This is for my friend Sam because I am an idiot who forgot to give basic details. Let's see who notices the new details about the girls.
When Itachi and Shisui finished giving their report, something made much more bearable by the presence of Kakashi, the two boys returned to the shrine. It had taken several hours due to the betrayal of Kumokin and the death of Yukino. Neither genin wanted to face their clan right now and only longed for the sanctuary of the shrine.
When they arrived however, their previously sullen mood was swiftly replaced by terror. Unable to find the girls, Itachi and Shisui moved to the back yard where horror filled them. There, lying motionless against a tree was Koka and Kaede, covered in dirt and clothing torn in places.
Itachi and Shisui were at their sides in seconds.
"Koka! Kaede!"
It was only when blue and brown eyes opened to meet red ones that Itachi and Shisui noticed the lack of wounds. The girls sat up tiredly.
"What is it?" Kaede mumbled as she rubbed her eyes.
"What happened to you?" Shisui took the blond girl into his arms, Itachi likewise picked up Koka.
"We started training for the ceremonies." Kaede was much more awake now, having felt the blood rush to her face the moment Shisui held her.
"So tired." Koka's words were barely coherent as she closed her eyes once more.
Itachi and Shisui could not describe the relief the two of them felt after realizing the two girls were safe. After losing Yukiko, the sight they had found at the shrine was something out of their nightmares.
"Oh, Itachi, Shisui, welcome back." The two genin looked up to see Heiwa walking towards them, a tray in her hands. The older woman was in a plain tunic and trousers, similar to the ones the boys noticed the girls wearing instead of their normal kimonos.
"Heiwa-san, what is going on?" Itachi and Shisui were perplexed and worried all at once. Heiwa gave the young boys a soft smile.
"Why don't you bring the girls inside and I'll explain." Carefully balancing the tray in one hand, Heiwa bent down and picked up four folded fans the boys had not noticed before turning and heading inside.
Itachi and Shisui followed, the now sleeping girls in their arms.
After the girls had been placed in their rooms, Heiwa sat down with the boys in the kitchen, serving them tea to help calm their nerves.
"That must have frightened you." Itachi and Shisui could only nod. The older woman continued softly.
"Tell me, what is it that a shrine maiden does?" The two Uchiha boys looked up at Heiwa, confused about where the conversation was going, but answered anyway.
"They help out with the chores around the shrine and receive people." Shisui said.
"And they preform ceremonies and dances." Itachi added.
Heiwa nodded. "But do you understand what that will entail?" The boys shook their heads and they gazed at the woman, partly in curiosity and part in worry. Heiwa sighed.
"A shrine maiden typically does not start training for the ceremonies and dances until she is thirteen, for the same reason shinobi are not usually passed from the academy until a certain age. Their bodies and minds have to be ready for the work they are about to be undertaking."
Heiwa put it into terms the boys would understand, and from their frowns, they had.
"But Koka is seven and Kaede is twelve." Shisui pointed out. Itachi looked up with horror etched in his eyes.
"They're like us." Comprehension dawned on Shisui and then fear set in.
"Yes. The two of them excel beyond that of a normal shrine maiden would at their ages. They will learn things at a closer and faster rate than others." Heiwa told them softly. The next part she was about to tell them would break their hearts.
"A shrine maiden, after being fully trained, is expected to be able to perform the sacred dances and ceremonies where ever it is called for. Both inside and outside the shrine." Heiwa paused as she saw the fear growing in the eyes of the two young boys.
"And sometimes outside of the village." The information shattered Itachi and Shisui. Having the girls outside the shrine for an extended period of time was dangerous already. For them to leave the village for any amount of time was akin to a death sentence.
She did not talk about it, but Itachi and Shisui knew the man who had murdered Kaede's family was still out there, just as they knew he would finish what he had started at any opportunity. Likewise, Koka's visions put her at risk from most of society.
"But even with all of that, a shrine maiden cannot leave her shrine without a guard." Heiwa's last sentence seemed to take the edge of their fear.
"Besides, a shrine maiden must be proficient in self-defense and weapon handling before she is allowed to travel."
Itachi and Shisui whipped around in their seats to seat Kakashi leaning against the kitchen doorframe.
He raised one hand in greeting. "Yo." The silver haired teen looked exhausted despite it not yet being supper time.
"Welcome back Kakashi." Heiwa greeted him. "Go rest until dinner time." The ANBU nodded and wearily made his way to the room designated as his.
Satisfied, the older woman turned her attention back onto Itachi and Shisui. The boys had a conflicting look on their faces.
On one hand, the two of them were glad Kaede and Koka would be able to defend their selves. But on the other, the very idea of the girls ever having to hold a weapon unsettled them. They balked at the idea of them fighting.
Itachi and Shisui sat at the kitchen table watching Heiwa prepare to make dinner. They were still in thought when a light thump brought them out of their minds. Itachi and Shisui looked to the kitchen entrance where Koka had just entered, rubbing her nose with a cross look on her face, blue eyes glowing. It did not take a genius to know what had happened. Caught in her vision, the small girl had bumped into the wall.
Koka made her way to the calendar carefully, one hand on the wall to guide her. Shisui and Itachi watched her carefully. They had never seen the blue eyed girl walk during a vision. Normally the girl would either stand or sit still during one. Now they understood why. She could not even physically see the two boys at the table.
Koka took the pen hung on the wall beside the calendar and lifted it up. Her vision faded as she began to write, marking down several different days. Looking satisfied, she replaced the pen.
"We will have a new resident in a month." Koka declared, looking at Heiwa. It was then that she noticed Itachi and Shisui watching her from the table. The young girl's face began to flush in embarrassment as she realized they had seen what had just happened.
"Is your nose ok?" Itachi asked innocently. He caught the pen as it was flung at him, a smile teasing his lips.
"Heiwa have you seen my fans?" Kaede came in next, clad in a pale pink kimono, white leaf patterns dusting the bottom and sleeve edges.
"On the table." It was Kakashi who answered, having come in right behind her. Kaede thanked him and headed over the table, retrieving her fans and picking up Koka's.
She handed them to the young girl, taking in the sight of her still slightly red nose.
"I told you to wait for me." She lightly admonished. Koka could only sigh. This is her family.
Review loves. I'm nice and put this up even though you only gave me 11 reviews. Let's see if we can match that again.