under the door telling Naruto, “Or you can do it the old fashion way, I don’t care. Just make sure you smell good for Hinata and apologize.” Taking Shino by the hand, the sound lighting director left his two friends alone as well as to get him in some alone time with his boyfriend.
“Let me guess. You forgot to reach into the back when you bought the milk last week.” Naruto whined at his twin to ask him for an ounce of pity. “I’m just making sure you don’t ruin this for Hinata. We have a lot more memories to make of touring and all that comes with being in a band.” The guitarist said that he understood and Sasuke had to smirk at the sudden pulling of toilet paper. “Wash up before you go out and dance with her. Knowing the money her family has it’s probably custom made. Anyway I got Ten-Ten waiting for me. See you out there little brother.”
Outside, Hinata was enjoying a dance with Miroku while Rin talked with Shippou and Temari. Apparently Temari was going to go to school for nursing and working part-time at a hospice. “It’s a bit sad, but the people there have almost no visitors and it’s something to do while he’s out working hard.” She gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek and pinched it asking, “Isn’t he the cutest boy ever.” Getting pushed off of her boyfriend, Temari kissed him again before going to get some punch. Returning, she found Hinata sitting alone while Shippou ran off to the bathroom. “Leave it to my boyfriend to leave a lady in distress.”
Taking the cup of punch from Temari, Hinata smiled and sipped it thankfully when Naruto placed his cold hands on her face. “You’re lucky it was only a couple of drops you jerk.” Slapping Naruto gently in the face, Hinata sat back down and crossed her legs with a loud huff. Naruto wrapped his arm around her waist and nudged her cheek apologizing. Turning her head, Hinata tried to ignore him, but alas a small tickle had her giggling and slapping him playfully. Getting a few kisses to the neck, Hinata finally broke saying, “Okay I forgive you for scaring me. Now tell me why you had to leave?”
Naruto scoffed saying quietly to her, “I will only tell you that a lot of grunts, farts, and splats were involved. But, lucky for you I had air freshener and really good toilet paper.” Getting up in disgust, Temari pulled Shippou to the floor while Naruto took Hinata to the other side and swayed with her during a slow song. “Hope your night wasn’t ruined,” voiced Naruto with a hope of penance in mind. Caught of guard by his girlfriends lips to his and her tongue massaging his, Naruto barely returned it by the time she pulled back. “Guess that means I’m in the clear,” he sighed joyously. “I love...what the hell is that?” Turning he found Shippou standing between Shino and some one with a raised fist in the air.
“You stay away from my son you little freakish bastard!”
Arriving at the scene the rest of the band along with a few school staff members standing in a circle in case things got out of hand. “Mrs. Aburame, please refrain from striking another of my students or I shall call the police on you for assault.” Shino’s mother backed down and kept quiet as Principal Tsunade explained, “What your son does now that he is eighteen years old is no longer your responsibility. He’s an adult and he has done nothing illegal so control yourself.” Going over to Kohaku, Tsunade checked his nose and wiped the blood away from where her rings had gashed his face. Looking at them she told Shino, “Please take him to the hospital. He’s in need of stitches for these cuts and his nose is broken.” Tsunade waved her hand, forcing the security officers to escort Shino’s mother from the place and shouted, “Go back to your party and enjoy the rest of your night. You others may want to leave to keep an eye on him while I call Sango.”
Sasuke took hold of Ten-Ten, Naruto and Hinata saying they would go to the hospital and the others should go back to tell Janice the full story. Heading out to the car, Hinata moved onto Naruto’s lap and gave him a cloth to cover his cuts. “Thanks Hinata. Did you know that your mother was there?” Shino shook his head explaining that his mother had said she would be out with her friends that night. “Well whatever it is your mother is doing to work out gives her a hell of a punch.” Sasuke chuckled inquiring as to why Kohaku wasn’t mad at what happened. “Simple my dear Sasuke,” he began. “I expected something like that when she found out and just braced myself.”
“You’re a weird one Kohaku, but I love you just the same.” Ten-Ten smiled and asked if Sasuke would drop her off at her house as it was only a block from the hospital. “Thank you Sasuke,” she said after he said that he would, turned back and asked, “Hinata how come you and Naruto came along? Oh wait, I forgot that Duo would be packing the equipment in his truck and there wouldn’t be enough room.” Hinata rolled her eyes asking why she would ask a question when she knew the answer. “I just space out that’s all.”
The drive was silent after that and when Sasuke took Ten-Ten up to her door, he gave her a kiss on the cheek after saying, “Thanks for doing this. And, I hope to see you before we leave.” Ten-Ten said that she wouldn’t miss it for anything. Waving goodbye, Sasuke climbed into the car, saying, “Any smart-ass remarks and I knock your teeth out.” Kohaku moved off his boyfriends lap and into the front seat for the rest of the drive while Hinata moved into the middle seat, leaning her head on Naruot’s shoulder and holding his hand. At the E.R., Sasuke remained in his chair telling them, “I have to go and do something for work really quick but will be back soon. You have money and everything Kohaku?”
Holding up an insurance card and a couple hundred bucks, Kohaku explained that he always had his medical affairs in order before going out with his friends. Getting the middle finger from Sasuke, Kohaku walked in with his friends and signed in before sitting down. Removing the handkerchief, Kohaku sighed saying, “Guess the blood has dried a bit. Does it look that bad?’ Shino grimaced at the sight telling him that scars would be rather apparent. “Cool, from what I hear, girls really dig scars.” Getting hit in the stomach, Kohaku groaned telling Shino, “It was a joke, Jesus. That’d be really unnatural to me to hit on a girl. But, you wouldn’t have a problem would you?”
“Mind your tongue or I’m not kissing you for a month after you get back.” Getting some odd looks from the other patients, Shino removed his glasses and glared saying to them, “Mind your own business.” Going back to their own worries, the patients left one by one until Kohaku was called by a nurse when Sango rushed in asking what happened. “Please take him back while I talk to her.” Hinata and Naruto left with Kohaku while Shino sat down and told her, “Listen my mother saw us and took a swing at him. He’s going to need stitches and his nose is broken slightly.”
“I swear if she comes near me or him I’m going to kick the living shit out of her.” Shino gave her his blessing telling him that he had to be held back from doing the exact same thing. “Well you’re her son and you’ve had plenty of reasons to do that.” Getting up she walked over to the desk and ask where Kohaku was taken. “He’s over in curtain seven, let’s go and check on him.” Walking with Shino to the curtain, they saw Kohaku with a giant bib over him as a nurse stitched his cuts while blood dripped down. “Did Naruto have to take Hinata to another room?” Kohaku told her that Hinata needed a drink and Naruto went with her to make sure she wouldn’t get lost making his sister laugh.
Just as the nurse finished up with the first wound, Hinata walked in with some cups of tea, set one down on the bedside table and asked what that was about her getting lost. Kohaku tried to play it off as a joke, yet failed when the girl punched him in a rib after the nurse finished suturing his face and nose back together. “You have no appreciation for the things I put up with,” said Hinata hotly when the nurse began applying the bandages. Saying that he would need to come back for a check up in a couple of weeks, Hinata told her, “He’s in a band with my boyfriend and acts as the lighting director.”
The nurse shook his head saying, “I’ll go and ask a doctor to come in to look at him.” Leaving them for only a few minutes the nurse returned and introduced the doctor to them.
Sitting down next to Kohaku, she checked his nose and stitches for a minute then told the nurse, “He’ll be fine to go out and travel. Just give him some antibiotics and calcium pills to help the bone.” Writing down a prescription she said, “This is only for emergencies,” handing it over she continued, “it’s an extra amount of the antibiotic the nurse is giving you in case you see anything odd after the first one runs out.” Getting asked what she meant by that last comment she said, “Pus, runny nose, things of that nature. However,” she added in a frighteningly stern voice, “if your stitches rip, or you have chronic nosebleeds get to a hospital as fast as you can.”
Thanking her, Kohaku stood up smirking at his sister telling her that he finally broke a bone. Bad move on his part as it earned him a punch in the arm and a scolding from the woman as she took him from the hospital by the ear toward her car. Pushing him in, she pointed to the back and told the others to file into the seat. Shino, Hinata, and Naruto took their seats quietly as Sango slammed her door asking her brother and Shino, “I swear to God that if you did that just to get a reaction from the student body I’m going to beat both of you to where you look like Prince Charles.”
A few moments after leaving the hospital, Shino’s deep voice said, “We did it out of love, not for shock value. Had we known that would happen we would not have gone to the dance, or at least gone together.” Sango growled complaining about the blood that Kohaku got all over his clothes, and possible lawyer calls filling up their answering machine. “We discussed this some time before we reached the hospital in whispers and no charges will be pressed by anyone. The worst that has happened is my mother currently packing all of my belongings and dumping them somewhere and knowing my dad he’ll have tried to calm her down and tell her that I could be doing something worse, but as you all know she will not listen to reason once she’s on the war path.”
Hinata giggled for a second then stopped thinking it rude until Shino flashed her a smile. Grinning back she said, “I’m sure someone will take you in if you need it. I don’t know about my parents but since the others will be leaving, plenty of room will be opened at their houses.” Just as the sentence finished, Sango pulled into the Uchiha residence driveway. Taking notice of Janice’s head sticking in the window, Hinata muttered, “She probably has a couple of her detective friends in the house waiting to press hate-crime charges.”
Contrary to what Hinata believed, Janice had actually just yelled at Sasuke via his cell phone for not being with his brother to accompany his being scolded on not asking to go out after the dance. Taking a swig of beer, Janice took notice of Sango’s car pulling into the drive. Setting it on top of the television out of the kitten’s reach, she unlocked the door before reclaiming her seat in the window. Finishing the last of the ale, Janice pointed up the stairs explaining to her son, “Your friends are upstairs, Sakura is staying at another friends house, and Sasuke is in deep shit when he gets home so keep it down.” Putting her beer bottle in the trash she took out another one saying, “Change out of those clothes as well. The others are already up there, although I thought you all were going to someone else’s house after the dance.”
Walking up with Hinata and the others, Naruto found that Rin and Ino were missing from the group. Inquiring as to the where-about of the ladies, the four new arrivals had Miroku tell them Rin got sick, and Ino had unfortunately been the one she aimed at. Shino started to laugh but had Temari smack him with her purse hissing, “Someone spiked her drink and she’s allergic to an ingredient in all forms of consumable alcohol. She’s lucky all that happened was she got sick.” Attempting to retaliate, Shino had himself cutoff by a sharp hiss from Kohaku. Turning her head, Temari sighed and went over to her friend and inspected his nose. “You can’t smile or do too serious of facial expressions or else you’ll tear these right out.”
Moments later the group had retired to the living room amidst a large pile of pillows and a few blankets. The clock chimed that it was three in the morning, and still Sasuke was nowhere in sight. Sango had taken up the bed in Sakura’s room, while Janice retired to her bed awaiting for a call from her husband. That was the sight Sasuke was prepared for as he began to put on a tee-shirt he’d brought with him. He’d just paid a visit to a special someone and after a long, sweat filled evening, he showered and began putting on his clothes to leave.
That is until the person behind him woke up and began chewing on his ear, whispering gently, “Stay for a bit and I can explain everything in the morning.” When Sasuke pointed to the clock, his companion stated, “Point well taken.” Stretching, the other person moved off the bed and got on some of their night clothes. Once finished they had Sasuke’s arms wrapping around them whispering to them that they’d announce their decision upon his return. Hearing this, the person walked Sasuke to the door quietly since the rest of the house was asleep and laughed watching Sasuke walk to his car.
Flipping his middle finger up Sasuke told them, “Get some cushioning in your ass and maybe my legs won’t get so bruised next time.” Climbing in, Sasuke used some eyedrops to wake him up a bit. It was an odd way for him to stay awake, but it kept his eyes from needing to shut as he drove home in the dead of night. Strumming his hands on the steering wheel, and keeping his mind off the nights events, to do so would make him not want to go home thereby getting him in even more trouble, Sasuke made it home in record time due to there being no traffic. Pulling in, he saw the television flickering in the living room window, eased his key into the lock, and entered the house quietly. Seeing that his friends and brother were all asleep in the living room. Shino had fallen asleep with his head on Kohaku’s stomach, the same went to Hinata on Naruto.
While Shippou spooned Temari, and Miroku drooled in the recliner, Sasuke foraged his way through the dark to his room when his mother called him into the main bedroom. Limping in, Sasuke prepared for the worse and was right to do so as she threw one of her empty water bottles at him hissing, “If you ever ditch your brother, sister, or anyone you care about for that matter for the chance to get laid, I’ll have your head.” Amused that her son was confused about how she knew what happened, Janice simply said, “You have that glow many people get afterwards, not to mention your heavier footsteps that are accompanying the slight limp you have. Now get to bed before I lock you in your room until graduation.”
“Man it’s hot in these damn robes.” Looking over his shoulder, Miroku wiped a bit of sweat off his face as he stared down the line noticing his friends in various states of sweating and itchiness. Leaning himself up against the wall of the hallway the teachers had the graduates standing in, Miroku checked his watch at the moment the vice-principal announced their entire graduating class. Going out behind a few of his classmates, Miroku made his way to his seat, while the rest of the group took their seats toward the back. Kagome, and Hinata however joined him in the same row, with Hinata right next to him.
“You’re sweating worse than Naruto when he has to play the drums.” whispered Hinata with a small giggle. Miroku held his fingers to his lips and gave a low whistle telling her that she wasn’t allowed to talk. Sticking her tongue out, Hinata laughed, and turned listening to the overly boring speeches that had been written by the valedictorian. She tried to listen, but a minor skermish behind her removed her attention from the slow drawl of the student body president. She regretted this chain in visual angling as the pale eyed girl found her boyfriend getting poked in the eyes as Sasuke got his nose smacked and Inuyasha got a punch to the head. Would have been funny had it not been for the female genetic coding that made most women detest any form of Vaudevillian comedy that was related to, “The Three Stooges.” Finally after a teacher came over and smacked all three of them in the head, they quieted down but knew that their parents had the moment captured on film, allowing Hinata to go back to waiting for them to rise and get their diplomas.
“This school can kiss my ass,” shouted Shippou from the back of Duo’s truck. Some of the teachers gave him looks of utter disgust, while most just passed it off with a look of apathy. “Seems they wish they could shout the same thing. Most of them need it, or better yet they need to take a good shit, problem is that it’d all turn into diamonds.” Jumping out of the back and onto Kohaku’s shoulders, Shippou turned his head to where his father was waving his diploma at the man. Coming over took his son’s gown and the bit of paper telling him he would not be able to make it to the party at Hinata’s as he had an appointment with his attorney. Shippou told his dad that he’d bring him some food, wished him luck, and hopped into the back of the truck with Temari after Duo started the ignition without warning.
At the Hyuga home, Hinata was talking with Neji and one of her friends from school. Careful to keep an eye on the band, she excused herself to make sure none of them were getting into trouble. Lucky for her, the worse aspects of her thoughts did not come to fruition. Rather than the usual subdued chaos that came with the band hanging out together, she was happy to find Naruto playing a game with her little cousins in the pool and the others playing volleyball on the grass. Setting her glass of iced-tea down, Hinata removed her shorts and tee-shirt and jumped into the pool wearing the one piece suit she had hidden underneath. That would have been a good idea if it hadn’t been for her younger cousin swimming so close to her that she clipped him on the head with her rear as she did a cannon ball.
“OW! I’m telling my mom Hinata!” Squeaked the girl rubbing her head. Sensing trouble, Hinata immediately clapped her hands together apologetically asking her cousin for forgiveness. Still tempted to rat out her cousin, the girl explained that if HInata would give up the first piece of cake to her then she wouldn’t tell. Tempted to pound the girl in the head, Hinata choked back her anger and made the deal. “Okay, now you can go back to playing with your loser boyfriend,” was all that came from the girl before she hastily evacuated the pool since she knew that Naruto was about to have his revenge for the comment.
Instead of going after his girlfriends cousin, the main reason being she was too fast for him to catch, Naruto wrapped his arms around Hinata’s waist and kissed her neck asking, “Glad we don’t have to worry about grades anymore?” Scoffing, Hinata made mention of the fact that she had passed with being in the top twenty-five percent of the class. “So, I was the thirty-three percent mark. Which actually has no bearing at the prospect of one-upping you does it?” Getting an elbow to the ribs, Naruto pinched his girlfriend inciting a water brawl that was interrupted by a loud, disgruntled cough. Seeing Hiashi Hyuga glaring at him, Naruto scratched his head asking, “Can I help you with anything, Sir?” Following the motion of the cane the man used, Naruto got out of the pool and head into the house with Hiashi right behind him.
The band, and a few of the parents stopped to watch the somber funeral march tone of walk that Naruto had taken. They all knew Hiashi had a small problem with his daughter dating Naruto, and now that school was finished, the patriarch of the Hyuga family intended to drive a wedge between the two. Inside, Naruto put on the shirt that he’d left on a lawn chair, and sat down on a towel in Hiashi’s office. Sitting calmly, but shaking a little as he was wet and the air was on, Naruto remained quiet as Hiashi sat heavily and poured some water. Being politely declined of his offer by Naruto, Hiashi stared at the boy and asked, “How long is this tour of yours going to take, Boy.”
Naruto felt a pang of anger go through his body, he hated the condescending attitude Hiashi gave him. He already knew the fact his family wasn’t high-society, nor were he and his brother all that socially refined, but now they were getting to the true heart of why Hiashi disliked him. “I don’t know, Sir,” replied Naruto in an overly polite tone. “We suspect it will take around six months and will be back for a small break than maybe try and buy some studio time to sharpen the sound of our demos.” Hiashi sipped at his water slowly as Naruto spoke. Watching it be placed on the coaster, Naruto then added, “But, we will be making frequent calls home to check up on our family and things, if that is any sort of consolation prize.”
Hiashi’s powerful gaze held an amount of amusement to coincide with his annoyance at Naruto’s sarcastic use of the word, “Sir,” as well as his other statements. Gazing across the desk, Hiashi’s voice carried through the office slowly, like a loud beat from a Taiko drum. “I have no doubt in my mind that you dislike me. I would say the same to you, but that would be a lie.” Hiashi smirked inwardly at Naruto’s confusion to his comment. Breathing lightly he said, “I, however much I may like you, do not trust you nor the career you and your friends have chosen. I know of the dangers and temptations that come with it and my daughter is quite sensitive. The pain of her learning that you betrayed her trust because of some drunken frenzy.” Reaching into his dresser desk drawer, Hiashi removed an envelope and threw it to Naruto. “In hopes that you do not disgrace my daughter’s name by choosing to distance yourself as far from her as possible.”
Grabbing the envelope, Naruto opened it and saw a large stack of twenty-dollar bills. Pulling a few out, Naruto glared at Hiashi, and ripped the stack first in half, then each half separately into quarters before tossing them at Hiashi and storming out of the room. Out in the sunlight, Naruto planned to grab the band when Hiashi attempted to pull him back into the office. Turning around, Naruto planted his right fist into the mans cheek, and his left into his stomach. The cracking of his fist against the cheek bone, had Hinata’s mother screaming loudly prompting Keiji, Shino, and Miorku to pull Naruto away from the injured man.
“You bastard! Don’t ever try and pull something like that again or I’ll make sure you leave on a stretcher! Get off me you guys!” Naruto’s struggling voice could be heard all the way from down on the sidewalk where they had parked. Getting set on the back of Duo’s truck, Naruto was pounded with questions as to what provoked the attack at which he snapped, “The son of a bitch tried to pay me off to keep away from Hinata.” When asked how much, Naruto nearly beat the newly arrived Duo’s face in. “It was a couple grand easy, but would any of you have done it?” Their silence was answer enough for the fuming blonde. Getting off the truck bed, Naruto climbed into his and his brothers car and waited for the rest of the group to show.
Fifteen minutes later, Naruto was joined in the car by Sakura, Sasuke, and expected to go home when he felt Hinata’s arm wrap around his. He gave her a look and said nothing as they drove off with Hinata’s mother shouting for her to come back. The drive was silent, Sakura wanted to tell her brother that he did a good thing, yet decided it was best to remain quiet about the situation. Behind them, Kohaku, and Shino were driving with Sango, and the others were in Duo’s truck. Eight or nine minutes into the drive Naruto asked where they would be heading. Sasuke looked in the mirror and told him, “Duo’s parents left after graduation so his house is empty. All the parental units know where we’ll be and we decided it best to stay the night.” When asked about Sakura, the older twin just said, “Ino and the girls will be there and Dad said it was okay. Mom did too, but she told Sakura to call her after she gets to the station for her shift.”
Naruto again said nothing in reply, and Hinata just remained close to him holding his somewhat bruised hands. Finally after a trip that seemed to take hours, Naruto was curled up in the basement on a large throw pillow, watching a dvd. His hand had a bag of ice covering it to keep the swelling from getting worse, and his brother just sat on the couch next to him as the others went out to get food. Keeping his eyes on the movie for a minute, Naruto looked over at his brother asking, “Where the hell did you run off to after prom?” Sasuke choked on the soda he’d taken from the small fridge in the basement. Smirking, Naruto laid on his back telling him, “I know where you were, I saw your limp the next morning. Just to ask was it Temari?”
Sasuke took his can, set it on the coffee table, and removed his somewhat sweaty body from the couch. Standing up he cracked his shoulders before walking to his brother so that he could begin beating him with a pillow. Naruto put up his hands trying to block, but the bruises on his knuckles kept him from getting a good defense going. So instead he tripped his twin and began to snatch the pillow away, but Sasuke’s grip was too well established. Grunting for his twin to let go, Naruto got his wish, yet with the granting of that wish came a bad headache. Sasuke had decided to let go fo the pillow, forcing his brother back to smack his coffee table with a loud crack. Laughing, Sasuke walked over and checked his little brother’s head finding only an egg sized lump where he had made contact with the table. Finishing his check up, Sasuke’s nose caught the scent of fresh Thai and let go of his brother, running up the stairs amidst the anger curses of Naruto nursing another large lump.
UP in the kitchen, the group divided up the orders to each person, Hinata got a basic stir-fry because of her inability to handle spice. Sakura got an extra spicy serving of Phad Thai with even more hot sauce added to it, Naruto got the same but with less spice, and the others had variations of odd looking seafood and meat meals to accompany their noodles. The group ate, and watched the television together until about eleven-twenty-three when Hinata started to get tired. When the others weren’t looking, Naruto picked her up and took her into one of the three guest rooms the band would be occupying. In the room, Naruto tucked her in and prepared to leave when Hinata asked him to stay. Looking at her he said that he was a bit uncomfortable to which his girlfriend replied, “I’m the one who’s usually shy, so stop taking my job and get over here.”
Putting his discretion aside, Naruto changed into his pajamas and climbed in next to her under the covers. In the early hours of the morning, Hinata felt Naruto’s hands rubbing along her body, noticing that she had turned to face him, she opened her eyes to find him asleep. Thinking it was nothing, she tried to go back to sleep as best she could when Naruto’s hand suddenly went a bit too low. Squeaking loudly, she began to pant as Naruto moved his fingers gently inside her moving her onto her back. Writhing hotly under the covers Hinata groaned as Naruto’s fingers worked even deeper into her while he kissed her gently along her neck. Amidst her heavy pants she grunted out, “Naruto, don’t stop.”
As with many things involving the brain, Naruto stopped and opened his eyes sleepily finding Hinata sprawled out under him half-dressed. Noticing where his hands were, he fell back to the end of the bed afraid of what he’d done. Stammering an apology, Naruto made a leap for the door only to be stopped by a small cry from Hinata. Turning, Naruto crawled over to her asking what the problem was. Sniffing, Hinata whimpered that she was just trying to help the relationship. Laughing at her, Naruto picked up the comforter and wrapped it around the two of them and held her close telling her, “It won’t help this relationship if you do this because I’m upset. If you want to help, just be around for me to talk to or just be waiting for me when I get back.” Hinata sniffled again, curled up into Naruto’s arms falling back asleep.
In the afternoon, later that day, Miroku was sitting at Kohaku’s condo going over the rental of the R.V. the problem with this was neither of them were legal to rent one and so they kept it a secret as to who would drive it on the trip. Looking over their expenses and the like, Miroku crossed out one more thing saying, “With all of this we should get done with this in the black. Meaning a profit if you don’t know what the colors mean.” Kohaku scoffed and popped a pill into his mouth. The stitches were scabbing over and he looked a bit of a mess, but was back to his old self. Taking a sip of soda, Miroku sighed out, “We all ready for the trip?”
Kohaku snorted and off handedly said, “ If Duo and the others would pack their instruments we’d be set, but they want to practice before we leave and I want my equipment put away soon.” Grabbing the phone off the hook, Kohaku gave a less than warm greeting to the person on the other end. Yawning he muttered, “He’s not here, he’s somewhere else so quick bugging me.” Clicking the off button, he set it back and took a swig of juice from his cup. Hearing a knock at the door, he shouted, “IT’S OPEN!” In the wake of his shouts, Maurice walked in carrying two large duffle bags with his granddaughter in tow. “Ahh man you’re early! And where’s Grandma?”
“She’s gonna be coming after we go. Right now she’s with her sister in Michigan. You tell the others I’m driving?” The stunned silence at his arrival, with a couple of furtive glances between the two, gave Maurice his answer. Clapping his hands, chuckled menacingly, and with a huge fire in his eyes growled, “You all are going to hate me by the time this trip is over.”
“Okay guys you ready for this?” Miroku began as the group finished eating. Since they were playing there were a couple of cardinal rules to, they followed before each performance. First among the rules was to make sure that after they arrived they checked the instruments before everyone arrived. The next rule required that everyone hit the bathroom before going on stage. There is a bit of an urban legend among performers that if you are okay five minutes before a show, at the two minute mark before going on you’d have to go and have no way of making it to the bathroom. Having his friends complain about Miroku’s need to make sure these two rules were followed, he excused himself from behind the small curtain seconds before it rose to reveal the band to the school.
Peering out to their dates, the band started into a few energetic songs to make sure the group of students danced and luckily for them it was a wise move. The Senior students and their dates cheered and danced as they played. Naruto had taken over the drums since Kagome had taken up the bass and was singing. Sasuke was talking to Duo as he played since Inuyasha wasn’t too keen on learning this song and danced with Ten-Ten as Sasuke played. After the first few songs, Inuyasha came up and took over for Kagome and let her go and dance with Shino who was standing on the wall waiting for Kohaku to get done with his work on the lights. At the third rotation, Duo was relieved to go and keep Ino from throwing a fit, and during a slow song the band let Inuyasha and Kagome dance along with Naruto and Hinata.
With one hand on Kagome’s waist and another in her free hand, Inuyasha smiled to ask her, “We finally get a stroll on the dance floor spinning around like a couple of dorks.” Kagome leaned in and kissed him gently saying that she was enjoying the time and glad Duo was singing the song appropriately. “So, you’d much rather be up there singing than down here with me?” Kagome stepped on his foot forcing Inuyasha to clench his jaws together in pain. “All right, I’ll remember not to say anything like that again. But, does this ruin my chances at any minor action tonight?”
Kissing him deeply for a moment, Kagome pulled back and rested her head on his shoulder telling him that was as far as he was going to get that night.
“I love it when Kagome is a bit abusive to him.” Naruto asked why Hinata would mention something like that to which she said, “Because like you he needs to be put in his place at times.” Naruto’s mouth gaped open exclaiming that he had never done anything to get put in his place at any moment during their relationship. “What about that time you got stoned and fell started making lewd comments?” Saying that he was cleared of charges due to circumstances beyond his control, Naruto gave her a kiss as an apology. “That’s good enough for now, but,” Her voice started to trail off. Finding Naruto’s face to be filled with inexplicable discomfort Hinata stepped back and worriedly asked him, “Naruto are you feeling well?” Excusing himself, Naruto made his way to the bathroom as nonchalant as possible.
“Is Naruto feeling well?” Kagome had just appeared behind Hinata holding a soda and saw what had just happened. The band had finished their set and made their way over to where Naruto had been dancing with Hinata. Hinata stared incredulously at her friend saying that he suddenly got a weird look on his face and headed off to the bathroom. “You guys going to go and check on him?” Knowing that it wasn’t as much a question as it was an order, Shino, Kohaku, Sasuke, and Shippou walked off to the bathroom while Inuyasha, Miroku, and Duo finished packing up the instruments as a house stereo played some music loud enough for only a few people to go out on the dance floor.
In the bathroom, Shino opened the door a split second too soon and hit Kiba on the head. “Sorry about that. You seen Naruto rush in here?” Kiba rubbed the slightly protuberant bump on his head telling his friends that the blond was currently in a stall. “Now that you mention it, the bathroom is smelling a bit more foul than when I first came in here.” Apologizing again for hitting Kiba, Shino let his boyfriend and the other two into the bathroom to hear the pained grunts of Naruto in the fourth stall from the left wall. Knocking on it Shino bluntly asked, “How is it that you get the trots so often?” Naruto cursed him saying that the milk he drank earlier was probably old and it turned his stomach. “No shit,” scoffed Shino in a pun-like manner. “Just be sure you wipe.”
“This is for when you get finished.” Kohaku tossed over a small can of rose-scented air-freshener much to the confusion of his friends. “I always carry one around in case I end up doing that. Just don’t ask me why, it’s something I don’t even understand about myself.” His actions going unquestioned, Kohaku also threw a book of matches under the door telling Naruto, “Or you can do it the old fashion way, I don’t care. Just make sure you smell good for Hinata and apologize.” Taking Shino by the hand, the sound lighting director left his two friends alone as well as to get him in some alone time with his boyfriend.
“Let me guess. You forgot to reach into the back when you bought the milk last week.” Naruto whined at his twin to ask him for an ounce of pity. “I’m just making sure you don’t ruin this for Hinata. We have a lot more memories to make of touring and all that comes with being in a band.” The guitarist said that he understood and Sasuke had to smirk at the sudden pulling of toilet paper. “Wash up before you go out and dance with her. Knowing the money her family has it’s probably custom made. Anyway I got Ten-Ten waiting for me. See you out there little brother.”
Outside, Hinata was enjoying a dance with Miroku while Rin talked with Shippou and Temari. Apparently Temari was going to go to school for nursing and working part-time at a hospice. “It’s a bit sad, but the people there have almost no visitors and it’s something to do while he’s out working hard.” She gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek and pinched it asking, “Isn’t he the cutest boy ever.” Getting pushed off of her boyfriend, Temari kissed him again before going to get some punch. Returning, she found Hinata sitting alone while Shippou ran off to the bathroom. “Leave it to my boyfriend to leave a lady in distress.”
Taking the cup of punch from Temari, Hinata smiled and sipped it thankfully when Naruto placed his cold hands on her face. “You’re lucky it was only a couple of drops you jerk.” Slapping Naruto gently in the face, Hinata sat back down and crossed her legs with a loud huff. Naruto wrapped his arm around her waist and nudged her cheek apologizing. Turning her head, Hinata tried to ignore him, but alas a small tickle had her giggling and slapping him playfully. Getting a few kisses to the neck, Hinata finally broke saying, “Okay I forgive you for scaring me. Now tell me why you had to leave?”
Naruto scoffed saying quietly to her, “I will only tell you that a lot of grunts, farts, and splats were involved. But, lucky for you I had air freshener and really good toilet paper.” Getting up in disgust, Temari pulled Shippou to the floor while Naruto took Hinata to the other side and swayed with her during a slow song. “Hope your night wasn’t ruined,” voiced Naruto with a hope of penance in mind. Caught of guard by his girlfriends lips to his and her tongue massaging his, Naruto barely returned it by the time she pulled back. “Guess that means I’m in the clear,” he sighed joyously. “I love...what the hell is that?” Turning he found Shippou standing between Shino and some one with a raised fist in the air.
“You stay away from my son you little freakish bastard!”
Arriving at the scene the rest of the band along with a few school staff members standing in a circle in case things got out of hand. “Mrs. Aburame, please refrain from striking another of my students or I shall call the police on you for assault.” Shino’s mother backed down and kept quiet as Principal Tsunade explained, “What your son does now that he is eighteen years old is no longer your responsibility. He’s an adult and he has done nothing illegal so control yourself.” Going over to Kohaku, Tsunade checked his nose and wiped the blood away from where her rings had gashed his face. Looking at them she told Shino, “Please take him to the hospital. He’s in need of stitches for these cuts and his nose is broken.” Tsunade waved her hand, forcing the security officers to escort Shino’s mother from the place and shouted, “Go back to your party and enjoy the rest of your night. You others may want to leave to keep an eye on him while I call Sango.”
Sasuke took hold of Ten-Ten, Naruto and Hinata saying they would go to the hospital and the others should go back to tell Janice the full story. Heading out to the car, Hinata moved onto Naruto’s lap and gave him a cloth to cover his cuts. “Thanks Hinata. Did you know that your mother was there?” Shino shook his head explaining that his mother had said she would be out with her friends that night. “Well whatever it is your mother is doing to work out gives her a hell of a punch.” Sasuke chuckled inquiring as to why Kohaku wasn’t mad at what happened. “Simple my dear Sasuke,” he began. “I expected something like that when she found out and just braced myself.”
“You’re a weird one Kohaku, but I love you just the same.” Ten-Ten smiled and asked if Sasuke would drop her off at her house as it was only a block from the hospital. “Thank you Sasuke,” she said after he said that he would, turned back and asked, “Hinata how come you and Naruto came along? Oh wait, I forgot that Duo would be packing the equipment in his truck and there wouldn’t be enough room.” Hinata rolled her eyes asking why she would ask a question when she knew the answer. “I just space out that’s all.”
The drive was silent after that and when Sasuke took Ten-Ten up to her door, he gave her a kiss on the cheek after saying, “Thanks for doing this. And, I hope to see you before we leave.” Ten-Ten said that she wouldn’t miss it for anything. Waving goodbye, Sasuke climbed into the car, saying, “Any smart-ass remarks and I knock your teeth out.” Kohaku moved off his boyfriends lap and into the front seat for the rest of the drive while Hinata moved into the middle seat, leaning her head on Naruot’s shoulder and holding his hand. At the E.R., Sasuke remained in his chair telling them, “I have to go and do something for work really quick but will be back soon. You have money and everything Kohaku?”
Holding up an insurance card and a couple hundred bucks, Kohaku explained that he always had his medical affairs in order before going out with his friends. Getting the middle finger from Sasuke, Kohaku walked in with his friends and signed in before sitting down. Removing the handkerchief, Kohaku sighed saying, “Guess the blood has dried a bit. Does it look that bad?’ Shino grimaced at the sight telling him that scars would be rather apparent. “Cool, from what I hear, girls really dig scars.” Getting hit in the stomach, Kohaku groaned telling Shino, “It was a joke, Jesus. That’d be really unnatural to me to hit on a girl. But, you wouldn’t have a problem would you?”
“Mind your tongue or I’m not kissing you for a month after you get back.” Getting some odd looks from the other patients, Shino removed his glasses and glared saying to them, “Mind your own business.” Going back to their own worries, the patients left one by one until Kohaku was called by a nurse when Sango rushed in asking what happened. “Please take him back while I talk to her.” Hinata and Naruto left with Kohaku while Shino sat down and told her, “Listen my mother saw us and took a swing at him. He’s going to need stitches and his nose is broken slightly.”
“I swear if she comes near me or him I’m going to kick the living shit out of her.” Shino gave her his blessing telling him that he had to be held back from doing the exact same thing. “Well you’re her son and you’ve had plenty of reasons to do that.” Getting up she walked over to the desk and ask where Kohaku was taken. “He’s over in curtain seven, let’s go and check on him.” Walking with Shino to the curtain, they saw Kohaku with a giant bib over him as a nurse stitched his cuts while blood dripped down. “Did Naruto have to take Hinata to another room?” Kohaku told her that Hinata needed a drink and Naruto went with her to make sure she wouldn’t get lost making his sister laugh.
Just as the nurse finished up with the first wound, Hinata walked in with some cups of tea, set one down on the bedside table and asked what that was about her getting lost. Kohaku tried to play it off as a joke, yet failed when the girl punched him in a rib after the nurse finished suturing his face and nose back together. “You have no appreciation for the things I put up with,” said Hinata hotly when the nurse began applying the bandages. Saying that he would need to come back for a check up in a couple of weeks, Hinata told her, “He’s in a band with my boyfriend and acts as the lighting director.”
The nurse shook his head saying, “I’ll go and ask a doctor to come in to look at him.” Leaving them for only a few minutes the nurse returned and introduced the doctor to them.
Sitting down next to Kohaku, she checked his nose and stitches for a minute then told the nurse, “He’ll be fine to go out and travel. Just give him some antibiotics and calcium pills to help the bone.” Writing down a prescription she said, “This is only for emergencies,” handing it over she continued, “it’s an extra amount of the antibiotic the nurse is giving you in case you see anything odd after the first one runs out.” Getting asked what she meant by that last comment she said, “Pus, runny nose, things of that nature. However,” she added in a frighteningly stern voice, “if your stitches rip, or you have chronic nosebleeds get to a hospital as fast as you can.”
Thanking her, Kohaku stood up smirking at his sister telling her that he finally broke a bone. Bad move on his part as it earned him a punch in the arm and a scolding from the woman as she took him from the hospital by the ear toward her car. Pushing him in, she pointed to the back and told the others to file into the seat. Shino, Hinata, and Naruto took their seats quietly as Sango slammed her door asking her brother and Shino, “I swear to God that if you did that just to get a reaction from the student body I’m going to beat both of you to where you look like Prince Charles.”
A few moments after leaving the hospital, Shino’s deep voice said, “We did it out of love, not for shock value. Had we known that would happen we would not have gone to the dance, or at least gone together.” Sango growled complaining about the blood that Kohaku got all over his clothes, and possible lawyer calls filling up their answering machine. “We discussed this some time before we reached the hospital in whispers and no charges will be pressed by anyone. The worst that has happened is my mother currently packing all of my belongings and dumping them somewhere and knowing my dad he’ll have tried to calm her down and tell her that I could be doing something worse, but as you all know she will not listen to reason once she’s on the war path.”
Hinata giggled for a second then stopped thinking it rude until Shino flashed her a smile. Grinning back she said, “I’m sure someone will take you in if you need it. I don’t know about my parents but since the others will be leaving, plenty of room will be opened at their houses.” Just as the sentence finished, Sango pulled into the Uchiha residence driveway. Taking notice of Janice’s head sticking in the window, Hinata muttered, “She probably has a couple of her detective friends in the house waiting to press hate-crime charges.”
Contrary to what Hinata believed, Janice had actually just yelled at Sasuke via his cell phone for not being with his brother to accompany his being scolded on not asking to go out after the dance. Taking a swig of beer, Janice took notice of Sango’s car pulling into the drive. Setting it on top of the television out of the kitten’s reach, she unlocked the door before reclaiming her seat in the window. Finishing the last of the ale, Janice pointed up the stairs explaining to her son, “Your friends are upstairs, Sakura is staying at another friends house, and Sasuke is in deep shit when he gets home so keep it down.” Putting her beer bottle in the trash she took out another one saying, “Change out of those clothes as well. The others are already up there, although I thought you all were going to someone else’s house after the dance.”
Walking up with Hinata and the others, Naruto found that Rin and Ino were missing from the group. Inquiring as to the where-about of the ladies, the four new arrivals had Miroku tell them Rin got sick, and Ino had unfortunately been the one she aimed at. Shino started to laugh but had Temari smack him with her purse hissing, “Someone spiked her drink and she’s allergic to an ingredient in all forms of consumable alcohol. She’s lucky all that happened was she got sick.” Attempting to retaliate, Shino had himself cutoff by a sharp hiss from Kohaku. Turning her head, Temari sighed and went over to her friend and inspected his nose. “You can’t smile or do too serious of facial expressions or else you’ll tear these right out.”
Moments later the group had retired to the living room amidst a large pile of pillows and a few blankets. The clock chimed that it was three in the morning, and still Sasuke was nowhere in sight. Sango had taken up the bed in Sakura’s room, while Janice retired to her bed awaiting for a call from her husband. That was the sight Sasuke was prepared for as he began to put on a tee-shirt he’d brought with him. He’d just paid a visit to a special someone and after a long, sweat filled evening, he showered and began putting on his clothes to leave.
That is until the person behind him woke up and began chewing on his ear, whispering gently, “Stay for a bit and I can explain everything in the morning.” When Sasuke pointed to the clock, his companion stated, “Point well taken.” Stretching, the other person moved off the bed and got on some of their night clothes. Once finished they had Sasuke’s arms wrapping around them whispering to them that they’d announce their decision upon his return. Hearing this, the person walked Sasuke to the door quietly since the rest of the house was asleep and laughed watching Sasuke walk to his car.
Flipping his middle finger up Sasuke told them, “Get some cushioning in your ass and maybe my legs won’t get so bruised next time.” Climbing in, Sasuke used some eyedrops to wake him up a bit. It was an odd way for him to stay awake, but it kept his eyes from needing to shut as he drove home in the dead of night. Strumming his hands on the steering wheel, and keeping his mind off the nights events, to do so would make him not want to go home thereby getting him in even more trouble, Sasuke made it home in record time due to there being no traffic. Pulling in, he saw the television flickering in the living room window, eased his key into the lock, and entered the house quietly. Seeing that his friends and brother were all asleep in the living room. Shino had fallen asleep with his head on Kohaku’s stomach, the same went to Hinata on Naruto.
While Shippou spooned Temari, and Miroku drooled in the recliner, Sasuke foraged his way through the dark to his room when his mother called him into the main bedroom. Limping in, Sasuke prepared for the worse and was right to do so as she threw one of her empty water bottles at him hissing, “If you ever ditch your brother, sister, or anyone you care about for that matter for the chance to get laid, I’ll have your head.” Amused that her son was confused about how she knew what happened, Janice simply said, “You have that glow many people get afterwards, not to mention your heavier footsteps that are accompanying the slight limp you have. Now get to bed before I lock you in your room until graduation.”
“Man it’s hot in these damn robes.” Looking over his shoulder, Miroku wiped a bit of sweat off his face as he stared down the line noticing his friends in various states of sweating and itchiness. Leaning himself up against the wall of the hallway the teachers had the graduates standing in, Miroku checked his watch at the moment the vice-principal announced their entire graduating class. Going out behind a few of his classmates, Miroku made his way to his seat, while the rest of the group took their seats toward the back. Kagome, and Hinata however joined him in the same row, with Hinata right next to him.
“You’re sweating worse than Naruto when he has to play the drums.” whispered Hinata with a small giggle. Miroku held his fingers to his lips and gave a low whistle telling her that she wasn’t allowed to talk. Sticking her tongue out, Hinata laughed, and turned listening to the overly boring speeches that had been written by the valedictorian. She tried to listen, but a minor skermish behind her removed her attention from the slow drawl of the student body president. She regretted this chain in visual angling as the pale eyed girl found her boyfriend getting poked in the eyes as Sasuke got his nose smacked and Inuyasha got a punch to the head. Would have been funny had it not been for the female genetic coding that made most women detest any form of Vaudevillian comedy that was related to, “The Three Stooges.” Finally after a teacher came over and smacked all three of them in the head, they quieted down but knew that their parents had the moment captured on film, allowing Hinata to go back to waiting for them to rise and get their diplomas.
“This school can kiss my ass,” shouted Shippou from the back of Duo’s truck. Some of the teachers gave him looks of utter disgust, while most just passed it off with a look of apathy. “Seems they wish they could shout the same thing. Most of them need it, or better yet they need to take a good shit, problem is that it’d all turn into diamonds.” Jumping out of the back and onto Kohaku’s shoulders, Shippou turned his head to where his father was waving his diploma at the man. Coming over took his son’s gown and the bit of paper telling him he would not be able to make it to the party at Hinata’s as he had an appointment with his attorney. Shippou told his dad that he’d bring him some food, wished him luck, and hopped into the back of the truck with Temari after Duo started the ignition without warning.
At the Hyuga home, Hinata was talking with Neji and one of her friends from school. Careful to keep an eye on the band, she excused herself to make sure none of them were getting into trouble. Lucky for her, the worse aspects of her thoughts did not come to fruition. Rather than the usual subdued chaos that came with the band hanging out together, she was happy to find Naruto playing a game with her little cousins in the pool and the others playing volleyball on the grass. Setting her glass of iced-tea down, Hinata removed her shorts and tee-shirt and jumped into the pool wearing the one piece suit she had hidden underneath. That would have been a good idea if it hadn’t been for her younger cousin swimming so close to her that she clipped him on the head with her rear as she did a cannon ball.
“OW! I’m telling my mom Hinata!” Squeaked the girl rubbing her head. Sensing trouble, Hinata immediately clapped her hands together apologetically asking her cousin for forgiveness. Still tempted to rat out her cousin, the girl explained that if HInata would give up the first piece of cake to her then she wouldn’t tell. Tempted to pound the girl in the head, Hinata choked back her anger and made the deal. “Okay, now you can go back to playing with your loser boyfriend,” was all that came from the girl before she hastily evacuated the pool since she knew that Naruto was about to have his revenge for the comment.
Instead of going after his girlfriends cousin, the main reason being she was too fast for him to catch, Naruto wrapped his arms around Hinata’s waist and kissed her neck asking, “Glad we don’t have to worry about grades anymore?” Scoffing, Hinata made mention of the fact that she had passed with being in the top twenty-five percent of the class. “So, I was the thirty-three percent mark. Which actually has no bearing at the prospect of one-upping you does it?” Getting an elbow to the ribs, Naruto pinched his girlfriend inciting a water brawl that was interrupted by a loud, disgruntled cough. Seeing Hiashi Hyuga glaring at him, Naruto scratched his head asking, “Can I help you with anything, Sir?” Following the motion of the cane the man used, Naruto got out of the pool and head into the house with Hiashi right behind him.
The band, and a few of the parents stopped to watch the somber funeral march tone of walk that Naruto had taken. They all knew Hiashi had a small problem with his daughter dating Naruto, and now that school was finished, the patriarch of the Hyuga family intended to drive a wedge between the two. Inside, Naruto put on the shirt that he’d left on a lawn chair, and sat down on a towel in Hiashi’s office. Sitting calmly, but shaking a little as he was wet and the air was on, Naruto remained quiet as Hiashi sat heavily and poured some water. Being politely declined of his offer by Naruto, Hiashi stared at the boy and asked, “How long is this tour of yours going to take, Boy.”
Naruto felt a pang of anger go through his body, he hated the condescending attitude Hiashi gave him. He already knew the fact his family wasn’t high-society, nor were he and his brother all that socially refined, but now they were getting to the true heart of why Hiashi disliked him. “I don’t know, Sir,” replied Naruto in an overly polite tone. “We suspect it will take around six months and will be back for a small break than maybe try and buy some studio time to sharpen the sound of our demos.” Hiashi sipped at his water slowly as Naruto spoke. Watching it be placed on the coaster, Naruto then added, “But, we will be making frequent calls home to check up on our family and things, if that is any sort of consolation prize.”
Hiashi’s powerful gaze held an amount of amusement to coincide with his annoyance at Naruto’s sarcastic use of the word, “Sir,” as well as his other statements. Gazing across the desk, Hiashi’s voice carried through the office slowly, like a loud beat from a Taiko drum. “I have no doubt in my mind that you dislike me. I would say the same to you, but that would be a lie.” Hiashi smirked inwardly at Naruto’s confusion to his comment. Breathing lightly he said, “I, however much I may like you, do not trust you nor the career you and your friends have chosen. I know of the dangers and temptations that come with it and my daughter is quite sensitive. The pain of her learning that you betrayed her trust because of some drunken frenzy.” Reaching into his dresser desk drawer, Hiashi removed an envelope and threw it to Naruto. “In hopes that you do not disgrace my daughter’s name by choosing to distance yourself as far from her as possible.”
Grabbing the envelope, Naruto opened it and saw a large stack of twenty-dollar bills. Pulling a few out, Naruto glared at Hiashi, and ripped the stack first in half, then each half separately into quarters before tossing them at Hiashi and storming out of the room. Out in the sunlight, Naruto planned to grab the band when Hiashi attempted to pull him back into the office. Turning around, Naruto planted his right fist into the mans cheek, and his left into his stomach. The cracking of his fist against the cheek bone, had Hinata’s mother screaming loudly prompting Keiji, Shino, and Miorku to pull Naruto away from the injured man.
“You bastard! Don’t ever try and pull something like that again or I’ll make sure you leave on a stretcher! Get off me you guys!” Naruto’s struggling voice could be heard all the way from down on the sidewalk where they had parked. Getting set on the back of Duo’s truck, Naruto was pounded with questions as to what provoked the attack at which he snapped, “The son of a bitch tried to pay me off to keep away from Hinata.” When asked how much, Naruto nearly beat the newly arrived Duo’s face in. “It was a couple grand easy, but would any of you have done it?” Their silence was answer enough for the fuming blonde. Getting off the truck bed, Naruto climbed into his and his brothers car and waited for the rest of the group to show.
Fifteen minutes later, Naruto was joined in the car by Sakura, Sasuke, and expected to go home when he felt Hinata’s arm wrap around his. He gave her a look and said nothing as they drove off with Hinata’s mother shouting for her to come back. The drive was silent, Sakura wanted to tell her brother that he did a good thing, yet decided it was best to remain quiet about the situation. Behind them, Kohaku, and Shino were driving with Sango, and the others were in Duo’s truck. Eight or nine minutes into the drive Naruto asked where they would be heading. Sasuke looked in the mirror and told him, “Duo’s parents left after graduation so his house is empty. All the parental units know where we’ll be and we decided it best to stay the night.” When asked about Sakura, the older twin just said, “Ino and the girls will be there and Dad said it was okay. Mom did too, but she told Sakura to call her after she gets to the station for her shift.”
Naruto again said nothing in reply, and Hinata just remained close to him holding his somewhat bruised hands. Finally after a trip that seemed to take hours, Naruto was curled up in the basement on a large throw pillow, watching a dvd. His hand had a bag of ice covering it to keep the swelling from getting worse, and his brother just sat on the couch next to him as the others went out to get food. Keeping his eyes on the movie for a minute, Naruto looked over at his brother asking, “Where the hell did you run off to after prom?” Sasuke choked on the soda he’d taken from the small fridge in the basement. Smirking, Naruto laid on his back telling him, “I know where you were, I saw your limp the next morning. Just to ask was it Temari?”
Sasuke took his can, set it on the coffee table, and removed his somewhat sweaty body from the couch. Standing up he cracked his shoulders before walking to his brother so that he could begin beating him with a pillow. Naruto put up his hands trying to block, but the bruises on his knuckles kept him from getting a good defense going. So instead he tripped his twin and began to snatch the pillow away, but Sasuke’s grip was too well established. Grunting for his twin to let go, Naruto got his wish, yet with the granting of that wish came a bad headache. Sasuke had decided to let go fo the pillow, forcing his brother back to smack his coffee table with a loud crack. Laughing, Sasuke walked over and checked his little brother’s head finding only an egg sized lump where he had made contact with the table. Finishing his check up, Sasuke’s nose caught the scent of fresh Thai and let go of his brother, running up the stairs amidst the anger curses of Naruto nursing another large lump.
UP in the kitchen, the group divided up the orders to each person, Hinata got a basic stir-fry because of her inability to handle spice. Sakura got an extra spicy serving of Phad Thai with even more hot sauce added to it, Naruto got the same but with less spice, and the others had variations of odd looking seafood and meat meals to accompany their noodles. The group ate, and watched the television together until about eleven-twenty-three when Hinata started to get tired. When the others weren’t looking, Naruto picked her up and took her into one of the three guest rooms the band would be occupying. In the room, Naruto tucked her in and prepared to leave when Hinata asked him to stay. Looking at her he said that he was a bit uncomfortable to which his girlfriend replied, “I’m the one who’s usually shy, so stop taking my job and get over here.”
Putting his discretion aside, Naruto changed into his pajamas and climbed in next to her under the covers. In the early hours of the morning, Hinata felt Naruto’s hands rubbing along her body, noticing that she had turned to face him, she opened her eyes to find him asleep. Thinking it was nothing, she tried to go back to sleep as best she could when Naruto’s hand suddenly went a bit too low. Squeaking loudly, she began to pant as Naruto moved his fingers gently inside her moving her onto her back. Writhing hotly under the covers Hinata groaned as Naruto’s fingers worked even deeper into her while he kissed her gently along her neck. Amidst her heavy pants she grunted out, “Naruto, don’t stop.”
As with many things involving the brain, Naruto stopped and opened his eyes sleepily finding Hinata sprawled out under him half-dressed. Noticing where his hands were, he fell back to the end of the bed afraid of what he’d done. Stammering an apology, Naruto made a leap for the door only to be stopped by a small cry from Hinata. Turning, Naruto crawled over to her asking what the problem was. Sniffing, Hinata whimpered that she was just trying to help the relationship. Laughing at her, Naruto picked up the comforter and wrapped it around the two of them and held her close telling her, “It won’t help this relationship if you do this because I’m upset. If you want to help, just be around for me to talk to or just be waiting for me when I get back.” Hinata sniffled again, curled up into Naruto’s arms falling back asleep.
In the afternoon, later that day, Miroku was sitting at Kohaku’s condo going over the rental of the R.V. the problem with this was neither of them were legal to rent one and so they kept it a secret as to who would drive it on the trip. Looking over their expenses and the like, Miroku crossed out one more thing saying, “With all of this we should get done with this in the black. Meaning a profit if you don’t know what the colors mean.” Kohaku scoffed and popped a pill into his mouth. The stitches were scabbing over and he looked a bit of a mess, but was back to his old self. Taking a sip of soda, Miroku sighed out, “We all ready for the trip?”
Kohaku snorted and off handedly said, “ If Duo and the others would pack their instruments we’d be set, but they want to practice before we leave and I want my equipment put away soon.” Grabbing the phone off the hook, Kohaku gave a less than warm greeting to the person on the other end. Yawning he muttered, “He’s not here, he’s somewhere else so quick bugging me.” Clicking the off button, he set it back and took a swig of juice from his cup. Hearing a knock at the door, he shouted, “IT’S OPEN!” In the wake of his shouts, Maurice walked in carrying two large duffle bags with his granddaughter in tow. “Ahh man you’re early! And where’s Grandma?”
“She’s gonna be coming after we go. Right now she’s with her sister in Michigan. You tell the others I’m driving?” The stunned silence at his arrival, with a couple of furtive glances between the two, gave Maurice his answer. Clapping his hands, chuckled menacingly, and with a huge fire in his eyes growled, “You all are going to hate me by the time this trip is over.”