Ain't no party like a ninja party

[usedswift]

Who: open to literally anyone in Blackthorn City who wanders into the ninja party + friends
Where: Blackthorn City (mainly hotsprings but also anywhere)
When: July 23rd
Summary: Sasuke gets a birthday party whether he wants one or not. Lucky for him, he has friends (in spite of his best efforts) who'll plan one.
Rating: G? PG for violence

[ooc; general mingle log for Blackthorn City/Sasuke's birthday. Most of it will probably take place at the hotsprings itself, though like the 'who' says, it's completely open to anyone just walking by and wondering what the big deal is, or someone who's already there and then has their pleasant soak interrupted by a bunch of dumb ninjas.]

Comments

[usedswift]

[Of course she would, she's been thinking about it non-stop since it happened.]

Neji would kill me if he knew. [she remarks with forced casualness. If he doesn't already. She might die of embarrassment if he does. He doesn't, right???]

So... did you like it...?

[beforethedarkness]

[Yeah he's not going to let her know that Neji saw the whole thing...]

...

Better than Naruto. [Big sigh.]

[usedswift]

...

[She's not sure how to take that, and it shows on her face as a mixture of disbelief and unhappiness.]

That's all you've got to say about it?

[And hang on, wait, when did he kiss Naruto?!]

[usedswift]

[And then she forces a laugh and falls back into the water, resting against the back and staring straight ahead as if it doesn't bother her at all.]

Good to know. I'll make sure to get you a better present for the next holiday, don't worry.

[beforethedarkness]

...

[That silence is a little too uncomfortable for his liking. He can't help feeling just a little on edge before he sighs once more, his eyes closed.]

I wasn't expecting it... And I didn't know you felt like that.

[usedswift]

I didn't want you to know.

[She turns that smile toward him though, eyes closed so she doesn't have to look.]

But it's okay if you don't feel the same way, really.

[beforethedarkness]

It's okay if you feel that way.

[usedswift]

[She just snorts another laugh.]

Please, I'm not just going to pine after you or something stupid like that. I'll get over it.

[Even if she feels like crying, no way that's happening in front of him again.]

[beforethedarkness]

[He's not looking at her at all, keeping his eyes closed as he can feel his skin heating up. Finally, he managed to say something else...]

You don't have to get over it.

[usedswift]

No, really, I--

[....wait for it. Wait for it....

She freezes, eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.]

Really? Wait, you--?

[beforethedarkness]

[He doesn't say anything, instead focusing all of his efforts on keeping his composure then and there and hoping that he doesn't have to say anything else. It was hard enough to say that much already, and the thought of saying more is enough to have him completely on edge.]

[usedswift]

[Oh no, she's not letting it rest that easily, not until she knows exactly what they are.]

So... can I kiss you again?

[beforethedarkness]

...

If you want to.

[usedswift]

[Oh wow, the way her face is heating up has nothing to do with the warmth of the water.]

So... [Yes, more questions.] Can I tell people we're... I don't know, together?

[And she's holding her breath on that one, because that's the deciding question, isn't it?]

[beforethedarkness]

[Tenten's isn't the only face that's hot, though he does have to think about it. Tenten is strong, persistent, and doesn't beat around the bush about anything. And, after what they'd been through together, good and bad, he knows he can count on her to hold her own if it's needed.

Is this something he really wants to try?

But... He has to move forward. Maybe this is a good first step. And that first step is accompanied by another, one taking the form of his next words.]

You can.

[usedswift]

I just might.

[She beams, turning in the water to offer her hand to Purrloin again. This was really exciting, and a lot more than she was expecting. Playing it cool was going to be hard though...]

But you know this isn't going to change when we fight. I'm still going to work to get all the badges and beat you fairly.

[beforethedarkness]

That's if you can beat me.

[Whoops, apparently dating him doesn't save Tenten from receiving a flash of cocky smirk from the Uchiha boy.]

[usedswift]

[She glances toward him in time to catch that ridiculously attractive smirk and just laughs.]

When I beat you, we'll go from there. But until then...

[Another glance toward him as heat starts to rise toward her cheeks again. Play it cool, play it cool...]

Once more people go to bed, we should meet up. I can give you another present, maybe.

[Nope, apparently she learned 'cool' from Gai-sensei.]

[beforethedarkness]

Another present?

[That smirk fades and his expression returns to a more openly curious one - likely a refreshing change for Tenten, considering what kinds of expressions he normally wears.]

[usedswift]

You're the rookie genius.

[She plants her hands on the outside of the tub and hoists herself out, grinning over her shoulder at him.]

I'm sure you can figure it out.