Butterflies

"Me? I'm nobody. I'm not skilled like Uchiha-san. I am not passionate like Haruno-san. I am not smart like Nara-san. I'm not as strong as Chouji-san. I'm not as collected as Aburame-san. Or as pretty as Yamanaka-san. I'm not as confident as Inuzuka-san. If anything, I'm like Hyuuga-san, socially awkward. Oh wait, no, she's just shy. The socially awkward one is me." OC! Team 7 remix!

Chapter 47 – Teardrops like rain

8-8

"I don't feel like it today." I tell them honestly. "I've been training for three and a half weeks straight, no days off. And the only half day off I had, I ended up having to play 'save a scarecrow'. I need to rest or I'll snap before the third exam even comes."

And that isn't even including being tired of chakra exhaustion, having knots in every muscle big enough to earn their own postal address, getting my period, wanting to cry to the point of dehydrating, and the worst cramps I've ever been through. Even that tea Haku-chan keeps making for me isn't helping. If you want me to break someone in half, I'm game. But without that kind of endgame for motivation, I just want to curl up in my bed with the biggest tub of chocolate ice cream man's ever made… and cry. Is that too much to ask?

"Good." Yoshino-sensei says, smiling at me. She walks up to me, tugging me into a hug. I'm not complaining, hugs are the best medicine. Well, hugs and chocolate. "Rest for the coming days. You deserve it." I nod, fully agreeing with Sensei. And I really like hugs. Hugs are awesome. Super awesome. Comparable to chocolate kind of awesome.

"Yes, I do." I murmur, nodding again. Sensei gently scratches my scalp with her nail, letting me enjoy this moment for all it's worth.

"I have an idea, if you're feeling up to it?" Sensei begins, but I don't care to respond. Let me enjoy my fluffy moment with hugs, and fluff, and not having to save a life or end it! "We could have a nice dinner tonight. I could invite Mariko-chan and Remi-chan and their families and we could have a nice, cosy evening in. And while I'm busy arranging all of this, you can curl up in bed with a nice book." I dunno, I'm not in a people mood. But curling up in bed sounds divine!

"Sounds to me like our little princess is in a foul mood today." Shikaku-san says. He sounds… not worried, but concerned. "How about I take over as your hugging post while Yoshi-chan gets you something nice to snack on?" He offers.

"That actually sounds like a good idea. And I happen to know an age old trick that will do you a world of good." Sensei says, trying to push me back a bit. I don't let go of her though. "What do you think, Aya?"

"That depends on the bribe." I murmur. Anything that makes me end this hug before I'm willing and ready to, is a bribe.

"Hot chocolate by the bucket, a hot water bag, and all the cuddling your heart could desire?" I think about that. Sacrifice a few seconds of not having this hug, for the sake of cuddling all day? Me likey!

I move back a bit, not fighting her this time. Our eyes meet, and all I can find in her is that concerned, nurturing woman, smiling that maternal smile of hers to let me know that she'll do all she can to make this horrid day a little more bearable.

I blink, and when my eyes open again it isn't Yoshino-sensei that's half hugging me… but mama. Gone is Sensei's cared for hair and soft silky texture, replaced by mama's wild and uncontrollable spikes. Her smile is a bit more feral, but just as warm and protective. Her eyes are more yellow than brown. I blink again, and it's gone.

I…

… I…

I hate being female so bad right now. I throw myself into Shikaku-san's awaiting arms, already crying and no longer able to look at Sensei.

8-8

"Aya, sweetie, are you alright?" Yasu-nee asks, already opening my door and coming into my room.

Let's see. I'm curled up in a foetal position, under a quilt on my bed, with a hot water bottle trying to cook the horrid reality leaking out of my womb a little at a time. Oh, I'm also on my sixth bar of chocolate, third mug of hot chocolate, and have sworn off chocolate ice cream because anything cold just makes me cramp up worse.

"I'm just peachy." I drone sarcastically.

Yasu-nee offers a worn smile, her eyes showing just how well she understands what I'm going through. She closes the door behind her, making her way over to me. She lies on the bed with me, scooting closer bit by bit, until she's close enough to wrap me in her embrace.

"You mind telling me why you're suddenly avoiding Yoshino-san?" I wince. I didn't think I was being that obvious.

"…" I sigh. "It's stupid."

"I have time." I sigh again, unsure if I even want to put that into words.

I sigh once again, but I explain it. Halting, stuttering in places, and hating every moment of it, but I know I can trust Yasu-nee with this. "W-when I looked up… I didn't see Sensei, I saw… I saw mama. Her grin, her eyes, the warmth I've only ever felt when m-mama hugged me…"

"How do you feel about Yoshino-san?" Yasu-nee, of course, had to ask. I sigh, unsure how to answer her. "I know you trust her, I know you love her, I know you see her as part of the pack. But, if you were to give a status to it…?"

"Yasu-nee, I have enough going on right now. Can we skip to point?" I drone.

"You love Yoshino-san, right?"

"Yes?" What is she getting at?

"Like a big sister?"

"… No?"

"Romantically?"

"No." No brainer. Only Chouji-kun holds that title.

"… Like a mother?"

"…" I'd love to think about this, I really would. And I probably will some other time. It's just not very easy right now. Ask me to recite the vital organs and their functions, no problem. Ask me to think… that's a bit much.

"Sweetie, I know you're still hurting. But… Yoshino-san does care for you like her own daughter. Shikaku-san cares for you in the same way. And I'm sure Shikamaru cares for you in his own way."

"… I know…" I say, unsure how to feel about it. I mean… if Yoshino-sensei… if I start treating her like she's my mother… would that… wouldn't that… what about mama?

Why does this have to come up now? Can't this wait a week? Maybe two?

8-8

"Sensei…?" I find her in the kitchen, already making another mug of hot chocolate. She turns to me, tears already welling up.

"Aya, are you alright? You look like you've been crying." She forgets whatever she was doing, her arms around me in an instant. "Why were you crying, sweetie? What's wrong?"

"… I'm sorry…" I mumble, hating myself a little more. "For a-avoiding you all morning…"

"Sweetie, do you really think I blame you for not wanting to be around peo…ple…" She tenses ever so slightly. "This isn't about people." Yeah, her brain is kicking into overdrive and she's starting to piece the puzzle together, knowing her.

I don't speak, I don't dare to. I just pray to whatever Kami is listening that she won't be upset when she figures this out.

"Why were you avoiding me, Aya?" Great. She probably already figured it out, she just wants me to say it. Why can't smart people just assume they're smart enough to figure it out and just go with it?

"… Because you reminded me too much of mama…"

She's quiet for a long moment, studying –dissecting– that information. "You're scared I'm replacing her."

"Yes…? No? I don't know." I complain. "I just… You…" I sigh. Why did I choose to listen to Yasu-nee and talk to Sensei about this? "You just remind me so much of her. How you always know what to say. How you always have an answer. How you can make anything better with the simplest of things."

She doesn't interrupt, just letting me ramble it all out.

"And Shikaku-san… he's…" I snort, amused. "Even Nara-san… I… Kami-sama, I'm not making any sense at all."

"You are." She says, holding me tight once again. "Aya, you aren't my daughter. I'm not your mother. I don't plan on replacing her, not that I even could."

"Nn." Why do those words hurt? It's the truth. The facts lay bare… so why does it hurt?

"But if you want...?" I don't react, I don't even breathe. "I'm sure Shikaku wouldn't mind. In fact, I'm sure he has trouble not seeing you as his daughter… just like I do."

"… don't… don't…" I mutter, over and over again. Don't you dare dangle something like this in front of me when I'm this vulnerable… don't you dare…

"What is it, Aya? What's wrong?" Please don't make me say this. Please. Please…! "Aya, baby, you're scaring me. What's wrong?" She pushes me back gently, tears spilling down her cheeks to match mine. "Please… tell me what's hurting you… I can't fix it if you won't tell me."

"I'm… scared." My voice is barely more than a whisper. But hearing that last word knocks the air out of me. Tears a streaming down my face, too much for either of us to stem the flow – no matter how many times she tries, and she's a determined woman. "I'm scared… because of this thing coming up… you and him… and everyone… and I… I can't lose you… please…" I beg, shaking my head slowly, barely able to breathe from the tightness of my chest.

She hugs me again, tighter than before.

Shhhhhht!

The kitchen door slides open. "Hey, guess who's home? Yasu said I'd…" Shikaku-san trails off, obviously noticing the funeral air in here with us. "Alright, who am I killing?"

That comes so far out of left field that I find myself laughing a little. The next thing I know, he's behind me, hugging his wife and sandwiching me between them.

"We're fine… it's just that Aya's a bit… worried right now. The whole invasion and everything, you know." She says.

"Is that so…" He trails off, pulling away from us. I feel his hand on my shoulder, so I turn to him. I don't hide my tears from him, knowing he already knows anyway. "I'd love to tell you what you want to hear right now. But that's not what you need, is it." He crouches down to my height, his arms held wide for me. "You know you want to." He says with a knowing smile.

I untangle myself from her embrace, throwing myself into his. My arms snake around his neck, just as his gently find their way around my middle. He lifts me up, almost like I weigh nothing, and he lets me hide from the world in his protective embrace.

"There, there, princess. It's alright. I've got you." Is that supposed to stop me from crying? Or make me cry more? "Daddy's got you, alright?" Definitely 'cry more'…

8-8

"I'm fine." I say defensively before anyone even has the chance to ask anything. Chouji-kun, Ino-chan and… well, Shika-nii (I guess) show up together. I still wonder how… how daddy got in without me opening the gate, but I'm just too emotionally and mentally scrambled to figure it out.

Shika-nii's been leaving with daddy every morning around the same time. One goes to the Tower, the other goes somewhere random to train with Sarutobi-sensei. So that the younger Ino-Shika-Chou trio show up together isn't that big a surprise. That Mariko-san and Remi-san are with them isn't that big a surprise either. Nor is the fact that Inoichi-san and Chouza-san with them a surprise. It's… Sarutobi-sensei and Yuuhi-sensei being with them, that catches me a bit off guard.

I open the gate, welcoming them all into our home. "Really, I'm fine. I'm just tired from overdoing it with training and everything." They haven't asked anything yet.

"I hope you don't mind that we came a bit earlier than planned. But Chou-chan baked some chocolate muffins and he figured you might like some." Remi-san says, smiling warmly. I smile a little too. More chocolate is SOOOOOOOOO welcome right now.

Once they're all through the gate, I close it behind them and we walk into the house together. Normally I'd wait with them while the remove their footwear, but no one seems surprised when I walk ahead into the family sitting room.

The second I open the door to the family sitting room, daddy's eyes meet mine and he smiles to welcome me back. I smile a little too, making my way over to him and curling up in his lap. I grab the hot water bottle again, placing it where it belongs, and daddy wraps me in the quilt once again. Only once I find a comfortable position do I sigh contently. Kami-sama, I've needed this sooo bad!

"It's fine, Kurenai-san. We're quite used to taking over the kitchen while we're here. You guys go on into the family sitting room." Mariko-san points out.

"Yoshi-chan, do you think it's too early to let the boys start on their sake? You know they're going to start griping about it just now." Remi-san teases lightly. "Oh, hot chocolate is not going to help her. Don't worry, I happen to know Haku-chan keeps a speci-"

"She's been drinking the tea all morning, it hasn't helped in the least. So I opted for making her comfortable. I even kidnapped Shikaku from work." Se… Mom explains. Somehow, calling him daddy seems so much less awkward?

"Shikaku needed an excuse to be here for a gathering?" Chouza-san sounds amused. "Sounds to me like Aya's got him wrapped around her little finger."

"Come see for yourselves." Mom says, walking towards us. She smiles when our eyes meet. She's quick to make her way over to me and offer me my mug of hot chocolate.

"Thanks, mom." I say, meaning it. Her eyes smile warmly.

Chouza-san's roaring laughter fills the house. "Well, well, looks like Aya got to the both of you, huh? Can't say I'm too surprised."

"Chouza! Behave yourself please." Remi-san chastises her husband. "And, young lady, I can already tell you haven't been kind to your body this last month. I hope you remember that for the next time. A kunoichi's body has a way of reminding us we aren't machines." She says, offering me a meaningful look. I snort, not disagreeing with her in the least. "Lucky for you I know a trick or two to help, but you're still going to need to take it easy in the coming days."

"That's the plan. Isn't it, princess?" Daddy squeezes me gently. I nod, sipping my hot chocolate.

"What have you been doing? Training around the clock for the last month?" Mariko-san sounds annoyed with me.

"More or less." Daddy, you are sooooo not helping! I sigh, sipping a bit more of my hot chocolate. I'm not in the mood for this. I'm already dealing with the consequences, so just leave me be already!

"Hey, hey. Stop picking on my cute little student." Kakashi ambles in, headband missing and on crutches. See! I'm not the only stubborn one in this house!

"Oi, Kakashi-sensei! What happened to you?" Ino-chan asks, shocked to see him looking so beat up.

"Oh, this? Well, you see I tripped and fell down the stairs." I snort, knowing that idiot would say something stupid like that. I can sense Inoichi-san and Chouza-san studying him closely, just as Mariko-san and Remi-san are.

"Now, now. Stop hogging the doorway, Kakashi-san." Maki is right behind him with Momochi-san and Haku-chan. I guess they were outside together, or something. Chouza-san's laughter probably called them inside. Once Kakashi makes a stupid comment and gets out of the way, everyone starts crowding the low table. "Well, well. Looks like Aya-chan has finally come out of hiding. What'd you bribe her with, Shikaku-san?"

Daddy shrugs, choosing not to comment.

"Hey, Aya-chan, sorry to bug you again, but…" Kakashi says, sorrow in his tone. Daddy unwraps me, knowing I'd rather deal with this now than let Kakashi suffer needlessly. His leg's healing really well, but Kakashi's a stubborn mule that refuses to stay in bed. So every few days the pain starts acting up again. It's simple enough to deal with, but… whatever.

Momochi-san helps Kakashi to sit without stressing his leg too much, so once I put down my mug and hot water bottle again, I only have to deal with his leg. I activate the Mystic Palm jutsu, going over his wounds for the millionth time since he got them. "The inflammation isn't that bad this time." I murmur, healing what little is acting up.

"Sake does wonders." He announces, eye-smiling. I don't even react to that – I don't feel like it. In under a minute I've dealt with his leg, so I instruct him to hold out his hands for me so I can check those as well. Nothing out of the ordinary there though.

"And people wonder where I get my stubborn streak from?" I complain, helping him to set his leg comfortably without aggravating it even more. "You know you shouldn't be moving around, even with crutches, right?"

"Now, now, sorry doc, but I have this itch that only fresh air can cure." He tries, but I just roll my eyes at him.

"I'll be right back." I say, deciding to change my pad and go so I can cuddle up with daddy… without having to worry about that for a while again.

8-8

Once I'm once again properly wrapped up, Remi-san offers me a cup of tea. "Drink, young lady. It might not be helping the worst of it, but I promise you it is helping." I shrug, but don't comment. I drink the bitter tasting tea quickly, offering her the empty teacup and grabbing my chocolate once again to wash down the horrid taste. The tea itself isn't that bad, but the aftertaste could kill!

"Hey, Aya, you want a muffin? They're fresh!" Ino starts trouble. I roll my eyes, ignoring her for the moment. I take my time, enjoying my now somewhat lukewarm chocolate milk. Even lukewarm, it tastes like heaven.

"Ino, it's fine. When Aya's ready to try one, she'll try one. They're only for her though." I smile into my mug, knowing that's the reason Ino's making such a big deal about this.

"Troublesome." Shika-nii mutters.

"A half hour ago you were just as curious if she'd like them!"

"A half hour ago I didn't know my parents adopted her. Or that she went and overdid it again." Shika-nii counters. "Can you imagine would mom would do to me if I annoy my little sister when she's like this?" Good point.

"You don't mind?" Daddy asks.

"Why would I mind? She's practically been family for months." Shika-nii points out. I don't get involved, this might be about me, but it has nothing to do with me. "Just don't ask me to get between her and Chouji. That'd be too troublesome for words."

I snort, almost choking on my chocolate milk. "I hope you guys don't expect me to call everything 'troublesome' now." I complain.

"Nah. Bothersome works better for you. Besides, if anything, you take after mom. She's too strict for that." Shika-nii points out. "Just try distracting her when she gets on my case. I've been searching for years for an ally when she gets mad at me." Okay, so not going there, bro. You're on your own.

"Shikamaru, you're assuming she won't take your mother's side." Ino-chan points out.

"You're assuming this hasn't happened before." Shika-nii counters. I giggle a little. He's not wrong. I do pick mom's side a lot, but I do tend to help him out when she's just dragging it out. "I ran into Lee earlier. He wanted to thank you for the tip?"

"Nn." I smile a little. I knew Lee would be able to handle that training. I sip the last of the chocolate, putting the empty mug down on the table. Normally I'd make a shadow crow and have it bring the mug into the kitchen, but I'm pretty sure mom and Yasu-nee will never let me live that down.

"Dad, question. Yasu and Sakiko?"

"Hnn?"

"Are they a packaged deal with our latest addition?"

"Probably. Not like I mind. This way your mother will stop bugging me about wanting a little girl." Again, I'm sooo not getting involved in this. "It does, of course, mean that I have to have a nice, long chat with Kakashi about his plans for Yasu."

Kakashi looks a little nervous about that. I just laugh. "Shikaku-san, I assure you I have only the best intentions for Yasu-chan."

"I'll believe it when I hear talk of a wedding date." Daddy counters easily. "I don't go easy on Chouji, so don't expect me to even consider going easy on you."

"Ah…" Ouch, Kakashi. I guess you're going to have to step up your game if you don't want a peeved Nara on your case – not something anyone sane would want.

"Speaking of which… Zabuza?" Inocichi-san begins. I narrow my eyes, wondering what Momochi-san has to do with any of this.

"Oi, keep me out of this. I already told Maki I won't even consider making a move until she's back at a hundred percent." Oh? I didn't know Maki and Momochi-san are a thing?

"Be that as it may, Haku-chan and Ao-chan need a mother figure, and they both get along quite well with Maki." Inoichi-san counters, smooth as silk. "It might be worth noting that Maki isn't against the idea, and I happen to know that the house next door is on sale. You may wish to consider making a bid."

"Noted." Momochi-san drones. To anyone else he might seem annoyed, but I've spent enough time with him to know he's considering it, if nothing else.

"No rush, Momochi-san. I won't mind if the four of you stay here." I add my two cents.

"Thank you, Aya-chan. Really." Maki says, blushing brightly. What's with all the talk of relationship hook-ups though? "That reminds me… Ao-chan has been talking about that Kamizuki boy a lot lately… it might be good for us to get to know him?"

"See, Hiro-kun, I told you they'd want to meet you." I sniff the air for a second. Yup, Ao-chan and Hiro. I smirk. He's been coming over 'in secret' a lot. Psh! Like he could really get in here without anyone of us noticing?

Minori, Haruki, Asami, Hina-nee, Fuu, Moegi… look, everyone that was upstairs studying comes in to join us.

"What makes you think I haven't already spoken to him?" Momochi-san asks, seemingly annoyed. The way Hiro-kun gulps painfully, I know Momochi-san isn't pretending – he talked to the boy already, in painstaking detail.

"If it makes you feel better, Hiro-kun, we're like this with everyone." I say, smiling a bit.

"Oh? Even Chouji-san?" Hiro wonders, eyeing Chouji-kun. The tension in the room suddenly skyrockets. Even Kakashi –as beat up and worn down as he is– is eyeing Chouji-kun with flat out contempt. "Ah. Nevermind." Yeah, I think that's evidence enough for any jury.

"Now, now. I believe it's my job to be the scare factor in this particular situation." Daddy butts in. I just reach out and grab one of the muffins Chouji-kun brought for me. I start nibbling on it, waiting for the situation to play out. This muffin's REALLY good though!

"Ah?" I break off a piece and offer it to daddy. He rolls his eyes, but doesn't fight me. I prop a small piece into his mouth so he can get a taste. He nods appreciatively. I know right? They're yummy!

"Yeah, Nara. You're so scary when you get like that." Momochi-san drones sarcastically.

"Ah?" I offer Chouji-kun a piece as well. He smiles at me a bit, leaning as far over the table as he can without risking falling. I prop a piece into his mouth as well.

"Wow, girl. You already have him eating out of your hand?" Minori just had to go there. Everyone gets a good laugh off of that. Especially Kakashi and Momochi-san. I raise an eyebrow to those two in particular.

"Now, now, Namiki. What'd I tell you about the death threats?" Momochi-san drones, unimpressed.

"You know, Zabuza… I think what she's trying to tell you is that any girl or woman that isn't worth being 'whipped' for, isn't worth having in the first place." Daddy points out.

"Hnn. You putting words in my mouth, Nara?" Momochi-san is annoyed this time.

"Merely responding to a familiar look and a thought that went unsaid." Daddy counters. Momochi-san shrugs, knowing daddy's right.

"To answer your question, Hiro-kun." Kakashi begins. "Aya just so happens to have a… unique position in the pack. Just as Yasu-chan does. So Chouji… or anyone that's interested in her, really… let's just say that Aya won't ever have to worry about anyone treating her badly. Not if they value their life." Chouji-kun shivers at the tone Kakashi's using. Even Hiro looks a little pale at that. I just roll my eyes – this isn't something I didn't expect, considering what they did to poor Lee. And now adding daddy and Shika-nii? I don't think I'll ever understand guys.

"Kakashi, you're ignoring that all females in our pack get the same treatment." I glare at him dully, reminding him that he's in fact Yasu-nee's love interest. "That means that you don't just have daddy to worry about if you don't treat Yasu-nee the way she deserves." Everyone tenses slightly, even Momochi-san. "And that's ignoring the fact that I don't have a special status, I'm just the only one that keeps putting you idiots back together when you get messed up."

"Yeah, 'Kashi! You better not dare make my sister cry, ya know!" Sakiko announces, growling at him menacingly – properly growling, mind you. I grin, knowing that little Saki's going to be a force to be reckoned with in time; and because I'm so proud of her. "And Chouji-san! That counts double for you! Aya-nee might have forgiven your stupidness, but I won't ever forget it, ya know!" She doesn't growl this time though, she just flies at him, ready to pound him into the ground.

I grab her out of thin air –seeing as she was planning on jumping over the table to get to him– and set her in my lap. "Muffin?" I offer, smiling warmly.

"Mou! Aya-nee~eeeee!" I prop a piece of the muffin in her mouth to keep her quiet. She grumbles, but quiets down when her brain registers the yummy chocolate.

"I'm not saying you're wrong, Saki. I'm saying that people make stupid mistakes. Just because I know not to bother get between guys and their caveman bonding, doesn't mean I'm going to let you get caught up in it."

"I don't get it…" She admits.

"Well, guys have their way of testing the character of another guy who's interested in a family member. We have our way. Just like Remi-san tested me. Just like Yasu-nee and I tested Maki. Just like I tested Hina-nee. And just like we're all going to be testing whichever girl catches Shika-nii's eye." On cue, Shika-nii groans, not liking where this is going.

"Ehhhhh! I didn't even notice something like that going on, ya know!"

"No, you probably didn't. You see, unlike the guys, we're really subtle about it. Just like how we test the person we're interested in, we test the person interested in someone we love." I explain sagely. "And that reminds me… Asami… since we're on the topic anyway…?" Everyone's eyes are on her, especially Konohamaru's.

"Oi, Namiki… who's the lucky victim?" Momochi-san asks, his tone just barely not threatening.

"Sasuke." I say, smirking a little.

"Oh. I thought you were bringing us news." Momochi-san obviously no longer cares. That's the reason I'm smirking. It's not that Sasuke's earned that much respect, we just all know he'd never do Asami wrong. Not if he can help it.

"Sounds to me like only Ino and Shikamaru need to find a suitable mate then." Kakashi teases.

"Oi! I'm still here, you know!" Minori huffs, ticked off and more than a little annoyed.

"Yeah, but then we'd have to include Haruki as well, and that would mean including Hanabi, Udon, Moegi, Konohamaru and Sakiko as well… that's just a can of worms we don't want to open." Kakashi drawls almost lazily.

"Chouji hasn't been approved." Momochi-san points out… I sigh. This is just going nowhere.

"I'll tell you what, you tell Aya that, and I'll be here watching." Minori teases, smiling brightly.

8-8

End Chapter 47

8-8

A/N: Mostly fluff and filler here, I know that. But important fluff and filler ^_^ I had this chapter done last night, but I was wondering if I wasn't overstating th family gathering a bit, so I wanted to get some sleep and read through it again.

I know, I could have done so much interesting things during this month, but really, it's nothing that couldn't be showcased during the Third Exam or the invassion, so I figure getting to the good stuff would be so much more fulfilling that mere allusion to what the good stuff might be. Next up is the Interlude on Orochimaru, then one on Sarutobi Hiruzen, after that... dun dun duuuuuuuuuun! Round 1, Fight!