"Kyori-san." The man seemed delighted as he greeted the teen with a smile. "It's been a while since I've seen your face around here. Please sit."

Said girl trudged over to the chair parallel to the Yamanaka's desk and plopped down. Sinking into the cushions, she presented reluctant smile knowing that at some point she would get uncomfortable and or challenged. Inoichi usually made sure of that.

"So, last time we went over how pain can be misinterpreted as anger in regards to your old friend." The blonde scanned his notes from the previous session before placing his artic blue eyes onto the now frowning teen. "How are you? Anything changed since our last session?"

"Changed? Yeah, you could say that," she uttered lowly, letting out a dry snicker as her mind began to wander. Her and Fu were—officially—not on speaking terms. Since their final spat, he hasn't approached her but she could tell that there was a lot left unsaid on his part. Kyori was no idiot, whenever she was around the red-headed Yamanaka always had acknowledged her with either a judicious glare or a feint scowl.

"What exactly has happened since our last talk?"

"A few things… Fu and I had a big fight and now, we're not talking anymore. He's been aggressively confrontational as of late and I got tired of him fighting with me while saying he wants to resolve our issues." Kyori rolled her eyes while the blonde added scribbles into her tail. "Guess he's kinda big on lying. Always has been."

"Okay, then… it sounds like you've found your own resolve and took necessary measures to me." Inoichi smiled at the burgundette, proudly. He was just glad that she was finally maturing to the point of walking away from unhealthy situations. "Anything else you'd like to share or talk about?"

Kyori shrugged, not really wanting to add onto the dialogue.

But before she could shake her head and cut things short, Inoichi inquired, "So, how are things at home?" And then a deep frown made its debut on the Shimura's lips. Not that it wasn't expected. "Uh-oh…"

Yeah uh-oh, was right.

The older Yamanaka pulled out her parents separate reports. His brows slowly knitted together as he grew perplexed while reading through the first report. Kyori's response was not amounting to all these great things Hizume had to say.

"Well, your mother is genuinely happy with your progress, Kyori-san. She said that you're doing well in school while managing an extracurricular activity and you're finally dating. These are all good things!" He looked up to see the young girl with pursed lips. She really didn't seem to be the same person that was she was on paper. The platinum blonde held a brisk glance, masking his discomfort with a dry cough. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, we can move on."

"You didn't…" the girl attempted to smile. "I haven't really registered that I'm seeing someone new," she blew out, her cheeks ran hot from the blush she was sure to have at the revelation alone.

"Still, congratulations! You seem to be thriving." Inoichi smiled at her, chuckling as he remembered being her age and falling in love with his high-school sweetheart.

"Yeah…" Kyori muttered to herself. She was apparently thriving, which was great to hear but…

Why didn't she feel that way?

Instead, what came back to her was this sloshing tub of dread that had her bracing herself at the sound of papers flapping as the Yamanaka shuffled through the reports.

This time, Inoichi's lips were spleenful. "Ah, I can see why you were upset… it appears that your father's very unsatisfied with your… everything," the blonde male hoped to grumble to himself, internally souring as he glanced at his already deflated client. "Mainly your budding relationship, it seems. Is there anything at all that you'd like to share with me about your father being upset?" He asked gingerly.

Kyori huffed at that and proceeded to shake her head distrustfully. She didn't want this coming back to bite her in the ass. More so, she didn't want to really discuss it because if she did— there would be no way to deny it. And denying what pained her made it all the more easier to be around her father.

"Kyori… I get that there are things you would rather not talk about, but your parents have opposing takes on your progress. Your mother is very proud and your father is not, why is that?" His baby blue eyes scanned through the latest report with a curt expression before locking eyes with her. "Clearly you are upset, but you expected these results. Is it because your father is right?" he wondered.

"Of course not!" Upset wouldn't be the word she would use to describe how her father felt. No, not when he was intentionally being crass and distant with her. Often times, her father was also very negative and open about how much he opposed. "Even before I started dating with Shisui, he's been ashamed of me. He never supported me anyways, it's like he's bullying me for doing what I done."

Inoichi's mouth slouched a bit, his brows furrowed in disbelief at the term. "Bullying?!"

"Yes, Papa always finds a way to insult me or Shisui… it's so bad that he left home for a little after arguing with mom." Watery pools of deep carob fell onto her lap while she traced the patterns of her skirt in hopes to distract herself as her vision frowzled. "All this can't be over a one-sided family feud." Annoyed, the high schooler continued when met with a perplexed look. "My dad's been holding this grudge since he was a boy, and now he practically hates me because 'I'm sleeping with the enemy,' but we haven't-"Kyori blinked, feeling even more flustered about rambling. Her shoulders squared as she locked eyes with her therapist. "Look whatever he wrote in that report it's not true!"

"Then what is the truth, Kyori-san?" Inoichi mused, tossing the report after having one last glance.

"I found someone that's good to me, and he can't look past a damn feud for my happiness… feels like he wants to punish me." the burgundette brought her redden umber eyes onto her lap, a glare was set in place despite tears wheeling down her face. "It really hurts that we're constantly fighting. And while I get where he's coming from, and I know that I hurt him to the point that I ruined his trust in me. But I can't let him dictate who I can and can't be with."

Inoichi looked away after passing the sniffling girl some tissue. It seemed like they were finally getting somewhere once again. It's unfortunate that their time was up and like every other time, Kyori was quick to scramble out the door. He was rooting for her.


Kyori wished that she could go home already. Shisui was nowhere to be found and being alone with her thoughts was turning out to be a horrific thing.

After the session with Inoichi, she began to feel a deep frustration towards her relationship with her father. Ever since he came back home, Danzo's been a lot more unpleasant. Seeing as she was now dating Shisui after telling him that it wouldn't escalate to that, she understood why he may have been upset with her.

But he had no real reason to be that upset with her. To rain on her parade after being down and out was cruel of him. She couldn't understand why he would wound her like this? It's not like she meant to develop feelings for the Uchiha… it's not like she started seeing him in hopes of hurting her father. No, what she felt for Shisui was not something she could control… the only thing she was in charge of was her actions. And she liked him enough to place herself in this predicament. Therefore, she was partially responsible for her father's anger. And she was at fault for her mother's unhappiness.

Everything wrong was because of her… And since she's gotten back, she's caused so much pain and ruckus within in her home. She knew that it would be extremely difficult to regain their trust, especially her fathers. Afterall, she had put Danzo through a hell no loving father should ever have to face. She took him for granted, lied, took advantage of how gracious and giving her parents were, and brought immense shame upon their family. And then for her to come, scrambling back when she was knocked on her ass by reality itself… only to vitiate all the work her family's done without her; it made her feel like a poison.

They would've been so much happier without her. She was sure they were.

Kyori paused at that, her big, batting deep cedar orbs glistening at the revelation. A long shaky breath escaped her glossed lips. She needed to stop thinking like this. And fast.

"Kyorin?"

Clenching her now shaking fist, lustrous pools of fudge skimmed the cafeteria in hopes of finding Shisui, Itachi, hell… she was even looking for Izumi at some point. But it was all for not.

"Kyori!"

The Shimura flinched at the sound of her name and her eyes quickly fell on familiar faces. Relief clouded over her when she caught sight of her friends, urging her to come over with excited smiles before deciding to trudge over to the bombastic group of dancers. Seeing so many smiles made her produce one of her own as she scampered over, sitting beside Anko.

"It took you long enough!" Yugao's brows furrowed, with concern. "Why have you been avoiding us?"

"I'm not…" the burgundette blinked.

Anko shot her friend a harmless glare. "Clearly, you are! The only time we've seen you is at practice and you barely say a word!"

"You guys," Rin chirped, witnessing the confusion plastered on the Shimura's face. "Maybe she's not avoiding us? I think… Kyori's just occupied." The brunette shrugged, her woodsy gaze playful as it complimented her giggle.

"Right." Kyori deadpanned. She really didn't want to know what Rin was implying.

"By Shisui-kun~" came the response that Kyori dreading, along with a few squeals. There was no point in denying what was true. However, what they were implying was not the entire truth. "So much for being acquaintances."

"Ne … what's it like dating him?" Yugao asked, followed after three pairs of eyes landing on Kyori.

"Oh you know it's good, look at the way she's smiling!" Anko grinned, nudging the ever-scowling burgundette.

"Shisui's really… not what I expected." She bashfully looked away while failing to ignore her face heating up. "He's so sweet, attentive, affectionate, caring and respectable." And so much more than she was ready to reveal; he was the kind of guy that seemed so unattainable on paper.

"Doesn't sound like a slut to me," muttered Rin, giving Anko the eye. Kyori presented a soft smile at that; Shisui was a bit of a dork and she thought it was cute.

"Don't give me that look!" The snake fanatic barked. "I'm not the one who said that, I just heard through the grapevine that he's a bit of a sleaze!"

"Well he's not like that with me." for the first time throughout the day, Kyori held a delicate smile at the thought of him treating her right.

Yugao turned her big chocolate eyes onto Kyori while holding a foxy grin. "Speaking of being slutty, have you two you know? Done it."

"Have you seen the way she's smiling? Of course they have." Anko smirked, wiggling her brows. "That's the same look I had when I was sleeping around with Hatake."

"Stop assuming shit Anko." Kyori began to frown, dreading the direction this conversation was heading. "We haven't done anything like that."

"Not yet?" Rin babbled, her face growing red at the strange looks her friends gave her. "I mean, it's fairly early and if he's as respectable as you say then he's probably waiting which is so gentlemanly of him~"

"I guess so." Kyori held a curt smile. She hoped that it was because he was trying to be a gentleman towards her.

"Or," Yugao started with a tad of hesitance. "Are you not into him like that?"

"Uhm…" her deep carob eyes abandoned her friends as she did not want to face this topic at all.

It's not that she wasn't into him. Really. Shisui was undeniably attractive; his dark features opposing of his bright disposition made her swoon and crave his presence. The weight of his stare would have her blistering at his feet. And god, his touch…albeit it was chaste at best it made her want so much more to develop between them. But if she was honest, sex with Shisui wasn't something she gave much thought either. Sometimes she wanted to while other times she didn't.

Kyori shrugged, wishing they would change the subject. "I don't know."

"What do you mean by you don't know?!" Anko derided with a snort. "It's either you have the hots for him or you don't girlie."

It was not that simple… After all, they decided to take it slow and they have only been dating for a few weeks. They were solely friends for a while and to discard that idea of him just didn't sit ring with her. Kyori also didn't want to be perceived as easy, at least not by him and she was willing to wait until the time was right.

"I really don't wanna go too far and push him."

"That's not impossible but damn near every guy wants to! Shisui included," Yugao purred, a foxy grin fell onto her cherry stained lips. "You still didn't answer her question, Kyorin~"

"Look, I think he's very cute and an amazing kisser otherwise I wouldn't date him."

"But would you fuck him?" The other violet haired girl wondered only to be met with a slacked frown. "Listen, if you're waiting for the right time his birthday's coming up~"

"Anko!" Rin finally spoke as a blush crept onto her soft features.

"What? I'm just voicing some concerns! I'm sure it's been a while." Her brown eyes held a knowing look. "And as her friend, I wanna make sure that she'll have a pleasant experience."

"No one's saying all that but this is a private matter and maybe she's not ready for all that?"

"Or maybe she likes him more as a companion but the thought of him naked doesn't fancy her?" Yugao added with a shameless shrug.

"Maybe? Girlie does have a type and Uchiha doesn't fall into that category."

"Can you guys stop talking about me like I'm not sitting right here? Thanks." The burgundette rolled her eyes before biting her lip in hesitation. "I kinda need advice on something."

Rin perked up with a smile before leaning into the table. "Something, like what?"

"It's about his birthday… and no, fucking him is not a present, Anks."

"Your loss!"


A few periods later and Kyori still hadn't seen Shisui. She didn't know if she should be worried or if he had just decided to play hooky. But even Itachi was nowhere to be seen and it made her feel as though something was going on. It was so unlike them to miss school and there was no occasion present to explain the lack of Uchihas aside from his birthday. But that was roughly a week away. And that made her all the more relieved when she strolled into her last class of the day and spotted the beautiful pecan curtains that belonged to Izumi.

"Izumi-chan!" The burgundette blurted excitedly, swooping into the seat beside the meek Uchiha. "Where were you and Shisui? Are him and Itachi alright?"

Izumi batted her larger pools of ebon before registering the concerns of her friend. "Oh! Those idiots are fine." She gave the Shimura her best smile. The gleam in Kyori's eyes told the brunette that the girl had worried and even missed her big brother.

"Then where the hell i-" Kyori felt her cheeks tinge with heat and her lips worked itself into pursing briefly. "Why aren't they here?"

'She soo missed him.' Izumi tittered with glee and withheld a squeal, opting to pretend she was interested in today's lesson plan before turning to her friend. She couldn't have her worry too much. "They went on hunting a trip." She then added with a bashful shrug, "It's kinda this ongoing tradition for the men in my family."

"Oh okay," the kinky haired girl breathed out, a delicate frown working its way on her lips in wonder. "He's not in any real danger though, right?"

In response to that, the Uchiha's large spheres of onyx rolled in the opposing direction as she shrugged. "I'm sure it's not super dangerous, no one has died in the past few decades-" she gasped and began to burn a bright red as she stared a fearful pair of hickory brown eyes-" oh that sounds bad! But I swear he's okay Kyori-chan!"

"If your conversation is so important, leave." The gruffly man shot his irritated eyes onto the two girls, causing one to roll their eyes while the other continued to blush.

"I'm sorry for the disruption sensei!" Izumi squeaked.

"Now that there are no more interruptions, I have already assigned you all to groups of two for our upcoming projects."

"Groups?" Kyori blinked.

"Yes, and if you were paying attention you'd know who your partner is," Kakuzu huffed. "Now don't keep him waiting. Time is money, afterall."

As the class began to scour for their respective partners, the older man gestured to the only unmoving person at his left. Her raw umber eyes trailed over and a deep discomfort settled into her. Kyori openly scowled as she took in the familiar head of auburn and those stale honey eyes that shown a mutual disdain along with something else.

"Fuck," Kyori murmured. "Just my luck."


Ochaaa here!

shiiiiet it's been a long time since the last update. i've been struggling with formulating these chapters so that they could fall in line to the main story... i just want a smooth transition is all.

It sounds like Kyori finally admits that she has good intentions with Shisui and is questioning whether he's into her , Danzo seems to be punishing her, and now Fu's worming his way back into the picture. What are the possibilities of shit hitting the fan?

Find out in the next chapter! Anyways, what did y'all think? May we all find out later on, so make sure to favorite it, flame it, book it or keep it in your history (mobile users).