Author's Note: Points to anyone who correctly guessed what scene Tobio is from; you got it! He's the student that bumped Naruto near the very beginning of the show and made him accidentally kiss Sasuke. Ah, yes. And from that one scene I have grown him into a proper character. Hopefully. We'll see.

I know some of you have commented about being confused that Mirai apparently dropped the issue of something being wrong with Shisui so quickly. I can promise you that she didn't; her options are just so limited. I didn't want to do ten pages of them exchanging "are you okay" "I'm okay" back and forth, and calling him for an in-person meeting so soon after the last one when they already have another scheduled for about three weeks out would be too dangerous.

I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year, so my fanfics will be getting very little attention during November. But! I am looking at getting some writing buddies! So if you're doing NaNo this year, feel free to find and add me! My username is " "

Fun Fact: The story Mirai tells Shikamaru and Shisui about Sophie in this chapter is actually a real thing that I did. When I was fourteen, a couple of my bullies thought it would be funny if I got all dressed up nice for a date and went out only to get stood up, so they convinced a friend of theirs that I didn't know to ask me out. Unfortunately for them, I was an angry kid that spent all my time being bullied, reading novels about serial killers, and practicing martial arts; taking someone out meant only one thing in my head, and it wasn't good. So when a kid I didn't know walked up to me and smugly announced he was going to "take me out," I reacted accordingly to what I thought was a legitimate threat and punched him.

Chapter Twenty-One - Epistolary

[epistolary—adjective 1: contained in or carried on by letters 2: or, relating to, or consisting of letters]

While I got Konohamaru settled in bed, Kakashi was busy studying my security. By the time I finished and stepped out into the hallway, his brow was furrowed with a clear question.

"When did you learn how to do security this tight?"

"I didn't," I said simply, tugging out my ponytail so I could braid my hair. "Shisui did it for me."

Kakashi glanced at me and I could see the apology in his expression for bringing the topic up. Thankfully, he didn't voice it. Instead, he put a hand on my shoulder and steered me toward the couch. "You're sure you don't want me or Genma to deal with your sensei?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Iruka-sensei is sick. I'm not sure what all you could do for him."

Kakashi sighed. "Pup, don't make me force feed this conversation." He sat down on the couch and dragged a hand tiredly down his face, pulling his mask down and hitai-ate off as he went.

I let my shoulders slump. "Sorry," I mumbled. "And no, don't worry about it. I'll talk to Iruka-sensei when he's back. He's pretty great."

He managed a mild smile. "I'm glad your main teacher is good, at least."

I reached out and bumped his knee with my knuckles. "Hey. I promise I'll let you know if I need your help with Mizuki. But can you promise me that you'll leave him alone for now?"

He took a bit longer to answer than I was really comfortable with, but eventually he nodded. "I promise. But . . . I can't say anything as far as Genma goes."

I flinched. "Yeah, I probably should have talked to him too, huh?"

"Don't worry about it too much. He's the more level-headed one out of the two of us." He hesitated. "Usually. You know, I'm really not sure in this case."

I groaned and shoved away from the couch. "I'm gonna go find him."

"Pup, wait—"

"You have to stay here," I said, already fumbling to put my shoes on. "Technically, you're here for Konohamaru, not me." I glanced up at him. "I'll be back as soon as I'm done talking with him. Really."

"Take a summon," he said firmly, leaving absolutely no room for debate.

I nodded and bit my thumb. I performed the jutsu and a small lizard appeared in a puff of smoke. He chirped out a happy greeting and then scuttled up my leg so he could settle happily in the crook of my arm.

Kakashi hesitated. "He's . . . pretty small."

I beamed at him. "He's a new one! This is Ikebana." I reached my pinkie out to the lizard and let him nuzzle it. "He's a gold dust day gecko. Don't let his cuteness fool you; his type is pretty aggressive. Plus, he's the first size-shifting lizard I've worked with." I aww'd as Ikebana curled his tail around my finger. Then I glanced up at Kakashi. "I should go. Where do you think he probably is?"

"Most likely? Either he's still at the Jonin Station, trying to keep himself from wringing your sensei's neck or . . . he's at the Academy."

"That's— Niisan, those places are on completely opposite ends on the Village," I squeaked out. "How am I supposed to get to him in time if he's about to actually do something?"

Kakashi shrugged, slumping back against the couch. "I don't know. After all, I'm just here to babysit the Sarutobi."

I made a face. "Well, fine, then. If you're going to be unhelpful." I whirled around and opened the door. "I shouldn't be too long!" Then I slammed the door behind me. I moved to the railing and closed my eyes.

Chances of me being able to detect which direction Genma is in?

You've improved, was all Kurama would say.

I didn't respond to that and instead just listened as I stretched my senses gently out, searching. And then I felt it, that familiar pinprick of heat in the direction of . . . neither option? I blinked and stared off in the direction of his chakra. What was that way? A few grocery stores, a couple shinobi supply shops, more housing, that nice bakeshop, the—

Genma's house.

"Hold on tight," I murmured to Ikebana just before I jumped over the railing. I activated a shunshin before I even hit the ground. I stumbled to a stop several shunshin later in front of the house. Something familiar, sharp, pressed up against my chakra senses and I wrinkled my nose at it as I stepped up to knock. Then I realized what, or rather who, I was sensing just a split second before the door opened.

"Well, hello, Red. Aw, look, you've got a new little friend."

"Anko . . . sensei?" I asked cautiously, eying the kunoichi that was standing in the doorway in sweatpants and . . . a shirt I had definitely seen Genma wear several times before. My cheeks burned. "Oh, I— Sorry! I didn't mean to—"

She snickered. "Come on in. Genma's almost out of the shower and we're about to break out some sake from Kumo. You in?"

"I, I don't think—"

"Great!" She grabbed my arm and dragged me inside. "Hey, hot stuff, you have a guest!" Anko called.

"Kami," I breathed. "I really didn't need to know this, you know.

She grinned down at me. "Actually, I think it's gonna force his hand. Nice job, Red."

"What?" Genma called loudly from the other room. The shower shut off. "What did you say?"

"We have company!" Anko said singsong. "Come and look!"

"What? Anko!"

She snickered and shoved me onto the couch. "No one knows," she whispered. "So congrats on being the first to find out."

I swallowed thickly. "I didn't mean to. I just—"

Something crashed loudly in the other room and then the door flung open. Genma stood there in sweats and an inside-out shirt, hair still dripping. "What— Mirai-chan?"

I gave him a nervous smile. "Uh, hi. I, I didn't know that Anko was going to be here. I swear I didn't."

He sighed, shoulders slumping. He shoved his hands in his pockets. "You couldn't have known."

"No one knows," Anko put in, pouting. "No one knows because Genma is a secretive bastard who doesn't like to share anything about his private life."

Genma glanced at her, scrunching up his nose. "I am not."

"You absolutely are. Tell him, Red."

"I—" I pulled back in surprise. "I don't know."

"Oh, c'mon, I know you! You like knowing all the facts. So tell me something simple: when's his birthday?"

"I . . . I don't know," I said, frowning. "Why would I know that?"

"Oh?" Anko crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "When's Kakashi's birthday?"

"September fifteenth. But that's because—"

"My birthday?"

"October twenty-forth, but you insisted on birthday dango that one time at—"

"Kotetsu?"

"July twenty-first. But Anko—"

"Motherfucking Ibiki, for Kami's sake."

"March twentieth. Okay, I know a bunch of people's birthday's. So what?"

She looked smug. "I'll ask you again; when is Genma's birthday?"

I opened my mouth to answer only to realize that I couldn't. I shut my mouth. I opened it again. Shut it again. Opened. Shut. Come to think of it, I couldn't even remember seeing it in my bingo book.

Genma sighed and dropped down onto the couch. "July seventeenth," he muttered. When my stare jumped to him, his expression turned stern. "But don't go spreading that around."

I nodded sharply. "I won't. I promise."

He eyed me for a long moment. Then his stern look settled into something softer and he lifted his arm. "Alright, c'mere. Why are you here? I thought you'd be tired of me after being stuck with me for a whole week."

"I could never get tired of you," I said, scrambling across the couch and falling into his side. "But, er, I had to make Niisan promise not to go after Mizuki-sensei. At least not until I try to get stuff figured out when Iruka-sensei is back. And so I figured I should check in with you, too."

"Ah." He dropped his arm around me. "I won't do anything . . . rash."

"That's not what I was asking. I'm asking you not to do anything at all."

"I know. And I'm not promising that."

"What's going on?" Anko asked curiously, flopping down on the floor in front of the couch. "Did I miss something?"

Genma didn't answer her, but his grip on me did tighten a little. I gave Anko a strained smile. "My normal sensei is out sick, so the assistant instructor is teaching. Our module on killing is starting and he told the entire class to go to me to talk to someone with firsthand experience."

Anko blinked slowly. Then her face twisted. "Motherfucker, he sounds like the lovechild of a disappointing orgasm and a faked one. I'm gonna put snake shit in his shower head and dose all his clothes in wasp pheromones."

"What? Wait, no, that's exactly— I don't want anyone to do anything. I'm going to talk to Iruka-sensei when he's back and we'll figure it out ourselves."

She squinted at me for a long moment. "You sure?"

"I'm sure."

She nodded. "Alright, fine."

I twisted to look up at Genma. "And you?"

"I'm still not promising."

"But Genma-nii, I told you—"

"Nuh-uh. Don't do that," he said accusingly. "I'm not Kakashi. I'm not gonna fold and give you want you want just because you get all cute on me."

"But I'm not—"

"You know exactly what you're doing, Pumpkin. And I'm telling you it's not gonna work."

I grit my teeth and looked away. "Fine. Do whatever you want, then."

He huffed out a laugh. "Don't be mad at me, Mirai." He tapped my chin until I looked at him again. Genma grinned happily. "You know I love you."

"Yeah," I mumbled. "I know."

"Aw, that's so cute," Anko cooed. "And he says it to you so easy. You know, it took him two years to actually get around to saying that to me. And even now he struggles."

"Anko!" he hissed.

"Two—" I jerked around in his arms so I could stare at her. "How long have you two been together?"

Genma just groaned, seeming to give up completely on controlling the situation. Anko grinned. "Three years."

"But—" I gestured around wildly at the room we were in. "You— He— You're at his house! How can people not know?"

"Hey, now, I don't normally stay here," she said defensively. "It'd be hard to keep it a secret if I was. But I was on a three week mission and then came back to find that he was out of the Village for a week with you. I missed him."

"Oh." I was still trying desperately to fit the pieces all together in my head. "But, but I've barely even seen you two talk to each other."

"Yeah, well, keeping it a secret really does cut into our time together." She glared pointedly at Genma and I got the feeling that this was an argument they'd had many times before. "But we manage."

"Is it worth it?" I asked doubtfully.

"Yes," Genma said immediately.

"He's happy," Anko said with a smile. "So yeah."

Genma mumbled something and I perked up, glancing at him and not quite sure if I'd heard him right but hoping I had. Anko narrowed her eyes. "What's that, big guy?"

"I said I love you too, dammit."

"Aw." Anko beamed and rose up on her knees. "I feel like I'm totally obligated to make out with you now."

I couldn't hold back a squeak and I slapped my hands over my eyes. "No thank you! Not while I'm here!" I scrambled up from the couch and felt Ikebana desperately clinging for balance.

"Kami, Anko, she's eight," Genma muttered. When Anko made a wounded, disappointed sound, he paused and carefully said, "At least wait until she's left."

"Kami," I rasped. "Please don't discuss this in front of me. I'm gonna go, now." I marched to the door, but then I paused with a hand on the knob. "You know . . . . Um, the bingo book says Anko's aim is pretty good, too. And she's worked with me before. So I don't think anyone would really think much of it if she joined in on our training sessions."

Genma blinked and his gaze flicked to Anko. Her eyes widened and somehow her grin got even brighter. "Holy shit, Red, I love you. Genma, just listen to her! I've never been as proud of anyone or anything as I am of this clever little con artist."

He just smiled faintly and nodded to me. "We'll probably do that. Thanks, Pumpkin."

I beamed at him. Then Anko leaned in towards him, already making obnoxiously dramatic kissing noises, and I scrambled to leave as quickly as I could.

When I got back to the apartment and dismissed Ikebana, I found Kakashi sitting awkwardly on the couch with Konohamaru slumped against his side, dead asleep. Kakashi looked up at me in a panic, mask back on. "He had a nightmare. And then he fell asleep on me."

I tilted my head to the side, considering the situation and how incredibly unhelpful he'd been in locating Genma earlier. "Huh. Well, you are here to babysit him. I'm going to bed." I turned towards my room.

"Pup!" he said desperately, trying to keep his voice down. "Help me! I can't move!"

"Good thing you have lots of shinobi training to keep you still." I looked over my shoulder and gave him a wave.

"Mirai!"

"Good night!"

"But what if they're busy? Or you get the wrong one?"

"Well, if they were busy, then I apologize," I said holding out my hand and letting Ikebana scuttle back to me from Konohamaru's shoulder. "But I practice so that I know how to summon the right one." I felt Ikebana stretch out longer until he could drape himself properly around my neck. "Ohayo, Gai-sensei! You're already here, Lee?"

"Yes!" Lee said, already sweating and grinning. "My class finished early today and I wanted to get a good start!"

"He is an amazing student!" Gai said, looking near tears. "And you've brought guests! My rival! And who is this?"

"I'm Sarutobi Konohamaru," he said. He stared up at Gai with wide eyes. "Um."

"This is Gai. He teaches me taijutsu." I nudged him forward. "You can go sit down. Do you want Ikebana with you?"

He perked up. "Yes, please!"

Ikebana shifted around my neck and climbed to his feet. He hopped from my shoulder to Konohamaru's head, where he shrank and curled up to sleep. Konohamaru grinned and skipped off to sit in the shade. Kakashi pulled on my ponytail and then moved to follow him.

"Did you bring your weights?" Gai asked, sitting down. Lee scrambled to do the same.

I nodded and sat as well, pulling out a scroll. I unsealed the weights I'd gotten for my birthday. "I haven't used them yet, but I have been studying the seal and I think I've figured out some other applications for it."

Gai just nodded. "So you know how to use them?"

"I do, yeah."

"Good. And these are for you," he said, pulling out a set of regular ankle weights and holding them out to Lee. "You won't be able to achieve the level of chakra control needed to safely use the seal weights, so we'll just update these as we go. Go ahead and put them on. You too, Mirai."

Lee's eyes were wide, and he took the weights reverently. As Gai directed him in wearing them, I slipped my own on and fixed my pants over them. When I stood, I didn't feel any different. "Can I activate the seal?"

Gai nodded. "We'll start at just the first level for a a while. Go ahead."

"Got it." I curled my chakra in my ankles and ratcheted it up to the first step in the seal. "Ooh," I mumbled as the weight settled. "Okay, that's a little weird."

"You'll get used to it. Lee?"

Lee hopped up to his feet and wobbled for a second. He grinned. "Awesome!"

Gai beamed proudly at the two of us. "Good! Let's warm up with a jog around the Village!" He turned and took off. Lee was close behind.

I tested my pacing for a second and then waved to Kakashi. "We'll be back!" Then I raced after them.

"If one more person asks me that question, I'm leaving!"

Silence fell over the entire group and no one but Shikamaru would look at me. I was painfully aware of Kakashi and Konohamaru in the distance, the former paying far more attention to the situation than I really liked. While the others all stared at the ground or the sky to avoid my stare, Shikamaru was smirking. I glanced pointedly around the group, practically daring someone to look me in the eye. "Well?"

No one answered.

Shikamaru's grin just grew. The longer the quiet stretched, the more pleased he looked. Finally, he clapped his hands together and the loud noise made everyone jump. "I think that's a good place to call it a day. I know it's earlier than normal, but I'm done."

Nobody moved for a second. Then Naruto lunged to grab both Sasuke and Tobio. "C'mon! We're gonna show you our pillow fort!"

That seemed to be the push everyone needed, because they all finally started to disperse. Shikamaru stepped over to me, shoulder-to-shoulder but facing the other way. "Would it really be so bad if they knew?"

"Yes. If I told one of them, I'd have to tell all of them. And I don't want Naruto to know."

"Ah." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Shogi?"

"Actually, I don't feel up for that," I mumbled.

"Huh? Really?" He squinted at me. "Weird."

"Sorry."

He just shrugged. "Well, if we're not playing then you owe me something."

"Dango? I'm up for dango," I said hopefully.

"Dango is a good idea," Kakashi said, dropping a hand on my head. I twisted a bit to look at him and then down at Konohamaru when the latter latched onto my arm. "I'll buy. Sound good?"

Shikamaru huffed. "Fine. But since he's paying, you still owe me one, Soph."

"We'll figure that out later. Dango first."

"Actually, looks like something else first."

At Kakashi's words, I looked up at the hawk that was diving down for us. It landed and extended its leg to me. I crouched down and took the message. "Thanks," I murmured, scratching the hawk on the head. Then I stepped back and let it spread its wings and take off again. I unrolled the paper.

Sarutobi Yosu has returned. Please report to the hospital.

I straightened and shoved the paper at Kakashi. "We need to go. Kono-kun, we're going to go check in on your dad, okay? He's back, but he got a little hurt on his mission."

"Touchan's back?" Konohamaru said, lighting up. "Let's go!"

"Okay, okay." I caught his hand before he could run off. "We're going. But we're going to have to careful. If he's hurt, we can't be super loud. We'll have to let him get better."

Konohamaru faltered. "But— Is he okay?"

"I'm sure he's going to be fine," I assured him. I glanced at Kakashi and then Shikamaru.

The latter shrugged and held out his hand to the jonin. "Money? I'll get dango for everyone?"

Kakashi eyed him and then nodded. He dug out his wallet and handed off some money to Shikamaru. Then he put a hand on me and one on Konohamaru. "Let's go." He activated a shunshin.

We finally stopped in front of the hospital and Konohamaru's grip on me was tight as he staggered. I paused. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Where's Touchan?"

"Inside. C'mon." I tugged on his hand and stepped inside. We moved up to the counter. "Hi. We're here for Sarutobi Yosu. We received a hawk telling us to come here."

The woman glanced between me and Konohamaru and then up at Kakashi. "Sarutobi-san is currently in surgery."

"Surgery?" My chest squeezed. Originally, in the story, Konohamaru had been an orphan. Hadn't he? "Is he okay? What's wrong?"

"I can't share that information at this time." She nodded off to the side. "There's an area for people to wait for patients to be ready for visitors. If you'd like, you can stay there."

I nodded. "I— You and Konohamaru go ahead, Nissan. I'll wait for Shikamaru outside."

Kakashi studied me for a moment before sighing. "Alright." He put a hand on Konohamaru's head and steered him towards the hallway. "C'mon."

I moved outside, sliding my hand under my shirt and closing it around my coin. I took a deep breath and sent my message. Are you okay?

I sighed and closed my eyes, leaning against the wall. A deep breath in; a deep breath out.

Are you okay?

I jerked in surprise, blinking. Had I . . . had I missed his answer? No, I would have noticed it. I straightened. I'm okay. I hesitated. Are you okay?

He didn't answer. He didn't answer and— Are you okay?

I caught my breath and let it out slow and shaky. He wasn't answering my question. Something was wrong. Something was wrong. I closed my eyes. I'm okay. I slid down to the ground and moved my hand to my kunai pouch. I found my rabbit foot and gripped it tightly, measuring out my breathing.

"Soph?"

I jerked. When I looked up, Shikamaru was standing there with a couple dango boxes in hand. He frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I, uh." I scrambled to my feet and cleared my throat, closing my kunai pouch. "Nothing."

It might not have been convincing, because he gave me a flat look. "Uh-huh. How is he?"

"Yosu's in surgery. They won't tell us what for."

"Right. Yosu. That's who I was asking about." He shoved one box at me. "This one's for you. And I stopped by Choji's. He and his dad are gonna bring us dinner."

"Us?" I shifted the box to my right hand and hooked my left hand around his elbow, pulling him inside. "You're staying?"

He shrugged. "If you get bored, you'll want to play shogi."

Sophie stared down at me from the cliff as I tried to drag Shisui's body from the river. "Help me!" I screamed at her.

She just sighed and sat down, kicking her feet out over the edge. "You never realize you're dreaming. Do you understanding how annoying that is?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" I sobbed, clinging to Shisui and, oh, he wasn't breathing. "Just help me! He's dying!"

"No, he's not." Sophie looked frustrated now. "Why don't you just wake up already? It's nice when you visit, but this is just . . . sad."

"Help me!"

"Let him go."

"What? No!"

She stopped swinging her feet and stared down at where I was struggling to keep my head above water. "Let. Him. Go. This isn't real. And that isn't Shisui."

I stared at her. Then I dropped my gaze to the body I was clutching. "But . . . ."

"Not. Real."

My grip loosened. Shisui sank. I looked up at her again. "Is he okay?"

She shrugged. "Who knows? I'm dead; not my monkeys and not my circus. Those are all your problems, babe."

The water was lapping at my chin now and my arms were so tired. I couldn't keep treading water. I just couldn't. "Help me."

"I told you that none of this is real. You'll be fine."

"Please. Please help me. Please—" The water closed over my head and pushed down my throat. I snapped my mouth shut and flailed uselessly for the surface. My chest burned, and burned, and burned, and burned, and—

"Kami, sweetheart," a voice said.

I flinched and tried to find where it was coming from. I couldn't. I couldn't focus on anything but the burn.

"Wake up. Please. I don't want to see you do this to yourself," he begged. "Please wake up."

I heaved myself up, gasping for air. Everything was suddenly so bright and there were voices too muffled and quiet under the ringing for me to properly understand. There was a hand on my back, but it just felt distant, like I was feeling it through a dozen layers of clothing. Oh, kami, what was going on? What had just— Why couldn't I remember anything?

"Mirai!"

My hearing crashed back with a roar and I jerked. I stared up at the person in front of me, struggling to focus in on their face. "Wha— Niisan?"

His entire expression crumpled with relief. "Thank Kami," he mumbled. "You okay?"

Habitually, I nodded at the question and said, "I'm fine."

"What happened?"

"I— Nightmare? Probably?" I frowned. "I don't remember."

"Those are fun," Shikamaru mused, drawing my attention to him. "In other news, while you were using me as a pillow, Choji and his dad dropped dinner off. I told them you were very thankful. Konohamaru ate a lot, but there's probably enough left for you."

At the mention of the boy, I glanced at where Konohamaru was crashed out in his chair. I dragged a hand down my face. "What time is it?" I mumbled.

"Almost one. I sent Pakkun to stay with the boys," Kakashi told me, opening a box of food and pressing it and a pair of chopsticks into my hands. "Eat, please."

I nodded and obeyed without complaint. I was just finishing up when a nurse appeared in the doorway. "You four are here for Sarutobi-san?"

I shot to my feet. "Yes. Is he out of surgery?"

"He's been out and stabilized for a few hours now. But he just woke up and is asking to see his visitors. If you'll follow me."

She turned to lead the way and paused, waiting. I leaned over Konohamaru's chair. "Hey, Kono-kun," I murmured. "Time to go see your dad."

Konohamaru shifted a bit, and reaching clumsily for me. "'kay," he slurred.

"Nope. C'mon, up. I can't carry you." I took his hands and hauled him from the chair. He stumbled into me and I wrapped an arm around him. "There we go. Let's go." I guided him as he moved forward, yawning.

We followed the nurse to the elevator and up to another floor. She stopped walked in front of room 310 and knocked. "Sarutobi-san?" she called. "Your visitors are here." Then she opened the door carefully and stepped back. "I'll be back soon. You can stay as long as you aren't disruptive; Sarutobi-san needs his rest."

Konohamaru was more awake now—only just—and he pulled me along with him as he moved inside. "Touchan!"

Yosu visibly winced from where he was laid out on the bed, and I squeezed Konohamaru's hand. "Shh," I urged. "We need to be quiet, okay? The quiet will help him feel better." I guided him forward. "Hey, Yosu-sensei," I murmured. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he rasped. He smiled faintly, eyes drooping closed. "Hey, musuko. How did you like staying with Mirai-chan?"

Konohamaru stumbled forward with a yawn. "Fun. You okay?"

"Me? Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just a bit tired, okay? Looks like you are too. I had 'em bring in a cot for you."

I glanced at the bed against the other wall and then at Konohamaru, who was struggling with another yawn. "C'mon, kiddo. This way. Up you go." I helped him up onto the cot, and he snuggled up with the pillow. I draped the blanket over him.

"What happened?" Kakashi asked quietly.

"Well, it turns out that my bounty got upped. Enough that some people are actively hunting for me, now."

"What!" I slapped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late to stop my loud yell. I winced and glanced at Konohamaru, who was already out. "Sorry," I mumbled. But that apology couldn't change the panic that was making my heart race. No, I couldn't let that happen. Yosu had to stay alive, for Konohamaru's sake if for nothing else. But how was I supposed to keep him alive when his bounty was so high?

"Whoa, hey, I'm a tough one, you know," Yosu said, grinning tiredly. "You don't have to look so worried for me, kiddo. I can take care of myself."

My shoulders slumped. "Yeah. Of course you can."

I shot to my feet when Iruka stepped into the classroom. He froze, staring at me and still only halfway through the door. Then he managed a nervous smile. "Mirai-chan? Um, class doesn't start for another hour."

"I know. I just needed to make sure I could talk to you before Mizuki-sensei was here." I paused, hesitating over how uncomfortable he looked. "Sorry. Are you, are you feeling better?"

"Oh, yes, much better. I could have returned a few days ago, but policy requires a week away." He finally moved to his desk and set down the stack of folders he was carrying. He hung his bag on his chair and sat down. He offered me another smile, this one less wary. "What can I do for you?"

I stepped down the stairs and stopped in front of his desk. I cleared my throat. "Mizuki-sensei revealed to the class last week that I've killed and then actively encouraged my classmates to talk to me about it. I've been unsure of how to handle the situation and I couldn't focus with my friends' questions, so I've been skipping the Academy since."

Iruka paled. "He did what? Why— Kami— Are you sure— Never mind, of course you're sure. Kami, Mizuki," he breathed. He sighed and dragged a hand down his face. "Alright. Do you want . . . to step away from class today for the time being until I can speak with him? And then you can return tomorrow?"

I raised an eyebrow. "You're encouraging me to skip class?"

"I'm not worried about you knowing the material. Besides, you can work on the files I've given you."

"Right. About that. To move forward, I need someone with me to try the jutsu and such. You wanted me to tell you when I reached that point, right?"

"Right. I did." He already looked far too exhausted for how short our conversation had been. "I'd hate for you to not get to move forward with that."

"It can wait. I have plenty of other things I can study."

He nodded and offered me another tired smile. "That works, then. Just stop by early again in the morning."

"Will do." I bowed and then left the room. I was halfway down the hallway when I paused, staring at the person in front of me. I schooled my expression and bowed my head. "Good morning, Mizuki-sensei."

He raised an eyebrow. "Mirai-chan. You're here early."

"Well, I'm leaving now." I moved past him and refused to let myself look back as I left the Academy. And then I headed for Training Ground 44, hoping that just maybe killing giant, mutated creatures would help clear my mind.

"The class was told not to ask me about it. Mizuki got a reprimand from the Hokage and his test to become a head instructor was moved back three years, in addition to the two required years he still had left as an assistant." I threw the kunai and it struck the middle of the target. I heard Anko give a squeal of delight, but I continued talking. "Oddly enough, though, Mizuki apologized directly to me and promised never to do anything like that again, even though Iruka-sensei didn't say he was told to do anything like that." Another kunai. Another bullseye. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

Genma shrugged. "Why would I? After all, it's not my fault that he's so responsive to even the smallest threat."

I sighed. "Genma-nii, I asked you to leave him alone."

"And I never promised I would. Now, why don't we try the shuriken. This time, instead of hitting the bullseye let's make a pattern. Could you do an X?"

"Maybe." I reached out and took the shuriken Anko was offering me. "You know, I can deal with my problems," —I threw the first shuriken— "on my own."

"I know. But I don't like the idea of you don't it alone." He stopped me before I threw my next one and adjusted my arm. "You can complain about it all you want, but that won't stop me from taking care of you."

"Aww, so sappy," Anko cooed. "How incredibly gross."

I glanced back at her. "Really?" I asked with a lopsided smile.

She shrugged. "I'm still upset he wouldn't let me come threaten your teacher with him." When I frowned, she sighed. "And because I promised you I wouldn't. That too."

I nodded. "Better." Then I turned and resumed my throwing. "It's all superficial, you know. He still definitely dislikes me. Probably even more, now. So that'll be fun."

"Well, I can always pay him another visit."

I threw the last shuriken and then turned on Genma before it even hit its target. I frowned. "You really aren't going to leave this alone, are you?"

"No. And I don't think Kakashi should have either."

"I think he was right. I asked him to back off and he did. He trusted me."

"This has nothing to do with trust, sweetheart. And of course he did; Kakashi hardly knows how to say no to the two of you. Now, look." Genma put a hand on my shoulder and turned me. "That's a good X. I think you did a good job. Don't you think so, Anko?"

"Yep. It's pretty. You should start doing entire kanji next. You've never really, properly intimidated an enemy until you've spelled their name out in kunai from a hundred feet away."

I glanced at her, squinting. "Do you do that a lot, then?"

"Eh, occasionally.

"Last time," Genma said, nudging me forward to clean up, "she just wrote out fuck you."

"I thought it was a good message," Anko defended. "Clear and straight to the point."

"I'll, uh, keep that in mind. I'll probably stick with making Xs for now, if that's alright."

"I think that's a good idea," Genma said. "Speaking of good ideas . . . . Dango?"

"Sasuke and Naruto?"

"Asleep," I said, setting the boxes of pastries on the bed and the tea on the night stand. "Shisui isn't here yet?"

Shikamaru blinked and then looked around my room. "Obviously not. But he responded, right? He said he'd be here?"

I reached up and pulled my necklace out from under my shirt. "Yeah." But just to make myself feel better, I traced the seals and then pushed my chakra into the first one. Shikamaru tilted his head and watched me curiously as I waited. Several seconds past. No answer. I pushed my chakra in again.

"You know he's on his way," Shikamaru said. "Relax."

I just scowled at him. Then I activated the seal again.

"Whoa, hey, I'm here. Is everything alright?"

I whipped towards the window to find that Shisui was locking it as he spoke. I caught my breath. And then I lunged for him, already shuddering out a sigh of relief.

"What—" Shisui caught me by my shoulders. "What's wrong?"

I snatched up his arms and ran my gaze over them. Nothing there. I started looking him over. "Are you okay? Kami, Shisui—"

"Hey, hey. I'm here, aren't I?" he asked, catching my hands and holding them still.

"That's not what I asked," I said, looking up at him accusingly. I caught my breath, studying the exhausted look on his face. "Holy— Shisui, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said with a slight laugh and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Are those desserts?" he asked, taking a step towards the bed.

"C'mon, you really think either of us bought that?" Shikamaru asked, head tilted to the side. "Talk. Mirai's been on edge for weeks, now."

Shisui's shoulders slumped a bit. "It's just been a long month," he murmured.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, chest tight with worry.

Shisui took a long moment to consider that question. "I will be," he finally said. "I, uh, I got locations on Han and Roshi." He dug a storage scroll out of his kunai pouch and handed it over, ignoring my worried stare. "Also, some evidence of Orochimaru and his movement. The whole reports are in there. And you?"

I frowned, opening my mouth to redirect the conversation to my concerns. But then Shikamaru grinned and took over. "Mirai's got an admirer. He's crushing on her pretty bad. Got her flowers and everything."

"Oh?" Shisui asked, grinning. "Is that so?" He picked up his tea from the night stand and took a sip.

"What?" I asked incredulously. "That's not— Clearly, Tobio just wanted to get on my good side to get into the Study Group. We've been over this."

"Oh, please," Shikamaru muttered. "I told you. Normal kids don't think like that. Seriously, you're acting like you've never had a guy like you before."

I wrinkled my nose at him. "So?"

Shikamaru blinked. "Oh. You're serious. I thought you were like sixteen or something Before."

"I was," I said, defensive. "I just, you know. Only one guy ever asked me out."

"And?"

I shrugged. "I panicked. And punched him in the face."

Shisui choked on his tea. "Wh-what? Kami, are you serious?"

My faced burned. "Yes, okay? That's, that's not important. Let's just go over the same splicer seal, okay?" I unrolled a scroll and moved to the right seal. "Okay, so I want at least thirty participants, just to make sure it's working. And I have a list of ten different time periods for testing, so at least three people to time period." I unsealed the stack of supplies and an empty storage scroll. "I have fifty sets of prep-seals done for you." I held up four envelopes. "I know it might look like a lot, but it's not that complicated." I waved the envelope labeled one. "This one sets the seal at the beginning. It has a fifteen minute feathering effect going backwards to confuse memories. Now, when you want to close the other end of the seal to lock away the memories, apply the seal from envelope two. Three contains the seals that unlock the initial seal placement. Four locks them back up again. I need all four seals tested on each person. The time period sheet specifies the times for each. Make sense?"

Shisui nodded. "One sets it and two closes it. Three unlocks and four locks it back up. Got it."

"And you've done seal transference before?"

"From paper to something else? A few times. I'm not an expert, but I'll manage."

"Great! I have a full list of all the notes I need you to take. Don't rush it, though. Take your time." I sealed all the supplies away and handed the storage scroll to him.

"Five months," Shikamaru offered up. "That should give you enough time, right? Soph and I will start planning for the hideout. Once the splicer seal is done, you can use it on the builders for the Den. That way when they're done building, they won't have any memory of doing it. It'll keep the place nice and safe and secure."

"Sounds like a good plan. Just one thing. My targets?" Shisui asked, tucking the storage scroll away.

"There's plenty of criminals out that," I mused. "Though . . . Yosu's bounty has been raised, so now there's hunters after him. I wouldn't complain if some of them were your targets too."

"Yosu?" Shisui frowned. "Sarutobi? Sure thing, if that's what you need. But, uh. He's a high ranked jonin. Pretty sure he can take care of himself."

"I'm pretty sure he was dead in the next four years, originally."

"Oh." Shisui swallowed thickly. "Right. Got it. Don't worry about it, then. Yosu is safe on my watch. I promise."

"Thank you." Some tension relaxed form my shoulders at that, but it mostly just served to remind me of what else I was worried about. "Shisui—" I paused as I felt Sasuke's chakra stirring loudly. "Shit."

Shikamaru frowned. "What?"

'That boys. Sasuke's having a nightmare, and he'll probably wake up Naruto too. Hold on, let me—"

"I've got it." Shikamaru hopped down from the bed and gathered up his pillow and blanket. "I'll stay in their room tonight. If they ask, you and I got in a fight."

"A fight?" I asked doubtfully. "Over what?"

"Homework. I didn't want to do it."

"Your mom isn't going to like that if she hears about it."

"She doesn't like most things she hears about me," he said, shrugging. "Just remember: you and I had a big fight." Then he ducked out of the room and I felt the seals reengage when he closed the door.

I whirled on Shisui. "What happened? What's wrong?"

"I told you. It's just been a long month."

I stepped forward and took his right hand, turning it over and looking for any new injuries. I shoved up his sleeve to continue my search. Shisui twisted his hand to hold my wrist. "Mirai, I just— I panicked, okay? I had a bad day and I had these doubts and I sent Yoru the Village and I'd forgotten you were out. So when he said you weren't there, I panicked."

"Okay," I murmured. "So that was that time. But what about the next time? Or the time after that? Or after that? Shisui, that's more than a bad day or a long month."

"It was just a lot of bad days," he murmured. "I got . . . lonely, I guess. I'll be okay."

"Will you?"

"Of course."

"For . . . five months?" I asked quietly. "Shisui . . . ."

"I can't keep coming back. Not this often. It's too dangerous."

"But you can't just— It's basically exile. I'm sorry, this is— We'll meet outside the walls. At Akagahara. Or, or I'll sneak away to the Valley—"

"Shikamaru said five—"

"Shikamaru doesn't have to know."

Shisui gave me a disapproving look. "Mirai."

I sighed. "I— Sorry. I, I won't lie to him. I'm sorry. But— Surely there has to be something. I could leave a clone and meet you somewhere far away enough from the Village that you wouldn't have to risk getting caught."

"But you would. What would happen if your clone broke?"

"But maybe—"

"It's alright. I'm fine."

"Yoru!"

Shisui blinked, finally letting go of me. "What?"

"Or, or one of the other crows. That way it's not the same one all the— My point is that it might not be as good as someone being there in person, but maybe it would help. I think that—"

"Mirai, what are you talking about?"

"Letters! I'm saying we could do—" I faltered. "Or not. That'd be— I can figure something—"

"I'd like that," he said, shoulders slumping. "I think letters would be nice."

"Okay," I murmured. "We'll do letters."

Iruka finished moving all of his stuff from his bag to his desk and organizing it before he realized I was in the room, and that wasn't until I was already standing right in front of him and waiting. Immediately, he looked wary. "Is . . . something wrong again, Mirai-chan?"

"No, not at all. I'm handing out gifts again today, so I wanted to start with you. Well, you're seventh. I already handed them out to the boys and our neighbors this morning." I set the box on the table.

"Gifts?" Iruka asked curiously. "What's the special occasion?"

I just smiled. "It's the 25th."

"Right . . . . Um, well, okay." He pulled the box closer and carefully removed the wrapping. Then he lifted the lid. "Oh, wow," he murmured, lifting out the picture frame. "How, how did you—"

"I talked to Hiruzen and got him to give me their genin pictures," I said, shoving my hands in my pockets. "Um, I hope it's alright that I did that. I know what it's like to want to have pictures of your parents. I mean, you probably already have— But I mean like— Kami, sorry, um—"

"No, no, it's alright. It's, it's more than alright," he breathed, staring down at the picture of his parents' official genin photos, his mother and father framed together. "I— You didn't have to go to all that trouble."

"I wanted to. You got Naruto his birthday wish, so I thought you were worth the effort for this."

He lowered the picture and took a good look at me. He smiled and there was something nervous and vulnerable about it. "Well, thank you, Mirai-chan. I'm . . . sorry that you don't have pictures of your parents. I wish I could help."

"Well, you did give me a textbook," I said, tilting my head to the side. "So you did help. But I can't cut the Yondaime out and frame him without people asking questions that they shouldn't know the answers to."

"Yon—" The frame slipped in Iruka's hands and he barely caught it. But he wasn't looking at it; he was staring at me with wide eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed loudly. "Oh."

"Yeah. Um, Hiruzen hasn't told me to stop talking about that yet, but other people still aren't supposed to. So it's probably best if you don't go around talking about it."

"I— Of course. Yes, that makes sense. Um . . . . Does Naruto know? After all, he really does look like— Does he know?"

"Um . . . . No. I haven't, I haven't talked to him about it. I figured it out on my own, so that's the only reason I know."

"You haven't told him?" Iruka asked, frowning now. "Why not?"

"I don't know how to explain everything to him, I guess."

"Ah. That makes sense. I'm sorry."

Genma blinked down at me. "Is . . . something wrong?"

"Nope!"

He leaned out of the doorway and looked obviously both ways. "The boys?"

"Tokage is with them. You alone?"

He snapped back to me and narrowed his eyes. "Why?" he asked cautiously.

I dug the storage scroll out of my pocket and held it up proudly. "I have gifts. I've already handed out everyone else's."

"Ah." He stood there for a moment longer, eying me as if he was expecting me to say or do something else. Then he stepped to the side. "Come in." The moment I was inside and the door was shut, he said, "I'll, uh, I'll make sure Anko's dressed when she comes out here."

I wrinkled my nose. "Gross. You could just say you're going to go get her."

He paused at the door to his bedroom and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess I could have." He slipped into the room.

I hopped up onto the couch and unrolled the scroll. I unsealed their gifts—two small boxes—and set them out on the table. As I waited, I bounced my leg nervously, anxiously, and reached for my necklace. I'm okay. It took only a second for him to response and Shisui's chakra came through in a steady, comforting pulse.

"Red!" Anko said, flinging the door open. "What did you bring me? Gimme!" She dropped down next to me.

"Hey, I don't get to open mine first?" Genma asked, sitting down on the other side of me.

"Actually, they kinda go together," I murmured.

"Ah." Genma reached out and picked his up. "You're a bit quiet about it. Everything okay?"

"Yep. Just— Go ahead and open it. I'll show you how they work."

"Work?" Anko opened her box first and lifted out the bracelet. She turned it over in her hands. It was a coin with the cord attached both ways through the center. Anko squinted at it. "Are those seals?"

"Here, go ahead and put them on and I'll show you."

Genma and Anko exchanged a look and then did as I said. I leaned over to Genma's. "So, there's five seals, distanced enough from each other that you can feel which one is activated. It gives plenty of options for coding. But all you have to do it put your chakra in a seal and . . . ." I touched the first seal on Genma's coin and pushed chakra out.

Anko gasped in surprise. Jaw dropped, she touched the third seal and activated it. Genma straightened. "Mirai, that's amazing."

I pulled back and smiled nervously. "Well, you two can't see each other a ton 'cause it's a secret, and you're on missions a lot. So I figured this would help when you guys miss each other."

"You came up with this just for us?" Anko asked incredulously, still studying the bracelet.

It took everything in my power not to reach for my own coin. I shrugged. "Do you like it?"

"Like it? Mirai, I love it! This is awesome!"

Genma smiled and slung an arm around me, dragging me close enough that he could drop a kiss to the top of my head. "Thank you, Pumpkin."

"It's not that much. I just thought it might be something you two would like."

"Uh-uh. It's amazing, and I said thank you."

I glanced up at him and felt my face burn. "You're welcome."

By the time I neared the end of the letter, my hand ached. It was something of a relief to write in English, but it never did much for the soreness I felt from writing nonstop for so long. I finished recording the details of Naruto's latest prank—he found out that Mizuki often used the showers at the Academy before heading home and snuck a cup of lime green hair dye into the man's shampoo—and how my brother had taken it to heart when I made a passing comment about pranks being good training.

The letter was nineteen pages long when I was done and I signed off. At the bottom of the last page I inked a storage seal. And then I sealed away Shisui's gift before sealing the entire letter away in its own storage scroll. I hid the scroll away in my nightstand for safekeeping until I would be able to take it to the drop off point for Yoru.

With all of that done, I crawled into bed with a yawn. I hesitated over where Shisui's letter sat, spread out across the covers after my seventh read through. But I decided against an eighth for the time being; I didn't want to fall asleep and risk someone seeing the papers while I was asleep. Reluctantly, I sealed the letter away and the scroll itself away in one of my other scrolls.

I settled down against the pillows. Goodnight, Kurama.

Go to sleep, Uzumaki.

I reached for my coin and asked, Are you okay?

It took him just a second to respond. I'm okay.