Chapter 3

After they ate their ramen, Minato was called away by the Hokage, something about how all members of a team had to participate in a mission.

They did mention another kid named Kakashi, back with the cat…

Minato informed her that he'd come by the hospital to speak to her about Rin's training later. So that left Aya wandering the village, reluctant to go back to her grandma and the inevitable interrogation that would follow.

Aya stopped out side her grandma's restaurant, trying to think up an excuse to get out of work for the rest of the day so she could avoid her grandma. She sighed. I might as well just get it over with, God knows she'll come and hunt me down if I don't show up.

Just as Aya thought, when she entered the restaurant her grandma was sitting there waiting.

"Aya! You didn't tell me you had such an attractive boyfriend!" Her grandma yelled at her indignantly as she got up from behind the front desk.

"He's not my boyfriend! I just met-" Aya said waving her hands in front of her to try and dissuade her grandma.

"Oh don't be shy, Aya, you should bring him round for dinner one day, it would be so nice to get to know him, I'm just disappointed that you didn't tell me! Am I so old as to not know about your love life?!" Her grandma started to dramatically sob; "I just really wish you'd confide in me every now and again."

"But grandma-"

"Oh, but if you ever need advice with men, Aya, I was a great beauty in my days, I know how to handle them."

"Grandma…" I did not need to know that…

"Anyway, if you ever need time off to see your new boyfriend, just let me know, its absolutely fine," she said smiling wide as she hurried Aya into the bathrooms to get changed for work.

"Oh, and you have wonderful taste in men, he has beautiful hair my dear girl," her grandma said as she closed the bathroom door, leaving Aya standing in the middle of the bathrooms.

"Grandma! You can't just go on about my love life in front of all the customers!" Aya yelled indignantly, as she heard her grandma's distinct laughter outside the door.

Aya heard a knock on her office door at the hospital the next day just as she was getting ready to finish her shift.

"Come in!"

"Ah hi, Aya," Minato said has he walked in and silently shut the door behind him.

"I just came to talk to you about Rin's training. Oh and sorry I had to leave early yesterday at Ichiraku's, I had to sort out something with the Hokage." Minato said as he gave her a tight smile.

"That's fine, you can sit down in you like," Aya said as she got out her calendar, "My days off are usually on Tuesdays and Sundays, but I can probably get Wednesday off as well to train Rin if that works, the restaurant isn't very busy on Wednesdays anyway."

"Yeah, that's fine," Minato gave her one of his dazzling smiles.

"Okay guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Where do you usually meet, by the way?" Aya looked up him as she walked around her desk.

"Training ground 3 at 9am, Rin's always on time unlike some other members of our team…" He awkwardly smiled. He's cute when he has that awkward smile…Great now I'm starting to sound like grandma…Next I'll start fantasizing about his hair…Aya thought as they walked out of her office.

"I'll walk you home if you like." He smiled again. Does he ever not smile, or is that just me?

"No its fine, my house is on the other side of the village, it'd probably be too far out of your way," she said as she glanced up at him.

"No, it's okay, besides you're good company," Minato said smiling again, "but I mean if you don't, um, like me, then I can go. As company that is! Not that it means that you like me if you let me walk you, like just as friends. I mean we don't always have to be friends," Aya gave him a weird look, "Not like that! I'm not going to de-friend you or anything, once you're friends with someone you stay friends with them, I guess. But um, I mean unless you like them more but um, that doesn't mean…" He awkwardly scratched his head, trying to hide his blush.

"I'm digging my own grave here aren't I?"

"Ah yeah, just a bit, Minato," Aya looked at his blush, holding back her smile and trying not to laugh. I think I'm going to need that advice grandma offered…

They'd been talking casually, until halfway through their walk, Minato asked the last question she wanted to hear.

"I'm just curious Aya, whose team were you on before you quit?" Minato glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Aya looked down at the ground, trying to avoid his gaze, "I was on a team with Hirako Hyuga, Azashi Ryuga, and my cousin, Kimiko Tamai…" She trailed off trying to hold back her emotions.

Minato's eye's widened, and a look of pity covered his face, he had heard vaguely what had happen during that mission, Lord Hokage had spared many details, most likely to ease Aya's pain, and keep the mission private. But he knew the basic outcome.

Aya looked up when she felt a hand on her shoulder, Minato in sympathy at her, "if you ever want to talk to someone, Aya, I'll listen." Minato said. Aya smiled back, "Thanks."

They eventually reached Aya's house where she lived with her grandma.

"Thank you for walking me home, Minato," Aya said as she waved goodbye.

"You're welcome, I'll see you tomorrow at 9am!" Minato smiled and waved back as he jumped up onto the roof and went home.

Oh hell, I hope grandma didn't notice Minato walking me home, otherwise she'll feel the need to interrogate me again…

"Aya! Why didn't you bring that wonderful young man in?" Her grandma yelled out as Aya walked in the front door, "You know I wouldn't mind any man with hair like that coming over for dinner!"

Aya sighed exasperatedly. Why is she so obsessed with Minato's hair!