Chapter 16 – Dancing in the Rain

Chapter 16 – Dancing in the Rain

"…what…?"

"I said I just saw Hamitsu, with Kuroji, out in the rain…nude."

"…naked?"

"Naked."

Gen-sama blinked for a moment. In his abstract looking away he saw Shibi just coming down the stairs and reaching for a book on the bookshelf. He didn't take his eyes off his father and Shen-san, pausing like a wary deer. He slowly removed the book, still watching, turned, and walked back upstairs without a sound.

Meanwhile, Fujita, three 1/2 years Shibi's senior, tried his best to bury his face deeper into the chunin exams study scrolls in his hands, and stay as not involved as possible in the conversation. Pretty much like everything that went on in the household. Despite being Shibi's 'adoptive brother' he held virtually no brotherly love for him. No hatred, but not much affection…to him, the sooner he was 17 and could get his own home the better. That, and he was avoiding Shen-san; Fujita was not too fond of him.

"She is most…unusual." Gen-sama said.

"That she is." Shen replied.

Gen-sama tried to think back to 3 weeks ago when their clan was peaceful and quiet. Without naked dancing hooligans in the tree groves accidentally knocking bug nets loose and sneaking in at 4:00 in the morning. Gen-sama was a patient man, and a forgiving one, but he was not so sure about Kuroji's judgment when it came to this outsider woman. Outsider relationships he didn't have a problem with, but she….she didn't seem very Aburame.

…

"Ahh come'on, it's like 90 degrees out," Hamitsu said with hyperbole and laughed. She grabbed Kuroji's arm as he reached for a towel slung over a low tree branch.

A luke-warm late September rain was falling. Since this was the Fire country temperatures could be quite warm through October. However, even with warm temperature there was the cold breeze reminding one of the coming winter.

"But there is wind." He wrapped the towel around himself from the head-down, so only his eyes and nose showed. He slouched, leaned against the tree, and loomed over her.

"Are your buggies cold?" She teased, pushing herself up against him and rubbing her hands quickly up and down on his arms as if to warm him.

He pulled away with an Aburame smirk, "Perhaps they are."

"I'll keep you warm," she pulled up the towel and wrapped herself in it too, so their skin pressed up against one another's.

"That better?" The towel tent said.

"Yes, thank you," it replied.

"You see the difference between the fully bloomed and the young clover flower?" Sakuya's mother, Saki, was kneeled down with her alongside the family garden. Oversized, exotic pink and white clover blooms were scattered along its borders. She held a large, transparent umbrella over them both.

"Yes mother," the nine-year old nodded.

"You have to get them at this stage to make the best medicine, that's when the nectar inside is at its peak." Saki put down a small basket so they could begin harvesting the best ones.

Sakuya heard something, distracting her from her work, and turned to see just visible in the distance through the foggy rain Kuroji and the outsider woman up against one of the tree grove's trunks…and not simply standing and enjoying the afternoon drizzle.

"Mother…" she tugged on her mother's coat edge.

"Sakuya pay attention."

"Mmm…" She turned back around, and figured best to not bother her mother too much.

…

…

…

"Kuroji,"

"Yes Gen-sama?" Kuroji was called over by the clan leader from his training with Shibi.

Gen paused, collecting words, "The Spring Festival is in a week. I wanted to know…if you are inviting Hamitsu."

"…I am. Why?"

"You two seem to be getting….rather close."

Kuroji smiled a bit wider than Gen was used to, and replied, "Yes, we are."

Gen paused again, and then continued, "I just wanted you to know, I don't want any scenes. I am expecting responsible, mature behavior out of both of you."

Kuroji seemed a bit hurt, "Are you saying I have shown otherwise?"

"I am saying I have seen and heard you two these past few months doing a few things I may not approve of, and while your private life is none of my business, this clan is my business. If you in any way embarrass or disrespect it, especially in front of the village, I will not be so forgiving."

Kuroji swallowed, and stayed silent.

"Am I clear, Kuroji-san?"

"Yes Gen-sama."

"Thank you." He relaxed, "Now get back to your training."

They exchanged bows, and Kuroji walked back over to Shibi looking like a wounded animal.

"Is father cross with you?" The 11-year old asked, looking up at his taller friend.

"Perhaps," Kuroji leaned his elbow easily onto Shibi's head.

Shibi pushed him off, "He doesn't approve of Hamitsu-san."

"Has he said that to you outright?"

"In a way."

Kuroji frowned.

There was a pause.

"…I like Hamitsu."

"Well your opinion doesn't matter."

Shibi looked down.

"But I appreciate it." Kuroji added.

Shibi smiled.

…

…

Although Hamitsu had been around the clan a number of times the past 8 ½ months, No one had really gotten much of a chance to meet her formally. So the Spring Festival was practically her introduction. It was a bit of a sight to see them both dressed in their finest, Kuroji in his dress coat, she in a handmade kimono. From all the 'horror stories' about her going through the clan, it was a stark contrast, a bit taking aback. She didn't seem to be wild or crazy…as everyone was hearing…

"So you're Hamitsu," Saki brought out a hand from underneath her thick fabric poncho overcoat to adjust her sunglasses. A ten year old whose sleeves nearly touched the ground stood next to her. She eyed Hamitsu knowingly.

"That's me," Hamitsu nodded with a smile.

"I am Aburame Saki, pleasure to meet you. This is my daughter Sakuya."

"How are you Sakuya-chan?" Kuroji bent over a bit for the child.

"Fine Kuroji-san," She pouted at him in a manner of 'stop making fun of how much bigger you are than me'. He was only 7 years her senior, but she was petite for an Aburame her age at 4' 10". Since Saki was so tall, 6' even, everyone was hoping she'd sprout up when puberty hit.

"Are you the one with the gardens on the left side of the tree groves?" Hamitsu asked her.

"Yes."

"I love your flowers."

"Why thank you."

"I am kind of the opposite of a green thumb," Hamitsu chuckled, "What do you call that?"

Saki stared blankly at her, "A…black thumb?"

"Yes, that!" She laughed again.

Saki gave her the typical silent, unwavering Aburame stare.

Hamitsu pulled Kuroji's arm closer.

"Perhaps you could give her some gardening lessons…" Kuroji suggested.

"Perhaps," Saki echoed.

"I could help you," Sakuya said.

"That's very nice of you to offer that, Sakuya."

The child smiled gently.

"I'd love to some time; any help is good, I really don't know much of anything about plants. But I'd always wanted to keep a plum tree or something…or tulips."

"Just don't have her practice in my garden," Saki whispered to her daughter.

"Kuroji-neesan," Shibi walked up with his father, dressed as one would expect Aburame 'royalty' to do so.

"Konbonwa Gen-sama," Hamitsu bowed deeply to Gen.

"Ah, Good evening," He replied.

She stood back up, "Your clan looks especially beautiful for this festival."

"Arigatou."

There was a pause.

"You like it here then?" Gen asked a loaded question.

She pursed her lips, "I haven't been able to spend that much time here actually."

"Ah, but you would?"

She wavered.

"Gen-sama…" Kuroji said lowly.

"Nani?" He adjusted his tilted oval sunglasses.

Shibi figured now was a good time to break the tension, "Kuroji," He said, pulling a hand from his pocket, "I found something while out gathering insects…I think this one belongs with you."

Kuroji looked down at him.

In Shibi's hand was a baby spider, but obviously from something that got much larger, as even though this was a juvenile it was almost 2 inches long. It was a baby goliath spider, also known as a "bird eating spider".

"Oh," Kuroji said with amusement at his find, "A rare species in these parts…" He put his hand out and the spider very willingly went to him even without him asking. Hamitsu eyed it…she knew by now of Kuroji's love for spiders…his house was filled with them. She had not quite gotten totally used to it yet. But in that she didn't instantly want to run upon SEEING his house she figured she could date him, and grow accustomed to it. She never had a fear of insects or spiders, in fact she found them fascinating, but never a huge want to have them crawling on her (A sort of distanced respect). Still, some of the larger ones, with very obvious fangs and long legs…the kind that had weight to them if they landed on you…like a small mouse or bird - kind of gave her a strange feeling. Even though she knew none of them would harm her with Kuroji able to speak and tell them she was not a threat. It was just a normal human reaction to be vacillating of such things.

"He's pretty big," Hamitsu stared.

"She's a baby…in fact….she will grow to be much larger."

"Really?" Hamitsu blinked.

"Humm…I think she likes you." Shibi smiled behind his collar.

"How can you tell?" Hamitsu said.

Shibi just adjusted his sunglasses.

The spider crawled up Kuroji's arm and up over his collar, disappearing inside.

"Thank you Shibi," he bowed slightly, "I believe she'll be staying with me."

Gen gave a glace at Hamitsu, who didn't see and was watching where the spider went.

"Well, then she needs a name, if she's going to be one of your pets." She said.

"…" He thought, "You think of one."

"…hummm," She smirked, "She looks like a Mu."

"Nothingness?"

"NOT to be without?"

"…" he tilted his head up, "I believe it could suit her."

Hamitsu jested, "Or she just seems like a 'Mu'."

The festival ended, and no one was worse for wear, much to Gen-sama's relief. He was in fact pleased with Hamitsu's behavior. She was a little…different, but seemed to know when to be appropriate. For now, his trust was earned with her. He didn't know if it was appropriate to thank Hamitsu for not embarrassing his clan, so he did anyway.

"Thank you for your well-mannered behavior." He bowed to the pair in saying goodnight.

"Your…welcome Gen-sama." Kuroji said, as Hamitsu was unsure of how to answer that.

There was a pause.

"You should visit more often. Perhaps I misjudged you."

Hamitsu almost blushed with happiness and pride, and quickly replied, "I will Gen-sama. Thank you."

As everyone was getting ready for bed, Hamitsu and Kuroji stood out in the tree groves under the lanterns, their candles slowly and sporadically going out one at a time.

"You hear what Gen-sama said?" She smiled.

"I did."

"He likes me?" She said like a 6 year old on Christmas.

He smirked, "He seems to."

"I'm glad."

"I don't see what there is not to like." He pulled her closer.

"Not everyone is as observant as you."

She blinked as she saw a cluster of glossy black eyes peeping over his collar.

"Mu-chan…is she still in there?"

"I almost forgot she was."

"How can you forget you have a spider that big in your clothes?" She teased.

"How can you forget you're wearing those shoes all day?"

She pursed her lips, "Excuse me? I thought you liked them." She turned her ankle displaying the high-heel sandals.

He laughed, "I do. I just always hear women complaining them."

"My feet are trained, these are no different than barefoot to me." She glanced at his bare feet bound in white tape.

He nodded silently in a manner of 'If you say so'.

She grabbed his coat around his collar to pull him over so she could kiss him. He never minded anymore that she did that.

…

Hamitsu WAS seen around the clan more often. And despite killing one of Saki's rose bushes, playing loud music to train to, and crashing into another scarab beetle net, she was slowly growing on everyone.

It was tepid outside with the winds of December blowing, when Hamitsu cautiously spoke up to Kuroji as they sat on the village wall, him sipping tea and her sipping hot chocolate, "Kuroji, I think I'm pregnant."

He stopped mid-sip and nearly chocked. After recovering, he turned to look at her.

"I think I'm pregnant" she repeated casually.

"H…how do you know?"

"Well….I haven't had my period since August."

"You're sure?"

"I HOPE I'm sure about something like that!"

He continued to stare at her.

"WELL?"

"But, weren't we…"

"Yes…I guess something broke…" She blinked, "It happens."

"…"

"Hey," She grabbed his arm gently, "I'm not mad or anything. In fact, I'm glad. I really would love to have a baby with you. I kinda always wanted to be a mom. Never knew…with WHOM…but when I found a guy I really liked I wanted to."

He parted his lips.

"So please, don't worry." She smiled.

"Hamitsu." He finally broke a small smile.

"Are YOU mad?" She asked.

"No." He quickly replied.

"Will Gen-sama be cross?"

"Yes."

She pouted, "And he was just getting to like me."

"He'll get over it." He sipped his tea.

"Maybe we should get married."

He choked again.

"Since we'll be raising a kid together it seems appropriate." She said confidently.

"Are you…proposing to me?" He looked at her.

"You never did."

He felt his blood rush to his skin.

"Don't look so surprised." She reached around and pulled something out of her ninja bag, "This belonged to my father, he gave it to me before he left to battle he was killed in." She opened her palm.

He looked, expecting to see a family ring, but there was nothing in her hand.

"Heh, it's silly. The kind of thing you would say to a little kid. 'Here is my love and devotion, you can hold it for me until I return.' he'd say to me, 'Be careful with it okay? Don't break it. And if I don't return, be sure to give it to someone special. Someone you trust not to drop it.' I always tried to SEE it when he opened his hand and gave it to me. I really thought it was there, as a tangible object, I just wasn't observant enough. I always held onto it really carefully. And when he didn't come back…I put it away. "

She paused.

He just stared and let her talk.

"So now I want to give it to you. Because I know you won't drop it." She took his hand and 'put it' in his palm.

He looked down at his hand, of course there was nothing tangible there, but there WAS something. Something precious.

Gen was indeed none too pleased. But a beautiful marriage ceremony and moving in later, he was appeased. Hamitsu was an Aburame, officially. And her child was to be the continuation of an important line within the clan. Gen just hoped she could live up to expectations. This high prospect just made the pressure to fit in even greater. As she began showing, she started feeling a strong need to fit in even more, even with her personality being so different from everyone;s. She asked Kuroji to teach her arachnid language, and he told her she must learn insect first. Arachnid was harder to learn. She sighed, and was told to go to 'the expert' to learn it quickest…the clan leader, Gen-sama.

…

Sitting in Gen-sama's kitchen across from Shibi, who was proudly wearing his newly earned headband, Hamitsu attempted an unplanned starring contest. She pursed her lips and stared down the precocious youth. A useless endeavor with an Aburame, but she was just being cute, not seriously attempting the game. He tilted his head, smirking. Gen sat down out of nowhere putting his rice bowl down with a resounding 'tink'. They both startled slightly.

"How are you feeling?" Gen asked her.

"Alright, thank you."

"You are about 8 months now, correct?"

She smiled and nodded, "I'm getting kind of big…" she laughed nervously, "It's crazy, I'm really excited to be a mom."

"When do you think the baby is due?"

She furrowed her brow, "May."

He sat back, "very good."

She smiled.

"You're a quick learner Hamitsu."

"Well…you are a very good teacher Gen-sama." She smirked.

"I've only been teaching you for 4 months."

"Kuroji is helping me a bit at home too."

"Keep at it and you may be fluent in a year or two."

By the time their baby girl, named Yusuro by her mother, was one year old, Hamitsu was well on her way to being a well-spoken Aburame. However…

"Hamitsu, it's raining…"

"I know…"

"Ahh…"

"I love warm rain." She breathed, "Dang these buttons are hard to unclasp when they are wet….and why do you have like 50 of them?"

He leaned over and silenced her with a kiss, doing the rest of the unclasping of his coat himself.

"Mmm…!"

She pushed him up against the tree they were hiding under in the end of the tree groves.

Shibi continued walking by, pretending not to notice.

…

"I finally grew my own garden of tulips!" She proudly displayed her array of bright red blooms.

"Toolip," Yusuro grabbed at their tall stalks.

"Yusuro no!"

"Heh," Kuroji smirked.

"DON'T laugh, she's killing my flowers!"

"But she says it in such an adorable way."

Hamitsu handed the three ½ year old to her father.

"Well, I guess you're right." She laughed.

"Tutu-toooolip" Yusuro giggled.

"That's my girl."

"…Kuroji…I think I'm pregnant again."

"…!"

"Tuuutoo."

…

Their second child Tesuro, a son, was welcomed just as Yusuro was getting her kikaichu. While people objected Hamitsu's outspokenness and…random nudity, no one questioned her parenting skills. She was an excellent mother. A mother who they didn't know they would be saying goodbye to all too soon.

The years were so smooth, so flowingly fulfilling that they just slipped through Kuroji's fingers. He blinked, and Yusuro was 7 - getting the fourth installment of her tattoos and excelling in school. Tesuro just about to receive his own kikaichu.

He was at home, filing mission reports, awaiting Hamitsu to return from her mission, when instead of her return came a messenger of Yondaime's. He handed him a small scroll with black edging.

Hamitsu's entire 4-man unit had been killed.

It was a cloudy afternoon when they preformed a ceremonial burial for Hamitsu in the Western Forest Aburame clan family graveyard. They had not been able to recover the bodies from the team.

Where as most would have seen the warm rain falling as the funeral ended as a sad sign, Kuroji turned his sunglasses to the cloudy skies and smiled.