Life pretty much went back to normal after that. My routine didn't change except that I was apparently fit for Gai babysitting duties when Kimi-san wanted to go shopping herself or with Mai-san. Usually these days corresponded with the days I was on house duty with Kiki. It was easy really, Gai was not an energetic baby, believe it or not. Kiki and I would take turns trying to get him to smile with silly games that were all just variants of peek-a-boo. Gai was at the stage where he could crawl and stand up while being supported, and Kiki got ever annoyed that I tried so hard to get him to walk his own first steps. This baby was going to grow up to be a mighty taijutsu master, like, he needs to be on that shit. The most fun Gai seemed to have is when Kiki and I would build intricate structures with blocks, only to have Gai smack them apart, scattering blocks everywhere. Then we would pretend to cry and he would try to comfort us by trying to hand us a block. Precious.
These play dates happened about once a week, but I don't think it was doing Kimi-san any good, because she still looked haggard. I never said anything though, because, manners. But at one point that month, I did mention that Kimi-san looked very tired to Mai-san.
"Of course she looks tired! she's got a baby and that fool husband to deal with," Mai-san had exclaimed, but I could see the stress lines around her mouth. Her lips puckered a little when she was secretly worried about something, like my blackouts, so I knew she was actually also worried. But, as I was learning, we apparently didn't talk about those things. I can totally understand how Konoha ends up doing some shady shit, because their answer to all trouble seems to be "shove it as far down as possible and ignore it." Which, whatever, I can't change that. All I can do is work on not getting sucked into it, that is the only way I'm going to stay sane. But I did have some serious concerns for Gai. I don't think we ever saw anything on Kimi-san, which means either she wasn't that important, or she dies fairly early on in Gai's childhood.
I like Kimi-san. I really don't want her to die, but, at the same time, I don't know what to do about it. Eventually I file it away as something to think about later. Because, of all the things that don't really change, there is one flag that I'm deeply concerned about. Maybe I just never noticed him in the market before, but I seems I can't stop seeing Sakumo at the market. By the end of the month, he's coming to the stand regularly to purchase vegetables.
I'm a complete mess every time our eyes accidently meet and he just give me this smile, like, why is he so friendly? I'm pretty sure we're not friends. You don't meet a guy once and become friends, at least, I don't. At the same time, I can't complain, because every time he stops by the stand, he lets me say hi to Kakashi, who is growing like a weed! I forgot that you blink and they go from needing their head supported to sitting up on their own. Babies are amazing, and they smell good, if the diaper is clean, mind you. Now, the problem, is Mari-san's knowing look. She's totally scheming. Which becomes clear when she gets home with Ako-chan.
"My, my. Guess who stopped by the stand today," Mari sits herself down next to me at the table where I am mending one of Jiro-san's shirts.
I give her a wary side-eye, "Who?"
"None other than your admirer, Hatake-san," She smiles.
I scoff.
"He's not my admirer."
The very thought of that is enough to make me light-headed. On one hand, yeah, he's a total DILF, and I haven't seen any action in literal years. At the same time, He's freshly widowed and I have had years to process my own grief, and he has a infant to think of. Not to mention the glaring fact…He dies. He commits suicide and I just…don't think I could go through that again. No, it's better if we keep our distance from each other.
"Well, for not being your admirer, he sure was disappointed that you weren't working the stand today…"
I turn and face Mari, who still has a smile on her face, the cat who got the cream.
"Mari-san, how's Shin-san?"
Mari's smile turns sour, "a low blow Kiyo-san."
Shin-san is a young man, a young shinobi, who caught Mari's eye. A newly minted Chunin, Shin-san is apparently looking to climb the ladder a bit before settling down. Which makes complete sense to me, weddings and families aren't cheap. But Mari wants, well, she wants out, I think. She's probably just as done as I am with living under the Yamamoto roof. Not to say Mai-san and Jiro-san aren't fabulous for taking us in for so long, but at a certain age, well, you want your freedom. In what ever form it takes. And to Mari, it's marriage. It's been a year and a half that Shin-san and Mari-san have been flirting and making eyes at each other. Sometimes he stops by on lunch to sit with Mari, when he's not on a mission.
It's adorable, really, but, they're just not on the same page, and that's hilarious. The current situation is their having a little lover's spat about it. Thus, Mari's sour expression. It didn't help that they got into the fight right before Shin-san had to leave the village on an extended caravan mission. I know Mari is feeling very insecure about the whole situation, but I know it will all work out in the end. A blind man could see that Shin-san is head over heels for Mari. Everyone BUT Mari can see that. She tries to only show a certain side of herself, all demure and gentle, when in reality she's a bloody shark, but ninjas aren't all fools. I once caught Shin-san on a roof, watching Mari haggle with the dopiest look on his face. I think he likes that sharp, cunning side of her the most. No, they'll be fine, but maybe it's good for Mari to get a little lovesick.
Anyway, back to the pressing issue. Sakumo.
"You know, it wouldn't be a bad thing," Mari-san startles me out of my thoughts, "Hatake-san is a jonin, a famous one at that, and he already has a son, so you wouldn't have to ruin your figure and get pregnant, plus you actually like taking care of babies, and he needs someone to look after his…you should just marry him."
My face must look as horrified as I feel, because Mari-san bursts out laughing.
"I mean it Kiyo-san! What's not to like?" Mari leans in and pokes my side with her elbow a little, "He's handsome and he's most likely well off. You could definitely do worse."
"Really, Mari-san, please leave Kiyo-san alone!"
It's Ako-chan to the rescue. Though her face is beat red, probably because she was listening the whole time.
"You'll understand some day Ako-chan," Mari nods sagely, "To find the right man is to find happiness."
Lesbians, but whatever.
"Really Mari-san, you're too bold," Ako laid a hand against her flaming cheek.
Oh man, if only Ako knew what I had just been thinking. I actually didn't know what this place thought of same sex relationships. I hadn't really seen any indication that they existed out in the open here, but I also hadn't heard about any ill feelings towards the subject…mostly because I've never heard anyone talk about it, and I hear about a lot at the marketplace. I can only imagine what would happen if I told Mari and Ako that I'm more in the market for a wife than I am a husband right now…yeah, I shouldn't say anything. But a girlfriend would be nice. Someone to come home to, be intimate with, hold and cuddle and share, well, everything. Anyone would be nice. Gender isn't the issue. I simply miss having that connection with someone, and, yeah, I get horny sometimes. But Sakumo?
No way. It's way too impossible anyway. There's no way that I would even be a blip on his radar for something like that. I bet he just feels sorry for me. The orphaned widow with little to her name, even after three years in the safe confines of the village. Though, if I thought the issue couldn't get anymore embarrassing, I was wrong.
The next day was my turn to go with Mari to man the stand. It was turning out to be another simple brisk day when I turned from the customer in front of me and came face to face with the Hatake family. Sakumo gave me an apologetic smile for reasons I didn't understand until he was pushed aside.
"So, this is your vegetable girl, huh?"
My eyes caught the red fang streaks down the woman's cheeks and immediately peg her as an Inuzuka.
"Can…can I help you?" the question sounded like even more of a question coming out of my mouth. Did I just get called "vegetable girl"? Mari was failing to hide her grin.
"No, probably not," The woman replies, "I didn't really come here to buy anything, I just want to come see what's so interesting for Sakumo to come by here all the time."
"And…you think that's me?"
"Well, are you the vegetable girl?"
"Hitomi-san," Sakumo was bright red and put a hand on the woman's shoulder, "Please, you're being rude to Kiyo-san."
"So, you are vegetable girl."
Mari snorts as I blush.
"What would you have done if I hadn't been vegetable girl?" I ask.
"I would have moved on to the next girl," Hitomi-san jerks a thumb in Mari's direction, Mari, who is brightly discussing something leafy and green with a customer, pretending not to hear us at all.
"I see…" My eyes move back to this Hitomi. She's staring right back at me, looking very bored and very dangerous at the same time, "Are you a shinobi?"
A stupid question that I already know the answer to, but what else do you say in this situation?
"Mostly," she shrugs, "I take care of the pups in my spare time."
Either she means children, or actual puppies. Maybe both, now that I think about it, totally can't be ruled out. This is the moment that Kimi-san walks up.
"I'm so sorry," she bows at Sakumo and Hitomi-san, "Kiyo-san," she turns to me, "Can you take care of Gai for me this afternoon?"
I take Gai without thinking, and the loaded diaper bag Kimi-san is always carrying. I bet Dai stuffs it full every morning, that seems like a thing he would do. Though, actually, I've never met the man. I bounce Gai as he wraps his fist in my hair.
"Oh," Hitomi-san grins, "You know pups!"
"I, um…"
"Oh yes," Kimi-san smiles at me, "I don't know what I'd do without Kiyo-san's help with babysitting."
"You're that genin's wife, right?" Hitomi-san looks at Kimi-san, "Mieto-san or something?"
"Maito Dai, yes," Kimi-san gives a soft giggle, "that's my husband."
"You must be a real gem then," Hitomi-san winks and Kimi-san giggles again.
"They're both a lot to keep up with, certainly."
I extract my hair from Gai's mouth, "I can look after Gai for you Kimi-san, I can take him back to the house after lunch."
"Oh, thank you Kiyo-san," Kimi-san puts on her best smile and leans in to give Gai's hair a long kiss, "I'll see you at the house then."
I helped Gai wave goodbye to his mom as she got lost in the bustling crowd. I turned back and Hitomi-san was eyeing me differently now, though I can't place the look.
"Uh, excuse me," I turn to Mari, "Will you be okay if I get Gai set up in the shop?"
Mari waves her hand like it's no big deal, "I can handle it."
I nod my thanks and turn back to the two people in front of me, "I'm sorry, It was nice meeting you Hitomi-san."
Even though we hadn't been introduced at all.
"Likewise, vegetable girl."
I look to Kakashi and see he's awake and staring at Gai.
"Would you like to say goodbye to the baby, Gai?" I ask him and move towards Sakumo.
Gai looks at Kakashi as Sakumo gets the gist and moves him down so Gai can see from my arms. Gai lifts a hand in the air in front of Kakashi and up and closes his fist a few times.
"Bye-bye baby."
Kakashi wiggles restlessly in his swaddled blankets, but manages to free an arm. He stares at Gai's hand and makes a up and closing motion with his own fist.
"There, you see?" I smile at Kakashi, "Baby says good-bye too."
I reach out and offer a finger to Kakashi and he grabs it with his newly freed hand. I wiggle my finger a little in his grasp.
"It was nice seeing you baby Kakashi," She retract my finger and turn my smile to Sakumo, "and your father, even though he didn't buy anything."
Sakumo blushes, embarrassed, but gives me a nod.
Hitomi-san chuckles, "Well, come on Sakumo, you have to get back," she throws a look over her shoulder at me, "Bye vegetable girl!"
I turn my back and puff my cheeks. Why am I vegetable girl? And head over the the shop to get Gai setup on a blanket with toys.
