Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or it's characters, that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Naruto or it's characters, that right belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Author's Notes: Kikyo/Kagome 6, Itachi 5, Shisui 8, Bankotsu 14, Kakashi 14, Asuma Sarutobi 14, Rookie 9 Not born yet. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you toturn around and leave now. Because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.


It had been two months since the smack-down that happened in the Higurashi district of Konoha. And the rumors had spread through gossip from the loose lips of the servants. Though it did not do any damage, except for the assessing looks that were given to either the Elders covertly or openly to the eldest daughter of the Matriarch. Who thoroughly enjoyed the way her eldest was learning to be humble. And as to those who had taught Kikyo to be as arrogant and brash as she had been reminded with heavy penance who ran the Clan.

So, as Kun-loon sat there on the back porch of Mikoto's house, watching the four kids in the yard. She smiled softly as she sipped on the hot green tea and honey her long-time friend had given her. She was enjoying the wonderful crisp smells that came with October. Her brown eyes were darting to and fro at the antics of the two boys who were sparring with each other — reading their aura's as they clashed and parted. Both of the boy's aurea was entwined with her youngest's own, making it hard to tell who was her bonded mate. That or the Kami's were not ready to let her know, leaving her rather frustrating.

"You are pinching her brow in deep thought, Kunnie," Mikoto giggled as she spoke.

When Kun-Loon looked at her friend, she saw the way those dark gray eyes sparkled, knowing smile was hidden behind the cup of tea being drunk. Giving a small shrug, she turned her attention back to the children. Shisui had just turned eight. He was tall, talented, and Itachi was not far behind him. Though the boy held a massive amount of potential, there was something a bit off about his aurea. There was a small bit of darkness nestled deep, sleeping. She wondered what had planted that see there. The poor boy had yet to turn six.

"When is the baby due?" she asked, hearing the shocked gasp from her friend.

"Of course, you'd know before I had a chance to tell Fugaku,Mikoto snorted. "I am due in July next year if everything is fine with pregnancy. Which is partially why I asked you here."

"Yes," Kun-Loon said to the unspoken question. "I did it for Itachi; I will do it for this little one."

The relieved sigh was all Kun-Loon needed to hear. It has been an honor to be the midwife and doula for Mikoto during her first pregnancy, which happened within the first six months of her friend marrying Fugaku. Who had been preening like a proud peacock at learning he'd knocked his wife up before a year had passed.

"Thank you," Mikoto said softly. "Do you have any clue?"

The vague question was rather pointed and not misunderstood. With a rude and annoyed sounding grunt, Mikoto's laughter rang out over the garden. Bringing the sparring match to a halt as all four children looked at the two women. All four heads were tilting to the side at the same time in silent question and curiosity as to why Mikoto had just burst out laughing suddenly. Not missing a moment, a flash filled Kun-Loon's vision before two distinctly male groans filled the air.

"Gotta preserve all the special, cute moments in life, while they can happen," Mikoto mumbled as she made the camera disappear back into her kimono somewhere as Kun-Loon nodded in agreement. "And I will get you a copy later. I think Kagome is good for the boys, and Fugaku is very tolerant of her being around the boys, as long as they don't get too soft."

Again, Kun-Loon smiled. She heard what was not spoken. Her friend was the best Kunoichi produced by Konoha. Deadly and very beautiful. So, when she made a threat that doubled as a promise, there was a hundred percent guarantee that she would deliver on it.


Kikyo watched the boys do their little play fighting. It held no appeal to her, though she kept looking at her sister. Who was rather enchanted with it? The way she would smile approvingly or frown at something. There were times her eyes would narrow, crinkling the skin at the corner of her eyes, as her nose scrunched up. As if she saw something that Kikyo was not. But that was impossible, her younger sister and twin was a null. At least for now.

Turning her gaze back to the spar as the boys clashed with the tiny little kunai, she took note that it was like they were gauging each other's move before they'd dart in and trade blows. They were making it look like a dance. Unable to see auras and read them, Kikyo could feel things, though. Not that she cared for empathy, she saw it as a sign of being weak. She could tell that there was more to this sparring match. They were making her again glance at her sister to see that she was frowning.

Kikyo wondering why. Leaning in, she lightly elbowed Kagome, who didn't even move. But she knew she had her attention.

"Why are you frowning?" She asked.

"Because they keep switching from sparring to trying to show each other up," Kagome whispered back. "And I do not approve of it. Not at all. It makes me upset, angry even."

This shocked Kikyo. Her sister being upset, she knew. But angry, she thought that Kagome was incapable of it. So, with new eyes, she looked back to the match and realized after another ten minutes gone by that her sister was right. And she was stunned. Kikyo was not dense; she caught how the boys would take quick peeks at her sister. They were subtle, easy to miss. And that was something she was good at picking up. It coincided with the change of feeling around them.

When next they did it, she glanced at her sister to see her sister go from smiling to frowning again. She was going to comment to Kagome about it when a loud laugh came from behind them. Twisting at the waist on the blanket, she saw it was Mikoto. Unsure why she looked at her mom and tilted her head. Just for the Uchiha Matriarch to pull out a camera from nowhere and snap a sudden picture, making Kikyo feel like she'd just been caught doing something, what though she didn't know.

With a sigh, she turned to face the boys who were standing there with twin looks on their faces as they stared over her head. Kikyo now had a secret as she decided to tell Kagome what she observed. Her sister was dense, yes. And at times, Kikyo resented her for it. But after what happened in August, she knew she was being given a small bit of leeway by being allowed to accompany her sister to the Uchiha compound. Especially after her mother had continued to correct and scolded her. Kikyo now understood why her brother, Cousin, and the Hatake boy feared her mother's fingers when she raised them. That pinch and pull were exceedingly painful.


Shisui was enjoying his spar. It always helps to have motivation. And the best was when Kagome was there. Because Itachi got strangely competitive. Of course, he did too and knew it. He was smiling as he shook his head after his aunt took their picture. He'd noticed too late that not only his head tilted to the side at her suddenly loud laugh, but the twins, and he was sure so did Itachi, which means a candid moment for his aunt. And he confirmed it by the twinkle in Lady Higurahsi's eyes.

It had been a harrowing two months for him. Turning eight, several solo B-class mission and four to six-man cells on A-rank missions. He knew that they were preparing him for Anbu. Or instead, his Uncle was. It annoyed him to no end because he saw what his Uncle, the Clan Head, and the Elders were doing to Itachi. So, when he was home, he made a point to force Itachi to have fun, be normal. Not become a machine and tool for the Clan. Who would love to take the prodigy and seal away his emotions and become cold and cruel? Which wouldn't suit if he was the one that was to belong to Kagome. Who needed someone who'd be open, expressive with her even if she was able to do what she could.

Dodging back, Shisui landed and spun, right leg coming up high in a kick. Feeling it be stopped by Itachi, who had to block with both of his wrists, one crossed over the other before he was sent flying back. Glancing at Kagome, he saw she was smiling again. Liking the smile that was gracing his lips, Shisui darted forward only to have to jump back as Itachi threw a Kanton Jutsu at him — making Shisui narrowed his eyes, giving a silent warning for him not to push his luck. Prodigy or not, some things couldn't replace having personal experience and strength. His Cousin was still young, but he had the potential to surpass even himself. But until that day came, Shisui would not tolerate Itachi trying to act like he was the king of the castle, not when he was still a peon.

Ducking and rolling forward, Shisui came up under Itachi's' guard and forcing his Cousin to defend again just as Shisui spun around his Cousin, placing his Kunai at the back of Itachi's neck, pressing ever so slightly. A subtle hint that he was annoyed with his Cousin. When Itachi's head fell forward in acquiescence of defeat, there was a round of applause — drawing not just his gaze, but Itachi's to the blanket that has been set on the brown colored grass amidst the red, orange, yellow, and brown leaves of fall — seeing the twins sitting there looking amazed as they clapped.

He was still no fan of Kikyo. But at Kagome's behest, he and Itachi had given in to her request that Kikyo be allowed to come with her to Itachi's house. Only when Shisui was home. And to see both the girls, looking so alike, yet different, sitting together clapping and smiling. It helped soothe his dislike of the other girl.

"I take it, you ladies approve," Shisui asked, smiling smugly as he walked around and past Itachi.

Just to stop as he warm breath puffed out his mouth in the sunset. He was turning his head up, looking at the sky as dark gray clouds filled it. He knew what this meant.

"We do," Kikyo said politely in her bland voice.

"It will snow tonight," Itachi said.

Shisui looked down from the sky to see that Itachi was already by the girls. Having moved when he got distracted. Not that it surprised him. Both knew that Shisui let Itachi have that right more often or not. They did talk at length about a lot of things. And it pleased Shisui to see his Cousin show normal emotions, proving he was still a human and not yet corrupted by the Clan and its edicts.

"You are right," Shisui said. "Meaning I can teach you the art of the Snow Angel, Itachi… though in your case, I would claim you'd end up messing it up and making an impact or some such demonic creature."

This had both girls laughing. While he bore the oppressive glare of challenge from Itachi, it was at that moment Shisui looked to his Aunt and Lady Higurashi and saw the amusement written clearly on their faces as they sat on the veranda and observed them. He knew his Uncle would hear about the sparring match from one of the Uchiha members that had been watching.


Itachi stood next to Kagome. Glaring daggers at his Cousin. This made twice he had shown him up in less than ten minutes. First, to end the match, which he would analyze and memorize so it wouldn't happen again. Second, with the comment about the Snow Angel. He knew what it was, though he had never made one before. But to hear the soft peals of laughter from Kagome mollified his temper. It was something he had mostly under control.

"Why don't we go inside. It is getting cold out," Itachi suggested as he turned to look at Kagome.

Seeing the way she nodded her head, he offered his arm as his father did for his mother. Silently enjoying the blush that made her cold and red tinted cheeks darken. A thing he enjoyed doing to the girl, though he was still skeptical that she was almost a full year older than him. She was so tiny.

"So, Uchiha-san, how did you perform that fireball you shot at Shisui-san?" Kikyo asked.

He let his dark gaze slide to Kikyo, meeting her brown eyes. He didn't like her, and like Shisui, he tolerated her for Kagome's sake. There was something about her that felt… dead to him.

"It is a Clan Ninjutsu, I cannot explain it, other than I have been taught to do it," he said in a soft, monotone voice.

Seeing the small pout grace Kikyo's lips, he took a quick look at Kagome. Seeing she was still smiling as she walked beside him down the hall towards the kitchen. She was humming as if there was no worry in the world. Though he knew there was, and she saw and felt more than anyone he ever knew. The girl was far too observant.

"So, what do you kids want to drink? Tea and honey, Coffee with milk and sugar… or Hot chocolate and Marshmallows?" His mother asked.

Itachi knew he'd have what Kagome would have. She had a sweet tooth that was just as bad as his own. Though she didn't like Dango, which he found slightly offended by. But it was what Shisui said was an 'each-to-their-own' kind of thing when he asked about it.

"Tea and honey, please, Miss Uchiha-sama," Kikyo said.

"Oh, may I have Apple cider with some honey?" Kagome asked.

"Of course, Kagome," Itachi's mother replied.

Shooting a glance at Shisui, he saw that smug smile on his Cousin's face again, meaning the odd request was something he had gotten Kagome stuck on. When his mother looked at him and Shisui, they both told her the same as Kagome — not missing the knowing twinkle in his mother's eyes. Letting him know she was well aware of why he got the same thing as Kagome — making him wonder if he was open again. And if so, how to better mask what he thought and felt.

"Don't. It will upset your mother, Itachi," Shisui whispered to him as Kagome went to the table and sat down.

Looking up at his Cousin, he saw the stern look of his eyes. This usually meant that he knew Itachi was thinking of how to close himself off so others couldn't read him. It was what his father and the Elders wanted. So, he saw no reason why not to do it. A good Shinobi gave away nothing.

"Because it would upset Kagome, baka," Shisui whispered before leaving his side.

Blinking quickly at what his Cousin just said, he looked to said girl and saw concern written across her face. Marring the delicate beauty, he often associated with his mother. A small chill ran down his spine as he went to the table and sat down. Kagome to one side, Kikyo, to the other as Shisui stole the seat on the other side. He didn't have to spare a glance at the elder Higurashi's sister to know she was looking at him. All the girls he encountered eventually gave him that look, all but Kagome. Meaning she was even more special to him.

TBC!