Chapter 5
Nine months passed in the blink of an eye. Summer was just around the corner and with it the expectations for a new life. The air in the house tingled with anticipation, the doctors had told us the big day could happen any time now. As such, Father had essentially spent the last week on edge for the slightest sign of Mom going into labour. I could tell it was taking a toll on her. Mom hated not being able to go about her daily routine or even take care of basic chores. More than once did she lash out at Father when he got too overprotective. Even I wasn't immune to this. I found myself being far more cautious when around her. At first, I tried to do the opposite of Father and not give Mom any special treatment. Yet the first time I felt my new sibling kick, it was as though a switch flipped in my brain. I became a mini version of Father, constantly watching over and asking if she was alright. The first time Mom snapped at me, well, let's just say it was going to be the last.
Since then, when I found myself getting a little too overbearing I would force myself to go and do something else. One of those things was reviewing my notes. Unfortunately, this only resulted in my underlying anxiety growing. At my best guess, there was about eight years until the village would come under assault. Turns out when I get anxious, I have the habit of biting my lip. Something happening a whole lot more in recent days. Eight years sounded like such a long time, but I knew from experience how time can sneak up on you.
I found it far too easy to imagine my home being destroyed, crushed under the weight of a giant snake monster. Or my family being caught out on our way to the emergency shelter. Cut down by bloodthirsty Sand shinobi. I could imagine the latter in far more gruesome detail than I cared to admit. I still had nightmares of that attack after all. The first few months after were the most brutal. I would awaken in the middle of the night screaming bloody murder until Mom or Father came to calm me down and I realized where I was. The fear was constant. At my worst, I couldn't even look at a knife without trembling. It took a lot of work to get over that. Nowadays, I was doing better, the nightmares only coming about once or twice a month.
Kiyomi, admittedly, had played a big part in helping me get past that trauma. After breaking the promise to meet again the next day, the girl had put up so much of a fuss that her mother tracked down my address. It was around a week later the two appeared on my doorstep and I found myself tackled to the floor. Mom had just gotten home and was wheelchair bound at the time. When Kiyomi's mom heard the story, I could swear she could have killed someone. Her daughter gaining a similar aura when hearing the simplified version. I guess both of them were quick to make attachments.
Since then, she would come by the house every chance she had. There was no refuge from her tyranny. Still, it was something I was grateful for in the end. I enjoyed spending time with her and that infinite wellspring of positive energy. It made Mom quite happy knowing I finally had a friend my age. Even if watching the both of us could be quite a headache. She also had become good friends with Kiyomi's mom, Ai. It was during this time I noticed Mom had few friends herself so having someone to talk to was quite helpful in her recovery.
As for that incident, I never did find out why that woman attacked us. Whenever I tried asking, I was just told that she couldn't hurt us again. I could understand that they didn't want to burden a child any further than I already had been. Assuming it would be easier if I would just forget the entire thing. Not knowing was still frustrating though. In the end I could only assume that witch was simply crazy.
Still, it wasn't all bad. The incident did net me a new friend in Misaki Uchiha. While I didn't see her as often as Kiyomi, the shinobi would still swing by every now and then. Her reaction to learning of Mom's pregnancy was one of the funniest things I had ever seen. Since then, she loved to check in on us when she could find time off of work. Notably, she hadn't continued to ask if I desired to become a ninja. Something that certainly was on my mind more often the closer Mom came to term.
Misaki often brought gifts when she stopped by. Honestly she was probably more excited for my sibling's birth than I was. Baby toys, clothes and whatnot for Mom and various sweets for me. That was something I couldn't complain about since I had one heck of a sweet tooth. She often spoke of her own desire to have kids so I guess she was kind of living vicariously through Mom. Her only issue was finding someone to start a family with, Misaki's sense of duty often had her working long hours. Something she would complain about during our time together. Yet she still loved the job so much there was no way she would be cutting back anytime soon. Instead I got to hear about her jealousy regarding Touma and his girlfriend.
The time Kiyomi and Misaki met was certainly entertaining. The shinobi dropping by while Kiyomi was staying overnight. The young Yamanaka was initially ecstatic to meet another ninja, demanding that she train the two of us. Said training was basically a game of hide-and-seek where Misaki had the most insane advantage. Her ability to hide her presence and our ability to detect her had such a gap at one point her idea of hiding was having tea with Mom in the kitchen. What was funny however, was Kiyomi's reaction when she learned of Misaki's heritage. Suddenly the Yamanaka soured to the woman who had been her new best friend. She started trying to assert dominance, trying to prove Yamanaka superiority over the Uchiha. It was adorable. So much so that even Misaki gave in and started giving Kiyomi some free wins in our ninja games.
Shouting from the kitchen brought me back to the present. Sounded like Father was getting overprotective again. I packed up my notes and slipped them back underneath the floor board just in time as Father came to my door. "Lunch will be ready soon..." His voice was so dejected. Mom and I both knew he was only trying to help but he had a bad habit of overstepping his bounds. Still, seeing that big old teddy bear so down trodden was hard. So I got to my feet and hugged his tree trunk of a leg.
"Oooohhhh!" A loud moan punctuated by something shattering caused both of us to freeze for a moment. Father then taking off like a bat out of hell towards the source of the noise. I barely managed to release his leg to avoid being sent flying. From the kitchen I could hear my parent's frantic voices but nothing was processing. It was as if I couldn't decide whether or not what was happening was real. It was only when Father's booming voice shook the house that I came to my senses.
"MEIKOOOO! ITS HAPPENING!"
My response was, of course, calm and collected.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Panic erupted throughout the house as I tried to figure out what I should be doing, Father practically mirroring my actions. It wasn't until Mom's patience hit her limit that everything settled down a bit. "WILL YOU TWO IDIOTS JUST SHUT UUUAAAHHHHH!" I wasn't even in the same room and I snapped to attention. After a few moments, Mom was able to compose herself and called out to me. "Meiko! Get your shoes on and wait by the front door please!" Following her command, I darted out of my room and to the entryway while she started giving Father his orders. Thanks to that outburst, I was able to think a heck of a lot clearer now.
After helping Mom to the couch, Father ran back to the kitchen to make sure the stove was off and there weren't any other fire hazards. I moved to Mom's side as another convulsion hit. While my mind was clearer, seeing her in distress still had my anxiety spiking. I couldn't even imagine what she must be going through. All I could do was take her hand. Mom looked at me, a pained smile on her face as she took my hand in hers. "Thank you, honey."
The next few minutes were quiet as Father finished with the kitchen. Mom insisting against his protests that he get the food in the fridge. She was both a big fan of leftovers and staunch enemy of wasting food. No matter the circumstances. Woe is me when she brings out the green peppers... Still, it gave me some time to think. How were we getting to the hospital? Cars weren't a thing and making a pregnant woman walk while in labour was just unethical.
"Kenjiiii" Mom cried out as another contraction hit, causing her to start crushing my tiny hand. I took a deep breath and punched the couch a few times to try and bear with the pain until Mom calmed back down. "Did you call the hospital yet?"
"RIGHT!" Father called back from the kitchen. He really didn't do well under pressure. A minute later he called out "They said that a squad of medical ninja are on their way!" Mom didn't respond vocally, simply nodding her head rapidly as another covultion hit. I fell to my knees as my hand was once again crushed in her grasp.
Several minutes and more crushing sessions later, a knocking came from the front door. Father quickly bounded across the house to receive the ninja. Three men entered the house dressed in all white and, in my opinion, wearing deflated chef hats. Father lead the medics into the living room where Mom and I awaited. Seeing them, Mom finally released my hand to my great relief. Father pulled me back and out of the way as the medical-nin did a quick check of Mom's condition.
Father and I stood back, watching as the medical-nin produced a stretcher and began guiding Mom to lay down onto it. The idea of seeing Mom being taken away on a stretcher again was an uncomfortable one but that appeared to be the modus operandi for medical transport in the village. Someone really needed to develop the combustion engine. Then we could at least get an ambulance for times like this.
With Mom strapped in, the medical-nin were set to go. We were given a moment to say our well wishes to her for now before they made their way out the door. There was no way Father and I could keep pace with the shinobi so we would have to arrive later. At least this way they could get Mom set up and comfortable without having to fight past my panicky father. Once Mom was carried off, Father let out a massive sigh. With the house finally quiet, I think he was finally able to relax a bit.
"Meiko, I'm going to call Yamanaka-san and see if she will be able to watch you for a bit." His tone was gentle yet left little room for negotiation. When he saw I was about to put up a fuss, he knelt down and placed both hands on my shoulders. Holding firmly as he looked me in the eyes, "I'm sorry, I know you want to be with your Mother but I don't know how long this is going to be. I can't look after you and be with your Mom through this at the same time. When your little brother or sister is born I'll send someone to pick you up right away, okay?"
There was no arguing with him. I could tell this was something he would not budge on. Maybe if the hospital had some kind of day care centre in it things would be different. Unfortunately as it was, we only had one option to fall back on. Kiyomi's mom Ai was really the only person we could contact in this situation. I still had not seen anyone from either side of my parent's family. When I asked about it, I just got a vague answer that they did not live in Konoha. In fact, it seemed to be a bit of a sore spot for both of them, so I dropped the matter.
While it was disappointing I couldn't be there for the birth of my new sibling I had to accept the fact. So, I sadly nodded meekly and gave a simple "Okay..." Father pulled me in for a hug, apologizing again for having to leave me behind.
"Alright, I'll call Yamanaka-san. Could you go find a couple bags to pack your things in case they want you to go over to their place." I could tell from his words he was sad I couldn't go. Following his orders, I went to find a travel bag while Father got back on the phone.
"Alright," Father said aloud once he finished on the phone. "Meiko! Pack some overnight clothes and anything else you're going to need. Yamanaka-san said you can sleep over at her place."
"Okay!" I called back from the closet, finally finding one of the travel bags. "A sleepover, huh?" Kiyomi had slept over at my place several times over the last few months but this would be the first time I stayed at her place. A tinge of excitement grew in my chest, different from the anxiety I had in regards to Mom. I never really asked about where Kiyomi lived. Was it something like a clan complex like what the Uchiha had? Or was it something a lot more normal?
Back in my room, I started rolling up my blanket and packing my pillow. The pillow was non-negotiable. I had a very difficult time sleeping on someone else's pillow. Once I had those items stuffed away, I grabbed a few pieces of clothing for tomorrow should I need to stay overnight. After that, I took a look around the room, trying to figure out if there was anything else I was missing. I had a fair amount of stuffed animals and Kiyomi was a fan of then when she slept over. "Perhaps I should take a couple for her." Other than that, I couldn't think of much else. We'd probably end up playing outside like usual anyway. It had taken some time, but since I first met her, my stamina had grown by leaps and bounds. Even so, I still had trouble keeping up with Kiyomi. It truly felt like she just had an endless wellspring of energy to pull from.
More than that, she was getting very good at the games we played. Hide-and-seek was such a one sided game at this point. I had a chance when I was on the hunt but I swear she knew my house better than I did at this point. She could sniff me out no matter where I managed to squeeze myself away. When I demanded answers for how she was able to do that, all I got was a smirk and something like "I just knew you were there." I was beginning to suspect foul play. Perhaps she was a secret prodigy and already knew how to perform some of her clan's mind-reading jutsu.
"Meiko! Do you have everything?" Father called from across the house.
"I think so!" I replied back, looking through my bag again. "Blanket, pillow, clothes... I think that's everything." I vocally marked off my luggage to try and make sure I wasn't missing anything.
"Toothbrush?" Father's voice boomed once more. Causing me to slap my forhead.
"Right! Thanks Dad!"
Once I had everything packed, a rapping came from the front door. Father was preoccupied so I had to go answer it. As I opened the door I was surprised as I found myself suddenly staring at the ceiling. I could somewhat remember a yellowish blur flying at me the moment the door opened. The source of my confusion then made herself known. Kiyomi's face coming into view, her eyes definitely shining with stars this time.
"MEIKO! MOMMY TOLD ME YOU'RE GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER! AND AND YOU'RE GOING TO SLEEP OVER AT MY HOUSE! WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST TIME! MY BROTHER IS A GENIN NOW SO HE CAN TOTALLY TRAIN US AND WE'LL STAY UP LATE AND AND AND-" I was saved from the verbal assault as Kiyomi's mom pulled her daughter off of me by her collar.
"HEY! COOL IT OR ELSE!" She screamed into Kiyomi's face. I could only see my friend as a small puppy in this moment as she curled up in apology. As I got back to my feet, Kiyomi's mom forced her daughter into a bow.
"I'm sorry..." My friend said meekly, this was probably the calmest I had ever seen her. It certainly wasn't going to last long.
Father came to greet our guests. Yamanaka-san congratulating Father and telling him that she would take good care of me. I could already see Kiyomi starting to stir, eager for us to get going. When it was time to go, Father knelt down before me. "Now, you be a good girl. Daddy will miss you." Father pulled me in for a hug, which I heartily returned.
"You'll come get me when my brother or sister is born, right?" I asked as my face was assaulted by his massive, scratchy beard.
"Of course." He replied solemnly.
"Even if I'm asleep?" I questioned as he released me.
"Even if you're asleep." We both smiled as Father stood up.
Kiyomi's mom took my hand, asking if I was ready to go. After nodding, we said our farewells and stepped outside. The noontime sun blazing down from up above. Crossing onto my lawn I smacked into a wall of humidity. I was instantly reminded of the heat wave that was hitting the village, sweat already beginning to bead on my brow. "Waaahh... Its so hot..." I moaned. Yamanaka-san and Kiyomi did not seem to be too bothered by it.
"It is a bit muggy isn't it?" Yamanaka-san said as she looked towards the sky, shielding her eyes from the harsh sunlight. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it soon." Smiling back at me, I could clearly see the sweat on her face. I guess Yamanaka-san's heat tolerance was just on a whole different level than my own. Maybe it had something to do with being an ex-shinobi. Kiyomi said her mother 'got tired' which I assume meant retired from the profession after having her second child.
Kiyomi ran to my side and took my hand, trying to pull me down the street. "Come on Meiko! Let's go!" Kiyomi's mom giggling behind us as the young girl dragged me away.
Strangely enough, Yamanaka-san was right. I was adjusting to the heat surprisingly well. Yes I was still sweating but so was everyone. In my previous life I was never a big fan of hot weather. It just sapped all your strength and even made it hard to breathe. At least with cold weather you could put on a second coat or something if it got really bad.
We had entered a busier part of the village, one of the business districts. Kiyomi skilfully weaving between the crowds of people. Meanwhile I struggled to avoid bashing myself into their legs as I still couldn't free myself from her trademarked death grip. "Kiyomi!" I called out desperately, "Slow down a bit!" Practically begging as I barely dodged out of the way of a woman carrying a large brown bag. Rather than slowing down however, the girl decided to just stop. Considering my momentum, it was a miracle I did not wind up crashing into her.
"We're here!" She exclaimed in glee, oblivious to how close she had been to disaster. Before us was a large yellow building. The walls lined with a large variety of potted plants filling the air with a sweet floral scent. Above the door was a large sign reading 'Yamanaka Flower Shop'.
"Is this where you live?" While the shop itself was not that big, the building it was attached to was quite impressive considering it spread the entire length of the street.
"Pretty much," Kiyomi's mom chimed in as she caught up with us. "The shop is managed by the head of the clan and his family, but the rest of us have our own homes in the compound. This building is just a part of that." I took a moment to look around but the street itself was more lined with shops than anything else. Curiously, I looked back to the woman. Laughing, she elaborated, "To be precise, everything within the next few blocks is owned by the Yamanaka clan, in other words, we're already in the compound. You can almost think of it as a town within the village. Although we tend to rent out the shops here to local businesses. Clan members live closer to the heart of the compound."
"Come on! Let's go already!" Kiyomi, impatient as always started dragging me again. Not towards the flower shop but towards a door a few meters away. As we passed by the shop however, a new voice called out.
"Oh Kiyomi! Over here!" Approaching us was a young girl about our age. I had to double take as the girl approaching us was practically a mirror image of Kiyomi. A chill ran down my spine from the fear that she had a twin I never heard of before. There was no chance I could survive two Kiyomis.
My copy of Kiyomi was positively beaming upon seeing the girl. "Ino!" Finally releasing me, she threw herself forward, the two embracing each other in a lop sided hug. It took me a moment to realize just who this girl was. Ino Yamanaka, the daughter of the head of the Yamanaka clan and member of the main cast of the series. I had not even registered the possibility we would run into her like this. Rather stupid of me in hindsight.
As the two finished their little reunion, Ino looked to me having just noticed my presence. "Kiyomi, is this a friend of yours?"
Kiyomi nodded proudly, "Yup, this is-"
"A boy!?" Ino suddenly cut in, her eyes sparkling with a naughty light. "Oooo, how brave! I didn't know you had a boyfriend yet!" I... Was not sure how to react to this. Kiyomi on the other hand, began blushing as her face slowly contorted into anger.
"What! NO!" She tried protesting as Ino pushed passed the girl, grabbing my hands in hers.
""So so tell me! How did you guys meet! What do you like about her!?" These two were definitely related. To my right, Kiyomi's mom was struggling to hold back laughter as shot her a pleading gaze. Why do all adults betray me in my time of need?
Thankfully, Kiyomi was still on my side at least. Pulling back the gossip-statved Ino and unleashing her fury. "STUPID INO! MEIKO IS A GIRL!" Kiyomi's words struck with the force of a sledgehammer as Ino was left reeling. Quickly devolving into a stuttering mess as her eyes darted between the two of us.
"IMSOSORRY!" She screamed, practically on the verge of tears as she rapidly began bowing over and over again. A torrent of apologies assaulted me in an unending barrage that only made me feel worse about the whole situation. I started fanning my hands out, slightly panicking as I stumbled over my own words trying to calm her down.
"Its okay, its okay Ino-san, I don't mind, really!" Chaos reigned as all three of us were screaming as we tried to get the other parties to hear our words but no one was listening. Relief came in the form of a man exiting the shop.
"What's all the ruckus about?" Asked the man. He was fully geared out in shinobi garb as though he was about to leave on a mission. His hair a sandy-blonde and hung in a large ponytail. His interference was enough to get us all to cease our bickering and turn to him.
"Ah, Inoichi-san," Yamanaka-san said cheerfully.
"Ai-san, good to see you. What exactly is going on out here?" Inoichi replied.
"Daddy! I was just saying hi to Kiyomi's friend!" Ino shouted as she ran to her father's side, pointing back at me.
"Oh, well hello there young man, I'm Inoichi, Ino's dad." The silence he received was deafening.
"DAAAAD!" Ino berated her father as though she had not just made the same mistake, "Meiko is a girl!" As with his daughter, Inoichi was left reeling at this revelation. I could feel my facial muscles twitching as I tried to hold a smile.
Rather than having a complete repeat of the screaming incident, I quickly bowed my head, "My name is Meiko Hashimoto, its nice to meet you." This was enough to calm Inoichi as he bowed back, offering his apologies. "Its okay, it doesn't bother me." I replied. Although I'm not sure just how truthful that statement was. There was a strange sensation in my chest, a mild frustration perhaps? "This doesn't really bother me, does it?" I completely understood why people could confuse me for being a boy. I preferred shorts and a t-shirt over something like a dress that Ino was wearing. I also kept my hair rather short, even for a kid. Yet when I consider who I used to be...
"Meiko, you okay?" Kiyomi's face was nearly pressing into mine, causing me to jump back in a start. "You were spacing out again." Kiyomi often had to bring me back to earth when my mind wandered into the clouds so me spacing out at random times was now a common occurrence for her. The others however were sporting some slightly worried expressions.
"Oh, sorry. I'm okay, I was just... thinking about stuff." Ino immediately elbowed her father in the shin. "See Dad! You made her feel bad!" I guess even trained shinobi can still feel pain as the poor guy doubled over, clutching his leg. That was also the final straw as Kiyomi's mom, I'll just refer to her as Ai from now on to avoid confusion with all the other Yamanaka, burst out into a fit of laughter.
When things finally settled down, Ino turned to me, "So, what brings you here Meiko? Did you want to buy some flowers? We got the prettiest ones in all the village you know." Girl was a natural saleswoman.
I shook my head, but Kiyomi cut in before I could respond, "She's sleeping over at my place tonight! And, guess what, Meiko is going to be a big sister soon!" I had to wonder if Kiyomi was more excited about that fact than I was. Upon seeing Ino's face light up at the news, I braced myself for another onslaught. Meanwhile, Ai took the time to explain the situation to Inoichi.
Unlike with Kiyomi however, that expected onslaught never came. Oh she had questions for sure, but I guess Ino just wasn't as hyperactive as Kiyomi naturally was. I answered the best I could until Inoichi cut his daughter off. "Okay Ino, we should let them go now. Mom will be back soon you know." At first it appeared as though Ino was going to put up a fuss but upon the mention of her mother she instantly cooled off.
"It was nice meeting you Meiko, we should play together sometime." I nodded as she waved goodbye. We would most certainly meet again so long as I was friends with Kiyomi. Of that much I was certain. Still, I thought it best if I didn't try to get too close to the heir of the Yamanaka clan. It would be weird spending time with someone for whom you know a good chunk of their future. Although it did plant a new thought in my head. Eventually Ino and Kiyomi would go off to the academy for shinobi training. If I chose not to, to instead just be a normal kid, would I go off to a different school? Did they have schools for a more generalized education? If that was the case then Kiyomi and I would likely drift apart. She would find new friends, eventually become a Genin and get her own team. I'd be off somewhere else learning math and history or something.
That... That thought actually hurt. Kiyomi was one of my only friends in this world. My social circle was extremely small here. Just my parents, my future sibling, Kiyomi and Misaki. It was funny in a sad kind of way, how lonely I would be without that little spazball. Of course, should I go to the same school, the story would be different, but that would mean I was at least attempting to become a shinobi. If I went for a reason as shallow as not wanting to be separated from my friend, it would be an insult to her pride. Shinobi were the pride of the village after all. People did not take kindly to those who were simply 'playing' at being ninja.
"Meiko, you're doing it again." Kiyomi's voice held just the slightest hint of annoyance at my daydreaming. It took me a moment to realize we were not longer out on the street but standing in a large and rather beautiful flower garden. "You've been doing that a lot lately. What's wrong?" Considering the events of today, her concern was warranted.
"Just... stuff. Its okay." I tried replying nonchalantly. This did not satisfy her curiosity however.
Kiyomi's face scrunched up in the way one does when biting down on something extremely sour. "Liar." Simple, sharp and straight to the point. While that last one wasn't much of a lie, Kiyomi had a powerful sense for that sort of thing. It was extremely difficult to hide something from her when she really wanted to pry. Perhaps her Yamanaka blood granted her a natural ability to read people. Otherwise, the only logical explanation would be that I was a terrible liar and that certainly wasn't the case at all.
"I was just..." My voice caught in my throat as I felt a slight heat in my cheeks. I could say I was worried about Mom, that wouldn't be a lie technically but the words that came out were far closer to the truth. "... I was just thinking how one day... We'll drift apart. You'll go to the academy, become a ninja and I'll..." My voice trailed off into silence, what would I do? Sometimes I really wished I didn't have these memories, that I was just a normal kid. Things would be so much simpler that way.
"That's stupid." Kiyomi's blunt response smacked me upside the head. I looked back up at the girl who was glaring back at me. "We're not going to be apart. We're going to the academy together and we both will become awesome ninja. I already told you that so stop worrying about stupid things, stupid Meiko." With that, Kiyomi huffed and began marching through the garden. I could hear her mother giggling behind me. She was right though, I was being stupid. Even if we didn't become shinobi, there was no way in hell that stubborn Yamanaka would ever leave me alone.
"Kiyomi!" I called out as I ran back to her side, "Thank you."
It was her turn to blush. Twice in one day too, that might be a new record.
"I-its nothing. I told you to stop saying stupid things already! So come on, let's go!" Taking my hand, Kiyomi pulled me along with her, all the while doing her best to hide her embarrassment. I couldn't help myself and burst out in laughter.
Kiyomi's room was quite the sight. Practically filled to the brim with stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. Her bed was so crowded I had a hard time imagining she could even sleep properly on it. In one corner was a giant bear who's stomach sat partially indented. Likely having been used as a chair many times over. I knew she had an affinity for such things, she loved cuddling the few I had at home but this was a little ridiculous. It also went to show just how different our rooms were. Mine was barely furnished, little more than the bare necessities. Kiyomi's room on the other hand was overflowing with her own personal touch.
"Whoa..." There really wasn't much else to say. It was overwhelming and adorable, just like my friend.
"So," Kiyomi asked, pacing about, "What do you think?" Her eyes were eager but nervous as she awaited my appraisal.
"Its amazing." I said with a big smile. My friend flashing her own toothy grin in response.
"So, what do you want to do!?" Kiyomi asked eagerly. Although she did not get a verbal response. Instead, my stomach let out an embarrassingly loud groan.
Quickly wrapping my arms around my stomach, I laughed awkwardly. "Hehe... Sorry, I kinda missed lunch..."
Kiyomi began laughing, "Okay, let's get something to eat then!"
Lunch was a simple affair, considering everything had been arranged on such short notice and we were already midway through the afternoon, we settled with some quick sandwiches. Once our stomachs were satisfied the two of us went about our usual routine. Kiyomi taking the lead and initiating another game of ninja, aka hide-and-seek. I did not have a chance. Kiyomi was already far better at finding me in the first place, but now she had the home field advantage. It was quite frustrating, not being able to do a darn thing. She knew all the best hiding places and could track me down with the accuracy of a blood hound.
A shinobi's clan compound wasn't quite what I originally imagined. For some reason I thought it would be something along the lines of a military barracks. Strict, regimented, the members acting as soldiers. Constantly doing things like running drills and the like. Reality was much more... mundane. It was just as Ai said, a small town nested within the village. The only real difference being that the majority of the people here were almost certainly shinobi of varying rank. I saw more standard issue vests here today than I would in a month normally. If my memory served correctly, the Yamanaka were to the intelligence division as the Uchiha were to the police force. With that in mind, renting out those buildings and running the flower shop actually made a lot of sense. Through those businesses, they had a finger on the pulse of the village. Gossip, trade and the like, they had front row seats to all of it. On top of that, they could use the flower shop to spread coded messages. Using the language of flowers to deliver coded messages was a trope I had seen many times in movies and such from my previous life. Or it was just good business. What did I know.
"Found you!" The bloodhound had sniffed me out again.
"Maaan," I moaned in annoyance, "I thought I had a good place this time." Desperate for a win, I had reduced myself to hiding among literal garbage. Suffering the stench I had found two dumpsters where there was just enough space for me to slide between, thankfully it was wide enough I wouldn't be rubbing up against any unknown substances but still.
Kiyomi laughed. "That's the worst place! It stinks! Why would you even think to hide there?" I... had no response for this. I picked the spot out of desperation. Praying that the sheer disgust factor would keep her at bay. But not even the threat of garbage stink was enough to keep Kiyomi from a win.
"How do you always find me!?" Yes, there was an obvious hint of whining in my voice I was not proud of. As usual, Kiyomi just flashed me a smug grin.
"I just knew where you were!" The same answer yet again.
"Fine... Keep your secrets... Guess I'm it again." The two of us moved away from the trash heap before the stench could overwhelm us. I was about to start counting when Kiyomi grabbed my shoulder, spinning me back around.
"MEIKO! LOOK!" She practically screamed into my ear as she pointed towards someone approaching from down the street. This person was older than us by a fair margin but still a young kid. The headband flashing on his forehead indicated he was a shinobi, likely a Genin considering his age. He was wearing light clothing, dark grey short legged pants and matching sleeveless shirt with a very light blue vest over top. The symbol of the Yamanaka clan embroidered upon it, over his heart. The bottom of the vest also sported a red flame pattern. As was common to the Yamanaka, his hair was a shade of blonde, identical to Kiyomi's in fact and tied in a short ponytail.
"HEY! BRO! OVER HERE!" Kiyomi called out as she ran into the middle of the street, arm waving frantically.
"Hey Kiyomi, what are you doing out here?" He replied once close enough. His little sister running headlong into his arms.
"I'm playing ninja!" She responded, proudly and eagerly awaiting praise. Kiyomi spoke often and highly of her older brother. From what I heard, he was the top of his class, or the year, or all time depending on her mood. Seeing the trademark headband donned on his forehead, it appeared he had finally graduated and been made a Genin. Come to think of it, Kiyomi might have said something like that when she tackled me earlier in the day.
Kiyomi's brother rubbed her head affectionately, "Ninja, huh? Are you working on those tricks I taught you?" That caught my ear. So she had been learning some tricks to help track me down. Figures as much, she was part of a shinobi clan. It would make sense they would pass down the tricks of the trade. But to use it against a perfectly normal in every way little girl was playing dirty.
While I couldn't see it directly, I could easily imagine the smug grin Kiyomi had on her face right now. "Yup!" She chirped, "I'm undefeated today!"
"Good, good. You're training is going well then." Her bother's eyes, far more narrow than his sisters, turned towards me with a curious glare. "So is he one of your friends?"
"And we're three for three today." I sighed in annoyance as Kiyomi cut in.
"Nooo, this is Meiko! I told you about her remember?" Kiyomi said as her cheeks puffed up.
"Ah, this is Meiko? I'm very sorry." Her brother bowed. I was starting to wonder how many times this scene would play out today. Perhaps I should keep a tally for future reference.
""I'm getting used to it..." I muttered as I returned the bow. "My name is Meiko Hashimoto, Kiyomi's friend."
"Kazuma Yamanaka, Genin shinobi and Kiyomi's older brother."How formal. Now that the pleasantries were out of the way, there was one gnawing question on my mind I had to ask.
"So, you taught Kiyomi some tricks?" My words contained the sting of accusation on them more so than simple inquiry. Whatever tricks Kazuma had learned at the academy and passed down to Kiyomi had given her an unfair advantage in our games. At the very least, I deserved an explanation. Kazuma however, looked a bit confused.
"Well yeah, but nothing special. Just basic things like how to hide your presence and sensing other's presence. Doesn't everyone learn that?" There was an innocent nativity in his words. Now it was my turn to be confused.
"...No? My family aren't ninja." I replied flatly, turning my gaze over to Kiyomi who refused to meet mine. Her brother followed my gaze, his lips tightening as he put two and two together.
"Kiyomi, were you using ninja techniques against a civilian?" Kiyomi's body visibly tensed as he hit the nail on the head. Slowly, Kiyomi turned her head up to face her brother's accusatory gaze. Eyes going wide and lip quivering.
"I was going to tell her! I just... had too much fun winning..." Her voice was barely a whisper for the last bit. I could only stand in silence, not that she had basically been cheating by using ninja techniques in our games, but that she admitted it so easily.
"Kiyomi..." Kazuma's presence loomed over his little sister, causing her to shrink down in the same manner a small animal does when it feels threatened. "Good job! A ninja always takes every advantage available!" The siblings broke out into laughter as Kazuma continued piling heaps of praise on his little sister. At this point I could only feel a bit stupid for having expected anything else. I couldn't say he was wrong on a technical level but I could certainly feel cheated.
I guess my frustration was quite apparent, as when the two had calmed down Kiyomi did apologize. Slightly. As proof of her sincerity, she had an idea. "Hey, big bro, you should show us some of your jutsu!" There was zero chance this was a form of apology, Kiyomi likely had this planned for a long time. But the chance to see real jutsu was a rare thing, even I couldn't deny the urge to see it in person. Even Misaki wouldn't use her jutsu without reason, the summoning jutsu still being the only one I had seen her utilize.
Kazuma was one who couldn't say no to his little sister. Something he would definitely get burned for sooner or later. "Alright, let's see. What should I do?" Clapping his hands together to ensure our attention, he made three different hand seals. Certainly not as fast as I had seen Misaki perform the summoning jutsu, but a pace I could assume was respectable. With the final seal, he called out the name, "Clone jutsu!" A cloud of smoke burst out beside him and quickly dissipated, a copy of himself stood at his side. At first glance it was practically impossible to tell the two apart. Should someone unfamiliar pass by right now, I wouldn't blame them if they believed Kazuma and his clone to be identical twins.
"Aw come on! I've seen that one already!" Kiyomi complained as she kicked the clone body. Her foot passing through without a hint of resistance, causing it to burst in a cloud and vanish. The clone technique they teach at the academy lack physical form, a fact Kiyomi either was unaware of or forgot as her foot passed effortlessly through her brother's doppelganger. This disrupted and destroyed the clone but sent the girl staggering as she had likely expected some form of resistance. I snickered as my friend barely managed to keep her balance, but was also a little disappointed at the destruction of the clone. I couldn't help but be curious as to how it worked. If I swished my hand through it would I feel nothing but air? Furthermore, while the basic clone technique couldn't interact with the world I think, if my memories were correct, even basic clones could talk right? Was that a conscious thing by the user or was it like a shadow clone where there's some level of autonomy?
"Meiko! Wake up! Come oooon!" Kiyomi whined at me spacing out again, eager to see the next jutsu.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm back." Other than a sour look, Kiyomi let it pass this time as she had something more exciting at hand. Kazuma was humming and hawing about which jutsu to show off next. The act serving only to wind up Kiyomi more. "Come on! Show the one Mom taught you!" A grin spread across Kazuma's face, finally letting the poor girl off the hook.
"That one? You sure?" Kiyomi nodded furiously. "Haha, alright. Watch closely, this is one of our clan's precious jutsu after all. Now, I just need a volunteer." His eyes turned in my direction, a shiver running up my spine. A Yamanaka clan jutsu meant it was a mind-based technique. If he could read my mind and find out all the stuff I'm hiding, all my knowledge of the future, I didn't even want to think about what could happen.
Kazuma's hands were a blur as he prepared the jutsu, his earlier speed obviously a ruse. Once completed he thrust both arms forward, his hands touching at the tips of his thumbs and two fingers, creating a small, round porthole. Through it, I could see into his eyes as he called out, "Ninja Art!" I kicked the ground, diving to my right in an attempt to dodge whatever was coming. "Mind Transfer jutsu!" I landed on the rough ground, definitely scuffing something. After quickly tapping my body down to see if I had been hit by anything, I looked to the Yamanaka siblings. Kiyomi's head was rapidly darting between me and her brother, waiting for something to happen while Kazuma stood silent, still holding his pose.
"Was it a bluff?" I wondered for a moment before the boy suddenly went limp and crumpled to the ground. The two of us staring at his unmoving body for several long moments before Kiyomi finally knelt down. Tapping him lightly a couple times resulted in no reaction. So she started poking harder, then pushing and finally shaking him hard.
"Hey, hey, Kazuma. Stop it, that's not funny. Wake up!" Kiyomi's voice choking up as she was on the verge of tears. "Meiko! Kazuma won't wake up! What do I do?" I could feel the panic starting to build in my chest as I ran to my friend's side. Kiyomi grabbing onto my sleeve and pulling me down on the ground with her. Devolving into barely contained tears and hiccups, I could tell she was begging me to do something. I took a deep breath to try and calm my nerves and began racking my brain. Searching my memories for everything I could remember about the Yamanaka.
There wasn't a whole lot to work with, my memories had faded over time and it was getting harder to recall things off the top of my head that weren't major events without my notes at hand. It was worse with things like the Yamanaka clan, Ino was a minor character so her screen time was limited. "What jutsu did she use? What was the name dammit!" Kiyomi shaking me was not helping my concentration. I had to hurry and remember. "Wait, what jutsu did Kazuma use?" I hadn't quite caught what he said as I was busy introducing myself to the dirt at the time. "Ninja art: Mind something..." I took another deep breath. "Mind... Reader? No, it was something... with a... T?"
"Tickle? Tremble? Transmit?" My eyes widened, I was close I could feel it. "Transmit, Transmission... TRANSFER!" I had it, the Mind Transfer jutsu! Once I had the name everything clicked into place. Mind Transfer was an extremely powerful jutsu that allowed the user to take over their target's mind, giving them full control of the person's body. But there was a large risk with it, if they missed they were left in a helpless state, just as Kazuma was now. Just to be on the safe side, I placed the back of my hand just under his nose. I could feel the movement of air, it was weak but he was still breathing.
I let out a large sigh, relief washing over me. "Its okay Kiyomi, your brother-"
"KAZUMA'S DEAD!" I guess she couldn't take my silence anymore and jumped to conclusions, screaming directly into my ear so loud I swear my brain was shaken. Kiyomi proceeded to break down into a very loud fit of tears. I did my best to try and calm her down, saying over and over he was fine but I couldn't even hear myself over this racket. Around us, I could see doors opening and curious neighbours peering out their windows to see what was going on.
"What's going on now?" A familiar voice pierced through my friend's wails. Inoichi and his daughter Ino were rushing over to our side. Upon seeing Kazuma on the ground, his face turned from minor annoyance to controlled and serious. I was reminded of Misaki, able to flip a switch and go from laughing and joking to what I called her 'duty mode'. "What happened here!?" Inoichi demanded answers from us. Now that there was an adult here, Kiyomi managed to suppress her crying but still couldn't seem to form words so I had to step in.
"Kazuma-san was trying to show us a jutsu but then just fell to the ground." I answered while pulling the slightly calmer Kiyomi in for a hug.
"His chakra levels seem to be fine, he's still breathing... What jutsu did he use?" Inoichi asked, his tone stern.
"He said it was the Mind Transfer jutsu." I chose not to elaborate further, namely on the fact that I had been the intended target of said jutsu. Upon hearing this news, Inoichi sighed in annoyance before softening up and facing Kiyomi.
"Your brother is going to be just fine, he should be waking up at any moment." Right on cue, Kazuma began to stir. Kiyomi jumping on him before he could even start getting up and crying again. At least this time they were tears of joy.
As he regained his senses, Kazuma turned to me, "You weren't supposed to dodge you know." There was a touch of annoyance in his voice. Rather than responding, I turned my head upwards, indicating he should as well. It did not take long for the colour to drain from Kazuma's face when he saw Inoichi glaring down at him.
Ino grabbed Kiyomi and I, pulling us away as Inoichi launched into a tirade, admonishing Kazuma for foolishly treating one of the clan jutsu so lightly. "Let's go over here for a bit, Dad is probably going to take a while." We moved a couple houses down so we could somewhat tune out the lecture Kazuma was subject to. The next few minutes were spent engaging in small talk as Kiyomi's mood returned to normal. Inoichi coming by to grab Ino once he was finished. As they were leaving, I thought I felt Inoichi's gaze fall on me again for a moment but it was probably my imagination.
Kazuma was a bit downtrodden after that talk, but thankfully he was otherwise alright. Thankfully the Mind Transfer technique had no lasting side effects. Considering the time, we decided it was time to head back to Kiyomi's house for dinner.
By the time we finished eating, the sun was starting to set. Outside, I could hear the trees and foliage swishing away as the winds were picking up. Ai closing a window as she remarked that it looked like it was going to rain soon. Hopefully that was the case and this heatwave would soon break. However, the threat of rain barred us from going back outside for the night. As I helped to clean up the dishes, I looked out that same window, the sky darkening quickly. "I wonder how Mom is doing..." I knew the process of being in labour can be a long one, I just wish I could stay up to date with how things were going.
I followed Kiyomi back to her room, unable to stifle a loud yawn. After everything that happened today I was feeling exhausted. Kiyomi was still raring to go however and I ended up being dragged into several rounds of board games with her family. Eventually I was unable to hide my exhaustion any further and Ai pulled out a futon for me to sleep on, much to Kiyomi's disappointment. As I laid myself down, I asked Ai to wake me up immediately if she heard anything from my parents. I drifted off almost immediately after that.
The next morning was a dreary one, heavy rains pelted away outside as I stirred from my slumber. It was strange, waking up in someone else's room. It took some time for me to register where I was while my half-awake brain rebooted itself. Thanks to the heavy rain, it was still quite dark both outside and inside. Kiyomi had yet to awaken, the girl having quite the interesting sleeping posture. The blankets kicked off to the floor while her head dangled off the side of her mattress. I did notice a light emitting from underneath the door so someone else was awake at least.
I quietly got up and moved to the door, twitching with each step as the floorboards creaked under my weight. It was also hard to open a door silently when you have to stand on your toes to reach the darn knob. Once I got it open, light from the hallway smacked my sleeping friend right in the face. Yet she did not even so much as stir. Out in the hallway, I tried to recall which of these doors was the bathroom when Ai stepped into view.
"Oh Meiko, good morning." She said with a smile. In her arms she carried a stack of folded towels. "You're up early, did you not sleep well?" I shook my head as I had slept so soundly it felt like only a few minutes had passed since I went to bed. In fact, I still felt somewhat tired but my brain had already fully clicked itself into awake more. I wouldn't be going back to sleep anytime soon. I followed Ai as she guided me to the washroom and after taking care of business I was a bit more awake.
In the living room, Kazuma was already awake and organizing several ninja tools on the table. Ai was working on breakfast in the kitchen, the scent of bacon caused my stomach to start waking up as well. On the couch sat an unfamiliar man. Like Inoichi yesterday he was dressed in full shinobi garb. His hair was a chestnut brown and cut short without any ponytail that was common for Yamanaka clan members. He was currently occupying himself with a newspaper and coffee. It was safe to assume this was Kiyomi's father.
As I entered the room, the man lowered the paper and turned to me. "Ah, you must be Meiko. My daughter has told me a lot about you. The name's Daku. Have a seat, breakfast will be ready soon." He then returned his attention to the paper and I took a seat on the floor beside the table. My attention was drawn to the tools Kazuma was tending to. Kunai and shuriken littered the table, shining with fresh polish. I was not unfamiliar with the basic tools of the shinobi, both from my knowledge and my father's profession. I knew he was a craftsman but it was only recently I learned he supplied tools like this to various shops around the village. It was quite possible the weapons on this table were made at my house.
"Don't touch, they're sharp." Kazuma warned me without looking up from his current polishing job.
"I know." I replied quietly, turning my attention to other tools littering the table. Two spools of wire sat closest to me. I was surprised at just how fine they were. The sheen indicated they were indeed made of metal yet they appeared to be barely thicker than a hair. To be able to spot that in an active battle zone was one heck of a feat. Other than that, there were some scrolls and a stack of thin papers.
Several minutes went by in awkward silence. Without Kiyomi around I wasn't sure how to go about interacting with her family. That girl was the perfect ice breaker in that her personality entered conversations like a battering ram. I would play the role of a soldier following along behind, storming through the gates once the opening was made. But Kiyomi was sleeping right now so I had little choice but to take the initiative. Taking in a deep breath, I got to my feet and made my way out to the kitchen where Ai was still cooking.
"Excuse me," I asked a bit too quietly and had to repeat myself. "Did you hear anything about Mom?" Ai took a moment to make sure everything was safe to leave alone for a moment before turning to face me.
"Sorry Meiko," She said with an apologetic smile, "I haven't heard anything yet." I sighed. The clock read seven in the morning, in other words nearly twenty hours had passed since Mom went into labour. If it was taking this long, wouldn't that indicate there was something wrong?
"No, if that was the case, I'm sure someone would have called. Right?" I guess my worries were written all over my face as Ai knelt down to meet me at eye level.
"Don't worry, your mom is just fine. You'll see her soon enough." I nodded, feeling a bit reassured at her words. "Good, now," Ai got back to her feet, "Could you do me a favour and go wake up Kiyomi? Breakfast will be ready soon and she's not really a morning person." As Ai turned back to take care of the food I made my way back to my friend's bedroom. Inside, Kiyomi was just as I left her, half dangling over the side of her bed.
"Kiyomi," I tentatively called her name as I approached the bed, "Hey, time to wake up." No response. Worried she may end up slipping off the bed and faceplanting if she woke up wrong, I gently tried to ease her head back up on the bed. Her mother was right, Kiyomi was definitely not a morning person as even being moved like that wasn't enough to so much as rouse her. "Heey," I droned, giving her a good shaking. This elicited a reaction. Kiyomi momentarily began to mumble but her eyes weren't budging. So, I obviously continued shaking and calling her name. Finally, it appeared the girl was starting to awaken.
"Mmm... Meiko?" Kiyomi mumbled as her eyes fluttered open for a moment. Then, her arms shot out, wrapping around my head and pulling me down. I was a fool thinking a sleeping Kiyomi would be any safer than normal. The blonde had me in full lockdown as her legs pinned my arms to my side while she mumbled away incoherently in her sleep. I couldn't help but marvel at just how tight a lock she had too, struggle as I might I just couldn't break free. All I could do was try calling for help.
After a few minutes of being Kiyomi's cuddle buddy, her mother came in to see what was taking so long. Bursting out into a fit of laughter upon seeing my predicament, much to my embarrassment. This continued well into breakfast as Ai quite enjoyed teasing me. It wasn't all bad at least, getting to see early morning Kiyomi was certainly worth it and provided some ammo in the belt for a later date. The poor girl was barely awake and currently trying to remember where exactly her mouth was located on her face.
Once everyone had finished their meals, I helped out with the cleanup as the telephone began to ring. My heart skipped a beat or three as Ai answered it. I continued cleaning while straining my senses to try and listen in on the conversation. Seconds later, the phone was hung up and Ai turned to me. "Good news Meiko!" She said, clapping her hands together. "Go get your stuff packed and get ready. We'll be heading out to the hospital shortly." My face slowly shifted from curiosity to unbound happiness at this news. Jumping in the air I screamed out in delight, shocking the entire household as I ran out of the kitchen and towards Kiyomi's room. Zipping past my still half-asleep friend in the process.
I was not all that concerned with properly packing my things at the moment. I just tried stuffing everything into the bag and, obviously, it suddenly didn't fit anymore. Frustrated as I was in a hurry, I continued pushing and pushing until I heard the dreaded ripping noise. Thankfully, there wasn't any severe damage, I couldn't find what exactly tore but the sound was enough to bring me back to my senses. Taking things slower, I got everything packed in properly with minimal damage done.
With my belongings packed up I booked it towards the front door where Ai was waiting. As we were about to leave, Kiyomi grabbed onto my sleeve. "Meiko... leaving?" She mumbled, still trying to wake up.
I nodded solemnly, "Yeah, I gotta go. I had fun though!" Reluctantly, Kiyomi released my sleeve and I said my final goodbyes to everyone. Ai passing me an umbrella as the rain was showing no signs of stopping.
The walk to the hospital was long and cold as the rain did everything in it's power to hinder our progress. I struggled to hold on to my umbrella as the winds poked and pried to find a hole in my defences and swipe it away. All the while, Ai manoeuvred herself to try and block the worst parts of the storm. "This right here is evidence for the need of public transportation." I found myself thinking as my umbrella nearly inverted itself for the fifth time. Maybe that is what I should make my calling. I was reincarnated into this universe for the sole purpose of inventing public transportation. Get some trams going through the village, set up buses or trains for long distance travel. I'll unite the five great nations under the promise of commerce and ease of travel!
"If only I paid more attention in physics class!" I screamed into the void of my mind.
By the time we made it to the hospital I was shivering and completely drenched. Somehow the umbrella managed to survive to brave another storm one day. The receptionist at the desk was kind enough to send an orderly to bring us some warm towels so we can dry off and warm up before going to see Mom. The walk down the hall to her room was one of the most suspenseful moments of my new life. My heart echoed in my ears louder than my sandals squeaked down these quiet halls.
Finally, Ai and I stood outside the door to Mom's ward room. I swallowed the lump in my throat as the door swung open. There on one of the beds sat Mom, Father ever at her side. On her breast, a bundle of blankets.
"Ginko! We made it! My word, the rain out there is something else today." Ai passed through the portal into the ward pulling me along by the hand.
"Ai! Thank you so much for watching Meiko for us. I really appreciate it." It felt like it had been ages since I last heard Mom's voice. Ai released my hand and I quickly moved to my parent's side.
"Hi Mom! Hi Dad!" I called out with glee as my eyes fell upon the bundle Mom was nuzzling.
"Hello Meiko, sweetie." Mom said happily as she turned her gaze to the bundle, "Congratulations. You're now a big sister." Father picked me up onto his lap so I could see properly. "Say hello to your little brother." Mom turned just enough that I could see the newest member of my family. There, all wrapped up in the blankets was a tiny little human. My little brother. I was honestly dumbfounded looking upon the little guy. He was just so... small. Was I that small when I was born?
"Would you like to hold him?" Mom asked as she pushed the baby forward. After looking between everyone there, I nodded and stretched out my hands. "Be careful and make sure you support his head." Mom instructed. Father's arms wrapped around from behind me for support as I took my little brother in my arms. He was heavier than I initially imagined. As I held him in my arms there was a feeling in my chest I could not quite describe. Happiness, hesitation, worry, relief all these emotions and more swirling in a vortex that threatened to burst out of my chest. I couldn't take my eyes off him, his scrunched up little face. His wisps of metallic silver hair just like Mom's perfectly combed as though he had spent hours in front of a mirror preparing for this moment.
"What's his name?" I finally managed to ask.
My parents looked into each other's eyes for a moment before turning back to me. "Sengo." They said in unison.
Looking back down to my little brother, he began to stir in my arms. "Hi Sengo, I'm Meiko. Your big sister. Welcome to our family." As if stirred by my words, Sengo tried opening his eyes, greeting me back with a small hiccup. In that instant, it was like the rest of the world just melted away. My fears, my doubts erased if for a moment.
Right here, right now. I knew what I had to do.
"Mom, Dad," I took a deep breath and firmly clutched my little brother to my chest. "I... I want to be a ninja!"
Notes: That was a big one! Also, thank you everyone for your reviews, I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! Also I have no archived this over on AO3. That is all, see you next time!