Release

Author's notes: Obvious title for obvious chapter. Still don't know where I'm going with this and I've got up to chapter 50-ish pre-written so I've got some time to figure it out.

Rated M for sexy scenes between characters, swearing, drinking, and gore.

Don't own, borrowing.

Warning: Just some embarrassing situations, nothing sexual.

Whatever bug had ran rampant in the hospital was gone now. Masks were no longer needed but sanitizer was still expected, as per normal. People who had been sick and cured were being released. Neji kept his hand in Kankuro's as they strode up to the fourth floor at a few minutes after ten.

Tora and Akino were taking today off with the promise that tomorrow they would be back to their full training regime with Kuma. Both had been excited about Neji's words and Neji had never though he would find students to be happy to train early with him. He strode into Kuma's room with Kankuro and blinked.

The Kick Girl comics were in a pile on the floor at the side of the bed. Kuma hung off the bed with her head pointing towards the pile of comics, one aloft in front of her head as she read and her body over the bed of the mattress, legs in the air and kicking either front to back or side to side.

Neji let out a breath and shook his head as Kuma happily read upside down. He heard Kankuro snort and strode into the room with his lover. Kuma glanced up from her comic and grinned as she sat up and spun on the bed so she faced them in lotus position.

She came off the bed an instant later and hugged Neji. One hand still had the open Kick Girl comic as she giggled into him. Neji rolled his eyes but patted her hair.

"Hi Neji-sensei," Kuma said.

"Good morning, Kuma," Neji said.

"Hi Kankuro-sensei,"

"Hey squirt,"

Neji chuckled as Kuma stuck her tongue out at Kankuro before skipping back to the bed. She front flipped onto it and landed in a lotus position. Neji shook his head but let go of Kankuro's hand to straighten the mass of Kick Girl comics around the bed. There had been twenty in all and it looked like Kuma had made it through half of them.

Kankuro sat beside Kuma as she launched into the story of Kick Girl's latest adventure. Neji kept a small smile on his face as he organized the issues from one to twenty (thirteen was in Kuma's hands) and put them neatly on her bedside table. He turned to see Kankuro watching with a smirk as Kuma kept describing the Kick Girl comics.

She had taken to standing on the bed and jumping around, hands flying through the air, red hair flipping around her head as she moved, always talking and Neji held back his laugh. He leaned against the bedside table, minding the stack of comics, and hooked his thumbs through his belt loops.

"And then she kicked him in the head like this!"

Kuma did a jumping front kick which flew beside Kankuro's head. She landed close on the bed but back flipped onto her hands then leaped into the air talking about a flying roundhouse kick. Perhaps they should have gotten her the comics sooner. She had learned a few new moves.

"And she can do this really cool spinning kick!"

Kuma jumped into the air doing a roundhouse kick and tried to keep spinning to get multiple kicks while spinning. It didn't work so well but she landed on the bed with a thunk. Neji shook his head at her and watched as she tried again. She landed on her butt again and pouted. Kankuro chuckled at her and told her to continue. Kuma leaped back onto her feet.

"And there's this kick called the bicycle kick she does!"

Again Kuma went air born and for a moment it looked like she was riding a bicycle in the air. Gravity took over and she landed on her butt again, legs flopping onto Kankuro's. He laughed at her but she had a grin on her face. She did turn fully so she faced Neji in the lotus position.

"Neji-sensei, can we use the comics for reference for new kicks?" Kuma asked.

Neji nodded so she got off the bed and hugged him. He ruffled her hair and she smiled up at him before pulling away and showing Kankuro a few more kicks from the comics. Neji watched his enthusiastic student moving around as she went back to the story, hands waving through the air as she bounced around and managed to keep a steady stream of conversation going.

"No wonder there's a petition to get you out of here,"

Neji looked to the door to see Sakura standing in the threshold with a smirk on her face. Kuma spun, ran towards Sakura, and hugged her. Sakura stumbled back from shock but giggled after a moment and patted down Kuma's wild hair. There was no taming Kuma's hair.

"Aw, thanks. Neji: you forgot about last night, didn't you? Anyway, out," Sakura said.

Neji winced. He should have gone to Sakura's last night for the sleep over but between talking with the Takenakas about clans and getting his brain fried, he had forgotten. Neji stood up straight as he walked away from the bedside table with Kankuro following behind. Neji winced when Sakura punched him in passing and he rubbed his arm once she shut the door behind them.

"Ow," Neji said.

"I'm surprised she didn't hit me again," Kankuro said.

Neji chuckled. Kankuro dropped an arm over Neji's shoulder as they waited. It would be at least an hour but Neji didn't mind snuggling against Kankuro for the time. They heard Sakura telling Kuma to stop moving around so much and Neji kept his laughter back.

"You realize she's going to be running around on her hands once we get out of here, right?" Kankuro asked.

Neji hummed in response. He didn't mind. He had missed training with Kuma the past week. Her speed and unpredictability reminded him of training with Lee except this version moved like fire and could kick in multiple places before you were entirely sure the first one landed. Neji shifted and heard Sakura mutter something that sounded like "the faster I'm finished, the faster you're out of here."

"She might not even want to stop for lunch," Kankuro said.

"Yes she will, so long as we go to Ichiraku's," Neji said.

Kankuro snorted but nodded. Noon came and they were allowed back into the room. Kuma was dressed in her regular attire, sitting on the bed, kicking her feet, and brushing her hair. Sakura looked disjointed and shook her head.

"She's fine," Sakura said.

"Yay," Kuma beamed.

Sakura smirked.

"She grew about half an inch and gained three pounds,"

"Yay?" Kuma asked.

"Yes, yay," Sakura said.

She let out a puff of air and ran a hand through her hair. Kuma kept brushing, violet eyes watching everyone, and the biggest grin on her face. She still kicked her feet to and fro.

"Anyway, she's starting her first menses today—" Sakura started.

"And I'm out," Kankuro broke in.

Neji stared in awe as Kankuro actually left the room. He shut the door behind him and Neji blinked. He turned to Sakura who laughed before continuing on.

"She had been complaining of cramps last night so we knew it was a matter of time. Of course it happened right as I was doing a PAP smear. Anyway, I gave her a pamphlet on it and showed her how to put a tampon in," Sakura said.

Kuma's entire face had gone red and Neji felt the heat in his cheeks. Sakura kept talking as if none of this should be embarrassing for Neji or Kuma. At least Kuma had stopped kicking her feet. She did still run the brush through her hair.

"Her breasts are starting to develop a bit more too which is a good thing. I don't see her getting any taller than about five feet and an inch so at most she'll be around a hundred and ten pounds depending how much muscle she puts on in the coming years. We're looking for anywhere between one-oh-six and one eighteen since she's small framed. Besides all that: she's good. She can go back to her regular training regime and keep doing what she's doing, well, besides the move which landed her in here in the first place."

Sakura gave Kuma a look and Kuma pouted. Neji nodded in agreement with Sakura's last sentiment and Kuma fiddled with her brush. Sakura beamed then smacked Neji a bit harder than needed in the shoulder. She did leave her hand there. Neji frowned.

"She's good to go," Sakura said.

Kuma fist pumped off the bed and landed on her feet with a grin. Sakura rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"She does have a spare tampon in her vest but you're going to have to bring her shopping today for more. Remember Kuma, you have to change it when you go to the bathroom or after six hours," Sakura said.

More blushing from him and Kuma. Oh Hell. He had to bring her shopping for feminine supplies.

"Can't she go with her mother?" Neji asked.

He didn't care he had spoken in a whine. Sakura smirked at him but Kuma nodded her head vigorously.

"I'm guessing she'll be training with you the rest of the day," Sakura said.

Neji nodded. Sakura crossed her arms over her chest.

"By the time she gets home she'll have to change and likely not want to go out again. Better to do it after lunch, before training because I doubt she's going to want to leave the field before dinner," Sakura said.

Damn it. Sakura had a point. She patted his shoulder though not as hard and gave him a piece of paper. Neji saw names on it then realized it was tampon brands. He blushed and shoved the paper deep into his pocket. Kuma's face kept its pink tinge.

"Finish packing up and out you go. Neji, I'll talk to you about the owed sleepover Monday when I come for Tora," Sakura said.

They both nodded. Kankuro came into the room when Sakura left it and Neji gave him a look. Kankuro rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry, I get enough of that talk with Temari," Kankuro said.

"Yes well, we have to shopping for, ah, feminine stuff," Neji said.

Kankuro opened his mouth, closed it then groaned. He let out a breath but nodded. Neji helped Kuma pack away her Kick Girl comics, the flowers she had gotten, stuffed animals, and the toiletries, pyjamas, slippers, and brush her mother had brought into Kuma's big yellow bag. The flowers Kuma held onto. They left the hospital easily, Kuma oddly subdued, likely still embarrassed about the talk with Sakura and Neji.

"Ichiraku's?" Neji asked her.

Kuma grinned and fist pumped, sailing above Neji's head with the height of her jump. Neji chuckled as she came down perfectly.

"Yes!"

She began running ahead but Neji didn't mind. Every so often she would stop, wait for them to catch up then run for a few more moments. Finally she huffed, annoyed, grabbed Neji's free hand and tried to pull him along.

"Jeez, the place isn't going to disappear," Kankuro said.

"Yeah but it's lunch time! It might get full," Kuma told him.

Kankuro rolled his eyes. Neji chuckled. He did quicken his pace but not to the amount Kuma wanted. Even so the ramen stand had six seats left when they got there. Hinata-sama, Naruto, Sai, and Sasuke took four in that order while two shinobi Neji did not know took the opposite end. Kuma scrambled up beside Hinata-sama with a happy hello.

Neji settled beside her as he exchanged hellos with the people he knew. Teuchi said their order would be a moment and Neji grinned. Kuma had started bouncing in her stool, talking about how excited she was to be eating ramen again.

"That's what I like to hear," Teuchi said.

Neji chuckled as Kuma started telling Hinata-sama about the Kick Girl comics. Neji noticed Naruto had deadpanned, looking upset the little red-head had taken Hinata-sama's attention from Naruto. Neji wanted to tell the blond no one could succeed in this for long.

"You've got to stop feeding her sugar for breakfast," Naruto commented.

"You were the same at her age," Sasuke said.

Naruto yelped then shook his head in denial, half coming out of his chair and pointing as Sasuke with a stunned look on his face.

"Was not!"

"Were too," Neji, Sasuke, and Kankuro returned.

Naruto deflated and sat back into his chair with a huff. He grinned a moment later.

"Okay, okay, I was a little excitable," Naruto said.

"A little?" Kankuro asked.

Naruto laughed. Neji watched in amusement as Hinata-sama listed to Kuma in rapt attention, eyes a little wider than normal, lips parted slightly and a faint blush on her cheeks. Kuma had gone into the entire rendition: hands waving, feet kicking, hair flying everywhere at once and newly added: flower petals hovering around her head.

Neji took the flowers from her but she hardly noticed. She did notice once her ramen was placed in front of her, gave thanks and began digging in despite being mid-sentence in her story. Hinata-sama giggled and went back to her ramen. Neji shook his head at Kuma, gave thanks, and went to his ramen.

"So good," Kuma said around her ramen.

"Don't speak with your mouth full," Neji said.

She looked at him with ramen noodles hanging from her mouth and a naruto on her cheek. Neji shook his head at her as she slurped up her noodles. He tapped his cheek and she found the naruto. She ate it happily and went back for more ramen.

Neji shook his head at her but kept eating. She finished well before him and Kankuro and looked up to Neji. He nodded. She ordered a second bowl. Neji grinned when Teuchi happily delivered and Kuma shouted her thanks before digging in.

"So, what are your guys' plans the rest of the day?" Naruto asked.

"Training," Neji said.

He would not embarrass Kuma by saying they had to go shopping. If he knew Naruto would not be upset, he would ask Hinata-sama to come with them. Sasuke snorted at the response but Sai kept eating and fake smiling.

"Problem, Uchiha?" Kankuro said.

"I figured you would be sneaking into people's homes, that's all," Sasuke said.

Kankuro snorted. Kuma stared between Kankuro and Sasuke with a few noodles hanging out of her mouth. She blinked then decided it wasn't worth asking about and went back to her food.

"Hey, I said I was sorry. Besides, you didn't hear me pounding on the door so I tried the next best option. Didn't know you'd be doing some pounding of your own," Kankuro said.

Naruto spit ramen across the counter. Hinata-sama flushed. Sai blinked then grinned, a real one this time. Sasuke went red and stood. Kankuro snorted and continued eating as if he had said nothing. Kuma tried her best to ignore the situation by shoving more ramen into her all ready full mouth. Neji shook his head and decided it best to go along with Kuma's idea.

"You did what with Sakura?" Naruto asked.

It echoed through the street and heads turned. Hinata-sama fainted. Neji knew she would be okay in a moment or two. Besides, her body had become accustomed to it.

Sasuke went bright pink then punched Naruto over the head. The blond yelped and face planted on the counter, knocking over what was left of Hinata-sama's ramen and spinning on the counter so he could stand.

Kuma lifted her ramen out of the way an instant before Naruto's hands flailed and would have dumped it over. Neji poked Kankuro and the puppet master moved down a seat. Neji followed then Kuma with a muffled "Thanks Neji-sensei."

"We are dating, idiot," Sasuke said.

"Dating, yeah, I get, but you, you, you," Naruto tried.

He kept pointing as Sasuke, standing over Hinata-sama. Neji watched in amusement as Hinata-sama sat up and head butted Naruto in a sensitive area. Naruto grunted and went to his knees on her lap as Hinata-sama gaped. Their mouths smashed together and Hinata-sama promptly fainted again.

"I should help her," Neji said.

"Good luck with that," Kankuro told him.

Neji snorted but got to his feet. He pushed Naruto (still holding his groin in pain) off Hinata-sama and waved a hand in front of her to wake her. She sat up again and Neji helped her to her stool. She thanked him then apologized to Naruto, face still deep red. Sasuke stood by his stool, one hand on his forehead and looking towards the ground.

Neji felt someone poking him and noticed Kuma had finished with her ramen. Neji quickly finished his own, deposited enough ryo to take care of Kuma's order and smirked when Kankuro put down enough to cover him and Neji.

"Bye," Kuma said and took off running.

Neji followed her after a moment and Kankuro grabbed her flowers before catching up. Neji chuckled when Kuma slowed down a few blocks away with a sigh. Kankuro laughed and ruffled her hair when he caught up.

"That wasn't funny, Kankuro-sensei," Kuma said.

"What, it was true," Kankuro said.

He yelped when she kicked him in the hip. Neji snorted and glanced around the area. He knew where they were and had an idea of where to go to get the products Kuma needed. He cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow when his student and lover looked at him from having a yelling match.

"This way," Neji said.

Kuma followed happily at first then figured out they weren't headed to the fields. She started dragging her feet and Neji gave her a look. Kuma pouted.

"The faster we do this the quicker we can train," Neji said.

Kuma kept the pout on her face but nodded. She did match his pace and Neji led Kuma towards the pharmacy. Kankuro cleared his throat but came inside with them after a moment. Neji hummed and looked towards the signs above the aisles. He found the proper section and raised an eyebrow when Kankuro followed.

"We need, er, yeah," Kankuro said.

Neji felt his face heat but nodded as Kankuro quickened his pace to get condoms and lube. Why condoms, lube, feminine supplies, and tests of all sorts had to be in the same aisle was a mystery to Neji. He noticed Kuma had stopped a few feet behind him and grabbed her shoulder to pull her towards the tampons. They both stared at the selection for several seconds.

There were many different brands but Neji hoped brand didn't matter. What confused him were the different sizes. Some offered leak-guard protection, comfort fit, super absorbency, discrete packaging, and a variety of other concepts Neji had never thought to consider. He thanked the gods for making him male.

Neji did find the paper Sakura had given him and looked down to see Kuma's face had turned as red as her hair. Neji found the right brand on the paper and held the box in his hand, wondering if thirty-six would be enough for her cycle.

"You likely know slightly more about this than I do," Neji said.

Kuma blinked up at him with parted lips, blush firmly in place.

"How many do you need?" Neji questioned.

She opened her mouth to answer, inhaled then shook her head. Neji hummed and gave her the box. She took it with a groan of embarrassment. Neji looked back to his paper and saw "panty liners." Neji let out a breath and saw again, there were many varieties and different types. Sakura had written down a name and brand again so Neji gave the appropriate box to Kuma who nodded.

"Done?"

Neji nearly yelped when Kankuro appeared beside him. He nodded and noticed Kankuro had three boxes of condoms and four medium sized bottles of lube. He raised his eyebrow at Kankuro who shrugged.

"It's not like they'll expire before we use them," Kankuro said.

Neji snorted.

"And they're on sale," Kankuro said.

Neji opened his mouth but closed it and shook his head instead. Better not to protest. Neji followed Kuma out of the aisle and they went to the register. Kuma placed her boxes on the counter, cheeks still pink and paid with her ryo. The man at the counter bagged the products in a white plastic bag and she thanked him.

The man smirked when Kankuro placed their items on the counter. Neji did not wait for Kankuro but followed Kuma out of the store when she stood off to one side, still blushing. Neji let out a breath and stood next to her.

"Jeez," Kuma muttered.

"Tell me about it," Neji mumbled back.

Kankuro came out a moment later and wrapped an arm around Neji's waist. Neji kissed his cheek and heard Kuma chuckling at them.

"Training?" Neji asked her.

Kuma fist pumped.

"FINALLY!"

She took off in a dead sprint and Neji watched her go. Kankuro snorted then groaned when Neji took off after her, catching up a moment later and winking at her. She giggled and they headed onto the rooftops. Neji activated Byakugan to see they had lost Kankuro but he knew where to go. Neji watched as Kuma easily kept pace beside him, grin wide, hair flying back in the wind, and eyes shining.

Neji grinned at her and kept moving forward. She, Tora, and Akino were his students. More precious people to add to the growing list he never thought he would have. Neji wouldn't trade it for the world.

Poor Kuma. Reviews welcome, as always.