Chapter 16

It was such a beautiful morning, the sea breeze swayed her long pink hair as she walked in that road. It was past six in the morning and she went to this part of Degarashi Port, a market place actually, to stash some fresh groceries. After she woke up from that peculiar dream, she decided to buy groceries.

This part of town had change drastically since the last time she was here during a mission with Team 7. Degarashi Port was being disputed by the two clans, the Wasabi clan and the Wagarashi clan. Thanks to Idate Ibiki, and with the help of Team 7 during the race to determine who will rule the town, the Wasabi family won that match, ended up in the conclusion that the Wagarashi clan be banished from the town forever. From then on, Degarashi Port has been prosperous and businesses went well, the trading industry flourish and it was because it was under the rule of Jirouchi of Wasabi clan.

And Sakura had witnessed its gradual revolution in her five years in this town.

She wasn't living in the town proper per se. Dr. Tenkou Inaba lived in the farthest part of Degarashi, in the south. It's just that he chose to live where he could conduct his research in a quiet environment, but still in a manner that the townspeople could still reach him. Dr. Inaba was a known medic afterall where his reputation could par with the current Godaime of Konoha.

She stopped midway, her eyes stared at the rising sun that started to peek at the horizon, making the sea water sparkle beautifully as her thoughts brought her to that time she arrived in Tea Country. Her eyes drop midway as memories began to flood into her.

She had decided to depart from Konoha the next day after that attack from Sasuke. She didn't bid anyone goodbye. She had done that already and everyone was so busy that it would not be worth mentioning. She just wrote and left a short notice to Tsunade. It would be ridiculous to argue with her during that time because her mind and emotions were in turmoil, and she knew that Tsunade won't allow her to leave like that. She hadn't seen Sasuke since she had healed him then. And she didn't know what happened to him after that either. She wants to leave everything like that even if it looks like she was running from it all.

She aboard a Konoha vessel, and it had dropped her off in Degarashi Port. Dr. Inaba was there to meet her. She was surprised to see that Jirouchi and Idate have also met her in the port, with a welcoming warm smile. It brought her a slight feeling of assurance that her life in Tea Country was going to be alright.

She hadn't had a hard time to adapt with her new life. Because being a kunoichi means being flexible and have the tenacity to adapt to changes. Aside from taking lessons from Dr. Inaba, her pregnancy was a smooth journey during her second trimester. Dr. Inaba was surprised to know her situation, but decided not to probe further but also respected her decision to be silent. On few occasions, Ino visited her, talking about few things like the situation back in Konoha but was smart enough to dodge a topic about him. She attempted to talk about Sasuke once, only to be retaliated with angry eyes and venomous words that she better not visit her anymore if she even spit his name once. Ino clamped her mouth and was saddened but still respected her decision. But during her five years in Tea Country, her precious Team 7, Naruto, Kakashi, Sai and Yamato always visited her when they have the time or when they have finished missions and was just around near Tea Country. But it would always be Naruto and Kakashi who were her frequent visitors. And as much as they wanted to tell her about the happenings about Sasuke, she always dodge it and brush the topic, telling them to stop or they'll find themselves outside her house, threatening that they'll never be allowed to set foot in her abode ever again.

She did it didn't she? She finally gets rid of him.

Were you? Her inner-self shouted at the back of her mind.

She shook her head as she continued to march towards the market. There were a lot of people already, stall owners shouting for sales, busy buyers trying to haggle for the item they want. This part of town had changed the most. It became lively.

"Sakura-chan, we got fresh daikon for you here! Come I'll give it to you half the price," said a plump man waving at her, whose probably on his early forties. He was wearing a brown apron, and wears a warm and kind smile on his face, "Ten-chan likes this one right?"

"Ohayou, Wakaba-san. Yes, I remember Tenkou-san asked me to get one of those daikons for him," she said giving him her beautiful smile. The plump man, Wakaba blushed.

"Oh, Sakura-chan, if only I was younger, I'll-"

"-you'll what?!" said a voice behind him. When they looked, it was Kana, Wakaba's wife. She was tall and boney, but she got those kind motherly eyes.

"K-Kana…I was just telling Sakura-chan that our daikons are the best in town," he said stuttering. Kana gave him a scrutinizing look before she walked towards Sakura.

"Sakura-chan, don't ever believe what this old crook said to you, he's as silly as ever!" Kana said, her nose in the air while her hands on her hips. Sakura giggled which makes Kana smile, "and by the way, get this one. It's on me. They're freshly picked this morning, I'm sure that brat will love it,"

Sakura arched her brows when she followed what Kana was pointing at. A stacked of red, fresh and beautiful tomatoes. Her eyes brightened when she finally gets what's this all about. She smiled as she picked a bright red tomato.

"I will Kana-san, thank you so much!"

She continued her journey in the market, one vendor calling her after the other. She was well-known in the town after all.

She was on her way back to her house, a basket full of groceries on her arms, fresh veggies, fish, milk and other stuff which she got almost half the price. Her house, a single storey duplex was just a few meters away from Dr. Tenkou Inaba's. When she reached her door, she glanced at the doctor's house and found out that the curtains were still closed. She shook her head and smiled. It means that the doctor must've been still sleeping when he's supposed to be up early for an important meeting.

She entered the house and went all the way to the kitchen, unpacking the groceries on the table when she heard those familiar little footsteps. She lifted her eyes on the doorway and found that little figure, still clad on a pajama bunny suit, with a hood that had huge bunny ears, cutely dangling down.

"Mommy…?"

Her heart beat fast upon seeing her child…her and Sasuke's child. The fruit of her one night weakness with him. Her reason to live and everything she ever had.

Sakura looked intently at her kid, as she rubbed her eyes sleepily. Yes…her daughter, Ryuna.

She remembered that day, on a wintry December when she gave birth to her. She had labored for six hours but was thankful that she had not much difficulty giving birth to her. She was assisted with Michiko, Dr. Tenkou's wife, and was also in the field of medicine. Michiko was her mother in Tea Country and she was kind and thoughtful.

She cried when she first held her, when Ryuna first opened her eyes and revealed deep emerald orbs, looking so beautiful and innocent. She's an angel. But no matter how much she denied herself, Ryuna was an Uchiha, from a patch of dark hair on her head, to her cute button nose, her face, and as she grew up, even her habits. And now that she looked at her, standing there in the kitchen's doorway, rubbing her eyes, Ryuna at her four and half years of age, there's no denying anymore that everything about her, was shouting Uchiha Sasuke. Her Ryuna was a mini version of her father, except for the big green, shining emerald eyes which was the only physical thing her daughter inherited from her. Ino told her that too, and even said that the Konoha 12 can probably tell who the father was.

Naruto cried when she saw Ryuna for the first time that day. Her baby was only two months old when Naruto and Kakashi visited her. Sakura didn't know why he had cried then, maybe with happiness or because of the irony that he was looking at Ryuna and it reminded him of what he and Sasuke had lost, the joys of being a child.

He cried then he laughed as he held little Ryuna on his arms, "Teme will be shocked when he'll see you," he said looking at her, while little Ryuna just stared at him with her big emerald orbs. "Damn, that bastard surely missed half of his life… big time!" He was answered with such a beautiful innocent giggle from Ryuna and that made Naruto cried even more as he hugged her and kissed her soft cheeks, "I feel sorry for that asshole!"

Kakashi asked her again that day for the nth time, to attempt to tell her about news about the Uchiha, but he was blocked immediately, telling them she didn't need any information. Sakura told them and begged that never to speak anything about Ryuna, never to tell anyone about her. Kakashi and Naruto tried to reason out to her, emphasizing that Ryuna needs a father but she just shrugged them off. She knew that sooner or later, Ryuna will start to ask about a father, but she'll get there when she crossed the bridge. For now, the most important thing was that she loved her daughter more than anything else in the world.

And she just confirmed one thing whenever they talked about Sasuke. He was still in Konoha.

"Yes, sweetie?" she smiled as her thought brought her back. She looked at her daughter, eyes still half-asleep. Ryuna had removed her bunny-ears hoody which revealed her long, black straight hair that reached half of her back. She had a bed-head and strands were sticking out silly.

That black hair, typical of an Uchiha. Sakura, shook her head. Ryuna's hair wasn't a jet black. There's a hint of deep red, almost burgundy on it, visible when she stays under the sun, but never the less, it's still in the shade that reminds him of Sasuke's eyes…smoldering obsidian orbs…deep and never-ending.

Who says you can get over with him huh? When every day, you have your daughter to remind you of him? Says her Inner self.

She ignored her Inner-self who started to snicker behind her mind. She was such a hyprocrite.

"If you're still sleepy, you can go back to bed," Sakura said as she continued to arrange the groceries in the table, but eyes still on her little Ryuna.

"No mommy, I have to get up early,"

"Ok, wash your face then and brush your teeth,"

"Uhuh,"

She eyed her little bunny as she trudged sleepy towards the kitchen sink, dragging her stepping stool, then stepped on it so she could reach the sink. Sakura smiled sheepishly as she shook her head. She continued to watch her as she reached for her little pink toothbrush, put a pea-sized strawberry flavored toothpaste on it and began to brush her teeth slowly…eyes still closed.

"Do you have any plans today?" Sakura asked, as she began to prepare their breakfast. It took a while before Ryuna answered her.

"Nope, but Uncle Naruto will come today right?" Ryuna said, as she wiped her face with the towel she gave to her after she washed her face. Sakura watched as she encircled the table and decided to seat on her favorite spot. Ryuna eyed the groceries on the table and began to reach for the bright red tomato and began smelling it.

"They'll come today?" Sakura asked her, eyebrows arched in question.

"Yup, Uncle Naruto said so. See that number mommy?" Ryuna pointed at the calendar that was sitting on the kitchen counter, "that is today right?" Sakura looked at the mini calendar. There was a circle on the number 9, and today is that day, "Uncle Naruto made that, and said he will visit us on that day, and that is today,"

"Oh," she suddenly remembered the last time Naruto visited them, alone. That was two months ago. He had spent more time with Ryuna then as she was busy doing her work, "what's the occasion then?" she asked as she continued to prepare their breakfast, a sandwich and hot chocolate milk for Ryuna, tea for herself.

"Uncle Naruto will teach me how to throw shukirens,"

"A what?" Sakura's brows knitted in confusion as she gave her the plate of her sandwich.

"A shukirens, mommy! You have those too! I saw them on your room, you have a lot of those, and you threw them on the dummy and they will get stuck on those dummy and trees and boards," Ryuna pouted as she scrunched up her cute brows with her explanation. Then she took a bite to her sandwich.

"Ahh, it's a shuriken, honey, Shu-ri-ken," she laughed as she finally gets it. Ryuna's expressions were really priceless. It was like seeing different expressions of Sasuke that he never ever dared to show.

Sasuke again…

"Yeah, they sound the same," she pouted. Sakura just laughed as she sat across her, sipping her tea, watching her intently as she chew her food.

"Why do you want to learn on how to throw the shurikens?"

"Because I want to become a ninja just like you mommy!" Ryuna shouted, but clamped her mouth quickly, eyes wide.

Sakura's eyes grew wide, her cup of tea stopped mid way to her mouth. Her Ryuna, only four years old, wants to be a ninja! Dear Lord….good thing she wasn't sipping her tea. Can she blame the genes that run through Ryuna's blood right now?

"R-Really? I mean, being a ninja, it's a dangerous job…and why do you want Uncle Naruto to be the one to teach you? I mean, I could teach you…" she trailed off when she saw Ryuna's eyes went down to her lap.

"I thought…I thought you will be angry,"

Then she remembered that one incident when Ryuna found her ninja equipments and was curiously asking about them. She had told her that they're ninja equipments and Ryuna's question about ninja and shinobi was incessant since then. She was three years old at that time, an age where curiosity was at its peak. Even now, Ryuna was a curious girl. She wants to know everything, she wants to learn everything and she learned fast. And at that age, her daughter was a bright girl. And if her assessment was right, her little Ryuna could be a prodigy. Again, it runs with the blood, she reminded herself. The kid had literally gotten interest when she learnt her mommy was a ninja. It was the first time Sakura got angry at her.

She had snapped at her that time, because she didn't want Ryuna to become a shinobi, where life was always at the line. She would die if anything would happen to her precious daughter. And one of her fear was always connected to Sasuke. Much to her horror, she had realized that it was the first time she had gotten angry at her daughter. Her heart just wrenched just remembering Ryuna's shocked face. But she didn't cry. She had realized at that time that her daughter had a stubborn personality. She's strong-willed and had the audacity like her…and him. Since then, the girl never asked anything related about ninja or shinobi. Maybe it's one of the reasons, why her daughter was so excited every time Naruto and Kakashi visited them.

Like father, like daughter indeed.

She wants to protect Ryuna, with all her strength, with all that she got. But she was her father's daughter, and had a shinobi mother. It runs with the blood….particularly, an Uchiha blood, where shinobi was everything, and power was the way of life. As much as she wanted to cut that bond there, as much as she wanted to lead her daughter away from it, fate will always be there to lead her back to that road. Because it was what she was, and all she could do must accept the horrible truth.

Sakura smiled. She had already given up the idea of making her Ryuna a civilian while she herself was still a shinobi of Konoha. Whether she liked it or not, Ryuna will become a shinobi in the future. She can see her potential…and it was scary that it brings chills down her spine.

Another Uchiha genius.

Why don't you just admit that no matter how much you wanted to forget Sasuke, you have a daughter that will constantly remind you of him, and that no matter how much you shouted that you have already severe that 'bond' to him, another 'bond' was there! Inner Sakura smirked.

Sakura cleared her throat, shoved aside her inner self. Ryuna lifted her eyes towards her. She smiled at her.

"Alright, I won't get angry," Ryuna's eyes brightened up, her smile so wide, her cute dimple appeared on the right corner of her mouth, "-But you have to eat the cucumber and the lettuce in your sandwich first," Sakura smiled, staring lovingly at Ryuna as her expression changed that instant. Her brows scrunched up together, her cute mouth pouted, "I have my eyes on you little lady, you were wrapping them in the napkin under the table, and all you have eaten was the tomato,"

Kamisama, even her favorite food... she stopped right there.

"But mom—"

"No buts, eat it or you won't get a lesson with Uncle Naruto,"

Ryuna wanted to protest again when someone knocked at the door. Sakura recognized the chakra signature immediately.

"Eat it now, I can still see you," Sakura said as she stood up and went to the door and opened it. It was Idate Ibiki.

"Hi Sakura-chan!"

"Idate-san, come in!"

Idate was a constant visitor to their home. He had become Jirouchi Wasabi's right hand man, and his most trusted friend. Ever since their mission long time ago, they've become friends with Idate.

Idate went inside the house and saw Ryuna still pouting, "War so early in the morning?" he asked no one in particular. Sakura just snorted and closed the door, "Hi Ryu-chan, Jirou-jii-chan have something for you," Ryuna ignored him and was gazing at her sandwich like it could grow hands and feet anytime. Idate looked at Sakura and she smiled and shrugged, mouthing 'don't mind her'.

"Haven't seen you in while Idate-san, what brought you here today?" Sakura asked curiously as Idate put a brown bag on her center table.

"I just returned from Wave with Jirouchi-sama, and we bought this stuff for you," he grinned.

"Oh, thank you so much for the thought. Please thank Jirouchi-sama! I'll visit him one of these days," Sakura exclaimed.

"Ryu-chan, I have colorful candies here," Idate approached the table, "they're the crazed in Wave now," he put a bag of colorful and beautifully wrapped candies on the table.

"But Ida-san, they're bad for the teeth," Ryuna said as soon as she drank her chocolate milk, but she was looking at the bag of candies with obvious curiosity on her eyes. Sakura smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"It's not bad if you brush your teeth after you eat it and if you have just enough," Sakura said.

"Can I mommy?" Ryuna looked at her with those big emerald orbs, asking for her permission. Her heart melts everytime she did that. So she nodded. Ryuna's bright smile returned as she grabbed the bag of candies, "Can I share it with Miko-chan?" Miko was one of Dr. Tenkou's grandchildren, she was at the same age as her. Miko had a brother, Shou and was 8 years old. Ryuna didn't like Shou for he always bullied her.

"Alright, but do it later. What I want you to do now is to finish your food, okay?" Sakura said which made Ryuna pout again.

"Aw, c'mon Sakura-chan, don't be so uptight with her," Idate said. Ryuna looked at him and he gave her a wink which made her giggle, "Ryu-chan, how about you go to the next house and wake up Jii-chan now? Tell him I'm here and that I'll be the one to escort him on his meeting, alright?"

"Okay!" Ryuna grabbed her bag of candies and ran towards the door.

"Ryuna! You're still in your pajamas!" Sakura shouted.

"I'm alright! And I promise to eat the veggies next time mommy!" she heard her shouted outside. Idate laughed heartedly.

"Idate-san!"

"Now, now. Don't get angry! Leave the kid alone. Don't be such a nagging mother," he said laughing as he settled himself on the table and began to nibble the left over sandwich. Sakura huffed and began to stock her groceries in the fridge.

"Alright, what brought you here?" she asked him.

"What? Can't I visit you without any reason behind it?" he said with a glint of amusement on his eyes.

"I know you're a busy man Idate-san, and visiting a house that's located at the far-end of the town isn't just without any reason,"

"What if I'm here to propose marriage to you so that Ryuna will have a father?" he said it looking at her eyes.

"W-What?!"

Her eyes were so wide with shocked. Never did she imagine Idate to propose to her, so early in the morning. She went speechless, her mouth was like a fish opening and closing but no words came out, as he continued to stare at her.

"A-Are you…are you out of your mind, Idate-san?!"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

He stared at her, with that intense seriousness, the air around them suddenly went heavy, well in Sakura's case. Then he laughed…a booming laugh.

"You should have seen your expression Sakura-san, it's priceless!" then he laughed again tapping the table. Sakura went red and was ready to pummel some sense to him, she just controlled her temper. "I'm not yet ready to face the wrath of that brat you know,"

"Who?" she asked him in confusion.

"The last time you went in a mission here, there's three of you, the blond loudmouth, and the scowling raven-haired one. And just by looking at that brat back then, I don't want to cross paths with him. I still love my life y'know,"

"What do you mean?" Sakura's brows scrunched up in confusion. Idate looked at her, this time with stern face.

"Ryuna's father, it's him right? The raven-haired one,"

Sakura gasp, her brows arched in surprise. There was confusion on her eyes, yet Idate looked at her straight in the eyes, with an intense that told her she didn't need to confirm to him the truth because he knew it already. She averted her gaze somewhere else.

Idate sighed and shrugged. "I don't know your case, and you never told us anything. I don't know what happened, and your reasons. It's not our business anyway, but let me tell you something Sakura-san. A child will always need a father. And you know that being a shinobi, life is a fleeting moment. You don't know what will happen to you while you're on the field. And a family is one those treasures that a shinobi always holds,"

"I know that Idate-san. You're not the only one who told me that,"

Idate just looked at her. Then he sighed again, "Well, I'm just telling you what I thought," he said. "Besides, it's so obvious already. Just looking at your little one, she looked so much like him," then he grinned.

"Thank you Idate-san," Sakura said softly.

"Some words of advice Sakura-san, he has the right to know,"

Sakura stared at him, silently gritted her teeth as she lowered her eyes. She wanted to tell him what she had told Tsunade before. But she's tired of explaining things already.

She's tired of telling them that there's no Sasuke and Sakura story. There's never a beginning to start with. Sasuke will not know that he had a child with her.

You're just assuming things. But you have Ryuna as your world now, right?Her Inner self told her. And she's your continuation to that story that never begins. Then your child is your beginning to start a story with Sasuke, it could probably work this time around.

She was about to argue to her inner self when loud knocks came from the door. She sensed two chakra signatures and immediately recognized them to be from Kakashi and Naruto's. She sighed.

"I'm sorry Idate-san, we have to talk about this some other time,"

The door opened and came entering was Naruto followed by Kakashi.

"Ah, Idate-san! What are you doing here?"

"Naruto!" Idate exclaimed in surprise.

"Yo!" Kakashi greeted them in his usual lazy gestures. Idate slightly bowed down to greet.

"Well, I just came to bring the stuff Jirouchi-sama told me, and to escort Tenkou-sama to his meeting on Nagi Island. I'll probably check up on that old geezer next house," Idate said as he exits the door.

"Idate-san, say hi to Jirouchi to me okay?" Naruto said.

"It's best if you visit him Naruto, he'll really appreciate it," Idate said as he winked.

"Ahh, I'll probably come with you Idate-san, I'll pay a visit to Jirouchi now," Kakashi said and followed Idate, "I'll come back Sakura,"

After they left, Sakura sighed as she cleaned up the table.

"Sakura-chan, where's Ryuna-chan?"

"She's next door, Naruto. Probably playing with Miko-chan. Want to have some ramen?"

"Yes please!" Naruto shouted as he settled himself on the table, "I'm famished. The travel was long and we only have fish to eat on the ship!"

Sakura giggled. Then she remembered her conversation with Ryuna just a while ago. "Naruto, Ryuna told me you're going to teach her how to throw shurikens,"

Naruto's eyes went wide. He panicked. He knew that Sakura was against it. She had told him that she will raise Ryuna to become an ordinary citizen.

"S-Sakura-chan, I…I'll just…"

"It's alright Naruto," she smiled weakly, "I can't stop her if that's what she wants. I mean, it's in her. She was born to be a shinobi, and the will of fire is burning in her," her eyes filled with sadness. Naruto grabbed her hand.

"Don't worry. We are here! She has you and me, and Kakashi sensei, and everyone in Konoha to help her and protect her. We will be her pillar, we will be her wall. We will guide her all throughout! And Teme—"

"—no," she stopped him again. Naruto clamped his mouth.

"Sakura-chan, you can't run from him any longer. You have to deal with him, sooner or later. You have to talk to him, stop running already!"

"I'm not running Naruto!" she shouted, her eyes glistened as she stared to his blue orbs, "We have nothing to talk about, everything was finished, everything was done, it's over! It's over, long ago! And…and…I'm not running…" she averted her eyes towards the wooden floor. God, what's with today?

"Then face him," Naruto told him with a straight face. Then he reached something behind him, "I guess it's time you face him," he handed her a small scroll. Sakura stared at it and recognized it was from Tsunade. She got nervous upon looking at the small scroll, but she broke the seal otherwise.

Sakura,

You are reinstated as a Shinobi of Konoha in a month by the time you have received this notice. I have received the report from Dr. Tenkou Inaba, that you have already completed the required program for your study and that he has nothing to teach you anymore. I would like to congratulate you for exceeding his expectations. I am proud of you!

Return home soon. And it's an order.

Misses you a lot,

Tsunade,

Godaime no Hokage

She gaped as she read the contents of the scroll again. She was ordered to return home, back in Konoha in a month!

TBC. 02.28.13/1653P/Ch621

Author's Notes:

Alright, I know some of you didn't like the way how I wrote the last chapter. But it's my way to show you the transition to five years. Some of you may expect hardcore fight scenes on that part, but I tell you…I'm lazy on that and fight scenes are a pain in the ass to write.

Now on to the chapter. Yes, the child is finally revealed here, and I just don't randomly decide about the gender of their child. I got them from the poll/survey's results. And please be reminded that I got them from PM's, as well as from the other sites where I posted this story. And if it's about the name, I do thank you for the name suggestions before, but if you're wondering where I got the name Ryuna, it's from the game Shining Tears x Wind. Figure out who she was there. :P Also, its meaning if I use the old Japanese characterization, it would be 龍 (ryu/ryuu)meaning dragon, and 菜(na)meaning greens (vegetable or greens coz it's the common color of the vegetables). In shorter terms, it could mean, 'an emerald/jade dragon'. I think it would just suit her ne?

:P

Again, thank you so much for sticking with this story. Some parts are lame, I need to improve on my grammars, I know that, but I can't please everyone. I'm trying my best, because I love Sasuke and Sakura. I really appreciate your time reading this story, and believe me, every comments/reviews excites me. I would also like to thank those who added this story to their favorites and to those who have followed as well. I really appreciate it!

And for a preview for the next chapter, it will be about Sasuke, you will know what transpired in that five years, what happened to him…and Sakura will return home soon.

(Dear Lord, this story is dragging too much on my brain…I can't seem to remember how to end this shit…T_T)

I would like to thank Lady Rini, who seemed to be my biggest fan..err biggest fan of this story. I think she never missed to give me a comment every chapter. Thank you so much! This chapter is for you~

XoXo

The Green Panda of Konoha (lol)

PS:

It will take time for me to post the next chapter (just a heads-up) because writing about Sasuke drains too much chakra and neurons from my brain, and every time I do, I'll have to put myself on his shoes just to deliver his thoughts and emotions. Buuuuttt...i'll assure you it will be a long chapter. I think I'll write an equivalent of two-long chapter for the next one. I have to catch up with Sasuke anyway, and I just hope, readers won't get bored about it. T_T

See you next chapter!