A/N: Phew, this took a long time to write and with it being a little over seven pages long I am officially give out. I JUST finished it so it may be a little, or maybe a lot rough, I don't really know. But I hope it was worth the wait.
Take care,
-SugarLandBabyGirl
Chapter Three
Namida was having trouble finding her last missing senbon. It was the one she had nicked Hatake-senpai with in the arm, no less. Her wrist and shoulder still tinged with pain, even with her careful movements, but she was thankful that the Jonin hadn't used any poison techniques. Gingerly she brushed her fingertips over her shoulder wound in a soothing motion, before her hand fell lifelessly back to her side and her shoulders slumped slightly in defeat. She was a failure.
Hatake-senpai had been going easy on her and all she had to do was step up, but as usual she couldn't even do that. It was hopeless. She didn't even know why he accepted her in the first place. She had no real talent and she was easily spooked, plus she was overly sensitive and emotional, something a true shinobi should never be. That fact was proven not even five minutes ago. Namida sighed and genteelly sat down under the closest tree. Her search for the missing senbon abated for the moment.
She closed her eyes briefly and silently listened to the gentle wind whistling through the trees and the birds singing happily. It really was a lovely day, she mused to herself, wanting nothing more than to flop down on the soft grass and rest in the shade of the tree for the rest of the day. 'But that wouldn't be proper.' She immediately scolded herself for the self-indulgent notion, she had been taught better than that. Namida sensed his approach, before she heard his habitually soft footfalls and immediately rose to her feet, still mindful of her wounds and aching stomach she was sure was beginning to bruise.
"Shiranui-senpai," She said softly and bowed. "Namida-chan," The brown haired man smiled affectionately, even though she couldn't see it and nodded, already used to the pale girl's always polite habits and mannerisms. "I believe this belongs to you," He then said and held out his hand to her, palm open. When Namida straightened from her bow, her covered gaze landed on her missing senbon, and it was hers, the slight trace of dried blood on one end proved it.
Namida felt the embarrassed blush heat up her pale cheeks and she whispered a soft 'thank you' to the grinning Jonin before she took back her previously missing weapon. With the senbon in hand Namida pulled out a white cloth from her pouch and began to clean the metal needle. Genma watched the younger girl as she zoned in on cleaning the weapon and nothing else. It was almost a ritual she performed after using her weapons. After she pocketed the senbon and the cleaning cloth Genma spoke. "You did well today Namida-chan."
The white haired girl froze, a look of dismay plastered on her face at his words. "No, no I didn't Shiranui-senpai. Please don't lie for my benefit." She reproached him softly, her tone slightly colder than the norm, but still well within the boundaries of politeness. Genma frowned at her negativity, but shrugged it off knowing she was angry and disappointed with herself. "I didn't lie. Your senbon techniques have gotten a lot better. Your aim especially, though it is not as good as mine but you're getting close. Who knows, one day I might actually have a rival." He gave her a subtle flirty grin to which she flushed a soft rose pink and turned her back to him in discomfiture.
"D-don't say such nonsense senpai." She stuttered and nervously began to wring her hands together. "E-everyone knows your senbon techniques are unsurpassable." She continued with only one minor slip up in her otherwise composed tone. Genma stuffed his hands into his pockets to keep from pulling her into an intimate embrace. To him her stuttering and flushed face was nothing short of endearing and utterly tempting.
Genma was well aware that he was a little old for her, being so close to thirty that he could almost touch it, while she was barely into womanhood but not yet considered an adult by the law, two more years and she would be of proper marriageable age. He knew there was some level of attraction for him on her side, but being her senpai and much older was a hard gap to close for both of them, especially her. There was so much that could go wrong or be misinterpreted and so much to be lost if something happened. It was complicated either way, especially where her family was concerned.
"Maybe, but even if they are as unsurpassable as you say, one day, they won't be." He told her with a rueful grin. His gaze was distant as he watched a small flock of birds fly overhead. Namida turned at the sudden change of tone and her hands slowly dropped to her sides. "You see, the younger generation will always surpass the one that comes before. That's just how it works." He turned back to the frowning, gloomy eyed kunoichi who was almost ready to cry. Genma cocked his head to the side and smiled. "I want you to surpass me one day and become a great kunoichi."
Namida couldn't stop the tears from falling after that. His words struck her hard and they meant so much, but she felt more regret than happiness at his confidence in her. Her lips began to tremble and she quickly bit her bottom lip, as her throat began to dry and close up. Unable to speak, Namida once again turned away from the brown haired shinobi. "I… I'm sorry Shiranui-senpai," She whispered hoarsely, her voice was barely detectable as she attempted to wipe her damp face dry. "… I don't think I can do as you ask."
Genma tensed at the heartbreaking tone and quiet sniffles the young Chunin was trying to muffle. With soft eyes and tense shoulders the Tokubetsu Jonin eased up behind his pupil and hesitated only for a brief moment before he placed his hand on her head and gently ruffled her long white hair, which was just as soft as it looked. "Don't apologize. Just don't ever give up, no matter what." He told her in response. Namida was silent. She was no longer crying, but her posture was tense as if she was going to bolt at any second.
It was then that he finally noticed that his hand that had previously been teasing snowy tresses was now tenderly running calloused fingertips through said hair. Upon this realization Genma apologized and returned his hands back to his pockets, silently cursing himself for his stupid mistake. "Y-you don't have to apologize senpai, I'm the one who can't control my emotions." The reply was soft and meek, but Genma detected trace amounts of shame that she should not be feeling at all.
"Namida," The Chunin jumped at the unfamiliar coolness in her former senpai's tone, but turned her head towards him and flinched when his narrowed eyes pierced straight through her snowy veil. "Don't ever be ashamed of who you are." He told her sternly, but his gaze softened with his next words. "You are perfect just the way you are, faults and all. I wouldn't have you any other way, and neither should anyone else." He finished softly wishing so desperately that he could brush the hair away from her face to see her reaction.
He just wanted to hold her, to show her that he cared and would always be there for her. However he knew that even if she did wholeheartedly return his feelings, she would never act upon them without her family's permission and that was a request they would never grant. A cutting sensation struck his chest causing him to wince, but he brushed it off as best he could despite the stinging pain of fully acknowledging the truth. "Remember what I said, Namida-chan, don't change who you are for anyone." He told her sternly, and yet there was a softness in his gaze that belied his firm tone and forced detachment.
Namida nodded and gave a small smile, before she was suddenly and unexpectedly pushed forward by a gentle hand to the middle of her back. "Go get those wounds treated or Hatake will have my head." Genma grinned at the surprised look on the Chunin's face, when she turned to face him. "Go on," He motioned her forward with his free hand. Namida didn't move for several moments as she studied the older Jonin. His stance was casually lax and his expression was one of friendly amusement, but she couldn't help but feel that something was wrong, but when nothing changed for several moments, she turned to fully face him and bowed.
"Arigato gozaimasu, Shiranui-senpai," She gave a slight smile as she rose from her bow and bid him a polite farewell before she turned and walked away, Genma watching her retreating form until she completely disappeared from his sight. He sighed heavily and bobbed the senbon between his teeth with his tongue as his gaze shot skyward. Thoughts and feelings rushed through him like a tidal wave as he carelessly flopped down onto the grassy ground in the shade of the same tree Namida had previously been sitting under.
"So much for keeping my distance," Genma muttered to himself, halfheartedly angry at his unconscious actions earlier. Was it wrong to feel like he did towards Namida? That question's answer continued to evade him. With a disgruntled groan he crossed his arms behind his head and let his body fall backwards until his back lay flat against the ground. He hadn't been this caught up in a girl since he was fifteen. She had been pretty much his first everything. It didn't last long though, but it was great while it lasted. Relationships were difficult, no matter how old or experienced one got.
Namida was a completely different person from his first love, but she stirred some of the same feelings that he had felt as a teenager and lost after becoming a committed shinobi. It was a shame really that Namida had chosen to become a shinobi, but if she hadn't he knew that her family would have hidden her away from the eyes of the world. They would have buried their "shame", as he came to find they regularly called her, and the rest of the world wouldn't have been any wiser.
Genma closed his eyes and exhaled slowly trying not to break the senbon between his teeth as his anger built. It was possible to do so, despite all remarks to the contrary. A part of him hated her family for considering her worthless and making her the way she was, and yet, another very small part however was thankful to them for their mistreatment, which led her to join the Ninja Academy which led her into his life. It was a twisted way of thinking, but that was how he felt about her situation.
He knew why she joined even though the odds were clearly stacked against her and still was. As a kunoichi she could find some semblance of freedom. However, she would be eternally tied down to the village and the Hokage. So in reality, she had only traded one shackle and chain for another. She would never truly be free. But was this the lesser of two evils, of this he was not certain. Nor could he make an unbiased decision on the matter. He was far too involved for that.
Namida had her wounds looked after at a small, but well-known Clinic near the outskirts of Konohagakure, of which she had been a patron of since she was old enough to go there by herself. After leaving, Namida realized that she still had a little time left before she had to be at the Inuzuka home. She did not want to return home and re-inform her family head that she was still not but a disgrace. Shamefully, she knew they would only expect that kind of response, as it seemed to be the only kind she could ever give.
Silently the snowflake haired girl eased her way through the busy streets unnoticed, despite her odd looks. When she was younger she had been noticed and often pointed out for her unusualness, but the people had long since become accustomed to her ghostly presence. She was contented for this disregard. They no longer whispered and stared. She would never rebuke them, as she had been taught not to. But still, it did bother her.
"You wanted to see me, Hokage-sama." Kakashi announced his presence in a dull monotone, despite his curiosity at being called to the Hokage's Office so soon after leaving. The Hokage glanced up from his scrolls and gave the lazy Jonin a smile. "I'm sorry for this inconvenience Kakashi, but there's something I want you to see." Kakashi's attention was successfully caught with those words and he took the manila folder that the Hokage handed him. Kakashi eyed the smiling Hokage for a moment before flipping open the folder.
It was the shinobi file for one Mikazuki Namida. There were even a bunch of photos that were used for updates on her appearance, though it was hardly necessary. She really hadn't changed much since childhood. Some of the pictures dated as far back to when she was an Academy student and only one before that time. Carefully he picked up the aged and worn picture of a scared looking little girl with snow white hair. She couldn't have been any older than three or four years old when it was taken. He returned the picture to the bottom of the pile and read further into her file. It had everything imaginable about her in it, from her current height and weight to her blood type. They even had all of her Academy grades listed, along with the places she often visited.
They had kept and still were keeping constant tabs on her; suspiciously so, in truth. The next few pages were her medical records. Apparently she'd, secretly, had a psychiatric evaluation when she was five and several more thereafter. She had also had several physical and competency evaluations throughout her life and she was scheduled for more in three months time. The most surprising information yet, was what came next. Up until she was sixteen, two years prior, she had been sent to a psychiatrist that specialized in working with shinobi almost on a weekly basis.
The further he read into the young Chunin's file the more confused he became. As far as he could tell Namida wasn't mentally ill. A little unusual yes, but all shinobi were like that in some way or another. All shinobi were sent to a shinobi psychiatrist, it was mandatory with their line of work, but never this often unless there was some proof of mental instability. Kakashi couldn't help but think that he was missing some very crucial facts. With a raised eyebrow he flipped to the next page and nearly dropped the file after reading two paragraphs in. He glanced up from the folder, his dark eyes narrowed and his gaze that of disbelief and questioning. He wasn't sure that what he had just read was actually valid.
"Read on Kakashi, and remember this information is highly classified." Kakashi nodded his head but didn't verbally answer the Hokage, as he picked up the three photographs that were not of Namida. They were her parents and her little brother. She mostly resembled her mother in looks, but there were distinct, major differences between the two females. However, she barely resembled her father and even less of her brother. There was so little of her father in her that it took intense inspection to even see the smallest trace it.
When he was through reading the full length of her file, he gingerly closed the envelope and glanced up to meet the placid gaze of the Hokage. "How many people know what's in this?" He asked while handing the folder back to the Hokage. "Outside of the heads of her family only the Council, a few ANBU, Tadahiro Kanya and now you know the full truth. Shiranui Genma and her closest friends know only a portion of it, due to their past with her." Kakashi sighed heavily as the full burden of what he had decided to take on now made itself clear and it didn't make his training of her any easier on either of them.
"Does she know about this?" He asked after a brief moment of silence. The Hokage made a thoughtful 'hmm' noise and linked his hands together in a thoughtful pose. "Perhaps," He murmured, "We will never know the extent of her knowledge. However, I believe that she does know most of this already either by instinct or common knowledge, but this is merely a speculation on my part." A contemplative silence quickly ensued between the two males; both were in deep reflection of the situations that they were in.
"Was all of this really necessary?" Kakashi couldn't help but ask. It was as if they wanted to find something wrong with the girl. It was odd, to say the least. Their motives were more underhanded than merely curious from what he had read. "Well, normally it wouldn't be allowed to go so far." The Hokage sighed before taking a deep inhale of his pipe. He looked troubled and so much older now. "I initially was against this treatment of her being as young as she was and all. However, the Council would not bend on the matter and her family did not object." Kakashi didn't reply to the Hokage's words. There was nothing he could say on this matter as it really was none of his business, but now he had answers to some of the question he had.
Meanwhile, Namida mingled among the crowded streets, her hidden gaze flickering from store sign to store sign as she passed by them. As often as she traveled the streets, she should have known every shop and person by heart and yet, every time she walked the same path she never saw the same things she had the day before. There was always some small thing different form one day to the next. It was so different from her own life and she looked forward to the diversity of the world around her.
She walked around for several minutes more before she decided that it was time to head on over to the Inuzuka home. Hana would be quite cross with her if Namida were late and gave the impression that she didn't want to come. Regretfully something of the like had happened before, only Namida had wanted to join her friends, she just was not allowed to. Namida was bound by her clan and could not refuse them when ordered to do or refrain from doing something.
It was a quick, peaceful trip to the Inuzuka residence as it had always been. Just as Namida was about to announce her presence the door slid open to reveal a frowning Tokito. "Why do you even bother with being so traditional and polite Namida? The dog could smell you from twenty miles away." He announced in a tone that to anyone else would have been rude, but Namida only blushed at being caught and smiled. "Oh, shut up Toki-kun, you're just jealous." Hana teased him by using his most hated nickname and lightly smacked the back of his head before she somewhat gently shoved him out of the doorway in order to grab Namida's wrist and pull her inside the house.
Tokito's face scrunched up as if he smelled something bad, but he didn't retort and closed the door behind the two females. Hana only gave Namida brief moment to remove her shoes before she pulled the white haired girl into the living room. "My little brother and mom are going to be eating with us tonight." Hana informed the quietest member of their team as Tokito sat down. "It will be good to see Kiba-kun and Tsume-san again." Namida smiled behind her long curtain of hair, before moving to sit at the table with her teammates. Tokito nodded his head in agreement, but inwardly shuttered at the prospect of having to sit through a meal with Hana's mother. The woman utterly terrified him. There were a lot of rumors about the female Inuzuka family head and after meeting her he didn't think all of them were groundless.
Hana cocked her head to side and smiled as Namida, ever so genteelly, sat with her legs under her thighs and her behind resting on her heels. Her hands were folded modestly on her lap like a meek little housewife waiting for her husband to give an order or a servant waiting for her master. Namida was the always polite, quiet and traditional one. She was too meek, really. Hana, coming from a rather eccentric and boisterous family, actually liked the peaceful aura Namida gave off, but sometimes the girl could be too calm. There was nothing wrong with being a rebel every once in a while, it was actually healthy to do so. Namida however hadn't quite caught on to that fact, yet. One day, Hana swore she was going to get her to loosen up, preferably before the team hit middle-age.
Hana eyed the only male of their team. Tokito sat with one knee bent under him and the other straight up so he could rest his arm on his upright knee. Tokito was often laidback, yet still the most mature of their group and at times the most irritable. However, Tokito was usually only ill-tempered when Hana teased him with his so hated nickname. Tokito came from a small, lesser known clan in the Village that could very easily be overlooked. The Kizashi clan rarely produced any shinobi, until Tokito was born. He was considered by some, mostly the members of his clan, to be a 'genius' but if you asked him he would deny it. He was actually quite modest about his prowess as a shinobi. However, if asked about women, he was anything but. He was quite popular among the female population and yet as much as he flirted, it was harmless and no one ever got hurt.
"Will Tadahiro-sensei be joining us?" Namida asked after a moment of reflection. Hana 'hummed' and shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows about sensei," She chuckled. "I invited her, but sensei is sensei so I can't say yay or nay for sure." Tokito scoffed. "That baka-sensei has probably been sent on a mission for a few days. The Hokage wouldn't keep her in the village when Shiranui-san and Hatake-senpai are so easily accessible to her wrath." He told them bluntly. "I do not envy them at the moment." Hana nodded in agreement and cracked a mischievous grin that seemed to run in the family, even though it was a lot less feral looking on the oldest Inuzuka child.
"She's mad at them because of me." Tokito and Hana glanced from one another to the quiet kunoichi who had spoken. "Kind of," Hana sighed, knowing exactly where this conversation was going. A quick pointed glance from Tokito told her he knew as well. "But, Shiranui-san should have consulted with her before making such a crucial decision for her student, and well, she's never like Hatake-san as far as I can remember. Although before today I didn't realize it was in fact him she was always so furious with. Who'd of imagined that?" She mused aloud and chuckled softly under her breath trying to lighten the darkening atmosphere.
"I heard from my senpai that Hatake-san and sensei have been like that since they were teenagers." Tokito spoke up, his shamrock green gaze narrowed in on the smooth lacquered tabletop. "Apparently Hatake-san did something and now she's his lifelong enemy. Don't ask what exactly it was that he did, because I wasn't told that part." He ended his detail less story abruptly. Hana frowned and Namida's head tilted downwards in thought. Tokito shuffled his weight around to get more comfortable. "Anyhow," He droned with a mischievous smirk that belied his uncaring tone. "What are we eating, Kibbles 'n Bits?" Namida's eyes went wide at his words and her hands shot up to muffle the giggles that were threatening to escape from behind her lips.
Hana's face wrinkled as if angry, but when a sly smirk made its way to her lips Tokito's shoulders visibly stiffened. "Watch your back." She smiled; her tone poisonously sweet. Before Tokito could even make a move to defend himself from the oncoming attack, he was jumped from behind by three large, growling canines. Tokito hit the tatami mat floor with a grunt and a dull 'thump'. The three shaggy ash coated wolfish looking dogs and the blond shinobi wrestled around on the floor for several minutes before the shinobi was soundly defeated by the combo attack of the Haimaru Sankyōdai. The triplets looked positively pleased with their victory with their tails wagging happily and their pink tongues lazily hanging out.
"Hana get them off before I suffocate!" Tokito's muffled voice could be heard from under the literal dog-pile. The largest of the triplets was laid length wise across Tokito's chest, while the other one held down his legs and the third lay crouched across his face. "Good job boys!" Hana praised happily and Namida openly laughed at the situation Tokito had landed himself in. He should have known better than to insult Hana when the triplets were around. Even though they would never hurt him, they would still make him pay for the crime of insulting their beloved partner. Hana called the triplets off of the blond and they happily obliged to return to her side. Tokito groaned softly as he pulled himself off the floor mumbling incoherent things about 'choking to death on fleas' and 'large slobbery mutts'.
Hana ignored him, despite her sensitive hearing, while the three gray canines moved to lay down by her side. She stroked each of them tenderly, giving them all of her praise and love. Namida smiled at the scene, while Tokito huffed and tried to smoothen out his wrinkled clothing. The smallest and coincidentally the youngest of the trio whined and yipped before crawling on his belly over to the white haired kunoichi, where he snuggled as close as his large body would let him to her, almost like wanted in her lap.
"He missed you." Hana translated when he whined again. Namida smiled and softly stroked his furry head. "I missed you too." She softly told the canine which earned her a happy wag. "You need to come by more often, both of you." Hana gave her two old teammates a pointed stare to solidify her words. Tokito nodded his head with a noncommittal grunt and Namida gave a sheepish smile. "Now, for the lecture I had planned." Namida visibly shrunk at Hana's words and stern tone.
"I've decided that it won't be necessary, anymore." She continued in a lighter tone to which Namida perked up. "From what I can gather from your scent, Shiranui-san has beaten me to it, and as much as I'd like to pound another lecture into that block of a head resting on your shoulders, I want tonight's dinner to be pleasant." Tokito raised a disbelieving eyebrow at the word 'pleasant'. Dinner with Inuzuka Tsume was never pleasant for males, unless you happened to be her son or considered to be her adopted pup: Mikazuki Namida.
Apparently, for some reason he could never fathom, Tsume thought Tokito smelled bad. She'd straight up told him exactly that several years ago. To this day he still had no idea what she meant by that. Hana and Kiba had just laughed at him when he had asked them what their mother meant and if Namida knew, then she wasn't telling. Tokito frowned at the mere thought of being kept out of the loop. How could she say he stunk when he bathed regularly, as in twice a day when possible.
He had thought it might be his laundry detergent when he was younger, but he had used every kind there was and she still thought he smelled. He had changed his shampoo, his body wash, his hair gel and his cologne. The result had stayed the same no matter what he did. So he eventually gave up and went back to his preferred scents. Life was now much, much easier on him, except when Hana forgot to mention beforehand that her mother would be present at dinner. Talk about a monster-in-law and a half. Hana would never get married if her mother had any say in it. That much was certain.
"Heh, I thought I smelled something bad." A rough, though distinctly feminine voice spoke up and Tokito felt his blood run cold before freezing in his veins. With wide eyes he turned his head to see the head of the family glaring down at him with her nose wrinkled. It was the face she always had when he was around. Kiba cracked a wicked fanged grin behind his mother's back. The poor sap, he didn't stand a chance. His mother really was torturing him just for the fun of it. "Welcome home mother, Kiba." Hana greeted them as they walked into the room, their canine partners by the side, or in Akamaru's case, on Kiba's head.
Kiba moved around from behind his mother and carelessly plopped down across the table from Namida and beside Tokito, who was still frozen in fear at the sudden appearance of Tsume. "Hey Namida-nee, haven't seen you around in a while. How've you been?" Kiba asked as he removed Akamaru from his head to put him in his lap. "I have been well, thank you for asking Kiba-kun. How are you and Akamaru fairing?" Namida smiled and kindly asked. "Mmm, well I have been better, but Akamaru is great, right boy?" The white pup barked to confirm Kiba's words. "Today I was put in a three man cell with that creepy bug-boy Aburame Shino and this quiet girl that always stutters, Hyūga Hinata. Ya know she actually reminds me a lot of you, Namida-nee, only she's much worse." Namida smiled behind her curtain of hair as he finished his story.
"Who will be your new sensei?" Hana asked turning her attention to her little brother as their mother sat down at the crowded table. "Uh, she's a Jonin that I've never seen before, said her name was Yūhi Kurenai." Kiba answered in a bored tone. "She's a new one, although I have heard good things about her. She should be a good sensei." Tokito spoke up, having finally thawed somewhat from the initial shock. However he was still visibly uncomfortable in the presence of Tsume. Hana stood up to get the food, but shook her head when Namida moved to help. "You stay here Namida. Do you want to insult our hospitality?" Hana asked as a, somewhat, cruel joke knowing that the white haired girl would stay if tradition was used against her.
"Hey Toki-baka, make yourself useful and help Hana with the food." Tsume demanded with an unyielding tone to her voice. "Hai!" The blond shot up from his seat and briskly marched into the kitchen without any form of complaint. Before the young ANBU was even out of sight and hearing distance Kiba broke out into raucous laughter that had him rolling on the floor. Namida giggled softly and Tsume gave a grin that was absolutely predatory and pleased. "You see Namida," The rough woman spoke, her dark eyes landing on the delicate snow girl who now had her full attention on the older woman. "That's how you handle men. If they stay then they're worth the trouble, if not, then you're better off without them. Remember that, 'cause it'll save you a lot of trouble in the future."
Namida nodded her head, but her grimacing expression was well hidden behind her hair. Tsume-san was a good person, but Namida doubted that a woman needed to be that draconian with men in order to see if they were good enough. Besides Namida didn't have enough of the older woman's nerve to order anyone around, let alone a man. She had been taught since she was an infant that men were dominant and women naturally subservient to their will. Honestly she saw no wrong in either, as long as certain, crucial boundaries were not crossed on both sides. But perhaps she only thought that way because she had grown up around both self-reliant and subservient women and saw the good and bad of both.
"Dinner is served," Hana announced with a smile as she, followed by a lagging Tokito brought in arm loads of food. "It smells great, Hana." Namida commented as the scent of various foods wafted around the room. Kiba was practically drooling and even Tsume looked a little less hostile than usual when Tokito was around. "Thank you, I hope it tastes as good as it smells." Hana chuckled at her own joke. After everything was set on the table and a round of 'Itadaki-masu's' were said, they broke their chopsticks and dug in to the freshly cooked homemade meal.
A couple hours later, after night had fallen Tokito and Namida left the Inuzuka home to head back to their respective domiciles. Of course Tokito, being like a big brother-best friend to Namida refused to let her walk home alone, despite him living in the opposite direction. Namida didn't put up much of a fight due to Tokito's well-known stubbornness. Their trip was mostly taken in silence due to neither being the most talkative individuals. However the quiet was peaceful, familiar. It was Namida who broke the silence. "Tokito-san," The blond shinobi almost rolled his eyes at the ridiculous honorific she always used when speaking to him. "Pardon my prying, but have you ever considered that the reason why Tsume-san is so hard on you is because you refuse to be honest with your intentions towards Hana-chan."
Tokito's shoulders tensed. "How long have you known?" He asked lowly, though not accusing. Namida stopped walking and turned to face the taller male. "Since we were fourteen," She answered. "So the reason Tsume-san hates me is because she thinks that I'm not good enough for Hana." He murmured thoughtfully, his arms crossed defensibly over his chest. "That is not it." Namida shook her head and hesitantly touched the bare olive skin on his arm in an act of attempted comfort. "She wants you to prove to her and especially to Hana that you will stay by her side no matter what. She is only looking out for her only daughter." Tokito gave a disgruntled grumble she couldn't distinguish, but he looked to have calmed from understanding.
Another peaceful silence settled around them. The moon was full and the night sky clear enough that no star was hidden from their view. "Strange," Namida turned her eyes away from the sky when she heard Tokito's low voice. "What is strange?" She asked bringing her hands together in front of her, her hidden expression one of question and patience. "It's nothing. You need to get home before your family gets the wrong impression." He dismissed her question and gave her a half smile before walking away. Namida startled at his abrupt evacuation and hurried to catch up to him, nearly stumbling over her own two feet in the process.
Tokito snickered at her mishap. "Are you alright back there Namida?" He asked with a teasing grin and smiling eyes. "H-hai," He heard her mumble ashamedly. A soft rusting told him that she was trying to straighten her clothes while trying not to be noticed. He shook his head. She was such a traditionalist that girl. When she finally reached his side he noticed that her clothing was indeed neat and he was quite certain that she was blushing furiously behind her long mane of hair. Since before he had even known her name, Namida had always hidden behind her long hair, he had only seen her face three times to date while Hana had seen her five times. Namida was quite pretty, make no mistake about that. She was just so timid and lacked confidence that she was easily over looked. He blamed her traditionalist family.
When he glanced up from the ground he saw that they had finally reached their destination. "Thank you for taking me home. Have a safe trip back, Tokito-san." Namida's tone told him that she was smiling. He nodded his head in response. "Take care, Namida-chan. I'll see you around." He told her before disappearing in a swirl of autumn colored leaves and a subtle woodsy scented breeze. As quietly as possible Namida crept into the vast yard of her family home, hoping that she wouldn't wake anyone up. The door made a rough, yet soft rolling noise as she slid it open and she internally cringed when the sound came again while closing it. The house was dark and creepily silent as she eased her way down the long hallway, towards her room. Just as she stepped in front of the last door before she reached her room she noticed that someone was hidden in the shadows.
A stifled gasp left her mouth when a pair of cold eyes pierced straight through her veil of hair and met her gaze. Immediately she dropped into a bow that he did not return and she did not rise from. "I am very sorry for disturbing your rest, otouto-sama. Please forgive me, it will not happen again." Namida's voice was completely subservient, if not pleading. She did not want her little brother to tell the family head about her unjustifiable lateness and that she had disturbed someone while sneaking, unsuccessfully, back into the house. The silhouette of her brother glared down at her for several moments before he turned his back to her and closed his door in her face without saying a word. Namida let out a soft sigh of relief before she picked herself up off the floor and entered her room, as quietly as possible.
She shuffled around her room for several minutes, carefully discarding her weapons and changing into a light sleeping yukata, before slipping under the soothingly cool covers of her mattress. The silvery light from the round moon above crept through the slightly ajar window and landed on the close-eyed girl. Her snow white hair almost appeared to be a soft icy-blue under the moon light and her pale skin almost seemed to glow. Though not asleep the cool rays of the moon quickly eased her into a deep slumber. Namida was so out of it that she didn't even stir when her door slid open enough for the person standing on the other side to gaze into the room. Cold eyes narrowed on her moonlight bathed form, before sliding the door back closed and the perpetrator slipped back into the shadows of the darkened hallway.