The Hyuuga's idea of formality and etiquette thankfully had been heavily altered when they were working on things with me years ago. Actually, considering the doubleyears..and it had honestly been so long I stopped thinking of them as double and the other Before time as having half years..I have now been Ziwei longer than I ever was whomever I vaguely recall.

But back to the monotony.

The Hyuuga early in our relationship figured out that one as a clan kid for all it was a mostly civilian one I was already taught manners. Two? They tended to fly right out the window unless it was an important occasion. As I had demonstrated flawlessly in the fiasco involving the Uchiha I could play along and even affect a demure demeanor so really etiquette in this context was sitting and enjoying tea while I tried to carry on long and dull conversations with Kou's father and keep my attention. If I started to waver he would know and that is when he'd flicker his chakra just enough that it was like a slap on the hand. Honestly, it was pretty useful to help my slightly insane Lee family nature of fixating on the most random thing that caught our attention. We got the stupid, we got distracted, and we got obsessed.

We're pretty fantastic for it all though.

Also, this lesson is completely bearable because Hinata is joining me and I like Hinata. There's the additional benefit that Hinata likes me as well and doesn't stutter much from all our 'playing' sessions so with the ever so watchful eyes of Kou's father we sit and sip tea and 'converse' like little ladies.

I'm so jumping in the first mud pit I can find after this and running around the block back home screaming to get my cousins to join in.

()()()()()()

For the record? Running across your newest sensei coming out of the dango shop when you are covered in mud makes for a really lasting impression.

"The heck happened to you brat?" And that I can even understand Anko around the mouthfulls of dango she is shoving in her face is kind of impressive. Then again, Lee-clan. We know how to eat fast and little cousins' are not always so good about behaving.

"I needed to get properly dirty."

"...properly? You nuts or something?"

I nodded with a big grin, feeling some of the mud flaking and tight against exposed skin crack in the motion. "Most assuredly. I blame Tobirama-sama putting something in the water. However, this time because I went to let the Hyuuga know of my new placement they felt you would be a bad influence on my already smart mouth and attitude and decided I needed to play tea and manners. After that I promised myself to find the biggest mud puddle in Konoha and flop into it."

"Tea?"

Oh. Right, didn't Anko like tea ceremonies or something? I really couldn't remember. Almost all of the before was gone these days. With a big grin I nodded. "Tea."

"I like tea brat."

"My family does not provide that, but I could look into it if you like."

Though she did seem tempted instead Anko snorted. "No point. Clearly you aren't a fan of tea ceremonies if you promised yourself a mud bath after but nice try sucking up. Going home?"

Laughter pulled out of me before I could stop it. "Not a chance! I'm already messy, I'm going to find my brother and see if he wants to go for a swim!"

"You two ever stop training?" There was a funny twitch to her brow when Anko said it and I just knew that the enthusiasm I had always had as one of the Lee clan, that my brother and I with our competitive nature had embraced, would forever be tainted in green spandex in the thoughts of others.

Meh. Not my problem.

"Sometimes, but the family believes in hard work and enjoying it."

"..Yeah kid. You're definitely nuts."

"Agreed! However, I have you as my sensei so I hope to go from 'nuts' to downright terrifying and competent."

Let it be known that Anko pales instead of blushes when startled and her eyes went narrow not wide. A defense mechanism perhaps. Still she smirked at me and I had to dodge the skewer she had been chomping on.

"Oh it's on little brat. Your death is closer."

"You haven't killed me yet Sensei!"

For some reason I took being chased off by the onslaught of dango skewers and Anko's cackling laughter as approval. Maybe I hung upside down too long the other day.