AN: Hello again everybody! You all probably thought I had forgotten about this, but ,as you can see, I have not. It is kind of rough, but I thought you would like to read it sooner rather than later. Thank you guys for all your support, it brings a warm feeling to my cold, dead heart. And thank you, again, Silver Queen for letting me publish this, it means a lot. Without further adieu, let's dive in!

P.S. I'm also looking for a beta, because I know that this needs work. I'm always looking to improve, so long as your critique is better than just, "This is really bad, do better or stop writing." :| That is very unhelpful. I want to enjoy creating this as much as you should enjoy reading it. It doesn't have to be much, but everything helps! Thanks!

Chapter 2

Kaede came back, not too long after Shikaku got here. "Shikaku-san! Long time no see. I see you've been busy," he made a point to look over at my pen.

"Haha, yes, this is Shikamaru-chan and Shikako-chan. They were born in September." Shikaku slouched over to the counter where Kaede stood. "So, I need to order..."

They talked business and prices for a little over 20 minutes, until finally they were bowing at each other and the little tykes were swooshed away. It's a weird custom to get used to, people bowing that is. Where a firm handshake would seal the deal, a deep bow was a sign of respect. It's just so Japanese. I had even read, before when I was a bit of a dweeb, that really Japanese people bowed when talking on the phone, because it was just so customary for them to bow at those times, lol like what even!

Kaede strode behind Shikaku and turned the lock as soon as he was out. "Alright! Ryo-kun, let's get to work on some of these orders," he clasped his hands together and a smile radiated from his face region, ugh, it burns. But first (let me take a selfie) snack time for me! A banana is peeled and a juice box is placed on my little work bench next to Kaede's bench. He picks me up from the pen and I head over to my little bench and food, mostly for the food (is this how a psychology experiment rat feels? Positive reinforcement with food being the motivator to enjoy being at a work bench?). I smell Kaede's happy chakra burning hotter as it rolls off his skin. Ok, I'm starting to really like him, he's just too cute like this!

Ito grabs a couple of instruments from the other side of the room, as directed, and brings them over to the work bench. Kaede brings the rest of the supplies over and begins explaining what everything is, what it's for, and when to use it. This is really more of an overview because it is Ito's first day and he'll have a life time to really learn the tools and techniques. The first thing that Kaede was teaching Ito to make, was a nail. A fair size and extremely simple, Ito began to learn the process.

As Ito heated up the forge as directed, he explained the steps verbatim. "The three H's are heating, holding, and hitting. First, bring the forge to the correct temperature. Second place the metal into the forge, using a tong, vise, or clamp, and cover it with more charcoal. And third a hammer is used to mold the piece in any way that is desired," maybe not exactly verbatim, but close enough. Soon the forge was roaring and they began to work. I watch with dazzled eyes.

I had been an artist who mostly worked in 2D, but the few 3D classes I had, had always been extremely fun. This was art, plain and simple. It could be beautiful and elegant, but mostly it is rough and exact. My inner artist couldn't help but to love being in the smithy watching ninja stars and swords, and hinges and nails, and door handles and pulleys being created. The sounds and smells and tastes and sometimes I could even feel the chakra being produced; it's a cacophony of senses that will always put me at ease. That calms the demons and placates my heart.

I woke in the pen with the smell of fresh air hitting my senses. It was cooler than earlier, leading me to believe it is dark out. "Hey there sleeping beauty, have a nice nap?" Kaede asks softly. I sit up and look over at him by the door. His smile is as warm as always.

"Mhm," I mumble. I look around, only to not find Ito. "Where's Ito?"

Kaede came over and picked me up out of the pen. "He's getting cleaned up, then we're all getting Minami's." I pout up at him, this jerk thinks that Ito can just join us on our trips to Minami's! "Don't give me that look. He's earned it." He finished cleaning up around the shop before Ito returned.

"Did you know that people with guilty consciences are more easily startled by loud nois-" I stopped mid word and yelled. Kaede flinched, dropping a vice. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I just did that. Anyway, just an interesting science fact." I smiled up at him.

He face palms and whispers something to Nao, but only a few words are discernable. I start to feel guilty, but can't take it back now. The taste of sawdust reaches me just before Ito walks through the door.

"Ah, Ryo-kun, ready for some well deserved desserts?" Kaede looks like a proud father seeing his son after a long time. Ito nods back slightly, reserved and polite. It makes me want to slap his face. Kaede scooped me up, placing me on his shoulders and sauntering out, with Ito in front of him, and fliped off the lights. "Is the smithy all you thought it would be? Or better?" He asked Ito while we headed to the center of town.

"It was a pleasant first day. I look forward to learning more about everything," he replied like a politician. We began our way towards the village center; the closer we got, the more packed it became. The smithy was a part of the inner village, so it wasn't very far.

The smells were tantalizing and the sounds of sizzling meat and vegetables, irresistible and happy, while pleasant chatter was heard. Here in the Akimichi district, the mood was always saturated with the food. Slowly we made our way to dango heaven, with light conversation between Kaede and Ito. I listened and tried to keep my stomach quiet. When I finally felt sweet nirvana, the idiot Ito had to ruin it.

"So, do you think you'll be joining me in the smithy, Kameyo-chan?" it was such an innocent question. It was something that I hadn't really thought about, to be a part of the ninja around us or to simply help from the background.

"Why would I want to work with you?" I say with all the sass of a four year old. The flashy allure of Naruto had captured many people's attention, but I hadn't started watching it until after reading DOS. Yeah it was good, but so many died. I was born to a background character, I'd probably die a background character; it had happened before. Maybe I should get some training. But Shikako is here. She helped so many of these characters, people. She'd probably keep me alive longer than I would by myself, even if it would make me a burden. Whatever, I can think about it later.

"Kameyo! That was very rude," Kaede chided. "Apologize to Ryo-kun." I recoiled and almost refused, but gave in anyway.

"Sorry, Ito-kun," I sneered.

"Apology accepted, but that's sad to hear. I would have loved to show you my worth," he taunted. This asshole thinks he's better than me. I'll show you worth, fucktard, and I promptly dropped one of my dango on his head. Fight me, shrimp.

Kaede finally had enough, "Kushikimeka Kameyo! You have finally crossed the line today!" I was picked up off his shoulders and set on the ground. He then leaned in close and made a promise to the future about what would happen when we got back home. "Now, give Ryo-kun the rest of your dango and say you're sorry."

"Ito-kun," I paused, looked up at this fucker's face and finished with, "bite my ass, ya stupid-head!" I then bolted away from them into the crowd, and ate the last of my dango. Freaking kid! Thinks he's some hot shit, I'll show him. My feet take me rather far, until I'm out of the crowd and able to think without the sensory overload.

Oh god, I just called him a stupid-head! Of everything I could have said, my brain chose that. I hate myself. I find a bush away from the road and hide beneath it, curling into a ball to die, again. Doing this a second time is so much worse; at least last time I had a knife in my gut and a large slash across my neck. May I'll die of hypothermia, I hear it's awful. Going numb, limbs shutting down, the heart pumping until you fall asleep and never wake up.

Damn that's boring, if I die it should be more epic. This second "life" was probably a gift. I shouldn't just lay here. I could help Shikako or Naruto. Maybe as a ninja or as a smith. Two very real options. But equally impossible if I die, under a bush in some park. Way to go, temper. Damn, it never used to be a problem. Until I came here, and Ito showed his stupid face.

I was probably hiding for only like five minutes, but it felt so much longer. Something's burning, I sit up quickly and instantly regret it, making my insides outsides. But the smell and taste of burnt rice is still there, when a hand grabs the back of my shirt and drags me out.

I'm held at eye level with some silver haired OH MY FUCKING STARS, Kakashi-FUCKIN-Hatake! This mother of all heart throbs is even better looking in "real life" than all the lemon fics out there. Granted, he's like 14 or something, but still… for a kid, quite the looker. Damn was I born at the wrong time. His eye twitched.

"You going to stare all day, 'cause that'll cost ya, sweet thang!" I stuck out my tongue and pulled down my eyelid like they do in every anime. That shook him up and he acted like a cat with tin foil on its head, foiled again. Then I was thrown over his shoulder and taken home very quickly, too quickly for an already stirred stomach. Vomit is really awful, especially when it's all over someone else, well it's especially awful for them.

"That'll teach you to say such things to older guys," he tried to scold. But I think he secretly liked the sass, who doesn't? We were just outside my front door and if I thought throwing up the first two times were bad, this feeling was 100x worse.

"I'll take it back, if you take me back," I squirm around until he sets me down. I look up at him with my big puppy-dog eyes, all the better to beg with, my dear. His face steels over, though, and I'm left to pout as he knocks on the door. It's opened almost immediately and the prickliest cactus is waiting for me. Joy.

"Thank you, Kakashi, I know you had tonight off, so thank you very much," Kaede grabbed my shoulder and pulled me through the door. This is how people trapped on the Titanic felt, shit, too soon. Wait, is it? Whatever, I should say too soon for everything, just in case.

"I'm just glad I was nearby when the little scamp ran off," his eye crinkled and I waited for the other shoe to drop.

"How can I repay you? Is there anything in the shop you want? It's yours," he grabbed his key to the shop.

"Maa, maa, don't worry about it," he waved it off, like he didn't have care in the world.

"I insist, how about a free sword repair anytime you would like? Or a set of kunai?" then he turned to me. "Kameyo-chan, say thank you and sorry for all the trouble you caused." His hand on my shoulder tightened like a vice.

"Thank you Kakashi-san," I bowed, if only to get free. Kaede also bowed, probably because he was going to say sorry next. "And I'm sorry for throwing up on you." I'm an idiot, sigh.

"WHAT?!" Kaede roared, "Now you must take something and I will wash your shirt immediately!" He finally stood back up only to realize he had left. Kaede was confused, but turned his attention back to me, shit. Is it too late to run away again? He locked the door, yes, yes it is. He picked me up gingerly, sighing heavily. I kicked off my shoes quickly before we left the foyer and wrapped my arms around his neck in hopes of softening his anger.

We were in the kitchen and I was set down at the table. He wandered off, coming back with crackers and water. "For your stomach," they were set down in front of me. Then a blanket was wrapped around my shoulders. I ate a cracker, knowing he was right. I throw up way too much, due to sensory overload. The marketplace then moving too fast, was just a bad combo. Kaede sat down, then, next to me and held my hand. "Sorry, I was so mad. You had me worried, what with your…. condition and all the people. Why did you run off?"

Well I guess there's the other shoe. "I don't know, I was just so mad. Ito…-kun has been here for only a day and he's already eating dango with us? Not fair!" I chomp down on a cracker, "Next you're going to tell me he's moved in!" Wait, what's with that look on his face? Fuck me sideways, he didn't.

"Well, princess, he moved in today, I was going to tell you over dango," he muttered something about how well that turned out, but I ignored it thinking about how things were going to be from now on. Much more annoying and tiresome, that's for damn sure.

"For how long?"

"Well, about ten years or about when he's 19," he paused to make sure I was following. "His parents and I have an agreement, so he'll be living here and I'll be teaching him everything I know. So, please try to get along."
I see how things are, everything is greased easily with green, or whatever color the money is we use here. "But why is he here?"

"It's how I was taught, and my master was taught before me," was his easy response. Whatever, I can try my darndest to avoid him and that'll be the end of that.

"Umkay, just so long as he doesn't touch me too much, we'll be cool," I finished my water and left to go brush my teeth.

In the morning, Kaede shouted for me to wake up, like always, but he didn't seem nearly as stressed. And the rest of the day passed like any other, except, Kaede had time to stop and talk to me more, while Ito tended the fire, something Kaede normally had to do himself. I napped and colored and generally was bored like every day, but Kaede seemed happier.

"Kaede, I'm gonna go play outside!" I had climbed the fence and was at the door when he came over and picked me up.

"Ko-chan, aren't you a little young to play outside by yourself?" he covered my face region with kisses until I giggled like a little girl, oh right, I am one.

"But Kae~de~! It's really pretty outside! And I won't go far. Just to the park!" I whined. It never worked before, but he's in a good mood now. I crossed my fingers, metaphorically.

He huffed out a sigh, "Alright, don't be gone too long, come back for lunch when you're hungry."

"Yay!" I nearly screamed in his ear. I gave him a quick hug and promptly squirmed out of his grasp. Opening the door, I took in a great deep breath and sneezed. Damn fresh air, soaked in chakra, always messing with my nasal passages.

I ran to the park to find other children out playing. Most seemed about two or three years older than me and they were playing, what I think the colloquial term being, ninja. Basically games to simulate ninja training. Wait, does Hitler live here? Too soon. Kids unknowingly training for a life of death and danger, while some happy parents smile on, this is super creepy. Wlep, I'm Audi TT. I turn on my heel when a little girl, damn it, I'm also a little girl, when one of my peers tapped my shoulder.

"What's up, buttercup?" I instantly throw her way, pivoting back around.

She just tilted her head to the side, like a dog. Then introduced herself as if I hadn't said anything, "Hi, I'm Aiko and you are?"

I sized her up. Aiko, was slightly taller than me with black hair that was pulled into a ponytail with her bangs loose and big, black eyes that screamed Uchiha. Well, when in Konoha.

"Kameyo," it was curt and to the point. Her eyes somehow got bigger when I said this.

"So do people call you Ko? Cause people call me Ko!" She was so excited about this fact she began to jump up and down. "You can call me Ko, can I also call you Ko?" The actual fuck?

"Only Kaede calls me Ko, so no, don't," I reply simply.

"But, we could be like twins!" she insisted.

"Twins don't have the same name, otherwise it would be impossible to tell them apart," science bitch! "Besides we don't look the same." Ooh, bet you didn't think of that! Hold, up. Bitch how you not the hobbit, again? Right, right, umkay, umhm, ok, kiss kiss. "And you're taller than me, so no."

And here came the waterworks, sigh, God dammit. "But why not?" came her blubbering.

"I just told you why, but I guess we could be friends or something...or something," I'm leaning more towards 'or something' like acquaintances or the distant relative you only see at reunions. Something like that.

She brightened back up, then smiled and grabbed my sleeve, pulling me to where the other kids were playing. "Itachi-kun! This is my new friend Kameyo-chan!" Said psychopath turned to look our way and smiled fondly. Fu~ck! He's cute as hell. Why is literally everyone here perfect? I mean besides the crazy. So hot, but so crazy!

"Nice to meet you, Kameyo-chan, I'm Aiko-chan's cousin, Itachi," said the little gentleman. Freaking cute.

"Back at ya!" I slapped him on the back in a fun kind of greeting, but I put too much force behind it, forcing him to stumble forward. He was completely off guard and extremely confused. "Oops, sorry, kid," I smile hoping to sweep the incident under the rug, so he won't remember it and kill me later when he takes out the clan. Sure he's a pacifist, but that obviously means shit when he kills almost his entire clan. Even though he's just a kid right now, he's way more powerful than I will ever be. However, he was very sweet and invited me to play ninja with him and his cousin.

I played for a bit, but soon was hungry and returned home to eat. Playing with children is exhausting, always running around and they're constantly trying to outdo you. I much prefer the serenity of the smithy and stayed there after lunch to watch them work.

And thus is how most of our time was spent, me going out and making "friends" then coming back to watch Kaede and Ito work. It was easy and always interesting. The new games we learnt from the older kids were usually kind of stupid, but Itachi and Aiko seemed to like them. They were more like ninja pre-training, creating a surreal atmosphere for me. But games of hide and seek were my favorite, thanks to Nao, I was always the last to be found. Which always pissed off Aiko, which only made me want to hide better.

I slowly began to get on well with them and the other kids, but I always kept Ito at arm's reach. He was nice enough to me though, well, he tried his best to stay as far from me as possible, which I was more than ok with. Kaede didn't seem to notice, which was worked just fine. The three of us ate dinner together, which tended to be awkward. I simply ate faster and left the cleaning up to the boys, and the cooking, I have far more important coloring books to color in! Sometimes Kaede would persuade me into drying the dishes. Ito merely watched with smug amusement, *cough cough* asshole *cough*.

Spring passed by and soon it was summer. Then Kaede pulled up a topic I've been thinking a lot about. Would I like to start Shogakko in the Fall or wait for the Academy in a few years. Nao had always wanted me to choose, but Kaede wanted me to take over the smithy. Since her death, he became far more open to the idea of letting me choose, even if all my struggles with chakra made the choice seem obvious to him.

"So, princess, would you like to come work with daddy and Ryo-kun in the smithy, or go off to school to be a ninja?" it was a biased explanation of the events, but he wanted to keep me close by.

"I want to go to the academy and be a smith with Kaede." His face showed just how confusing that sounded to him.

"That's not how it works, Ko-chan," he tried to explain. But I already knew that it would.

"Yeah it does, Itachi-kun said that not all people who go to the academy make it through and that some people even plan to do other things once they've passed," it was as simple as that.

"But with your...condition, you can't even use chakra," Kaede forged on, trying to reason with me.

"Then I'll try extra hard. I just want to be able to learn more about ninjas before I try to make weapons for them," and be able to protect myself.

"But you would be behind in learning to blacksmith."

"Then I'll work on it after class!" boom, checkmate!

"Ko-chan,"

"Father! I want to go to the Academy!"

He smiled, never before hearing me call him that. "I'm still not sure about this. So, we'll go to the Academy and talk to someone about this, if it's what you really want."

I smiled then too, and slapped his shoulder, happy we got this far.

"How about we go to Minami's? To celebrate!" Kaede couldn't stop smiling. He picked me up and threw me onto his shoulders, and called for Ito.

The next day we closed the shop early and went to the Academy to get everything sorted out. I was looking forward to seeing Naruto's teacher, Mizuki?, until I realized he would be too young right now to be teaching. So we met some stranger and they said everything that I had and elaborated even more. Kaede was fairly convinced, but the final nail in his coffin were my puppy-dog eyes. I have never smiled so much here. I get to play the ultimate role of background character, from never becoming a famous ninja to selling them weapons like a NPC. But most importantly, it would be safe and I wouldn't have a hard life of danger and excitement.

It's not too late to change my mind is it?