I think I'm going to be doing fluff chapters for the next couple of updates, just cause I feel like it. If I get to many protests, then I'll just continue with the main storyline.

"Hey, Pein! Pein! Pein? Peeeeeeeein!"

"What do you want Kumiko...?" Pein grumbled.

"There's nothing to eat!" Kumiko complained.

"The cupboards are almost full!" Pein snapped, he'd been dealing with Kumiko on his own for just two days and he already had a headache.

"Well, yeah, but there's nothing I want to eat!"

Pein sighed. "Come to the kitchen with me."

Kumiko happily skipped behind Pein. When they arrived in the kitchen, Pein pried open one of the cupboards and looked inside.

"Do you want cereal?" he asked.

Kumiko nodded and Pein pulled out a box of cereal.

"But I don't want that kind of cereal!" Kumiko protested.

"Fine, what about oatmeal."

Kumiko scrunched up her nose and gave Pein a look that said 'Why would you even suggest that?'

"I'll take that as a no," Pein concluded, "How about some vegetables; they're part of a healthy diet."

Kumiko gagged.

"Kumiko you will eat what I put in front of you and you will like it."

"Fine," Kumiko sat down with her arms crossed, "I'll eat it, but I will never ever, ever, ever, ever like it!"

Pein just stood silently for a moment unsure of what to do next. Should he give in and go out to get something for her? But who's to say she'll like what he brings back? Or he could just make something and give it to her, then again Pein wasn't exactly a master chef, in fact, he wasn't a chef at all.

"Go change into some appropriate attire."

The glint in Kumiko's eyes returned. "Are we going to get groceries?"

"No, we're eating out."

"Yippee! Yahoo!" Kumiko skipped down the hallway to prepare for dinner with Pein.


"Well," Pein concluded, shuffling some papers, "I suppose I should get ready too."

Pein left his office and headed for his room, but it wasn't long before he heard Kumiko's singing carry down the hall.

"I'm going out for dinner! I'm going out for dinner! And everyone else is on a mission! Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah!" Pein had never heard anything more annoying in his life.

Then Pein noticed the singing was awefully loud to be coming from Kumiko's room.

"Don't tell me-" Pein down the hallway and stopped at his room to find clothes spread all over the floor.

There were shirts covering every inch of his bed, pants were carpeting his floor and somehow, draped from the ceiling. In the midst of all the mess Kumiko sat humming.

"Kumiko what are you doing?!"

"Hey Pein, what's this?" Kumiko held out a little felt box.

"Give me that!" Pein snatched it from her, "You didn't open it, did you?"

"Of course I did, why are you keeping a ring in your room?"

"That's none of your concern."

"Is it for Konan?"

Pein stopped short, he paused. "It might be."

"What do you mean by might?"

Pein ignored the question. "What are you doing in my room?"

Kumiko's face lit up. "I was picking out an outfit for you, see!"

Pein slipped the ring in his pocket and took another look around the room. "We're leaving; now."

Pein turned to leave, but felt a tug on his sleeve.

"But you still need to change!" she protested.

"Fine, you wait right outside the door, and don't move an inch." he added.

"Yes sir!" Kumiko saluted him as he shut the door.

Pein began to make his way across the carpet of clothing, but stopped at his bed. Neatly placed on his bed was an outfit.

Next update: Kumiko and Pein go out for dinner!