Chapter 36 - Grandpa?

(Yue's POV)

The next afternoon, I find myself quiet and deep thought. My mind is still racking for the answer.

Did he say it, or did I imagine it?

We're walking around the village again, but today, aimlessly. Kakashi and Naruto are watching the kids as I walk a little ahead.

Finally, I come to my conclusion.

It must have been in my head. He could never love me. I'll just push this to the very back of my mind and forget all about it.

But can I?

I mean, we're around each other 24/7. It would be strange to separate, the Earth country is no longer a threat. And, plus, Awari is attached to Kakashi. We're all he knows. He has a warm place to sleep and a big family that loves him.

I can't rip him away from all of that, it would just kill him. I just can't leave, no matter how much I miss Suna.

Its near the Earth region, I could never go back there.

This is my new home.

"Ero-sennin!" Naruto's bellow, again, knocks me out of my thoughts.

"Ero-sennin?" I question, turning around as fast as I can.

My eyes widen.

Long, spiky white hair, red stripes, red jacket, giant scroll.

Before I know what I'm doing, I'm running at him in full force. I knock in to him, wrap my arms around his waist tightly.

"Jiraiya Jii-san!"

"Jiraiya Jii-san?"

Jiraiya wraps me in a bear hug, and chuckles, "Its good to see you, Yue. My, my, you've grown! Last time I saw you, you were the size of that little one." he gestures to Awari.

"Thanks, Jii-san."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Naruto twitching uncontrolably.

Jiraiya pulls back, and says gently, "Wow, you look so much like your mother."

I blush and shake my head, "No, nothing like Mother. She was way more beautiful."

"No way!" Naruto yells, "Since when has he been Jii-san?"

"Since Yue's birth." Jiraiya says, matter-of-factly.

"Its true." Kakashi says, nodding his head, "The night she was born, Arashi-sensei made Jiraiya-san her grandfather."

"Yeah," Jiraiya taunts with a smirk, "so, you have to call me Jii-san, too."

"No way! I refuse!"

I smirk, and give him the puppy eyes, "Please, brother? It would mean a lot to me, and I know it would mean a great deal to Daddy."

He growls, and turns away from me.

"Please, Uncle Monkey," Awari says, pulling on Naruto's pant leg, "you make Mommy sad."

"Fine!" he snaps, "Just don't expect too much out of me!"

"Uncle…Monkey?" Jiraiya says in between laughs.

"I am not a monkey!"

Hitomi begins to cry, kicking and all. Naruto stiffens and gulps.

The day the Chikage arrived, I had told Naruto if he kept up the yelling, he'd get a severe beating. Not only from me, but from Kakashi as well.

"Its okay, baby." I say, taking Hitomi in my arms, gently bouncing her around after Kakashi gave her a pacifier.

Jiraiya looks from me to Kakashi, before exclaiming, "You had a kid together?" he wraps an arm around Kakashi's neck, "Whoa, way to go, Kakashi!" then, his gaze darkens, "And with my granddaughter, too!"

Kakashi immediately waves his hands in defense, "No, no, its not what you think!"

I quickly step in between them, and calmly explain, "Its okay, Jii-san, breathe." When he does so, I continue, "I'll explain later, but he is not the father."

Kakashi sighs in relief, rubbing sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Why are you hear anyway?" Naruto inquires, changing the subject for the better good.

"Oh, right!" he immediately perks up, "I'm here to talk with the lovely Hokage. And to do a little research. I saw you're bright clothing, so I decided to come over and say hi."

"Okay," Naruto grumbles, "hi, now, good bye."

I whack him upside the head, "He can't leave, he just got here!"

"He's right, little bird." He says with a sigh, placing his hand on my head, "I need to get going. Tsunade's expecting me soon."

I look at the ground in disappointment, "Oh, okay. But you'll come to see us afterward, won't you?"

"Of course!" he exclaims, "I promise you."

I tell him the directions to our place, then, we separate. Jiraiya to the Hokage tower and the rest of us to the training grounds.

Its about time! I haven't trained in a long time.

"Auntie Tema!" Awari calls as we reach our destination. He runs, arms open wide, right for Temari.

She scoops him up and tosses him in the air, causing him to giggle.

"Temari, Gaara, Kankuro!" I call, waving to them, they wave back.

Once we reach them, Awari jumps on Gaara, calling, "Uncle Grumpy!" We laugh as Gaara glowers at each and every one of us.

"So, who want to spar with me?" I inquire, looking around at all curious faces.

None of them (minus Gaara, Kankuro and Temari) have ever seen my techniques, so I guess they're a little nervous and anxious.

They should be.

"I will, I will!" I hear and see Naruto. He's jumping up and down excitedly, waving his arm in the air, trying to catch my attention.

I chuckle lightly, "Alright, Naruto."

"Yeah!"

Ero-sannin threatening Kakashi, yeesh, that's a creepy sight!

R & R

-Cloe