Yeah, Kunai are cool but have you had dessert?

by Authorship

Okay, I'll admit seeing my new dad's Hitai-ate was a massive kick in the (thankfully metaphorical) balls. Sorry, but I don't kill people! AKA an SI/OC fic where the girl is more concerned with the alarming lack of pastries...and appropriate female role models...and adopting misfits and cinnamon rolls...err, oops? At least, I get to troll people!

27. 27) Kaki's and Antic and Tigers! Oh my!

DISCLAIMER- I own nothing. Any references belong to the holder of that copyright, I'm just being colloquial.

…..

Hitoshi was a pillar to me.

(This didn't mean he wasn't a dick, btw.)

(persimmon, anyone?)

…..

I greeted the end of October in the only way I knew how.

(Or, rather, wanted to.)

"You want what?"

"A cookie cutter!"

Ensui rolled his eyes so hard it must've hurt. "Yeah, I got that bit. But why do you want it pumpkin shaped?"

I shrugged a shoulder and continued shaking flour onto the scales. "Seasonal novelty?"

The Nara quirked a brow and slumped forwards, cradling his head in his hands and puffing out his cheeks. The effect was actually rather endearing so I reached across the island and pinched a cheek. His skin was a bit scratchy. "Too lazy to shave? Or have you decided that the bearded life is for you? I think my fingers are raw-"

"Serves you right, if so."

"Anyway," I sniffed. "I thought it would be a nice thing to decorate the stall according to each season. Jewel tones and harvest stuff in Autumn, snowflakes in Winter, Cherry Blossoms in Spring and other flowers and stuff in the summertime!"

Dark eyes stared at me shrewdly when I started beating the sugar and eggs together in a big, terracotta bowl.

"You're bored, aren't you?"

I creamed the yellow mixture of butter and sugar like it had personally wronged me. "No…"

Ensui wordlessly passed me the bowl of cracked eggs. "Liar…"

The eggs were beaten with brutal efficiency. "I resent that accusation."

"Resent, not deny."

I attacked the eggs with increased vigour and held out a hand for the sieved flour. Ensui did his duty as a good gofer and slid it over.

Hazel eyes lingered on the abused batter. "Who's the cake for?"

I split and deseeded a vanilla pod like it was being hung, drawn and quartered. "Kaiya-hime. The new baby is making her miserable so I figured a cake might tempt her. She can barely stomach the scent of savoury this past week."

Ensui 'hmm'-ed politely and started twirling a spare spatula between his long fingers. "What flavour?"

"Vanilla."

"Icing?"

"No."

"Why are you bored?"

"Beca-ooh," I trailed off with a whistle and turned to pierce my friend with a knowing glare. He waved the spatula around randomly with a bland smile. "Oh, very nice, Ensui. New interview technique? Get them answering fast enough and they start blurting things out?"

"Picked it up when interviewing a boy for petty theft," the Chuunin shrugged unapologetically.

"And your best friend warrants the same treatment?" My voice was deceptively mild as I poured the entire bowl into a single cake tin. Kaiya probably wouldn't be able to handle a filling.

Ensui flashed straight teeth in a teasing smirk. Annoyingly enough, the stubble only made him look prettier. "Only when she's being evasive."

If the oven door was shut with a touch more force than necessary, I'd fucking dare someone to say something.

"Are you going to help me or not, Ensui? I'm not in the mood."

Automatically, Ensui's eyes dropped to my lower abdomen and I immediately tossed the tea towel at his stupid head.

"No, I'm not on my period, you-!"

Pale palms were raised in submission. "Okay, okay! Sorry! Help you with the boredom?"

To my later mortification, I was this close to storming out of there. The mercy of mercy, I thankfully remembered the horror of puberty the first time around. I wouldn't be screaming "I'm a woman!" any time soon. Hopefully. (Never again-!?)*

"The cookie cutters," I growled, literally.

Ensui's nails made an annoying 'scratch' 'scratch' sound as he rubbed his 5 o'clock shadow. "Why not get Old Kenshin to do it?"

On my side of the island, my own fingers curved into claws. Calm, calm, I internally chanted. Anger gets you nowhere, neither does violence...you'll cringe later!

By god, I was right.

"The blacksmith charges extra for custom builds and, just because Hoshiko-" ("Who?") "-is dating his apprentice, doesn't mean I'll get a discount either."

Grumpy old geezer was an asshole to deal with anyway. Why in the fuck he'd been called 'modest-truth' I didn't know (not that parents could predict how their kids wound up) but that was a contrast. Fucking old swindler-

A thought struck me and I leaned across the island with a sudden smirk, watching as Ensui's guard automatically rose. "Anyway, you couldn't be more thrilled for another side job."

Now it was his turn to scoff, tossing his head carelessly. His hair, down for once, flicked over his shoulders. It wasn't as glossy as Itachi's, who was still in my bad books, and I made a mental note to give him some of my homemade hair masks before he left. Like he was allowed to let the side down, non-Uchiha that is, at the Station. Pfft, I don't think so!

"Ha! Not likely; work has been sucking away all my free time-" ("I noticed.") "- don't be hypocritical, Kiharu - so I doubt I'll be able to make it for you."

"Them."

"Huh?"

"Them." I started filling the sink with hot water and wondered if I could guilt trip Ensui into doing the cleaning for me. "Make them."

The older boy kissed his teeth and I wondered why he even bothered to argue when my argument had come so far. If I didn't win this round, did he really think Yoshino wouldn't? "Fine. Them. Regardless, I'm too busy!" He stood to help me wash up and flapped the dishcloth in my face to emphasise his point. "You hear me? Busy."

"Sure, sure. Busy."

...c:

The cookie cutters, a seasonal selection of 15 in their own cases, were unceremoniously dumped on the counter at Nekki's three days later.

And to think I didn't even mention it again!

…

Rushing through the trees, Seiichi wondered if the B-Rank Missing-Nin he was hunting couldn't just keel over and die. Then, he'd probably make it back in time for dinner and he was pretty damn sure his Kiharu was making dumplings tonight and she had her little party the day after tomorrow-

Beside him, Hitoshi growled out a warning just as three more chakra signatures entered his range.

Dammit...nevermind.

"Affiliation?" the Chuunin grunted, ducking under a low-hanging branch and swerving left to avoid a fallen tree. His summon flared his nostrils and concentrated.

"Not sure, Seiichi-sama...I'll proceed with caution," and then he was gone, splitting up to loop around and investigate. Well. If they weren't Friendlies, Hitoshi could always summon himself back to Seiichi's side...

He put the thought from his mind, narrowing his focus on the exhausted signature half a mile ahead of him and smirked as they only tired further. Not long now...

This job was a bit of a strange one, considering that solo missions to cut down on deserters were usually reserved for the Hunter Corps. Well, Seiichi had been put forward for that promotion, his skill set - alongside Hitoshi's - giving him a completely different edge over their Inuzuka canine counterparts, but then Aki was pregnant and the war… he'd never got round to it.

He had motives, however.

After...after his old teammate was found, Inoichi had been like a man possessed, even more so after Kiharu had found out. Despite the fact that very few ninjas ever had a peaceful death, the Yamanaka Clan Head was convinced his brother's had been out of the ordinary. Not merely because the crime scene had been so perfect.

If he'd truly been killed by an uncounted-for bodyguard, then it would've been so much messier. There would've been clues, a struggle. Inokumo may have suffered from crippling depression after his daughter died, but he was harder to take out than that.

And, despite some hesitant arguments put forward about how much he wanted to survive, Inoichi was convinced his brother hadn't been like that. Well, his best friend was the expert.

Seiichi didn't want to think that way either. To think that Inokumo, who'd always been reserved but dependable, like the calmest ocean, wanted to end it all. Surely, Natsuko...

But Seiichi had no right to judge. Because if Kiharu-

He was out here for two reasons, in reality. Inoichi had pulled some strings - they were ninja, no such thing as being unscrupulous - and Seiichi was scouting the forest. It was the same place Inokumo had taken multiple missions to or through in the past year. It was also the place he'd died.

Inoichi thought there was something here, his brother having been strangely fixated in his final few months even as he avoided his older sibling. Seiichi, not having seen his Genin teammate for longer than a few minutes in months, simply had to trust Inoichi's judgement.

A few moments later, Hitoshi leapt back to his Master's side and Seiichi couldn't help but flick glances over his partner. No blood, no wounds.

"Suna ninja, the original squad set to get him. We could get him first but…" the panther growled, trailing off suggestively and the Dazai understood.

"Suna is resentful enough in the current financial and political climate. He was one of theirs originally...We're getting paid regardless and his bounty isn't worth ruffling even more feathers. Did you speak?"

Hitoshi dipped his massive head in a shallow, but distinctive, nod. "They thanked us for our consideration. Grudgingly, ungrateful bastards."

Seiichi hummed thoughtfully, landing on the next branch and stopping. He didn't even bother with scolding his summon's cursing (Kiharu's ears far, far away).

Hitoshi landed lightly beside him, paws silent on the bark. The forest wasn't as large as Konoha's, and the branch dipped dangerously under their combined weight but held. Just.

A raindrop landed on Seiichi's hand, drizzles common for the area this late in the year, but the tracker prayed it would blow over anyway. Any more rainfall and any tracks would be completely washed away, even for Hitoshi.

That and if Seiichi had to get soaked and listen to Hitoshi complain, he was going to lose it.

"Are you sure you didn't plan this?" the panther drawled, emerald eyes blazing against the autumnal backdrop.

One hand already rifling through his pack for Inoichi's file, the brunette couldn't even manage the usual pout. "Har, har...how far away are we?"

A black ear twitched. "They're killing him."

"How far?" Seiichi insisted, trying not to think how the villages differed.

In Konoha, a missing-nin was taken out with a single hit. Judging by what he'd seen in the war and Hitoshi's distraction, Suna was considerably less...humane.

"Another day's travel to the West. But, if this rain continues, how much there will be left to find is another matter."

It couldn't have been later than four, but Seiichi could already see the sun descending towards the hills. "It's been over a fortnight, how much were you expecting?"

Muscles bunching under his dusty fur, the panther dropped down to the forest floor and Seiichi had to channel chakra to his feet when the branch bounced dangerously. "Have some faith in my skills, Seiichi-sama. I have cause to be insulted…"

He couldn't repress his grin, nor the rueful chuckle that followed. "Of course, you play the martyr very well, old friend."

Said partner crumpled his muzzle in a silent snarl, light glinting off the smattering of silver hairs around his nose and eyes. The Chuunin was rather glad he'd decided to stay in the tree now...

"Old? Why-"

"We're losing sunlight! Let's cover some more ground before we lose it completely!"

….

The day of October 31st dawned clear and bright.

Not that I saw it, of course.

I'd been up late baking, the new cutters working an absolute treat, so was justifiably tuckered out. You don't think making biscuits is a workout until you start on batch number 25 and you wonder where the fuck you went wrong in life to deserve such torture. For myself? I figured it was just bad karma.

(Maybe Ensui's exhausted energy had seeped into the metal, chakra could do the weirdest shit-)

But, regardless, I'd worked through the afternoon, calling in absent to Nekki's and betting on the colder weather to dull down the customers to a manageable level for her. Mikoto, on second thought, was more than capable of handling an out-right onslaught. Fugaku may be known as 'Wicked Eye', but there was a reason Akane-sama had told me about Mikoto 'The Dragon'. The Grand Fireball Jutsu was an Uchiha staple; Mikoto's was in a whole other league. Or so I was told.

It wasn't too relevant to the issue of managing a patisserie - Mikoto was hardly going to mass-cook orders by spitting fire, hm? - but she was intimidatingly competent. If I didn't have majority shares, know all the recipes or have to intercept and wheedle the more ninja-cautious merchants, I might've been jealous. As it was, I could relax (just a bit) knowing that my pride and joy was in good hands.

I had a plan. As in, A Plan.

Our kitchen was filled with dessert, cookies on every countertop (some ginger, some flavoured with syrups and berries….honestly, they were more like macaroons in sheer versatility) and traditional Japanese desserts alike. Not to mention that our fridge was filled with hot puddings just waiting to be cooked.

I hopped out of bed, buoyant and excited. My shower was luxuriously long, steam curling around my sore arms and flushing my skin pink and I found myself singing.

What's up with me today? I haven't felt like this in months…

The answer hit me when I was getting changed, head stuck in the collar of my thermal under-shirt. Kiharu, you idiot- the difference is you're not stressed! (Well, I was, but just in regards to my scheming for the day.)

For months now, really since the summer, I'd felt like a prisoner on death row. Not that I was expecting an execution but, rather...Danzo was a bitch. Tobi was a bitch. I'd existed in a perfect little bubble for a good few years, Minato and Kaa-san and Noko's death has been so long ago and in such an impossible event...

Hitoshi's fight with Tobi wasn't canon. Danzo fleeing as a missing-nin wasn't canon. And they'd really knocked me out of it. I wasn't expecting any drama until the storm with Shisui and Itachi and the Uchiha…

But the village had moved on, the gossip moved on. Like a muscle, tensed against another blow, finally relaxing. As watchful as the ninja had been, I could sense a shift in them too.

My dad hasn't spoken of the ramifications, neither had any of my friends. It wasn't my place to pry, whilst I might have insisted before, but I was too involved as it was. Maybe in a while, once everything and anything had been dealt with, dad would tell me more of what had gone down with Sarutobi and ROOT.

As it was now, I felt like the storm was finally moving on. (Famous last words, but shit, I wanted it behind me. I couldn't jump at shadows for the rest of my life.)

After all...there was no rest for the wicked.

Kaki or "persimmon" is a sweet orange fruit that comes into season at this time. An explosion of vibrantly orange fruit (not dissimilar in appearance to peaches or tomatoes), they are extremely bountiful in Fire country. I'd gorged on countless when the harvest came in, sometimes eating them before they were fully ripe and gagging on the bitterness, and they were a staple around here. (I didn't eat them too often because, well, I had an affair with berries when I wasn't shoving down chocolate and cream, *shrugs*.)

I was taking advantage of that.

I'd always loved November before, what with Halloween and Bonfire Night...staying up late and twirling fire-crackers and eating delicious food… those nights had been real treats, an explosion of colour in such a bleak season.

There was no Hallow's Eve here, no Bonfire night, and I couldn't justify a celebration of them to myself, nevermind everyone else.

So I'd done one better and created my own.

The Feast of Kaki, as I'd decided to call it, started off when Nekki's opened late. Very late.

Whilst, on normal mornings, we'd be ready with pans hot and doors open by 9 am (in time for the late-breakfast rush), I held off until 2 pm.

The stall had had to be decorated, all the food organised (I'd made sure there was a selection but, justifiably, almost everything contained some aspect of Kaki fruit) and we were ready.

Yuri-oba had laughed when I'd told her my plan, pressing several yards of various fabrics into my hands and offering to help when the day came. She'd been good to her word, showing up at our house just after 10 with Akane on her heels. It was just the four of us that morning, those two along with Mikoto and me, and I thought we'd fucking rocked it.

My usual outfit of blue, white and red had been swapped out for something a little more...festive.

My legs were wrapped in cosy, knitted green leggings, the colour of fresh grass. My normal yukata had been swapped out for a gorgeous amber-toned kimono, albeit an altered one for comfort and manoeuvrability. The terracotta fabric was embroidered with tiny falling leaves that gathered in tasteful clusters along the bottom half. The thread, metallic gold and bronze and emerald, glittered in the sunlight and, paired with my fur-lined boots and emerald obi, I was feeling pretty fucking fab.

Mikoto looked lovely in bright scarlet, a pop of colour against her pale skin and dark features. In her ears, the earrings from Ensui and me glittered like droplets.

My hair was down, smoothed with a drop of Kaa-san's rose oil in an attempt to tame The Frizz, but pinned from my face with a collection of leaves, small and tasteful and nice. Ino had helped me collect them, choosing ones that were whole and without any disease or rotting. She'd been pretty fucking insistent that they were all imperfectly orange, liking the ones with green tips or yellow centres much more. Incorrigible little brat~

Mikoto's hair was pinned back on one side with a discreet but cheerful sprig of holly. She'd make the prettiest Mrs Claus I'd ever seen…

The clock struck two, the street outside our window filled with bustling shoppers and merchants alike, and I opened the doors with great flourish.

Silk and gossamer were strung from the ceiling in great, billowing banners, every colour of the sunset and blazing in the sunlight. The counter was filled with the desserts, many of them hot puddings to ward off the chill, and the delicate scent of slow-cooked persimmon and cinnamon and chocolate drifted out onto the street.

The customers came forwards in a small, curious trickle. Opening up the free-standing signs I'd decorated earlier, I couldn't help but grin at the murmurs of surprise.

"Happy Kaki day!

To celebrate the harvest of Fire Country's most famous fruit, Nekki's is having a party! Come and enjoy our warm menu, for this week only, and we'll be hosting late into the evening too:

2pm - 10pm"

(I hadn't been able to get my hands on any sparklers, they were already stocking up for new years and low at the moment after the Kyuubi festival, but Mikoto had argued that it was probably for the best. Children running around with fire on a busy street? Maybe not. But we could still have a lovely evening together and the shop was bound to look amazing in the lantern light!)

The children came first, babbling and curious about the redecoration and their parents followed after.

"Free taste of Hoshigaki?" I beamed, whipping out a tray and moving to stand by the door. It was (unfortunately, I know) nothing to do with hottie-Kisame, but sugared and dried Kaki, courtesy of Mikoto. In fact, most of the recipes here had been spearhead by Mikoto...I wasn't as good with the Japanese recipes (ironic, I fucking know) as the Uchiha Matriarch. After seeing me flounder last night, Mikoto having come straight over to help after closing, she'd smoothly taken over, showing me the confidence of each motion until I felt like I could replicate it.

(-"my mother," Mikoto smiled, a tiny and sad quirk of her lip, down at the Kaki jelly she was sieving. "My mother liked to cook, whenever she could...she'd learnt as a little girl from her Oji-sama.")

So, I'd decided to stick by the door for a while before moving to back up Mikoto at the counter. I was more approachable to the kids, and adults, for one...and Mikoto was doing fabulously well, for another.

Soon, the street around Nekki's was filled with curious villagers, most of them tucking into one of our orders.

Not long after, just past 3 pm, the ninja came calling too, familiar and unfamiliar faces alike. Nee-chan and Raidou were there, sipping tea in the corner and speaking in low tones. Thanks to my slightly enhanced senses, even the bakery couldn't hide their usual scent of attraction (the chemistry between them was the main reason I'd been so bloody persistent for so long). I didn't approach, however, deciding the play the waiting game for a while longer (didn't stop them from looking ready to bolt every time I opened my mouth around them. I'm not gonna lie, I almost died with laughter inside).

"Tou-san!" I grinned, bounding over and masterfully keeping my tray of hot Kaki tea from spilling. "You made it!"

The tray was dumped unceremoniously on the nearest surface (on a cart between the leeks and pak choy) and my dad swooped me into a hug.

"I told you I'd be back!" The older man laughed, swinging me round in a lazy twirl before setting me back down. He didn't let go, however, and I could feel Hitoshi rubbing his shoulder to my spine in blasé greeting. "Couldn't miss Kaki Day, right?" A chocolate eye winked outrageously but I didn't have the heart to pop his bubble, as usual.

I hadn't thought he'd be able to make it back in time, like with the other milestones at Nekki's. Sure, it was a celebration of my own ulterior motive but...I was still glad.

After all, I was still just a little girl, missing her dad.

The tw-three of us Dazai then strolled back towards the shop, where Sora-oba insisted my dad sit down with tea and cake. Apparently, he'd only stopped to report and for a quick shower before coming over...but I wasn't blind to how he'd slipped a letter to his best friend's wife, smiling pleasantly all the while. Food for thought, later.

I mercilessly threw Hitoshi at the children and walked away as they pulled and tugged at the imposing summon, smirking all the while. No regrets~

By four o'clock, Shisui had come round too, reluctantly allowing himself to be pushed by Itachi and with Sasuke scampering alongside.

"Good afternoon, Itachi-kun, Sasuke-chan," I smiled warmly, the tray of tasters extended like a peace offering. I'm not going to push, Itachi. I haven't pushed for months...we used to be friends.

Sasuke, adorable little shit that he was, turned his nose up as soon as he realised that the vaguely-tomato-looking fruits weren't his beloved favourites. And, by 'favourites', I meant that I wouldn't be surprised if the boy ran off to start his own plantation. Kami.

Tension broken (slightly, er, I hoped), Mikoto's eldest offered me a tiny smile, reaching for a small Kaki Yokan (persimmon-flavoured Kanten jelly cake) and biting into it delicately.

Then Shisui had to pipe up.

"What, Ki-chan?" he gaped, looking for all the world like a clown...but I saw the sharp gleam of understanding in those dark eyes and nearly throttled him. Break the tension, my ass! "No greeting, no dessert for your best friend?"

I clamped down on my laughter before I lost the treats on my tray. "But Shi-kun," I returned the favour, "Tetsu and Izumo are on Gate Duty today-" his eye twitched, "-and Ensui is still at work!"

Smug beyond belief, I turned to offer a hand to Sasuke-chibi. "I have some tomatoes hidden in the back from your lunch last week~"

The little duck-haired boy did a complete 1-80 on me, flipping from sullen to intrigued like masks of a mime.

The rest of the kids arrived an hour later, Ino (god, she'd dressed in gold, the little minx!) spearheading the advance with a hand clamped on Shika's collar and the other looped through Naturo's. Chouji took up the rear, with the air of someone having dodged a nuclear missile (I didn't know how that would even work but, by god, it was accurate).

Absently, I wondered how the fuck my imouto managed to keep track of a boy I'd spent months looking for. Automatically, my eyes swept over the surrounding rooftops, although I didn't believe for a second the ANBU would let me catch a glimpse. Sarutobi...what game are you playing?

He let me throw a fucking birthday party for the boy but I couldn't find him on a day-to-day basis?! Sure, I'd mentioned Minato just a little but his thought process was honestly bewildering me.

(I didn't like to think that, maybe, Naruto was avoiding me all on his lonesome. After all, he'd been perfectly happy to see me when we did meet-)

"Nee-chan!" and the brats were upon me.

Have I ever mentioned how difficult it is to work with brats underfoot? On a normal day, I could manage because Shikamaru would just sleep with Hitoshi, Chouji was always in his best behaviour and willing to help when I had the time to keep an eye on him. Ino...so long as she was perched in the very centre of the counter and could talk all she wanted to a captive audience, it was all A-okay. Not today though! It was busy, the shop having essentially spilt out into the street, and I almost died when Shikamaru latched onto my arm.

I held my breath when the pack of brats caught sight of the Uchiha boys and Naruto and Ino-

Completely ignored them.

Holy shit, what the fuck-?

I checked my vision for a second, blind to Chouji taking a handful of tasters from my tray, but yep.

Uchiha Sasuke, future fan-girl killer, was being ignored.

The best bit?

He was looking straight at them.

I had to turn away before my howls of laughter frightened off the customers.

The children also received little autumn-garland bracelets I'd commissioned from Sora-oba (Kaiya had helped, swollen feet up and expression determined despite how ill she'd been, Ino and Chouji helping too) and-

Well, speaking of…"Oba-san!" I beamed, bent over to help a little redhead fasten her token around her chubby wrist. Behind me, Ino was shoving the warm Kaki crumble on the trio of boys, insisting that it was the best because she'd helped and they all had to try it. I think the people in Suna haven't heard yet, Ino, Naruto, scream it louder?!

The brunette smiled warmly, arms full of flowers and with a large wicker basket on her hip.

"Happy Kaki day," I recited with a cheeky grin.

"Happy Kaki day," she laughed back, glancing around the street and noticing the several curious onlookers (my fellow shopkeepers eavesdropping too). "Yamanaka Flowers has a gift for Nekki's," She continued, hefting up her armfuls as if they hadn't been eye-catching the moment she rounded onto the marketplace. "May you have an abundant winter, from our shop to yours."

Well, fuck. If that didn't sound like a tradition starting or what!

My grin was reaching Cheshire cat proportions and I hoped I wasn't traumatising anyone. Fuck, but I'd forgotten how awesome the Merchant's Festival was, haha!

"Thank you for your kindness and generosity," I made up on the fly, relaxing a bit when Sora dipped her chin in a regal little nod of 'go-on'. "Please join our celebrations; all that is ours is yours~"

My aunt smiled delightedly as the street, cheeky eavesdroppers, buzzed quietly over our little show. Good god, I'd not asked Sora to do that.

Wow. Had I said anything wrong or-? I glanced up to catch soft toffee eyes as the Yamanaka Matriarch set her offerings on the counter behind the till.

"Was that okay?" I hissed, helping her find the flowers a nice jug for display, "I didn't even know what to say…"

Sora laughed lightly, whipping out two milk jugs (metal, litres-worth) and filling them in the sink. "Unorthodox but sweet," she reassured me, smiling when she caught Mikoto's eye. "Good afternoon, Mikoto-sama, the holly looks well."

Sorting out the teapot, pale fingers reached as if to touch the sharp leaves. "I'm glad you think so, Sora-sama," A laughing glint lit Mikoto's dark eyes, "you are the expert, after all."

Both mothers chuckled, Sora moving to place the two bouquets in the window as Mikoto started on a mass-order of Kaki-flavoured tea. As for myself, I set about serving up the hot puddings, curls of enticing steam visible in the crisp autumn air, and smiling to myself at how well the mothers got on. It was a casual friendliness but, considering how (discreetly) nervous Mikoto had been when she'd first started helping out and had seen Sora for the first time (in a while) that wasn't a formal occasion...I was chuffed.

What with Mikoto's popularity at the stall, Akane's consistent presence in the clothing sector and Ensui's enlistment into the Force, I was feeling hopeful. More hopeful that I had ever really dared. The proof was in the pudding, they said, and, from where I was standing?

It looked pretty sweet to me.

…...

Most people, when they turned 20, got absolutely wasted.

That's not to say Ensui didn't. Because he did. And he had a blinding headache to prove it.

Most people didn't get legless when they had work early the next morning. As a Police Officer. And had a 10 am meeting with the Chief too.

In his defence...Ensui hadn't been the one to suggest it.

Shisui was only recently turned 15 but he'd been allowed to drink ever since he'd graduated. That night, when Ensui turned eighteen and Kiharu had dragged a drunken Shisui back to her house to sleep off the alcohol, they'd not technically broken any rules. Well, besides the parents' ones.

This time, Shisui had dragged Kiharu around to Ensui's flat.

Even though it was a milestone birthday (no longer a teen...huh), Ensui hadn't actually planned a party. He'd come straight back from work to find himself being browbeaten into coming over to his Aunt's.

Where she was holding a dinner party. Fuck. It had really been an event in itself with all the attending Clan members. Not to mention the Yamanaka and the Akimichi. The Dazai had shown up too, bearing three different desserts and dragging along Shisui as a 'plus one'. Seiichi-san had been in one of his playful moods, swinging Ino around when she raced to greet him and whining when Kiharu slapped his hands away from her offerings. (They were so alike.)

It had been utter chaos. Too many people squashed in the Nara house, loud and bright and busy. The kids had been underfoot, Ino insisting on riding his shoulders (honestly, Ensui just figured that she'd twigged he was the centre of attention and was riding his coattails) and Shikamaru going missing for a brief period. Well, until Kiharu, perched on the arm of Shisui's wheelchair, extracted herself and disappeared for five minutes. When she came back, she had a sleeping Shikamaru on her back and a secretive smile when asked where he was.

"The roof, stargazing.." She'd whispered into the shell of his ear when, during dinner, he'd shifted to pass her the rice.

He'd wondered how she'd even got up there. (In the morning, Ensui would find angry scratches on a nearby tree and realise the little sneak had cheated, getting her panther to scale up, jump across and bring the wayward Heir back.)

It had been an exhausted Ensui that had arrived back at his flat, already dangerously late. He'd face-planted his mattress, uncaring for the eyeliner that still traced his lids and his fully dressed state.

His eyes had closed for a minute.

Someone then started knocking on his door.

Which led us, to here.

With a sigh, that resonated from his toes to the tip of his ponytail, Ensui rolled out of bed and landed on his back with a muted 'thump'.

A staggering walk to the front door and he'd unlocked the safety chain, dismantled his traps and swung open the door to reveal…

"What the hell are you two doing here?"

Shisui, one arm slung over the shorter brunette (whose eyes were rolled upwards, as if asking for divine intervention), shook a sake bottle in the Nara's face. From the half-empty sloshing, it appeared the two had already started. Urgh, why did my friends have to be so much younger than me…?

"You're 20!" He was aware- "We're celebrating of course!"

Something vaguely wrong tweaked at Ensui's exhausted mind and his eyes trailed downwards before popping wide.

"And where the fuck is your bloody chair?" Truly, the Uchiha was wheelchair-less. "Hitoshi!"

The panther in question, dangerously agitated at his current occupation of Steed, flashed his fangs in a silent snarl. Behind the trio, in the darkness of his building's corridor, Ensui could just about make out the angry lashing of the carnivore's long tail.

The Nara wisely took a step back.

"This idiot," Kiharu jerked her chin at the curly-haired teen, who looked mortally affronted, "wanted to surprise you with his progress in physiotherapy. Unfortunately, he forgot that putting weight on his legs for a few minutes doesn't mean he can walk all the way to your place. Idiot."

"Kiiiii~" The dumbass in question whined but Ensui cut him off before he could pick up speed. Kami knew they could banter and bicker like they were the only two in the world if they were allowed to get going...

"Listen, you two…" Ensui scrubbed his face with his left hand, his right still barring the trio from entering. "I have an important meeting first thing and, Kiharu, you're twelve! And think about what happened last time you drank, Shisui!"

Kiharu, the most responsible of the two (and wasn't that a telling thought), seemed pretty undeterred, muttering under her breath about cocktails and being good (Kami, she was a worrying girl) whilst Shisui resorted to fluttering his lashes.

It was obvious they weren't going to leave, at least not anytime soon, so he eventually sighed, slumping back from the doorway with a put-upon reluctance.

Shisui was dumped on his sofa with little ceremony and the aggravated summon slunk into the furthest corner. Hitoshi was a touch too responsible to leave his charge unattended but had absolutely zero qualms making his displeasure known.

His unhappy rumbles fairly vibrated the floor and Ensui prayed his neighbours were heavy sleepers. Complaints to the landlord, a terrifying retired ANBU, was the last thing he needed after today.

Kiharu was, seemingly, a little more sensitive. Making a beeline for his kitchenette, after making sure Shisui was fine, she pulled out a couple of glasses and started pouring the alcohol.

He had work the next morning, the Chief no doubt wanting an update on his tentative (awfully slow; he had to be so, so careful not to arouse suspicion or move too suddenly)-

Kiharu poured something that looked like juice - pomegranate or cranberry, he couldn't tell - into each glass before shoving it in his hand.

"It's dangerous to drink so young." He said.

"The juice makes it easier to binge." She replied.

He didn't ask how she knew, Shisui toasting him in the background as his terrible, terrible friends clinked glasses.

He downed the entire thing and it hit almost immediately. Well...Kiharu hadn't lied.

The night was a blur after that. Something happened with Hitoshi - Ensui thought he might've spilt the sake on him….that would explain the huge tear in his trouser leg - and Kiharu tried to ride his back at some point. Shisui egged her on...enabler.

The benefit of Shisui forsaking his wheelchair was that not only did it negate the chance of those two lunatics trying to go for a "drunken joyride", as Kiharu had cackled, but it also meant that Ensui only had to police the girl of the group. Shisui was just a terrible a drunk, as proven at his 18th, but at least he didn't move.

Kiharu was, truly, insane under the influence and Ensui half-dreaded, half-anticipated when she was old enough to hit the bars with him. Her humour, usually so mischievous and tongue-in-cheek, completely devolved. She couldn't even make it through the punchline without doubling over in hysterics and Shisui was no better. Lolling on his sofa, what he lacked in sheer chaotic energy, he more than made up for with presence. Whilst Ensui had been happy to just sit and nurse his drink, Shisui was determined to talk.

He talked about everything, from arguing with Kiharu about whether she had curls or waves (she insisted his hair was nicer and they defended each other's styles so fiercely, Ensui had to beg neutrality lest tears enter the equation) to nattering on about what weapons he needed to practice once he was cleared for training.

When the sun started peeking through the village, dusky amber beams illuminating the living room, Ensui awoke.

His cheek was pressed against the floor, vision blocked by his overturned coffee-table, and he was so stiff it was like he'd died and been reanimated. Fucking Kami...

The Nara Officer pried himself off the floor with a garbled oath, lashes sticking together in a way that let him know his makeup was smudged all over his face (nails ruined too, by the looks of it, fuck)...only to freeze at the bombsight around him.

The living room was empty but a mess. Had his sofa moved? The blinds were open and, fuck, that sunlight was bloody unwelcome.

A bare foot in the doorway let him know where Kiharu had wound up. How the hell did Shisui move from the sofa...oh?

Kiharu had dragged him to the kitchen so he could watch her next alcoholic experiment. (Ensui understood that she was always trying stuff with her baking but...since when did that extend to binge drinking? Hell, Seiichi-san was going to kill him-)

A glance at the clock and he was scrambling, ignoring the queasy rolling of his stomach and how his vision tipped slightly once he'd straightened up. Who cared that the alcohol hadn't fully left his system yet- he had work, dammit!

Which led him to this most recent clusterfuck.

Knowing that he looked like shit, felt even worse and that there were two hungover lunatics in his trashed apartment was migraine-inducing. The knowing look on Fugaku-sama's face was awful. The topic? It only made his head pound all the harder.

"Sergeant Nara, this is Detective Uchiha Ryuu. He's been made fully aware of the situation regarding tamperings."

Black eyes, set in a face that was uncomfortably pretty, glittered like an oil slick.

Fuck, it was one of the guys who'd hated him from Day One.

Kami, I'm too drunk for this shit.

…..

After Ensui's birthday fiasco of fun (memo to self: underage drinking is terrible - don't do it, you idiot. Shisui was a bad drunk...and even worse hungover), November passed with all the speed and excitement of Formula One.

Ergo, it needed to take a chill pill.

The Kaki day was a roaring success and the number of families visiting the bakery had never been higher. Despite the stress of having literally dumped a surprise festival on the village, I was buzzing from the success, especially considering the usual dip in sale in the winter.

Another winning point? Naruto had hovered around more, seemingly wary of me (fucking ouch) but determined to argue about every damn thing with my imouto.

Some people might've thought it endearing or, like Shisui, a sign that they'd one day fall madly in love.

I was having serious regrets.

Surely, Naruto could've just been playmates with Sasuke? They could've got all the obsessed-not-hate over and done with before the academy and jumped straight to dating once they hit their teens…!

I'd thought I was being so fucking clever, oh-ho. Get the social-reject best buddies with an Heiress, the popular girl in her class, and bingo! Naruto is socialised, Ino learns tolerance and true bonds away from vapid fangirls, and boom...I help both kids.

For once, I'd not factored my own suffering into the equation.

"Nee-chan, Nee-chan! Naruto says that toads are better than cats - he's so wrong, prove it-!"

"Toads rule-!"

Eyes clenched shut as if willful blindness could block out the screeches too, I waved away any chance of a peaceful morning.

Tucked under my chin and perched in my lap (he was getting so big), Shikamaru let out a low whimper. It was muffled by my neck and the large shawl comfortably wrapped around us to ward off the chill, but I squeezed him tighter in understanding. I was pretty exhausted too.

"Ino….you shouldn't drag him around by his neck." The small blonde turned, captive crushed in the crook of her elbow, and levelled me with a supremely unimpressed look. I really shouldn't have taught her that.

"It's the only way to keep a hold on him! Duh!"

I viciously suppressed mental comparisons between Mama Cats carrying their cubs and the duo before me.

I failed.

"Ino, sweetie, you're going to strangle him…"

"No, I'm not!" Ino gave her captive a rattle, arms still looped around his shoulders and neck as if to illustrate her point. "See! He's totally fine!"

I really think Naturo's bewildered smile wasn't helping my case. Sure, the boy had been playfully struggling when I first arrived - and no, I wasn't trying to gloss over a possibly hurtful scenario but Naru had been laughing, okay? - but, hearing Ino's unfailing confidence that it was all just for the bants, he'd looked pretty chuffed. Add on the jacket from his birthday, Ino's beads still in his hair and the oversized scarf around his neck, he really was a little too willing.

(I'd had friends from abusive families, who were so touched and overwhelmed by the simplest acts of kindness and care...they hadn't understood that they deserved that and more and I didn't want Naruto to feel indebted-)

I reminded myself that Naruto had never really played with other kids (and by 'really', I meant 'at all') so Ino's very special brand of Tough Love, Shika and myself knew better than most, wasn't actually common behaviour.

Hand on my hip (the other keeping a grip on a certain sleepy Nara-koala), I surveyed the two of them for a long moment.

"Fine." The younger blonde immediately started crowing, face still squashed as it was in my imouto's pit. "But don't be mean, Ino," I sent her a quelling look, knowing that, being raised by her parents and myself, she was much more emotionally intelligent than others might have thought possible. Her expression didn't change but I could see the gleam of understanding in her blue eyes. "And no dying!" I winked.

They were gone before I'd even finished and I rolled my eyes upwards. Good god.

Sensing that his loud playmates had left, Shikamaru relaxed. He said nothing but snuggled closer, napping despite the disruption and the bustle of the park.

December was turning out to be just as bitterly cold as I'd feared. If I'd thought I could've managed it, I would have gone into hibernation.

As it was, I was, unfortunately, having to fully function. So, I'd never been fucking happier to run the hot counter, basking over the heat and avoiding the draft from the door as much as possible. And on my break?

Shika always seemed to know when I was having mine, skittering inside with as much hatred of the cold as myself. The huge, knitted shawl from Yuri-oba around my shoulders was opened in welcome and the little boy would crawl into my lap at the counter.

Unfortunately, I couldn't waste time like that was the month dragged on.

December arrived in a flurry of snowfall and my sales finally took their inevitable hit. Imported food from the warmer countries, seeing as our fields had frozen over, meant that people were spending less. Even my foray into more traditional foods (minus Dango because hiss, hiss, fuck no) couldn't keep the customers flowing. Whilst, arguably, this meant I surely did have more time to play with the kids, I had been right earlier.

There really was no rest for the wicked.

Investing in the help of Hana, I'd started making my own recipes, not just regurgitating the ones from before and...well...there was a fuck tonne of hit and misses.

After the second say of enlisting her help (after school), Hana was convinced the job of taste-tester was more of a punishment than any kind of favour.

Hana had actually been my first port of call for the help, with a much more refined palette than my gross male friends. I was also, so sue me, craving some girl time. Ensui was working and Shisui was with Itachi and Sasuke (he would legit eat anything so he's not a good opinion-giver) so it was perfect! The stars had aligned~

"It's...interesting," Hana allowed, mouth pinched after taking the smallest amount possible.

Across from her, I slumped like a marionette with its strings cut.

"What's wrong with it this time, huh?"

The academy student shrugged helplessly. "Are you sure beetroot makes a good pudding? It tastes like it looks...like dirt, senpai."

Um...ouch. "Yes!" I insisted stubbornly, shoving aside the voice in my head that pointed out how I couldn't be expected to remember every recipe. God knows only common sense had seen my Churros turn out so well. Cheesecakes were the easiest, the basic recipe only expanded upon. It was when new techniques or very different flavours came into play that I really had to experiment. "I just need to work out the right amount of sweeter to counteract the earthy veggies!"

The Heiress still looked dubious but I gracefully ignored it, reaching to take back Number 5 of the mini-pudding samples I'd made and noted the issue down on my sketchbook.

I ignored the look of dread that passed over her face when I started making beetroot, cherry and chocolate crumble.

"How was school today?" I asked, half distracted as I checked on the Yondaime's in the oven. "You said you had a test?"

God, I couldn't believe she only had a year left of the academy once winter was over! Awww, I remember meeting her at the inauguration, when I slicked dad's hair into spikes and Hana giggled...we're so big now.

The Inuzuka rolled her eyes, tossing the Triplets a few dogs treats I kept in a jar for these visits. I liked dogs.

"Fine, fine...although you'd have killed everyone if you were there."

I smirked, setting aside the pudding mixture and pulling over my bag of nail polish. "Colour?" Hana surveyed my options (extensive, you know me and Ensui) before tapping on the cherry red. "Nice, it'll match your tattoos." We shared a grin before I waved for Hana to continue, reaching for the file. "Go on~"

"Well, there's a pretty civilian boy in my class and he's quick," here, Hana's nose wrinkled in disgust and I smiled to myself, focusing on not smearing the delicate red on her cuticles. "But everyone goes on about him like he's Kami's gift!"

"Is he rude or stuck up?" My pink tongue stuck out a bit as I carefully brushed over her little pinky.

An awkward pause. "Well...no. But he's so smug!"

Navy-sapphire eyes flickered up to stare into Hana's. The Heiress's eyes looked black but, in reality, they were streaked with dark amber, barely visible unless hit by the sunlight. They were super pretty.

"You're worried you'll end up on a team with him, because you're Top Kunoichi and he's got a chance at Rookie, and he'll just be all talk."

She grimaced but, notably, didn't deny it.

I pursed my lips and wondered if I had any right to give advice here. I mean...I'd noped so hard out of ninja-dom, I was probably on a watch list. Either for crazies or extremists. (I mean, comparing my democratic-socialism to the feudal dictatorship...they weren't wrong.)

"Everyone has strength, Hana. And you'll be students for a long while yet...if you were perfect from day one, you wouldn't be at the academy. If," I shot her a droll look, "and I mean if, he is a worthless ninja...he'll either learn quickly or drop out." The 'or else' went unsaid.

We were silent for a long moment as I finished her thumb and screwed the bottle back up. We were right; they did match her cheeks, really nicely too.

"I didn't think you'd..." Hana trailed off and I smiled grimly, hopping down from my stool at the island and pulling the final tray of Yondaime's from the oven.

"I know. But it's a career and almost...almost everyone I love has chosen it. If you do something, do it with everything you are."

Murderers, mercenaries...But I couldn't stop loving them. There had been no question.

I glanced at the ruby nails glittering on Hana's hands. One day soon, that'll be real blood.

(But did I not have blood on my own?)

"Come on," I sighed, forcing a smile onto my lips that didn't feel half as stiff as expected. Hana was sensitive, as were her ninken, but I was grateful that she'd obviously decided to let me slide. Still aware of her wet nails (I'd kill her if they smudged, red was such a stain), I was left to carry the still-warm tarts towards Ichiraku's.

"Evening, Teuchi-san!" I smiled, ducking under the banners with Hana half a step behind. The man in question, just chopping up some ingredients, raised his head to eye-smile in our direction. Behind him, Ayame waved excitedly, elbow-deep in the sink.

"The usual?"

"Eighteen Yondaime's, fresh from the oven," I confirmed, eying the free stools before turning to Hana (who still had her wet fingers spread, hehe). "Dinner, Hana?"

The short- wait, fuck, we were the same height - when did that happen?! - other brunette snorted, hopping up on the nearest stool and whistling sharply for the wandering puppies to sit around us. Which they did, one of them slumping to lean heavily against my foot. Ahhh, I've been blessed~

"Your idea, your tab, right?" She grinned, a sharp tooth peeking out, and I rolled my eyes in return.

"Good luck eating with those wet nails, then!" I said, tilting my head towards where Teuchi's had automatically started on our usuals. Hehe, you were good, young grasshopper...but there is much trolling to be learned yet.

"Bring it!"

Low laughter interrupted our bickering and I turned to greet Ayame, who was wiping the suds from her arms. "Kiharu-senpai, Hana-chan, I hope you don't plan to scare our other customers!"

As one, Hana and I grinned. Viciously, I might add.

"I'm trying to up sales, Ayame-chan," I rolled my eyes when the moment passed. "And traumatising my business partner doesn't fit into that."

"'Up sales'?" Hana twisted in her seat to face me completely as Ayame leaned forward over the counter. Even Teuchi slowed down as he listened in.

I gave it up as a loss. "I'm thinking about expanding."

The effect was immediate, Teuchi and Ayame exchanging surprised smiles. Hana, as expected, was much more shrewd.

"Why? And can you even afford that right now, I thought winter was a bad season for you."

"Well," I blustered, huffing internally that a 10-year-old had no business looking so intent, even if she was an Heiress with all that bullshit. "Hitoshi tells me we're doing very well-"

Cricket pause.

"Hitoshi?! You left the accounting to the panther?!"

"Listen," I patiently placated the academy student, hands aloft like she was a wild creature. "I don't think you understand how awful I am with maths. Hitoshi is as smart, if not smarter, than any adult and he's much more level-headed!"

Hana was gobsmacked and even the father-daughter duo looked beyond bewildered.

I'd re-sat my maths exam, guys, and had never actually got 'round to memorising all my time's tables. Don't look at me for maths.

…..

December was bitterly cold. I hated the cold. I'd said that before, right?

Ninja wore open-toe sandals and sleeveless vests and they're toasty warm 24/7. Panthers are too well insulated for plebeian things like getting cold.

For me? I was swamped in about eight layers; leggings under trousers, under my yukata, under my coat. I had on two different kinds of vests, a long-sleeved tee and that damned yukata. And coat, don't forget the coat.

Add on two pairs of socks, fur-lined boots, hat, scarf and gloves and...hey presto!

"You sicken me." I hissed, scarf pulled over my nose and teeth still stubbornly chattering.

From their posts, Izumo and Kotetsu placed a hand (only donned in the usual weapon-protected fingerless issue) on their chests. Considering the fact they did it in sync and were wearing identical expressions of hurt, I was rightfully disgusted.

"It's December, Kiharu-chan," Izumo noted, act falling away first. "If this is you when it's only frosting, you're going to suffer come the snow and ha-"

Kotetsu leaned forwards from where he'd slumped in his chair. "Low blood sugar or something? Surely that ain't natural.."

Crikey, I wasn't a fucking rare species, Tetsu.

"'Low blood sugar'?" Izumo stared at Kotetsu like he was a new level of stupid. "With her diet?-"

"Oi!"

"-Kiharu is more likely to have a vitamin deficiency-"

"I eat well-rounded meals-" I tried to pipe in. God, when I'd wandered down to see the boys on my break, I hadn't gone looking for a paediatrician.

"The brat is just unhealthy," a rumbling, unwelcome growl cut through the boys' nonsensical babble. I didn't even know Kotetsu knew words like 'anaemia'. I turned slowly to give Hitoshi the gimlet eye. So much for 'I'll stay here'. "She eats all day and does little else."

I kicked a rock at him. "If you're saying I'm fat, I'll have you know I'm in several layers! And you chase me. Through the woods. Until I collapse. Daily."

Kotetsu made a sound like a choking turkey. Pacifist, swacifist- I lobbed the next rock at his head, over my shoulder, and turned to see it bonk off his chest. Had he grown again? Teenage boys were weeds.

Hitoshi sniffed, prissy as a Capital Courtesan. Fucker.

"What?" I snapped, still huddled like a clothes version of Cousin It from The Addams Family. "You want to train me, is that it? Another bid to make me a ninja, a fighter at the very least?"

Emerald eyes fairly glowed against the bleak, grey landscape.

I tossed the bag of piping-hot Churros at Izumo, still warm from where I'd kept them tucked protectively inside my coat. If a bit crushed. The Chuunin caught it, smiling in thanks even as he continued to eye my summon with a careful expression. "Enjoy your lunch boys," I tucked my hands into my pockets. "It's on me."

I didn't glance back at Hitoshi or the duo as I jogged back inside the Village walls.

I got it. I really did.

But Hitoshi knew I was a pacifist. He knew my political, in this climate, extremism with socialist inclines. I didn't like Dictatorship at all, even if the Head Honcho themselves was someone I knew or liked (Minato).

That didn't mean he necessarily agreed.

Long ago, Hitoshi had told me that, as a panther, he didn't care about politics or social hierarchy. There was the Home (territory), the Mission (the hunt) and the Pride (the three of us, very minutely extended to those dad and I loved too). That was really it.

So, he didn't want me to be a ninja out of any kind of status quo. This was all about him being a predator, in a society of predators. (Not the sexual kind, although I was certain they existed too.)

As things stood right now, I was prey.

"Kiharu-chan!" Mikoto smiled when I reentered the stall, halting me as I slowly worked on peeling off my numerous layers. "Shisui-kun is getting his crutches today. Take the afternoon to go with him?"

I glanced around and noted that all of our current customers had already been served and seemed plenty happy. The Uchiha Matriarch was wiping down the counter with a wet rag, a cup of tea steaming to the side.

Hitoshi was probably on his way back here, taking his time to give me the illusion of space.

"Sure thing! Thanks, Hime!"

The bell chimed as I left.

The physiotherapy clinic was a small building, tucked in behind the hospital and facing towards civilian neighbourhoods. As it was, it was around a half an hour walk.

Coasting on the back of Shisui's wheelchair, after I'd swung by his place to find him?

Pfft, Shi and I blazed it in 15!

"Ruffians!" An old lady yelled in our wake, crane lifted to wag angrily at us.

Shisui merely pumped more chakra into the wheels as I threw my weight to the side, tilting us onto a single wheel as we skidded around the corner over the icy pavement, like some strange bobsleigh.

"Woooo!" I yelled, cry stuttering as the wheelchair fell back onto both wheels with a heavy clatter. God but these things were well built, no weakness or loss of grip at all! Well, they had to be to survive Gai. Shisui, bent forward like some kind of chariot rider, was silent but he'd been laughing like a maniac when we'd done a slippery wheelie in the main square, so I figured he was just that into it. Crikey, we should have done this more often, Officers catching us be damned. As it was Shisui's last wheelchair ride, we'd decided to indulge. Hitoshi, fighting and, fuck, even my dreams were washed away in the thrill of the ride.

(Out of Kiharu's line of sight, Shisui was grinning from ear to ear with eyes aflame with delight. Kiharu was all but crying with laughter, a rare and unrestrained shriek of joy that Shisui revelled in. How long had it been since they'd been so carefree? Too long, Ensui's birthday having been a riot from the sake and alcohol. But now, with no substances and no inhibitions, Shisui couldn't have been happier. Who knew Kiharu was an adrenaline junkie? His Shunshin was probably way too fast, without a Sharingan, for her to even consider enjoying-)

"Faster! Faster!"

Shisui was more than happy to oblige and we skidded dangerously down the next street, only slowing when I noticed the clinic was around the next bend and tapped on the older boy's shoulder.

I ducked my head, shoulders hunched down to reach, and the rocking of the abused chair kept on bumping my lips against the shell of Shisui's ear. "We're almost there, Shisui, we might want to start slowing down."

Ears scarlet, no doubt from the bitter wind, Shisui nodded and reluctantly started withdrawing the chakra from the wheels. When we finally rolled to a stop, a bit underwhelming after our fuck-crazy joyride, I whistled innocently as I hopped off the back bar and started pushing towards the access ramp. The wheels crunched over the frost and the ramp was uncomfortably slippery.

We were the picture of innocence~

"Don't think I didn't see that, Uchiha-san," the receptionist, Rai-san, giggled. She was a pretty girl, auburn waves brushing her collarbones and happy brown eyes twinkling. Shisui was still bright red and I was abruptly reminded that he was fifteen and Rai was only a few years older than him, seventeen if I remembered correctly. Did Shisui fancy her? Not to jump to conclusions on who he was attracted to.

Was Rai, I pondered as said girl rose to escort us to the waiting room. The clinic was private, ninja only, and it showed. Was Rai his first crush?

Somehow, the idea of Shisui having things like crushes was...phenomenally bizarre to me. Maybe it was because I'd yet to have my own in this body, aside from fangirling over Minato and Shikaku. Maybe it was because I'd never really been this close to a boy at this age, had never watched one go through puberty like this.

(Maybe I was just being my usual, possessive, asshole self and didn't want to share my best friend.)

The waiting room was empty, aside from a long fish tank running along the back wall. My mind desperately repressed memories of Nemo-

Nope, too late...duh, duh, duh...DARLA!

The walls were a 'soothing' mint green that really just made me think of seasickness and general feelings of queasiness. A couple of old armchairs dotted the space, the cream wooden floor empty besides a low coffee table. Where before there would've been a depressing selection of old, trashy magazines, here they had a neat little pile of books. I pursued the titles as Shisui confirmed his patient details in a low voice behind me.

Ninja...ninja...weapons, so ninja...Oooh, a history one!

I glanced at the title before snorting. Senju Tobirama. Oh, naturally.

The volume was thick, bound in the kind of cheap covering that was so at odds with the famous author that I knew it had probably been mass-printed and this was only one of many readily available copies. Well, I'd hardly expect something like a Forbidden, super-duper secrety-secret tome to fall into my grasp. No matter how private this stupid clinic was.

Ha! I bet you thought I was gonna start fawning on about an OP source of power falling into my grasp. Pfft, get real. This isn't a fanfic, you know.

The book itself, when I cracked it open for a look, was incredibly dry. A tiny font, that was killer to read with my crap skills, and, from what I could decipher, a bone-dry-boring tone. Fuck that. Tobirama...so gorgeous, so smart...why are you like this...

Shisui, I noticed when I turned away from Tobirama's book, was grinning massively. "Excited, Shisui-kun?" I smiled knowingly.

"4 months in this stupid chair, Kiharu," the curly-haired boy shook his head, tapping a hand on the armrest. "They said at the start it would take a while because of the reconstruction but…"

My smile was considerably softer when Shisui looked up at me again. "At last, hm?"

"Uchiha-san, the nurse is ready for you." Rai popped her head around the corner.

The nurse, Sara-san, was an older woman, middle-aged with a white stripe through her dark blue-black hair. I promise I tried not to compare her to a skunk.

I...failed…

When I plopped myself down into the chair beside Shisui's, I smiled winningly at the dubious expression on her face. I wasn't shy. If she asked me to leave, Shisui would probably roll over her foot.

"Right…" The older woman blinked, turning back to the folder. I shot a still-pinked Shisui a cheeky wink and he snorted softly. "Well, your legs have healed nicely, despite attempts to undermine that progress-" sharp eyes pierced the Jounin over the top of his file, "-and your rehabilitation therapist has written that your leg strength has started to return. Your independence regarding your chair has actually aided in your recovery; Your arm strength has not atrophied to the same extent as would be expected so you should find yourself able to travel a reasonable distance on your new crutches."

Shisui thumped a victorious fist discreetly against his hip. However, considering how close my chair was to his, he ended up knocking against mine too. I grinned at him, pleased and amused. Sara-san continued speaking, ignoring the thump-war that had broken out between us. Shisui and I were good multitaskers, though, and listened well as we pretended we weren't knocking knuckles.

"Your bi-weekly physio sessions are only going to be once a week for the next three, and then once a fortnight. If you can organise a trip with a healer, I'd recommend you take to the Naka, stretching your legs and trying some gentle kicking in the shallows will help you recover even quicker."

I could already see Shisui mentally planning to beg Akane-sama to go down tomorrow, if not today. I didn't doubt he'd completely forgotten that it was mid-winter.

"As for the rest, your medication will not be affected, although I'd recommend you only continue taking the max strength if you're in considerable pain. Now," The sharp clap of her hands in the quiet room was a surprise and I felt Shisui snicker when I jumped a bit at the noise. I dug a knuckle into his side in revenge. "What colour crutches would you like?"

"What...colour?" Shisui croaked.

I'll admit, it did sound surprisingly indulgent for a ninja clinic. Then again, Shinobi were ridiculously eclectic in their wardrobe and style, Genin and Jounin most notably. Was she just...humouring him? I mentally snickered.

"Grey," I piped up before Shisui. Two brows were quirked at me and I folded my arms defensively. "What? This way it goes with everything you could wear and not get too hot in the sun like black or navy might."

Sara-san smiled at me. "Grey it is."

…..

When dad left on his next mission, the middle of the week following Shisui's 'liberation', I found myself in an empty house, sans Hitoshi. Sora-oba had offered my usual room but...Hitoshi's words had stuck with me.

"She...does little else."

Maybe it had nothing to do with staying at home, in the dark with demons circling my imagination. It was a stupid thing to take away from that argument, really rather unrelated but.

But, if nothing else, I was honest with myself.

I was, I was discovering, a surprisingly bitter person. I didn't like to linger on the past too much, clean breaks healed so much quicker, but I was broody. I know, I know; it had come as a shock to me too. I had a huge chip in my shoulder. Independence. I'd scarcely allowed myself to ask Kaiya, Teuchi and Mikoto for help with the stall. Speaking up to Shisui about the Uchiha had been even worse, like blood from a stone.

Dealing with my own problems? I was an internalised.

Hitoshi, one of the few able to really get under my skin, made a casual comment about my lifestyle in a bid to persuade me to up my self-defence.

My response? No, thank you, Oba-san. I'll be fine on my own.

I wasn't a coward. I wasn't. (Right?)

I was a big girl, I could handle being alone in a blizzard...all night...with branches clawing at the windows...

Over four months after Danzo had fled, even longer since the whole issue with Tobi. The shadows no longer shifted, tingling my senses (and hadn't done for over two months so I guessed Raven was no longer charged with my protection). Either that or I was under even further suspicion and they were no longer affording me the courtesy of allowing me to sense them.

Wow. Way to ease your fears, Kiharu.

The snowfall had started earlier today, a gentle coating like icing sugar sieved over sponge cake. Heavier and heavier it fell, piling up in fluffy drifts and numbing the world. The sky, even late at night, was a smoky charcoal grey as the frosted rain continued to fall.

My bed was toasty warm, wrapped as I was in Tou-san's dressing gown under my duvet. The warm milk I'd had in an attempt to soothe myself, was a pleasant weight in my tummy and I was extremely comfortable.

That didn't mean I could sleep though.

My notebook lay open on my desk, a pale rectangle to my well-adjusted eyes. I'd written in it earlier, notes about songs I could only remember a line or two of for further perusal.

The bedside clock ticked.

It was 1 am and I had the opening shift in the morning.

Cheeks puffing out in a sigh, I rolled over again, feeling my eyelids ache with exhaustion. The day had been hard and I'd seen a woman in the market that looked a bit like kaa-san from behind and my feet had gotten wet and Iruka had hit an awkward growth spurt last week and looked so weird and-

My body begged for sleep but my mind churned.

Where was Danzo now? I mused, curling up on my side and tracing thoughtless fingers across the roped scar on my neck. Had he run to join Orochimaru? Made his own village?

I promise I tried not to think of him not having left Konoha at all. Keyword tried.

I marvelled over Shisui's progress with his crutches, how Itachi had slowly started popping into Nekki's again (rarely and only for a few minutes to see his mother). I wondered at the Uchiha, how the guards still maintained their distance but didn't seem to have the heart to ignore/dismiss me completely any more. How Ino had half-adopted Naruto, how Chouji was both excited for and dreading the new baby (if it made his mum so sick now, what would it be like when it arrived?) and how Shika slowed down even more in the colder months.

How dad had started leaving the village again, the extensive burns slowly fading to scars only slightly paler than his natural tan. How Hitoshi had started disappearing again, coming back bloody more than once.

Ensui worked tirelessly, dodging Yoshino and his coworkers like bullets raining down on the battlefield.

But my point was that everyone was moving on. Not like nothing had happened, but accepting and carrying on. I'd liked to think I was good at coping with stuff and I was but…

Why couldn't I just sleep?

A door opened and closed downstairs and I jerked upright, clutching the duvet to my chest as I held my breath.

Surely fucking not?

I tried to tell myself that an enemy, like the ROOT who'd tried to take my head, wouldn't be heard or noticed.

A creak on the stairs, the step I knew dad had purposely made creaky as a warning sign, and I threw myself towards the window. The apple tree in next door's garden was big enough that some branches were close enough-

"And what do you think you're doing?"

Smooth as fuck, I lunged to throw my alarm clock at his stupid head.

"You!" Hitoshi blinked. "What are you doing? I thought it was a psychopath!"

Slinking in a gracefully swagger towards my bed, the panther made himself comfortable on top of the discarded duvet. Coincidentally in such a way that prevented me from joining him. "Your imagination is as laughable as your escape plan."

"It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you." I recited, arms folded defensively and hip popped.

Emerald eyes, glowing in the dark, narrowed. "Save such drivel for Shinobi. I was under the impression that civilians, such as yourself, had no reason to hold to such teachings."

My eye twitched, whether from his bullshit or plain exhaustion, I couldn't tell. "Tell that to someone who hasn't had attempts on their life."

My summon seemed to realise something and glanced at the clock on the floor, the one I'd thrown. "You still cannot sleep…" his rasping growl mused.

Sapphire sharpened. "'Still'?"

The panther licked a long stripe over his paw, which was annoyingly-endearingly domestic. "Do not take me for a fool, cub. I sleep lightly and right beside you. You do not rest as you once did."

I didn't answer. There wasn't a point.

"I…" The huge carnivore heaved a sigh, lost for words for once, and I slowly perched on the bed beside him. "I believe I...spoke too harshly."

My brain stalled. What.

A dark muzzle nudged my cheek, emerald eyes blazing angrily as if it was my fault he was feeling any emotion other than self-pride. "You are not weak-" I swallowed. Hard. "-no cub raised by me could ever be-"

My hand planted itself on his big forehead and shoved. Moment. Ruined. "You can't be nice and sincere for one stinking moment?!"

He growled loudly, a deep reverberation ripped from his chest, and I was growling back before I'd ever registered it.

Abruptly, the noise cut off and Hitoshi's muzzle lowered back over his gleaming fangs. "I'm back early for a reason," the topic change blindsided me. "I have something to show you, in the woods."

Emerald flickered over to my wardrobe and I gaped, jerking a thumb towards the clock still on the floor. "What, now? I have work in the morning!"

His ear twitched, visible against the white of my sheets. "Now."

By the time I'd rushed to pull on some decent layers, shoving my feet into my fur boots and forgoing my coat for dad's (on me, it was almost ankle length but, honestly, I didn't care), it was almost 2 am and the snow had started drifting down again. At this rate, we'd have over a foot of snow…

Hitoshi was, apparently, on a tight schedule. Demanding I climb onto his back as soon as we were on the porch, he threw himself down the street, claws clicking and skidding on the ice.

The streets were empty, a muffled silence that hovered between eerie and peaceful. We didn't see another soul, although I knew there were always people working, patrols on their rounds.

When we reached the outskirts of the village and showed no signs of slowing, I started to question Hitoshi's game. Our breath froze before us and I was hunched over, face pressed to Hitoshi's thick pelt against the bitter wind.

The trees swallowed us and my summon leapt.

The landing was muted, cushioned by chakra and the panther's oversized paws, and, then, we were sprinting through the treetops.

I couldn't see a damned thing.

"We should just make it in time," Hitoshi growled and I could feel the rumble of his words through my cheek, pressed to the ridge of his neck.

"In time for what?"

I was shushed, my summon's tone suddenly all the sharper and that urgency was the only thing that kept my mouth shut.

Eventually, after about ten minutes running through the trees, Hitoshi came to a stop, hunching low on the great branch and stopping me when I went to dismount.

Below us, something growled, loud and vicious and decidedly unfriendly.

"Toshi, what the hell?"

His neck twisted slightly, just enough so that he could pierce me with quelling emerald. "Hush, cub. There is a tiger below us and she must not sense you."

"Tiger?" I mouthed, knowing that the feline could see perfectly fine. "Why-" my fingers spazzed from where I was gripping the loose rolls of fur at his neck. "We're in the Forest of Death?!"

Hitoshi merely blinked, his eyes only just visible in the shadows of the forest. The Forest of fucking death-

I shoved my face closer, lips against his ear, and hissed out a string of unapologetic swears. Below us, the tiger (oh god, those tigers rivalled elephants, what the hell was I doing here-) continued rumbling loudly.

Abruptly, I remembered Hitoshi's words from just before we'd left.

I pinched him. Hard.

"Is this a trial of bravery?!"

Trying to control my breathing - the churning of my nervous stomach really making me regret that hot milk -, it took me a moment to realise that Hitoshi hadn't responded with the expected affront. He was actually very quiet, eyes fixed on whatever was going on below us. The tiger, my slowly adjusting eyes could just about see, was just as huge as I'd feared and was lazily shuffling around in the undergrowth, snarling loudly.

Then, Hitoshi started speaking.

"We were in grave danger when Seiichi-sama was burned and I was rendered unconscious. You almost died and the two of us would have, had you failed to Reverse Summon us." Slowly, my breathing calmed, hands falling away as I listened to Hitoshi's slow drawl. "You only seem to get more and more difficult as you age. You and Seiichi-sama both...so I took steps."

He nodded to the scene below us.

My brain stopped working. But my ears didn't.

"Whilst the mother is not a Summon, the chakra-rich environment of Senju Hashirama's woods have supplemented her body. There's a chance the cub may have an active chakra network, like myself and my departed kin. If not, there is little loss."

Blazing emerald turned to stare at me, something strangely paternal in his gaze as I gaped up at him.

"We arrived just as she was born, I can smell her on the wind and I felt her birth looming. It was why I returned early, why I brought you out here. You may not fight but...I cannot be beside both your father and yourself at once. This cub...she will be."

My throat was tight and the bitter cold had my eyes watering, just a bit. Swallowing hard, I glanced below us, as if I could see the little hybrid (-oh god, Hitoshi had a kid, he went and had a kid-) in the dark.

We were silent for a long moment before Hitoshi slowly straightened, leaping silently to the next branch and slowly picked our way through the treetops.

"What," I quietly cleared my throat when the words caught, quiet and almost lost to the wind. "What...are you gonna call her?"

Hitoshi was silent for a moment, stopping on a branch for a long second, seemingly lost in thought. "Fuji."

All tenderness fled my system. Seriously? Deadpan, what the fuck.

"'Prosperous objective'?!" I gawked at the back of his head. We landed in the snow, racing through a field as I howled at the ridiculousness of my summon. "She's not a business investment!"

"Oh, like you're one to talk," Hitoshi snarled back, leaping clear over a dividing fence. "You name things nonsensically-"

"No, I don't-"

"'Noko' and 'Nekki' aren't true shortenings of names, cub; Kami, do you even pay attention to Kanji-"

"FuFu!"

Hitoshi's ear twitched back towards me. "What?"

I grinned into his fur, pleased at the compromise of a truly abysmal name. Jeez, poor baby.

"You wanna call her 'Fuji'? Then I'll shorten it to 'FuFu'!"

Hitoshi's shoulders spasmed with a snarl, even as the neighbourhoods drew closer.

"You are not naming my daughter 'giggle'-"

"You can't talk!" I exploded, poking his pelt accusingly. "Most people give their kids a curfew or keep tabs when they're worried about them!… Not get them an escort!"

We raced inside the village via the entrance from the training grounds, Hitoshi's chakra signature meaning that the ninja on duty only nodded us through.

Well. Until they turned to stare after us, my final words caught on the wind.

"And you didn't even get me an escort! You just fucked a tiger!"

…

OMAKE I

Stargazer

Shikamaru knew a lot of things.

He always understood what people said to him, even if he was too lazy to really pay attention. He got things he wasn't meant to either.

He'd always been clever, quicker than Chouji (but his friend was nicer) or Ino (who was more outgoing). Shika was a sleeper though, like Ensui-nii. Kiharu-nee had laughed a lot as a kid, Sora-oba said.

She laughs a lot now, Shikamaru had replied.

Shika had a long memory too. He remembers sleeping on his Nee-chan's back and how her warmth would rumble with purrs. He knows the feeling of riding on his cousin's shoulders more than his dad's. He'd never been without Chouji or Ino, fuzzy dreams filled with blonde hair or cookie crumbs.

"-an, Shika-chan-" A gentle voice interrupted his doze, a warm hand on his cheek. It was hot compared to the coolness of the sky and he pressed closer without a thought. It was dark out; when Shika had slowly clambered up from his bedroom window, the sky had been pink with the sunset.

It took a long second for his eyes to adjust, his older sister's face only just standing out from the blue-black sky.

"I was wondering where you'd decided to nap this time," He couldn't see her smile but he could hear it. "Stargazing, hmm?"

"There...were clouds…" He mumbled, slowly sitting up on small hands and leaning into her warm side.

Kiharu sighed, not sad but thoughtful. "I love the stars." A vague impression of her arm rose to, Shika thought, point at the silver-speckled sky. He followed her direction automatically...she was always teaching him something, in some way. Ino didn't notice most of the time and Chouji was often too busy enjoying the present to get what his sister was trying to say. But, Shikamaru was smart, everyone said so, and he knew a bigger picture when he heard one.

It was a game of theirs, to see if he understood before the 'lesson' was over.

"Have you learned what stars are, yet?"

Shikamaru turned his head up and tried to make out his sister's eyes in the dark night. "Light, right?"

Warm fingers cupped the back of his head and Kiharu-nee rested her chin on his temple. "Old light…they've been there forever and will be forever." Her fingers started gently petting his hair and Shika's eyes slowly half-closed, his earlier drowsiness seeping back. But… he tried to stay awake. For his sister's lesson.

"No matter what changes, Shika, when you're in your own home and I'm an old crone-," he could help but smile at the thought. Kiharu-nee as an old lady was...weird. He couldn't imagine her without her dark hair, brown like a Nara's so he could pretend she really was his sister, or with loads of wrinkles like the stuffy Elders. "-These stars will be here. They don't just come out a night. They shine in the day too but it's so bright we can't see them."

His sister raised her head and Shika peered into the blackness, knowing Kiharu-nee was looking back. "They're always watching over you, Shika. And, oftentimes, it's only when things are at their darkest that we can see their reminder."

It was silent for a long moment.

(If the night was lighter or a Sharingan or Byakugan was watching, they would've seen Kiharu's wet smile. Tinged with grief, loss and love, every single year of her lives showed on her face. The stars, in this new and strange land, had never changed.)

"Let's go down, Yoshino-oba was looking for you." It was only then that a large shadow moved and Shika realised Hitoshi had been crouched to the side the entire time. How his sister had made it up, then.

All the while, the stars twinkled above as a party celebrated the passage of time, glowing from warm, golden lanterns and companionship under the dark sky.

….

*- this bit is dedicated to MaskedTrickster/ Morning-chan hehehe

note: for anyone wondering, tigers are usually pregnant for 93-112 days (just over 3 months).

A/N- Yo! I know I said I was going to update really soon after the last chapter but...well, I'll come back to that.

First things first, thank you to everyone who reviewed! To my Discord chat, a huge part of this chapter was thanks to their brainstorming and enabling so, cheers babes. Now, onto the not so nice stuff.

I know authors always go on about getting reviews; some really want them to up their total so that they can get even more views, some of us just want feedback. And, I've noticed this and so have my fellow author buddies, but people aren't anymore. Some of you, even if you still read every chapter, because you've already favourited or followed or bookmarked or pressed kudos, I have no way of knowing if you're still enjoying or even reading anymore. And some people might not comment on fics because they think 'oh, they have tons of reviews already' or 'I've already commented loads/before' but... it's really discouraging to 1, see 'regulars' disappear and 2, to see the review count going down. It makes you wonder where you've gone wrong, if the fic is on its final legs and you're the only who hasn't realised it.

This chapter was almost finished when the last one was updated. And its nerve-wracking, waiting for just one email to come through saying 'this was cool, thanks' or whatever. I know, when I review fics, I key smash and send crying emojis. It's not exactly dignified but I know that, when I get reviews like that, it makes me feel so much better. But, last chapter, I waited. And then I went to sleep, and I woke up the next morning.

To three reviews.

Have I gone wrong somewhere? Has my writing taken a nosedive in quality?

So...yeah. :/

Now, a few chapters ago someone asked me why people shipped friends together and I never got round to replying. And, btw darling, you're right; I'm always more than happy to answer questions like this.

My answer is: because they can.

Some people don't want people in a sexual way, some people don't feel attracted to anyone at all and there are people who much prefer platonic relationships to any others. Now, when it comes to relationships, I think that friendship is essential for a good one. People talk about love like it's a rollercoaster, a firework in your belly that's all consuming and you want to faint in their arms and be swept off your feet-!

In my book, that's more like lust.

To me, being in love is one part choice, one part emotion. Healthy relationships are when (2+) people choose to grow together. That doesn't make them one person and it doesn't erase their individuality. It's...when you love them, not despite their faults, but because of them. Its when you always think to pick up their favourite (snack or whatever) at the shop or something makes you think of them or you want to be alone...but they're the exception. When you've had a bad day but theirs was even worse, so you sit and listen and comfort. All of this is applicable to platonic or family, but with the knowledge that you've chosen to be One for each other. Fuck, I'm getting sappy.

Now, in regards to Raidou x Genma, they never got together in the actual series and their friendship is just great how it is. However, as someone who does feel both a desire for romance and feels lust, I like to think of a couple's relationship is another step on their intimacy. To kiss and BE with another person (or persons, whatever floats your boat), is a wonderful thing. Just as wonderful as platonic life partners. Genma and Raidou could be platonic friends, happily so, for their entire lives. The same with Shisui and Kiharu or Yuri and Akane. However, as someone who likes the intimacy brought with being in a romantic relationship, I would like the same for them. And that's why I ship them. Because I just...want to! 3