A/N: Yes, I know. It's been about three months since I've updated. I'm sorry; I've been really busy. Do you know what's made me busy?
HOMEWORK! Stupid smelly homework!
But now I'm super-happy because it's WINTER BREAK! And that means ALMOST NO HOMEWORK! And no school! For TWO WEEKS! AND CHRISTMAS! AND NEW YEAR'S!
If I could, I'd jump thirty feet into the air, yell, "WHIPEE!" and land back on the ground without a single injury. I'm extremely happy.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!
And a big thank you to everyone who has reviewed The Seven Greatest Days of My Youth: ms. phishy, Pooh Bear Is My Hero, XxDeer-DemonxX, ourantwins, Ruto Kuntai, Eddi, TheSulkingWolf, tentenxleeFAN, Nisou Rin Michiko, Drummer-Blossom, Shika's Rape Victim, animefungirl, Chigirl, Hey, neko-spy-007, kibafangirl860, Rai Lockhart, WeaponsMistress, Martial artist-Mariko, Zoe177, leeluver177, Sweatshirt Shiro, and AnimeMaster24. I greatly appreciate it that all of you took the time to read and review my story. Every time I get a good review I feel warm and fuzzy inside. Here's a virtual hug from me to all of you! (Hugs you) Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you guys!
And here's a virtual hug to everyone who is reading my story and/or had put it on alert or their favorite stories list! (Hugs you) I really appreciate it that you're reading my story and/or putting it on your alert or favorite stories list. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you guys!
This chapter is my Christmas present to all of you!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Day 5, 5:49 pm at the Festival
Lee let himself fall down on one of the benches, panting. "That was… fun," Lee said between gasps. He had a side ache.
Tenten giggled and sat next to him. "We were only dancing for about an hour," she said. "We should go back out there once you're done resting."
"Okay."
"You're quite the dancer, Lee," she said.
"Thank you, Tenten," Lee panted. "So are you."
"Thanks." She stood up and searched her purse for some money. "I'm going to get us some sodas; I'll be right back." She started to go when suddenly Lee hopped off the bench. Tenten turned around.
"It is my responsibility to buy the sodas," Lee said, still panting a little. He tried his best to stand up straight with a side ache. "You are a lady. Please wait here and I will buy—"
"Lee," Tenten interrupted, "I'm a girl, yes, but that doesn't mean I can't buy my date a soda." She blushed a little but continued, "Besides, you're worn out from dancing. You should sit and rest, and I'll get you something to drink." Before Lee could argue Tenten was already walking away. All Lee could do was sit and rest like she told him to do.
"My date," she said. Lee smiled and sat on the bench.
Naruto and Sakura were still on the dance floor. Naruto was trying his best not to step on Sakura's feet and Sakura tried not to mention that he wasn't doing a very good job of it. Not too far away from them, Kiba was kneeling next to Akamaru.
"You know what to do, Akamaru," Kiba said as Akamaru held a folded up piece of paper in his teeth. Akamaru woofed through his teeth and entered the dance floor. He walked to where Sakura was dancing and nudged the back of her leg.
She turned around. "Akamaru?" Akamaru dropped the piece of paper and used his paw to push it into Sakura's foot. She bent down, picked up the paper and unfolded it. "Follow me," it read. Sakura looked up from the paper and saw that Akamaru was waiting for her to follow him.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Naruto asked her.
Sakura turned back around and faced him. "Everything's fine, Naruto," she said, "I just need to do something and I'll be right back."
"Sure, okay," Naruto said. Sakura followed Akamaru back to where Kiba was.
"What is it?" Sakura asked him.
"I need you to do something for me," Kiba said. "Well, actually, it's for Hinata…"
Tenten walked past Kiba and Sakura a few minutes later, greeted them, and appeared at Lee's side with two cold sodas and two warm blueberry muffins. "Thank you, Tenten," Lee said, taking his soda and muffin.
"No problem," Tenten said, sitting next to him. "This is so much fun. I'm so glad we came."
"Yes, it is a lot of fun," Lee replied. They began eating quietly, both deep in thought.
I do not know what I am going to do, Lee thought. I have been in love with Sakura for so long… Is it possible all those feelings just disappeared? It was only five days ago when Sakura would just look at me and my knees would go weak. Now… Lee took a sip of his soda and looked up at Sakura and Naruto dancing. Sakura caught his eye and waved. He waved back at her. Now, when she looks at me, that feeling I used to have is gone. Lee looked down at his feet and touched his chest with his hand. My heart is not racing like it used to… And I know it is not my fault, but I feel like I betrayed her in some way. When I think of Sakura now, I… Lee looked up at Sakura again. He still had his hand on his chest. I think of a good friend.
"Are you okay?" Tenten asked, touching his shoulder.
Lee felt his heart thump against his hand. He put his hand down. "Yes, I am." And now, when I think of Tenten… Tenten gave him a smile in which he returned. …I think of… love…
Tenten was waiting for him to say something, so he took a bite of his muffin. "S'good," he said through a mouthful.
"Sure is," Tenten agreed, taking a bite herself. Okay, so, I like him, Tenten thought. I know that now, but it's going to take me a while to get used to this new feeling I have when I'm with him. I mean, my heart's pounding, my arms feel like jell-o, I'm turning red every other second… Tenten smiled to herself. You might as well tape a giant sign to my forehead that says "I love Rock L…" Wait, love? I don't know if I love him; I've never been in love before, so I don't know exactly how it's supposed to feel like. She stole a glance of her date. But this new feeling… as strange as it is… this feeling is more than a crush, that's for sure. And as weird as it feels…
Lee looked at her. "What is it?" he asked.
Tenten smiled. "Nothing." As weird as it feels… I don't mind it. "You know, it feels good to have a little break from training."
"Yes, it is," Lee agreed.
Tenten realized something just then, and grinned. "You know, Lee, I may not be able to win when we're sparring, but I do know a game I can beat you at."
She took his arm and led him to one of the booths. The man in charge of the booth said, "Welcome to the Aim Game! Throw a ball at that bottle pyramid, and if you knock all of them down in one try you win a prize!"
Much Later, at 11:49 pm
Kiba met with Sakura at the soda booth. "Thanks again for doing this, Sakura," Kiba told her.
"It's no problem, really," Sakura said. "So, around 11:55 the song will begin, okay?"
"Okay," Kiba said, nodding.
"Here's your soda, Sir," the man at the soda booth said.
"Thanks," Kiba said, taking the soda. He then returned to the dance floor where Hinata was. "I bought you a soda," he said, handing it to her.
"Oh, th-thank you, Kiba." Hinata smiled at him. "I'm h-having a great t-time with you. Thank you f-for everything." She blushed and looked down at her feet.
Kiba smiled back. "I'm glad you're having a good time, Hinata," he said. I really am.
Lee and Tenten were on the dance floor also while the DJ played long and very upbeat rock songs. They both had large grins on their faces as they tried to keep up with the beat of the song, but Tenten couldn't help but feel a little down. I can't believe it, she thought. Only about ten more minutes and then that's it; the date's over, and Lee and I go back to being just friends. Lee will go chasing after Sakura's heart again and… Tenten's smile began to fade. There is so much that I have to keep bottled up, now.
"Tenten?" Lee said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Are you not having fun?"
"No, Lee, I'm having a great time, really," she said. "There's just…" She stopped.
"What is it?"
She took a deep breath. Just let him know you care, she told herself. "There's something I have to talk to you about," she said. "Is that okay?"
"Of course," Lee said. They stepped off the dance floor and went back to the bench they were sitting on earlier. Tenten could feel her heart pounding. I can't tell him I like him, she decided, If I did, it would put our friendship at risk. I don't want to do that. But there's something I need to tell him, and I need to tell him now.
Finally she turned to Lee and said, "I'm sorry."
Lee blinked. "Sorry? About what?"
"I'm sorry about what I said," Tenten blurted. Lee still wasn't following, and Tenten continued, "Remember when we first became a team? You and Neji and I? When you and Neji competed against each other I always told you that you'd never beat him." Tenten looked away from him, embarrassed. "I said the reason you wouldn't beat him was because he was a genius, and you weren't." She closed her eyes. "I was way off, and I'm sorry."
Another upbeat song began to play. Back on the dance floor, Kiba was stretching. "Wow," he said, "Those dance moves really tired me out. Wanna go visit Naruto and Sakura?"
"Okay," Hinata said. She and Kiba walked halfway across the floor to where Naruto and Sakura were.
"Hey Naruto, hey Sakura," Kiba greeted them.
"Hey, Kiba!" Naruto said, grinning. "Isn't this a great party?"
"Yeah," Kiba said, "But I'm pretty tired out. What about you?"
"Uh, not really."
"I sure am," Sakura spoke up. "I think I'll take a little break."
"But Sakura!" Naruto complained, "The night's almost over! Only a few more songs left!"
"Well, I'll just take a break during this song," Sakura said.
"I think I'll do that, too," Kiba said. "Hey! I have an idea, Naruto: you and Hinata could dance and Sakura and I could stand here and stretch." Hinata instantly went red in the face. "Would you like to do that, Hinata?" Hinata nodded a little.
"Alright," Naruto said, and began to dance. Hinata giggled a little at his dance moves. Kiba smiled and whispered another thank-you to Sakura. "I know being with Naruto makes her happy," he whispered.
Lee and Tenten were sitting on the bench in silence. I shouldn't have brought up that memory, Tenten thought. Her face grew redder by the second, and tears were beginning to form in her eyes. Those are some of his worst memories, and he hated being compared to Neji—
"I have something to say, as well," Lee said suddenly. Tenten prepared herself for the worst and turned to face him, looking him in the eyes.
Lee surprised her with a smile. "Thank you."
She frowned a little, confused. "Thank you?"
"Well, after all, without your help I would not be as strong as I am today," Lee explained. Tenten's vision began to blur as more tears filled her eyes. "Part of the reason I trained as hard as I did was to show everyone who did not believe in me that I could become a splendid ninja, that I could be just as good as Neji if I worked at it. I value your opinion, Tenten. You are my teammate, and you and I know each other so well, and—" Suddenly he looked alarmed. "Tenten, are you crying?"
"No," Tenten said, turning away from him. The tears finally began to fall, and she wiped them with the back of her hand. "It's probably just… something in the air. That's all."
Lee continued. "Without that extra push you gave me, I would not be as strong as I am today." He put his hand on her shoulder. "That is why I must thank you."
Ino's voice interrupted their moment on the loudspeaker: "Hey, everyone! This is Ino Yamanaka telling you all that there's only one minute left this year! The last song's a slow song, so grab your date and bring them on the dance floor! Come on, Shikamaru!" A groan from Shikamaru was heard, and then the loudspeaker was shut off. Slow music began to play.
"Tenten," Lee said, "Would you like to dance with me?"
Tenten made sure her face was dry before facing him. "Yes," she answered, smiling. He held out his hand and she took it, and they entered the dance floor for the last time that night.
Naruto, Hinata, Sakura and Kiba weren't too far away from the two of them. Well, what do you know, Kiba said, looking at them. Rock Lee and Tenten. I never would've thought of it before, but they look like a pretty cute couple.
"Um, K-Kiba?" Hinata snapped him out of his thoughts. "W-Would you, um, like t-to dance? With m-me?" Her question made them both blush.
Kiba was stunned, but answered, "Well sure, Hinata, I'll dance with you."
Naruto shifted his feet. "Hey… Sakura…"
Sakura smiled. "Okay."
Kiba took Hinata's hands in his (causing them to turn redder), and they began to move to the music. Hinata was looking down at her feet. "K-Kiba," she said, "I think… I th-think I know wh-why you… um… b-but… uh…" Her head lowered even more.
"Hinata." They stopped moving. Kiba brought Hinata's hands together, covering them with his own. "Hey, you can talk to me. We've known each other since our Academy days." Hinata's head remained in the same position. "We've been on the same team for a long time. You know me a lot better than most people…" Hinata's head lifted. "…And I know you a lot better than most people." Kiba smiled at her. "You can talk to me," he said again.
"10!" the crowd shouted.
Hinata gulped. "W-Well," she began.
"9!"
"I j-just wanted to tell y-you that…"
"8!"
"O-out of all the p-people I…"
"7!"
"...c-could've be with at th-this festival…"
"6!"
"5!"
"…I-I'm glad…"
"4!"
"…it w-was you, Kiba."
"3, 2, 1!" Fireworks went off loudly and filled the night sky with bright colors. Everyone cheered loudly over the explosions of the New Year, and suddenly Ino's voice came back on the loudspeaker: "It's the New Year everyone, and you know what that means! Time to give your date a big, wet kiss! Come on, Shika— Shikamaru? HEY! GET BACK HERE, SHIKAMARU!"
Before she knew what she was doing, Hinata stood on her toes and gave Kiba a peck on the cheek. She then gasped and covered her mouth. "Oh, Kiba! I-I'm sorr—!" Kiba threw his arms around her and was grinning from ear to ear. "You're the best, Hinata!!!" he cried, lifting her off her feet.
Shikamaru sprinted past them. "SHIKAMARU!" Ino was yelling after him. On his way out of the festival he passed Lee and Tenten, who were staring up at the fireworks in awe.
"Wow!" Tenten exclaimed, watching the fireworks dance in the sky. Her gaze shifted to Lee, and she looked up at him, smiling. Words could not describe the feeling she had at that moment. Lee… Thank you so much for everything you've done. Without stopping to think, Tenten placed her hands on his shoulders, closing her eyes. She was aiming for his cheek, but at that moment he turned his head to face her, and she ended up kissing him on the mouth.
A/N: Dun-dun-dun!
Well, I hope you liked part three of day five. The story isn't over yet, and there will be a dilemma in the next chapter between Tenten and Lee about that last paragraph. Dun-dun-DUN! Anyway, there are about two chapters left!
And for all you NarutoxSakura fans, yes there was a kiss involved when the New Year struck, and Naruto will be talking about it in the next chapter so don't worry; I didn't leave them out of it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!
Please review!