I was hurrying home, it was one of those evenings that I knew I was going to be late. I normally wouldn't have thought anything of it, but I had put off my chores. Mom was going to be furious. Then I spotted the man outside, standing in front of the door as if frozen. His hand was raised, as if to knock, but he just stayed there.

I hated that I recognized him, but not as the person I should know him as. I saw him as the person my lover in my past life had loved to dress up as. My heart ached and I almost turned right around. I did the stupid thing and pressed forward.

This would be another step at getting over that life. It didn't matter anymore, I had this life. I shouldn't keep dwelling on it.

I caught his gaze as I slipped passed him and opened the door. He blinked down at me, one eye showing a touch of surprise before it flashed away. I took in a deep breath.

"Tadaima," I called as I exhaled.

"Okaeri," Shikako greeted she had been approaching, probably to greet her sensei. Like I said her sense of people was far greater than mine. I didn't even know that we had guests until I was inside. I heard them before I felt their unfamiliar chakra.

"Oh-Hi Sensei!" Her smile turned blindingly bright. I tried slip past, now that my shoes were off, but she hooked me around the throat. She had me trapped, her grip firm. I suppose I shouldn't have expected her sensei to be a good enough distraction.

"Sorry, I'm late." The man mumbled in a bland voice that matched his expression, "I had to rearrange my garden gnomes, Timothy and Sir Bedevere aren't getting along so I had to separate them."

Shikako laughed and her grip almost started to loosen on me. But by then I was gaping at the man in complete disbelief. Didn't Kakashi live in an apartment? Didn't most people live in apartments in this village? Some lived in clan estates, but I had a feeling that most ninja kept to apartments. They would be far cheaper.

"Its okay, Sensei," Shikako motioned for Kakashi to come in and started dragging me off toward the kitchen. "We just finished eating, but I can heat up some leftovers."

"Ahh, that's not really necessary," Kakashi replied a little awkwardly. Was this guy for real? He could kill people with his pinky and he was awkward over social encounters?

Ninjas… I swear.

"Sure it is," Shikako's grip on me went right back to tight and uncomfortable. I tapped on her arm, and looked around wildly for some help. I spotted mom, but she was giving me that look like 'you're lucky your sister run into you first'. "There's a lot of leftovers, and I helped cook it specially. You can't turn it down."

"Guess I can't," Kakashi mused, expression wry.

Then Shikako released me and went to fetch the leftovers. I was allowed to make my escape.

"Get back out there," Mom caught me, "Go spend time with your sister, she just got home."

My shoulders sagged and slowly I dragged my feet till I was in the living room. It was just so loud… Shikamaru was smirking down at the shogi board. Naruto was buzzing with energy and for some reason believed that he should give advice to Sasuke. Sasuke was seriously considering his next move while ignoring Naruto.

Shikako bounced in after setting a plate with a mountain of food on the table. She looked so pleased with herself. I was mostly relieved that she was alive.

For the first time Naruto noticed me, as if I hadn't been sitting next to Shikamaru for the last five minutes. He laughed at me, and I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like him.

"A mini-Shikamaru!" He said in between laughter.

I clicked my tongue, not impressed. Shikako also laughed and nudged Naruto's shoulder, as if to get him to calm down. I frowned and glanced to Shikamaru. My older brother only offered me a shrug. It was true, we greatly resembled one another…especially our hair. Which now I wanted to cut, maybe the comparison would stop.

"It's not that funny," I grumbled, and I shook my head at Sasuke when his hand moved towards a pierce. He paused looking at me and moved his hand to the other side.

"Stop messing with him," Shikako retorted at me, "Don't listen to Masa-he'll only distract you so you end up losing."

"You sound like you're speaking from experience," Kakashi commented, sitting on the couch. I hadn't even noticed him come in.

I flashed him a devilish grin.

The jounin's eye crinkled in amusement.

Shikako made a noncommittal noise and her dark eyes flickered to mom. She had her old chucky camera out. Just one more thing that reminded me of a life I shouldn't even know of. I sighed and tapped a piece of that Shikamaru was considering.

"I was saving that one," Shikamaru muttered with a slight frown.

"You're going to win though, so does it really matter?" It was that exact toying around that pissed me off when I played against anyone in my family.

Sasuke's eyes sharpened, his mouth opened as if to contend then he saw it. He let out a sigh and flicked his king out on its side. Shikako quickly started reseting the board. Shikamaru started to assist.

"Kako," I said as an idea came to me, "Can I borrow a book?"

"Sure what kind?" She asked without even looking at me.

"The one about sealing."

Mom visibly paled, "Oh no."

Shikamaru scoffed, and even Naruto and Sasuke looked amused. I sighed feeling that I probably should've waited for a better opening to ask, say when no one was around I wouldn't feel judgment.

"I know better than to mess with explosive notes in the house."

"Hey!" Shikako instantly protested, "That was only once."

Naruto rolled with laughter.

"I'm not surprised," Sasuke retorted smirk spreading out to a smile.

Shikako ignored the two, and felt the need to warn me. "Fuinjutsu is hard to understand, I don't even get it."

I shrugged a shoulder, "I just want to take a look."

It was a relief when I was allowed to escape to my room. It was about the time Kakashi made his own escape out the front door. I rolled into my bed, pulling my blanket over me in the process. I was completely exhausted, from the social encounter and also from the long day.

Each day that passed I had regrettably taken my time to come home. I was just afraid that one day I would come and find out that Shikako was never going to come back. I was so full of fear that I'd get home and dad would be grim, Shikamaru would be angry, and mom would be horrified. I hated knowing that it was still a possibility. She would face more and more dangers out there. Shikamaru would to, but at least he didn't have a host to the kyuubi on his team and a revenge seeking Uchiha. It was the worse mix ever, who had such a bright idea of putting the two together? Let alone having Shikako on the team…

I think what I was most afraid of was the fact that I wouldn't be any help to her or Shika. I was useless to them, too young and too inexperienced. When it came down to it they would be the ones protecting me out in the field.

It was depressing to know.

AN: I'm not entirely happy about this bit... I actually had to rewrite it completely and i had a few scenes i took out because it just didn't flow right. So far i have four chapters written, one in progress. I still need to go over the next chapter but oh man the ideas keep flowing and i have a thing that i'm going to do that you'll all hate me for. thanks so much for reading! I also am grateful when mistakes are pointed out because i am horrible at editing.