Hey everyone - happy valentines day for tomorrow! And galentines day today
"You're certain we've been going the right way today then?"
Inoki looked up from her meal, visibly irritated. "Hikaru, seriously, how many times do I have to answer this question? Yes we are going the right way, but the entrance is hidden"
Hikaru laughed, poking at the fire with his stick. "Hibe's so paranoid!" he laughed. It wasn't often that he had time completely alone with his mentor, and he enjoyed it. Of course, she'd been in a rather prickly mood since leaving, and he knew for a fact it was because Hayami had finally stood up for herself. And so...he'd cracked jokes, he'd teased her for wearing her nicer mission clothes, caught them fresh fish and set up camp whilst she scouted their location to ensure they were safe.
They were close to the land of water, and even here, in the grassy area, they could smell the salt of the sea. The clearing was secluded, tucked in under a sheer cliff that was slick with the heavy rain the area often got, but they were blessed today with a dry evening. Laying back, with a full stomach and a warm heart, he wished they spent more time outside of the town, like they used to. After a childhood of trekking, of seeing everything their wonderful country had to offer, it was constricting to be in Konoha for longer than a couple of weeks.
"Hikaru?"
He looked towards her, through the smoke of the fire.
"There's something that i've been wanting to talk to you about for some time now"
"You're considering finally adopting me, and proving to the others that i'm your favourite"
She laughed, "I don't play favourites, and i'd adopt all three of you but you're too old...But...what I wanted to discuss with you, is whether you've ever considered taking on students?"
He looked at her for a second through wide eyes before bursting out laughing, wiping the tears from his eyes as he coughed; unable to breathe. He sighed, before catching her eyes again and pausing dead. "You're not joking?"
"Not particularly, no"
He stood, wiping his trousers down and moving over to dramatically flop next to her; resting his head affectionately on her shoulder. It was slimmer than he remembered, but then again he often forgot that she wasn't their young sensei anymore.
"You really think I could take students?"
She paused before answering. "Obviously Jun would be the more traditional choice; but seeing young Maito with those three has had me thinking"
"No. Nonono. I'm not like him Inoki" he insisted. "I'm cool"
She cocked an eyebrow. "So cool that you have to tell me you're cool?"
He glared, pouting. "I'm not like him"
She smirked. "I'll ask him and young Lee where they get their outfits from, you'll fit right in"
"I am personally offended"
She chuckled, patting his head affectionately. "No, I mean he's an interesting fellow"
"That's one word for it"
"Hush, he makes Hayami very happy" she chastised
"Doesn't mean I approve of his wardrobe" he chuckled in response.
"Anyway" she stressed, "he's like you in that he's cheerful, and silly; but still an excellent ninja. I feel like it took many months for me to learn how to act around you youngsters"
"...no, of course not…"
"Don't lie to me, you know it's pointless. When you and Jun helped teach those three some of your abilities, as Hayami was doing, you in particular clicked with them instantly"
"They're good kids" he argued, "Tenten in particular is fantastic". Confused by her silence he turned, taking in Inoki's very pointed stare for a second before snorting, and continuing "God Inoki, not like that. She's a fantastic ninja with those weapons of hers. And the stoic one, Hyuuga, is possibly one of the best ninja i've ever seen. And Lee - outfits aside, have you ever felt his leg weights? I made him take them off once and i've never seen anyone move that fast"
"Exactly. Do you know that they didn't want Lee to be a ninja?"
He looked at her through furrowed brows. "Who? What? The kids amazing"
"The same people who felt I was too much of a threat to the village to be able to continue as I was"
"Ahh"
"Indeed" she chuckled. "But Gai, with his antics and his sunny disposition, he took those three as they were and raised a group of incredible ninja - I feel you could do the same. You're personable, you're easygoing and fun - do you remember how scared you were when you first had to kill someone?"
He was silent for a moment, pulling up strands of the grass and ripping them as he spoke. "...Of course I do"
"Do you remember how badly I handled that?"
He laughed, throwing some of the grass onto her lap. "You mean you didn't feel 'well, get used to it' was a good response, in hindsight?"
She shook her head. "No, whilst it was what you needed to hear, I definitely could have gone about it differently. I think you'd be better at that side of things. As annoyed with her as I am, I'm glad in a way that Hayami hasn't come, as it means i'm getting to have this conversation with you sooner. I want to put you forward to have a trio of your own in the coming years"
He stared, shocked, at the fire. "Do I get training, or something?"
She snorted. "I didn't"
"They'll just give me three impressionable children and tell me not to get them killed?"
"Basically"
He was terrified, and told her as such.
"You'll do it then?" she responded, smiling.
"Yeah I guess so, I mean we turned out alright and we were raised amongst bingo list ninja and deserters"
"Yeah" she smiled, pulling the pot off the fire and spooning another cup of the fish soup. "I did a good job with you three"
Turning her hand in the air, Hayami couldn't help but smile; causing Jun to laugh and push on her shoulder. "Stop putting your hand in my face!"
"No, it's so perfect - just look at it!"
He shook his head, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and guiding her forwards. "Perhaps I should have left you in there til the pain killers wore off" he laughed.
"It was caged, but now...now it's not"
"Well done, yes"
"It's just not, you know"
"...you're very chatty on pain-killers, aren't you?"
"Now I can wear a normal kimono, Tamiko's going to be so happy"
She skipped out his grip and ran; causing him to curse and follow suit. She was going remarkably fast, and he made a note to mention it to her. If it wasn't chakra she was using it was definitely something. She took a hard left, then a right, and he had to focus on not running into anyone with the speed she was travelling. What was this?
She finally skidded to a stop, hurtling towards a window display. She stopped just before, peering in for a second - pressing her face against the glass until she spotted what she wanted and grinning. She aggressively waved at their friend; who merely looked slightly startled as she dressed the window mannequin. She waved gingerly, and mouthed 'she okay?' at Jun, who nodded, following the green haired ninja into the store.
Hayami had already launched herself at the small brunette, enveloping Tamiko in her arms. "I dont have the cage anymore Tam"
Tamiko laughed awkwardly, embracing her friend. "You alright Hayami? Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying this, but you're normally a lot more reserved…"
Hayami merely psshed, and moved away towards the kimono's at the front, sliding her bandaged hand back in the sling and gently touching the printed fabrics with reverence.
"She's had the pins taken out" Jun explained. "They cant use any chakra healing, and they've not done a procedure like that in decades, so they gave her an incredibly strong painkiller"
"Ahhh". That explained a lot. Tamiko recalled the hundreds of times she witnessed the mercenaries giving someone far too much liquor before attending to whatever injury they had, and giggled at how obviously out of it her friend was. "Look, she's still making sure to keep her hand in the sling though; she's not completely out of it"
"She was waving it in my face a few minutes ago"
"Lucky you" she laughed. "I take it she's not doing her fitting today then?"
"Would you like to try and strip her down, put her in a complicated Kimono?"
The two watched her flitting between accessories, very slowly bringing the plastic flowers up towards her face and then resting them perfectly in place.
"Maybe not...gives me an extra day to finish the sleeve embroidery though, so there's that"
He nodded, reaching towards his old friend and attempting to extract her from the display of hairpins. "She'll be round Thursday evening, do you want to send a message to Kurenai and Shizune or shall I?"
She waved into the air. "I'll do it - I think they were planning to bring a bottle of wine, so she definitely can't have any of that tonight"
He laughed under his breath as he exited the store, Hayami's hand firmly in his own. "No. That's not happening. Bye Tamiko"
"Wait!"
He turned, confused. "Do you...do you have a date for the festival?"
He looked at her for a second before slowly shaking his head. "I'm flattered Tamiko, but you're more than a little young for me"
She blanched. "No. No, gosh I didn't mean that" She scratched at the back of her neck. "I have someone I want to ask, anyway. I was just curious, as I know….well I um…"
He sighed, visibly relieved. He wasn't Hikaru, and had very strict rules regarding who he dated. "You sound like Hayami"
"Ha, I suppose I do. I'll just be passing on the message that you're flying solo to someone else"
He nodded. "You do that, as long as they're a similar age to me"
"Hear you loud and clear Jun!"
He exited, and she groaned, putting her head in her hands. "Loud and clear? Who says that? And god he thought I was coming onto him? Ugh…"
Jun looked up from his book, quickly removing the glasses that he was determined the others wouldn't find out about just yet; sliding them into his pocket as he walked towards the door.
He opened it and stepped aside, gesturing for Gai to come straight in. "I appreciate you using the door Gai, but-"
"Hayami explained why it could be seen as weird" he interrupted, laughing and shoving up a thumb "I fully understand that the door is more appropriate!"
Sighing he rubbed his face and patted the other man on the shoulder. "I'm glad that message has been relayed. You two aren't teenagers though, and you don't need to sneak into her room. However, at this time of night, you can just go up"
"Is it late?"
Jun just looked at him. Who on earth was this man and where had Hayami even found him? "Gai it's one in the morning"
"Oh...is it?"
"Yes"
"Is Hayami awake?"
"No, but i'm under no pretenses about you two - please just go up" he sighed "i'm feeling too much like her father right now"
Gai smiled, and Jun's eyes widened as Gai mimicked his own action from before, resting a hand firmly against Jun's shoulder. "I'm glad she has you looking out for her"
Jun watched Gai's retreating form up the stairs, unable to avoid watching as his jumpsuit pulled tight over his ass with each step. As much as he hated to admit it, that was quite possibly the best ass he'd ever seen - it was...unimaginably firm.
He could see it now, why she said she used to watch him work out.
As much as it pained him to admit it, he got it…
Gai opened the door slowly, creeping around the wood and removing his shoes, ashamed that he'd forgotten to before now. It was a wonder Jun had let him up the stairs...His jumpsuit came next, which he put in the laundry before moving through to her en suite; not bothering to let the water heat up before stepping under the shower head, and gritting his teeth to ensure he didn't cry out.
He wanted to just climb into bed, to cuddle up and get cosy, but knew she'd pout in the morning when she realised he'd gotten into the bed all grimy. He was touched to see his own bodywash in the shower, which he'd not bought and brought over; and smiled, knowing he'd never met anyone before with such an incredible attention to detail.
The complete opposite of him.
He dried off and pulled his hair back using one of her soft headbands; honestly he couldn't believe he'd never experienced these things before spending time at Hayami's house. It went alongside eye lotion, face masks and colour coded stationary as things he'd never really known about before being invited into this wonderful, incredibly tidy place.
He rubbed the lavender eye cream in as he crept back into the bedroom, silently moving over to the dresser in the far corner to grab some of his pajamas; pulling them and gently sliding under the covers. She mumbled slightly in her sleep, and he couldn't help but laugh at the drool down the side of her face, just visible in the shaft of moonlight gently illuminating the room. It was cold in the bedroom, and he shimmied closer, smiling at her sigh of contentment as his arm wrapped around her waist.
Days, they'd spent getting here.
Days
They'd walked through rain, and fought off an attack from some bandits who stupidly thought that the old woman and young man were an easy target.
They'd then taken anything of worth from the bodies and dragged them back to the camp, and dealt with the others who were there.
They'd found the secret entrance, climbed down a slippery ladder, and then traversed an easy mile of dark, slightly smelly tunnels.
And he wasn't home.
Hikaru wanted to scream.
And he didn't even know this person.
"Hey, where's...oh what was he called" Hikaru muttered, scuffing the ground with his heel as he thought. "Jirubu? Jirobu….Jirobo? That's the one! Where Jirobo, or Ukon?"
The stranger looked at him blankly. "Dead"
"Damn shame, I liked Jirobo! And what about the cute-"
"Enough, Hikaru" Inoki snapped, rubbing at her forehead. "Look, just let us in - he'll be expecting us"
"He told us there would be three" the young man responded.
"How does he always know…" Hikaru muttered.
"Because he's a genius" the attendant responded, turning to walk away. "Now leave, how are we supposed to know you're the correct people with only two?"
Inoki quickly made a hand seal, and the person stopped in their tracks, gently reaching forwards to touch the chakra barrier ahead of them. "Fine, come with me. He'll take care of you himself if you're not wanted"
Inoki smirked, knowing the person before her would likely be dead the moment her old friend heard about this little incident. "Indeed he will"