What's that smell?

And why is it coming from the bathroom?

"Hey, don't come in here!"

A loud, hard thud hit the bathroom door.

"Hey Akebi, it's me! Why are you throwing things at me?!"

The door yanked open, revealing a tall teenage girl with wet boy-cut sun blond hair. Her large violet-purple eyes wide in shock as another human fell from the hallway and onto the bathroom floor. "Oh, it's just you Sora. Sorry Sis, I thought you were Inojin."

"For goodness sake, Akebi." Sora Rei Yamanaka giggled lightly, standing up and brushing herself free of dust. Her foot kicking the hairbrush on the floor and she detected a heavy floral scent in the air. "You threw a brush at me like I was an intruder. And are you wearing perfume? Like Ino's perfume?"

"The jig is up." Ino-Akebi Yamanaka submitted, throwing her arms up. Sighing, she flopped down on the edge of the pearl white tub, staring at the ivory-white tiles on the floor, hoping Sora didn't see the look of uncertainty. She started fidgeting with her royal-purple robe before continuing. "Well, I thought I was home alone, and I got a date tonight. I want to make a good impression."

Sora's eye brows shot up in surprise. This was the first time she had heard about Akebi having an interest in anyone. She had plenty of friends who are boys like a lot of other girls her age. But she never took the relationship further. "With whom? Do I know him?"

"His name is Kei Hina." Akebi answered, thankful for the leftover heat from the shower. She couldn't bear letting Sora see her face turning red with embarrassment. She wasn't sure why she was embarrassed. It's not like the young Kunochi's on the Hidden Leaf Village are forbidden from dating. In fact, most of them have had more than one serious relationships by this point in their lives. But since this is Akebi's first date, for some reason, it wasn't easy for her to talk about it, let alone show her slight bashful side. "You remember him, right? We graduated with him. Smart guy, awesome eyes, muscles, sometimes he had a stick up his ass when it came to the rules."

Sora nodded.

"Well lately, he's been dropping subtle hints that he wants to go out with me. And I thought he's pretty bad ass for a buy-the-book kinda guy. So, I thought I'd give dating a try." She shrugged. "And why not with the loner, muscular guy?"

Sora smiled, but biting her tongue. It was the only way to contain her excitement. It was rare that Akebi would be interested in going out with anyone. Normally, if she wasn't hanging out with Sora, she would be her own company; performing daring stunts, vandalizing abandon homes and buildings, harnessing her family's ninja skill, or training out in the fields. Every so often, she would be dared to a wrestling match from one of the boys in the neighborhood, or a sparing match. "It's your first date. This is exciting."

"Yeah, for you and Mom." Akebi scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"But not for you?" Sora cocked her head in a curious manner.

"No..I mean yes...oh hell, I don't know." Akebi growled, slamming her hands onto her lap, growing frustrated. Then, she stood up, turned to face the mirror and started playing with her hair. In the mirror, Akebi looked Sora up and down with envy.

Even in a plum tank top and black leggings, she still looks like a model.

Although both girl's were beautiful in their own ways, Sora seemed to be a very different kind from Akebi. With her jet-black styled in a similar style to Akebi's, but more well kept. And with her onyx-black eyes, fair features, a slim body and a smile that made a lot of boys melt. Even her high maintenance fashion and style, it was easy for Sora to get a date. In fact, she's had plenty of boys swooning over her since they were kids in the Ninja Academy.

Akebi, on the other hand, was the oddball. When she was little, her mom insisted on keeping Akebi's hair long and styled every day, make up and brightly colored clothes. And when Akebi tried to fix it, she made her hair looked like an old doll a child used as a coloring page. Anytime she wore make up, she tried to wipe it off and it made her look like a clown. When she went as herself, she just seemed bland, like another face in the crowd. And with her brisk and rough behavior, most boys though it better to befriend or bully. But nothing more.

"I get the point in dating; the real big picture with the 'happily ever after' logo." She continued. "But it just seems kinda cliche. Dinners, movies, walks along the market, meetings on a bridge over the river in the village. It just sounds so lame to me."

Sora chuckled lightly, sitting beside her sister. "Those are date options, silly sissy. Think of dating as a game; if you do things with this second player, you might win a good man and an even better future. And even if you lose, you still get another life, another chance. I'm sure there are dates that are unique yet fun, and a good way to form relationships."

Akebi rolled her eyes. "You, certainly, have a way with words, Sora. Life is a game twist on this predicament."

"Well little miss glass-half-empty, what kind of 'lame date' does Kei have in mind?"

Akebi smiled amusedly. "At first, he thought we should go watch some new super hero movie. Then he suggested ice cream. None of which interest me. But just to humor him, I said movie. I don't want to talk much. Besides, I wanna see how Kairi The Unstoppable kicks ass this time."

"But how will you know if you like him or not?" Sora asked, tilting her head again. Sometimes she wondered why Akebi was so particular, and at times, difficult. "His input and opinion about the film could make a second date or break it."

"So, the talking can wait until the end of the film. It's no big deal." Akebi shrugged, running her hand through her hair. "Besides, I think it would be seriously awkward if it were just the two of us for a few hours. I still can't work up small talk, yet."

A realization came over Sora then. "You said you thought you were home alone. In fact, you were so surprised to find me here that you threw a hairbrush at me. Do you not want the family to know?"

Akebi sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, feeling a little embarrassed. "It's not that I don't want them to know, I just don't want it to be a big deal. You know how the family tends to be." Akebi explained, imagining various scenarios. She rubbed her hands over her face, somehow growing frustrated. "I don't even know if I'm gonna get a second date. But I know, if I had said anything about tonight, the family's gonna go ape shit. Mom's going to swarm me with tips about how to talk to boys, and all but beg to do my hair and makeup. Sai's going to try to give me points about flirting, or worse yet, hand me a book about dating. Then there's our little brother, Inojin. That kid's going to give me shit about the fact a guy is interested in me." She paused, listening to her surroundings, hoping no one else came home unexpectedly. As far as she knew, Sai and Ino were working at the Flower Shop, and Inojin was out training. "That's why I want to sneak out of here before anyone else comes home." She looked up and met Sora's dark eyes. "But, since you're here, I could use your help."

"Well, that's a first." Sora teased with a light giggle.

"C'mon Sora Rei." Akebi turned around to face Sora, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the sink. It wasn't often that she had to be serious with Sora. Usually, it's the other way around. Akebi always teased Sora and Inojin for one reason or another, and Sora had to be the one to keep Akebi in check, remind her when a joke goes too far. "This is serious, please don't tease."

"Oh dear, using my full name." Sora cleared her throat, stood up and twirled around. Kindness showing in those abyss-like eyes. "This must be serious. How can I help?"

Akebi pointed to her wet mess of hair. "You know my style is too tomboy to even figure out how to be girly. And I want it to look a bit more feminine."

Sora's eyes widened, after clapping her cheeks a couple times, wondering if she was dreaming. "You want to look more feminine? Is that what I heard?"

Akebi narrowed her eyes at her. "I do. And don't start harassing me!"

"Right, right, serious." Taking in a deep, soothing breath, Sora analyzed her sister's hair.

Although both Sora and Akebi have short hair, Akebi hardly touched a hairbrush. On an average day, she would check to see if she had bed head, run her fingers through it and go. However, Sora was notorious for taking her time on her hair. Straight or curl, gel or spray, style or not, the possibilities were endless. And it was rare that someone would ask her for hair advice. For another moment, Sora analyzed Akebi's hair, letting her imagination put together a puzzle that is her sister. "I think I can make that work."