Kohaku's family home was clean and put-together. It was very much unlike Yasahashi's childhood home, which often had corners filled with dust and the occasional roach. It wasn't that Yasahashi's family wasn't clean either, it was just that Kohaku's family was perfect. It was kind of intimidating.

She had two brothers and she was the eldest. Her brothers were twins and they acted and moved in the same way. Kohaku told Yasahashi that when they were toddlers, her relatives used to buy them matching everything. She told Yasahashi she often wondered how her brothers felt about such treatment.

Kohaku's mother was a lot like Yasahashi's mother: very utilitarian and terse, though with a great deal more softness to her tone. Her father was pretty quiet, as well.

The family greeted Yasahashi when she entered the door, they were all lined up and wore well-laundered clothing. It made Yasahashi wish she wore something fancier. But, when she saw her girlfriend's eyes in the line up, and how pretty she looked in her kimono, she felt she could breath a bit easier.

Dinner was very conservative, and the food was delectable. They kneeled around a small table and ate with the screen down in the open air. Kohaku's familiy had a beautiful traditional style house which Yasahashi appreciated. Many of the old clan families often commissioned this style of home, though municipal buildings were not often afforded such treatment.

"This is delicious, thank you," Yasahashi said after she had a bite.

"It's our pleasure." Kohaku's mother said, "it's an honor to have dinner with one of Kohaku's friends."

"She doesn't bring them by very often," one of Kohaku's brothers said.

"We bring our friend Tarosuke over all the time," said the other one of Kohaku's brothers. Yasahashi couldn't tell either of them apart.

She looked at her girlfriend across the table with quiet humor. Kohaku didn't return the look. Yasahashi was confused, but figured she probably had a good reason not to acknowledge her in that moment.

"My daughter tells me that you're an urban planner, correct?" Kohaku's father asked.

"I am, sir," her neck felt hot.

Kohaku spoke up then. "Yasahashi is responsible for the southeast district."

Yasahashi suddenly felt very self conscious. She looked at her girlfriend's parents, but she couldn't read their expressions. They seemed to acknowledge what Kohaku said, but she couldn't tell if they approved or not. Yasahashi took a gulp of water. The silence between bites was treacherous.

"That's a lovely area," Kohaku's father finally said, "Thank you for your contribution to our clan's grounds."

Her heart was still beating fast. She blushed and bowed her head in gratitude.

"Kohaku is on her way to becoming the chief of the Uchiha police force," her father said, "She's already surpassed me in her abilities and was recently promoted to squad leader."

This was news to Yasahashi. Kohaku didn't like to talk about her work with her too often. She looked at the stone faced woman. "Is that so?" she asked. "I hadn't realized." Yasahashi waited for a response, but, she wasn't getting anything from her. Kohaku had her walls up.

"There are others in the Uchiha clan who's talents are far superior," she finally said, "Itachi Uchiha, for example."

A cloud of invisible tension seemed to settle over the table which Yasahashi couldn't understand the source of. Her girlfriend flickered her eyes at Yasahashi for the briefest of moments, as if in warning.

But, the feeling was overwhelming. Yasahashi cleared her throat. "Kohaku used to spar with me back in the academy," she tried to change the subject, "She always challenged me and got me to push myself to be better. Though, once she got her sharingan, I knew I was no match," she smiled nervously, she had said all that too quickly. She stuffed food in her face.

"I thought you said you were in the civil engineering department. You're not a ninja are you?" Yasahashi's father's tone was almost threatening. She swallowed her food suddenly and cleared her throat.

"Father-" Kohaku said at the same exact moment that Yasahashi laughed nervously and said, "Oh, I'm not." They grew silent, Kohaku let Yasahashi talk. She didn't dare look up at the Uchiha parents, their silence was intimidating.

"I'm not a ninja," Yasahashi said. She felt like she was trying to get out of something. "I, um, wasn't able to mold chakra."

Silence again. One of Kohaku's brothers slurped tea from a cup.

"Oh, I see. I'm very sorry," the father said. He dabbed his mouth with a cloth.

"No, it's alright, I had a talent for math, so… It made sense for me, my path." Yasahashi laughed nervously.

The rest of dinner was quiet and uneventful. The brothers talked about their schooling. One of them was getting top marks. The other didn't mention his grades, but Yasahashi noticed him sinking a little into his chair. Kohaku would fill her in later when they went back to Kohaku's apartment and blushed over sake on her couch.

Yasahashi laughed, "Man, that was so tense! How'd you grow up there?"

'I'm not sure, but my decision to move out on my own holds no regrets in my heart," A statement which prompted Yashashi to lift her glass and gesture around at the living room they now sat in.

"My family," Kohaku continued, flaring her eyes, "My family.. They won't let you be anything other than what they expect you to be. My brothers? They have to be perfect, and they have to be the same. God forbid one of them can't throw a kunai straight enough to peel an apple."

Yasahashi laughed and rose one eyebrow, "Is that what Uchiha kids are expected to do? Of course I never stood a chance against you, Koha-chan." Her girlfriend blushed and giggled.

"Also, I apologize on behalf of my father's interrogation tonight, he can be a bit… defensive about clan politics." She shook her head lightly.

"Politics? Oh hmmm, that's right you mentioned he's an elected official or something, right?"

"Yeah, I can't say much but… let's just say he would not have allowed you come for dinner if you were a Konoha ninja. A civilian is fine, but…" Kohaku sighed bigly.

"So, what about you?" Yasahashi asked of her now un-pressurized, un-walled-up girlfriend.

"Me?" Kohaku asked. She sidled over to her and put her legs on Yasahashi's lap and let the other woman hold her waist.

Yasahashi breathed on Kohaku's face, their eyes met "Yeah, do you really want to be captain of the Uchiha police force or whatever?"

Kohaku kissed her lips, holding her hand to Yasahashi's chin. They fell into a kiss and soon Kohaku was on top of her on the couch. They broke off and stared at each other once again.

"Well?" Yasahashi asked.

"Yes," her girlfriend said, "I think I still want to. I want to protect my clan."

"Cool-" Yasahashi said, she started to kiss her again. They made out for a little longer, but Yasahashi remembers a moment when Kohaku broke it off. She didn't say anything, but the woman seemed upset, bothered, about something. Yasahashi couldn't figure out what.

She tried to ask her if everything was alright, but Kohaku asked her to leave.

"I'm sorry, I just need to be by myself for a while," she said. Yasahashi wandered back home in the dripping wet cold, her reflection bounced in the lamplight, wondering what she did wrong, what was wrong.

Kohaku showed up the next day at the civil engineering building, she was decked out in her uniform and found Yasahashi in the bullpen. Tanaka saw her and bowed. "Officer," he said, then he winked at Yasahashi and let them be. They found privacy in the garden lot outside, walking beneath the barren cherry blossom trees.

"I'm sorry." the woman looked morose. Yasahashi waited for her to say more. "About last night." Yasahashi nodded. Kohaku spoke more after a moment: "Yasahashi, you see… It's difficult for me to imagine a life where I may go against my clan's wishes," Kohaku said. She bowed lowly to Yasahashi, "Please understand."

An anxiety crept up in Yasahashi like a swarm of insects. She stared at the dark haired woman bowing infront of her, the overcast sky seemed to cast shadows she could feel in her heart. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"No!" Kohaku said, quickly. She straightened up and stared at her girlfriend's wet face in shock. "That's not what I meant, sorry…" Her eyes softened.

Yasahashi stared at her, still uncertain, "What do you… mean then?"

The sound of crows cawing across the park drew Kohaku's attention. She stared off into the distance with worry in her eyes. But her eyes gave way to certainty and she looked at Yasahashi and smiled slightly. "Let me clarify… while it is difficult to go against my clan… I find it easy to be with you, Yasahashi."

From then on, Yasahashi understood just how important the Uchiha clan was to her girlfriend. She was also coming to understood just how much Kohaku loved her. "I guess if we ever move in with one another, it'd have to be in the Uchiha village, right?" Yasahashi asked.

Kohaku's eyes glimmered at the suggestion. "Yes," she said, "I think it would have to be there."

"Well, if that's the case, we better not move into any of the buildings I designed."


Yasahashi tried to take Hifumi out for soba like she'd done with Chiyo, but the boy was hard to pin down. Since filing the paper work to report domestic abuse, Yasahashi had seen little improvement in the boys situation. How could she know if he was alright? No one was following up with her on it. No one was letting her know about any updates on Hifumi's situation. She tried asking the boy about it after class one day. The kid got a hard look on his face and ran off.

She sighed in the teachers office, nudging Daikoku's shoulder, "I just wish someone would tell me something… Anything, really!. I mean, my mom offered to put him up if his Aunt is really difficult. I just want to know if things are working out."

Daikoku shrugged, "Ah, what can you do. You know, some kids need a little discipline in the home, I'd imagine raising a kid like Hifumi would be pretty hard."

"Are you serious?" Yasahashi said. She was speechless by her colleague's statement.

Daikoku had to run after that, leaving Yasahashi to turn to Iruka with the rest of her astonishment, "Can you believe he said that?" She couldn't believe it. But, then she remembered who used to have her desk before her. She slammed her fist down on it angrily and felt the wood give a bit.

"Sorry, Iruka," she said when her wits returned to her. Noticing the academy teacher wasn't responding, she turned to him and saw him looking absolutely withdrawn. He wasn't working on anything at his desk, no papers to grade. His gaze was transfixed to a stain on the wall.

"Iruka-san?" she asked, "You alright, buddy?"

She ended up inviting him along that night. Anko wanted to introduce Yasahashi to some of her friends, it wasn't supposed to be a singular date, so Yasa figured it was alright. The man just seemed so depleted. He needed someone to show him how to let loose.

"It's not a gay bar, right?" Iruka said while they walked down the main road.

"No, no," Yasahashi said, "We're meeting at Ramada bar."

"Oh, okay."

She studied Iruka's downcast demeanor. "That place okay?" While waiting for a response, she didn't notice someone come up beside them as they were walking.

"Hey, sis. Oh, Iruka-san." It was Shun.

Iruka pulled a hand over his face and groaned, "Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to go out."

Shun saw Iruka and put his hands in his pockets, "You okay? What's eating ya?"

Yasahashi clicked her tongue and gave Shun a sarcastic look. "This guy's always telling me not to burn myself out worrying about the students, but then the hypocrite's made himself depressed thinking about some of his kids going off to the chunin exam prematurely this year."

Iruka sighed and dropped his hand, revealing his worried face. "I know I just have to trust the judgement of their new sensei's, but… these exams do kill."

"Yeesh," Yasahashi muttered, "What's wrong with this village? Beatin' kids for being sad and forcing them to face their mortality."

Shun laughed, "Well, it sounds like you both could use a drink."

They pulled up to the bar and Yasahashi waved to Anko, who was posed next to a gaggle of other upper-rank ninja. As soon as Iruka noticed who they were, he turned around immediately and tried to leave. Though, he didn't realize Shun was directly behind him and he ended up bonking his face into the taller man's chest.

"Iruka?" Shun muttered in confusion.

"Ah, I should go," the academy teacher said with a blush.

Yasahashi by this time had joined her girlfriend at the bar. They both looked back at Shun and Iruka expectantly.

"You two drinking with us or what?" Anko grinned.

"Iruka," said the man who Yasahashi disappointedly recognized as Naruto's new sensei. "You should join us."

"Yeah, Iruka- let us buy you a drink," said another man, who would introduce himself as Asuma later. "We're the ones sending your pupils off to hell, after all."

"Oh shit," Yasahashi said, "Well this backfired."

After some awkwardness, Iruka finally agreed to let them buy him a drink. They moved from the bar to a table and Iruka found himself flanked by Kurenai and Kakashi. On the other side of the table, Anko sat inbetween Yasahashi and Shun, she put an arm around each of them. Gai and Asuma also sat at opposite ends of the table.

"Have I introduced myself yet?" Anko said to Shun, "I'm Anko, I work with your older brother, and let me tell you, I can already tell that you're way less of a wet blanket than that guy."

"Oh, really? Well you haven't seen him play charades."

"Kimura? Really. Charades."

Yasahashi hit her girlfriend's glass lightly, "It's funny because of how bad he is at it."

"Okay, well that makes more sense," Anko downed her sake, "Speaking of that guy, yeesh, the look on his face when we made out in front of him was hilarious,"

"It was pretty great, Shun. I haven't seen him that freaked out before."

"Really, not even counting…?" Shun started to say, but he trailed off.

Yasahashi sighed too, sobering at the thought of their older brother's panic stricken face during the night of the nine tails attack.

"Not counting what? When he came out of your mom?" Anko laughed at her own crass joke.

Yasahashi shook her head and sipped her beer. She looked across the table where that masked ninja guy was talking to Iruka, hearing the name of her annoying neighbor being uttered.

"Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto will be fine," he said.

"You bet he will," Yasahashi said, "Naruto's not gonna let a written test kill him or anything."

"Oh, it'll be a lot worse than that," Anko smiled, "The Forest of Death is ripe with all sorts of predators. Giant snakes, wild boars, bears, and panthers. That kid better have payed attention in his survival unit."

"He didn't," Iruka groaned.

"Now, now," Kakashi piped up, "Don't forget, he's got his teammates with him. Sakura's a smart cookie, right? And Sasuke's got his sharingan now. You know, Iruka, back when the Uchiha clan were around, when a ninja got their sharingan at any age, they were considered to be already at chunin level."

Iruka nodded grimly, "I understand, Kakashi. But, they're still all so young."

"How do you know so much about Uchiha?" Yasahashi spouted. Kakashi looked across the table to see her glaring at him drunkenly.

"Me?" Kakashi seemed confused about if the woman was addressing her.

She nodded, "Yeah."

"You don't know?" Anko asked, she looked thoroughly amused, "Wait, you dont know who Kakashi is at all, do you?"

She shook her head.

"Oh my god," Anko cackled, "All this time I thought you and Kakashi knew eachother, since he was the one who set us up."

"No, all I know is this guy hit on me twice and is always making his students wait around for him. Naruto's always complaining about it upstairs."

Kurenai laughed, "Really?"

"Jeez, Kakashi, you're really making a reputation for yourself in the civilian quarters," Asuma said.

Kakashi sighed, "I can't help it if Naruto is loud and obnoxious."

"Kakashi, you haven't been harassing my coworker, have you?" Iruka mumbled, giving Kakashi a judgemental look.

"No- it's not like that!" Kakashi shook his head nervously.

Iruka looked at his coworker in question. Yasahashi shook her head, "Eh, whatever, it was just annoying, I guess."

Kakashi looked deflated and had sunken into sunk the booth, becoming unresponsive.

"Been reading too many of those Icha-icha books, Kakashi," Asuma laughed, "What'd you expect? You can't just flirt with every girl you see."

Yasahashi sighed "What I'm dying to know is why he's going on about Uchiha stuff as if he has any authority? Hmm?"

Kurenai piped up here with a chuckle, "Well, you see, Yasahashi, Kakashi has a different kind of reputation in the battlefield. He's known as the Copy ninja, and it's due to the sharingan he has in one eye."

Gai reached over Iruka at this point and lifted one side of Kakashi's mask to show the scar on his eye.. Though, the man's irises seemed to have rolled to the back of his head as he was mortified by the kind of attention he was getting. They all laughed it off and let Kakashi recover in peace and the conversation drifted elsewhere.

It all tasted sour to Yasahashi. She swirled her drink and took a swig, "Huh." She was pretty closed off after that. She didn't say much until later when she piped up and asked all the jonin what the protocol was for punishing ninja who hit their kids too much. Now it was Iruka's turn to explain Yasahashi's turmoil.

But, like Daikoku, her frustration fell on mostly deaf ears. Even Anko seemed to push back a bit on her sentiment.

"My mom hit me growing up and I turned out okay," Anko grinned.

Yasahashi looked at the woman in disbelief.

"Oh, you turned out just fine, Anko," Kurenai laughed, "Nothing weird about you in the slightest, I've heard you're very productive as an interrogator… Yasahashi-san," She looked at her, "I agree with you, I don't think children should be hit when they misbehave, but I also don't think there's much we can do about it, unfortunately."

"If we don't hit them, then the enemy's going to end up getting them one day," Asuma said, fiddling with his lighter. "Pick your poison, I guess."

"Or maybe this whole world is just poison," Kakashi said. Suddenly everyone's eyes were on the masked man who was staring down at his empty drink in forlorn.

Gai piped up, breaking the depressive mood, "O-kay, it's getting late! I don't know about all of you, but I want to get up early enough to do a double work out routine and get my beloved students all ready and sent off to the first round of the exams."

Anko cackled, "Oh, they're in for a hard time, trust me. Ibiki's not going to go easy on them," she looked at Iruka, "Don't worry, academy teacher, you're precious genin aren't going to even make it past the first round."

Iruka's eyes glinted with a hint of challenge, "Oh, well I wouldn't underestimate them that much, proctor."

The group erupted into cheering and patted Iruka on the back, "Yeah! That's the spirit! Believe in the power of your student's youthful energy!" Gai beamed.

They all head out shortly after they paid their bills. Everyone chipped in to cover Iruka's bill, though Kakashi seemed to mysteriously vanish when the question was asked.

"Ah, well. We'll get him back somehow," Asuma said, "Maybe we should throw a party at his house or something."

Gai grinned bigly, "That's exactly what the man needs."

Talk of the surprise party at Kakashi's house followed the group into the streets outside the bar. Yasahashi didn't want to talk to any of them and found her own flight from the group, leaving Anko to pause and look around in the streetlight for her missing date.

"Shun, did you see where your sister went?" Anko asked. But Shun seemed to be deep in conversation with the academy teacher and Anko didn't want to interrupt that.

Anko shrugged and bid the group farewell, "Ah, well I should be getting some rest for tomorrow anyway," She left through the streets and rubbed her neck uncertainly, pondering about just how alone she truly was.


Howdy pals! Kakashi's Prius here. I had a nice holiday, despite getting my catalytic converter ripped out from underneath me. You can read about it in the story I published on here titled: Kakashi's Prius and The Catalytic Christmas Theft. Take care and thank you for the new years cheer!