Beyond the Looking Glass
Chapter One
-Browbeat-
"Now I want you all to listen to me. You know how I hate to repeat myself." A dark haired man sighed, crossing his arms over his torso. His forest green eyes looked over the three children before him. They all looked similar to the other, especially the two boys on either side of the young girl. They all had black hair just like their father's, but sea foam green eyes, courtesy of their mother.
"Kanamé." Akito spoke, meeting the gaze of the eldest of his triplets. The boy was a bit taller than the other two, his spiky black hair falling in his eyes and parting off to the side.
"Yes sir?"
"Make sure you're not so reclusive. You know your mother likes it when you're more outgoing. I know that the only friends you really need are your family, but to appease the pink harpy junior, I mean…your mother." He coughed. "Just try and smile a bit more."
"Yes sir." Kanamé repeated, nodding.
Akito shifted his gaze to the younger of the two boys, hardening slightly. "Noriaki." He almost scolded, making the boy wince. He had dark spiky locks that pointed out in all directions, his bangs covering his forehead and the tops of his jade depths. "I don't want to hear a complaint from your teacher about your behavior. Just because we are superior to everyone, doesn't mean you have to shove it down their throat. So cut the attitude and stop acting out."
The young boy rolled his eyes, huffing as he crossed his arms and glared off. Then the elder Uchiha glanced to his daughter, whose dark hair was down to her waist, falling around her, with her bangs cascading around her face. "Yes Daddy?" she spoke softly, making Akito smile. He kneeled down in front of her and took her small hands in his.
"You have a wonderful day little princess. And when you come home, you can tell me all about it." he said.
Izayoi, the youngest of the triplets, beamed. "Of course Daddy!" she giggled, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly. Akito hugged his only daughter back before standing up and nodding to his eldest children.
"Have a good first day at the academy." He told them before gesturing for them to continue into the school. The three walked in together, staying side by side.
Izayoi sighed, looking around nervously. "I wonder what the academy is going to be like. You think there will be lots of kids?"
"Who cares." Noriaki scoffed. "They aren't as good as us."
"Don't say that." Kanamé said sternly, giving his brother a warning glance. "Everyone is special in their own way."
The younger male shook his head. "That's only something the weak say to make themselves feel better."
"Whatever. Just stop." The elder triplet ordered and walked into their classroom. The place was filled with students that were already headed for their seats. It was loud, and people were laughing, which made the triplets uncomfortable. They weren't used to such activities or this much noise, unless Noriaki was chasing Hayate around and trying to get him to do something dangerous.
It was then that a girl with shoulder length white hair came up to them, her bangs falling so that they almost covered her eyes, a friendly smile on her face. "Hi. I'm Takata Hikari, you guys must be the Uchiha triplets. I heard you were going to be in our class, but I've never seen you before. Nice to meet you." she said, holding her hand out towards Izayoi.
The dark haired girl smiled and reached out to take the offered limb, but before she could Noriaki was between the two, knocking their hands to the side. "Why is your hair white? Are you an old granny?" he smirked then, looking devious. "You fail enough times at the ninja academy old woman? Huh?"
Her large violet eyes widened slightly as she brought her hand back to her body. "…no. I get it from my daddy." Hikari said, somewhat timidly.
Izayoi shoved her brother out of the way, glaring over at him. "Don't listen to him. He's just being a jerk." She said, taking Hikari's hand in her own and touching her free one over it. "My name is Uchiha Izayoi, it's so nice to meet you Hikari." She smiled.
Kanamé nodded and stepped up behind his sister. "Yes. Very nice to meet you." he spoke softly, his eyes focusing on the two girls' joined ones. Noriaki was on the other side of his sister instantly, pulling her hands back as if protecting them.
"If you would refrain from touching my sister, Granny, it would be better for you." he whipped out.
Hikari frowned. "I'm not a granny. I'm only seven." She argued.
"Whatever. White is lack of color, which means you are a lack of interest." The middle triplet scoffed, walking off to find a seat. Kanamé shook his head and followed his brother to give him a silent talking to.
The young girl watched the two walk away, tears beginning to gather in her eyes. Izayoi frowned and reached out, placing her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Don't listen to him Hikari, my brother is a big mouth. Actually, he's being pretty aggressive, so I think he might like you. He's not very good with words, just don't worry about him."
"Well I don't like him very much." She said, looking back to the ebony haired girl. "Will you sit next to me? Or do you want to sit with your brothers? I understand if you do."
"Please." The female Uchiha laughed. "I have to be with them all the time. I was so excited when my mom talked my dad into letting us attend the academy. It's why we're a year older than everyone." She explained.
"Why wouldn't he let you join sooner?" the pale haired girl asked, confused.
Izayoi sighed, walking with Hikari to their seats in the front, only to have Noriaki mutter something about 'nerd' towards the white haired girl. "Well," she began. "Since my dad is the Hokage and we're from the Uchiha line, he doesn't think regular ninja academy is good enough. So we've been learning from my grandfather, mother, and father. Plus we go to Suna all the time to visit my grandparents. But my mom thinks it'll be good to make new friends and to get out of the house more. I think it's just cause' she wants to have more sex with my dad, but I'm still excited." She smiled.
Hikari giggled. "Well I'm glad. I don't really have any friends, so it makes me happy that you're going this year."
"We can definitely be friends." The girl nodded.
The class was called to attention then, and their teacher began the class by introducing himself. His name was Iruka, and he told them all of the things that they were going to learn. The class seemed to go on for hours, until finally they were dismissed for lunch and recess. Hikari picked up her lunch box and smiled at her new friend. "You want to eat lunch with me? I know the best spot on the playground, you can see everything from there." She said, sounding excited.
"Izayoi is too young and vibrant to spend her lunch time with someone as old as you, Granny." Noriaki smirked, appearing beside his sister and looping his arm with hers. "Isn't that right dear sister?" he asked, touching his finger to the underside of her jaw.
"Noriaki." She huffed, brushing his hand away, a small pink blush on her face. "Stop being so mean to Hikari, she's younger than you. So how can she be old like a granny?"
The elder brother snickered, shifting his jade gaze to the girl, moving around his sister until he was in front of Hikari. He lifted his hand to her face and grabbed some of her hair. "Cause' she's a liar." He said simply, tugging on the pale locks. "I mean look at all those wrinkles."
Hikari gasped, her face heating up from embarrassment and outrage. She reached up with the hand holding her lunch box and tried to cover her face, while using the other hand to grab onto the hair that Noriaki was holding. "I don't have wrinkles you butthead!" she shouted, yanking the white strands from his hand before pushing past him as she ran from the room, both of her hands now covering her face.
Izayoi watched the girl leave before looking back at her brother and hitting him over the head. "What is wrong with you? Why are you being so mean to her?"
The elder boy scoffed, rubbing the now sore spot on his scalp. "What? I was just kidding. Jeez. I don't get why she's so sensitive."
The girl rolled her eyes and walked past Noriaki, who simply blinked. "Wa-wait! Izayoi!" he called after her, trailing behind her like a lost puppy. Kanamé, who had seen the entire episode, left after Hikari, finding her outside the academy and in the playground, sitting under one of the far off trees. She was leaning against the bark, with her knees pulled to her chest and her head resting on her knees. Kanamé stopped in front of her, a small frown on his face.
"I'm sorry about my brother."
"I'm sorry that he is your brother." She muttered, looking up at the elder boy, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Do I really look like an old lady with wrinkles?" she asked.
"No you do not." He said earnestly. "My brother has trouble interacting well with others. It unfortunately runs in the family of Uchihas. So please, just ignore him. He's trying to make conversation and talk to people, but he doesn't know how. So the only way he knows to continue is to grasp onto anything that pops into that idiotic head of his."
This made Hikari frown. "So the first thing that popped into his fat head was that I look like a grandma?" she scoffed, putting her legs down and picking up her lunch box. "Whatever. I just want him to leave me alone." She said, opening up the small bento her mother had made her.
"Well I don't see that happening anytime soon." The dark haired boy almost smiled. "He tends to overstep boundaries. But my sister really likes you, so I hope you will not let this affect your relationship with her."
She shook her head. "Of course I won't. She's not mean like him, so it's okay." She looked up at the eldest Uchiha. "You're not mean either, so how come he is?"
"He's complicated, and it's really not my place to attempt to explain why my brother is the way he is." Kanamé smirked. "He's difficult, but once you have him on your side, there's no stronger force than his will."
Hikari simply shrugged and picked up her chopsticks. Then she looked around at the other children playing and eating their lunches. "You should probably go off and find your siblings to eat lunch with them." She said, picking up a small clump of rice and eating it. "We only get thirty minutes for lunch, so you shouldn't waste them talking to me."
"Waste?" he blinked, appearing confused, but then suddenly irritated. "You know just because I'm an Uchiha doesn't mean I think I am better than you. And it insults me greatly that you would think so little of me after just meeting me."
"I never said that I did." She replied, taking another bite of her food. "I was simply pointing out that if you don't start eating now, you'll wind up having to eat quickly, and that's bad for your stomach. So you can either find your brother and sister, or just eat with me."
Kanamé sighed and bowed his head in dismissal as he left in order to locate his siblings. Hikari watched him go, before returning to her lunch. And when she finished, she packed up and went back to the classroom, being the first to arrive. She went and sat down in her seat, her back straight and her hands folded neatly on top of the table in front of her as she waited for everyone else to return from lunch.
Izayoi sat beside her, giving her a friendly smile as she scooted closer. "Hey Hikari. How was lunch? What did you eat?"
"I just had some rice and fried meat." The white haired girl replied. "What about you?"
"My mother came by and gave us some rice balls and teriyaki shish kebabs." The Uchiha beamed, placing her hand over her stomach. "It was so delicious."
Hikari smiled. "It sounds nice." She said, glancing at the door as more people entered the room. The smile slowly fell from her face when she saw Noriaki come in, and she quickly glanced back to Izayoi. "Does your mom cook for you all the time?"
"Every day and every meal." She nodded. "She's really good at it. She learned from my grandma in Suna. She didn't always when we were really little, cause' my mom and dad would leave on missions, but ever since my dad became Hokage he doesn't let her leave unless it's absolutely necessary. He's the overprotective type." Izayoi explained, laughing.
"That sounds nice. When my mom goes out on missions she either makes a bunch of food for me to heat up, or she leaves me money to go out and buy stuff." The younger girl said.
Izayoi blinked, confusion marring her perfect brow. "What about your dad?"
"He lives in Kumogakure. I've never met him before, because my mom said I'm not allowed to." She explained.
"How come?"
Hikari shrugged. "I'm not s'posed to ask her about him. But I know she doesn't like him very much. She always gets a mean look on her face if he's ever mentioned. Like this." Hikari made the face then, though it was a bit over-exaggerated.
The dark haired girl burst into laughter, only to be scolded by Iruka as he entered the room, informing them that class was about to start. Hikari's face went back to normal, and she instantly became the picture of the attentive student. Class wore on, as Iruka began to teach them about the different parts of a kunai, and why they were shaped as they were. Soon the day was over, and everyone was dismissed to go home. Izayoi and Hikari walked out together, chatting amiably.
When they walked out to the front, Hikari could see the Uchiha's mother waiting for them. She was unmistakable in her beauty, not to mention her pink hair was a clear sign of her identity. "Well I'll see you tomorrow Izayoi." The white haired girl said. "I need to get home and start dinner for my mommy. She's coming back from her mission tonight, so I gotta make sure the house is all nice for her." she smiled happily.
"Okay." Izayoi nodded, waving to Hikari as she walked off to join her mother. "Hi Mommy!" the young girl smiled up at her elder.
"Hello sweetheart, how was your first day at the academy?" Natsumi returned the expression, allowing her hand down for her daughter to take.
The young girl placed her hand in her mother's and giggled. "So fun! I already made a new friend. Her name is Hikari, and she's really nice and fun."
The pink haired woman looked pleased and glanced around. "Where are your brothers?"
Just as the words left her mouth, they heard a loud yell from across the yard. "Hey Granny! Don't trip and break your hip as you wobble home!" Noriaki snickered, laughing obnoxiously as Kanamé rolled his eyes and continued towards his mother.
"You just leave me alone you big meanie!" Hikari responded, before running off and disappearing around a corner, towards the opposite end of the village.
The dark haired boy burst into laughter once more, following after his brother. The second he saw his mother's scolding gaze his expression sobered. "Oh Mommy." He said softly, sounding young. "I didn't know you were here."
"Uchiha Noriaki." Natsumi reprimanded. "What have I told you about being mean to other kids?" she huffed, reaching out and taking his hand as they began to walk back towards their massive home in the Uchiha District. "You didn't light anyone on fire did you? Or set kunai in someone's chair?"
"Not yet he hasn't." Kanamé sighed, getting a glare from the younger boy.
Noriaki growled, finally turning his attention back to his mother. "Mommy I behaved, I didn't do anything mean to anyone. And I was just teasing that girl." He scoffed.
"Well I want you to be nice from your mouth too." Natsumi sighed, stopping in front of the district with the massive emblem painted on the doors. They came inside and headed through the street before they were upon a large, traditional Japanese style house. They went inside, and as they came in, there was a loud pounding of feet that came to meet them at the front.
"Mommy!" a small boy yelled at the top of his lungs, wrapping his arms around his mother's legs as he nuzzled her.
Natsumi laughed and kneeled down, picking up her youngest before kissing his cheek. "Hello my little Hayate. How are you? Where's Daddy? Wasn't he supposed to be watching you?"
"Daddy and Sano are in the kitchen playing Go." The little boy said, wrapping his arms around her neck and laying his head on her shoulder. "So I waited in the living room and played with my blocks while I waited for you to come back."
"Aw." Natsumi giggled, kissing him once more. "Well my little love, how about you go with Iza and wash up for dinner and ask her how her first day went? She made a new friend." She stated, setting her boy down. Izayoi smiled and nodded, taking her younger brother's hand as they walked off.
"You made a new friend Iza? I want a new friend! Can I meet her too?"
The pink haired woman smiled and looked back down at her boys. "Alright, dinner is in an hour."
"Yes ma'am." Kanamé smiled and headed down the hall. Noriaki turned to leave, only to have the back of his shirt grabbed.
"Ah, ah, ah." Natsumi huffed. "We're talking to dad about today."
"What?" he gasped, trying to break away as she dragged him towards the kitchen. "No! Mom! Please!"
They entered the kitchen then, to see Akito and Sanosuke sitting at the kitchen table, the board game between them. Sanosuke reached forward with his shorter arms and picked up a piece, hesitating only slightly before setting it down. "Excellent." Akito commented, observing the board. "But next time do not show uncertainty. It allows your opponent to know how much you doubt yourself, and can lead to your demise."
"Yes father." The young boy said. Both males looked to the doorway, seeing Natsumi and Noriaki.
Akito's gaze moved from Natsumi, to his second oldest. "What happened." He semi-sighed.
Sanosuke smirked. "Did you hit someone again Nori?" he snickered, looking exactly like his grandfather, save for his deep green eyes.
"That was one time!" the elder boy protested.
"Twice." Natsumi exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Noriaki's jaw dropped. "Was not! I barely hit him that second time, and he deserved it!"
"That's what you always say." The younger brother pointed out, a superior look coming to his face.
"Sanosuke," Akito said, getting his younger son's attention. "Go and inform your grandfather when dinner will be finished.
"Okay." Sanosuke said, hopping out of the chair. As he past Noriaki he shoved him slightly, before running out of the kitchen.
Akito stood then, walking over and stopping before his son, looking down at him. "So what happened."
Natsumi sighed and placed her hand on her son's head, since the boy's gaze had dropped to his father's feet. "Apparently he was teasing some girl a lot today. Calling her granny, or something like that."
"Noriaki." The elder man said in a tone meaning that he wanted to hear whatever defense the young boy could come up with.
"Sir." He replied softly, pursing his lips together in a tight line.
"Would you care to explain yourself?" Akito asked, raising a brow.
He shook his head. "No sir."
Natsumi frowned, not liking her son's demeanor. She knelt beside him and tried to look into his jade depths, though he avoided hers. "Baby, it's okay. We just want to know why. You're just a little boy, we all make mistakes."
"Well…" he began, turning a slight red. "She just came up and was talking to Izayoi, and I wanted to talk to her cause' she was pretty, but then I said something stupid instead and I couldn't take it back cause' Uchihas are never sorry, and so I just went with it…"
This made the pink haired woman blink, a bit surprised, though she knew where the teaching had come from. Her pale jade gaze shot up at her husband in a glare. Akito just shrugged. "What? That's my father talking, not me." He defended. Then he squat before Noriaki, actually not looking angry. "Son, despite Uchihas never being sorry, you do not need to continue to tease this girl. Rectify this tomorrow, and do not do it again. Alright?" he asked, his voice softening to show that he wasn't angry.
"Yes sir." Noriaki sighed.
"What do you mean 'Uchihas are never sorry'?" Natsumi huffed, her glare still on her husband. "Are you really never sorry? So I guess that means you don't really mean it when you apologize to me. Like when you forgot it was our anniversary last month."
Akito blinked, before looking at his wife. "Did I say never sorry? I meant rarely. We're rarely sorry. And of course I'm sorry about that. We talked about it and everything. I even took a whole week off from work to make it up to you." he said, cupping her cheek and stroking it with his thumb. "You're one of the few people that I have ever been sorry to, and one of three people I have ever apologized too."
She just rolled her eyes and looked down at her son. "Why don't you just apologize? That'll make her feel better."
"Try complimenting her." Akito suggested, letting his hand fall to his side as he stood. He moved over to the table and began to move the game so that it could be set for dinner. "Girls like to be complimented."
"Just be genuine." Natsumi smiled at her boy and kissed his cheek, giving him a small push for the door. "Go wash up for dinner alright sweetie?"
Noriaki nodded and left, mumbling a soft, "Yes ma'am."
The pink haired woman stood and watched him leave, setting her hands on her hips before looking back at her husband. "That's it. I don't want your dad saying anything to my babies." She huffed. "I know he means well, but he's corrupting my children with this insane Uchiha high."
Akito looked over at her and shrugged slightly. "I turned out pretty okay." He defended. At the narrowed look she gave him he sighed. "Fine. I will speak to him about it. But you know how fond he is of the kids. I doubt we can get him to stop teaching them."
Natsumi crossed her arms and stuck out her hip, causing her black halter top to ride up and show off her flat stomach. "And who do you want to please more Akito? Me or your dad?" she asked, arching a warning brow.
He smirked, walking over to her and bringing her closer to him. "Baby, you know I live to please you." he murmured, nuzzling her neck as he rubbed her hips. He kissed her cheek then, pulling back enough to see her face. "I promise to talk to him, okay? Tonight after dinner, when the kids are getting ready for bed."
Unable to resist her husband's charms, Natsumi lifted her arms and draped them around Akito's neck. "Mmm. What are you going to say to him?" she asked, sounding excited as she moved her hips against his own.
"I'm going to say, 'Father. You need to back off my kids and let me love them and be all soft and pansy-like. I don't give a damn about what you think. So go home and read your newspaper.'" He said, grinding against her.
"Oh baby!" Natsumi giggled, kissing him deeply. "You turn me on so much with your lies."
"Wanna have a quickie? We have time." Akito said, gripping her butt in his hands.
She smirked, leaning into him. "Only if you make it hard." She groaned.
Akito chuckled, lifting her so that her legs were wrapped around his waist. "I'm going to pound you so roughly you'll be dizzy when I'm done." He promised, kissing her as he began to make his way to their bedroom.
"Don't hurt me love." Natsumi giggled, slamming the door behind them with her foot. All five Uchiha children stuck their heads out their doors, to the end of the hall where their parents had gone.
Kanamé sighed. "Dinner will be in two hours now."
"Are mommy and daddy sexy fighting again?" Hayate asked, looking up at Noriaki.
"Yup." The triplet nodded, taking his brother's hand and pulling him towards the playroom. "Come on. We can make a brick city and then pretend we're monsters and knock it down."
"Yay!" the youngest Uchiha cheered happily, running forward and dragging his brother behind him.