Butterflies: Orange and Pink
"The butterfly effect. One small event changes one small thing, but this snowballs into greater and greater things until the world as we know it has changed entirely. So, what if one small event, eight years in the past, changes." Set in 'Butterflies', yet majorly AU. OC-centric, slice of life.
Intro
3rd person PoV Chapter
A/N: This isn't my usual style of intro, nor is this my usual set up. I want to show, as efficiently as possible, how different this is from Butterflies. And this is the result of that. The next chapter, the 'start' of the story, will take place exactly where Butterflies starts, and we'll take it from there.
8-8
"Terumi! You know he's in no state to stay here!" Miwako's voice carries through the Mist rebels' camp. Her wild, black and spikey hair sways in the wind. Her entire body is tense, coiled, ready to strike at any second. Her brown-yellow eyes shine with anger, with worry, with the need to protect her mate, the love of her life. There's an undeniable threat in her stance, that she'll break anyone and anything that keeps her from her pack. "He needs to come home! To his wife! To his daughter! If he stays he'll break!"
Satsuma, for his part, looks pretty broken as is. He's curled up on the ground, in a foetal position. His hands gripping his short blue hair, pulling at it to relieve the torment, the torture ravaging his fractured mind.
Terumi Mei, leader of one of five rebel factions in the Land of Water. Her long red hair, the lock covering one eye, the blue dress she'd gotten used to wearing, even on missions. She stands tall, even now. But… she knows this woman is right. She'll be forever grateful to Satsuma, but he cannot stay. The last time he was like this, it took him months to be able to feed himself, and even longer to not wake up screaming for no reason in the middle of the night.
"Ao. Escort the Konoha team and Satsuma out of our camp. We don't have time for this."
8-8
Back in Konoha, just arriving from a successful mission, Wolf, Rabbit, Dog and Weasel report to Anbu HQ. Wolf is still carrying the blue-haired medic, refusing to let anyone but her touch him. Something he clearly appreciates, given he's not screaming.
Dog offers the report, while the others study Wolf carefully. She isn't acting like an Anbu Captain. At all. She's… she hides it well, but she's as broken as the man in her arms.
"Wolf." The Anbu Commander gets her attention. "Take time off. Tend to your husband. That's an order."
Tend to him? You don't have to tell her that twice. Once is already one too many. She body flickers out of the room, taking him with her.
"Rabbit. You will guard them. Wolf hides it well, but she is coming loose at the seams." Without hesitation, Rabbit body flickers as well. She knows where Wolf is going, and she knows what she needs. Wolf is her trainer after all, there are few in Anbu that know Wolf better than Rabbit.
"Dog, Weasel. Dismissed." Salamander, the Anbu Commander, says. With little more than a nod, the man finds himself alone in his office. He takes off his mask, placing it on his desk. He stars slowly, methodically, massaging his temples. He made a bad call, sending Wolf. He knows that. He knew it then. But, how do you tell a woman not to pursue her husband after finally finding a clue to his whereabouts? After pouring two years of her life into an investigation that Konoha wrote off as hopeless after six months? After her friends, her colleagues, even her Hokage told her to stop, to give up, to let him go? How do you tell her to let someone else handle this?
"I'm getting too old for this shit." He finally says the words out loud. He doesn't doubt his wife will jump for joy when she hears it. Just as he doesn't doubt the Hokage with get an instant headache for the same reason. Still, better to retire and grow old gracefully.
With that in mind, he dons his mask and leaves his office. He heads straight for the Tower, to give in his one month notice. Which is complete crap, seeing as he'd need to be replaced immediately if he was killed. That's bureaucracy for you.
8-8
On the very edge of the village, in the Shinobi District, Wolf and Rabbit arrive in front of a gate on a quiet street. Wolf turns to Rabbit. "You mind getting her for me? I need to get this one settled in."
With a nod, Rabbit disappears. Wolf bites her thumb and unlocks the gate. She carries the now sleeping Satsuma in, closes the gate behind her, unlocks the house… and wonders why Minato was so paranoid with the security. I mean, really? It takes her nearly a minute every time! It's annoying at times like this!
Still, once she takes off her shinobi sandals, she happily enters her ancestral home. Sure, she's only the second generation of Namiki to live Konoha, and she and Satsuma bough this place just so they could have a dozen pups together, but… it feels like so much more! This is… this is her den. This is where she wants to be, where she needs to be.
She carries Satsuma into the family sitting room, carefully lays him on the tatami mats. She takes off her mask, laying in on the low table. And for the first time in two years… she watches him sleep.
She's no fool. She knows his rehabilitation will take months, years even! She's going to be so frustrated, so annoyed, to the point of tears more times than not. She doesn't care. Her mate needs her, and she and Aya need him.
As if on cue, the doorbell rings. Miwako dries the tears she'll deny she's been crying, and rushes out to the gate. Hyuuga Hitomi is carrying Aya in one arm, and a duffel bag in another. Still, Miwako sniffs to identify them both. You never know.
She opens the gate, and takes her daughter, her precious baby girl, into her arms. Aya hugs her, kisses her over and over. "Hiya, mama. Mission go good?"
"Did it ever!" Miwako says, crying a little again. Aya wipes away her tears, questions in her eyes.
"Then why are you crying, mama?" She asks, almost to the point of tears herself. Aya has always been such a gentle spirit, for a Namiki.
"I have a present for you. In the family sitting room." Miwako says, still walking into the house. She knows Hitomi will shut the gate properly, just like she knows Hitomi isn't going to leave the den for a while. Salamander is probably being overprotective of her again, so Hitomi's probably going to be here to guard her while she tends to her husband and child.
"Mama, I don't need presents." Aya counters, hugging Miwako with all her might. "I just need you."
"Well, tough. Cause he's already here." Miwako says, crying. She often asks herself how she ended up with so wonderful a pup. Today is no exception. "He's sleeping though, so you've got to be really quiet."
"A puppy!?" Aya asks, excited. She jumps back a little to study her mother, knowing when the woman is holding something back. She's smiling, crying and holding her tight. Whatever this present is, it has her really emotional.
"Better!"
"Mama, the only thing better than a puppy is papa." Miwako grins through the tears. Aya thinks about that, wondering why her mama is acting so funny. She blinks. She blinks again. "… Mama…?"
"We found him." Miwako doesn't bother to deny it this time; she's in tears. She doesn't care. "We finally found him, baby."
Aya starts crying too, trying to wriggle out of her mother's embrace. She doesn't like how slow her mother's walking, so the second Miwako puts her down, she takes off as if she just learned to body flicker.
In the family sitting room, on the mats… "PAPA!" Aya is on him in an instant, laying on his chest and crying her little heart out.
The coming months are going to be hard. Hard on Miwako, who still has to admit to herself that she's seconds from having a breakdown. Hard on Satsuma, who has fight with every fibre of his being to overcome what Mist did to him – not the rebels, but still. Hard on Aya, who'll undoubtedly take it upon herself to nurse here papa back to health. And even harder on Hitomi, because she'll have to go back to the Hyuuga compound when this is over.
8-8
Days start flowing together. Miwako and Satsuma have therapy sessions with Inoichi three times a week. Aya and Hitomi don't seem to care too much. They're quite happy with the arrangement.
Weeks start turning into months. Aya still doesn't care. She feeds her father whenever he starts to space out during meals. She hugs him whenever he starts to cry. And she's gotten into the habit of kissing his brow for no reason at all.
Her mother, too. After all, Aya decides, you can't have one feeling left out, right?
It's winter. It's snowing. So, as tradition demands, Aya opens the sliding paper screens and sits her father down. "Papa, sit down! No arguing with doctor Aya!"
Satsuma sits. Aya drapes a quilt over his shoulders, making sure to hang most of it so she can reach. Then she climbs into his lap and wraps herself in the quilt too. This way, they'll both be warm. Miwako comes into the room, followed by the eleven year old Hitomi, both carrying two mugs of hot chocolate.
Seeing only Satsuma's back, but smelling them both, Miwako decides to investigate. She places the hot chocolate on the table, then squats behind her husband, wrapping her arms around him. "Who said you're allowed to open the screens before I get here?" She teases playfully.
"Hnn?" Satsuma sounds confused, wondering what he did wrong. "Doctor Aya opened them. All I did was sit where she told me to."
"Did she now?" Miwako is almost positive that Aya is in her father's lap. But she's playing possum. Miwako grins. "Well, seeing as she's hiding somewhere, I guess I'll just have to drink her hot chocolate for her."
"Mama! Don't be a meanie!" Aya's head pops out from under the quilt and is obviously annoyed, even knowing her mother wouldn't do that to her. Miwako laughs, her eyes lighting up with joy. So the four of them sit together. Aya in her papa's lap, Miwako and Hitomi to either side of them. They sit with their hot chocolate and their quilts – Aya's job was to get four, but she decided she was sitting with her papa anyway, so she only brought three.
They sit, together, and watch it snow. None of them can bring themselves to care about anything but this moment. This perfect moment.
"Bazu!" Aya shouts out of the blue. "I forgot Bazu-chan upstairs!"
"It's alright, I'll get him for you." Hitomi offers. Her hot chocolate's almost done anyway, so she wants a refill. "Does anyone else want some more hot chocolate?"
"I do, I do!" Aya announces excitedly. "But it's not fair that you have to do everything! Let me help!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down." Hitomi says, smiling. Hitomi and Aya head off. Hitomi into the kitchen, Aya upstairs to get Bazu from her bed. Meanwhile, Miwako and Satsuma are enjoying the moment. The moment neither of them dared hope they'd share again.
"Doctor Aya, huh?" Miwako asks, a smile in her tone.
"She's been asking me for a little brother or sister." Satsuma says, somehow believe this to be connected to 'doctor Aya'. "Says it only fair. That way she can be a doctor like me, while her little brother or sister can be an Anbu Captain like you."
"Is that so?"
"Nn. I wonder how, though. I always thought only women could get pregnant." Miwako doesn't fight the laughter that overtakes her. Satsuma isn't sure what's so funny, but somehow Miwako's laughter… heals him, if only a little. He finds himself smiling, with a warm feeling in his chest that has nothing on the warmth of the hot chocolate.
Hitomi, smiles a little herself. Miwako has been good to her these last months. No one wanted to take a ten year old trainee, no matter how gifted. Miwako didn't care. She took Hitomi under her wing, kept her so busy that, even now, she barely has the time to worry about the rapidly deteriorating relationship she has with her clan.
It's not like she can help finding girls more attracting than guys after all! They smell nicer, they look nicer, they have nicer butts. It isn't her fault that guys are so gross!
Hitomi breathes, trying to shake off the stupid thoughts. Miwako knows, of course. Miwako seems to know everything. And she doesn't care. Hitomi remembers the first time Hitomi was brought back to 'the den'. Miwako introduced her daughter, and immediately added, "She likes girls in the way I like boys. Do you think that's weird?" Hitomi wanted the earth to swallow her whole.
"Uh uh. You like what you like. I'm Aya! I like Bazu-chan, here. But not in the way you like girls. I like hugging him, because he's so soft and cuddly. You should try it! Here, feel how soft his fur is." Hitomi did, and she admitted that Aya was right, Bazu is soft and cuddly. "See! Only nice people like Bazu-chan, so you have to be nice! Hey, you wanna come see my dolls?"
Hitomi never in her life felt more at home than here with the Namikis. Never. Nowhere. This is her family. This is her home. And she'll do anything for them.
8-8
February sixteenth, the day after Aya turns six, is the first day of the Academy for her. She cries, begging her mother not to make her go. Begging to stay home to help take care of her father. "Now, baby, none of that. Papa's doing a lot better now, and so is mama. Besides, Hitomi's going to be with us the whole time. And you know Hitomi's going to take good care of us." Miwako explains gently.
Aya turns to Hitomi, tears in her eyes. "Promise?"
"On my life, Aya-chan." Hitomi offers beckoning for a hug. Aya doesn't hesitate, hugging the older girl with all her might. "And we'll be back here to pick you up after school. I'm going to want to hear about all your new friends, okay?"
8-8
Months fly by once again. The family continues healing, one day at a time. Satsuma is to the point that he only wakes up once during the night screaming. The nightmares aren't dying down though, but he seems to be coping with them better now.
Aya mostly complains about the academy. Most of the people there are stupid. They ask stupid questions, and need to hear the same explanation three of four times, worded different ways, before they understand. And to make matters worse, she has to learn about flowers. She spends most of the class sneezing, and avoiding the more fragrant ones. But at least one of her friends –Ino-chan– understands. The blue-eyed blond helps her pick out scentless flowers, but… she still isn't exactly a fan of that class.
And on top of that, there's these three really mean girls –Ami, Kasumi and Fuki– that keep picking on people. Not on Aya, of course, they're not that stupid. But Sakura-chan gets picked on sometimes.
Aya spent the rest of that day crying because of how mean they were to Sakura-chan, even after Sakura-chan completely forgot about it.
8-8
Months drag on. Summer comes, picnic season – in Aya's opinion at least. Satsuma's doing so well now that the family starts hold weekly picnics in a park near their house. On the fourth such picnic, Aya smells something funny.
She turns to the source of the smell, tilting her head in confusion. It's a blonde boy. But he looks skinny – too skinny. The weird thing about him is that he smells like ramen and… fire? And wind too. "Mama, why does he smell like that?" Aya asks, confused.
"What do you smell, baby?"
"Ramen. And wind. And fire."
Miwako stares at her daughter. Stares. "Wow, baby that's really impressive." She eventually manages. "He smells like ramen, because he eats a lot of it. And the fire and wind? Elements. You're smelling his chakra."
"Chakra? I can smell chakra?" Aya sounds confused. Not about chakra itself, it was discussed already in class – mentioned, really, but Aya came home and interrogated her mother about the new word that afternoon.
"Apparently. Namikis usually can't smell that keenly until they're like eight or nine, but… well, you are my daughter after all." Miwako says, proud of her pup more than ever.
"Is that so…" Aya thinks about it, be decides it's a boring subject and moves on. "Hey! I remember him! We used to play in the park together, right mama!?"
"Very good, baby. Why don't you go over and invite him to join us. We have plenty of food."
"Can I!?" Aya just loves that idea.
"I wouldn't tell you to otherwise. Hop to! He looks like he could use a meal." Aya fully agrees with her mother, so she runs to the boy.
The blonde, for his part, looks ready to freak out. People don't tend to notice him, and when they do, they don't tend to be nice about it. So when a black-haired girl runs up to him, he's instantly on his guard.
There's something about her though. Her eyes. They're brown, but sorta yellowish too. That… "Aya-chan!?" The boy calls out, shocked but more than a little happy.
"Naru-chan! I knew it was you! Come on, we're having a picnic! And if you say no, I'm never going to forgive you." She doesn't wait for his response, she just grabs his hand and drags him along. "Naru-chan, these are mama, papa and Tomi-nee. She's really nice, but she likes girls just like mama likes boys."
Naruto isn't sure what to think about that. "Aya-chan. What have I told you about introducing me like that?" Hitomi sounds both amused and annoyed.
"What? It's true. And there's nothing wrong with it. And if Naru-chan thinks there is then he's not getting any dessert!" Aya decides on a punishment instantly. It's what her mother threatens her with, after all. A meal with no chocolate, that's a true punishment!
"It's nice to meet you." Naruto says, rubbing the back of his head. Aya's always been a little weird, but she's always been super nice to him. If the others are weird but nice, he won't care who they like. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
"It's nice to see you again, Naru-chan. I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm Miwako. You always used to call me auntie Wawa, for some reason."
"Auntie Wawa, huh?" Naruto thinks about that. It doesn't ring a bell, at all, but he shrugs and decides it doesn't matter.
"That's right. I'd prefer it if you call me auntie Miwako though, okay?" Miwako tries. She knows Naruto has a thing for giving people nicknames – a trait he inherited from his mother.
"Alright, auntie." Naruto doesn't seem to really care too much. He's too busy staring at the still closed picnic basket.
"That works. This is Aya's father, Satsuma. Please call him uncle Satsuma. And Hitomi. Aya mostly calls her Tomi-nee."
"Nice to meet you." Naruto says. His stomach announces it'd be nicer to eat, though.
"Wow! You sound like you have a whole pack in there dying to eat. Mama, can we eat now? I don't think Naru-chan likes all this talking without food." Aya all but demands.
They start unpacking the picnic basket, Hitomi points out all the dishes she and Miwako made together. But Naruto and Aya aren't listening. They just grab the first thing that looks yummy and start munching. Naruto's eating habits could be compared to a stray dogs – messy, loud, and absolutely improper. Aya's is must more ladylike –Hitomi's influence– but just as ravenous.
Eventually, Hitomi starts getting on both of their cases. She shows Naruto how to eat properly, gives him a pair of chopsticks and corrects his every little mistake. And she makes sure Aya slows down. She's proper enough, but being a proper and polite blur is still rude.
After everyone's had their fill, and drinks some tea, Aya turns to her friend. "We have a picnic like this every week, same time. You're coming next week." She demands.
"Are you kidding!? I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Naruto announces, patting his swollen belly. "I haven't eaten this good since… forever!"
"I'm glad you like it. And Aya's right, you should join us." Miwako says, smiling. She's glad she didn't even have to suggest(/demand) it. "In fact, what don't you join us for dinner later? We'd love to have you over."
"I was just thinking that, mama! Naru-chan, please? Ple-ple-ple-ple~eeeeeeese!" Aya even gives him the puppy eyes. No one can ever resist Aya's puppy eyes for long – if at all. A fact she's quite proud of.
Naruto, rubs the back of his head, blushing. He's not really sure what to make of this. They're not just nice, they're awesome! "I'm there!"
8-8
Time starts flying once again. Naruto is all but ordered –by Aya, but Miwako fully supports it– to be at their house for every meal. Not almost, not sort of, but EVERY meal. He tried skipping out once, and Aya refused to let anyone eat until they tracked the boy down. She never lets him forget it either!
Around mid-October, Naruto also starts attending the academy. Aya hasn't stopped dragging him everywhere she goes since. The two are simply inseparable – and Miwako couldn't be prouder.
Ino, Hinata and Sakura are a little unsure of Naruto at first, especially since Sakura's mother told her to stay away from him no matter what. It doesn't bother Aya in the least, even though Naruto looks sad.
"Well, too bad. If he isn't good enough for you, then I'm not good enough for you. See ya!" Aya just drags Naruto along, and they go play like nothing happened. Hinata is quick to follow, so is Ino. They know Aya well enough to know she isn't joking. She'd leave them and never speak to them again. And if they try anything against her friend, she'd break their nose – Kasumi can attest to that the day after she picked on Sakura.
Miwako is a lot of things, but she's been teaching Aya Muay Thai since she could walk. Aya knows how to fight, even if she doesn't like it.
Satsuma's been doing a lot better too. He's been teaching Aya simplified medical theory. He argues that if she wants to be a doctor, she might as well start learning now. Miwako doesn't mind at all, and Aya loves getting her papa's undivided attention.
8-8
In the blink of an eye, a year passes. Aya and Naruto are now seven. Hitomi's officially moved into the Namiki den. Hiashi's grateful she's found people to love and support her, especially an upstanding and understanding family as the Namikis.
Naruto starts sleeping over some nights, even without it being discussed in advance. Aya finds that… strange. "Mama, how come Naru-nii doesn't have to ask anyone to sleep over?" Aya asks one afternoon. Naruto stiffens, his eyes holding great pain, and almost to the point of tears.
"He lives alone, baby."
"WHAT!?" Aya obviously doesn't like that idea, even as she shrinks in on herself from shouting so loud. "Mama, we have to let him move in here! We have to!" Aya doesn't like how loud her own voice sounds. It's weird, she isn't talking any louder than she usually would, but it just sounds louder.
"Hmm?" Miwako pretends to think about that. "How so?"
"Because no one should ever be without a pack, mama! It isn't right! He needs a home, a family to come home to!"
"Well, that's true. Maybe we should ask Hokage-sama about it."
"Alright, let's go." Aya gets up, already dragging Naruto to the door. "Come on, mama! Time's wasting!"
8-8
Aya drags Naruto and her mother to the Hokage Tower – or tries to. She's been there once or twice, but can't seem to remember the way for some reason. Naruto goes to see the old man all the time, so he tells her whenever she takes a wrong turn somewhere.
It takes twice as long as it should, because Aya and Naruto get into a fight about whether ramen or chocolate is better and neither is willing to give a millimetre on their stance. They eventually agree to disagree, because talking about it is making them really hungry.
Once they get to see the Hokage, Aya decides to do the talking. "Hokage-chan, we've got a major problem." She begins. Some words come out louder than others, and she winces each time she talks a little louder. Miwako smiles, her Namiki heritage is kicking in full swing now. She decides to talk to her daughter about it tonight.
"I see, and what problem might that be, Aya-chan?" Hiruzen sounds amused. He's never met the girl before, but he makes a point to remember at least the names of his Anbu's children – for future reference.
"Naru-chan lives alone. All by himself. That isn't right. He should be living with a family that can love and take care of him." Aya explains seriously.
"I understand. What would you recommend?" Hiruzen asks curiously.
"When I heard about it earlier today, I told mama that he should move in with us. I mean, he's with us all the time anyways. And he sleeps over three of four nights a week. It's not even like we don't have the space. I mean we have like four empty bedrooms. So can he? Can he, please?" Aya pulls out all the stops. She gives him the puppy eyes, the pouty, quivering lips, the hug-me-you-know-you-want-to stance and the fidgeting fingers to show she's really nervous about this.
"I can't answer that yet." Hiruzen says, wondering how girls pick up on things like that so easily – Asami's the same way, so he's learned to work with her rather than against her. It saves a lot of cold glares and annoyed 'Hnn!'s.
Aya looks confused. "I'll think about it. And I'll let Miwako know in a couple of days, how does that sound?"
Aya sniffles. "You can think about it now, can't you? I promise I'll be really patient and not rush you at all." She sniffles again, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes.
It takes ever gram of willpower in him not to tell her yes. "This isn't something so simple, Aya-chan. This is a really big decision."
"I know…" Aya looks away from him, subtly pinching her arm until tears start falling.
"How about this." Hiruzen is defenceless against little girl's tears. Every married man, every father of a little girl… heck, most guys in general can never turn down a cute little girl in tears. Aya knows that. Aya likes that. "What if Naruto were to sleep over until the decision's been made. That way he doesn't move in, but you can still keep him out of trouble for me. Does that sound fair?"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Even as she winces each time she speaks, she still rushes to him, hugging him like there's no tomorrow.
#You just got played.# Miwako signs, smirking proudly.
#I know. Would you have handled it better?# Hiruzen signs back.
#Nope. Why do you think I let her do the talking?# Miwako grins.
8-8
It's not a month later that Miwako and Satsuma come to the inevitable conclusion. They're pregnant – three and a half months along. Satsuma scans her six or seven times. Each time, the result is the same. "We're having a baby." He says, awed.
"We're having a baby." Miwako agrees, worried. She has no idea how to tell the kids. Hitomi won't mind – she loves taking care of people. Naruto's pretty easy to predict too, he'll ask: when's dinner. Part if Miwako is wondering how she didn't notice before, but she pins it on things being so hectic.
It's Aya. She's the little princess of the den. She's the one that enjoys her status, enjoys being spoiled. Will she be willing to share?
Seeing no reason to lie or hide –she's already past her first trimester after all– they decide to gather the pups and give the big news. "Pups." Miwako begins. She's been calling all three of them her pups, they don't mind. In fact, Miwako's positive that Naruto enjoys being called that. "We… have some pretty big news."
Miwako and Satsuma share a look. "We're having a baby." Satsuma announces, studying the three children sitting across from him. Hitomi, as predicted, glows, already congratulating them. Naruto looks confused, shrugs and asks if he can have ramen for dessert – it's been banned as a meal, but it's fine for dessert.
"I'm…" Aya's eyes are wide with shock. "I'm going to be a big sister?" She sounds excited, but careful to not get her hopes up until there's a confirmation.
"That's right." Miwako nods, smiling. "I have your little brother or sister growing in my tummy."
"In your tummy? Is that why your…" Aya blushes deeply, obviously finding the wording embarrassing. "Why I've been smelling something really funny in the bathroom?"
Miwako and Satsuma share a look. So there have been signs, they've just been overlooked. Satsuma's the one to answer. "Yes, princess. Pregnant women's urine," Aya blushes again, not wanting to meet their gaze. "has a unique scent to it. Why didn't you bring this up before?"
"I dunno. I thought that maybe mama drank something funny that she enjoys?" Aya obviously didn't think much of it. "It's been a bit much for a while… so I've been using the other bathroom."
"That's why. I thought it was weird that you suddenly started using the other bathroom all the time. I thought you were annoyed with me over something." Miwako carefully keeps her voice down; Aya's still not too happy with loud noises, and it's only getting worse.
"Uh uh." Aya gets up, walking around the table to her mother. Miwako knows what this means, Aya wants to sit in her lap and cuddle a bit. Once Miwako makes space for her, and Aya carefully sits down, her legs carefully arranged alongside her mother's and the pair facing each other –being far more careful and gentle than she usually is– Aya… stares at her mother's flat tummy. "Our baby's in there, huh."
"Our?" Satsuma asks, wondering about that.
"Well, yeah. It takes a pack to raise a pup. So of course I'm gonna be the bestest big sister."
8-8
More time flies. Hoshie is born, another little girl. Aya's grateful, mostly because she's in a 'boys are stupid' phase. She and Naruto can't seem to agree on anything. Ramen versus chocolate. Summer versus winter. Autumn versus spring. Breakfast versus dinner. Orange versus pink.
They do agree that the academy's boring, but for different reasons – even the reason for something they agree on, they need to disagree. Naruto finds it boring because the teachers ignore him. Aya finds it boring because it's so easy. Miwako tries for a middle ground and has Aya explain things to Naruto that the teacher won't. So that works out quite well.
However, they fully agree that they're one pack. And for that reason, they can call each other names until they're blue in the face, but no one else has the right. Sasuke tries calling Naruto stupid and needed to be brought to the school nurse – broken arm. Sakura tries calling Aya stuck up, because she won't talk to her anymore… she's been finding bees (as in, multiple) in her bento ever since. She still can't figure out who's doing it. Kiba tries calling Aya 'a hot dish'… Naruto isn't sure what he means by that, but the boy found out just how much better Naruto's taijutsu's gotten since Miwako and Satsuma started teaching him. Nothing breaks, mostly just bruises. But even so, Naruto assures the boy it's because he isn't sure about the 'hot dish' comment.
With Aya helping Naruto with his homework and studying, his grades start steadily improving. In fact, Naruto and Aya are currently the top students of the class. It infuriates the teachers, but every time they try to 'misunderstand' the answers, Aya notices. And she brings it straight to the Hokage's attention – not even the head teacher, she drags Naruto straight to the Hokage, in the middle of class, to deal with it immediately.
With the students too afraid of getting on Aya's bad side, people stop being cruel to Naruto. He starts hanging out with Kiba, Chouji and Shikamaru a lot – but none of them dare to skip class, because Aya tracks them down and drags them back by their ears. All four of them. At the same time. She makes sure to tell their mothers too, and promises to keep a close watch on them.
Aya's besties with Hinata and Ino, even though Ino has a thing for Sasuke – which Aya can't understand for the life of her. Still, they treat Naruto with respect, so she's willing to overlook quirks.
They start having sleepovers, once a week, by someone else's house. Ino and Hinata always beg for it to be over by Aya's, because they love helping take care of Hoshie. They even tell Hinata not to come without her little sister, Hanabi. The boys try to arrange it not being at Naruto's for the same reason – they don't mind Hoshie, but… her drooling is too gross for words and Kiba nearly spews the first time he smells a dirty diaper.
Aya swats him, hard, each and every time he overreacts. Her nose is just as sensitive, and she changes Hoshie all the time.
8-8
Years drift by. Another Namiki is born, Kenshin. Finally a boy. Aya's the one that points it out this time, the second she notices. The pregnancy, that is. Miwako isn't nearly as worried this time. Aya and Naruto always help with Hoshie, with everything.
And no one is more excited than Hitomi – who's been dating Uzuki Yuugao for a few months. They breaking up, because Hitomi catches Yuugao making out with Gekkou Hayate – her kenjutsu instructor. Hitomi's upset about it for a few weeks, but after Yuugao comes over, begging for the pranks to stop… Well, Hitomi feels a lot better.
She finally notices that Naruto and Aya are looking quite pleased with themselves and have been for the exact same amount of time Hitomi's been crying over her girlfriend, but thought it was because they finally called a truce. Once Yuugao tells her, and Hitomi forgives her, the fights start up just as bad as they always have been.
Hitomi's been twice as sweet on them ever since.
Miwako starts reconnecting with all her old friends – and feels pretty stupid it's taken her this long. Nara Yoshino, Akimichi Remi and Yamanaki Mariko start coming over for lunch every so often, bringing their child with them. Hyuuga Harumi tries to come as often as she can, but she's been feeling under the weather lately.
Satsuma demands to check on her, discovering she suffers from a rare disease – one only encountered in the Land of Water, so he recognizes it. It just so happens she'd been on a mission there not two months prior.
She start treatment immediately – she's hospitalized for just under a month, but she pulls through. Hiashi bans her from missions because of it. He refuses –plain and simple– to risk the best thing that's ever happened to him; his exact words.
If Hinata was close to Aya before, she's glued to the girl now. And she keeps bringing little gifts for Satsuma, to thank him. More often than not, it's a gift from Hiashi and Harumi – as a couple, not the Hyuuga patriarch and matriarch. No, the Hyuuga clan had already bought them the house next door as thanks for saving their matriarch.
With Harumi home more now, she starts begging her husband for another child. Seeing no reason not to, they soon find themselves expecting. The Hyuuga clan celebrates the birth of their clan head's first son – and frankly this takes a lot of pressure off both Hinata and Hanabi, seeing as the first born son is always marked as the heir. Neither girl minds in the least – they don't want it.
8-8
Aya and Naruto are in their final year at the academy. Miwako's back to working full time, taking Anbu missions. Aya's been helping patch her up when she comes home – Satsuma insists it's good practice, and frankly Aya has a talent for medical jutsus.
Satsuma's still in no state to start working at the hospital, but he doesn't mind. He quite enjoys taking care of the house and the kids while Miwako's out on missions – and while she's home really. Hitomi's dating again, a girl named Inaho. She's three years older, but at least she isn't as childish. It worries Hitomi a bit that the girl is still a genin, so she invites her over to help her train – retrain her, really. It turns out Inaho's jounin sensei is a joke. He pays almost no attention to her.
Well, no one of the Namiki household is having that! Even when Miwako and Hitomi are out on missions, Inaho is expected to show up every day to train. It moves Inaho to tears when even Hoshie gets on her case about not showing up! For a four year old, Hoshie is pretty focused on her training; something that Aya and Naruto are quite proud of. Even little Kenshin, who's now starting to walk, is learning to defend himself! Aya's been adamant about teaching her siblings, after all.
On Aya's twelfth birthday, Aya has an announcement to make. "Guys… I don't think I want to be a kunoichi." No one seems surprised. Sure, Aya will knock someone's teeth in if they mess with her pack, but… other than that, she hates fighting. Give her medical theory complex enough to make Naruto's head spin, give her an encyclopaedia on it… she'll happily study it all. Ask her to fight someone that isn't bothering her pack? Not interested. She leaves that to Naruto. And Hoshie. That girl can fight!
"Tell us something we don't know." Naruto teases.
"You… don't mind?" Aya turns to her parents.
"Why would we mind? You have to choose your own path, baby." Miwako says, smiling. Satsuma whispers something into his wife's ear and she blushes. "Your father and I had a bet going on when you'd tell us. It seems he won."
"… huh?"
"If you told us before the genin exam, I'm supposed to quit Anbu. Put my mask on reserve for Hoshie when she's ready for it." Miwako explains.
"… What about money?" Aya asks, seemingly worried.
"Not an issue. Trust me." Miwako says, amused. "Your father's been investing a lot of money in certain businesses. I'm sure at this point even you guys wouldn't have to work a day in your lives."
"Maybe, but I know you, mama. What are you going to do then?"
"Take a genin team, maybe. Who knows." Miwako doesn't act like she cares too much, but no one's buying it. "Anyway! This is a party!" Everyone cheers, and all of Miwako's friends tell her that it's about time she quits Anbu. Hitomi, refusing to take missions without her pseudo mother, decides –and announces– to quit Anbu as well. It just won't be the same, she argues. Satsuma grins.
"Thanks, Tomi." Miwako intones, annoyed.
"Another bet." Hitomi doesn't ask.
"Uh huh… I'm supposed to petition for head teacher at the academy if you quit with me." Everyone laughs at the annoyed tone.
"But they never switch mid-year?" Hitomi points out.
"I know… in which case I'm supposed to spend the remaining time training the pups." Miwako sounds happy about that part, at least. "So guess what? That means you guys get my undivided attention for the next six months."
"Or longer." Aya points out. "If you get turned down, then you need to try again next year." She grins. She's the one that suggested that bet. Both of them.
"Husband of mine?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Love of my life?"
"Guilty as charged."
"Father of my children?"
"The one and only."
"You've been plotting with Aya, haven't you."
"You're only now catching on?"
"… The bets were her idea, weren't they."
"For an ex-Anbu Captain, you're pretty slow, love."
"… She always did take after you in the brains department." Miwako sighs, defeated. Then she catches herself, eyes widening with shock, before narrow in annoyance.
"… You do realise what just happened right?" Satsuma isn't giving up.
"I know." Miwake rubs her temples, even more annoyed.
"You know Aya's aware of this, right?"
"… I know." The rubbing her said temples seems a bit more desperate now.
"You know the clock's ticking, right?"
"Shut up."
"I love you, too." Miwako groans.
8-8
End Intro
8-8
A/N: I had planned on this being completely different. Initially, at least. But the fact is that there's no 'happy ending' waiting out there is I keep Naruto from Aya. There's nothing but anger, hurt, depression, darkness and death. And that's being nice about it. As such, I'm posting this idea instead of Butterflies: She-Wolf, as advertised on my profile page.