"Five more minutes," I mumble into Ichika's side. I hear her annoyed huff before my head starts falling towards the ground. I barely stop it in time and look up to see the currently annoyed mountain lion looking down at me.
"You said that ten minutes ago," she says.
"But-"
"You can't avoid this forever, Kikuko."
"I can try," I huff as I force myself to stand up. She rolls her eyes at me before walking towards the home near us. I take a deep breath before I follow her. This is much harder for her than it is for me. They were my family, yes. But I didn't know them. I was only able to send them to the sea for their burials.
I shut my eyes tightly before opening them again. That's the last thing I'm going to think about when I go into this home. I catch up to Ichika as she nudges the bright blue door open. She walks in easily, just as she had probably done many times before. I try to breathe steady as I take my first step into the home.
I take my shoes off as soon as I enter the genkan, keeping my eyes trained on the cool burnt orange tile beneath my feet.
"Are you forgetting something, Kiku-chan?" Ichika asks. I finally look up to see the small entrance area of the home. A small hallway with arches on each side of it, and a set of stairs that leads up to the second story. At the end of the hall, I see a door exactly like the front door.
I turn my attention back to Ichika, her head is cocked to the side as she looks at me. I feel my nose scrunch up as I try to think of what I'd forgotten. I made sure to take my shoes off. Was there another Uzu custom that I didn't know about?
"You don't have to think that hard, cub." Ichika says.
"But-"
"What do you say when you come home?" She asks. I feel my heart stop for a beat before it starts pumping again. There's a ringing noise in my ears as I feel burning behind my eyes.
"T-tadaima," I say, my voice cracking.
"Okaeri, Kiku-chan." At Ichika's welcome home, I feel my chest tighten. Spots dot my vision as the floor comes closer to my face. Ichika is in front of me before I can fully hit the ground, my arms fall over her back as she gently guides me to the floor.
But none of my attention is on that.
Memories of coming back to the small apartment in Konoha flash before my eyes. Tenzo's welcome home when Naruto hated me for graduating earlier is next. Flashes of the villagers in Konoha attacking, glaring, and whispering about me and Naruto flash by quickly.
And then the memories turn.
Reiji, Minoru, and Sensei protecting me from the villager's glares. Kakashi and Tenzo teasing each other at dinner. Eating with the Nara family, Ensui's stupid jokes. Spending time with Itachi and Shisui.
It feels like I'm drowning, something I had never experienced in this life before. I try to crawl my way out of the blackness that's obscured my vision, but I can't.
The memories drag me back down again.
Minoru dying above me. Reiji getting injured in the fight. The complete fear and despair I could feel from Reiji's Kikai as we started performing first aid.
All the blood that covered my hands as I washed the bodies in Uzushiogakure. The blank faces that stared up at me. The first time I had to bury a kid younger than me-
"Kikuko," a panicked voice finally stops the barrage of visions in front of me. "Uzumaki Kikuko come back to me."
I finally feel myself start to claw my way up to the surface. Each movement is pure agony. But after what feels like forever, I finally get to the surface. And then I crash.
My loud gasps for air fill the small hallway. I try to wipe away the tears, but my vision is still far too blurry. Below me, I feel the steady rise and fall of Ichika as she takes even breaths.
"Match me, cub," she says gently. I struggle to try to match her, my breath catching when I hear steps behind us. "It's just Ren," Ichika soothes. But I can't calm myself. I can't feel any chakra.
"Just breathe, Kiku. Things will go back to normal soon," Ren's calm voice fills the hall. I swallow hard and focus only on Ichika's breathing. It takes far too long for me to finally breathe somewhat normally. My breath catches every couple of minutes.
"Have you always had panic attacks?" Ren asks quietly as I feel him lay down on the floor behind me.
"Not now, Ren," Ichika says.
"It's o-okay," I say quietly. I take another deep breath before nuzzling my head closer to Ichika's. I close my eyes tightly as I nod against her back. "I've had a couple before b-but never this bad."
"I'll ask Ai to teach you how to make a tea that can help," Ren says after a few minutes of silence.
"Ai?" I ask.
"My partner," Ren says.
"Eh?" I say, pulling from Ichika to turn around and look at Ren. "Why the hell haven't you told me about her before? Or introduce me to her 'ttbane!" For the first time since stepping on the island, Ren looks scared. I hear Ichika's laughter behind me before I feel a tug on my hair.
"What was that for?" I ask, turning around to look at her.
"Nothing," she says. But from the light tone of her voice it was for a reason.
"Your hair was flying," Ren says reluctantly.
"Flying?"
"Just like Kushina-chans~" Ichika chimes in. I pause before throwing my head back and laughing. Now that I know Ren's weakness, I know I can get him back if he pranks me.
After the episode in the hallway, Ichika and Ren have decided to show me around the home. The blue walls of the hallway contrast with the sandy white arches and doors that line each side. Ichika walks through the first archway on the left. I follow her lead into the small room.
It's painted a dark green color, reminding me of the flak jackets back in Konoha. Pictures line the wall above the well-worn sofa. I walk over to look at them closer and for a brief moment wish I hadn't.
The pictures are of Kazumi, Kahana, Shinya, and my mom. All alive and well. Large smiles cross their faces as they look at the camera. In one photo my mom is obviously learning how to walk on water - her hair hangs wildly, just like mine had when I taught myself.
Another picture is of Kahana and Shinya on a boat. While they're not paying attention to the camera, you can clearly see the small, endearing smiles on both of their faces as they look at eachother.
"That was their wedding photo," Ren says from behind me. "Shinya insisted on a traditional Uzumaki wedding."
"A traditional Uzumaki wedding?" I ask, turning to look back at him and Ichika.
"On the water of course," Ichika says.
"A small ceremony, just the immediate family on board," Ren finishes.
"It seems so," I let the sentence hang as I turn to look back at the picture. "Peaceful."
"It was nice to have some peace before going to the chaos that is an Uzumaki wedding reception," Ren says. I snort. There it is. I turn to look around at the rest of the room. A fireplace is on the wall opposite of the couch. A comfortable deer felt rug is spread out in front of it.
I swallow hard at the sight of it and move to look at the coffee table.
But I'm never that lucky.
"Want to tell me how close you were to the Nara?" Ren asks. I rack my brain trying to think of what I'd told him before, but I come up blank. So much of the last few weeks has become a blur.
"One of my close friends in the academy was a Nara."
"Uh-uh," Ichika says, a knowing tone to her voice.
"What?"
"That's not all, Kiku-chan~" Ren says, his voice teasing. I huff and turn to back to look at him.
"His parents took care of me and Naruto a lot. They helped us get our academy supplies, made us eat dinner with them at least a couple times a week," I say the last part quietly.
"Made you?" Ren asks, tilting his head.
"Well, Naruto was always there before Yoshino-san got home from the market."
"Yoshino?" Ren asks, his eyes narrowing. "You're best friends with the next clan head?"
"How do you know that?" I ask. "And we're not best friends!" There's silence in the room, all I can hear is my labored breathing. I hadn't even realized I yelled until now. "We were," I say quietly. "But after I graduated early, I lost everyone. They were Naruto's friends, not mine." My hands shake as Ichika walks closer to me. She nudges against one of my hands, prompting me to run my hand through her fur.
"I know that because there is a document that lists all the members of the Nara clan," Ren says after my breathing has finally evened out. "Fuinjutsu was used to create copies that update with the original."
"Oh," I say, looking down at my feet. "I'm sorry for yelling."
"You're upset, hurt." Ren says after a moment. "You're forgiven."
"Come, let's show you more of the house before we have our next calamity," Ichika says lightly. I can't help but laugh a little. I already felt so tired again despite sleeping most of the night.
I follow them both back out into the hall, and then to the left. We enter through the archway next to the first room to a small dining room. It reminds me of the Nara's home once again. The table is low on the ground, screen doors separate the room from what I assume to be the kitchen.
"Through here is the kitchen," Ichika says as she nods towards the door. Can she read my mind? I think hard for a few moments while nodding along to what she's saying.
"You're not listening to me at all," she says, stopping my thoughts.
"Of course I am!" Ren snorts from behind me as we enter the kitchen. It's a larger room, the largest we've been in so far. Counters line the back wall and the wall to the left. A small island sits in the middle of the room, a large mixing bowl in the center of it.
"We made sure to check on all the perishable food from the homes and other buildings," Ichika says. I feel my shoulders relax. "It should all still be good. But the non-perishable foods have all most likely expired by now. You'll need to get them from another village and maybe we can start up a farm as well."
"That sounds good," I say as I look around the bright room. A small vision of an older me mixing food at the island plays in front of my eyes. I hear the sound of children's footsteps rushing down the hallway. I blink hard before walking over to the small door to the side of the room and look out into the hallway.
I shake my head before turning back to the two summons in the room. I see them sharing a silent look. And for a brief moment, I can almost see their summoners doing the same.
"You need to get some rest," Ichika says when she notices me looking at them.
"Yeah," I say, my voice cracking.
I won't have kids anytime soon. Not while Shimura Danzo or those other old coots live. I won't let my babies be taken from me like my mom was taken from her mom.
"Come, we only have a few more rooms left down here," Ichika says. She leads us back down the hall towards the front door. The door opposite of the living room leads to a formal tea ceremony room, the second largest room to the kitchen. The door across from the dining room leads into Shinya's office. The door after that is Kahana's.
"Your grandmother's office was in the clinic," Ichika says over her shoulder as we start up the stairs. The first couple of doors are guest rooms. Then Kahana and Shinya's room is on the right while my grandparents room is on the left. Ichika nudges me towards the last room at the end of the hallway.
I turn to look back at her, confusion most likely clear on my face, but she continues to nudge me towards the door. I sigh and push the light sandy door open.
It's a small room, like all the others, but this one has a clear view out to the ocean. Books line the built-in bookshelves on either side of the door. On the opposite wall lays a fluffy futon covered in a light blue and pink quilt. Above it hangs an intricate quilt, it's covered in waves and sea creatures. But in the back you can see the mountains that Ichika took me to just yesterday.
"Welcome to your room," Ichika says after I turn back around to look at her.
"My room?" I ask after a second.
"Kahana consulted an oracle," Ichika says. "She did not know the tasks you would have to complete, or the hardships you had to endure."
"But she knew that you would be the one to come home," Ren cuts in.
"And that you would be the one to revive the island," Ichika finishes. I feel my mouth open and shut a few times before I turn to look back around the room.
My room.
"Well," I say quietly. "She could'a at least left me a damn guide book or something 'ttbane." Ren snorts as I hear a soft thud. Most likely Ichika hitting her head against the wall.
"Get some sleep, brat." I hear her say. I look over my shoulder to see her and Ren leaving the room. "We'll start working tomorrow."
"I can't sleep all day and night, ya know." Ichika shoots me a knowing look before she turns to head back down the hallway.
"Just get in bed and we'll see who's right."
I never back down from a challenge.
But that doesn't mean I win every challenge, either. I pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow. And when I wake up, it's with the sunrise. I groan as the comfortable quilt is ripped off me. I throw my arm over my eyes to try to avoid the inevitable.
"You're the laziest Uzumaki I've ever met," Ichika says, her voice filled with amusement.
"Shinya was technically an Uzumaki," I say as I shift my arm to peek out at her. She shakes her head before she turns to look at a photo frame on one of the bookshelves. I take a closer look at the bookshelf to see a photo of my grandparents, mom, Shinya, and Kahana on one of the docs.
"Not even Shinya was as lazy as you," Ichika says, her voice warm. I force myself to sit up at that. Lazier than a Nara? Who am I? I might not be as hyperactive as Naruto all the time, but before I got here, I was always up with the sun, sometimes even before it. And I never slept this much either. I was always up late working on something. How had I become as lazy, if not lazier than a Nara in the last few weeks?
"Come on, sleepyhead~" Ichika teases. "We didn't even make it to the basement last night."
"There's a basement?" I ask, more alert now. I quickly roll off the futon and stand up to follow Ichika out of the room. She laughs as she darts out of the room. I'm close enough for her tail to hit me (unfair) as I run down the stairs. Her laughter bounces off the walls in the hallway as she leads me to a door we hadn't gone through the night before.
"This is the way to get around quickly during an emergency," Ichika says, suddenly serious. I nod my head in acknowledgement. "This is also the best way to prank someone quickly, too." She cracks a grin after a moment of silence. Soon our laughter fills the hall.
Whatever was down there, I would be able to handle it.
I can handle anything if it lets me get a good prank in.