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Post by Hyuuga Hinata on Jul 27, 2007 20:05:58 GMT -5
Hinata watched as Shikamaru began to flip through pages. It didn't look like he was looking for anything in particular. At least, not to her. She turned back to Mau. She was getting slightly dizzy from looking from one person to the other.
" Mitsukai, hm?" she asked. " That's a pretty name. But I'm afraid I haven't met her, so I can't help you find her," she said. She could tell that Mau was feeling uncomfortable. It was kind of like her sixth sense.
Hinata didn't blame Mau for feeling out of place. After all, she and Shikamaru were older, and they had already met. She would've felt nervous as well, maybe even more nervous than Mau was.
She had to admit, Mau was slightly...awkward. She started to look for her friend, then gave up and said hello to two total strangers. Maybe Shikamaru was thinking the same thing?
She glanced over at him. He was actually focusing on one page, his eyes quickly looking over the words. She still couldn't tell what his intentions were. Maybe he liked romance novels, too?
Yeah, right. Hinata wanted to laugh at herself.
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Post by Nara Shikamaru on Jul 27, 2007 20:25:16 GMT -5
Finally, blinking slightly to shake the effort he had just put the through off his eyes, Shikamaru closed the book. Then, he looked back at the two girls, who were sort of standing there awkwardly and having an odd conversation. Both of them were being friendlier than they felt like, because they didn't really know what else to do.
Insecurities. Yet again, what a drag.
He didn't hand the book back to Hinata just yet.
"Were you planning on buying this?" he asked casually, not seeming to mind that he was interrupting the line of their talk.
He looked at the cover. It didn't look like anything special, just your typical romance novel. Ino seemed to read a different type of them, though, and by comparing... he could tell Hinata had different reasons. Ino mostly read them because she could look cool and pick up boys while doing it.
Finally, after that last study, he held his hand out, offering the object back to Hinata.
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Post by Mau Kawa on Jul 27, 2007 20:33:18 GMT -5
Mau sat down. 'I knew it. They probably think I'm weird. But if they knew they wouldn't...' Mau thought gloomily. 'Maybe I should just shut up and listen...' She flattened her ears and bit her lip. She didn't want to remember anymore.
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Post by Hyuuga Hinata on Jul 27, 2007 20:44:06 GMT -5
Hinata took the book from Shikamaru. " Hai, Shikamaru. I was thinking about buying this. Why do you ask?" she tilted her head. " Do you think Ino might want it?" Hinata had seen Ino reading another romance series, nut unlike " Cupid's Ignorance " and she had been meaning to talk to her about it.
Hinata looked over to Mau, who was sitting down, looking a little upset. She walked over to Mau, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. " What's wrong? Did we say something that upset you?" If that was the case, it was probably Hinata's fault, since Shikamaru didn't say much of anything. But Hinata still felt like she deserved to know what was bothering Mau. That way should could try and help her out.
Hinata noticed that not only did mau have cat ears and a tail, but they also changed to her emotions, just like a normal cat.
" It must be interesting, to have an extra pair of ears and a tail," she thought. But she also thought it might get annoying sometimes.
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Post by Nara Shikamaru on Jul 27, 2007 20:52:50 GMT -5
"Yeah, I guess."
Shikamaru figured Ino would probably buy that book for herself if she got a recommendation from someone. She didn't read them anyway, she just used them to add to her image for the most part. But somehow, he didn't think she would appreciate it if he said that in here, so he kept silent about it.
The whole situation, on the other hand, was getting rather ridiculous. Both Hinata and Mau were fidgeting, and their words to each other were pretty clumsy. It was that kind of 'I don't know what to say, you make the first move' situation. They were both being passive at the same time.
How convenient for them to have a third party, eh? With a small sigh that went unnoticed, he detached from the bookcase and walked a couple of steps closer to them, his hands finding his pockets again. He was going to actually bother and help. They should be grateful.
"Oy, you two," he interrupted them unceremoniously once more. "How about something to eat? Standing here is weird."
Bluntness was usually his thing. At least in words.
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Post by Mau Kawa on Jul 27, 2007 21:03:58 GMT -5
Mau looked up at Hinata. "No, it's nothing, really." Mau told her. "It is kind of cool having them, and it helps sharpen my senses." Her ears perked again as she took in Shikamaru's question. "Um...sure. Where are we going?" Mau asked.
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Post by Hyuuga Hinata on Jul 27, 2007 21:16:17 GMT -5
Hinata gave Mau a comforting smile. She looked over to shikamaru, who had suggested they get something to eat.
" Hmm...Ramen sounds good, if you two are up for it," she paused. " And who knows, maybe Naruto-kun will be there," she blushed, and looked at the floor.
Her eyes suddenly widened, as she realized that she had said that last bit out loud, instead of just thinking it. She looked up. " I..uh...I'm...going to go pay for this, and you two just decide where we're going, anythings fine with me," she said hastily. She headed towards the counter, then turned back and grabbed another copy of the book. Ino might be interested.
She rushed to the counter, her face cherry red with embaressment." I can't believe I said that out loud!" she thought as the clerk bagged her books. She handed him the money, and grabbed her bag.
She slowly walked back to the others, still recovering from her little scene.
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Post by Nara Shikamaru on Jul 27, 2007 21:23:47 GMT -5
Sometimes, Hinata could shift too much for even Shikamaru to be able to track in time. Well, at least when there was no critical situation and he was feeling extremely lazy to begin with. He watched her reprimand herself, even though none of them had said anything about her Naruto remark, and then hurry off to pay for her books.
That was rather confusing.
So he just stood there, still conscious of Mau, but not feeling particularly social, at least not enough to bother starting a conversation. Besides, Hinata got back quickly, since there was never a queue to wait in at the book store.
Seriously. Ramen would remind anyone of Naruto. She didn't have to feel guilty about mentioning him, even if she did have other reasons. He knew the problem, though, and she was right to think he had guessed.
"Speaking of that," he tried to help her out as soon as they began to walk out of the store. "I haven't seen much of the other teams lately... looks like they're all getting missions out of Konoha."
That was true. Only he always got stranded giving tours and carrying papers among officials. Supposedly because he was responsible. Bleh.
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Post by Mau Kawa on Jul 27, 2007 21:28:08 GMT -5
Mau watched Hinata leave and come back a little later. "Okay, this will sound REALLY stupid...But who's Naruto?" Mau asked. All these ninja! Wow. The Leaf village dose have a lot of ninja...
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Post by Hyuuga Hinata on Jul 27, 2007 21:38:35 GMT -5
Hinata looked at Mau in astonishment. Almost everyone knew about Naruto, she was sure.
" Naruto is...well... He's another Leaf Shinobi. Shikamaru and I went to school with him, and we also attended the Chuunin Exam with him," she said, blushing. Even talking about Naruto would make her face turn red.
" He's a lot different from evryone else in the village. He also wants to be the next Hokage," she finished her summary, and Naruto's image was captured in her mind. His perfect blue eyes... His spikey golden hair... That wonderful smile...
Hinata gave her head a small shake. She thought about him much, wishing he would ask her out, or hoping that she would get the guts to ask him. Maybe it was time to move on?
"No," Hinata thought. " Never."
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Post by Nara Shikamaru on Aug 8, 2007 5:28:26 GMT -5
Shikamaru watched the color of Hinata's face change slightly, even if he pretended not to notice, since it would have been troublesome to do otherwise. Girls were so strange... He was never going to understand why they bothered so much over one guy or another.
Shikamaru guessed he was going to have to lead the way, so he resignedly moved on ahead, his hands still stuffed wrist-deep into his pockets. At least while they were outside, walking, he could get a good view of the sky and the clouds. He raised his head to look up, and the scenic view had the usual calming effect on his mind almost immediately.
The two girls were still close enough behind him to hear, so he decided to add something to Hinata's description. Mau probably deserved to get the non-idealized side of things, as well.
"He's usually loud and hyperactive," he said. "That can give people a headache... but he's a good person."
Slowly, a smile formed on Shikamaru's lips, as he continued to watch the clouds. Yes, Naruto was sometimes such a bother, almost impossible to stand being around. But that was precisely what made him so inspiring sometimes. The more agitated he got, the more he showed that he truly believed in what he was saying, and that he truly believed in himself.
Shikamaru actually liked Naruto. It was just in his habit to complain about everyone. He guessed they all knew what he really thought, anyway. That was why they still hung around.
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Post by Mau Kawa on Aug 12, 2007 2:24:11 GMT -5
"A hyper kid, huh?" Mau mumbled to herself. She looked over at Hinata. No mistaken. She probably had a real thing for that Naruto guy.
Oh, well. "So..." Mau said. She stopped. What was there to say? She looked over at Hinata. "Is that...the byakugan?" She asked, referring to her eyes.
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