Red Lingerie

“Which one are you going to open first?” Curiosity bubbles in the atmosphere as songs of laugher raise from the opposing couch, with voices ringing to the brunette  sitting at the head of the crowded circle. “No, wait, open that one last!”
The protests and cheerful noise stitch a smile on Abi’s lips that only grows with each voice that speaks out. She is overwhelmed by the women that surround her, pleasantly talking amongst themselves, all while Abi, herself, feels dazed. How does she deserve so much love and care from so many people, she ponders as she scans the living room of Kina Hyuuga’s home, which is now stuffed with friends and girls of varying ages. The question continues to repeat itself, how did I ever manage to surround myself with so many wonderful people?

Shirahime Uehara appears at the side of the chair Abi has been confined to, simmering down the conversation that spreads around the room. “Alright, alright. How about we save the others for later?” She proposes to the women around the room, something mischievous in her voice seeming to connect with the other women who stifle laughter at the comment, leaving Abi completely oblivious to the secrecy of her words. Tsukiko Akiyama agrees enthusiastically, before lifting herself from the comforts of the couch to help Shirahime move the wrapped boxes and ribbon-tied bags from the coffee table in front of Abi to the side. Once again, Abi is dumbfounded.

How did she arrive here, she reminisces, wandering back to the mornings events while she catches up with the current moment.

It was enough of a surprise to Abi when Kina Hyuuga persistently arrived at her doorstep that morning promptly after Abi finished breakfast and showering, ready to step out to run errands and visit her fiancee at the Uchiha compound. Without even knowing it, however, Kina had held some other plans for Abi.
Her jaw-dropping shock must have amused some humor, she thinks, when Kina purposefully led her to her own home, insisting they spend the day together. Of course, it was nothing suspicious in Abi’s eyes, as Kina was her closest friend since they were teens and was a constant source of faithful friendship to Abi. What she did not count on, what an entourage of friends among other women huddled in the house, quickly embracing her and presenting her with wishes of her engagement.

Admittedly enough, Abi’s cheeks rose in a deep blush to be reminded of her marriage in a little less than two weeks in time, nearing closer with each day and bringing more fleeting branches of anxiety to blossom in her stomach. The sore sight of the women pressing to gift her with grins and words of kindness were more than enough to cause Abi’s eyes to sparkle in thanks, almost blubbering for the secret party thrown together.
True to the word, nearly all of Abi’s female friends were present in the room, from Hinata, who also brought Hanabi, Kurenai with her own ever-growing toddler (who became fixed on playing with Hanabi, who happily accepted), to Temari even as well as Sayuri. Sayuri, herself, was a pleasant surprise for Abi, who had half-scared her when she appeared from the kitchen! Never would Abi have counted on the girls to call Sayuri all the way in Iwagakure to come out for such an event!

Besides all this, Abi was all but excited for whatever the girls had planned for the day, talking amongst themselves, while playing some small side-games.
And as the day progressed further, to three in the evening, Sayuri had eventually demanded that Abi open her gifts, to which Abi was stunned, yet again, upon the knowledge of the hill of presents that were hidden in one of the back-rooms by Kina.

So now, Abi was left up to the decision of the pressing matter in the room- which present to open first.  Shirahime had propped herself in a comfortable chair beside Abi to hand her presents, along with Sayuri and Kina eyeing her intently, encouraging her to open the gifts. The first gift, she learned, was from Sakura, whom Ino had brought along, combining their present of lavender, plum among other elegant scents in lotion and candles for relaxing baths. Present after present came until Abi was left in awe of the kitchen linens from Kurenai, the rice maker from Temari or the intricate teapot Hinata and Hanabi brought and among other various items and oddities for her. From linens to kitchenware and duvet covers for the winter, Abi had obtained a pile of home goods!

There were even items in the small mountain that she had never thought of before, like the new rice maker; as a reminder that her own rice cooker at home was old and should be replaced. Others were small, but simple things that Abi relished in for the  plain beauty and commonness of.

“Should we open the others now?” May whispers to Kina anxiously as Shirahime grins at the idea, taking a glance to the sky outside, which is coated heavily in orange and pink hues, soaked in sunset. “That sounds good,” she chirps before she and Tenten begin to pile on more bags and boxes before Abi, which are now dressed in fancy ribbons and bows and look more elegant than the gifts before. A spark of excited feelings erupt in Abi’s stomach, albeit her cheeks slip into a shade as bright as the setting sun outside when she realizes and glances up to her friends in an almost-disappointed manner. Still, she cannot help but smile and grasp the first gift at the pile before opening it quietly.

A rustle of laughter and whistles fill the air as Abi pulls out her first presents. She can only bury her face in the palm of her hand, suppressing a grin before she looks to Shirahime evidently. “This one is from you, isn’t it?”
Shirahime raises her hands in opposition, looking like a dog that just lied to their owner. “No,” she purses her lip mischievously, “What makes you think that?”

Once more, Abi smiles in silent humor before holding up the piece, dyed in a thick red and black. She thinks of how others would not notice much for the obvious colors that match together in her position, besides Shirahime of course. “Are you sure it’s not you?” She teases, causing an eruption of laughter from the women around her.
Not to mention Shirahime of all people would know just what to buy-seeing all the times she’s bought the same wears for Kakashi!

Abi gingerly sets the tantalizing lingerie back into the box, thanking Shirahime before continuing on, unwrapping other nightgowns and chemise, along with more comfortable nightwear- namely from Hinata and Tenten who had dared not to set foot in the lingerie shop. It all came down to the bag of several pairs of panties given to Abi by May or the blue bra, which was obviously from Sayuri, to the silken robe from Tsukiko.

By the time their adventures of Abi’s gifts of lingerie began to come to a close did Abi receive her last present, wrapped and tied in a delicate lavender shade which could only make Abi look to one person in particular. Of course, Kina did not hide that it was her present, indeed, and urged her to open it.  Under the light tissue paper lay, yet another nightgown, albeit more comfortable looking than others.
“Kina, I don’t really think it needed to be this big,” she comments with a small stifle of laughter, glancing down to her chest to compare to the slightly larger size of the dress, also taking note of the stretchy material in the gown as well.

In her seat beside Abi, Kina smiles to herself before allowing Abi to continue on before she says anything. From the space left in the box, Abi is able to pull a box of ginger-and-herb tea leaves, a pair of soft slippers and another nightgown in Abi’s favorite shade of blue. Yet again, it is more comfortable that ones others got her, but none-the-less Abi is ecstatic to receive it as she unravel the dress from the way it is folded up to hold it up to herself. The dress is somewhat longer and looks more like a long tee-shirt to Abi, in it’s light blue dye. What puzzles her curiosity, however, is the front of the dress. Standing from the light blue is a cartoon yellow duck resting, while bold, cute letters below read “Mother Duck”.

All conversation seems to fall short to the realization that smacks Abi square in the face as Kina smiles kindly, albeit a mischief glinting in her visage. “I thought it would be nice to think about later, too,” Kina rests a hand at Abi’s shoulders, hunched in disbelief that floods through her being.

And surely, Abi, herself, knows she will need it, as well. Maybe sooner than she believes.