Chapter One
Her father's friend scowls as Tsuru plucks the cords again. Her motions stiff, and mechanical. So unlike her siblings playing.
The woman had been so insistent, so sure that she would excel as Isano had. As if blood, was enough to ensure success.
A man sighs, entering the room. "Just let the girl go home, Mutsuki."
"She can do it, she just refuses," the woman insists again.
"Stubborn brat," Tsuru can almost imagine her spitting.
Tsuru nearly snorts at the image. Something she doubts the man sitting in front of them would appreciate. Her teacher, really would snarl then.
Being respectful, mattered in these situations.
It was one of the few things, Isano had successfully drilled into her. The old clans support, was important to her family after all. Was important to this woman's.
When they were alone, though.
Well, Tsuru would have her revenge.
"Such an evil expression," the man chides, removing her hands from the guitar like instrument.
Touma, she reminds herself. Trying to focus on anything but the heat creeping up her cheeks.
"That is better."
"Now flutter your eyelashes when you look up, as if peeking up. Askance."
"Yes. That is right."
He frowns, looking at her teacher. "The girl clearly has other talents. Is teaching her beyond this, really worth it?
"I cannot give up. Not now."
"Is this, about that bet with the other teachers?"
"No!" the woman blurts, far to quickly. "It's about my reputation, as a professional."
Tsuru does laugh at that. Long sleeve, hiding the lower half of her face.
The man's smile, is surprisingly soft as he gazes down on her.
Almost friendly.
0o0o0
Her hands still smart, and Tsuru knows she'll regret it, but she cannot wipe the silly grim from her face.
She is near bouncing.
"How was your day?" Isano queries, as she enters the office. Far to blaise, for the news that has surely reached them before her.
Wisely staying out of reach, Tsuru hums. "The best I've had in awhile, big sister."
Her sibling frowns, as the fourth makes cutting motions behind her back. The woman still sensitive about her current form.
Tsuru remembers her cousin's struggle, years ago. It was such a silly thing, to worry about when pregnant.
"I got an invitation to tea, from one of the clan heads. The old head of the police force."
Her siblings still, the nervous energy in the room disappating. Becoming bewilderment.
"Mutsuki did not mention that."
Tsuru thrusts her bag of goodies forward. "He asked me, after we met at the vegetable stand. Saw, i had gotten the same things as his wife."
"He called me a terror, he would like to see more of."
"In a less creepy way of coarse," she reassures, catching her brothers expression.
"Of coarse."
Isano sighs, moving to sit in front of her husband. Motions for Tsuru to join them. "Well, we will have to work on your deportment then. Touma's wife, appreciates proper form, and you still slouch, when no one is looking."
"She will like you stories though. The one about the blue bird will amuse her. Be sure to mention it, when she brings up her mongrel. She dotes on that little beast as if it were a human."
"Father will be joining her as well, I assume?" he asks, motioning for Tsuru to hand him one of the sweet buns in her bag.
Tsuru blinks, now reaching for her own. "Would it be weird to go alone?"
"A show of trust, husband could do wonders for our relationship with their family," Isano comments. Leaning over the desk, to brush the crumbs from his lips. "Our alliance with the more violent clans, makes them uneasy. The stealing of another vessal from beneath their noses as well, hasn't done you any favours. They believe you are grooming him to take over."
"Then there is the issue of you encouraging, non-clan members to aim for higher ranks."
"You believe, they will try to pump Tsuru for information."
"You keep Tsu-chan so close, that would be most people's intial goal, but no. They will try to influence her in other ways. Encourage her to marry into the family, especially if they grow as fond of her as i hope."
"It wouldn't be a terrible idea either," Isano says, turning to Tsuru.
"No, not going to happen," Tsuru says, waving her hands in front of her. "I'm not marrying a stranger, just because you say so."
"You would make father happy Tsu-chan, unbelievably so and the clan would treat you well. Keep you closer than we can. They are fond of the softer arts after all, and woman of mixed blood. It makes child bearing, easier."
"And they wouldn't be strangers, Tsu-chan. Not really."
Hazel eyes meet more loving ones. "She would never have to fight on the front lines."
Tsuru takes the time to lick her fingers clean, knowing it will draw both of their attention. Their disgust.
She smiles, thinking of Sachihiro-nii's slights. All his efforts, to make them squirm.
"Well.. By that time, I'll be able to handle myself."
0o0o0
Amid the tall, round buildings and the smaller store fronts they move.
Tsuru waves at people she knows in passing, mainly vendors, members of the Awadatchi run police force and other shinobi as she sits upon Kisame's shoulder. Most of the civilians around them scatter, eying the large man warily. A few of the braver ones call out greetings.
Tsuru smiles.
This is not the world she would of chose, given the choice but there are more people on the streets as each year passes. Sometimes she even carries back their whispers back to Yagura-nii, or the newest gossip and he seems inordantly pleased.
Other days, Yagura runs his fingers through his hair and has Tsuru tell him what she remembers of battle tactics during the Second World War.
Things she heard her father ranting about, as his medals grew dusty on the mantel and moths batted at his dress clothes, hidden in plastic. His breath reeking of cheap whiskey. The radio in the background, broadcasting as it always did.
Tsuru doubts that many of the maneuvers will be much use without major developments in technology, but stranger things had happened. And war her brother said never changed, just the people's faces fighting it. Then, there was also the magic like properties of chakra. Chaos theory.
And Yagura knew more about this world then her, the bloody battlefields his shinobi inhabited so she cannot be sure.
She is still learning about this world.
Discovering her place withen it.
0o0o0
Days pass, and Tsurus grows bored. Isano having ousted her from the confines of their library, and her father forbidden her from training beyond their allotted time.
The more rebellious side of her character, takes it as a challenge.
Still, it is to early in the say to bother the people she has in mind. The sun barely over the horizon. Air, still bearing the chill from the night before and the fogs toddler like fingers, still creeping in. Insistent on touching everything.
Tsuru stretches her arms out over her head, aiming for that familiar pop. "Do you think, they'll have decent squid today, Chomper? Or do you think it's to it's to early in the season?"
"Some of the aunties got some in the market yesterday."
"Ao-chan must of been hap-"
The jostling surprises her, and Tsuru slams her arm around Kisame's temple, forming a ridiculous new head piece. Her other hand ready to gouge eyes.
Juzo's Biwa leans down. Hair damp, from his morning bath.
Tsuru reaches out. An excited sound betray her, and the swordsman shares a conspirally grin.
"Now if you can convince the others to hold down Jinpachi down," he says, in a voice that always reminds her all to much of her late grandfather. "You will of caught us all."