Love-in-idleness
A/N: If any of you are familiar with Martyrdom is an Art, this is a sequel of sorts. I would very much appreciate it if you would read that work as well.
As such, these two works will be undergoing reconstruction (as well as a general spell check and grammar editing!):
For Martyrdom is an Art (which will be changed to The Killer and The Artist), Shikai's history up until she is seventeen years old (because I honestly have come to find it so dubious and lacking that she began where she did).
For both of these works, Hagakure will now be called Yūkō no Sato (Deep and Quiet Bamboo Grove Village; in short, Silent Bamboo Grove Village), and Ken no Kuni will now be known as Takamura no Kuni (Bamboo Grove Country) because it is inhabited by samurai, and is not a shinobi country (and because it sounds better, tbh). This update will be featuring this change, and come the next update (which would likely be in November), the rest of the already published chapters will be updated for consistency, grammar, and spelling.
Onto the story, folks!
"It made sense that she is attracted to strong men. It also made sense that she is repulsed by his personality."
Shikaku no Shikai had expected this to happen, rather, she had been waiting for it to happen. It was only a matter of time before the affair had to be called off. She had apologized to him a few hours ago, so her apology should be sufficient for him to realize that she had called off the entire affair. If she were being poetic, she would say that he was free from her clutches now, but that's not as if she had kept him from courting whom he wanted to court, fucking whom we wanted to fuck.
"You have been nothing but kind, Hatake-san, and I apologize that I wasn't able to return even an ounce of it."
It's not like she needed to tell him explicitly that she is calling it off, right? Never mind her telling him that this affair of theirs no longer exists, her leaving should be enough to tell him that.
At least, that is what she supposes.
But then again, she wouldn't be able to leave just because she wanted to. She had packed most of her things with her so, of course, she wouldn't be able to leave without a permit.
Acquiring a permit entailed speaking to him for one last time.
One last time.
A part of her wonders what he would say to her, if he had anything more to say, but she hesitates and postpones it for the next day. She then decides to look for gifts and souvenirs to bring home to her family. It has been quite a long time since she had last visited them; around five years, if she were counting. Would her father still be working at his forge? Would her mother still be teaching in the dojo? Would her brother have fully acclimated to his role as the family head? Would all her other relatives remember her? Would she be worthy of inheriting the Amakuni name? Would she be given the recognition she longed for since she was a child?
Such thoughts filled her head, so much so, that the small, decorated vase she had been holding slips from her grip.
Only to be caught by a familiar hand.
The one who had caught the small vase was the one whom she called as 'Torihime', it was the youngest of their group, the archer-summoner, Asayake Tenkou.
"Tenkou." She greets, obviously caught by surprise.
How unlike her.
The younger woman blinked up at her, eyes showing a hint of curiosity as to why she reacted that way. For the keen and observant Tenkou, Shikai is single-minded and never out of focus, but that is what she has observed in all their time together, be it chasing criminals or stealing back prized possessions. But now that the war is over, their lives of becoming mercenaries for hire might be as well. She hadn't encountered Shikai that much around the village, and this is the first time she had seen the older woman acting quite absent-mindedly.
She wonders why.
"It's nice to see you around town, Shikai-san." Tenkou tells the older woman with a smile. "Is it your day off today?"
"I'm leaving for Yūkō no Sato tomorrow." was Shikai's curt reply.
Rude, Tenkou thinks. She pouts. "And you only tell me now?"
Shikai places the vase back on the stand and smiles to the merchant. Tenkou's jaw was hanging agape at the entire scene. She blinks as she couldn't believe her eyes; there was a semblance of a new form of sincerity in her eyes.
Perhaps she became soft?
Perhaps she has found love?
Perhaps–
But Shikai's gaze turns cold when it is directed at her as she replies, "It was urgent."
The older woman begins walking away, and it is only then that Tenkou notices a large shopping bag slung over her shoulder, and two more bags clutched in one hand.
"I see." Tenkou replies before stepping to Shikai's side to walk beside her. "So what will happen to the dojo?"
"I'm going to leave Tenten in-charge."
Wow, Tenkou thinks, Shkai sounds so sure of herself. She hadn't even asked the girl, and she expected such an answer already? Well, Shikai had always been determined to get what she wants…
"And your apartment?" Tenkou continues.
Shikai pauses. "I don't really know."
Now Tenkou thinks this is the perfect opportunity to ask something she had always wanted to ask. Ever since they were assigned to Konohagakure to facilitate the rehabilitation after the war, Shikai had begun renting an apartment on the far side of town, Haru had opted to stay in the apartment near the hospital in order to look after patients and woo a certain jounin, and she had decided to stay in a cheap hostel, the only one that allowed pets.
Only one pet per guest, however, but that didn't stop Tenkou from attempting to adopt stray cats and dogs.
And the occasional flock of birds.
They had stayed in Konohagakure for a little over half a year, and it is only now that Tenkou asks herself why it is only now that she had thought of why Shikai didn't invite them to stay with her. Surely her apartment has enough space to house the three of them, right?
Or perhaps she had a reason not to.
Tenkou suggests casually, "I could look after it for a while."
"You would?"Shikai asked, the slightest hint of surprise on her face.
Well, she thinks, that would be easier than putting it up for sale.
Tenkou nods eagerly, her mouth upturned into a big grin. "The owner wouldn't mind pets, right?"
"No," She shakes her head. "I bought it, after all."
Tenkou's eagerness is replaced by shock and disbelief. Of the three of them, Shikai is the least likely to take up permanent residency in Konohagakure because by the end of the war, she couldn't wait to go home to Yūkō no Sato to see to her family and to enlist as a part of their elite samurai, the Hagane Juttetsu, as she had acquired Murai several months before.
Murai. Tenkou knows the story behind Shikai's acquisition, and what Shikai thought as a necessary sacrifice for her to acquire it. She just hopes that Shikai gets the recognition she deserves after everything she has done. The man Shikai claimed to love had died, after all, and she still believes that his death could have been avoided if she were… better.
Tenkou thinks it's all bullshit, thinks that her acquisition had nothing to do with his death, thinks that Shikai should stop blaming herself and move on. It might be that Shikai has begun to move on, seeing as how Shikai had actually bought the apartment she was just renting at the beginning of their stay.
"So it's yours now?"
There is a single nod from Shikai, together with a punctuated, "Yes."
"Wow." Tenkou exclaims in disbelief. "I never thought you'd take permanent residency here."
Shikai exhales a lengthy sigh.
"Neither did I, but it's yours now, for the time being."
For the time being?
For a moment, both Tenkou and Shikai are dumbfounded. Shikai supposes that it was simply a slip of the tongue, she didn't mean it, it was just… simply uttered. For Tenkou, however, it might sound like a slip of the tongue, but she knows that there is something lurking beneath Shikai's words. Perhaps Shikai does have an intention to come back, but why? Sure, she might have the dojo, but she was bound to leave it to Tenten sooner or later. Shikai doesn't want to stay here in Konohagakure, doesn't want a stagnant life teaching shinobi who don't take the art of kenjutsu to heart, shinobi who couldn't care less for iaijustu, but…
Perhaps Shikai does want to stay.
"When are you coming back?" Tenkou asks.
There is a pause as Shikai's mouth opens slightly, then closes. She doesn't know what to say, doesn't know how long she will be away, doesn't know if she even wants to come back.
She wants to answer, "Never."
She wants to answer, "Soon."
Instead, she answers quietly, "I don't know."
At least, she is honest.
That night, Shikai surveys her apartment and takes an inventory of her belongings. She had always lived a simple life on the road, one that was fast-paced, one that didn't allow her to carry much, only essential items, such as her two blades. But in the months following the Fourth Great Shinobi World War, she had found herself to have too much idle time on her hands, so she had begun buying things that had caught her eye. It wasn't that she didn't buy souvenirs and the like in her travels, but it is only now that she began buying a lot of things, things in bulk, furniture, appliances–almost as if she actually is taking up permanent residence in Konohagakure, almost as if she is creating a home for herself in this village she does not belong to.
She looks at the books stacked on one table, the scrolls piled on a shelf, the ceramic tea set on the kitchen counter, the gilded silver and bronze figurines on the cupboard, the liquor bottles on a high shelf, the stand dressed in her battle armor, the two swords displayed beside it…
And don't get her started on the contents of the cabinets and dressers.
She even has a small garden of herbs.
She exhales and drops onto the sofa. She thinks that leaving the apartment to Tenkou might allow her to leave some of her belongings behind, but at the same time, that presupposes that she will return.
She won't return, will she?
"Ojou-san." Miboshi calls out to her, "Shall we begin?"
"Sorry." She says as she stands. "Let's begin."
She thinks of what to leave behind for Tenkou to tend, for Tenkou to use. The girl also lived a simple life, and she didn't need much, except for the space to house her adopted pets.
They pack her clothes first and left the heavier garments behind. Shikai thinks Tenkou would appreciate the gift, and she could always buy from the tailors in Yūkō no Sato. They pack the books and the scrolls next, but left some of the guides behind, such as the Apothecary's Guide to the Flora of Kaze no Kuni. Shikai thinks both Haru and Tenkou would appreciate the texts, after all. The last thing they pack is her armor and her blades. Shikai thinks to wear them instead, to save some space, but then again, she doesn't know what else she will pack.
"The beddings, Shikai-san?" Miboshi asks.
"Ah." She doesn't know what to do with them.
She isn't the sentimental sort, so she doesn't believe that this will bring back so-called memories, nor does she believe that scent or warmth sticks to the fabric. She scrubbed those sheets clean and made sure that no stain is left on them. But at the same time, she doesn't want to leave them to Tenkou–the very idea that her friend is sleeping on the sheets that two people fucked on…
"Let's bring them, Miboshi-san."
As they finish packing, Shikai notices that she is missing one thing.
A towel from her bedside drawer.
No matter, she thinks, it's not important, anyway.
The next day, she sees her prospective protégée arranging the materials for today's session. If memory serves her right, today's session is a kenjutsu one. So she takes her time on the steps, quietly observes how the kunoichi moves fluidly to count and organize the bokken, how the smile on her face doesn't falter, how her energetic charisma has manifested itself despite the early hour.
It's not even past seven, and yet she looks bright as day.
Shikai stretches her arms upward, catlike.
She greets the younger woman with a blunt, "Tenten."
It startles the brunette kunoichi, who hastily replies, "Good morning, Shikai-dono!"
Tenten's wide smile reminds her of Tenkou.
"You're quite enthusiastic today." She comments as she makes her way down the stairs.
"Oh, it's nothing." The girl laughs. "I visited my friend today."
"This early?"
Shikai had always been an early riser, but not that early. She was only dressed in a simple robe, hardly fitting to begin the day, when she decided to check the materials for today's session. She didn't expect Tenten to be in the makeshift dojo already, arranging the materials for her.
"Yes!" Tenten answered as she began placing the bokken on the stands. "Gai-sensei insisted."
Ah. Of course.
She hazards a reply, "Hyuuga Neji?"
For a moment, the kunoichi stares at her, shocked.
"Y-yes." Tenten replies hesitantly, suddenly feeling shy around the older woman, "I just… I felt a little happier that there was someone else besides Lee, Gai-sensei, Hinata, and me who would think to give him flowers."
"He was…" Shikai doesn't know what to say beyond that.
The gentle look on Tenten's face makes her feel a little sorry for being at a loss for words. She has never been good at these kinds of conversations, but she should at least try, according to Haru. She should at least become empathetic to how her student is feeling; she had lost someone before, someone she loved, after all.
"He was a great student, a proficient user of the Byakugan. He was an intelligent young man."
She doesn't want to recycle his words, no matter how sincere it would sound, so she settles with, "I heard he was a great student."
She tries her hardest to show Tenten a consoling smile.
And the girl nods vigorously, "He was! I even considered him my rival before."
"I'm sure he would be proud of you."
The fact that she is more surprised than Tenten is at the utterance of such words just shows how she is trying, honestly trying, to get this right. She doesn't want to come off as insincere because if she were, the chances of Tenten accepting her proposal to teach at the dojo would be very slim.
But… that reason makes it sound insincere, doesn't it?
Shikai just wants to be on friendly, comfortable terms with the girl.
"Thank you, Shikai-dono." Tenten bows slightly, a soft smile on her face.
Shikai breathes a sigh of relief. "Tenten?"
"Yes?"
She walks closer to the girl, fumbling with the words in her head before she dares to ask, "Would you mind handling the dojo for a while?"
A look of excitement and surprise comes across Tenten's face.
"No, not at all!" The kunoichi calms herself, "But… why?"
"I'm leaving."
It's a blunt and straightforward answer, which makes Tenten voice a very audible, "Oh."
Her expression shifts to one of slight disappointment. Surely there must be another reason?
Shikai notices this and grinds her mind to think, think, think.
"And…" She begins softly, "I think you have the promise of becoming a great teacher. Your proficiency in a variety of weapons makes you a cut above the rest. I would like for you to continue teaching, if you would allow it."
Candid. Honest. Haru would be proud of her.
Tenten's cheeks flush a bright shade of red at the confession, and bows deeply as she replies, "O-of course! It would be an honor!"
"Very well." She smiles, feeling relieved, before motioning to the bokken. "Shall we? For one last time?"
Tenten nods eagerly and Shikai feels warm at the sight.
At the time prior to the Fourth Great Shinobi World War, Shikai had heard of legendary weapons manifesting themselves, myths and legends appearing on either side, summoned by the dead, sought after by the living. She wonders if Murai would count, if Murai was as sought after by others as she was. But shinobi haven't heard of the legendary blades, other than the Kusanagi, which had been in the hands of one of their own. Totsuka and Murai had long been forgotten, if they were even included in their knowledge of legendary weapons.
Among all the legendary weapons, the Six Paths Sacred Treasures, were the most coveted of them all. Shikai has heard of such weapons, however unconventional they may be, and had wanted to see them for herself, if only to test Murai against them, and perhaps acquire it for her own use.
But what use would she have for them after the war?
Still, she persisted in her search and found that they were in the very village she had been stationed in, Konohagakure. For more, they were in possession of a kunoichi she had never heard of before.
"She is Maito Gai's student, Tenten."
Haru had introduced the girl to her, looking like a proud mother introducing her young daughter to a family friend. The girl, on the other hand, had a determined look on her face, though her body is trembling, and her knees are bent awkwardly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you!" The girl exclaims, bowing deeply.
She is truly a student of Konoha's Green Beast.
She nods in acknowledgment. "Likewise."
Tenten bites her lower lip at the cold response, steels herself, prepares herself.
Haru begins, "She wants to…"
But Tenten cuts her off when she stands upright suddenly, her determination coming off of her in waves, "Would you allow me to train under you?"
Shikai blinks. "I'm sorry?"
Ah, shit! Tenten curses mentally, wishing she hadn't said anything, quickly retracts and wishes to shrink herself out of sight.
Asking to be mentored by a samurai was harder than she thought.
Haru steps forward, hitting Shikai slightly on the shoulder. "You're terrifying the girl!"
The older, taller woman doesn't reel at her touch, and instead goes to a far shelf, seemingly taking a mental inventory of its contents. Her makeshift dojo has yet to be arranged, as per the Godaime Hokage and the Yūkō no Sato head's orders, that she teach the shinobi in bukijutsu, and already prospective students come to her.
She can't help but feel flattered by this, so she stepped away from them and faced a towards a shelf, hiding a smile behind her hand.
"This is just so sudden." She says. "It has only been two days after the war."
Which is honestly too soon to think about things like this; Haru should be tending to the injured, and Shikai should be resting.
But Haru is persistent. "You don't have plans on leaving anytime soon, right?"
"No, but…"
She is suddenly spun around by the delicate-looking woman. Haru has her hands on Shikai's shoulders, something she would never normally do, as she exclaims, "Which makes this the perfect time to train prospective students!"
Shikai wonders just how fast Maito Gai's energetic persona could affect this woman.
"Haru…" She glances beyond the woman's shoulder and sees Tenten visibly uncomfortable.
She doesn't tear her gaze away from the girl as she asks, "She is Konoha's Weapons Mistress, is she not?"
Tenten replies, "I am!"
She exhales through her nose, and Haru removes her hands from Shikai's shoulders. Shikai makes her way to the girl, taking long strides, and Tenten feels intimidated by it, but at the same time, admires the way she carries herself with such intimidation.
So this is how a samurai walks, she thinks.
Shikai stops short of an arm's length away from her, and Tenten looks up at her, at her serious expression, and can't help but be in awe of it.
The samurai speaks to her in a tone that skims on the fine line between admiration and jealousy, "The legendary weapons came to you for a reason."
And Tenten doesn't know what else to say but, "Th-thank you!"
If she weren't as intimidated as she is, she would have been jumping and screaming in glee. Even she, this samurai, knows about her acquisition of the Treasured Tools and has called her by her title as Konoha's only resident weapons' mistress.
Shikai places a firm hand on Tenten' shoulder, "If you are as promising as Haru says you are, very well."
Tenten almost leaped to embrace the woman, but stopped herself before she could.
The bokken slips from Shikai's grasp, and Tenten takes the opportunity to disarm her with a quick jab to her hand. It takes Shikai the split second to use her other hand to stop the bokken, and–
Game over.
Their spar only had one rule, assume that no tricks or techniques outside of kenjutsu are able to be done. Blocking a sword with one's bare hand is inadvisable, if not stupid.
The younger woman bows deeply, and Shikai does the same.
"I was right in choosing you." She tells the girl when they arise.
Tenten bows deeply again, in gratitude, "Thank you very much, Shikai-dono!"
It reminds her of her younger, excitable self, and Haru's words come to her mind, "Tenten is strong, but she is human, and so are you."
So Shikai takes this opportunity to ask, "Would like to have lunch? I'll treat you."
Tenten is visibly taken aback, "Y-you're treating me?"
"Of course," She nods, giving the girl a smile. "It's the least I could do."
She treats Tenten to barbeque, orders prime cuts and a copious amount of side dishes. It's a feast fit for a group, and Tenten thinks aloud that it would have been better if there were other people to enjoy it as well.
"Well, I could treat you and your friends next time." Shikai suggested a little too quickly.
Tenten is hopeful. "Really?"
"I…" Shikai is at a loss for words. "If… If you are ever in Yūkō no Sato, or when I return…"
Shikai doesn't know what to answer.
Tenten's laughter rings in the air, and it's okay. Her young student laughs and everything seems to be okay, so she orders another platter of meat and another round of side dishes. They spend another hour in the restaurant before Tenten tells her that she had promised to visit Gai in the hospital.
Shikai accompanies her to the hospital, though Tenten insisted that she didn't need to.
"It's fine. It's on the way, anyway." She tells her.
Tenten looks around and sees the Hokage Tower.
"The Hokage?"
Shikai hums in affirmation. She turns away from Tenten and breathes out unevenly.
"Well, good luck, Shikai-dono. And thanks for the meal. Goodbye."
She turns to Tenten, approaches the girl, and embraces her.
"Thank you."
She releases Tenten and is quick to leave, posture rigid, and hands stiff at her side. This is the last thing she needs to do before she leaves and she feels the slightest hint of trepidation as she approaches the tower. She had rehearsed countless times in her head and wished that everything would go according to plan.
In retrospect, she wished Miboshi had come to her sooner, before she had apologized to him. That way, things would be easier for the both of them.
But no, she doesn't enter the building. Instead, she stalks towards the nearest bar.
Tenkou had said before that liquor helps calm the nerves.
Later that day, after downing three glasses of yuzushu, she finds herself standing before the door to the Hokage's office.
His office.
The ANBU stationed on either side of the door pay her no mind and she finds it extremely dubious the shinobi elite guards are fine with foreign strangers suddenly appearing to talk to their village leaders without making prior appointments. If this were Yūkō no Sato, the guards would do a thorough check of anyone who wishes to speak with the daimyo, even if the daimyo thinks it completely unnecessary. However, she also thinks that they are acting in such a way because he was expecting her.
When she opens the door, she sees him pouring over a scroll, a towering stack of papers on the desk.
It suits him, she thinks.
"I didn't expect to see you, Shikai-san." He says without looking at her.
A lie. He must have been expecting her, else the guards would be a little bit more… strict.
Or perhaps they have become lax because of the war, and likely all hostilities, had ended.
She bows deeply from her waist, speaks in a formal tone, "Forgive my impetuousness, Hokage-sama."
She hears him move, likely to lower the scroll he is reading to look at her.
"I assume you are here because…"
She rises quickly, eyes like cold steel, and states, "I need to leave."
Actually, she had thought about how to say such a thing to him. Would explain her brother's situation, even if she only has vague details concerning it? Would she plead with him? Would she garner his sympathy? Or would she tell it to him as she would demand him, command him as she had done during their trysts?
She honestly thought those four words had sounded better in her head.
He blinks.
"Where are you going?"
She hadn't expected such an easy answer from him.
"Yūkō no Sato." She continued.
"Already?" The pitch of his voice rose a little.
She couldn't believe it. Was he truly surprised? Was he expecting this from the beginning? Or was he simply being the cordial village leader to this foreigner who had to go home?
Of course, it's the latter. He is, after all, nearing six months into his position. However, he hasn't taken an oath yet, so he isn't officially the Rokudaime Hokage, which means that she might be better off asking for permission from the Godaime Hokage, Tsunade.
If only she knew where to find her, and if she would grant her request.
"If you would allow me." She murmured, lowering her gaze to the floor. "My brother needs to speak with me urgently."
"What does he wish to discuss with you?"
She expected this question, and she had prepared only one answer.
"It is confidential." She says, her confidence faltering.
How could she say such a thing? Sure, it might be months after the war, but that answer would merit suspicion, and she might be prevented from leaving the village altogether. But what else would she say? All she knows is vague details: her brother, the 7th and current head of the Amakuni family, had asked to discuss important family matters with her concerning the future of the clan. She had been absent from the family for a long time, and it has been five years she had last visited them. She might be the head's older sister, but she has little to no say in the family affairs. Why her brother had asked for her after such a long time is baffling.
Still, she thinks her answer is better than saying "I don't know."
"I see."
She feels her pride swells a little because she half-expected such a response from him. It might be that his laid-back attitude could work for her this time. She might even be thankful for his casual personality just this once.
He taps a finger on his chin in thought. "When are you planning to leave?"
She replies smoothly, "Tomorrow."
"So soon." He blurts out.
Of course, anyone who would ask for permission to leave would have asked at least a week before they actually do.
Yet, she couldn't help but think what she would feel if his response was "Too soon."
"And have you made the necessary preparations?" He continued.
"Tenten will be handling the dojo."
"Until when?"
There was the tiniest hint of urgency in his voice. His body leaned forward very slightly. If she thought anything else, she might think he is being concerned for her, but all she thought was that he was concerned about Tenten and the rest of her students.
Of course. He could–he should–not be concerned about her.
"I cannot say for sure." She answers simply.
A pause.
She exhales through her mouth.
He leans back in his chair and breathes through his nose, slow and deep.
"Well," He clears his throat. "I wish you a safe journey, samurai-san."
A part of her dislikes his easy, laidback, and generally agreeable personality because it doesn't suit a leader's position, but then again, he was chosen for a reason. His talents and skills were recognized, and hers were far from being known at the same caliber as his, so she has no right to judge.
Still, she can't help but be thankful.
"You have my gratitude, Hokage-sama." She bows deeply.
The rest of the meeting went smoothly–if by smooth, one means in complete silence.
With the permit in her hand and the last of her tasks completed, she could leave Konohagakure without any attachments.
But when her hand is placed firmly on the doorknob, does he say, "Shikai-san. I forgive you."
The words are direct, consoling as if he had been meaning to say that to her.
She breathes evenly, showing him her back completely before she replies in a low, sorry tone:
"Goodbye, Hatake-san."
That night, she walks around Konohagakure to browse the night market for one last time. She had appreciated the wide selection of goods from the day market, but she knows the cheaper and rarer goods are what the night market has been known for. She was in the middle of browsing through a selection of small knives from Torigakure, thinking it would be a nice addition to her collection when she is suddenly pulled by the arm.
She is about to retaliate when she sees the fair woman.
"Haru." She greets in surprise.
And Haru looks a bit more homely than she ought to be, her hair is tied in a simple ponytail, elegant makeup seems to be absent from her face and instead is replaced by a genuine smile, she had dressed herself not in an expensive-looking robe, but in a simple garb quite like those worn by civilians in this town. She has completely acclimated to this way of living.
Or perhaps it is simple because Haru had fallen in love.
"You're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?" The woman tugs on her arm, drawing her away from the stall and into the street.
Shikai sighs. "Tenkou told you."
Of course.
"You gave her the apartment." Haru huffs.
"I did." She nods.
Haru looks mildly surprised at her, knows that it was uncharacteristic for Shikai to do such a generous gesture, and laughs heartily.
"You're giving the bird a place to stay, but I wonder where you'll return to."
"I don't know if I would return here." She admits. "Yūkō no Sato is my home."
Haru's smile fades. "When was the last time you went home?"
"It has been a very, very long time." She murmured.
The simple woman looked concerned and then took long strides past the night crowd, dragging the taller woman with her.
"Haru…" Shikai called out.
"Come." The woman's tone was serious and the smile on her face was wide.
"Drink with me."
Shikai didn't think of the regal, untouchable geisha of their team to be the one who drinks in cheap bars and eats in hole-in-the-wall restaurants, but here they are in a crowded, outdoor bar.
Haru waves to one of the servers and tells him sweetly, "One bottle of umeshu, please."
"O-of course! Right away!" The young man blushes.
Shikai wonders how Haru had found such a place and how she could be so… tolerant of it. The Haru she knew was one who liked elegant teahouses and quiet, secluded bars that served expensive drinks and finest fish, but now…
"Haru."
She dares think that Haru had become more human.
"You're leaving." The woman in question pouts. "I think I should at least give you a proper farewell."
So Haru orders for them the roast pig, glazed fruits, egg fried rice, and beef noodle soup while Shikai had just stared at her, thinking that Haru must have eaten here quite a number of times for her to order so quickly.
"I'm leaving early tomorrow." She tells the woman, "I really shouldn't–"
"You handle your alcohol very well, Shikai-san." Haru says in that dangerously sweet tone of hers, "I don't see a reason why you should decline. After all, we haven't done something like this ever since the war ended."
True.
Haru nods to the servers, who leaves quickly, before turning to Shikai. "How are you?"
Shikai is honestly suspicious of the woman's intentions. "Is there a reason why you're particularly chatty today?"
"How are you, Shikai-san?" Haru presses, her smile bordering on sharp.
"I'm fine. I had lunch with Tenten yesterday."
"And how was it?"
"She's a kind girl. Quite the observer, and she's very candid." Shikai smiles fondly.
Haru is surprised at the woman's gentle expression, and jokes, "You must have terrified her with your invitation. I bet she wasn't in a place to refuse."
But Shikai had always taken things too seriously, which is why her smile fades into a look of hurt. "I didn't think…"
"She was grateful for that meal, you know." Haru laughed. "She told me all about it in the hospital."
"Oh." She utters. Haru had been visiting the hospital frequently these days, but she doesn't wonder why.
"Is…" She starts, trying to word her question properly. "How is Gai doing?"
"Much better." Haru nods eagerly. "He'll be discharged soon."
Shikai has seldom seen the excited look on Haru's face, which is why she drawls out, "And you will…"
"I will stay by his side." Haru's tone is determined.
Shikai smiles at her words. "That's very kind of you."
Haru continues, sounding as determined and as excited as she could, "I proposed to him, after all."
Shikai thinks she would have choked if she were eating.
The dinner with Haru went well, except for the knowledge that she had already proposed marriage to the resident taijutsu master of Konoha. Shikai thinks it was only a matter of time before Haru would suggest such a thing to the man she claimed to love, but to propose so soon? And for Haru to actually do it?
Shikai thought of ordering another bottle for herself because of that.
"Oh, don't be shy."
But Haru did it for her.
In the end, Shikai had drunk a bottle and a half of umeshu, to Haru's delight, seeing as she would ask her about any prospective men in her life.
"There are none." Shikai had said. Of course, as she has a strong tolerance for alcohol.
Haru thought to order awamori just to be sure, but Shikai was quick to leave, telling her that she had drunk enough. Or was it perhaps she was afraid she would drunkenly admit to Haru that she had been sleeping with the Rokudaime Hokage? In any case, Shikai didn't think she would say something aloud, but thought about it as she was on her way home.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Miboshi-san." She greets the elderly man sitting on the sofa.
"Don't think too much of it, ojuosan." He laughed. "Though, someone came by to ask for you."
She blinks. "Who were they?"
It must be Tenkou or Tenten.
"They didn't say, but they left a parcel for you over there." He points to a wrapped package on the kitchen counter.
"Thank you, Miboshi-san." She nods to him. "Please, have a good night."
"Good night, ojuosan."
She picks up the parcel. It is unsigned and wrapped hastily, bound with paper, and tied with twine. It was soft. Perhaps Tenten wanted to give her a farewell gift, but was too shy to sign it. Maybe Tenkou found the scarf she had borrowed from her before…
She removes the wrapping and sees a small, cream-colored towel quite like the ones she kept in her bedside drawer. If it had Yūkō no Sato's symbol embroidered, then…
She unfolded the towel.
There was.
She drops the item almost instantaneously. She wiped her hands on her pants; she felt disgusted touching such a thing. She seethes through her mouth, eyeing the towel with disdain.
And then she stops herself. She picks up the towel and dusts it off before folding it again.
She looks at the item in her hand and brushes her thumb over the softness.
"How pathetic have I become?"
The next morning, she and Miboshi arrive at the gates. The sky is still colored with the warm hues of dawn, and the town is quiet, empty.
But there was one person who was running up to them. It was Tenkou, who looked like she had just woken up and ran out of her room after quickly throwing a robe and a pair of slippers.
"Tenkou." She greets the young woman.
"You don't think I would let you leave that easily, do you?" Tenkou's tone was as if she were talking to her quarry.
"I'm sorry." Shikai says, moving to pat Tenkou's shoulder. "My brother, he–"
But Tenkou embraces her instead. "Family. I understand, Shikai. It's fine. Just… I just wanted to say goodbye."
Shikai embraces her as well. "Goodbye, Tenkou."
Tenkou's embrace tightens before she releases her. She takes a small item from her pocket, a wooden keychain of their team's unofficial insignia, a five-petal flower with a sword for a stem and feathered wings. Tacky, but endearing all the same.
"Here." Tenkou takes her hand and places the item, "Just a little thing to remember me and Haru by."
A pause. Shikai wonders why Tenkou would say it as if she was going to leave for good.
Tenkou says, "It's not as if you'd be gone forever, but…"
Shikai smiles sadly. "You're staying here, too?"
Tenkou shrugs. "I don't know, but I like it here." She smiles fondly.
Shikai supposes that Tenkou is like Haru. If she were waxing poetics, she would say that the beauty had found her beast, and the bird had found a tree to nest in, but the warrior like her hadn't found the recognition she deserved. It would make sense that she would leave, whereas the other two would stay. Haru is getting married. Tenkou is going to be a shinobi. She would become her brother's protector. It all makes sense.
"Did you like it here, Shikai?"
The way Tenkou looks at her makes her feel guilty.
"I did."
A/N: Hold up! This isn't the end.
I think this was too long, honestly. I just liked writing her other friends too much. Feedback is always appreciated, folks.