[ June ]

{ A + 11 }

There weren't many places Melody could call her own in her lifetime.

Having lived a life that always placed other's needs before her own early in life careened her down a path that found herself constantly surrounded by people and resolving their problems. She had always known that this was her own defense mechanism she had mastered to avoid dealing with her own issues. Luckily, she had also unintentionally picked up a stabilizer. Something that could ground her when things spiraled or slip between her fingers.

The time of day need not matter, nor wherever she found herself in life, for even on her most hellish of days all she had to do was look up and everything was as it should be. The clouds malingering by, the sun or moon sharing their light to the stars twinkling in both crystal clear and polluted skies. As she grew older, pushing herself into more hellish environments and situations with her workaholic-tendencies, the twenty-eight-year-old found herself with less time to cloud or stargaze.

"I like it here…" Their mindscape was a sight to behold. The beautiful meadow wasn't one she had seen in her life, though the sky echoed some of her favorite from a life long past. "I mean aside o' grouchy pants. It's not an unpleasant place." Doe-brown eyes looked down at violet as a soft smile spread across darker lips, amusement tickling the soldier's face.

"Grouchy pants?" The elder made a mental note to bring that up with Kurama. Especially since the giant fox himself hadn't bothered mentioning his hostess's attempt at conversation.

"I'd say something else, but being hit in here hurts as much as it does out there." The genin pouted, eyeing the elder suspiciously for a moment. "But is it really alright to do this?" Melody cocked her head to the side, encouraging the other to elaborate. "Staying away hidden in here. I can hear the whispers, ya know." Melody's smile fell but didn't flip to a frown. That was something that she had noticed early on with this adventure. Internally, she chalked it up to something that had to deal with 'Grouchy pants.' The fox had taken a preference to talk around whatever questions she asked when he was feeling exceptionally difficult. A problem since she didn't know if the specifications of being a Jinchūriki were ever fully explained.

"Would you like me to put up a stronger barrier?" After a moment of surprise, the teen thought over the offer.

Red hair swayed left and right.

"No, it's refreshing." The soldier smirked once more and a flush of red spread across the teen's cheeks and nose. "Ya know… in a way."

"I am definitely rubbing off on you." The two sat in the open fields enjoying the tranquility. Flowers painted the landscape all around. Foxglove, lavender, various lilies, and one of Kushina's newest favorites: The beautiful Bluebonnet. Across the horizon, one would see a baby forest peppering over the mountain and covering its base.

[ nine months ago ]

"Are you positive you can handle this?" A nod was all the Hokage got in response from the two in the room. "It's quite dangerous running around with no actual purpose in today's environment." The two knew that they had gained his undivided attention and brainpower the moment he lowered his pipe just before the questions slipped between his lips. If they played this just right, then they could get a jump on some of their more long-term plans.

Even if they were all still a work in progress and years down the road.

"I won't get hurt, nor will I run out of reserves." Their resident Uzumaki began confidently. "I can keep her running around for patrols and surveillance. I won't even notice she's gone unless something happens to her." Both watched as the Professor's mind started whirling. Personally, she believed they may be moving too aggressively with the leader. He was no idiot, that they both knew. But as Kushina had pointed out; he was a man with war looming, a country still recovering, and now grandkids personally at stake.

The habanero was no idiot and far more astute than anyone, herself included, gave her credit for.

"Her?"

"It gets too confusing thinking of her as me, ya know." Said redhead frowned, crossing her arms. "Plus, as time progresses and my control grows. I can easily just send her out and maintain a presence here as I am or out to more extraneous missions."

"Boss figures it would cause a less headache later on for the both of you." Standing in her familiar 'at ease' position she finally spoke up, drawing attention to her brunette albeit an identical version of the teen. "I, frankly, have to agree with her about it. Though I may be a smidge biased." While he hadn't moved from the chair for a closer inspection, both of the two near-twins knew that he was looking over the brunette version with a keen eye.

"It would seem your mastery of this skill is getting stronger each day, Kushina-chan." The redhead scrunched her nose at the honorific but nodded. "I shall allow it-"

"Yatta!"

"Under a few conditions." The kunoichi paused her celebration mid-cheer. "First: I expect to receive daily reports even if nothing arose or there was nothing to note of the day's events." Kushina looked over to her brunette counterpart, who shrugged and nodded in response at the simple request. "You," Wizened brown eyes turned to said brunette. "Are not to engage any combatants unless innocents or are forces will suffer a loss of life unless expressed otherwise by myself." Both nodded in agreement at the reasonable demand. Eagle-eyes shifted to the redhead. "If dispersed, you are to report immediately to me in person. No matter the time and inform me of any updates since my last update. As your control grows, these conditions may change as I see fit."

"Consider it done." The soldier interrupted, startling Kushina and pausing any further stipulations. "May I recommend encoding and sealing the reports, Hokage-sama?" The slightest arch in his left brow was more than enough to encourage her. "With the destruction of the Boss's clan… hmmm, in addition to the lack of competent seal's masters or users across the lands. I feel that an intermediate seal may be enough, but why take the risk?" A momentary silence passed before she continued. "Boss hasn't told anyone yet, but she has come up with several encryptions between her studies. Throwing one of those on the missives couldn't hurt… though I doubt Boss will want anyone but herself able to decrypt it." Doe-brown eyes twinkled over at violet. Hook.

"Encoding?" The leader of the village was now leaning forward ever so slightly in his seat. Just enough for even the youngest in the room to notice.

"It's just another safety precaution." Kushina quickly replied, taking charge, and not sure how she felt about the half-lie naturally rolling off her tongue. "There wasn't much detail amongst the scrolls and textbooks I own for me to use a preset one… but there is plenty of material for me to understand the value of such a system." Internally she was chasing after the smirking vixen in her mind who had the gall to spring this on her out of the blue. "I have been creating a few of my own. A means to keep unwanted persons from obtaining any of the notes I carry on myself and sometimes leave unattended at home on a day-to-day that pertain to my seals." Line.

"How long would it take you to decrypt a message?"

"It shouldn't take her but an hour tops. I can even add a precursor line if there is anything urgent and keep those short and simple." The brunette beat Kushina to the punch, but both internally enjoyed watching the Professor's mind kick into gear with this new bit of information. Even if the teen was leering at her brunette counterpart when she answered, smirking back.

"Your clone has a mind of her own." And sinker.

"They didn't so much as warn how annoying having a piece of yourself shown to the world can be." Kushina sighed, knowing that she would have to pick up some pieces Melody was throwing down. They had agreed that something like this was reasonable for her to learn on her own. When Kushina asked if she had before, Melody shrugged. Their biggest concern was ensuring the Hokage that he could trust them, and this was a gift he could not turn the other cheek to. "But there isn't a doubt in my mind that she can complete the mission without a hitch. And with time, this will be something that will aid the village."

"A name would be rather nice than being referred to in the third person, ya know." Melody was picking her ear with her pinky finger when she brought attention back to her.

"If possible and to cause the least amount of suspicion, we'll continue to use your other alias when referring to your clone." The brunette rolled her eyes as Kushina nodded. "Now with that settled there is one final stipulation," the leader turned his attention over to the brunette. "Are you able to maintain the form of the appearance you last came in here as?" Doe-brown eyes smiled while violet widened in shock. He had been onto them for longer than they gave him credit for, likely since they had substituted checking in before either had decent enough control. A cloud of smoke concealed the brunette Kushina before disappearing and revealing the form Kushina had grown used to seeing in their mind, but not in person unless she was looking at their henge in a reflection. The five foot ten caramel-skinned, curly-haired vixen was kneeling before the elder. Her hair up in a tight bun as she smiled with both her lips and eyes at their leader. "You are to head out in one hour to start your patrols around the land of fire. Remember, Chūnin level reserves." Unable to help herself, Kushina smiled as the brunette bowed. "Dismissed."

"Hai."

"When are you coming back?" Looking up at the soldier as she lazily brushed through her red fiery locks always made the teen feel like all was well in the world. Like she wasn't slowly closing in on the day that Melody had tried to cover and lock away from her mind. When it was just the two of them like this, even as they remained miles apart physically, the Uzumaki didn't feel as alone as she did before they joined up. The pause in her strokes told Kushina that even if she wouldn't admit it Melody felt the same in her own way. "I know. I know. This will help up in the long run…"

"Does someone miss me?" While everything in her heart told her to bellow out 'yeeesss!' Kushina knew that it would either have the twenty-some-odd recoil inward or have her teased relentlessly. They had come a long way these past couple of years, but the soldier still tried to keep her at arms' length. Especially when she hyper-focused on their future and the catastrophe she was trying to prevent.

"No. Where are you?" So instead the teen deflected. They now were sometimes spending seasons at a time apart. Especially now that Melody had a firm grasp on how to compartmentalize her memories before returning. After an incident that left them unconscious for a week in a half and Kushina's first scolding by the big fox himself, both sat down and finagled a system to avoid reliving that experience.

"Hmmm. Here and there." Kushina rolled her eyes as the soldier replied, waving her wrist flippantly. She was somewhere near water or had been in some recently. Melody always smelled more like lilies than the oceanic smell many associated with her. Though the two scents, at least according to Tsume when they all met up once, blended naturally together.

"You're no fun, ya know." She pouted and hoped that her alter ego wasn't anywhere near the Hidden Mist. Rumors were all they had come in at the moment, but they were all the same. That part of the map was hit hard during the last war, and everyone was waiting to see how they would recover… if they could.

"If I told you, you'd try to find me."

"Not the point. Nor making me feel better." She grumbled as they fell back into another relaxing silence, watching both the flowers and distant trees dance with the light breezes. The soldier was calm, and that was enough to quell any concerns Kushina had for the time being.

"How's the gang doing?"

"You're missing the Chūnin Exams, ya know." She needn't open her eyes to know she had the brunette's undivided attention. Her body stiffened for a moment too long and a stronger breeze shook petals of various blooms into the air and with them, their varied smells mixed.

"You're holding them even while we are at war?" That had the habanero open an eye with an arched brow. Unsure if she heard the grumble correctly, but spotting the genuine surprise concerned the kunoichi. "I suppose that's what Shishou was complaining about."

"Apparently you are more out of the loop than I thought. We haven't been at war for about a year now, Mels. What are you doing to not know something like that?" Her one eye watched as the soldier merely continued to look out at the peaceful scenery.

"I should be back with you in about a month or so, according to the boss." It took all of her willpower to not snake her arms around her second half, but she didn't hold back the toothy smile. "How's your seals mastering going? Jiraiya helping at all?"

"Minato's sensei?" His name alone had her scrunching both of her eyes and her nose in disgust. "I wouldn't let him near me with a ten-foot pole." The soldier chuckled and took the hand she was using to run through fiery red locks to instead rub the back of her own neck.

"Please tell me you have more control over that than in here."

"Over what?"

"My phrases." The kunoichi stopped and tried to think about any times she slipped up, but the fact was that after the first few times everyone had chalked it up to it being another quirk of her own. Looking up at the doe-brown eyes staring down at her, the teen shrugged sheepishly. "And what about our plus one?"

"I've been meaning to ask about that, actually." The kunoichi sat up and looked back at the calm forest. "Did you do something about a year or so ago? He's been quiet as of late." She hadn't wanted to jinx her luck, so the Uzumaki hadn't so much as looked over there when she finally noticed how calm things had been in her mind since Mels had last left. She didn't want to admit how weird it was to not have him scoff at some seals she was working on, or grumble when she found herself in the hospital more than once a week. Then there were the days she felt rested, with only a couple of hours' rest or a nap after staying up perpetually late for days on end.

Violet eyes watched as brown looked up in search of an answer.

[ Nine Months Ago ]

"Hey! Kurama!" Melody hollered as she closed the distance between herself and their severely perturbed mind-guest. There was no way in hell she would get anything viable done without his cooperation. At least, not in a timely manner. And while she would kill to say that, she had done everything all on her own. She knew better than to think she could play the fox himself.

"Come back to finally free me of this cage. I know what you have done. Unlike the idiot, I see everything. You can't hide anything from me."

"Don't make me turn my back on you, Kurama. As I am sure you are aware, there is no way in the Hokage's name that I am letting you out."

"I will break your bones into dust and stomp over everything you care for!"

"...yet." That seemed to have caught the Beast's attention, "As we are both are aware, there is a way for Kushina to loosen the restraints. My being here has already changed quite a bit. Yourself included."

"And you believe I would bargain with a hairless ape such as yourself."

"Who holds the key to those chains?" She chirped jovially, though the tailed-beast looked anything but amused by her antics. "Technically Kushina, but I am a close second. Get this. You don't like me. I don't like you, as you are… Currently. But I know who you do and or will hate more so in the not-so-distant-future." Their mindscape quickly changed from the peaceful field to a familiar sight that Melody knew she couldn't completely prevent but perhaps change some outcomes of.

"Impossible." Cocky little shite.

"We both know better." Melody sighed as they watched the start of the beginning of the world she knew and grew up with. "And frankly we are the best shot you have at stopping any of that from happening." Her gaze darkened, "I already felt the change in your mood when you witnessed those eyes Kurama. We both know how dangerous that kind of power is and whether or not you like it, Kushina and I know more about you than possibly anyone aside of our... her son ever will."

"And you want to strike a deal with The Big Bad Fox." She didn't want to tell you how weird it was for him of all beings to use phrases from her memories. It was just a childish nickname they came up with to refer to the 'one-who-must-not-be-named' Voldemort-equivalent of those early years… but the way it slipped past his lips made it all real.

"As I said. You are already much different from the fox we were watching. You're much more like the older you. We can skip all this nonsense, skip the anger, the killer threats, move past that, and work towards something indefinitely better. Frankly, Kurama, I doubt you will find a long-term investment plan better than this."

"I may have spoken with him," Melody replied carefully after a moment of silence. "While I am cautious about making changes." Kushina watched as the soldier paused, searching for her words. "I believe we have reached a compromise of sorts. You needn't bother yourself with it."

"Needn't I?" The swat upside her head was both warranted from Melody and worth it to the teen. "Oi! I didn't deserve that, ya know!"

"Speaking of Minato, how is he?" Flailing the redhead flushed and shifted her attention away from Melody, who had done the same, to hide her blush.

"He's fine."

"That's good." The awkward silence that passed between them in this quiet reprieve was not uncommon following the topic. Turning when a rush of icy wind swept through their mindscape, Kushina's lips fell into a frown as she ignored her prickling flesh. "I should get going…" Melody stood up when she didn't move to pop her back like she usually did Kushina's frown grew taut. "Use those lungs of yours if you need me."

"Is that a warning of sorts?" The fourteen-year-old asked standing, eyes never leaving the soldier whose gaze set into the horizon.

"We're both figuring this out as we go." Her words were solid, but roundabout and distant. Kushina knew that most of Melody's mind was rejoining their other half. Wherever she may be. Doe-brown eyes locked onto violet. "Stay safe." The brunette was there, and then she was not.

Leaving Kushina with just the familiar scent of Lilies she missed in their extended separation.

[ August ]
{ A +13}

Grimacing as she looked at the duty roster for the day.
Doubt clouded her mind as she wondered whether she was going to pull this one off.

"Today is not going to be an agreeable day, ya know." She muttered to herself as she made her way to the front gate. Knowing full well how boring Guard detail could be, the kunoichi had brought a variety of scrolls, ink, and brushes to catch up on her studies. She didn't know what Melody was up to, but she was adamant about conveying her inability to immerse herself into seals as much as she wanted.

So Kushina took that as a call for her to further their knowledge for both of them.

"Kushina!" The Chūnin paused and looked back at the familiar mop of blond hair that was making its way through the crowded streets. Her mind ran through various routes she could take and excuses she could offer. So long as there is a kernel of truth… With a cheeky smile, she offered a slight wave in acknowledgment before continuing to traverse the crowds to make her way toward the front gates. "Excuse me, pardon me. Kushina hold on a minute!"

She had somewhere to be. There was no lie in that.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd never guess he would become a run-on-sight bookmark in the Bingo Book." She mumbled to herself as she lengthened her stride in one last vain attempt. Truthfully, she wasn't sure if she could have lost him even if she had tried earnestly. Had this been a solo mission, she would have had a better shot. As it stood, leaving the village without approval was asking to be marked nuke- nin.

With a quick glance back, the teen frowned that was just her luck. Or perhaps a bit of Melody's. She groaned internally, knowing full well the idiotic genius was on a warpath for answers. He was a motivated man naturally, but there were these few instances where when he got like this and whatever remnants of logic and common sense were thrown to the wind. "Took you long enough, slowpoke."

"Did you not hear me call you?" They both knew she had.

"I've got to be at the main gate in a couple of minutes." Violet eyes flickered over to his narrowed cerulean. Setting her gaze straight ahead, she made up her mind. "How was your last mission?"

"Fine. But that's not what I want to talk about." This time violet eyes locked with cerulean. Yup, I knew it. She did not like what she saw.

"What is it?"

"You still haven't talked about it." There was no attempt to keep the groan from escaping. Quickening her pace once more, her only chance of relief was but meters away. "Kushina, everyone is worried."

"I don't see what the problem is, Minato." She spat. "What do you want me to say? I should have died? Manabu should be here with us? Akihiro is a murderer? Or perhaps I shouldn't have defended myself and let them take me." She was still walking, but she was sure her hair was currently doing that thing that everyone had pointed out "Perhaps they should lock me up. Seal me away. Or I should be in the middle of being indoctrinated. Years, months, or weeks away from becoming another tool for Iwa and or Kumo?" She was dealing in her own way. "Should I leave the village and never look back? Or should I just take my own life and take the damn thing with me-" That got a response out of not only the blond but her teammate who was watching with wide eyes as they walked up.

"Kushina! What?! No." The original flame that burned behind his eyes when she glanced earlier was now a raging fire. "Don't. You. Ever. Say. That." Her brows knit further down. She was fine. She was okay. There were people out there who were dealt a far worse hand and come out a raging phoenix.

"I am about five seconds from swinging Minato. Make it quick. And so help the Hokage if you tell me you are here for me again." De-escalation is nine-times out of ten the tougher, but correct path… Exhaling the Chūnin continued, "Look. I know, and maybe one day I will talk about it. I am sure you already asked Inoichi about it and are aware that I did a damn good job at locking it up and throwing away the key." She shook her wrist free of his grasp she didn't realize he had grabbed. "It's not affecting my career. It's not affecting me. Therefore, it is not a problem."

"It's still not normal to bury everything," Akihiro replied, having spun around so fast her hair was still in full swing when she pointed an accusing finger at him and glared.

"Don't you dare try tag-teaming this! I'll kick your ass to Suna and back at our next training session!" Her teammate smirked and rolled his eyes before sitting back down behind their post. "Now, I have a mission to accomplish and frankly I believe you should be resting after your last mission, Minato." The Uzumaki turned her attention back to the blond, fist clenched. "If I so much as sense your chakra anywhere but in bed asleep, you'll have a one-way trip to the infirmary for an indefinite amount of time."

Paling under her gaze, or perhaps she may have let more of her killing intent out than intended. Whichever it was, Minato was out of their hair in a snap and she had one less problem to deal with.

"He only means well."

"I know," She muttered, rubbing the bridge of her nose, a habit she had picked up from her other half. "Regardless, he needs to take care of himself before trying to take care of others, ya know?" She looked over at the plum-haired Chūnin. "You saw him. He was a dead man walking. What is with you guys, anyway?" Akihiro merely arched a brow, smirking. "Ugh! That man is going to be the death of me."

"Not if he can help it."

"You don't even know the half of it." She grumbled, leaning back against the stall.

"Would you two just kiss and go out already?"

That earned the shinobi a chakra-infused punch to the chest.

[ same day ]

"Maa~ You're just going to have me travel back to the leaf on my own." The two women had been the only ones in the hot springs for the last ten minutes. Their fellow occupants had left after bidding them a farewell. "Some people would call that irresponsible, you know?" The movement was sudden as the water shifted around her body. Considering it a pass in training, she watched as her offender came up for air. Years ago, she would have worried over what sounded like someone hacking up a lung. But she was no longer that woman, and instead, she threw her head back, releasing a burst of manic laughter. She felt relieved with the unexpected emotion and barely heard the hacked out 'ruude' from her companion.

"Still have a mouth on you, don't you?" She shook her head, narrowing her amber eyes while she slouched back against the rock behind her. The brunette beat her chest, physically trying to clear her airway. It took a moment, but finally the hacking seized and she too was leaning back against the spring. She'd never admit it, but she missed this. Missed the conflict, missed the retorts. Not enough to do anything to change her path in life, but this was a pleasant change.

A needed change to what had become her daily routine.

"What can I say?" Amber eyes narrowed sharply, the tone in her voice. The way her right brow arched over the other and a smirk played on the brunette's lips. "I take after my Sensei." A second splash quickly followed as the water adjusted to the disturbance. Seconds of blissful silence passed before the drenched brunette's hair slowly broke water. Coming to a full stop only when her nostrils were free. Pity, I could use another laugh. A pair of narrowed brown eyes watched her, then slowly she pulled the rest of her head out of the water before relaxing. Taught toned shoulders released their tension. The muscles around her neck fell flat. She wasn't a beautiful girl, but neither was she plain. It was something she could use to her advantage if she continued down this dark path. "Right, right, you are only doing this because Hokage-sama asked you to."

"You're lucky the twerp took a liking to you." Just months prior, she would have thrown another rock at the dismissive hand gesture. With time she had come to learn that there were some things you couldn't beat out of someone. This, unfortunately, happened to be one of those for the teen. Shaking her head as a smile snuck on her features, thinking back to the brash, annoying teen that had forcefully made herself about of her routine.

"I am in no way trying to replace you." What in the name of the Sage? Lazily glancing over to the brunette. A distant, far-away look was what greeted her. It was a look she had caught since their introduction. "Frankly, I am just running out of time. And in order to keep those, I love alive sacrifices must be made. Sacrifices I don't intend on anyone else other than myself take."

There wasn't a doubt in her mind about that, and the unexpected statement spawned a drop of concern for the home she had run as far away as she could from. For the Hokage to send someone to me… no. That's their problem. They can take care of themselves.