Chapter 4:

Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto or any of its characters but I do own Riko, Kala, Tyan, Miko and the Hot Leaf Diner along with Koi/Katie and Jazz/Akara is owned by a friend.

Two days before the festival and I had yet to find the perfect kimono. Sighing sadly to myself I walked with Akara around town, looking through kimono shops until I could find a kimono for myself since Akara had found the perfect kimono for herself. It was ankle length and a deep (almost black) blue that faded into lighter shades as it got closer to the ankles until it turned white at the hem. The obi was also white with a gold colored rope tied around it stylishly.

People were all over the place getting last minute things done or hurrying to finish decorating for the festival everyone was so excited about. What the festival was all about I had no idea but it gave all the girls in the village a reason to dress their best and drag their boyfriends all over the place. I was suddenly knocked out of my thoughts by a gigantic white dog with some dark markings running past us and I automatically looked over at Akara to see her eyes shinning brightly at me, she had a begging look on her face and I just rolled my eyes. “Go ahead, I’ll see ya at home.” And with that she raced off to parts unknown.

Looks like I’m on my own, stupid dog obsessed weirdo

“Do you need help with anything Miss?” Nearly screaming like a banshee I whipped around and found an old woman standing beside me, she looked like an old Chinese version of a sweet little old granny that baked cookies and said hello to everyone she met. “Um well I’m looking for a dress for the up coming festival.” I said smiling nervously at the old woman as she stood next to me, her beady black eyes racked over my body a thoughtful look on her wrinkled features before she nodded grabbed my hand like a steel cuff and dragged me to a podium standing near the back with mirrors surrounding it in a half circle.

“Now you just stand their young lady and I’ll fetch some kimonos I think would look perfect on you.” But before I could decline she was off like a shot. And so I stood there blinking stupidly in the direction the elderly lady had taken off to. Some how I’ve got a bad feeling about this. I thought when she came back with a large bundle of clothing in her arms. Oh yeah, this is gonna get bad.

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“Well I don’t know what to do! I’ve had you try on every kimono in the store, but none seem to be just right.” The old woman (who’s name I had come to know was Sayuri) fold her arms over her chest and huff indignantly with yet another thoughtful look on her face.

“Well I don’t know about every dress but maybe I just won’t go, I doubt he’ll be there anyway.” I muttered the last to myself as I stared down at my feet. “Is there a man you’re interested in my dear?” Sayuri asked with a spark I couldn’t name in her black eyes as she looked up at me once again. “Well…kinda not really. I mean I really like him and he’s very sweet but I don’t think he really notices me or anything.” I confessed softly with a bright blush on my face, she suddenly smirked and held up a hand to silence me. “I think I know the perfect thing.” She said and once again off like a shot and back just as quickly with a white box in her arms.

“I’ve been trying to sell this thing for years but everyone seems to find something wrong with it.” She said as she took out a bundle of red and white silk that immediately had me entranced. The silk was the most beautiful shade of blood red I had ever seen, it was a color that would catch your attention right away no matter where you were and the white trim was the most pure color I would probably ever see. It was as if moonlight had taken form in silk. And unlike many of the other kimonos in the shop this was designed more like a hanfu, which was the original form of the kimono before it came over to Japan. “Struck speechless I see, so will you try it on my dear?” Sayuri asked another gleam I couldn’t tell what it was had formed in her eyes again.

I hesitated for a moment before taking the dress and quickly changing into it. The feel of the silk gliding across my skin sent a shiver down my spine, the cloth warmed with my body heat and as I looked in the mirrors that surrounded me I gasped. “You look absolutely stunning my dear girl!” Sayuri exclaimed delightedly as she clapped her hands in pure delight. I couldn’t help but smile and giggle with her before I realized something very important, “There’s no way I can afford something so beautiful Mrs. Sayuri! I’m just a waitress!!” I exclaimed running the tips of my fingers down the front of the dress sadly.

“Oh nonsense my dear, since I’ve been trying to get read of that thing for so long I’ll sell it to you for less than half of what it’s worth.”

“But-but I couldn’t possibly accept that! You’re far to kind Mrs. Sayuri, really I couldn’t take such a wonderful offer.”

“I’ll hear none of that now, you are going home with that dress and that’s that.” Sighing in defeat I finally agreed but I had to go in and work for her on my days off to help her and to get my conscious off my back.

As I walked out of the store a few minutes later, back in my original clothing, I made my way through town, no sign of Akara yet. This made me sigh in distress, poor Kiba was probably being tortured by that nutty girl. “Ms. Komamura! Hey wait for a minute!!” A male voice suddenly rang in my ear as I was about to head down a less crowded street. Turning I saw Izumo racing down the street towards me, quickly closing the gap between us and I noticed that Kakashi, Genma, Azuma, and Kotetsu were watching from a little farther down the street. “Oh hello again Mr. Kamizuki! Are you feeling alright today?” I asked with a bright smile on my face and a slight flush to my cheeks after I recalled the events of the last time we had seen each other.

Izumo blushed slightly and laughed nervously as he scratched his cheek not looking at me for the moment. “I’m much better, sorry about worrying you.” He apologized and I couldn’t stop the sudden giggle that erupted from me, he was so cute when he was nervous it was ridiculous. “It’s alright, but I’m glad you’re feeling better. Now is there something you wanted to ask me Mr. Kamizuki?” I asked tilting my head slightly to the left with my best innocent eyes, sometimes I was uber happy about my almost hypnotizing neon blue eyes. “Oh yeah! I wanted to know if you were going to go to the Festival… and if you’d do me the honor of being my date.” I was so shocked all I could do was look up at him with wide surprised eyes before I snapped out of it and nodded vigorously. “I’d love to!” I said happily as I felt my face going red once again.

. I thought as I looked around with half lidded eyes, not noticing the two shinobi that hid behind the edge of a building. With a tired yawn I noticed a sign that I hadn’t earlier and I stopped before the big shop window reading the sign with a smile. “Sayuri’s Kimono Shop, cute.” I mumbled before opening the door and walking in. The front room was well lit and was decked out with silks and satins of all colors shapes and patterns and I stood there, awe struck by all the gorgeous kimonos. I didn’t even notice that my feet had taken me deeper into the store or that someone had walked out of the back.