~NRK~
When the group found themselves back in the confines of the home, Obito set Marie on her own feet before focusing on the broken front of the house.
Marie looked only slightly embarrassed by it.
Obito ran through handsigns before walking forward and placing his hand against one side of the big hole.
"Mokuton: Shichūka no Jutsu - Kabe."
Wood sprouted around the edges of the hole before coming together and forming a perfect replica of the doorway that had originally been there.
There was even a perfectly usable door there as well, Obito testing the entrance before nodding to his work and collapsing.
"Father!" Marie ran and stumbled over to him, the newness of her body catching up to her as she kneeled by his side with a slight hiss.
"Uncle/Mr. Uchiha!" Came Filia and Carol's calls as they ran over, the sound of people coming downstairs from the second floor of the home telling them that Marcus and Amelia were coming.
Checking him over, Marie grimaced as she touched his neck, his body flinching as she did.
"... I think… I think he needs to rest," she said unsurely to the two other teens, focusing more on Carol than Filia. "I… He needs to go and lay down."
Marcus and Amelia rushed over before hesitating at the sight of the former Skullgirl.
The Medici man breathed in before walking over and kneeling by his younger sibling's head.
Marie didn't look at him.
"He needs to go and lay down, right?" he asked her, getting a surprised look from the short teen. "... Haaa, Obito said something to me when he went off to fight you," Marcus locked eyes with the now nervous-looking child.
Child… Yes, she was just a child, wasn't she? Looking at her now, without the horrors of the Skull Heart around, he saw just that.
"He'd never bring someone into the house that would endanger us. That he trusted the person he'd taken in," Marie bit her lip. "So, I'm going to accept that he wants you around and that you're a better person than at first glance."
Her hands, folded in her lap, gripped one another.
'...' She didn't understand, not fully.
Lorenzo, Vitale, and Black Dahlia had been exactly as expected… But Marcus Medici hadn't been?
Then again, neither had her new parent and he's the one who was currently laid out, unconscious, most likely due to whatever he did.
… She'd try a little harder, even if only a smidge.
For him. For her new father.
When Obito Uchiha awoke several hours later, he sat up with a grimace, a groan, and his entire body feeling like a bruise.
'Using Mokuton was pushing it,' he realized.
In the past, whenever he used this power, if he'd even used Kamui, he'd be knocked out. His chakra network was being unaltered, after all, trying to push out chakra that was mid-change was bound for backlash.
So he sighed as he looked down at his sheets, noting that, yes, he was in his bed.
'Who moved me?' He had to assume that it was either Samson or Marcus… Unless Marie still had some form of super strength.
He'd have to check.
And, speaking of his newly-adopted daughter, Obito looked to his side where a chair was placed.
And, in that chair, sat the former Skullgirl herself, asleep while sitting up and with her hands folded in her lap.
Obito always wondered if the maid outfit was telling or not. Seeing her now, he had a feeling that she was someone who knew excellent manners.
He breathed in, his body's soreness highlighted in his head but he felt it was something he could still move around with.
Obito got off his bed with a slow stretch and quiet steps as his feet hit the floor.
Standing, he heard all the little cricks and cracks in his body release all at once, getting a silent sigh out of the shinobi before he turned to his new child.
… Odd wording aside, he smiled a bit before carefully lifting her up, Marie's eyebrows furrowing as she laid against his chest before gripping his hoodie.
'I wonder if we're going to have to have her get used to being flesh and blood again?'
He didn't know if she needed to consume food as the Skullgirl. If she didn't, that meant that there wasn't an immediate need for potty training, at the moment. She'd need to eat and drink eventually.
Adding on to that, would she need to get used to the normal bodily stimulations again? Obito was sure she felt pain when she was the Skullgirl, he was the cause of it, after all, so maybe not on that front.
He maneuvered her hands off his clothing before laying her on his bed and pulling the sheets up around her.
Marie's face relaxed as she nuzzled his pillow.
Cute.
He smelled his clothes and, noting no bad scent, nodded before heading out of his open-doored room.
He went down the way, passing Filia's room, listening in for her voice before he heard a noise downstairs.
So he walked down the hall, passed the game room, and hopped from the top of the staircase to the bottom with nary a sound to show for it.
"He'll be fine, I feel like he's exactly what she needs," Marcus said from the kitchen, Obito already feeling the rest of the family in there as well. "Honestly, she seems comfortable around Obito, it's a bit surprising to think they were trying to end one another four hours ago."
So that's how long he'd been out, huh? "I believe so as well," he announced his presence as he rounded the corner, the family, plus Carol, jumping he came in like a phantom. "What's been going on while I was out?"
Filia, Carol, and Samson/Dog got up and ran over.
"Uncle/Obito/My man!" came the three's cheers as he showed up.
"How ya feelin', Unc?" Filia asked with a grin as she laughed proudly. "Ya know? Being a hero and all that?"
"I don't know whose hero you're implying," Obito began as he ruffled her head of hair. "But, I feel like I did the right thing, so," he shrugged as Carol hugged his waist.
He ruffled her hair, too, getting a giggle from the kidnap victim.
"Thank you, Samson," Obito said as he kneeled and pet Dog before raising a fist that a clump of hair fist-bumped. "I was right about her, back then, doing what I feared."
"Yu-huh but I'm around!" Hair flexed in the shape of a muscly arm. "I've got the muscle to muscle out anyone!"
Obito rolled his eyes before turning to his brother and sister-in-law.
"How crazy have things gotten since I was asleep?" he asked them as he took his seat at the table, flanked by the other three. "Calls from father? Vitale? The princess demanding my presence… The River Dragon King mad?"
"Wait, why that last one?" Marcus asked. "... Obito, please tell me you didn't."
"Look, I can explain," Obito said. "You remember how I went on vacation to the River King's 'palace' place?" the group nodded. "While I was there, there'd been a thief who'd stolen from his treasury, the Doom Capsule was one of those items stolen. I caught him and, as thanks, he promised me one thing… By the way, he didn't know I was a Medici back then so…" Obito winced.
Oh, if the king didn't like that, he was in for some trouble.
"Oh, thank goodness," Marcus slumped in relief as Amelia giggled before addressing him.
"And, for your information, nothing of the sort. At least, nothing's happened that was so severe," she said. "The only people who have come by are the elderly from the retirement homes and the press," Amelia tapped her lip. "Um, hehe, I think they're still outside… actually," she said with some nervous laughter.
Obito spread out his senses and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Okay… Anything else?" he asked, looking at everyone. "Samson? No, odd, Parasite parade is coming to see me, is there?"
"What, no," the Parasite raised a brow. "... well, we've never had a parade in millions of years, it's been a while since I've seen that many Parasites as is."
"Ah, yes, Samson," Marcus said with a finger raised before he shrugged. "Thank you for protecting us and my daughter and her friend. I've no issue with you living here."
Samson grinned. "Ya hear that, Dog?! We've got a home!"
"Woof!" Samson's animal host barked happily. "Bark!"
"Haa," Obito's stomach growled and he chuckled. "Guess I should cook."
~NRK~
And so, it'd been done.
The Skull Heart was sealed away and Obito Medici had officially cut ties with the Medici family while also, unofficially, adopting the former Skullgirl.
Parasoul crossed her arms as she leaned back in her seat, staring at the screen.
"... So, it's over?" Molly asked in disbelief. "Like, forever over?"
"Well, we'd have to check with him to see where he sent it," Adam smiled. "But, yes, this should, officially, mark the end of the Skull Heart."
"Oh YEAH!" Roxie cheered along with Umbrella. "That's some of the best news in my entire life!"
Umbrella grinned as she and Hungern thought the same thing.
"I want to meet him!"
~NRK~
He sat there in his seat, stunned.
"... That's it, isn't it?" Christmas said as she placed a hand on his shoulder, surprise on her face as well. "That's the end of the Skull Heart?"
"We should double-check up on him,'' came Easter's call, an orange-haired, large, woman in a caretaker's outfit. "If he's either willin' to part with it or has it in a place that can't be reached easily…"
"Then it's officially ova!" Patty said with a wobbly smile. "HELL YEAH! I'm drinking so many gallons after this!"
"Hm… For now," Brain Drain regained his functionality. "But, I don't think this'll be the end."
"How so?" Hallow asked, her blacked nurse outfit, fitted with so many belts one didn't know which one was necessary. "The Skull Heart's gone now."
"Yes but we don't know where it came from," he said, stopping all of them. "Does anyone know when the Skull Heart came to be? Hell, when did it come to this city?"
Christmas cupped her chin in thought, eyes narrowing. "No, all we've ever known about it was that it'd been around ever since the start of civilization."
"Exactly, our work's not done," he said even as he folded his arms behind his head. "... I want to meet this Obito Medici… Uchiha."
The man who'd now adopted the former Skullgirl and had the Skull Heart locked away.
He wanted to meet this oddball.
~NRK~
"Come on! Let's go and see him!" Peacock called out as she ran in place, Big Band's foot on her dress. "Spit whistle, what the hell?!"
"Oi, that one actually hurt!" Big Band said with a huff as he released her. "And, surprise surprise, you have to wait. You can't just march up in the city with your gaggle of cartoon physics."
"Oi, what's that supposed to mean?!" Came the call of an animated anvil with legs and arms, the arms fitted with a pair of boxing gloves. "If the Missus wants ta go, she goes."
"Yeah!" Came the call of an animated old-world weight, his arms bulging with muscle. "If the dame wants to, she does. Plus, she needs ta see her old fren."
Leduc, a young man with blond hair, light blue eyes, and peach skin, blinked.
His body was covered by a thick sweater and pants, his technologically enhanced limbs peaking out.
"... I kind of want to meet him, too," the boy said with a nervous chuckle. "I want to see what he's like, in person."
"..." Dr. Avian cupped his chin in thought. "... Well, if we don't want Peacock to run wild and go there…"
~NRK~
Her hands destroyed the bible within their grasp.
What… WHAT?! What had happened to the Skull Heart?!
Entirely blue eyes widened as the TV replayed the event that took place, the Medici, now ex-Medici, had taken down the Skullgirl with ease.
Watching it once more, her white skin and blond hair trembled as sharp teeth bared themselves.
Her dark blue nun's outfit shifted as fleshy, disgusting, meat, eye, ribcage, and second body took place.
This man needed to DIE.
~NRK~
She dreamed for the first time since… Since a year or so ago.
Marie Uchiha dreamed of a world of blues before her face scrunched up, her nose, flesh and real, twitched at a scent.
Her eyes slowly creaked open as something settled in the area below her chest.
A loud sound came out and she jumped, sitting up from the pillow to stare at her body.
"... Oh," she blushed for the first time in a long time. "I'm… hungry."
She'd forgotten what hunger felt like… Marie sighed as she removed the covers from her body before staring at them.
Wait, why had she been covered? Father was the one who'd been sleeping here, no?
She looked at the ruffled sheets for a few moments… before she got up and made the bed.
Once she finished, she sniffed the air once more.
Food… Oh, she hadn't had food in what felt like forever!
She moved out of the room, the smells growing as she did.
Traversing to, and down, the stairs, she smelled and heard the food being cooked.
"Finally woke up?" Obito's voice came out of the kitchen, getting a slight jump from the former Skullgirl. "Come on, I just finished the food."
Marie peeked in, blue eyes looking to see the family of Medicis raising brows or looking at her with curiosity.
"I don't know if you have anything you can't eat," Obito said, gaining the young girl's attention.
"I don't understand. Eating is necessary," she said in confusion.
"... oh, you've probably never had to deal with, presumably, medical problems from food before, yes?"
"P-People can get sick from eating food?!"
"Hm, hm, there are certain types of people who can't digest certain kinds of material like, say, peanuts. They harbor a bad reaction if they so much as each a milligram of it."
Marie Uchiha looked shocked.
Then the smells of the food slammed into her senses and a large growl echoed from her tummy.
She held her hands there and felt… embarrassment flood her cheeks.
'Ah, I'll have to get used to these feelings again,' she realized once more. 'I've never felt this in so long…'
She'd have to reclaim control over her body, now that fact caused her face to redden.
Obito finished mixing in his large pan before he started ladling out the food.
Marie was witness to plates of Mac N Cheese, gooey, creamy, smelly, goodness that had her swallowing, the action involuntary.
"Samson."
"On it!" the Parasite answered the former Medici's call, using his hair extensions to lift each plate and set them down. "Bone apple tea!"
"Snrt," Filia and her father snorted in unison as Amalia and Carol giggled.
"Oh, you've gotta see some of the movies around! There are tons of guys with your accent, Samson," Filia said with a smirk as Parasite wiggled in interest.
"Manly studs with my voice?! I'm in!"
Obito shook his head with a chuckle before finding Marie at his side.
He looked at her for a moment before his gaze softened, ladling out three more plates, one topped with dog food, before tapping her head once with his finger.
"Come on, help me bring these over," Obito said, handing her a full plate. "Be careful of the heat. Splay your fingers out around here and balance it well."
Marie nodded as Obito picked up the last two plates before both went to the table.
Obito set down Samson/Dog's plate. "Is there anything that Dog can't eat?"
"Nah, with me around, most of the normal stuff that'd give him problems are taken care of," Samson said, Carol tilting her head in confusion. "Think of it like us having two stomachs that get fed at the same time. We can decide who handles all the digesting stuff."
"That's amazing," Carol said as Marie sat next to her. "Oh, hi," the girl said to the former Skullgirl who stared at her in confusion.
"... Hi," Marie said slowly in response, Carol giggling as she did. "... I've never said 'Hi' in a long time."
"Well, you have a lot of stuff to learn, I think," Carol said with a smile as Marie nodded before everyone found themselves set up with a pair of forks. "Thanks, Mr. Uchiha."
Obito nodded, taking his own seat in between Marcus and Marie. "You're welcome," he said.
Marie looked at the food before her, eyes entranced as she trailed over it, golden colors and loopy shapes greeting her vision.
"Remember to blow on it," Obito said as he did as he said, placing the fork into his mouth. "Let me know if there's something about it that you don't like."
Marie looked at him and then back to her food before nodding, a fork picked up and in her grasp.
She looked at it with confusion, eyes flicking to Obito's hands before she adjusted her hold on it.
She copied her new father, scooping up a portion before lifting, the scents nearly knocked her out but she powered through, her stomach growling louder.
She remembered his words but tapped it with her tongue and tilted her head.
It was hot but she didn't think it was something to worry about… She took a small bite from the front, chewing on her food before her eyes widened in shock.
Food had never tasted this good before! S-She just now remembered the days back in the orphanage. The food back then had been something she cooked up with Patricia and it'd been warm and good… But this blew it out of the water!
She swallowed, feeling the food going down her esophagus and warming her from her chest down to her stomach.
Her cheeks filled with blood as she flushed from the food's warmth before she ate far less cautiously, the forkfuls bringing great pleasure to her palette.
Obito and Carol chuckled as they, too, ate, Filia watching the former Skullgirl eat with fascination.
"So, Obito, what is the plan from here on out?" Amelia asked curiously, Obito looking at her with a raised brow. "I don't think we'd mind hiring you as our full-on, full-time, cook."
"Hmm," Obito considered it before smiling. "Yes, I'd like that. Though, I think it is time that I buy a house, though," he said, patting Marie on the shoulder. "She'll need her own space, after all."
"Hmph, I knew this day would come," Marcus said, getting a confused look from his younger sibling. "Thatcher, one of my fellow stockholders, has been looking into flipping a home. He's recently done one a bit down the way on Maplecrest. And it's near the Old-School Retirement Home."
"I'd appreciate that," Obito said, confusing Marie. "I volunteer at the retirement homes around New Meridian. The elderly need help as well, after all."
Marie nodded slowly, the idea certainly raised her opinion of her father.
"I'll get in contact with him."
Things fell to simple chatter after that, food was eaten, seconds and thirds requested, mostly by Marie, before the food was done in total.
"Mmm, actually," he turned to Marie, the former Skullgirl's eyes closed as she held her hands in her lap. "Cute. I'd ask, Marie, do you want to go to school?"
Filia and Carol blinked in unison as Amelia and Marcus raised their brows.
"School, huh?" Samson wondered, swallowing whatever Dog was swallowing. "You think that's a good idea?"
"Only if she wants to," Obito said as he leaned back in his seat to look at his adopted daughter. "Marie?"
"..." Marie considered the opportunity before shaking her head. "I… I want to achieve my goal before anything else."
"That's fair," Obito said as Samson hummed. "Just know, I can do all in my power to bring you what can be called a normal life."
"Yes, I…" Marie drummed her fingers against her thigh. "... Thank you… Father."
Obito blinked at the word before relaxing in his seat, crossing his legs and closing his eyes.
"You're welcome, my daughter."
Marie blushed at the title as Carol, Filia, and Amelia giggled.
"Well, for now, I'll have to deal with a few things pertaining to you, Marie," the pigtailed one blinked. "For one, I need to actually adopt you. Then we have to get you your paperwork, ID, birth certificate, and the like. Then we have to visit a doctor to see if your body has to deal with anything odder than odd. That one's going to be the most difficult."
"What do you mean, Obito?" Marcus asked. "... Oh, that might be an issue."
Marie tilted her head with a frown. "What's the issue?"
"Well, remember Marie, you were still a Skullgirl less than twelve hours ago," Obito said. "No one knows who might want to try and take you to dissect your body."
Marie looked remarkably green. "W-What?!" She covered her mouth and swallowed down the bile.
O-Oh, that wasn't pleasant.
"You can wash your hands in the sink," Obito offered and she got up before rushing off. "Just…"
Obito and the rest of the group stared as Marie floated above the sink, hands quickly washing themselves as their owner grimaced.
"... Correction, we'll need to do some training to see everything Marie can do, first and foremost," Obito said as his new daughter dried her hands in a towel above the sink. "Do you have any problems with that, Marie?"
"?" The girl floated back down to the floor and looked at him with a confused expression. "I see no issue with it, father."
"Alright, now," Obito stood up. "Marie, how is your body? I know you'll take time to get used to it, especially since you're entering… Actually, how old are you?"
Marie blinked before answering. "Twel… Thirteen," she corrected herself, Carol looked surprised.
"Hmm! We're thirteen!" She cheered, surprising Marie. "Well, Filia turned fourteen, like, half a year ago but we're still in the same classes."
"... I see," Marie said with a thought. "And, father, I… I know I'll have to get used to my body again. I just… I don't really know how to do that."
Was she supposed to g-go to the bathroom a lot? Breathe a lot? What was she to do?
"Well, for one, I can try and help you with bodily control but I'll need either Amelia, Filia, or Carol to help with more in-depth subjects," said females blushed a bit, knowing what he meant. "So, I guess, among all else, getting your body under control is to the best of our interest."
"Y-Yes, I think so, too," Marie said with a blush as Amelia and Carol giggled. "What should we do first?"
"Hmm, actually, Marie, aren't you thirsty?"
"Thirsty… No, not really."
"... We'll wait an hour before heading out and getting you some clothes, basically."
"I wanna come!" Filia volunteered, surprising Marie. "Trust me, I've helped my Everyone in this room get a good wardrobe together, I've got super-intuition."
"... Very well," Marie said slowly as Filia cheered. "Father, why an hour?"
"Well, for one, I want to see how your body reacts to food at first and to see check the internet and see what the current news is like."
"Ah, yes, sir."
The family left the kitchen after that, Obito and Marie doing dishes in easy harmony.
When asked, Marie explained to him that she and her friend, Patricia, would help take care of an orphanage in Rommelgard, a place that used to be in the territory of No Man's Land before it was destroyed like many of the other settlements within the now-desert.
When they finished, Obito asked her if she was alright and Marie had said she'd had a gurgle in her stomach but nothing too severe.
They'd retired to the living room before Obito made a series of clones to help fix the broken items around the area.
Marie had at least looked embarrassed and helped. "... Apologies."
After that, Marie found herself situated next to her new father on one of the three couches in the living room.
He leaned back in his seat, legs crossed, as he typed on his laptop on his lap. Marie had long since removed her shoes and was leaning over his arms with Carol as he looked at the news. Filia sat next to Carol with a GameBoy Advance in hand.
"What could this Medici want?! Obito Medici has been a known quality amongst the city and seen combating against opposing gangs but he's also known down at the retirement homes across New Meridian! Was he an angel in devil's clothes?! Or is he awaiting his true next move?!"
Obito raised a brow at that, Carol pouting as Filia snorted.
"I don't get that, you literally just proved to be stronger than a Skullgirl, no offense, cousin."
Marie blinked in confusion at that title, taking a moment to process it as Filia snickered.
Dog and Samson trotted over, the host sitting below Marie's position, the girl looking at the animal curiously before her eyes went to the back of… Dog to see Samson wearing a contemplative expression.
"Mmm, when it comes to people born with bad raps, trust me, it's not as simple as usin' a little logic," the Parasite explained to the girls. "People are a crazy bunch when it gets too big."
"When people don't understand a powerful object or being, they start worrying about the worst outcomes because it's safe to them," Obito explained. "Better to find out how bad the damage could be instead of hoping it never gets that far."
"Still sounds unfair, unc."
"It does," Obito shrugged as he scrolled through a news site as Marie touched the back of Dog's head, the canine panting excitedly, much to her amusement. "Hmm, nothing surprising, nothing surprising… Hm?" He blinked at the sight of a glowing email notification on his screen. "... I wasn't aware such a feature existed on my laptop."
The girls looked, Filia getting up and coming around to the back of the couch to look over Obito's shoulder. "I don't think I've seen that kind of notification before. I mean, I bet there is but it shouldn't be taking up your entire screen, Mr. Uchiha," Carol said with a frown.
"Hit it, uncle," Filia suggested. "This might be one of the world's most secret groups trying to contact you."
"... Uhhh, would they do that?" Samson asked.
"Most likely," Obito agreed, moving his mouse over the email notification before clicking on it. "...?"
Marie frowned at the insignia in the upper right corner of the 'e-mail', a term she'd learned of in the past hour. "ASG Labs."
"So it seems," Obito said before reading the letter. "Hello, Obito Uchiha, I won't mince words. I wish to meet the man who could defeat a Skullgirl. Watching your fight has made me curious and I want to observe you with my own eyes. There's an apartment that's close to three kilometers from your location at your brother's home. I'd like to meet you in one day at noon. Is that acceptable?"
"Hmph, I wonder who this is?" Filia asked out loud to the group.
"Sounds like someone wants to meet the top chops," Samson said as two long strands of fur came out and around in the facsimile of crossed arms. "If what you guys said is right, these guys likely have tons of ways to fight if things go that far. That said, it won't work on Obito unless he utilizes magic."
"I don't," the reincarnated man said. "I use a form of energy called 'chakra', it's physical and spiritual energy mixed together," Obito demonstrated by forming a ball of blue that was barely seen.
The energy then transitioned into flames, creating a fire that sat in Obito's palm.
He extinguished the flaming energy as Marie stared at it.
"That was me using chakra and then using nature transformation on it, turning it into my favored element, fire."
"Hmm, seems like magic to me," Samson said with a confused look. "And you're Lorenzo's son? You'd think him having this chakra stuff would be more well-known."
"... Oh!" Filia perked up, shaking her uncle's shoulder. "Yo, uncle, who was your mom?"
"Hmm?"
"Well, mom asked dad who she was and he didn't know so I figured asking you would be the right idea."
"Mmmm, my mother…" Obito balanced his laptop on one knee as he crossed his arms in thought. "... From what little I know of my mother, I can only remember that she and I weren't known to my father until she and he met once again one day, me in tow. Her name was Hitomi Uchiha, she was a nurse in Dragon Empire, from what I could scrounge up… Actually, being fair," the ninja let out a breath through his nose. "Uchiha wasn't her real name… She dropped all that when she came here…" Obito frowned.
"For what?" Carol asked with a tilt of the head. "From what it sounds like, she wasn't in any trouble… right?"
"... When she came here, she fell in love with a man, my father, without any clue as to who he was at the time because the Medicis weren't as big a threat back then," Obito continued, eyes narrowed. "When she found out, oh, she left in a heartbeat."
~NRK~
"I see," Valentine leaned back in a recliner in a thick tan sweater and black yoga pants, sitting across from a receiver she'd gotten from Brain Drain out of the blue. "Damn…" She kissed her teeth as the bathroom door opened to reveal a towel-covered Patty. "Hmph, I took your bags over to the second room."
"Thanks, dere, Vally," Patty said as she walked off. "Anything useful?"
Valentine considered what had been said the moment Obito opened the email. "... Well, nothing interesting, though, as it turns out, his mother, rightly, turned tail when she learned who Lorenzo was."
"Ah, a swing and a miss," Patty said with a shake of the head and a frown. "That was probably for the best, she seems like she got some form of common sense in 'im before he ended up back with Lorenzo."
"Seems so."
~NRK~
"Damn," Filia balked as she rubbed the back of her head. "... Dad told me, right when we cut off from the fam, that granddad… Was a mafioso. I didn't believe it, at first, of course, I wouldn't… But then… One day, I got kidnapped."
"Yes," Obito's eyes narrowed as Marie stared at Filia with a conflicted expression. "Oh, I tore after those ones, the Gally Gang. A bunch of worthless thugs more used than your school's gym uniform," Filia and Carol snorted at that. "When Marcus asked me to do so, I went after them myself. Thankfully, with my Sharingan, it was easy to teleport in. I took you home after that before going back and… dealing with them before dawn broke."
"... I know what you mean to say, uncle," Filia leaned against the couch with a melancholic frown. "Dad told me everything after that and we cut ties the very next day."
"It's good to know the truth about this family," Obito said. "There are sins we can't fully comprehend," he said, resting a hand atop Marie's head. "So, while I won't say we're involved, we have to live with this mark on our history. There are probably more Maries about, no offense, Marie."
"... no, I understand," Marie said with a frown as he ruffled her hair. "The Medicis have hurt so many people… but not all of them have the power to stop your grandfather," she said to a conflicted-looking Filia.
"Y-Yeah, I get that."
"... So what are you going to do about this invite, Mr. Uchiha?" Carol asked, shifting the topic. "Do you think it's dangerous?"
"Yes, obviously."
~NRK~
Valentine and Patty snorted, the latter laying down flat on a couch in the living room of the large apartment with her fellow ninja-nurse.
"He certainly ain't an idiot," the blonde said, a can of beer in her hands as she dressed in a red plaid skirt and a green sweater. "Though 'm curious of what he thinks is gonna happen?"
"Well, from what I could gather, he's probably more prepared for all the press and the like while expecting tons of secret invites."
"Heh, heh, heh, sounds like ya got to know 'im real well, Vally."
"Save your teasing, ya rough-tongued midget."
"I'm average height, you bitch!"
Valentine rolled her sole exposed eye before blinking at the email on her laptop.
Opening the item on her nightstand, she blinked before grinning.
"He's a-go."
~NRK~
He finished sending his acceptance email before closing the app that the message had been sent in… And then watched as it disappeared off his desktop.
"... That's worrying," Carol said after she and the others saw it as well. "... Mr. Uchiha, I hope you're really safe with these people."
"I'll be as safe as I-" Obito began answering when there was a screen call notification. "Huh?" He sweatdropped. "... Why do I get the feeling this won't be the last invite?"
Marie tilted her head before freezing, the gurgling of her stomach there for all to hear.
"U-Um!" Marie's body clench.
"Samson!"
"On it!" The Parasite and Dog were on point, grabbing the girl and taking her to the upstairs bathroom. "Hold it in, kid!"
They disappeared from sight, the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing in seconds.
"... I knew it was a good idea to wait," Obito said with a shake of the head before clicking on the green phone symbol. "Hel-"
"Yo, not-Medici dude!" Came an excitable, slightly robotic, voice from the other end of the call before a familiar girl appeared on the screen. "How's it hanging?!"
"Umm, uncle, who's this?" Filia asked in confusion as she looked at the cartoon-like person on screen. "A-Am I that tired? Y-You're being called by a cartoon!"
"Hold on, Filia," Obito said, patting her arm with his free hand. "She's not… Well, she's not literally a cartoon… When I went to help Carol, there was a girl in serious need of getting helped and she got taken in by a grou-"
"That would be us, yes," Came a second screen, in mini, in the corner of the big screen. "Pleased to meet-"
"Gremlin?!" Carol jumped behind the couch in seconds, Obito sweatdropping along with Filia as the girl on the big screen laughed.
"I knew your face was scary, Doc!"
"Girl, what did I say about rude words?!" Came a shout from off-screen of the girl's, Peacock's. "Dammit! Doc, bring me in!"
There was the sound of ringing cymbals before another mini-screen showed up, revealing to Obito a familiar man.
"Haaa, please, don't be scared of the Doc, he does good work and is a good person. Ignore," Big Band's yellow eyes went flat as he looked off-screen to Peacock who snickered. "Her, she's a trickster at her worst and a troublemaker at her best. There's no middle ground."
"Hey, I'm total middle ground!"
"You see what I mean?"
"Yes, I do, I'm glad you're so… energetic, young lady," Obito said after absorbing the fact that she'd become a cartoon character. "Peacock, was it?"
"Yuppers!"
"Well… Morbid curiosity, what happened to your eyes?"
"Oh, I'm having the Doc hold onto them, they're important!"
"Right…" Obito raised a brow. "Very well, I've got nothing to say to that."
"Ya got that right, bub!" Came a voice from Peacock's right, a walking-talking anvil on legs coming into sight. "What the missus does, she does for a reason!"
"Yeah!" Came a ton object, as alive as the anvil. "She's got good reasons!"
"... Filia I think you might have been on to something."
"Right?!"
"Ahem," the sole doctor-looking person in the screen call coughed into his fist. "While I'm glad you're already seeing how expressive Peacock is, we haven't even introduced ourselves. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I'm Dr. Allen Avian and I work with Anti-Skullgirls Lab 8."
"I'm Peacock!" The carrot top said before pointing to her sides. "That's Andy Anvil and he's Tommy Ten-Tons!"
"Yo," came the anvil and two thousand pound weight, respectively. "How ya doin'?"
"Haaa, the name's Big Band," came the saxophone man's sigh and introduction. "Sorry to come at you with the parade of curiosities but Peacock's very stubborn."
"Hey!"
Obito snorted as Filia and Carol stared over his shoulders, the sound of a door closing from upstairs an indicator of Marie being done, maybe. "Pleased to meet you, my name is Obito Uchiha."
"... Filia Medici," Filia introduced herself after a moment of thought. "Why is that anvil alive?"
"Oyy! Don't ya know all anvils matter?!"
"Nope."
"A-Ah! She doesn't care, boss lady!"
"It's alright, Andy!" Peacock assuaged her friendly anvil as Carol was left staring.
"... I feel like I need to lie down, Mr. Uchiha," Carol said with a deep breath. "Um, my name's
Carol, Carol Wheels?"
"Nice ta meet a nice set of wheels," the weight said with a nod as Carol, despite her disbelief, giggled.
"So, doctor, can I assume you're another ASG Lab?"
"Yes," the doctor said with a nod. "We're thankful for what you've done for Peacock even if it was just a set of eyes, throat, and lungs."
"I wish I could do more but I'd need more biological material to work with. Apologies, ojou-san," Obito said to Peacock who looked both melancholic and confused.
"Hmm, 'ojou-san' means 'young lady', Peacock, it's eastern politeness."
"O-Oh, well…" Peacock blushed a bit before there was the sound of steps from the stairs. "Hehe~ It's not so bad to-"
Marie blushed as she patted off her dress. "I'm not unfamiliar with this process, thankfully," she said to her stomach before looking up at Obito's location. "Father-?!" Blue eyes widened in shock at the sight of Peacock. "P-Patricia?"
Peacock froze as she saw Marie, the carrot top swallowed heavily, eyes widened.
"H-Hey, Marie…"
"Hold that note, you knew the Skullgirl?!" Big Band exclaimed in disbelief, a quick squeak of a saxophone emphasizing his point. "Peacock!"
"I-It just never came up, okay?!" The carrot top shot back as Marie ran over to the couch, looking over the back of it to stare wide-eyed at her friend. "I… H-Hey, Marie, how's it… Um… How's it with your new pops?"
Tommy and Andy looked at one another before nodding.
"Actually, we wanted yas to come on over, give the young lady 'ere a nice visit on occasion," Tommy said as Peacock blinked and blushed.
"Y-You guys?! I didn't say that!"
"Nah, she's really been missing ya… Both of ya," he said to Obito before turning to Marie with a nod full of intent, the girl looking hesitant. "Trust me, I'm as solid as can be, coming over sounds like a good time."
Marie bit her lip before nodding. "O-Okay… Right, father?"
"Yes," Obito agreed immediately, no hesitation in his voice as Filia and Carol giggled. "When?"
"Hold on, did you say this would be your next invitation?" Dr. Avian asked. "From the Labs?"
"Yes, the other one I got in an email that suspiciously deleted the app it also came in," Obito explained.
"Hmm, secrecy like that only truly comes from Brain Drain," Dr. Avian said with a cupped chin. "Hmph, I'll see if he has anything to say later. For now, when would be the best time?"
"Let's see… Right now, we're working on Marie relearning what it's like to have a human body," Obito admitted as the girl in question blushed bright red. "So… Give or take a week? We've also got to move into a new house, get Marie her records and IDs, as well as do some theory-crafting, so a week or so would be fine…" The former shinobi saw Peacock's nervous scratching at the back of her head. "Once she's regained full control over her body, we can come in and out for visits. It just depends on how well that goes."
"Y-Yeah?!" Peacock said as Big Band snorted out a low note. "Well… Y-You've gotta learn how to be a little lady quicker, Marie!"
Marie blushed bright red as Filia chuckled and Obito smirked while Carol smiled patiently.
"We'll try and help as much as we can," Carol said with a determined pump of the arms.
"Thanks a lot, other little lady," Big Band said, tipping his fedora. "Alright, so just pop in whenever, I doubt we'll be doing much for the coming days."
"Actually, I'm curious about something, Dr. Avian," the doctor raised a brow at the Uchiha. "Do you all have a better way of holding onto the Skull Heart or would you want me to keep it?"
The air grew curious as Obito asked this.
"... Mmmm, then that'd come with a question of my own," Dr. Avian responded. "Where is the Skull Heart?"
"In my pocket dimension," Obito answered easily, getting a squawk from all three screens. "Is there something more efficient than that?"
"Nothing we've come up with… At least," Dr. Avian turned to Peacock. "Patricia, do you happen to have something like this?"
Peacock blinked thrice before taking off her hat and pulling out bombs, a bat, a flashlight, an airplane, and some glasses before shaking the article of clothing.
"Well, I don't really put stuff in here," she answered with a shrug as those, not on the screen, stared in disbelief. "So I dunno."
"... We'll work on it," Dr. Avian turned to Obito. "Holding onto it seems like the best decision for all of us. Is it possible for someone to steal it from there?"
"You'd need my eyes to get it," Obito answered, Mangekyo Sharingan blazing to life, Marie staring at the doujutsu with some apprehension. "Apologies, Marie," the shinobi turned them off, his daughter biting her lip before nodding.
"Thank you."
"Hmmm, it's interesting to think the defeater of the Skullgirl would choose to adopt her."
"Marie may have needed to be defeated but she didn't need to die," Obito said, patting the girl's shoulder. "She simply didn't have the right person in front of her to help her."
Marie blushed a bit before her eyes widened. "W-Wait!" She shouted, getting a jump from everyone. "S-Sorry b-but! There might be someone you have to worry about," Marie said to her father whose eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
"... There's a woman in the Church of the Trinity," Marie said, wide eyes all around the room. "She's… She's not normal. Not by any standard, not even when I was the Skullgirl and the worst part is… She's the one who's been carrying around the Skull Heart."
Obito's mouth dropped along with the rest.
"She what?!" Big Band blew out an angry note. "Who the hell is this woman?! A nun?!"
"Yes, her name was Agatha Gloomfall," Obito's eyes widened before they narrowed. "She hosted me in the basement of the church and she… Her real form is disgusting," Marie covered her mouth, actually swallowing down the bile before it reached her hand. "Ha, she's a monster."
"This is truly alarming news," Dr. Avian said as Peacock swallowed. "If this is true… Well, I fear for the repercussions of such a person's existence. An existence where even the Skullgirl found it horrid," he frowned before the sound of typing reached their ears. "Agatha Gloomfall…? She doesn't have any records she doesn't even seem to have a birth certificate… I don't like this."
"I'll handle it then," Obito said seriously. "... It's something I'll reveal to you in time, Marie, but, tell me, could she level this city if she desired to?"
"H-Huh?"
"I just want to know the scope of her powers."
"... N-No? I never saw her in the Skull Heart's memory bank," Dr. Avian looked intrigued. "I… I wanted to know if she was involved within the Medicis. She's… kind of involved? She caused the death of the Contiello family."
"She what?!" Filia balked as Obito grimaced. "I-I thought they died to infighting?!"
"No, she gave the Skull Heart to the matriarch and the woman died because of the Medicis," Obito and Filia grimaced. "... I-It was kind of weird, though… there was a point where the Skullgirl wouldn't let me see anything."
"I see, she's been behind the scenes this whole time," Obito said to himself. "Ah, apologies, what were her abilities again?"
Marie looked alarmed by how casual Obito was. "... She can shapeshift and use the skills of those she's captured. I don't know how it works but she can take on the form of anyone she's taken. Though I think her current form is her real one."
"Then this should be easy," Obito said as he steepled his hands in front of his mouth. "I'll simply seal her away like I did the Skull Heart."
"Hmm and what was this sealing art called again?" the doctor asked curiously.
"It's called Fuinjutsu or Sealing Arts, in English," Obito answered. "It's a rather versatile skill when used in the hands of a master."
"Where did you come across this art?"
"Oh, no, it's self-made," those around the ninja balked. "Trust me, this required so many years of study to get right but it's worth it."
"And it's teachable?"
"To whoever I want it to be."
"Huh, he's totally the type of guy who rules the chips on the table," Peacock said. "Ya eva play poker?"
"Yes, I've won every match I've played," Obito said with a raised brow as the girl snickered.
"Then you and Marie gotta play me! Marie was always good at sleight stuff!"
Marie blushed a bit before pouting. "I-It wasn't good, Patricia! We could have gotten into a lot of trouble!"
"I know, I know but it's still fun to do."
"We'll see, young Patricia," Obito said with a nod before blinking at another notification. "... I get the feeling that this one will be from the princess herself."
"Shooting for all three, huh, uncle?" Filia asked as she placed her chin on her arms on the back of the couch. "Seriously, I bet you'll get summons from even the Rive-"
There was a knock at the door and the group, even those on the screen, went silent.
"... Filia, please don't tell me you've jinxed me," Obito said with a look of concern as Carol got up and walked over to the door. "Please, don't."
Opening the door, Carol blinked at the sight of a blue fish girl.
"U-Um, it's a Dragonian girl!" She said to him as Obito groaned as he got up before walking over. "I'm sorry, Mr. Uchiha is coming!" Carol said with a bow and the girl across from her bowed back.
"No problem!" She said before Obito came up from behind Carol, the man's height topping most of the people the dragonian knew. "Ah, please to meet you, sir, my father, errr, the River King, would like to speak to you."
Obito breathed in through his nose as nervous laughter came from the living from, both Filia and Peacock laughed with a swallow.
Obito observed the Dragonian teen before him.
She was below average in height, seeming to be almost 5'4, and had a large fin extension from the back of her head that came up and then to the back of her head, a floppy fin, so to speak.
Her skin, underbelly, was a soft blue with her body having a dark blue set of scales around the back of her arms up to her head, the head portion even having the scales set in such a fashion to make one believe she had a ponytail. Around her crown was a necklace of seashells as orange fins came out from the backside of her arms.
She wore a pair of red sandals, white thigh-high socks, a red skirt, and a white shirt. Over her shirt, she wore a red crop top jacket."
Obito had a feeling she liked all these colors. "Can I help you, young lady?" Obito asked politely, the fish girl folding her hands in her lap before bowing to him. 'Hmph, polite and aware of eastern mannerisms? She must be from the River Dragon King's Palace. Fuck…'
This meant she had to have had some form of connection. A messenger, maybe?
… Actually, now that he was looking at her… Didn't he know this Dragonian?
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir," she said as she came back up from her bow, behind her, Obito noted, with some annoyance, the number of people peeking in and getting out of their seats and sleeping bags. "Could I com-"
"Oh, please, please, please," Obito said, ushering her in before slamming the door shut. "God, these people are gonna be a pain," he muttered before turning to the fish girl. "Apologies, who are you again? … Actually, do I know you?"
The girl giggled a bit. "Well, my father says you did him a favor in the past," Obito choked. "Pleased to meet you, I'm Minette, one of the seven daughters of the River Dragon King."
Fuck his life hard.
"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Minette," Obito said as he offered one of the recliners to her, the girl giggling a bit as she took the offered seat. "Dr. Avian, you all, I might need to speak to you later."
"Ah, no worries, I'll contact you sometime later," the gremlin-faced man said before pressing a button.
"I-I'll see, Marie!" Peacock got out before their screens went away.
"B-Bye!" Marie said a bit too slowly. "Oh…"
Obito sat back on the couch he'd been in, ruffling the former Skullgirl's head of hair. "You'll see her again but that also depends on you."
Marie wore a face of determination as she nodded. "I-I want to see Patricia again," she told her father.
"And you will like I said before, having the conviction to become stronger will make you far more powerful than any random… whatever the hell the Skull Heart is," Obito said with a shrug as his daughter nodded. "Now… I believe I've put you on the back-burner for too long, Ms. Minette, apologies."
"W-What, no, no, it's fine!" the girl waved her hands before her, a smile on her face. "Family's important!" Minette said with a grin.
"Well said, now, how can I help you?"
"Father wishes to meet you," she said with a smile as Obito rubbed the back of his neck. "If you're worried, I don't believe you should, he just seems curious about you. From the event years ago," Minette even looked curious. "I-I am as well! I'd been staying with an old member of our guard so I don't know what actually happened but father has never called so out of the blue before."
"I see… When?"
"Tomorrow, at the River King's Casino. He said that he'd be visiting soon but I think he bumped up his schedule."
"Very well, I'll be there, ma'am," Obito said with a nod as she clapped her hands with a smile. "Before you leave, can I interest you in some lunch?"
Minette giggled. "That sounds great!"
"T-That tasted amazing!" Minette said with a satisfied stomach and a pleased expression. "Why, I'd invite you to help out at Little Innsmouth if I could! I could learn so much from you and Yu Wan!"
"You One?" Filia asked as Carol giggled exasperatedly. "No offense, I've always been bad at this, took me a while to not call uncle 'Only Toes'."
Marie nearly choked on her food but used amazing throat control to not do that.
Minette giggled as Obito sat next to her and Marie. "I'm glad for the offer… And I wouldn't mind volunteering, that seems like fun. Financially, I'm fine for now unless my accounts get frozen, time will tell."
"Mmm, yes, your father, right?" Obito nodded. "... Perhaps my father wants to compensate you for beating the Skullgirl?"
"I'll know when we meet, I guess," Obito said with a nod as he and Minette got up. "... Question, since I want you to go unmolested out there… And that was a bad choice of words," he realized as the girl turned bright pink with a furious nod. "What I mean to say, I'll drop you off somewhere in the city closer to Little Innsmouth, alright?"
"It's a cafe called the Dragon's Kin, the owner, Yu Wan, is a Dragonian catfish man," she said with a smile. "Do you know anywhere near there?"
Obito pulled out his phone before scrolling through.
"... ah, that's near Eastern Retirement House, right?"
"Yes," Minette smiled. "Do you go there often?"
"Yes, I typically go to help out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday."
"That's marvelous!" Minette said with her fists pumped, a determined expression on her lip. "Yu Wan always tries to keep me safe but I like helping people! So he said I could go and volunteer on weekends."
"Well I'm glad you can," Obito said with a nod. "Those folk need more people in their lives. I can only do so much and I'm one face."
"I understand, maybe I can convince my friend to go there with me?"
"You'd know whoever this is more than I do."
Minette nodded before tilting her head at Obito as he rested a hand on her shoulder, the girl blushing as he focused on her intently.
"U-Um, that is-" she sputtered before being sucked into a space in front of Obito's eyes before the man himself made a Shadow Clone.
"I'll be right back," the real one said before being sucked into his eye.
"...?!" Marie stared at the empty space before her in disbelief. "F-Father?!" She turned to his clone. "... Father?"
"It's fine, Marie, I'm just taking Minette back to her home," Obito said as he moved to the couch. "Now, I should respond to this notification before I offend someone."
~NRK~
He jumped over a large gap between blocks with Minette in his arms, the fish girl's eyes wider than plates as they came to a stop at a random block.
"Alright, we're here," he said to her, trying to let the young woman down but her hands seemed to have equipped themselves to his shoulders. "Ms. Minette?"
"W-W-What?!" Minette exclaimed in shock as she stared at him, mouth open. "I-I… This is too much!" She squeaked.
"Let's just say that this is my personal pocket of space," Obito said as he was finally able to let her stand on her own feet. "Come on."
~NRK~
They swirled into existence in an alleyway before he gestured to the bright streets ahead.
Walking out into the sun-lit pathways, Minette was shocked to look at the divide between the districts of New Meridian. To her right, the sidewalks transitioned into wooden planks that went over a waterway.
"I hope you enjoyed your stay," Obito said to her with his arms crossed and staying in the shadows. "Tell your father I'll be there, alright?"
The Dragonian girl swallowed before turning to him and bowing.
"T-Thank you!" Minette said with a look of awe. "I'm sure my father will be pleased," she said before bowing one last time.
"Take care, young miss," Obito said before disappearing into a swirl.
Minette let out a shiver at the thought of someone, who had been a Medici, having such a power.
… But he was an amazing cook, though!
'Hmmm, I wonder how Nadia is doing?'
~NRK~
Vitale choked as Black Dahlia's smoking hand cannon fell limp at her side, the woman's eyes narrowing behind her veil.
"This isn't good, Vitale."
"... Should father awaken like this-"
~NRK~
When the real Obito returned to Marcus's home, he found the man and woman of the house in the living room with everyone else.
"What's going on?" He asked as he came into the living room. "Something happened?"
Marcus shook his head. "From what I hear, your clone talked to the princess and had her hold off until you come back. Right now, her inventor is chatting up your copy."
Obito raised a brow as the clone spoke to the laptop, the real one shaking his head.
"Hmph," he walked over before taking a seat, the woman on the screen, Molly's, smile froze on her face as she stopped mid-explanation of a new invention. "Hello? This is Obito Uchiha speaking."
"... WHAT?!" Molly jumped in shock, disbelief, bamboozlement! "T-Then who was I talking to?!"
"A copy," the Shadow Clone said with a wave before making a handsign and disappearing in a cloud of white smoke.
Obito considered the information he'd received. "You were explaining how you wished to learn my techniques, yes?"
"... H-How do you-?"
"I learn anything my clone learns."
"... A-Are you sure you don't wish to join the military?" Molly asked nervously, her smile shaky as she raised a finger. "Please?"
"Apologies, I've got too many appointments right now for that," Obito responded coolly. "... Though, as for trade secrets… I'll consider it."
"REALLY?!" Came Molly and Roxie's voices in unison, the black woman sliding into view.
"No foolin'?!" The mechanic asked.
"I'll see if I'm willing to part with some techniques. Never mind if you can recreate them, time will tell."
"Gotcha! Boss! He's on the line!" Molly called to the princess from off-screen.
"Wait, wasn't he already on the line?" Came Princess Parasoul's voice as she peeked into view, yellow eyes locking onto Obito's black ones. "... I was of the opinion that you wished for us to wait."
"He has clones, ma'am!" Molly explained with an excited expression as Parasoul blinked. "He makes 'em and they go poof! A-And he learns everything the clone learns!"
"..." Parasoul's eyes gleamed with possibilities as she and he locked gazes. "... It's been a while, Obito," she said first.
"..." Obito closed his eyes as he leaned back in his seat, Marie finding her place at his side as Carol and Filia played games upstairs, Marcus and Amelia doing something in the kitchen. "It has, hasn't it, Parasoul?"
Her eyes softened with a smile. "It has, I can't believe this is where I'd see one of my old classmates almost ten years later. I expected it to be at a reunion."
"Hmph, I'd forgotten," Obito said with his chin in hand. "Honestly, high school doesn't feel like it even happened at this point. God, where'd the time fly?"
"Like I told Lorenzo, death comes for us all, so we have to cherish what time we do have on this earth."
"Indeed," Obito knew very well how nonsensical trying to do the otherwise was. "But, I know you didn't just call to check-in."
"How are you so sure?" Obito's face became confused as the princess chuckled. "Though, you're not completely incorrect… I'd like to speak with you. Is there any place you prefer?"
"... Hmph, might as well be here," Obito said with a shrug. "I'll be getting my own house soon enough but if you want to do this earlier, I can start up a grill in the backyard. It is almost Summer, after all."
"Hmph, that doesn't sound so bad," Parasoul said with a smile. "Very well, we'll speak soon enough. I can't imagine you realize just how big you've become."
"Actually, the River Dragon King's already requested my audience," Marcus balked as he and Amelia peeked out of the kitchen, Parasoul's mouth dropping. "He had one of his daughters ferry a message to me. I've had a lot of invitations like that as of late. One from your very ASG Labs as well."
"... Big Band? Does that name seem familiar to you?"
"One and the same… I helped out one of their members half a year ago. My father's men at work," Obito's eyes narrowed in fury before he closed them, Sharingan simmering down as he deactivated them. "I'm acquainted, basically."
"I see… Hmph, we'll talk at length tomorrow then?"
"Of course, let me know if any of you can't eat certain things."
"... Hm, hm, you haven't changed," she said with a smile and a nod. "Alright, goodbye."
The screen call ended a second later, leaving Obito to lean back in his seat as his brother, and his wife, came out into the living room proper.
"Someone has a full schedule tomorrow," Amelia said with a smile as Obito chuckled. "... Obito, I wasn't aware you and the princess used to be friends," she said intently even as Marcus crossed his arms with an eyebrow raised.
'Hoo, boy.' he knew where this was going.
Obito seemed to as well, blushing only a bit as the blonde woman smiled at him.
"Listen, Amelia, me, and Parasoul were simply that, friends," he emphasized but the woman wasn't having it. "... Marcus?"
"I can't help you here," the man said with his hands in the air and a smile. "All you."
"Uuuuggghhhh."
~NRK~
Obito and Marie appeared in an alleyway, the two covered from head to toe in clothing to hide their identities.
"Come on, this is the store I go to buy ingredients," he beckoned his daughter forward, the two of them heading into a market called Large Present. "There are smaller versions of this location which deal in confectionery."
"Con… Confections?" Marie asked with a tilt of the head.
"Confectionery. It's another word for 'sweets'," Obito explained as he picked up a cart and nodded to the cashier, Sharingan flashing causing the man to relax. "... I'll take you to that section of the store once we get everything."
They went to the butcher section and Obito ordered several large packs of meat that he thanked the man for before they moved onto the fruits and vegetables.
Marie eyed the apples with wonder, Obito chuckling as he crouched by her.
"You like apples?"
He'd picked up three of the large ones, Marie giving him a quick hug to show her thanks.
They finished their shopping with ease as they purchased their two carts worth of stuff, going outside the store to the parking lot before Obito sent all the groceries to the Kamui Dimension.
They put the cart back into its receptacle before teleporting home.
~NRK~
Night had fallen a bit ago and Obito found himself sitting up in his bed, the soft snores of his daughter next to him.
She was currently wearing some clothes borrowed from Carol, the two of them forgetting to grab her clothes for the future.
He'd covered her in the blankets as he looked over his schedule.
He had to meet that odd ASG Lab tomorrow along with the Parasoul… He didn't know when that'd be, actually, but he had a feeling it'd be in the afternoon.
So he'd be awake bright and early to set up everything.
Next, he penned in Peacock's little playdate next week. He'd keep that promise if only because she deserved it. Had he been more aware, he might have been able to stop her situation from happening.
After that, he looked at the house Marcus's friend had up for sale.
It was a large home, of course, it was in Maplecrest after all, and had a large yard, give or take 40 x 40 cubic yards, not bad.
It also had a large basement which he liked the sound of. He'd probably add a smithy into the home, in time, anyway.
He saw that it was a one-story home and about 70 x 70 cubic yards. That was bigger than Marcus's home but he was giving up a second floor for it.
… Obito contemplated the home's design, eyes narrow in consideration.
'How much would it cost to break it down and rebuild an eastern house?'
He looked up the prices and then looked at his bank accounts.
… Okay, a bit costly but he wasn't afraid of a little expenditure.
~NRK~
When Obito awoke the next morning, he saw his daughter still asleep and went to work on cleaning himself up.
His shower had been quick and efficient, using a casual application of fire chakra, he dried off and put on his clothes for the day.
Wearing a pair of black slacks and a dark blue dress shirt, Obito allowed the top three buttons on his top to remain unbuttoned as he re-entered his room.
On the bed, Marie was sitting up and wiping away the sleep in her eyes.
"Father…?" She said quietly as she blinked away the rest of her sleepiness.
"Yes, it's me," Obito said with a nod. "I'm gonna go and start preparing for today, alright?"
Marie blinked three more times before nodding groggily.
"Hm," Obito chuckled a bit before leaving the room.
He went down the hall, the stairs, and then into the kitchen.
Obito spent the next twenty minutes making a basic breakfast for all in the house composed of scrambled eggs, two slices of toast, orange juice, and turkey sausage.
He placed the plates underneath some dish covers on the table before he saw Dog coming into the kitchen.
He kneeled to the animal and ruffled its head, the dog's tail wagging in a steady beat as he did.
"I'm guessing you're hungry?" He asked Dog who thumped the floor twice with a nod. "Alright, I guess Samson's asleep."
He set out the dog's food, adding a few spices to the personally made dog food before smirking at the animal digging in.
He went into the backyard, set up the grill, and got to work.
Filia groaned as she awoke to the smells of breakfast.
She rose like the dead before finding herself out of her room and already going down the stairs.
Filia didn't hear sizzling like she expected, looking into the kitchen to see a table bereft of people but with food.
Then she heard the sound of schlicking and shivered at the noise before hearing the sounds of barking.
"Dog?" Filia said to herself. "That came from the backyard."
Going to the end of the kitchen, on the left side, she looked outside the backyard door with a mesh screen to see Dog running around after a giant t-bone.
Filia blinked.
"Good morning, Filia," Obito said as Filia entered the backyard fully. "Just wake up? It is a Saturday."
Filia saw her uncle standing by a large contraption that she saw a soft orange glow from the locker-like door's grate. It was bigger than a school locker but she noted the vent on its side and the plug going into the outside outlet.
"... Oh, right," Filia blinked before grimacing at the taste on her teeth. "B-Be back, uncle!"
Obito shook his head at his niece. "That girl," he said to Samson as Dog trotted back over, the Parasite chuckling himself. "Hmph, the meat should be at a proper temperature now."
He went into the slow cooker locker, an invention that had been coined by one Isaac back in the day.
Checking the meat, he nodded before going to work.
He spent the next two hours out there before being joined by the family.
Marie sat nearby in a pair of white shorts and a pink hoodie as Filia wore a blue t-shirt and grey sweatpants, playing with Dog and Samson. The girl's physical abilities proved well as Samson and Dog chased her through the sets of monkey bars, tire swings, and benches in the yard.
Filia flipped, spun, flowed, rolled, and dodged like a champion, her flexibility being greater than Obito had expected in the beginning. Whereas Carol, the smaller of the two, was far better at using her body to provide her strength… ironically, seeing as she was far more of a pacifist than Filia ever was.
Marcus and Amelia observed the three play, the former nodding at Obito's work as Amelia smiled.
"Filia, are you sure you don't want to go to ballet lessons?" She called out.
"Nope-Hah, not this time!" Filia answered before backflipping over Dog's slobbery attempts. "Hm, hm, hm!" She tackled him before the canine was rewarded with belly rubs.
"Woof! Woof!"
"Hehe~ Obito's training really is doing you some good. I can only imagine you're probably the best in fitness at school," Samson said as Filia smirked.
"Yup! Me and Carol have actually have some of the highest physical scores in the past years, they said!"
"Darn tootin'!"
Marie, meanwhile, watched as her father brought out some pineapples, the girl's stomach growling at her as he chuckled and she blushed.
"... Come on, help me peel some of these," Obito offered and Marie nodded as she helped.
It was odd to think she was here, in a backyard with the Medicis and not hating every second of it. Hadn't it only been one day? Marie wondered if she was simply just that out of touch with her emotions and people.
She had been the thing people feared greatly in the past year.
Marie Uchiha felt a hand on her head as her father explained how to perfectly cut the fruit before her.
… But her father had said that he wanted to help her, to make her not become like he was?
Marie wanted to know about the man who'd adopted her, her father, Obito Uchiha.
~NRK~
I'm glad I got to finally come back to this fic, been kind of focused on Unlimited Courage so forgive me.
This is basically a set-up chapter, for lack of a better phrase. It's got all the invitations, Marie's foreseeable training, her quirks, Obito's reunion with Parasoul, and so much more.
I can't wait.
Ciao.
Words: 12.1k+
~NRK Out~