Although the streets were congested with vendors setting up their booths, and maintenance supervising and assisting with the more difficult labor, Sasuke's attention remained on the excitement coming from meeting the Hokage for the first time earlier that day. He skipped in front of Kira, walking backwards as he babbled over everything he had learned from the great Sarutobi and how he was even complimented by him when he displayed his developing abilities.

Kira laughed at his enthusiasm before reaching into her leg pouch and handing him a kunai. "Oh yeah?" she said, a challenge forming in her tone. "If the Hokage thinks you're so cool, let's put that money where your mouth is!" She grabbed a kunai of her own then and turned to one of the game vendor had his back turned as he was decorating the front with a banner. Behind him, there were three targets and Kira winked confidently at Sasuke before shooting the kunai straight towards one. She made it right on the edge of the bull's eye, an action that sent Sasuke roaring into laughter considering Kira was studying to be a chunin. A rosy hue flooded her cheeks as she snapped at the amused boy. "Oh quit your barking, chihuahua! Let's see if you can do any better!"

Still glowing from his Hokage-induced thrill, Sasuke confidently shot the kunai towards the targets, managing to completely miss them altogether. Instead, the kunai embedded itself mere inches from the vendor's hand. He then snapped his attention back towards the duo, a glaring heatedly at them. "YOU!" The man was seething, his banner crumbling in his tightening hold on it.

"Were about to leave, huh, Kuriketto-chan?~"

The whisper in her ear startled Kira yet again sending another Uchiha chuckling. Shisui patted her back quickly in a silent order before scooping Sasuke over his shoulder and flitting away, just as the furious vendor snatched up the kunai and went to throw it in the direction the children were moments before. When he found that they had vanished, he hollered in frustration before tearing the banner from his stall and storming off.

Now a safe distance away, the trio fell into laughter. "You need to work on your aim, kid," Shisui teased as he gave Sasuke a light flick to the side of his head. Sasuke pouted in good nature as Shisui turned his attention to Kira, smirking and causing the girl into a scowl. "And you too, Kuriketto! How you managed to pass the exit exam is beyond me!"

"Shouldn't you be on a mission, Shisui-kun?" Kira huffed, taking note of his ANBU uniform.

Technically, no one was supposed to see them in public though Shisui wore his mask loosely around his neck in pride. He grinned, boasting of his early assignment completion. "I was actually on my way to the Hokage's office when I saw you two morons. How do you ever expect to win prizes with such bad aim?"

Kira opened her mouth to retort only to be cut off by an enthused Sasuke. "You're gonna report your mission now, right?" Shisui nodded once, taken aback by the kid's sudden glee. Sasuke latched onto his leg then, begging that Shisui allow him to come so that he could see Hokage-sama again. Shisui glanced at Kira as if for permission to steal away and spoil her favorite Uchiha.

"Go ahead," she said, waving them off. "Hikaru's visiting the manor today and my mother insisted I spend time with her. Apparently, she's still not feeling well."

Initially, the mention of the elder Tottori sister caused Shisui's expression to sour but slowly piqued his interest. "Eh, I have a proposal for you," he said, slinging his arm lazily around her shoulder. "Tanabata is tonight; we should go to the festival—you, me, Itachi, and Hikaru—all together, like we used to." Sasuke piped in, adding a "don't forget about me!" to which Shisui shot him a look for. He turned back to Kira for an answer.

She considered his proposition for a moment. Hikaru had been ill for quite a while and for that reason, Mikoto-san had sent her home with the hopes some family remedies may aid her back to health. As Hikaru's sister, Kira knew that she was probably holed up in her bedroom with the contagion rather than taking in some much needed fresh air. A night out would probably do the trick and their mother would undoubtedly pester them if the girls were not seen out, upholding the Tottori's name. With a sigh, Kira agreed to Shisui's proposal, much to his delight. He gave her a wink and a promise to see her that night before being dragged off by Sasuke. Kira shook her head in disbelief though a smile ghosted across her lips at the Uchiha's antics.

Just as Kira suspected, her mother was all too eager—if not the least bit surprised—at her suggestion that she and Hikaru attend the Tanabata festival that night. Hikaru wasted no time to object suspecting Kira was up to one of her schemes. Saika shushed her eldest daughter immediately, agreeing that it would Hikaru some good to enjoy herself outside of her stuffy bedroom. Hikaru sulked in response before their mother dashed off, eager to find something extravagant for the girl's to wear that evening.

Left alone with her sister, Kira took up her mother's spot on the side of the bed, unconsciously scrutinizing the changes in her Hikaru's appearance. Hikaru had always been fair but her face was even paler, accentuated perhaps by the dark circles under her eyes. Her cheekbones were prominent but in a hollow way and even her hair seemed inflicted by whatever illness that ailed her. She fingered the end of a plait, glowering under Kira's eyes.

"What?" she snapped before falling into a coughing fit. Kira reached for her though Hikaru swatted her away, holding a handkerchief to her mouth.

"You look quite sick, Hikaru," Kira said carefully. "Should I have mother reconsider tonight?"

Hikaru scoffed, opening her mouth to, as Kira suspected, shoot back some sassy retort. Instead, another onslaught of coughs commenced and Saika rushed in then with a housekeeper carrying a pitcher of water. She shooed Kira off, chiding her for tormenting her poor sister before advising her to prepare herself for the festival while they worked on fixing up the young Uchiha wife. Kira obliged while wondering if maybe Hikaru was a bit too ill to be wandering around the village at night.

As she disrobed, she caught notice of some specks across the edge of her sleeve. Upon closer inspection, Kira realized it was blood and wondered where it might've come from.


Author's Note:

Ages: Itachi and Hikaru 14, Kira 13, Shisui 16, and Sasuke 5.

Tanabata is also known as the Star Festival. It celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi, divine lovers separated by the Milky Way who are only able to meet once a year.