A/N: From here on it will get better for Yuuki-chan and the others promised ^-^
So here Chapter 15 and please leave me reviews I really like them ^-^
Because I can´t decide between Itachi and Shikamaru I will make a little cut at Chapter 19, but don´t worry it is just to give me time to write first a story line with Itachi and then one for Shikamaru :3. Itachis rout will be out first, sorry for all ShikamaruxYuuki fans you need to wait a little bit longer ^^"
"bla" normal talking
´bla´OC thinking
´bla´OC inner
Chapter 15: Moving on
OC 13 years old, Itachi 18 years old
Nearly one year after the disaster of a Chunin exam I sat in my own new flat thinking on how I got here.
Flashback
Just one week after I woke up I was asked to a room in the Hokage tower. Coming inside I found Hiruzen, Tsunade, Kakashi and Shikaku sitting already and waiting for me.
"This match won´t be easy Yuuki-chan" Shikaku warned me when I took my place across from him and looked at the ready shogi board.
"I hope so Shikaku, shall we begin?" I asked him already concentrating on the game.
There were no clock and no windows so no one could tell how long this match lasted, every move was watched closely me and Shikaku both pulled everything we could, traps after traps and feint after feint, it wasn´t one bit easy, but it was so much fun. After what felt like a day I sat down my last stone.
"Check mate" I called out and Shikaku closed his eyes.
"I´m glad you are on our side little one that was a terrifying match" he commented ruffling his hair up while the other three looked at the board disbelieving that Shiakuk really had lost.
"Looks like you get what you want little one, but this time you must tell that your friends on your own" Tsunade huffed.
"We put everything that wasn´t damaged behind repair into some boxes waiting for you to be looked through" Hiruzen told her while Tsunade fetched the key and handed it over.
"it is fully furnished but you can ask for other furniture and the boxes are waiting there" she grumbled obviously the two had made a bet and prepared for it.
"You will begin your work next Monday at 8 am don´t be late" Shikaku told me over his shoulder and went outside mumbling something alongside "Troublesome beaten by a child...need a drink"
Flashback End
I told my friend and they happily helped me moving into my new home bringing along some decoration or helping me looking through my boxes.
I was lucky, the jewellery box from Itachi and the photo frame from Shikamaru weren´t damaged. With the help of all I had unpacked everything in no time we even found time to shop for food and clothes.
After that when they began to worry about how I pay the rent and I revealed that I was working under Shikas father surprising him and the others only Naruto didn´t understand what my work was now.
"So what do you do as a tactician?"
"I develop plans and strategies for every kind of situation, missions, defence the village or attacking plans so that we all are prepared for such situations."
"But didn´t you want to become a cook?" He asked with a quizzable look.
"Only until I could join the tacticians, I will still learn from Akimichi-san but my main work will be helping you behind the scenes" I said smiling at all of them. It wasn´t hard to tell them and they accepted it like it was but then Sasuke spoke up.
"My mother invited you over for dinner tomorrow" he gave me a look that told me that Mikoto wanted to question me.
"Oky" I submit myself to that fate, Mikoto was like a mother hen when it comes to me.
"I will pick you up at six pm alright?" He had a sympathetic look for me he knew how his mother can be when it comes to her.
"Yes"
´No avoiding that´
´How will they react?´
´I´m sure you will surprise them´
It was getting late and my friends left all one after another until only Shikamaru was left.
"You sure it won´t be too lonely?" I saw concern in in his eyes.
"Yes, but when you are so worried you can always sleep here" I gave him an innocent smile.
"Maybe I will soon take you up on that offer" He grinned surprising me with that answer giving me a kiss on my forehead and then went also on his way home.
Now alone I looked around getting familiar with my new home.
It wasn't that big there was a small entrance hall followed by a big room the right side was now a living room with a long sofa standing so it faced the TV on the wall between sofa and TV was a deep purple carpet on that a coffee table out of glass stood. Behind the sofa was a shelf taking the whole wall there filled with books and some CDs, DVDs and photo frames one of them was Shikamarus that stood in the middle of the shelf.
To the left of that room was a good sized kitchen for someone who has cooking as a hobby, also my friends got me a bigger table and more chairs than I originally wanted, because "You will need them when we come over to eat you delicious food" (Chojis argument and effective because Kiba and Naruto joined on that)
Beside the kitchen they fixed some shelves up on the wall were my receipt books now found their place.
Thinking of it Itachis flat had also this separation made me think that this seems to be pretty common.
A hallway went father inside with here only two doors, one lead into the bathroom with a bathtub shower combination the room wasn´t that big but you could move around without bumping into anything.
The other door lead into my bedroom.
The main part was taken by a queen sized bed, I could choose one and when one thing is important for me then it is a comfortable bed for a good sleep, my sleep is holy to me without a firm 8 hours of sleep I don´t function right and I´m definitely no morning person hating it to be woke up.
The bed is placed in the upper left corner of the room and the window was right over it in the middle of the wall so that the light was hitting half of the bed but not the upper half were my head will be (as said hate it to be woken up) on the bed were some pillows two big ones one like a roll and two small ones, and a blanket all in the colour of deep wine red and yes I like darker colours like that.
To the right side of my headboard was first a little nightstand with an alarm clock and on the other wall my wardrobe middle sized I was no woman who had mass of clothes, between them again a carped of deep purple fluffy and right so that when I stand up won´t touch the cold floor first thing in the morning.
On the other half of the room stood my desk and beside that a bookshelf and a cupboard in the I kept things like my jewellery box from Itachi or storage scroll.
It all was simple how I like it the most here and there were the little accents making this place personal, the walls are all white but for that the furniture was black or a deep Cherrywood like the table and chairs only exception was the kitchen out of light coloured oak wood.
in the cellar of the building was a little room for me where I could wash my clothes and hang them up down there, outside or up in the attic.
After that tiresome day I changed in my sleep wear considering out of a long T-shirt and short pants that only went midthigh, and me liking to sleep comfy didn´t wear anything under that even in winter I wouldn´t, and went to sleep in my new home closing my eyes and letting myself being carried to sleep by the light sounds of the night.
Me having two days left before I start my work slept in until 11am made my lunch and then went outside in the direction of the cemetery to give my parents their final goodbye. I bought some flowers by Ino and went on down the streets thinking for myself what I should do now.
´You could finally go to the hospital and ask for lessons in massaging´
´Good Idea I have nothing else to do´
After finding my parents grave I cleaned it, laid the flowers down and gave them a silent prayer. Sitting up I made my way to the hospital finding there Sakura in a nurse outfit.
"Sakura?" I asked to get her attention.
"Hai? Ah Yuuki-chan how can I help you?"
"Did you ask Tsunade to be her apprentice?" She blinked sometimes at my bluntness.
"No, not yet. How did you know?"
´Woah careful you nearly slipped up there´
"I thought so, you know I´m a clever girl I saw your look, you want to be stronger and Tsunade is the strongest around here" I grinned at her and she blushed slightly.
"Ah yeah, uhm so why are you here?"
"I wanted to learn how to give a massage, do they give lessons at that or do I need to ask someone?"
"Hmmm" Sakura put one finger to her lip titling her head upwards.
"I think you could ask this Shizune girl she should be in her office right now follow me"
I lined up behind her looking a bit around.
´I really don´t like hospitals´
´Yeah...you also don´t like needles´
´You let it sounds like I´m afraid, but that is not right...I´m just very uncomfortable with them...you know my actual fear´
´Oh I know~´
"Why do you want to learn that by the way?" Sakura asked turning a bit to me while walking.
"Ah...Uhm...Just don´t tell anyone...but for Shikamaru and some others they always complain about being sore after training and I may not be a mednin but I want to give them some relief through that, even for you girls when you want" I winked at her and she understood the underlined meaning, because we all are now in or wonderful hormonal phase of puberty
´Oh yes we will give Shika a good time´
Pictures were running though my head of "massaging" and I was so glad that Sakura looked firmly ahead missing my blush.
´Would you stop that please!?´
´What we both know you are not prude´
´I´m 13 I shouldn't have such thoughts´
´But mentally you are not, so better learning a good poker face´
I grimaced slightly, but yes I had actually no problem with this thought everyone has an inner pervert side and come on I am and was a single woman alone for myself.
Sakura stopped and knocked on a door.
"Come in"
We both stepped inside seeing Shizune fighting a mountain of paper down.
"Shizune-san?" The woman looked up from her paperwork at first somewhat irritated but then recognized Sakura.
"Sakura-chan what can I do for you?"
"Ah not for me my friend her, Yuuki" Sakura pushed me forward and left the room leaving me alone.
"You are that girl that we threated, Yuuki Hanaka right?" She asked interested in why I´m here.
"Yes, I have a favour to ask"
"Ask then" She smiled at me encouraging.
"Could you teach me how to massage?" She blinked not expecting that.
"Oh...for what do you need that?"
"For doing some friends a favour" I grinned.
"Then sure let me finished this report here and then I can show you"
She may have saw in me a chance to ditch her paper work but it was ok with me. She showed me some simple techniques until it was 5 pm and I must go to make me ready for the dinner with the Uchihas, but she promised me to continue tomorrow.
At home I had a short shower and decided to let my long hair open and to wear a comfortable black simple Chinese shirt together with white shorts reaching to my knees and slipped my sandals on to wait for Sasuke.
Right on 6 pm I hear a knock and opening the door I found Sasuke with a dark mood glaring daggers at his brother who stood beside him.
"Good evening Sasuke, Itachi" I smiled at both.
"Good evening Yuuki" Itachi returned my greeting ignoring his brother who only grumbled something inaudible.
"Shall we?" I asked stepping out of my flat locking the door and turned to both of them.
They flanked me setting a leisure pace.
"It had been a while ne Sasuke, I heard Kakashi is training you now, how is it?"
"Hn" (translation: "Good, he is how he is but I improve")
"You know, Sakura wants to ask Tsunade to train her" I grinned already thinking on the scene where she fought in the war with her full power getting Sasuke and Naruto to agree on to never annoy her.
"Hn" accompanied by a shrug (translation: "Don´t care")
"Sasuke you better should not underestimate her when she really becomes the Hokage apprentice" his brother scolded him. The rest of the walk was in a comfortable silence until we reached their home.
They entered letting me in first and I didn´t made two steps into the hallway when Mikoto appeared out of nowhere pulling me in a crushing hug.
´Why are mothers like this?´
´Don´t know´
´Will I be like that when I become mother?´
´God only knows´
"Ah Yuuki-chan you made it"
´Sure why not, I had two Uchihas escorting me!?´
"Yes I wouldn´t miss the invitation" I smiled at her.
"Then come, come sit down" she pushed me into the living room on the table sitting me on my place between Sasuke and Itachi who also sat down. Fugaku was already sitting there and Mikoto came back with our dinner.
"Itadakimasu" We said and I took my first bites before the first question was asked.
"Your parents died?" It was Fugaku.
´What finesse, such overwhelming sympathy´
´Don´t overdo it or I must laugh´
´Sorry´
"Yes I live alone now" Mikoto gave a warning glare to her husband but he ignored her.
"Why did you decline our offer"
´Straight to the point what do we say?´
´The truth or as close to it as I can´
"I...I didn´t want to impose on you all, I was also given offers from the other clans to force me to choose...I thought it in this situation better not to take any offer."
He seems to understand that in clan politic it could be difficult when all offered and make one to choose.
"Who pays for it?"
´That Mikoto doesn´t stop him...´
´Maybe because she also wants to know but doesn´t know how to ask?´
"I will pay" That got their attention Sasuke stopped eating and even Itachi looked now down to me.
"How?" Mikoto asked for the first time a question.
"I work as an tactician under Shikaku Nara" I stated and took another bite of the perfect chicken.
"You?" Fugaku questioned with disbelieve all over his face so I changed my actual happy face to a serious one in matter of a second.
"Yes, I already took some test the last one supervised from the third and fifth Hokage alongside with Kakashi Hatake was a shogi match with Shikaku, which I obviously won" ok slight smugness came through but I really got him speechless with that.
"Oh" Mikoto was the first to recover from her shock, beside Itachi who didn´t look one bit surprised I even saw a short flicker of pride and a lopsided smirk for me, but it quickly disappeared when Fugaku came to again this time giving me a more respecting look. Shikaku was a genius and to be able to bet the until now unbeaten master of tactic was something to be respected.
´This feels great´
´It will only last for a short moment´
"But you are no ninja as I heard from the hospital Tsunade can´t cure your...sickness"
´It was a nice moment nonetheless´
´I will sooner die then tell him about this...sickness´
´Only think about the chaos that would create and the heirs that will hunt you down´
I shuddered mentally
´It will stay a secret until I´m married´
"Yes sadly, it is too rare and she couldn´t find any references"
"Oh you poor one" Mikoto cooed.
"Na I´m happy to be of other use, I may not be of use with my body but my mind is as sharp as any sword so I will manage" I gave her a grin.
"Do you even have any knowledge of politics or war?"
´He is slowly getting on my nerves trying to find weak points´
"I read and observe much Uchiha-san I know a lot" I let myself slip a little bit showing him a bit more age in my eyes coupled with a warning.
"She also is befriended with the Naras since she is born father, sure Shikaku taught her one thing or the other" Itachi stepped in holding a frim mask in place. That shut Fugaku for the rest of the dinner up and I gave Itachi a short thankful look.
Dinner was over and I put on my shoes when Mikoto came around the corner.
"Itachi will accompany you, a girl should not walk home in the dark" with that said Itachi came just around the corner and slipping on his own shoes ready to escort me home.
Out of the warm house we went on our way to my flat.
"You look tried Yuuki-chan"
"I´m" he gave me a knowing look.
"Don´t lose yourself in the seriousness" I gave him a sad grin
"I will not" the sadness slowly faded knowing that I´m now someone else free of my old life.
"But I learned that with that face they take me more serious...but truth be told I like to be my usual happy go lucky self" He looked at me giving a small smile.
"You are strong Yuuki" I shot him a glare.
"You are, too Itachi don´t lose yourself too...and stop overworking" for the last part of my sentence I gave him a deadpan look telling him without word that denying it wouldn't help his case.
"You know that I try" he stopped walking making me halt also standing in front of him now so I turned around to him wondering why he stopped.
"I know" I cocked my neck and gave him a questioning look nonverbally why he said this.
He didn´t answer only stepped closer and took a strand of my hair between his fingers staring at it for a little while then put it behind my ear and laid his hand on my cheek looking deep into my eyes letting me see him and how hard it was to be himself and not the perfect shinobi he was trained to be.
I laid my hand over his leaning a bit into the warmth, but then he moved his hand taking mine in his.
"We should continue" he stated and began walking again with me bringing me home safely.
"Thank you again Itachi for escorting me" I smiled stood at my tip toes and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek.
"Hn" he said (translation: "Your welcome") letting slowly go of my hand turning around to leap over the roofs back home.
Monday
My first working day finally came and I was hurrying over to the building beside the Hokage tower exited to finally start working.
´I always prefer praxis over dump theory´
´...you know that strategy is about theory?´
´Don´t burst my bubble´
´Hai hai´
I entered the building and was greeted by a blond secretary looking a bit like barbie that stopped me entering the "only for staff" corridor.
"This isn´t a place for children, come here I have some sweets"
´Really!?´
´Jup...not taking the offer of sweets?´
´No I don´t take sweets from strangers´
´How...adult´
I gave her a bored face opening my mouth to tell her that I would work here from today on when she interrupted me.
"You such a sweet girl you want to go to your father?" She asked, she couldn´t know it but I must make this clear. I opened my mouth again only to be interrupted...again.
"She has no parents anymore and from today on she works here, Misaki-san" A gruff voice came from behind me and the secretary shot up smoothed out her skirt, checking her blond hair sitting firmly in a bun a quick glance to a mirroring door checking make up.
"Nara-sama" she bowed then fluidly.
´I have the distinct feeling she is a bitch´
´You mean...she wouldn´t´
´Trust me´
´Na only when I witness it´
´Suit yourself´
"Shikaku" I greeted him with a smile full of smugness still happy over my victory.
"Follow me" He went down the corridor and I followed feeling the woman watching me.
Shikaku swung a door open nearly hitting someone with it and walked inside where everyone stopped their work to look at me.
"This will be your place" he shuffled some papers and books aside uncovering a table.
"Ah, Guys this is Yuuki Hanaka she will be our new colleague so be nice to her" He only said and sat on the biggest table at the windows to begin his work.
"Uhm..." I stood before him.
"Do you have something to do for me?" He looked up and gave me shortly a look full of mischief.
´Oh I smell revenge´
"Yes you see all the files there?" He pointed to different mountains of paper.
"Organize them, file them away and best do the ones in the wall there too, they seem organized but I fear they aren´t" with a slight smile he began his paperwork again.
I glared at him.
´This is much´
´Nothing we can´t do we had once a lot more to do remember the art book project in the university library where we worked?´
´Somehow we did it´
´With discipline and swift working we can do this´
´So better start with the old ones where we could maybe find some order and hints how to organize the paper work´
´Yup make them right and then put the other ones to them´
I walked to the far left of the shelf looking up going back to my place fetching the chair to begin my work.
´You know...I have the feeling he want us to also read them´
´You and your feeling´
´You know to trust it´
´...´
I sighted taking the first batch of folders on my table beginning to look over the system and to read here and there some of the work that was filed away.
Most of it were some political information, then some military information.
´Looks like we found the right end with the basic information´
´Good, they are categorized after the countries that's easy and can work fine´
I looked the whole folder through finding here and there some misplaced papers and put them on their right place learning about this country while I was at it.
I turned out my inner clock only making a lunch break eating my own made bento only to continue my swift work after I got a routine it was going fast at the end of the day I was through a good 30 folders.
At 4 pm I went to Shikaku reminding him that I was only working for so long.
"You did good. I also got your schedule ready. Because you are under 16 you will come only for 3 Days a week. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and Friday you only work from 8am to 1pm the other two days from 8 pm to 4 pm understood?"
"Hai"
"Good until Wednesday little one" He ruffled my hair and let me go.
´Little one...father called me that´
´You will hear that more often, you aren´t really tall´
´Don´t remind me I still have time to grow´
´Somehow I doubt that you will go over 1,61 m´
´I won´t lose hope´
On my way outside I catch the eyes of the secretary, this morning she was all sweet and nice coating me with sweets and now she gave me a look like she walked into shit.
´Rude´
´We both know ...no one should mess with a secretary´
´Then she better don´t mess with me´
I gave the woman a sugar sweet smile, a wave and a "goodbye" with a light high pitched voice.
´We will torment her when she crosses us wrong´
´A lesson better learned fast´
´You know...after reading about Ame...I think we should bring our light to someone there´
´This will be carefully planned...and we need some people for fighting...should we fail´
´When?´
´Maybe after our birthday...no next year around summer...will not travel in the cold month to Ame...I´m not that crazy for a cold´
´We should pull Shikaku in that´
´Not yet I want to finish the folders first, maybe there are more information we could use bevor we go there...and we need different plans for whatever they will throw at us´
I mentally noted the first sketches of my plan, swinging with my thoughts back do the folders and how to progress with that monster job.
Thank you as always for reading and please leave me some reviews I´m always happy to get some ^-^
Also for all that wonder about Sasuke behaviour, be parient it is something that I will explain a bit later