*Sighs* I am so sorry; I know i have not updated in a LONG while and for that I am truly sorry. College has been overwhelming and because of this bug going around I have, sadly, gotten sick. But that does not excuse me from not updating, during class I noticed that I have written small entries for this story but nothing that continued from my last update so it was extreamly hard to figure out what to put next. So... here is the next chapter and... I'm writing more as we speak...read... converse... er anyways...
Disclaimers: I do not own anything my Masashi Kishimoto; I only own my own OC(s) that appear in this story.
Previously:
"Mommy," One yells before the other one pipes in, "She's a stranger!"
"Oh, nonsense," The mother snaps, pulling away from the stiff swordswoman and shaking her spatula in a scolding manner. "She is a guest and we treat our guests with respect!"
She gives both boys a narrowed eyed look before smiling brightly and turning to Kumo; grabbing her hand quickly she didn't allow the Rurouni enough time to object before she pushes her into a seat at the kitchen table and takes a step back. Setting her hands on her hips she raised a delicate eyebrow, her lips smiling mischievously.
"Now then," she starts, looking the Rurouni up and down slowly. "What is the name of the mission that the Hokage gave my daughter? Sure you have a name, or do we call you Swords?"
Owlishly blinking it took her a moment or two before she finally found her voice. "…My name is Rurousha, Kyoui-Kumo… but people just call me Kumo." She wasn't at all comfortable with the woman standing over her like a bald eagle towers over her young; she wasn't use to feeling like a baby chick. The woman grins and pats Kumo on her head, ruffling her dark strands a bit before moving away and behind the counter where she started to cook.
"That is a very nice name, Ku-Chan; you can call me 'ma' or 'mama' while you're here." She flashes Kumo another bright grin before nodding towards Tenten, who, after closer inspection from Kumo, was blushing with embarrassment. All this time she was just quietly leaning against the refrigerator but as soon as her mother made that comment her compositor was broken and she was shocked.
"Ma," The young kunichi exclaims, slamming her cup lightly onto the counter. "She already has a ma she doesn't need to call you that!"
The mother turns back to her oldest child with innocent eyes before looking down slowly, "I only wanted to make her feel at home…" Trailing off she sniffs, turning her head slightly so her daughter couldn't read her face.
"Ah…" Tenten looks to the twins who shook their head with disapproval before shifting her gaze to the quietly shocked swordswoman, who at the moment wasn't showing exactly how shocked the woman words were to her. "Ma," She whines, throwing her hands up in defeat a second later, "FINE, but only if she wants to!" She lets out a groan of annoyance when her mother jumps up and exclaims 'yes!', no tears on her face. "This is going to be a loooong night." She sighed before plopping down next to the stunned Rurouni.
After dinner the young weapon's mistress walked the Rurouni to her bedroom; bidding her little brothers and her mother a goodnight. Upon entering the young woman was surprised to see that, although Tenten was a tomboy most of the time, her bedroom had a touch of femininity. Her walls were a light color of pink, so light it looked like someone painted over it with white and pink was just happening to bleed through, the borders of the walls were white and the floors a soft light wood. The bed was a plush queen with a cotton candy purple comforter and matching sheets, the frame a cherry wood; it was sitting in the far corner of the room right across of the door, right next to the window that held a light, see-through, lavender piece of film that hung over the white curtains. A white door perched against the far wall, closed and hiding whatever was behind it- presumably the closet. As Tenten leads her in she walks to the bed and plops down, bouncing slightly before pulling her legs in to sit cross-legged; Kumo looks around, she noticed a cherry desk sitting on the far wall facing the wall instead of the window- it held scratch paper and small trinkets as well as a picture frame of her and her team. Walking farther in she glances behind her and notices a cherry bookshelf- which held other small trinkets as well as tons of scrolls, which if she had to guess held multitude of weapons.
"Sorry but we don't have a guest room; so you'll have to share a room with me tonight." Although she spoke Kumo was so busy looking around the room with a small curiosity she didn't quite hear. She has never been in a girl's room; she wondered if her room would have been like this if she had had a normal childhood.
"So…?" The voice of the young weapon's mistress pulled Kumo from her observations; it seemed like her voice was hesitant, as if she was unsure wither the swordswoman would agree with the girly ness of the room. Turning her head slightly she blinks slowly before nodding her head in an approving manner.
"It is a very nice room," She starts, walking towards the desk and sitting down between it and the closet door. "It shows that although you're serious about being a ninja and your training you also embrace your femininity. I very much enjoy the color; it's humble and shows that you have compassion as well as love and kindness."
Tenten blinks, a light blush touching her cheeks before she looks away, although she was happy that the young woman had complimented her she couldn't help but feel like she wasn't really there; as if she was speaking but her mind was somewhere else entirely. Shaking her head quickly she jumps out off of the bed and strides over to the closet door, which opened away from the sitting swordswoman.
"You can take the bed tonight; I have to stay on guard anyways so I'll sit at the desk." As she rummaged in the build-in drawers in the closet she glances over her shoulder when she noticed the young woman stand up. "I think I have some cloths that'll fit you, I'll ask ma to wash your kimono tonight so you can wear it tomorrow."
"That will not be necessary." The Rurouni's voice was bland and quiet, and when Tenten looked up at her like she was crazy the young woman continued, "This is your home so you will sleep on your bed; I swear on my Rurouni ways that I will not leave, however much I want to."
Tenten blinks again before pulling out of her small walk in and hands Kumo a bundle of clothing. "Fine, I'll trust you but you really need a bath." Her joking manner and the carefree laugh that followed made the Rurouni feel uncomfortable but she took the bundle and followed her female jailer to the bathroom.
"Here, left knob is hot and right is cold, take all the time you want; if you need anything I'm just down the hall." Tenten was surprisingly pleasant, it was as if she had offered many people baths in her home and as she walked out, so close to closing the door, she pops her head back inside and exclaims, "Oh, right! The towels are in the top cabinet, don't use the blue ones, those are for the twins." And with that she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her.
Kumo watches the door for three heartbeats before turning and noticing herself, for the first time in a long while, in the mirror. Blinking slowly she steps forward before a soft click caught her attention; looking down she noticed that her white sword had tapped itself against the sink as she moved forward, as if to tell her not to get near. She looks up again, noticing the soft black bags under her eyes just now forming and the pale look she had; she should probably eat more.
Taking her swords out of the obi gently she places them on top of the cabinet, away from any stray water that may get near them, and slowly started to strip. When she was clad in nothing but her bandages and her underwear she takes in a shaky breath before undoing the bandage. It took a moment of unwinding but when it finally fell to a heap on the floor she looked at her chest with sorrow. In the cavern under her left breast was a star shaped scar, the edges of it jagged and unclean proved it was a burn mark rather than a cut; her fingers touch it lightly before she looks away with disgust and rip the bandages from her hair and briskly walking to the tub, turning on the hot water before stepping inside.
When the tub was full and the water hot she found a spare loofa and, after lathering it up with soap, started to scrub at her skin until it glowed red. She wanted to be clean; she wanted all of these thoughts that stormed her mind to disappear like the grime that she scrubbed at. Half an hour later she sat in the lukewarm water, absently swirling her finger around the water and watching the after bubbles glide with her movements; a soft rap against the door caused her to look up.
"Oi, Ku-Chan?" The voice of her jailer's mother caused her to stand quickly, splatter of water announcing her movement. "Ku-Chan~ Tenten and I are about to eat some ice cream, when you're done getting dressed come down and join us, okay?" There was a slight pause and then the Rurouni could hear her retreating footsteps.
Sighing she unplugged the drain and steps out of the tub, slowly walking to the cabinet and pulling out a beige towel. Glancing at the mirror she does a double take and her eyes widen; her skin, once an olive tone, was now a cream color. It seemed that she had so much grime on her it had turned her skin a tan color; sighing she starts to rub herself down, she knew it was too good to be true, she was never one to tan.
Rubbing her hair dry with her towel she noticed that it had grown longer than when she had last taken an interest in it, although it did stay soft and smooth she wondered how with how much abuse it's been through. Wrapping her hair in the towel in the way that all girls knew she picked up the bundle of clothing that her jailor had given her and rose an eyebrow with wonder. Soft moss green the shirt hung off her shoulder's loosely with an open neck and white lace around the edge, it was printed with small pale yellow flowers; it's corresponding shorts were identical to the shirt, although it had pockets and a tie-string to make sure it didn't fall off your hips. She didn't find underwear and vaguely wondered if she should go without so that her only pair could get cleaned; she decided it was a logical conclusion and pulled the pajamas on before letting her hair down from the towel, it was better to let it air dry.
Giving herself one final glance in the mirror she gathered up her belongings and grabbed ahold of her beloved swords. Opening the door quietly she glanced towards either end of the hallway before stepping outside and looking towards her jailor's room, it was a good idea if she placed her dirty clothing in there but she couldn't quite come to terms wither she should place her swords in there or not. Stepping inside of the room she glances around before walking over to her previous spot, she dropped her bundle onto the ground before setting both Ichi and Nee on top of it; she would not part with her white-sheathed sword, not for any reason.
Slipping out of the room again she glides to the stairs and quietly walks down, ducking into the kitchen before offering a soft smile towards the weapon's mistress and her mother; neither of them commented on the white sword that hung around her waist with the aid of her bandages but both offered her warm smiles and hushed greetings- hushed so the twins wouldn't wake up. Walking forward she slips into a vacant seat and watches as the mother stuffs a spoonful of ice cream into her daughters surprised mouth; the swordswoman smiles gently, her heart constricting at how close the two seemed.
"Ku-Chan," The mother, who Kumo now realized never received her name, coos gently before handing the quiet woman a spoon, "I'm happy you came down to join us, do you like cookies and cream ice cream?" Taking the spoon gently she blinks owlishly at the woman before dipping her spoon into the carton and slowly bringing it to her lips.
"I have never tried 'cookies and cream' ice cream before," Her voice was stating the fact, and it surprised both women that she seemed so nonchalance about it.
"You've never had cookies and cream?" Tenten sputters as the unflustered swordswoman slipped the ice cream filled spoon into her mouth. Both women watch and were happy when she lets out a soft smile of delight.
"I have not, but it is good." She only wanted one spoonful and realized that she was suddenly so sleepy. Placing the spoon on the table gently she stands up slowly. "I am sorry to… 'eat and run' but I am painfully tired; perhaps I can retire?"
"Ah, yes, of course; goodnight, Ku-Chan." The mother suddenly springs up and pulls Kumo into a hug, their lower halves separated by the table; the young swordswoman noticed how Tenten grimaces and sends an apologetic smile her way. When the mother pulls away she holds Kumo still by her shoulders and stares at her really hard; nearly making the passive woman uncomfortable. "You have a good night, okay? I want you to be comfortable with us; don't hesitate to ask me for anything."
"Of course." She bows, glancing at her jailor before gliding out of the kitchen, up the stairs and into her cell for the night.
I know this may sound weird... but I was wondering if anyone was interested in posting a review telling me anything you don't like about Kumo... or... the story in general.. or any complaints I may take into account as I write... Sometimes I find myself not wanting to write because I dont think anyone really likes this story... ^^"
Oh~ And I forgot. I've noticed some reviews saying that they "thought Tenten was an orphan" Well... about that... I've looked at every "official naruto site" that I've found and not once did it say that Tenten was an orphan... or that her parents are shinobi... or that she had little brothers. It only said that she wanted to be as good as Tsunade so... I couldn't help but let my writer loose while writing this; I figured there's enough "I'm so sad, my parents are killed and I live alone" characters in Naruto already that I figured Tenten can have a pretty normal life... Again, sorry to all you Tenten fans 3