Chapter 23 – Spring Fever (part 1)
It was an especially warm Spring Festival evening. With the heat of the sun setting over the western wall there was not an oppressive feeling in the air, for a dry heat remained with a blowing warm breeze. It made the leaves of Konoha's trees rustle like dry bamboo forests, and the sweat on your skin evaporate just enough to leave it like satin.
A chattering chorus of cicada, crickets and katydids echoed through the forest in a low droning. A pleasantly toned night chorus on such an evening.
"You hear that Sakuya?" Ussa nudged his wife clad in a deep rose dress jacket.
"You mean all those insects singing to find mates?"
"It's the season for love…" He grinned and wandered a hand low behind her back.
She pushed against him and pulled his hand out from behind her to crook it in her arm in a capturing move, "Ussa!!"
"I'm just going with the crowd…" He had an innocent face.
"…" Sakuya pulled his arm up closer to her body and pulled him in a direction to walk, "Not the place for it…" She hissed, "With all these guests here!"
He knew he had been a bit out of line, but he also knew that she knew he was teasing. He smiled and followed after not taking much offense.
…
Tesuro fidgeted his fingers in his pockets as he waited near Genjo's front door. He watched a swirl of fireflies fight the breeze as they passed in front of him. A momentary distraction.
He had asked the kendo-trained Aburame to accompany him to the Spring Festival.
It took him a month to ask such a thing after the events of that fateful dinner at his family home…when he exploded and yelled at his father. He really wished he had never let his emotions fly like that, he was much calmer a person usually, and he hoped Genjo didn't think he was some kind of ticking time bomb waiting to explode at any random moment. What Tesuro didn't realize is as a 15 year old, the hormones of puberty were hitting him hard at this point. However, as an Aburame he was used to controlling his emotions by now, so it didn't seem to come up until times of extreme passion…like that time…
"Brother?" Yusuro walked up with Hina on her arm, startling her younger sibling.
"Sis, hey," He smiled gently.
"Waiting for Genjo-san?"
He nodded.
"Ohhooo….you got a date…?" Hina teased.
Tesuro blushed a little and hid in his collar.
"Hina…" Yusuro pouted, "You are not doing it right, you need to poke him as you tease," She poked her little brother hard enough for him to wobble and re-correct his footing.
"Yusuro!" He smoothed out his jacket and smacked her hand away.
"Heh hehh," She smiled.
"Go off and enjoy your own date, and get out of my business!"
"Feisty," Hina grinned, "Save that for the bedroom."
Tesuro turned almost as red as his tattoos and felt a buzzy boil of insects rise in his veins, "GO!" He pointed off in a direction. How can she say such things…?! He thought.
They walked off giggling gently; though afterwards Yusuro felt bad for how much they teased him. Surely it was making him even more nervous. However, she had to admit he WAS way too uptight about such things. He needed to calm down and just enjoy the company of the people you like. Surely SHE was never that way around Hina…?
"Hey…Hina…" Yusuro pushed the edge of her collar to her cheek, "Was I ever that dumb looking with you?"
"Uhhh," Hina smiled sideways, "Maybe a bit…"
"I was NOT," Yusuro stopped and stood in front of her.
"Well, I mean …I might have been," Hina blushed a little.
"But I am too cool for that," Yusuro brushed the other's cheek.
"Too cool indeed," Hina took her hand like a possession and kissed it where it lay.
Yusuro pulled away playfully and Hina followed after grabbing for her other hand like a dog playing, which she stole and gave a kiss of its own, before keeping a hold of it this time. Intertwining fingers so they could walk holding hands, Hina finally let Yusuro's hand free.
Gomaru, who had been silent obediently to this point, muttered a playful bark and panted following after his master. He wagged his tail and sniffed at a guest passerby who had a glazed fruit tart in their hand. He sat in a begging posture. She held it closer and ate it in one big, possessive bite.
Gomaru whimpered, turning down an ear.
"Gomaru, I'll get you something…" Hina grinned giving him a scratch.
"How about chicken…?" Yusuro pointed at some small lunchmeat sandwiches which were a part of a food layout on a table for guests.
Gomaru nuzzled Yusuro's leg, "Bark!"
"Ne ne," She waved a hand and dangled one over him.
NOM!
He chomped it down in one bite when she dropped it.
"Good boy," she kneeled down so she could ruffle her partner's fluffy hair and exchange slobbery kisses.
"You ARE washing your face before I kiss you again," Yusuro said flatly.
…
"What did she say she would look like?" Jima whispered to Tao. They sat on a backless wooden bench near a small pond at the edge of the grove; people watching. Petals from the blossoming plum tree overhead fell like pink and white snowflakes. Her arm was clasped around his.
"She didn't, the note said she would find us."
"Mmmm," Jima groaned, "Why so mysterious…?"
"It was just how she sent the note."
"…" Jima fidgeted; which was unusual for Jima.
"Calm down," Tao smiled reassuringly, "This is a happy occurrence, remember?"
"I'm just worried she got cold feet and decided not to show…"
"Well, let's hope that doesn't happen…"
"Did they come yet?" A female voice came up.
It was Kaho walking up with Shibi. Little Shino was close behind.
"No…not yet." Tao replied. It was of course known by everyone in the clan what Jima and Tao would be looking for at the festival.
Shibi tilted his head at the smartly dressed Aburame, "Don't worry old friend, I'm sure everything will be fine."
Tao and Jima looked up hopefully.
He smiled in that reassuring way only a clan leader can.
"Thank you," Jima looked down with a gentle look. Such words from Shibi-sama were comforting in any situation.
They walked off on their own, leaving the nervous couple where they were under the flowering tree. "It's warm tonight," Shibi stated.
"Hot even," Kaho replied, unbuttoning the top button of her long formal jacket. Shino was un-phased by the weather. He liked it warm, and looked perfectly happy in his tan embroidered dress jacket, handsomely dressed like any little Aburame heir should be expected to be.
"…" Shibi looked her over, "You look nice tonight." He said coyly after a long pause.
"Thank you," she thought, looking down with some humility, "Not just because you want to compliment the new jacket I made?"
"You do make nice work," He smirked, "And if it was you who made it bought at a store I'd still think it ravishing on you."
Kaho arched her back up straighter, and accepted his outstretched arm, "Shino," she called after him as he was getting distracted by some beetles on a tree. He looked up, offered his hand to them, and followed after with some new companions.
They were soon caught by guests and caught again in social small talk.
Elsewhere, a tattooed Aburame was looking up to a door unlatching…
He had not even calmed himself down from Yusuro and Hina's teasing… I'm going to get back at her later, he grumbled.
Genjo walked out in a similar dress jacket to the one from the dinner over 5 months ago. He looked very nice in those longer coats…
"Konbonwa," Genjo bowed to the other boy, who did the same in return, although some what more awkwardly.
"I apologize for the delay - "
"It's fine!" Tesuro said just a bit too quickly, "I wasn't waiting long." His voice returning to an Aburame drone.
Genjo studied him for a moment, "Are you feeling alright? You look flushed…is this heat troubling you?"
Him saying that did not help Tesuro look less flushed, "No it's nothing, and it's not the heat, I like warm weather."
"Ah," the other nodded and motioned for Tesuro to walk with him.
The two young Aburame men walked past two senior clan members, sitting together on chairs at the edge of the festivities.
"Just as beautiful as I left it," Saki said to Shen, looking around wistfully.
"For you it does not seem as long as 7 years, does it?"
"No….it doesn't. It felt like only a year for me due to the slower passing of time in the Chou's world." She paused, "And yet… it does also seem like I have been gone an extended time…since everyone has aged and done things without me for so long."
"I can imagine," Shen leaned forward onto his kikai gourd, which was placed upright on the ground in front of him between his legs.
Saki looked over at him, so much like his brother, her dead husband, at that moment. It was just something about his expression or his posture…she looked away. "Thanks for inviting me."
"Like you said, you would have gone anyway, but this way is much nicer."
She smiled.
"You're a part of the family again," He put a hand on hers, "And it's nice to have you back. I know Sakuya is very happy that her kids will know their grandmother."
She adjusted her knitted over jacket, and felt a bit too complimented.
Fujita dipped his head up in his dark blue coat. They seem to be getting a bit 'friendly' he thought as he raised an eyebrow. He had the quick thought of what it would be like if Saki hooked up with the brother of her dead husband…a thought that made him cringe and his kikaichu crinkle.
This is because that would technically make Saki his step mother….as Shen was his legal step father…because his mother married him after his father died. Even though he chose to be raised under the care of Gen (Shibi's father) as a teenage child because he couldn't STAND Shen…it didn't change the fact Shen was his step father.
He quickly put the train of thought out of his head in disgust.
He glanced over at his daughter to distract him. Fu was rounding up some fireflies for her amusement. She had turned eleven 2 weeks before little Shino-sama got his kikaichu last January. Two more years she'd be a teenager...
She happened to look over as her father was staring at her back, and walked over, "Everything okay father?" The fireflies circled around like orbiting moons.
"Mmm…" He crossed his arms.
Fu tilted her head, she could tell something was bothering him but he'd never tell her about it…not until it bothered him so much he practically had to blurt it out. She wished he didn't bottle stuff up like that. She looked over in the direction behind the tree her father was leaning against, and saw Saki with Shen. Being the observant smart child she was, she connected 2 and 2 pretty quickly. She looked back up at him, "Want to see the lanterns I made with Sakuya-sensei? They are lit now that it's evening." She tried to distract him.
Fujita scrunched up his lower lip and stared at her for a moment, but then said, "You do that while you were supposed to be training with her?" He said it with attempted malice but she could tell he was softening.
"We took a break to prepare of the festival."
"Mmm," He stood up from leaning, "Alright, lets go." He waited for her to lead him.
She so very much wishes her father could be happy, but it seemed no matter what Fujita just…wasn't. Too many losses, too many betrayals, perhaps too many bad decisions. She just hoped her existence wasn't an awful reminder of a bad decision.
"See look," she pointed at some nicely cut paper lanterns hanging across the main clearing promenade where most of the guests were standing about chatting. Moths large and small of every color gathered around the lanterns adorning them like ornaments.
The moths reminded Fujita of Shen…his favorite insect. He sighed, and looked a Fu who looked expectant. He forced a smile, "They look good in the moonlight," he said.
She could tell he was still not happy, but she kept smiling and nodded, "Thank you father…"
Her face, he could tell…yet she still was smiling. Why does she put up with me…he thought, I don't like other people and here I am a father, I tried I'm just no good at it. I wish I had never let myself that one night…it…it was a mistake…
But her small face, smiling like that…
Surely…that can't be a mistake…
…
"Always nice to see more of you Shikaku-san," An Aburame with long sleeves nodded to a guest with a high ponytail.
"Say…where is Shibi-dono?" The Nara nodded his head back. A falling asleep child tugged on his pants. Ussa bent over and smiled at the skinny child, who blinked at him tiredly.
"If you must speak with him I could send out a scout bug for you."
"That's not necessary, I'll probably need to leave soon anyway…misses wants me home for dinner. And the little deer is tired….already."
"Ah I see," Sakuya saw he was almost falling asleep as her husband tried to stimulate him with some kind of input. Just then their 8 year old daughter ran up holding her almost 2 year old brother by the hand.
"THERE you two are," Sakuya sounded slightly annoyed.
"I'm sorry mother," Yesetteru raised her eyebrows over her sunglasses.
She was not actually mad that they ran off without saying where they were going. There was nowhere they would go, she knew they would not leave the clan compound, and within the walls, even with the outside guests during the festival, it was a safe area for them to play. If there was ever any trouble Yesetteru's kikaichu knew to come to Sakuya or Ussa for help.
"It's alright." She took Uschi from her, holding him in her arms and wrapping him up in her sleeves, "Now say hello to the little Nara," She nudged Yesetteru forward.
She looked at the little boy nervously; she was kind of a shy girl when it came to outsiders. Though the little boy had the right idea, she would rather be taking a nap then be running around the festival.
"Hello," She said quietly.
"Mmmm," He replied.
"Shikamaru, say hello." His father ordered.
Shikamaru was not so sure of this girl; first of all she was a GIRL…which of course meant she was troublesome. And probably had cooties…all girls did. But she also had on sunglasses and a collar that hid a lot of her face – he preferred to see peoples faces…and she was much taller then he was…he didn't like that either.
"Hello," the four year old finally replied.
Shikaku smiled approvingly, then sighed, "It's like pulling teeth."
"Mmm," Ussa raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe he'll meet a friend at school he'll actually be interested in…"
"He'll start in the fall - correct?"
"Ah."
"Same as Shino-sama," Ussa chimed in.
"That's right,"
"Daadee," Uschi woke up more and babbled.
Ussa let Uschi steal his finger, "Dadddy," He said trying to get him to say it more clearly.
"Daaady…" Uschi giggled.
"That's my son," He smirked.
Meanwhile Yesetteru was having a staring contest with Shikamaru. Neither was too interested or perky enough for conversation.
"I should get him home anyway…thank you for the evening." Shikaku bowed with respect and the Aburames gave good bye bows in return. He walked off, little deer in hand, who had a funny last look over his shoulder at the curly haired Yesetteru.
"Bye bye," she waved.
"Gaaa," Uschi echoed his sister.
Ussa looked up at Sakuya's sunglasses, a look reflecting into them. She knew that expression, it was the one of 'who can we make baby sit tonight…?'
…
"Babysit…?" Kuroji raised an eyebrow at Ussa and Sakuya, "Since when did you ever come to me asking such a thing?"
"Just for tonight Kuroji-san," Sakuya nodded, "Besides you are a father twice over - you have a lot of experience."
"Don't worry I can tare care of Uschi Kuroji-sensei," Yesetteru said gathering Uschi in her arms as he was trying to squirm away.
Kuroji's eye twitched, "A…alright."
"Thank you," Sakuya smirked.
"I owe you," Ussa nodded to the taller Aburame, winking a piercing green eye at him.
"Indeed…" Kuroji said through his teeth as they walked off.
…
"Babysit…?" Uschi was handed to Yusuro.
"I was told by Sakuya-san and Ussa-san to entrust their kids to you for the evening."
"DID they now…?" Yusuro brought her chin up from her collar. Father pulling rank on me…I won't let him do this again I'm not a child anymore…
"Hummm," Hina pouted…I had plans for tonight…
"Sleep well," He grinned at them, walking off very ninja like.
…
"But we were still waiting to meet - " Uschi was handed to Jima.
"This is good practice. You two are waiting for the one who might bare you a child… correct?" Yusuro smiled.
"Umm, yes…" Jima pushed up her hood as Uschi pulled it down.
"We just we weren't expecting it tonight is all," Tao replied.
"Children never do as expected; besides you two are well behaved correct?"
"Yes Yusuro-sensei! Yesetteru nodded. She at this point was amused at where she would end up for the evening. Really it was her brother that needed watching…she was 7 and a half, and felt pretty un-rebellious. She just wanted to get to wherever she would be for the night and go to sleep…
As they were talking, Gomaru smelled something good. He saw that same large woman looking around down the clearing from them behind the trees. She had a pork bun…a BIG one…He snuck off, his master distracted….he knew with what his master and her partner were planning he was not going to get fed till morning at this rate. He just wanted one more bite before bed...and that woman was TEASING him before - if anyone deserved food stolen from it was her…
"You again?" The woman put a hand on her hip jerking away the pork bun just as Gomaru was about to snatch it from her in a ninja-like fashion. She had been looking around and was not paying attention, "NOT for doggies!" She wagged a finger at him.
"Bark!" he barked at her, forgetting to be respectful and quiet while in the clan walls.
She took a teasing bite, smirking triumphantly.
Gomaru narrowed his eyes, and barked in a much more menacing fashion, "WOOF WOOF!!"
"Eeep!" She jumped, and everyone around hushed and looked over.
Hina instantly raised her head and perked her ears, hearing the bark, "What is Gomaru doi -"
"WOOF WOOF!"
"Ahhhh! Help help!"
"WATCH out!"
"Eeeeeee!"
The woman ran followed by a large gray dog and some worried on-lookers right past Yusuro, Hina, Jima and Tao.
"Gomaru!!" Hina yelled with authority, "Stop at once!"
"Oh my…" Yusuro darted after Hina who darted after her dog.
Jima and Tao watched them run past a few more times, heads following as they ran across the clearing left to right.
Finally, with Gomaru and the woman tussling on the ground, Hina shouting orders, and a circle forming around them, an angry cloud of kikaichu whisked into the clearing and ripped the two apart -
"ENOUGH!" Shibi bellowed over the crowd.
Everyone fell silent.
Gomaru and the woman were plunked down on the ground like separated fighting children, the kikaichu flying back to their master and mistress, "WHAT is going on here?" Kaho stepped forward the last of her kikai disappearing into her sleeves. She stuck a glance at Hina once she saw Gomaru on the ground with the woman. Shino was safely back behind Shibi, looking at Gomaru with apprehension.
Neither were seriously hurt. Gomaru had no violent intentions, but both were a bit mussed and dirty. Gomaru whimpered, his tail down, looking sorry at both the woman and clan leaders, then to his master, who looked very angry.
"Are you alright mam?" Hina helped her up.
"I'm fine…is this your mutt?" She pointed to the dog.
"That's Gomaru, I will reprimand him appropriately I assure you," She looked at him with a scary face.
"Might I say before you do, that I did kind of tease him…" She looked sorry for a moment, "I think I got what I deserved. Still," She put her hands on her hips and wagged a finger at him, "He should learn not to beg like some mangy mutt – he's a nin dog for goodness sakes!"
"Heh, yes mam." Hina smirked.
Gomaru felt better and realized she was just trying to teach him not to beg…
"I'm very sorry about this," Shibi said to her.
"Tch, I'm fine, I'm no pushover," She dusted off, "Still this place is like a maze in the dark. I come in here looking for someone and I can't find them!"
"Who were you looking for?" Kaho blinked.
Shibi's face lit up after a pause, "I…. think I know who."
"Maybe we should see what is going on?" Tao said to Jima, as they sat in the same spot they had been all night looking across the clearing at the circle of people.
"Let's just go home," Jima got up slowly, talking in a defeated monotone.
He knew she was disappointed….whoever had replied to their query had never showed.
However, as they were walking away, they heard footsteps. They turned to see Shibi and Kaho-sama running up. The woman who had been chased by Gomaru ran after them, and pointed at them with a face lighting up with recognition when she drew close, the lantern light revealing them, "YOU! I've been looking for you all evening!"
"Looking for us?" Jima looked up, still sounding depressed.
The woman breathed, and tried to fix her big fluffy hair some more, "My name is Akimichi Choumiko. You must be Aburame Jima," She smiled.
"Yes, that is me." Jima's voice raised slightly in emotion.
The woman gave her a hug which completely swallowed up little Jima in comparison to her size. Jima was 'stolen' for the sudden hug and was like a rag doll in her arms. Tao looked on with a dazed expression. She was released and left to fix her glasses/hood as the woman continued talking,
"When I was told your physical description after enquiring to your classifieds ad my husband recognized it immediately. You were there during the Kyubi attack. You were the one that saved my husband's life – you deflected a tree that was flung by the Kyubi, he was sure of it. You were taken to the hospital – but we never did find out who you were. But because of that ad, we know now," she nodded, "Because of you, he was able to come home safe – and we were able to conceive our first child. I was a mother, because of what you did." She smiled and teared up, "It's only fair that you should have the same – a child of your own."
Jima felt a slight stinging behind her glasses.
Choumiko smiled broadly again, and looked over at Tao who was equally stunned, and also holding Uschi with Yesetteru hiding behind him. She tilted her head, lightening the mood, "Oh, I thought you didn't have any kids?" She pointed with a quizzical expression to the two children.
Jima paused for a moment, a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead, "Hahaa… no these are not ours." She said with a nervous smile, the mood lightening.
Yesetteru shyly clung to the back of Tao's pant leg.
"Babysitting for some fellow clan members," Tao nodded.
"AH," Choumiko laughed.
"I'm sorry about all this," Jima looked around and at the dirt on the larger woman's clothes.
"It was amusing, and I think I taught that mutt his lesson," Gomaru heard her and walked over from Hina's side, and gave a playful bark!
"That's right no begging!" She ruffled his hair.
"Rrrrr," He panted.
"Well, we have much to talk about then don't we?" she looked back to Jima and Tao.
"Yes, we do…!" Jima's face lit up. Tao smiled seeing it.
"Come by my place for tea tomorrow, the Akimichi estate - I'm sure you know where that is, since you are a fellow noble clan."
As they talked making arrangements Shibi and Kaho looked on from a slight distance, "That's wonderful," Kaho whispered to him, "An Akimichi…we have a good relationship with them don't we?"
"Our two clans never had any problems if that is what you mean." Shibi replied.
"Well all the same, I am happy for them," she gave him a kiss on the head, as it was at perfect height for her to do so.
"Ah, very much so," Shibi smiled brightly but kept it discreetly hidden.
…
…
…
…
So long for the update! XD I am so sorry to all my readers. I have so many ideas for upcoming chapters, I keep writing future chapters and not the one next in line :'D so please do know I don't have writers block but rather 'fill in the in-betweens' block. LOL That and I've been very busy and have had less time to write. ;3;
But yes this chapter was getting so epic long I split it in two. I'll tease you with knowing we shall finally see some action from some of the lesser-seen couples ;) in part 2. Hehe.