I'M SORRY. I've been having a hard time writing anything lately. So I tried really hard to get something posted, even though it's pretty short.
Risa looked up as Sesshomaru stood over her with a frown. She looked him over, noting the exasperation in his eyes, and the finger tapping on his thigh. She smiled up at him lazily, finding his ire oddly endearing and dangerously close to being cute. Of course, she was also upside down and leaning against a tree for balance, so that may have had something to do with it. Sesshomaru closed his eyes for a second before slowly reaching out and gently pushing her legs to one side, causing her to slip off the tree and fall. Once down she didn't bother to try and get up, just frowned at him.
"Are you still moping?"
"No. Why would you think that?" She shuffled around for a more comfortable position.
"You have done nothing these past two months. Get up." He prodded her with his foot. She groaned, but when she failed to move he reached down and pulled her up. He held her suspended above the ground until she began to squirm.
"Okay, okay. I'm up." She stretched and sighed. "… What did we do before we had kids?"
"You miss them."
"Don't you?"
"Yes, but not to the point where I can do nothing else."
"Ouch. Well, what now?" There was a pause as he thought about the question.
"You could harvest some souls or find an enemy to destroy."
"I don't need any souls right now. And I would have to go make an enemy." She leaned back against the tree. "Seriously now; what did we do before the boys?"
Meanwhile in Konoha:
Naruto sulked the entire training session, causing everyone's mood to sour. The usually happy and rambunctious boy was acting more like Sasuke on a bad day. Kakashi finally ending the training and walked them home where he promptly told Itachi that Naruto needs to cheer up or not come out tomorrow. He was starting to scare some of the villagers. Itachi nodded and closed the door before turning to Naruto who set his jaw defiantly. Itachi sighed and grabbed his arm, pulling him to his room where he dumped him on the bed.
"Naruto…"
"I don't care what Kakashi said. I am fine."
"You're pouting and getting annoying. It's only been two months. Surely you can last longer than that without seeing our parents."
"I shouldn't have to!" He exploded. "If people weren't so mean about them they could stay here. Or at least Mom!" Itachi poked his forehead as Sasuke smirked in the doorway, pleased to watch Naruto be the one in trouble.
"You'll be fine. Consider yourself lucky that I get to be here with you." Naruto's eyes widened and he jumped up.
"What does that mean?!
"You know very well what it means. You also know that Mother would get bored staying here constantly and that it was her decision not to. You both" He glanced over at a suddenly sheepish Sasuke, "need to learn and grow without her constantly there. You cannot depend on her forever."
"Sure we can." Sasuke mumbled sullenly. "It's not like she's going to die." Itachi stilled and Sasuke looked up at him, eyes widening a fraction. "I didn't mean it like that. She just can't die. Not even from old age." Itachi smiled at both boys and poked them both.
"I know. Now I think both my brothers need to eat and go to bed."
"You know, if we're supposed to learn to be more independent shouldn't we decide when to go to bed?"
"Yes, yes. One step at a time though. Detach a little from overprotective parents first, and then the overprotective brother." He pushed Naruto back onto his bed and herded Sasuke out.
Okay. I would say that I'll try and post sooner, but I'm just not sure lately. So for now, I'm afraid I'm going on a hiatus. Hope to see you all when and if I get back to writing.