It's so pretty...

[stillpure]

He was dressed up. Where his mother had managed to locate anything to dress him up with on such short notice with he had no idea, but it meant when he took off roaming he was a streak of dark blue and red amid those at the festival as he went here and there, utterly fascinated by the new sights.

He'd been to festivals in Konoha, yes, but those were different. This was -new-.

It also meant he wasn't exactly being the most attentive person ever, and had escaped the people he'd been with. Unintentionally, of course.

Comments

[fire_fox]

"No? But they are bright and festive colors dattebane!" She pouts visibly. She glances at Neji:"That's why I will get it! Orange is my color dattebane! And where is that stand anyway?" Naruto looks around, but crowd is not allowing her to see much.

She smiles at Itachi:"Which color do you want?"

[stillpure]

He stared up at her for a long moment. "Purple."

[openedthebasket]

In the interest of expediency, Neji brings his fingers up again, letting the familiar flow of Chakra enter his eyes. "Twenty meters due south," he answers instead of returning to the conversation about colors. "In other words, this way." Without deactivating his eyes, he brushes through the crowd, using his hand on Itachi's to gently tug them both after him and cut through a short alleyway to emerge on another street, with a stall full of masks before them.

[fire_fox]

"Uwahh! Purple is nice, dattebane!" she exclaimed then nodded at Neji, following close behind, letting Itachi walk in front of her. Her wooden shoes won't allow her to walk faster anyway, so she was fine with this.

"I can't wait to get them!"

[stillpure]

He looked over the collection, then promptly started searching through them for one with dark purple feathers, letting go of them both.

[openedthebasket]

Neji lets him go, though he doesn't deactivate his Byakugan. He's learning a completely new, convenient use for them -- making sure children don't disappear. "Go on, then," he tells Naruto without looking directly at her, though he sees her all the same. "Unless you need my help finding something else."

[fire_fox]

She nodded eagerly and approached the stand, looking through the masks. She spotted one with really nice, with all shades of orange and yellow, and few black feathers in the middle.

"I'll take that one!" She took the mask and paid for it, smiling widely. "So pretty, dattebane!"

[stillpure]

Itachi finally picked up one of the masks, a delicate black affair with vibrant royal purple feathers, and he came around to offer it to them.

[openedthebasket]

"Very pretty," Neji echoes when she comes back, though he intentionally doesn't look at the mask, instead focusing his gaze on her eyes. Let her take that as she will. Without further comment, he merely turns to take the mask from Itachi. "I trust paying for this will save me from needing to purchase my own, yes?"

[fire_fox]

"Ee-h..." crap, why is she blushing all of a sudden?! And why she can't break eye contact!? He was talking about mask, mask!... Right!?
"A-AH! Yes! It is," she laughed, flustered and scratching her cheek. She was grateful when Neji got preoccupied with Itachi.

[stillpure]

"You should get one too." He peered up at him, saying it simply.

[openedthebasket]

He can't help but smirk with more than a little pride at having flustered her so, but he doesn't acknowledge it immediately, instead giving Itachi's mask a glance before lightly putting his hand atop the boy's head. "I will purchase this one for you, instead. Come." He steers the boy toward the counter, only turning the smallest smirk on Naruto as he passes her.

[fire_fox]

Naruto blinked and instantly bristled up at the smirk- that bastard! He did it on purpose! She huffed and looked at the mask, blush still on her cheeks, and proceeded to place it on top of her head as she waited for them to pay.

[stillpure]

He smiled up at him, relaxed under his hand as he took the mask back from the girl at the counter once the payment was given.

[openedthebasket]

His smirk can't help but turn into a smile in response to Itachi's, and with one glance back at Naruto, he bends down to take the mask back and perch it atop the boy's head, similar to hers. "There. Are you satisfied?"

[fire_fox]

Finally she made the mask stand in place and not fall over. It was kind of hard with hair so long. But she grinned and waved at them. "You look awesome Itachi!"

[stillpure]

He peeked up at them both and smiled brightly. "You think so?"

[openedthebasket]

"Indeed." He offers his hand to the boy, Byakugan activating again. "Let's show your mother what you've found, hm?"

[fire_fox]

She grinned, playing with feathers on Itachi's mask for a moment, before offering him hand as well.

[stillpure]

He huffed at them both, then accepted their hands, letting Neji lead him back toward his mom.

[openedthebasket]

It's relatively easy to find her Chakra, and he leads the way without hesitation, effortlessly dodging people in the crowd as he keeps his attention focused on her. As Itachi had promised, she was still looking for clothes. Out of politeness, he clears his throat. "Mikoto-san, I believe you lost someone."

[proudofmybaby]

She turned, a few bags on her arms, and smiled at the kids. "So you're where he got off to! Are you all having fun?"

[fire_fox]

Naruto smiled and waved:"Hello Mikoto-san! Yes, we had lots of fun!" At least she did. And she hoped that the others had fun too.

[stillpure]

He freed his hands, then promptly gave first Naruto a hug, then Neji before retreating to his mom.

"Enjoy your date!"

[openedthebasket]

Neji goes still at the hug and only barely manages to pat his shoulder before the child ducks away. His cheeks flush the lightest shade of pink that he hopes the dimmer lighting of the festival hides as he shakes his head. "Believe what you like, Itachi-kun. Have a pleasant night, Mikoto-san." He inclines his head turns as if to leave, casting Naruto a glance to see if she would follow.