AN: Yo, short chapter to hopefully set the story! Enjoy!

Chapter 3

Soon Itachi left for the academy, leaving me with Aiko. She is Itachi's age, and would join him at the Academy in a year or two, but she just isn't a genius like him. However annoying as she was to begin with, his growing up seems to have mellowed her out. Something I will not complain about.

"Kameyo-chan, we should visit him after his first day of class, maybe pick him up afterwards?" I shrugged a response, not really sure how close that would be or at what time. "Come on, we could get dango together!" my ears pricked up at that.

"Umkay, when and where?"

"How about we meet back up after lunch and walk to the Academy. I don't think it lasts much longer than that, and we can play on the way!" she smiled. A natural born leader, always taking charge and moving us forward.
Once she calmed down, she was actually very fun to play with. We also had a lot in common, mostly our food choices. Every week we would go to a different sweets shop in hopes of finding a perfect dish. There have been a few close calls. In all honesty, she is the Hufflepuff to my Slytherin.

We played ninja for a little while longer, but it was kind of boring without as many kids as there used to be. So we split for lunch early.

Kaede was making soup when I walked into the kitchen. "Ah, princess, just in time!" He pulled a bowl from the cabinet as I sat at the table. "Can you guess whose birthday is coming up?" My bowl was placed down in front of me as he also sat down with a bowl.

"Ummm… Kaede's?"

"Nope, the Nara twins, they'll be one at the end of the month," I nearly choked on my soup. "Are you ok?" I nod yes, but get up to grab a glass and some water. Clambering onto the counter to reach he finishes with, "And you're invited to their party." I wobble and almost fall off, but catch myself mid-topple. "Careful, Ko-chan!" Kaede came and grabbed a glass and me at the same time. He filled the glass and set me back on the floor.

"Can I get them cool presents?" I sit back at my seat and begin to eat.

"Ahh, I was just going to get them something simple," he sat as well and saw my face.

"Please~?" I looked up with puppy eyes.

His hand dragged across his face, but he agreed. "What do you want to get for them?"

I though while I ate, and then the idea struck.

September 22nd soon came and my gifts were wrapped in green wrapping paper with silver bows. I was all dressed up and so were Ito and Kaede.

Yoshino answered the door and we were ushered into the living room where a lot of people were standing around. Akimichis, Yamanakas, and Naras were talking and a banner with Shikako's and Shikamaru's names were spelled out, hung in the archway between the living and dining rooms. We were very much outsiders.

I found the table with presents and set on it my two smallish boxes. Aside from the banner, there weren't any decorations, but some music was playing from a radio and all the chakras mingled into a mess. Had I not been getting outside and playing with others as much, I would be very overwhelmed. Yet, with all these calm people, it was exactly whelming.

I wound my way over to the Shikas, who had two little friends, Ino and Choji. They were rolling around together on a blanket, some more than others. Choji mostly just drank from his bottle.

I plopped down next to them and pulled out some crayons and paper from my pockets. Even though it was a dress, it's still a ninja dress. I drew them all as best I could, curse you fine motor skills, or lack thereof!

The adults walked around and soon Ito came over to us as well.

"You can't sit with us!" I used my best Gretchen Weiners voice. He didn't understand, no one ever did. But Shikako's head turned.

"Why not?" he sat down anyways.

I knew she was listening, but the word vomit spilled out, nonetheless, "On Wednesdays, we wear pink." I pointed to my socks and matching bow.

"They're not wearing pink," boo you whore!

"Well, they're nice children."

He gave me a stupid look then. "And what am I?"

"Ummm, a stupid-head," I smiled at him.

"That's not very nice."

"I'm not very nice then," my smile never left my face, but his face scrunched up.

Shikako started to look at me more then, so I patted her head and began to "draw" her again.

Soon it was time for cake, and the twins were plopped into high chairs and little cakes were placed in front of them, each with a single candle. They didn't even try to blow them out, opting for drooling and waiting for someone to do something. Then Shikako's fist plummeted into the tiny cake, and the party resumed. A small slice of vanilla cake was given to me and soon presents were being opened back in the living room.

There were bottles and socks and bibs all around and next were my gifts. Kaede's voice boomed with warmth, "Ko-chan picked these out especially for the twins." Green paper went flying and Shikamaru had a new Green and black blanket with a pillow built in.

"So that he always has a place for his head when he naps!" I spoke up. Yoshino looked happy and Shikaku smiled and wrapped Shikamaru in it, much to his delight.

Next was Shikako's gift. When it was opened a thick book was in Yoshino's hands. She seemed confused, but I just smiled and explained, "So you can read her stories about the demon fixes and history!" There was a small gasp, the wound of the attack only a year old. Shikako couldn't take her eyes off of me. And everyone smiled and moved on to the next gifts.

We left well before the end of the party, and made it back to the smithy well before it was too late. They went back to work and I went to color, glad to help Shikako. I remember reading about her love of reading and her plight to find books about those events. Maybe she won't have to look as hard with this book. She can use all the help she can get.