Jigokuen no Taka

by Void'sEclipse

Kakashi Hatake, a man powerful and skilled; a genius or prodigy among his fellow shinobi. When this young man comes upon something found in one of Orochimaru's abandoned labs, something not human, he decides to take her to his home. When told to raise her, turn her into a shinobi, he does as told. But what happens when as they both age, and there's a stirring in his gut?KakashiXOC

8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Happy Birthday!

The whole fiasco at the Academy took up a lot more time than I expected it to, and therefore I decide to head on home with hands empty and a memory of fun with the boy that Kakashi and I often protect from harm. When I mentioned that I was going home to Itachi, he asked to come along. He has 'something to ask Kakashi; Anbu Captain related' according to him. So, here I am, walking next to the village's youngest hearth throb of his generation.

"If this place is a mess compared to your place, forgive me. I haven't been able to vacuum in a while so it may be a bit dirty," I tell him as any good hostess should.

Itachi offers me a shrug, "I'm sure your home is fine".

This he says I place a hand onto the door knob to Kakashi's and my home. With a turn of the knob and a push of the door, it opens and I find a dark room. Everything is silent. But not 'empty home' silent. Instead it's 'someone(s) is waiting for you to walk in unknowingly' silent. My eyes scan the pitch black, and I see nothing but my home. However, I know false calmness when I know one. I place my hands into a handsign. Just as I'm about to release the genjutsu, Itachi steps in front of me and flips on the light switch next to the door and then steps back. As soon as the light comes on, there's a burst of people. Not only that, but the genjutsu is released.

"SURPRISE!"

I yelp and stumble back from the literal surprise before me, though Itachi keeps me from backing up and over the railing behind us. "What the hell?!" Over my yelp is...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

I feel a hand on my shoulder pushing me forward, and I numbly walk with Itachi's push. I look around. For the most part, the living room and the kitchen are the same. The only difference is that there's food on the counter as well as what looks like a bunch of different types of teas. On the kitchen table are boxes wrapped in bright paper. From the ceiling hangs a banner that says, 'Happy Birthday Cross' each letter looking to be torn from paper by claws. I look around at each of the people here. In the whole apartment are people I know. Kurenai- whom is holding her hands in a 'release' position so she must have set up and released the genjutsu-, Asuma, Guy, Yugao, Iruka- how'd he get here so fast?- the Tsu triplets, and now Itachi. "What's going on here?!" I demand.

From behind the crowd and walking through them is Kakashi, hands in his pockets. He, along with everyone else in the room, lacks a hitai-ate, showing me that they're completely off duty right now. Each and every one of them. I look over, and find that Itachi's went missing as well. "This," Kakashi speaks up with a single lazy eye meeting my confused ones, "Is what's called a surprise party. Normally we'd do it at a bar on your eighteenth birthday, which is when you're finally old enough to drink, but we figured we'd do one for your seventeenth instead. We got Iruka to set something up, and he also used that as a chance for the kids to have fun with their shinobi family members as well which as you can see Hokage-sama agreed to. I would have done it myself but, but since I don't have anything close to a sibling- well there was Naruto, but then you'd have no one-, I couldn't distract you. That became Itachi's job". He smiles under his mask, "You like?"

I blink, silent for a moment or two. My golden eyes wash over everyone twice before I speak, "Do I like it...?" Suddenly I grin, and rush Kakashi's eighteen year old, five foot nine frame, "This is amazing Kakashi!" I hug him as much as I can, arms around his neck, legs around his hips, tail around his torso, and wings enveloping him as well. I don't think he was expecting the tackle hug, because he stumbles and falls onto his back, my wings institutionally moving out of the way only enough to not get hurt. I continue to hug him for a moment more before releasing his neck and propping either hand on either side of his head. "Thank you, Kakashi," I don't think I could smile any wider, "I'm so happy right now, I could kiss you!" He's silent for a moment, and I'm not sure what that look in his eye is, but it leaves as soon as it comes.

"It's not a problem, Cross," he tells me with an eye smile, "What are friends for? Besides, I think you owe Itachi a thank you too. He's the one who stepped forward first to make sure Iruka's plan went as needed".

I sit up, and then get up off of Kakashi, offering him a clawed hand to help him up. He gladly takes it. "Huh?"

Churitsu speaks up now, standing in between his brothers and using them both as arm rests. "Nikun was gonna hinge himself into a kid version of himself and I was gonna play the 'shinobi sibling' part while Saiai made sure the plan went well. But Itachi pointed out that you'd see right through Nikun and I, and then you'd find Saiai, and the jig would be up. And that he had a real little brother, who you knew, in Iruka's class. So it would all work out if he did it. Lo and behold, it did". When not in Anbu gear, Saiai wears a black muscle shirt, Churitsu a gray one, and Nikun a white one. Each of them wear long black pants with shinobi sandals. Over their muscle shirts are haoris, all three of them white with serrated outer edges on the sleeves and bottom hem. On the back, as I've seen them dressed like this before, would be the kanji for 'pain' and a large blood covered nodachi emblazened on the back. For each one of them, a dragon of a different color is wrapped around this nodachi, its front feet holding onto the handle and wings spread to take off. Saiai's dragon's head pops out on the right side of the sword, its scales black and its eyes matching to Saiai's- light blue like ice. The dragon on Churitsu's back allows its head to peak over the butt of the hilt, its scales a perfect mix of black and white and therefore gray, its eyes are a heterochromic blue and green like Churitsu's. The dragon on Nikun's back lets its head pop out on the right side of the hilt, its scales white and eyes a light green.

"Before you do anything," Kakashi states as his hands slip behind my neck and untie the hitai-ate from it, "You won't be needing this in the slightest tonight. Now. Say 'thank you' to Itachi".

I turn around and find Itachi standing there, trying to be casual but slightly failing. Even though he's young, he's not that much smaller than myself nor Kakashi. A few inches that he'll get when he's older. I grin, and rush him, then promptly tackle him like I did Kakashi. "Thank youuuuuuu! I could kiss you too, I'm so happy!" His eyes flash the same thing that Kakashi's single one did when I said that, but even faster than Kakashi the look disappears.

"It...Was nothing," Itachi awkwardly pats my back, not completely sure what to do other than that. Again my wings furl, and I get up, helping him up like I did with Kakashi.

"So uhhh...Now what?" I question to the lot of them. Those of us who are Anbu look around slightly confused. It seems that they don't really know exactly what to do either.

"First! Presents! All the food is finger food so we can just grab a plate and some of whatever we want and eat while the beautiful birthday girl opens her gifts!" Guy throws his hands in the air in exclamation. And when his attention comes to me, he gives me he usual good guy pose".

"Good idea Guy," Kurenai praises, "Yugao, will you help me with her gifts?"

"Sure Kurenai," my fellow Anbu woman nods out, and they do as they plan. "Cross, go sit on the couch and relax. Senpai, Itachi, since you two did most of the work- planning and distracting respectively, you relax with her after you've grabbed something to eat". The boys stare at her for a moment and, realizing she won't take 'no' for an answer, nod to her silently as one.

I decide that now is a perfect time to sit down and relax. I sheathe my claws, figuring that if no one is wearing their hitai-ates, I might as relax completely as well. Just like at the school, my skin shivers and moves as the claws retract until they're only as long as my fingers. My tail unwraps from waist and relaxes, laying contently next to my right leg and the tip tapping against the floor to show that I'm quite happy right now.

"You want anything to eat birthday girl?" I hear Asuma call out from the counters.

"What do we have?" I question.

"Gyoza, onigiri, curry rice, shashimi, sushi, yakizakana...," Asuma lists off, "That's basically it".

"I'll take some onigiri and some jasmine tea if it's over there," I tell him with a thanking smile.

The unlit cancer stick between his lips bobs as he gives out a, "Coming right up girlie". I see him quickly pull out a lighter and light his cancer stick. Heh. There it is. I knew he wouldn't even stop smoking for my birthday. Not that I mind; each to his own. It takes little to no time for him to set the stuff down and I give a 'thank you' before he nods and finds his own spot next to Kuranai and Guy.

It's not long until I find myself eating away with presents in front of me on the table while I eat with my plate in my lap. On my right is Kakashi, while on my left is Itachi. For the most part, we're stuffing our faces. However, Kurenai did at one point ask how my time at the Academy went. I told her of how I met a lot of older and more experienced shinobi among our ranks, and I got to see just how much they're like their children- or rather their children are like them. The race with Naruto was my favorite part, as I got to kind of see how the boy's mind worked. "It really works with stealth and efficiency, just like a fox. And I don't think that's the Kyubbi's influence on him at all- I don't see any of that in the slightest," I tell them at one point. "His traps were simple but my god did they work! No wonder the Anbu fall for them. He leads them right into them and every time they underestimate his abilities. He's make a perfect Anbu; he has the potential I think".

Iruka looks up from his food, "You think that highly of him?"

I meet his brown eyes. He's the only one out of us who is neutral towards the boy, "After what you've seen today. You can't say the potential isn't there at all. It's there; you just have to help him find it and then find a way to help him use it to his advantage". I see a look of understanding enter his eyes, and can't help but to smile a bit.

It's not long until I and the others are finished our meals, and I've drank three cups of jasmine tea when the only two women of the group decide it's time to open presents...Wait...Two woman guests as opposed to eight guys...? I need more female friends. "Who's should I open first?" I question the lot of them.

"Ladies first," Kurenai states.

"Me first; I knew you longer," Yugao states afterwords, sending Kurenai a playful glance. Well she did. She also taught me how to dress myself and what the hell my period was. That was an interesting day to say the least. She slides a box my way, it being relatively large and wrapped in colorful paper like the rest of them.

"She's got you there, Kurenai," I tell her playfully. I take the box and place it on my lap, my eyes widening when it's rather heavy. "What's this?" I question, honestly curious. What could be that heavy? Quickly the wrapping comes off, and I'm met by a wooden box of dark cherry. I look at it with wide and curious eyes as the lid has my name on it, and under my name is an upside down cross which makes me smile. I undo the metal clasps that slide into open position smoothly, and when the lid is flipped open I can't help but let out a loud gasp and feel my eyes widen and my jaw drop. In this box, under layer of protective layer, are a type of shuriken that are very rare, and even harder to make. "O...," I try.

"Cross?" Kakashi pushes, "O...?"

"Obs...Obsidian shuriken...! HOLY SHIT!" I leap to my feet, jaw still hanging, "You...Y-you got me...Obsidian shuriken...How...?" My eyes fall onto my fellow Anbu member, "How did you manage to get your hands on these?! There's only four sets in the world!" Being a shuriken only user, I know my throwing stars well.

Yugao beams to me, lighting up her pretty face. "First, I want you to put them where they belong," she tells me. "There's special holsters in there as well I believe. I won't tell you how I got them until you put them as I said". I don't waste any time, pulling my pouches from my right and left hips and placing them on the floor at my feet. Indeed there are special pouches, both black in color and at least four times thicker in make than normal pouches. I'm careful with each of the shuriken, gently pouring them from their spots into the pouches until both are filled properly. Then my eyes fall upon Yugao again, waiting for an answer. "My family are the ones who made those four sets. We sold off three to our most trusted friends' families and kept one for a long time. I can't have kids...And the closest thing I have to a sister is you so...I wanted you to have them. As you should know, each one has seals carefully carved into them for them to return to the holster after sitting for too long. You'll never run out".

My jaw is dropped even farther and next thing I know, "I...Thank you, Yugao," I bow to her low, "I will cherish them always".

"Okay woman," Kurenai speaks up, "My present's turn. Here you go," she smiles lightly, vibrant red eyes bright.

The box I open up is simply one with new heeled sandals, however they're special. How could something so simple be so amazing? Simple. The heels are kunai blades, as sharp as the day they were made and a seal carved into the side where if one channels chakra into the seal, the kunai's tip is resharpened. And even then, it takes a while for these babies to dull, already having a seal on their other side to make the whole heal durable. "These are magnificent, Kurenai," I tell her, "I'm wearing these every day". There's a white pair as well, white metal included. I look at her with a raised brow, but she just smiles knowingly.

"Us next!" The oldest and youngest of the Tsu brothers shout out as one, giving me identical grins as they push their box towards us. "It's something combined between the two of us!~"

I nod and tear off the wrapping like last time. The box isn't nearly as big as fancy as the shuriken one was, being simply card board and on the decent size. When I open it up, I can't help but blush. Where did they get my measurements from? I look to them with wide eyes and they wink playfully mouthing 'we guessed'. Dear god. The outfit itself isn't very different from what I have on now. Thin strapped corset top that hugs my torso and has an open back as to allow my wings free roam. The only difference is the fact that the top towards my breasts. The cut is lower than normal, but not to the point where there's no point in wearing a shirt. And even though the cut is a bit lower than normal, it's laced up giving my cleavage at least a little decency but keeping the rest of my chest bare. Towards my stomach it opens up, showing my belly button and some of my toned stomach. The pants are laced up on the outside until just a bit before where I know my panty line starts. I run my hands over the fabric lightly, "What's this made of? It's nice and flexible like normal clothing but it feels...".

"Harder?" Saiai tries.

"More durable?" Nikun takes a shot.

"Yes," I simply answer.

"Easy! It's made out of dragon scales," they answer. I blanch. Dragon scales, "Our family is contracted with the dragon summons, and we're said to come from the first dragon and their human lover from way, a ways back. Why do you think our family symbol is a dragon around a nodachi?" Shit. I never thought about that.

"Thanks you two," I look down at the box, finding a white version as well, and look back up to them.

"White looks good on you too; you have that kind of complexion," Nikun explains.

Saiai points to the hall that leads to the bathroom and bed rooms, "Go try one of them on".

"Right now?" I blanch.

"Won't take long," Nikun assures with a wave.

I sigh, before standing and making my way to my room, my strides a bit hurried and embarrassed due to the fact that I'm changing into this. It doesn't help that they had guessed perfectly on what my sizes were. Perverts. Still, putting on the dragon scale clothing was easy as putting on normal clothing, if not a bit easier in some way I can't think of right now. Still, I look at myself in my mirror and can't help to admire myself. And I thought leather hugged my frame. Damn I look good. I turn and walk out of my room and head back to where the party goers are, hearing cat calls and wolf whistles from the two gift givers. I merely send them an eye roll but thank them all the same. Damn this stuff is comfy!

"I guess I'll give you my gift, then" Churitsu sighs out, sliding forward a small rectangular box. When I open it, it it's two things that I can only compare to whetstones. Both are a gray color, however one has the kanji for claws, and the other for blade. "As you might have guessed, they're whetstones. I figure your claws are like any other blade, and they should be sharpened some how every now and then. That's what the one with the kanji for claws is for. The one with the kanji for blade is for the shuriken Yugao gave you".

I grin, picking up the stones and giving them a nice once over. "These are damn awesome too. Thank you, Churitsu". I meet his mix matched gaze, and earn myself a nod.

Asuma holds up his box with a casual gesture, the cigarette bobbing on his lips as he talks as usual, "Wanna give mine a go? It's not something made out of dragon scales, obsidian or kunais, but I figure that you could go for this".

I give him a playful fang filled grin, "I'm sure it's fine," I unwrap the long box and take off the top to see a scroll. With the handsign for dragon on it. With a curious tilt of my head and a curious tone coming from my throat, I open it up a little bit. Only for my eyes to widen in surprise. "This is...".

"A scroll compiled with all the wind jutsu I know? You got it, kiddo," Asuma leans back on his hands, a smile on his lips. "You're a rare one like me, with a wind affinity. And yet you've got yourself a fire affinity that I know you've trained to be just as strong as your primary one. Those babies will help to make you one hell of an opponent". I grin in thanks, and he gives me a salute in return.

"Yosh!" Guy beams to me, tossing me a long box that, while shorter than Asuma's, is still on the long side. "Go ahead and give my youthful box a look see Cross-chan! I'm sure it's one of the best ones out there!"

I can't help but chuckle. Not only at the bland look on Itachi's face from Guy's enthusiasm, but also simply because Guy is so enthusiastic. He's such a weird and lovable fellow. "Alright Guy, what do we got here?" I open the box to find a shorter scroll than Asuma's with the kanji for 'gravity' on it. I tilt my head, and open a bit before beginning to read. After a moment or two I can't help but wear as wide a grin as Guy's wearing. "Okay, this is pretty damn awesome".

"What is it a scroll of?" Itachi questions from my side. Damn, that's the first thing I've heard in like an hour.

"Gravity seals," I answer him simply. "It's a scroll on how to make and adjust gravity seals so that you can either get stronger or faster. This is awesome Guy. Thank you!" Apparently they're done with ink, and infused with chakra so that they burn into the skin. However, after they're put there, they disappear after a day. With a one handed ram seal, you increase the amount of gravity that pulls on your body. Once you can no longer train with the seals- being unable to becomes stronger or faster- you can either take them off, or you can adjust them to have levels of release so that you can hold back without trying to. I look to Guy and can't help but chuckle. He's giving me his usual 'good guy' pose.

One of the last three to give me a present is Iruka, who gives me a nice smile and hands over a simple wrapped bottle. Like everything else, I rid myself of the wrappings, only to read the label of the bottle itself. I can't help but grin at what it says, "Piano string cleaner". But then I blanch, "How the hell did you know?"

"You play the piano, Cross?" Kakashi questions with a curious look in his eye.

"Yes, she does," Itachi answers simply.

Iruka finally gets to be the one to answer, seeing as I just wanted him to talk in the first place, "I passed you in your training ground about a year ago. I don't know how good you are now, but back then you were pretty good. Going so far as to turn the piano into not only something to store in a scroll normally used for shinobi tools, but turning the piano into a shinobi tool itself. Using the vibrations of the strings as a place to channel your chakra and- depending on how violent the song- using it to cause mass destruction. It only worked if you played, and it takes some time to put together; nothing useful in a fight but I still liked it".

Asuma grins from behind his drag of cigarette, "The birthday girl should take us to this hidden training ground of hers and play for us later".

I blink dumbly, "No I shouldn't".

"She doesn't have to if she doesn't want to," Iruka offers, on my side.

I feel a pair of eyes one me, "She's a remarkable pianist; she should play for us," Itachi offers. Since when are you one to go with what the crowd does damn it!?"

"A youthful song from an equally youthful birthday woman! It would be splendid indeed!" Guy grins to me, as happy as ever. I face palm, Guy...You're not helping either.

"I bet she's too embarrassed to show us how much she sucks. Don't cha think, Churitsu? Nikun?" Saiai sneers at me with crossed arms. "Beautiful women can't make beautiful music too after all". Rude!

"Heh, or maybe it's so beautiful, she's to selfish and self absorbed to let us listen," Nikun throws out as well. Of course there'd be an identical grin on his face. "Beautiful women can make beautiful music as well, but their personality isn't always beautiful enough for them to want to share. Looks like she's one of those women who won't share with us lowly people". Nikun looks to his older brother, "What do you think Churitsu?"

Please Churitsu. Don't pull a rare moment and play along with your brothers' antics! Stand by my side like you normally do! This is the kind of pleading look I send the heterochromic eyed male. His face is straight and pondering for a moment. For a second, I think he's gonna be the usual neutral good guy. However, slowly, his face turns upwards to mimic his brothers', "Perhaps she is a little bit of both, gentlemen," he tells them. "Perhaps, being a beautiful woman, she has just a decent ability to make decent music, but she hears it as wonderful and doesn't want to share".

Kurenai scoffs, "Please. Stop being such jerks! If she doesn't want to play, then stop pushing her buttons in an attempt to make her play". Her red orbs meet my golden ones, "I'd love to hear you play sometime. But on your own terms". She seems to have extra harsh eyes for Asuma for whatever reason.

"You guys are jerks," Yugao huffs out, "Not only that, you're children. Peer pressuring your superior," her gaze turns to the Jonin of the group, "Or your equal," her eyes now move to the Tsu brothers, "Into getting what you want. That's just sad".

I sigh and hold up my hands, signaling for the bantering to stop, "Guys...! I'll think about it, okay?" My smile turns to Iruka, "Thank you Iruka, this is awesome; the wires were starting to get worn anyways".

"Here's my present, Cross".

"Cross, please open my gift next".

These two phases I hear at once, and I look to see two different hands in front of me. I raise a brow at the boxes of similar size, however Itachi's is a bit smaller. I look to my right and left, seeing slight animosity between the two, that goes away as soon as I look at them. The hell? "How about I open them at once? I do have two hands you know. And they're not so large as to both need two hands to open". I don't take no for an answer, and get to work, ridding myself of wrapping paper and finding two boxes. I make sure to time taking off the lids perfectly, letting them clatter to the floor. My eyes widen. "A necklace from both of you? Are you in each others' heads?" I tease lightly. I lift them both out of their boxes to take a look at them. Kakashi's is on a silver chain, and so is Itachi's. However, the ornanment on Kakashi's is of bent metal to create the kanji for 'freedom' the metal itself a beautiful blue like I've never seen before. Itachi's is also on a silver chain, but it's longer- if only by a little- and the ornament is of bent metal. However it is all gold, like my eyes; a falcon flying in front of a moon, its wings spread regally. "Both of these are beautiful gentlemen. Thank you. Would you guys mind helping me put them on?" I hand Itachi his gift and Kakashi his own, and then lift up my braided hair out of the way. What I don't expect is for them to act at the same time and move to put the necklace on me at the same time as well. I can feel their arms crossing over one another's without an issue, and soon enough the necklaces hang off my person. Itachi's falcon is lower than Kakashi's kanji, but only so much that it allows room for the latter to hang right above the former. I like it. I smile before putting my arms around their necks and hugging them close to me, "They're both beautiful, gentlemen, thank you".

"Hey, you three," we hear Asuma call out, only for a flash to occur. I blink as spots dance in my eyes. "That was adorable," he teases.

"So...Are we gonna hear you play a song for us or not? Iruka didn't get you piano string cleaner for nothin' you know," Saiai speaks up from his spot.

Nikun grins, "Or we could just continue to tease you".

Churitsu rolls his eyes, "Not tease, Nikun, persuade".

I can't help but laugh. And not that short chuckle or giggle or anything like that. No, this is laughter as pure as I've heard a child's laughter to be. I feel as though my heart is literally lifting from where it is, and soaring into the sky as free as a bird. I'm so damn happy, I could almost cry. Almost. However, because I'm in such a good mood, I release the men and then stand, "Alright. I'll show you where I play and I'll play a song or two for you". It'll feel odd doing it without my claws unsheathed but...Hopefully that'll give me more endurance. I walk over to the door, heeled sandals in hand which are then put on. They're a little bit higher than my old ones, but nothing I can't get used to. However this is also as high as I'll ever go. They're not uncomfortable, as all heeled sandals are meant to be comfortable in any condition, just different. When the others are all set to go, I lead the way out of the apartment and place a foot on the railing, "Catch me if you can!" I take off, pushing off of the railing and letting my wings carry me as my tail wraps around my waist as is should. I fly over the street, going over and over various things when I need to, and find no one following me. However when I look to my left and right, I find Kakashi and Itachi respectively. I look below me, and find Guy also easily keeping up with the three of us. But that's not really surprising. He's a speed demon after all. As usual, it doesn't take us long to get to where we're going, and I land in the middle of the clearing. From seemingly no where, I pull out a scroll, and bite my thumb, letting a fang make it bleed. The blood is smeared onto the open scroll and out comes a black baby grand piano, its surface sleek and smooth as it should be. I sit on the bench and rest my fingers on the keys like any normal person would be able to. It's an odd feeling, but I like it. I look to the men and women that gather to the side a bit, "I'll play a couple songs, okay?" I waste no time in moving on, and my fingers begin to move along on the keys, "This first one," I tell them, "I learned by ear. It's called 'Hokori ni Kakete'. I can only play the piano part but...I can hear the rest in my head". The song is something of a love song, but it's still pretty and that's all that matters to me. I count the tempo in my head, determined not to go too fast or too slow as I tend to do when I'm trying too hard. Moving my fingers is definitely much easier now that my talons aren't in the way, even if my fingers do feel too light. I pause and let the final note ring in the air. The next song, Kanda no Omoi, like everything else, is something I've managed to learn by ear. It's a sad song, about a person whom is doomed to be alone for the rest of their life. They travel, helping all that they can, however they refuse to let themselves open up to anyone really. Why? Because they don't want that person getting hurt. The person doesn't really regret this choice, until finally they do meet someone. Someone welcoming and understanding to the person's way of life. This stranger refuses to leave the person's side, even though the person insists that if the stranger stays, they will get hurt. As time goes on and the person and stranger stay together, and they grow closer. And soon, the person finds happiness, and they regret their long times of loneliness. But...Now they have the stranger, who's not a stranger any more, but their lover. I stop, and let out a sigh, opening my eyes as at some point I closed them. "How was that?"

"Bwaaaaaaahhhh!" Guy tears up, putting an arm to his eyes as he bawls into it. At his side Kurenai awkwardly pats his back with an 'oh geeze' look on her face. "That was utterly beautiful! The essence of youth!" He offers me a thumbs up with his free hand, still bawling into his arm.

Asuma decides to give his critique as well, though when I see it I can't help but laugh a little bit. His jaw is open and the cigarette is long since put out in the grass. "Cross...You can actually play".

"Uhh...yea? Did you think I just kinda ran my fingers along the keys?" I feel kind of insulted. Did he think I'd be bad or something? If he wants to hear bad, give me a violin.

He shakes his head, hands waving, seeming to understand my tone of voice, "No, I didn't mean it like that. What I meant was that was really good! How the hell are you so good when you're normally on missions or something?"

"Oh," I blanch. That's what he meant. "Well uhh...It comes pretty naturally to me like fighting does I guess". Maybe I used to play before Orochimaru got to me? I never thought about it really. "It still took me like three years though".

"And you can turn the music into a weapon you said?" Yugao questions, stepping forward to look into the piano and at the strings that need attention. "How?"

Iruka decides to answer that, seeming to have some knowledge on it, "I did some research on it when I saw her do it. I thought it was a genjutsu at first but...It's not. Most people use flutes, when they learn this skill. But since she has a massive amount of chakra, she can use the piano. It's not...Meant for battle though. Maybe if she had team mates to protect her if she were going to set things up, but other than that, no. Anyways, her chakra is threaded through her fingers, and with each note she hits, a string in the piano is tapped thus making sound. The chakra that's fueled through her fingers travel through the key, to the tapped string, and infuses with the sound that is made. With the right timing, the sound can be turned into a blade by pouring more chakra into the music. Or, and this probably would take even more chakra, a barrier could be made. All through making sound".

Yugao and the rest of us listen closely to the knowledgeable Chunin. Okay, I didn't know I could make barriers with the right amount of chakra. That's pretty damn awesome. "That's utterly amazing. Can it heal?"

Iruka purses his lips, "In theory, I would think so. However, not on a whim. Healing chakra is different from fighting chakra as you know...So...she'd have to learn to use medical chakra first, and then see if it would work the same way as normal chakra when it comes to the piano".

I raise a brow, "Damn you're smart. Why are you a Chunin again?"

Iruka laughs lightly and rubs the back of his head, "I'm afraid I'd simply rather teach the children. Plus I'm just smart to be honest; I'm not really strong enough to be a Jonin". Well damn, that's a shame.

It is after this that there's silence. I look to those I can see in my direct line of vision. However, what I don't expect is for the Tsu brothers to walk up to me with straight faces and completely serious eyes. Did I do something wrong? As one they stand before me, looking down at me with their blue, blue and green or green eyes respectively. As one they kneel, each of their hands holding a random bouquet of roses of the same color. "Marry me!" They propose, the look their eyes completely serious.

My face becomes bright and I slide back a bit on the bench. "E-eh?" Marry them? What? Why? I'm only seventeen damn it! And they're only nineteen! How am I supposed to marry all three of them? They're just friends! Allies!

"Marry us. We love you and your beauty, your music and your power," Saiai states, blue eyes looking up at me yearningly.

Churitsu takes his turn, just as serious as his brother, "A beautiful woman must have the balance of power and soul. You obviously have a perfect balance of both. We don't mind sharing with one another; we've already talked about it by the moment that first song was half way through".

"It's said that only music can tame a Tsu's soul, being that we have the long line of ancient dragon- beast- in us. When a Tsu finds a woman who is not only beautiful, but strong and can make music that calls to the beast within us, it's said that that woman is the one the Tsu is destined to marry. We didn't think you would be the one. However, your music has called out to all three of us," Nikun speaks up.

"So let me get this straight. Being a clan that originated from the mating of a human and a dragon, and therefore having dragon blood- quite diluted by now but apparently still very much alive some how- you go by the ways you mentioned?" That didn't even make sense coming out of my mouth. And I'm an experiment based off of a mythological creature.

"Exactly". The three state at once.

I sigh and bluntly say, "I'm not marrying you. I'm only seventeen, you three are only nineteen. We four have all of our lives to go before getting married. Plus we're just friends, allies. I don't like you that way".

"We figured you'd say that," Saiai states, placing his roses on the piano, "So we also decided that we'll win you over. You'll come to us, even if we have to win you from whatever boyfriend you decide to have".

"...Can I continue playing please?" I change the subject. This is really weird.

"Of course," Churitsu gives me a smile that I had never seen before. One that shows tenderness and adoration. His brother's follow in suit, lighting up their handsome faces. "Continue to call out to our hearts. You'll only make us want you more". He backs off, placing his roses with Saiai's.

"Besides," Nikun copies his brothers, "You don't need to ask; it's your birthday. Play to your heart's content".

They turn and go back to the others, who are silent. They seem just as confused and slightly weirded out as I am. My eyes fall to my two closer friends, one two years older than me, and the other three- well, now four but that's only temporary- years younger than myself. There's blank looks on their faces. Their shoulders slack and their eyes emotionless. Why? I don't know...I should play a brighter song this time. And so I decide to play The Last Leaf Falls. Sounds like it'd be a sad story, but it's actually quite up beat. Telling the story of a leaf and how it went from a bud and nothing more to being an actual leaf. Of how every now and then it'd blow in the wind with its brothers and sisters. Even during autumn it was happy, blowing in the wind in its old age. And then finally, when it decided that it was time to go, it did let go, breaking from its branch and drifting in the wind that blew it away in the first place. It's not sad, because now it gets to see its brothers and sisters that had gone before it. Such is the simple life of a leaf. Bud, grow, die, just like everything else in the world. However, it has no regrets. "Alright everyone. I'm gonna play one more song and then call it quits," I tell them, "It's getting late, and we'll probably have missions tomorrow- Iruka you have school". With the darkness of the day's end coming over us, I decide to play one last song as I said I would. Something I've only learned recently. But I think I have it down for the most part. It's called 'Lift the Atmosphere'. It's one of the songs I know how to play that actually has a voice needed to make it whole. As a result, I open my jaw and let out the notes needed. I'm not the best singer in the world, but I can sing. By the time I'm done, my fingers are tired. I stand, letting the piano and stool return to the scroll, and look to the others, who clap. It's after that, we call it a night. We say our goodbyes there, me saying thank you to each one of them; both for coming, throwing the party and the gifts. It's kind of hard to get the Tsu brothers off of me, seeing as all three of them decide to hug me goodbye and hold me longer than is needed. But with the help of the other men, they're torn off and everyone can actually head home.