~Fall~
Fall was Yuuhi Kurenai's favorite season, even when she was a small toddling child, playing in the brightly colored drifting leaves, throwing blunted kunai through them.
Now, years later, the crimson eyed woman couldn't help but think of how appropriate the season was for herself, her past, her future, her very being.
There were times in which she wondered why she didn't detest the very mention of the season, for it was during this time years ago that she lost one of the most important people in her life. And yet, for awhile, she did.
She fell into a storm of grief during that time for two years, the one in which Sarutobi Asuma had died, and once again a year afterwards, with a small infant by her side.
Nevertheless, when she saw her toddling child, playing in the leaves one breezy day with Nara Shikamaru by the little Sarutobi, she was reminded of why she loved the season.
Every year on, for years afterwards, Yuuhi Kurenai would make sure that she always had time to play with the child on the chilly, colorful, leaf-covered days that was autumn, that was fall, at least once a week.
It wasn't until little Akiko wasn't so little anymore, and they no longer played in the drifting leaves, yet still they upheld what had become a tradition, that Kurenai realized why she treasured this season so, perhaps even more so after her loss.
Though fall was a season of death, of falling leaves and chilly winds, it was also a season of great beauty, a different style of beauty than the new life of spring. It was a time of color, of happiness, of companionship and warming emotions, of memories made, an era in which there was love and care and overwhelming sensations that overpowered the death and fluttering cold, that made autumn all the more special.
It was the fact that people could be happy, that though there was loss, there was never truly separation: there was always the hope of another meeting, another chance, another small moment.
Which was why when Akiko asked why her name was what it was when she was a summer baby all those years ago, Kurenai smiled warmly at her child and told her that it was because she was the light that symbolized endurance, love, and hope. The little girl had seemed confused all those years ago, but had noticed in her mother's features an affection second to none, and accepted the answer easily.
And when she thought about it, Kurenai noticed that Sarutobi Asuma himself had been like fall: even in the face of loss and death, had left pleasant and endearing memories, a trail of love and care, and a little ray of hope and light for the crimson eyed woman.
As she watched the multi-colored leaves fall gently to the floor in a cloud of muted red, orange, brown, and yellow on an autumn evening, walking down the street, Kurenai reminisced.
It wasn't until Akiko, no longer a child, caught up to her and gently said, "Uncle Shika and I made dinner. Come in and have some," that Kurenai smiled at the girl and walked, hand in hand, back to the house that they shared.
Yes, fall was the best season, at least in Yuuhi Kurenai's eyes.
Mm, I've been really satisfied with my muse lately...though she seems to be very angsty and depressing. This was just begging to be written. I'm sort of waiting for it to die when Monday comes...so...I'm working on tons of stuff for the moment. I'm not exactly when Asuma died, so I sort of manipulated the timing to fit my story line. As for Akiko, it means autumn child, which I think is nice. Masashi Kishimoto mentioned in an interview (online source, at least) that he might make Kurenai's and Asuma's child female so...Akiko was born! As always, thanks for reading!