Yoshino got up early the next morning; it was fishing day. Today was going to be their day. Yasuo had haggled with the Kage's to give him one day off. So they decided to spend the day together fishing, just the two of them. Yoshino had made her father promise to get it to minimal security. So none of the three stooges would be their, probably some real ninja. The ones with the mask that don't speak and do ninja stuff those where the ones that will guard them today. Not lame teenage boys with a penchant for perversion.
"Good news honey," Her father told her as she walked quietly down the stairs, "I haggled our way down to only one escort today." Yoshino smiled and hugged her father.
"Thanks dad, I know how hard it is, trying to do that, but I really appreciate it." Yoshino told him. "Did you get Bait on your way home last night? Or do we have to get it ourselves?" She asked.
"Neither our escort is getting it for us." Her dad smiled a sad half smile he did when he was reflecting.
"Our one escort is getting us worms to go fishing with?" Yoshino asked not believing her father.
"You will like him; he is a nice decent young man that has a pure heart, tries his hardest for his village."
Yoshino looked at her father another time in disbelief, "This isn't a blind date is it?"
Laughing her father shook his head, "He's 6, he still thinks girl have cooties."
"Itachi Uchiha?" Yoshino's eyes furrowed she had read about the lad who was all ready a veteran war hero at such a young age. She wondered how a kid would act, how to deal with all the stuff he witnessed by the time he was 6? It wasn't right, that they made him go. "What kind of mother would let her child go to war? What kind of father would even consider the option?"
"Now, now honey it's a different culture they have different values, don't criticize. It's not our decision about the kid's life, it's the parents."
"PEOPLE like that SHOULDN"T be parents, I mean yes having your kid excel at something is wonderful, but killing is not something I would ever want him to get used to! And I don't think that it will be beneficial to the kid in the long wrong. I mean those images leave nightmares to adults the, the kid, how could a mother do that?" Yoshino was starting on one of her tangents, but she had to stop herself. Maybe a few months ago she would have continued. But having the shinobi in her village had really opened her eyes. They lead lives full of absolute distrust, it was rare to see a Konoha and Suna shinobi pass on the street with out at least spitting at each other. For survival these people had bread absolute hatred of the other. It was in them like a genetic disease you couldn't get rid of. But the flip side of being a shinobi was the bonds you made with people. You didn't have time to get into petty spats and you were there when they were weakest. It was something that was purely unbreakable. A person became a shinobi to protect the ones they care about, but they ended up being used to hurt others. It wasn't their fault.
Yoshino and Yasuo waited by the door for the boy to come running up to them. He was a tall for a 6 year old about right to the middle of Yoshino's rib cage, his cheek bones were gauntly shown and his eyes were obsidian black. He looked at Yasuo, and she smiled gently at him. "I got the worms you asked for sir," his voice was grave, not something expected from a 6 year old.
Her father smiled at the boy, "Thank you Itachi-san this is my daughter Yoshino, Yoshino this is Itachi."
"Hello Itachi," Yoshino said, discarding the suffix, she hated that kind of shit any way, "Are you going to go fishing with us?"
"Hello Yoshino, yes I am going to try this thing called fishing with you, your father has been telling me that it is good for the body and soul, I can not see how drowning a worm in water can be good for the soul, but I'm willing to try." The 6 year old explained.
Yoshino's father put on his straw hat, as Yoshina brought the tackle box. "Let's go drown some worms."
Half way through the day Itachi, Yoshino and her father all sat in a little canoe waiting for something to bite. The kid had taken to fishing like he had grown up in her town. He sat there like there was nothing better to do in the world, a lot like her father. Suddenly the boy gave an uncharacteristic sequel of delight. "I'VE GOT A BITE I'VE GOT A BITE!"
"Ok settle down cow boy, don't real in to fast you'll lose'em just bring it in slowly." Yasuo told the kid. All of them were laughing with delight, it was a big one Itachi was laughing the loudest trying to standing up and leaning towards the other side of the boat. Yoshino and Yasuo had to steady it.
"You're going to tip the canoe over and spill everything!" Yelled Yoshino laughing with the other two. The fish finally gave up and Itachi valiantly pulled it out of the water. It was about a 15 inch large mouth bass, it wiggled violently to escape but they strung it up on their line and paddled inland. The boy was ripe with excitement.
"I caught one I caught one! That was amazing, why don't people in Konoha go fishing? Its so much fun, I don't know why my dad never takes me out fishing. This is a lot better then anything else I've ever done." Itachi was saying looking at the fish he caught on the line. "Are we going to eat it?"
"Yup but first we have to do a couple of things first." Yoshino told the boy as they hauled the canoe into the dock.
"Like what."
"Scaling, gutting and boning the fish." Yasuo told him, "Yoshino you can get the fire started, I know you hate this part." Yoshino nodded and started gathering sticks for the fire.
Itachi looked up at the weird farmer in a straw hat with a curious expression of confusion on his face. Who was this man to just waltz into Konoha and cause this huge stir, he was nobody, he wasn't important at all. But yet he was, Itachi didn't get him. "Yasuo- Sama may I ask you a question?"
"Shoot kid," The man said as he dragged the fish out.
"How would you describe peace?" Itachi wanted to know this foreign concept.
The man stopped, he just stopped with the fish still all strung up. "Well," His tone was very guarded. "How would you describe war?"
Itachi had to stop at this one too; he didn't know how to describe war. "Its hard to generalize, Its bad, but its not horrible all the time. You have some highlights." Itachi stammered. "I wouldn't know how, unless…I…I don't know."
"Well peace is kind of like that, I wouldn't know how to generalize it, because I know for some people peace is horrible. But in my personal opinion peace is wonderful. Its being able to go fishing when ever you want."
Itachi smiled, "That sounds wonderful,"
Yasuo smiled back, "It is," Then the man turned around to the fish, which was lying dead on the upside down canoe "let's get to the scaling."
-- - - - ---- - -- - - -
Cho sat silently in a meadow cross legged watching Chouza. He was lying down on their picnic blanket eating some cookies. She smiled at him. He looked at her in the eyes and the butterflies in her stomach did a loopdy loop. As Mia pointed out he wasn't exactly good looking, by most peoples standards he was fat. But it never really bothered Cho. She just didn't know how to describe it. He was so, understanding, they could talk for hours. But then they usually didn't need to talk they just smiled at each other and enjoyed the silence.
Cho felt her heart ache, why did the peace have to come so fast. Why this couldn't be dragged out longer. She bit her lip as she looked at Chouza who was studying her peacefully. She loved his red bushy hair, and those odd purple lines on his face, his nice brown eyes and lumpy cheeks. She loved how his laugh was true but not harsh or loud. She loved his hands, how big they were how when they held her they could cover her waist. How they were calloused but so gentle.
Cho scooted closer to Chouza so she leaned over his body. He smiled at her, "What are you doing?" He asked her. Licking her lips in anticipation Cho bent down and kissed Chouza passionately, which he returned in the same fervor. With out even realizing it Cho was now on her back and Chouza was now leaning over her. The kissing wasn't stopping; Chouza's tongue was exploring each and every crevice of her mouth. Cho replied in kind letting out a whimper when his mouth left hers, only to start gently kissing her jaw line. "You are so beautiful," He whispered in her ear. Cho blushed.
With out even thinking she pushed herself up again so both she and Chouza were sitting. She then with out even breaking there kiss crawled on to his lap. Their kissing stopped and they both looked each other in the eye, breathing heavily.
She saw in Chouza's exactly what she felt. Excitement, anticipation, confusion, want, need, fear and most of all longing, seeing this in him gave her more confidence. Cho wrapped her hands around his neck and started putting butterfly kisses on his jaw line. He relaxed a little, huge shoulder muscles sagged. To Cho's frustration he kept his hands to his side. Cho let her hands guide his to the brim of her shirt. Chouza then kissed the base of her neck gently. Cho gave a little gasp leaning into his lips.
Chouza's chapped hands started moving up her shirt, sending tingling sensations down her spine. Cho shuddered as she felt Chouza start lifting up her shirt; he looked at her in the eye for a moment asking silent permission. Which Cho granted. He pulled off her shirt Cho crouched in nearer his chest as the cold air hit her skin. Feeling his warm body heat, kissing everywhere she could think of.
"Cho," He breathed as she kissed his bottom lip nibbling it a bit. "Cho," He said a little firmer.
Cho reluctantly stopped and stared at him, shivering a bit because she had no shirt on. "Yeah," She bit her lip.
Chouza took his hand and placed it on the side of her face; Cho closed her eyes and nuzzled it. "I don't want to hurt you."
Cho kissed him, "you wont, I …I want this…I"
"No, its not that I don't think we should go any further." Chouza said not looking at Cho.
Cho's voice trembled, "WH-why not am I, do you not want to?"
"No I WANT to, but I don't think we should." Chouza told her. Cho was so confused, was he rejecting her? She started to get up and get her close on, but Chouza held her there, "Now, now, it's not what you think. I just don't want; it's going to be hard enough as it is when we leave. If we, you know, I don't think I would ever be able to leave." Chouza admitted with a little chuckle. Cho buried her face in his neck.
"That's a bad thing?"
"Yes, as much as I hate to say it, I have responsibilities at home, to my country to my village, I can't leave them. And you know as well as I do that your parents need you here." Cho couldn't say anything she was to busy trying to hold back tears.
"Shouldn't we just do it, for you know a good bye present?" She asked him.
"No, I'm flattered, but you shouldn't have to give something so precious to me. You are going to give that up on your wedding night, to the luckiest man in the entire world. I don't want to cheep that moment for you."
"Couldn't you be that man? Why do we have to wait?"
"Cho, don't do this. I care for you, I love you," Chouza confessed Cho started kissing him again.
"I love you too Chouza,"
"Cho," He said gently pushing her away, "The peace treaty is going to be signed in maybe three days at the tops? Then I'll be leaving for home, we will probably never see each other again."
"Not if we work at it, not if we… we stay in contact." Cho pleaded, tears were falling down her face. She felt her heart splatter into little pieces. "We could write letters, we could stay in contact."
Chouza looked at her, sadness was in every one of his features, "I don't want to get your hopes out about anything. Cho we are only 17 we have are whole lives ahead of us. Long distance relationships are hard, and the years we will be apart, another more…handsome looking man will come and sweep you off your feet. Cho I don't want to be an Anchor for you." He then started to kiss away her tears, "Please, Cho stop crying. I have something for you."
"What?" She asked. Chouza fumbled in his pocket for a little black box and gave it to Cho. She opened it and let out a gasp of amusement. A little white butterfly pendant on a thick blue ribbon, the butterflies wings were different color of lavender and sky blue. "Its beautiful, this is way to much money, I can't accept this."
"Its ok, I won it at the fair, I had to disguise myself as a 7 year old girl but it was ok, its for you. I know this sound hypocritical, I want you to move on when I leave, but I don't want you to forget me." Chouza told her. Cho put it on it fit perfectly. "Now love lets stop talking about depressing matters." Chouza muttered in her ear.
Cho lied down and Chouza wrapped his arms around her protectively and they stayed like that for the rest of the day.
--- - ---- - -- -- - ----- -
Inoichi laughed at Mia they were at Yoshino's house, both of them nothing better to do. "Its not funny Inoichi, I'm going to get a PhD in Botany!"
"I just couldn't see you doing that, maybe a hair dresser, maybe I don't know an interior decorator, but seriously botany?"
"Just because you fill the stereo typical roll for a stupid blond, doesn't mean I do!" Mia defended.
"You know what they say about smart guys right?"
"No,"
"They say that the smarter the guy the smaller the penis. So that makes my penis huge."
"That's disgusting I don't want to know ANYTHING about your penis. And I doubt that's true, that would Shikato's like miniscule."
"It is, it's not even as big as my thumb, that's how small it is." Inoichi assured Mia; she scrunched up her face in revulsion.
"Again I don't want to know this."
"We could talk about my penis again."
"No thank you as far as penis's goes, I would prefer Shikato. I don't know if I've got this across to you during your stay here. I'm not even slightly interested in you. Physically mentally emotionally, I find you utterly revolting." Mia told Inoichi. Inoichi threw his hair over his shoulder and laughed. "How do you DO that?"
"Do what?"
"That hair flick."
"Ohh that! Its more of a wrist then an arm action, like this," Inoichi demonstrated it to Mia again. She nodded in understanding. "Now I want you to show me something," Inoishi smiled slyly.
"No I am not showing you my boobs."
"Fine be no fun, then I want to ask you like 5 questions."
"Fine,"
"How is it that you have 12 older brothers but your older brother Adam is only 7 years older then you?"
"Easy, Adams a single child, then there are four sets of him between him and Joe, who is also a single child. Then there is another pair of twins between Joe and I. My mother was a baby making machine for those 7 years."
"Yes extremely efficient. Did you have a thing for that Zak guy before he turned all homo?"
"Don't say it like that; it's not something to be detested! And that's none of your business; he is my best friend I can't believe you even think that, your disgusting!"
"Ok Ok Fine!" Inoichi said. "What don't you like about me?"
"You challenge femininity," Mia laughed.
Inoichi gave her a frown, "No I mean it what do you find so UN attractive?"
"I wasn't joking, your just way to girly for me; I grew up with 12 older brothers all of them masculine good working cow boys, and your just so I don't know flaming compared to them."
"I'm a shinobi that is so manlier then being a farm boy."
"No no its not,"
"I would like you to know I am considered the epitome of masculine in Konoha, I have girls lined up the bloc of my apartment just to get a glimpse of me." Inoichi defended. Mia raised an eye brow.
"Your idea for masculine has so gender issues, maybe those girls are lesbian, I know if I was a lesbian I would think you were attractive, but no you are defiantly not masculine."
"I'm masculine."
"Fine, next question," Mia dismissed.
"Why are you and Yoshino and Cho such good friends?"
"I don't know, Cho used to get picked on by a bunch of girls, Yoshino was the one would stick up for her. I used to be really mean when I was younger and I picked on Cho, and then one day Yoshino punched me in the face knocking my teeth in. After that us three have been best friends."
"That's an odd story," Inoichi said.
"The truth is a lot harder to believe sometimes then fiction." Mia shrugged, "Last question."
Inoichi smiled, "are you a virgin?"
Mia snorted, "what kind of question is that?"
"Don't evade, I just want to know."
"Well as a matter of fact, technically I am a virgin, but only technically." Mia said. Inoichi laughed at this.
Mia licked her lips, "Do you think Shikato and Zack will fall in love, in that little date we set them up on."
"Don't worry; Zack is good looking enough to break Shikato out of the closet!" Inoichi assured Mia.
"Yeah, I don't know if Zack could handle more rejection though, I'm worried." Mia whispered.
"I'm more afraid that Shikato will let his sexual frustrations out on Zack and rape the poor boy."
"Are you sure he's gay?"
"Of course! Just heavily closeted, trust me this plan I came up with it, it is not going fail!" Inoichi assured Mia for the last time.