Being unable to move for weeks led to muscle atrophy. In this world, where shinobi were often injured and needed to recover quickly, that was something they couldn't afford. They found a way to slow down the process with daily chakra stimulations done by medic-nins. Thanks to this process, I didn't end up as a limp noodle when I came out of the coma. However, I was still weak.
I did physiotherapy daily, and it exhausted me. Each time, Genma was there to help me back to my room.
"You're here so often… I don't mind, of course, but what about your work?"
"Don't worry. Someone's replacing me," he replied with a smile. "Focus on your health, sweetheart."
"I might be physically tired, Genma, but my brain is still functioning. The Hokage's generous, but he wouldn't let you take more than a day to care for your girlfriend. What aren't you telling me?"
His lips played with a senbon. "Alright, so… maybe I am working."
"... as my bodyguard."
"Yep."
I sighed. "Of course."
I should have guessed. Since Orochimaru and Obito were on the loose, there had to be some kind of security around me. There was a point when it wasn't paranoia anymore but just good sense.
Genma helped me settle on the bed before he dragged a chair closer so he could lean on the mattress. "Are you really tired?"
"Just physically," I mumbled. "Don't suggest I nap. You know I won't be able to sleep tonight if I do."
"I learned it the hard way, yeah. Alright then, there is something I want to talk about. Do you feel good enough…?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"It's about Kakashi. When you were in a coma, we talked a lot and we… don't take it the wrong way, but we kissed."
"Oh. Yeah, I know." I nodded slowly as the memory came back to me. "I saw it. It slipped my mind with everything else, but now that you mention it…"
He stared. "And, that's it? No reaction?"
"I wasn't exactly thinking straight as a ghost. What did you want me to do, throw a temper tantrum like a poltergeist?"
Although Genma tried to pretend otherwise, mentioning the ghost episode made him uncomfortable. It had spooked him.
He rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Fine. And now that you aren't… a ghost anymore?"
"I'm waiting for an explanation."
He removed his senbon and tilted his head. "Fair enough. Well, I had planned a whole speech, and now I forgot it," he grumbled.
I nudged his arm. "Are you trying to break up with me?"
"Not even in your worst nightmares," he jested. "No, it's… Remember when I told you that Kakashi and I used to sleep together sometimes?"
"Yes, you shameless man, I remember."
"Well… No, wait, that's not the best way to start."
I chuckled and patted his hand. "Genma, whatever it is, relax. I trust you. Just spit it out."
Genma snorted. "Alright. Here is the thing: you probably noticed it when you were together, but Kakashi isn't the romantic kind of guy. The whole dating process and standard relationship isn't exactly his forte."
"I noticed."
"Did it bother you?"
"I knew going in that romance wasn't an option. I liked being with him, but it felt like he was keeping me at arm's length and I was missing something. Something that you gave me," I said, squeezing his hand.
He squeezed back and brought my hand to his lips for a kiss. "I'm explaining everything all wrong, I'm sure, but… did you ever hear about triad courting?"
"No."
"Triad courtings were more common during the Warring States Period, when the mortality rate was high. It was meant to protect the children in case one or two parents died, by including a non-clan member in the courting process. It was beneficial for everyone. The non-clan member could integrate a clan with all the advantages it brought, and it offered additional protection to the clan's line."
"So… it's about having kids?"
Genma shrugged. "That was the theory. In practice, it was a good cover for polyamory and homosexual relationships during a time when the principal duty someone owed to his clan was to produce kids to make up for all the casualties."
I nodded, processing this information. "It makes sense. What does it have to do with our situation?"
"Kakashi's offering us that kind of courting, as the last member of the Hakate clan."
I wasn't expecting that. What did that mean? Why would Kakashi do such a thing when it went against his habit to keep people at arm's length?
"What would that imply?"
"A lot of things that I probably should let him explain since he's the clan kid. Mainly, it would make us — and any of our children — members of the Hatake clan…"
"I get that, but what about the obligations? I'm not planning to have children anytime soon or to stop working to be a housewife and mother of a large family!" I stirred, agitated.
"We don't expect any of that from you, I promise. Calm down, sweetheart."
I let his gentle petting and soft voice appease me.
"We don't have to give an answer anytime soon anyway. Kakashi's only offering to show that if we wanted to be together, the three of us, he would be serious about it. Since he's so bad with words and all the romantic stuff, it was his way of showing his intent. I'm the one telling you about it because I'm supposed to be better at talking about feelings, but clearly, I'm not that great." He shook his head in self-deprecation. "I went about it all wrong. What I should have started with is: would you like us three to be together? Is that something you would consider?"
He waited patiently for my answer, ready to accept whatever it would be. He was trying his best.
I felt a surge of fondness for him and raised a hand to trace the lines of his jaw. He leaned into the touch.
"Would you like that? Us three?" I asked softly.
"I think it could be something great, but you're my priority, always."
"I… I don't know. I need to talk about it with Kakashi." I felt so tired that it wouldn't be wise to take any decision right now, especially without having talked to the third party of this arrangement.
"Of course. He has a lot to tell you anyway. I was just supposed to smooth the way. The two of us had weeks to talk about it and think it through. It's your turn. Take your time."
I nodded and leaned over for a kiss.
Whatever happened, I was lucky to have Genma. Despite my initial doubts about his charming personality, he was a good boyfriend.
oOo
"Oh, my rude little teddy bear is visiting!"
Shikamaru groaned as he stepped into the room.
I laughed, patted the bed next to me, and then smiled at Shikaku and Yoshino. "Hi. Thanks for coming. I'm so bored. I can't wait to get out of the hospital."
Shikaku nodded at Genma and then grabbed his son under the arms and lifted him on the bed so he could settle beside me. "It's good to see you awake, Maiko."
Yoshino had a bouquet of flowers. "You had us worried."
I adjusted Shikamaru's head on my shoulder. He burrowed his nose in my nightshirt while pretending to fall asleep. "I'm sorry, Yoshino, especially to have left you with all the work. I asked you to help me and you ended up replacing me." I bowed my head. "So sorry! I'll come back to work as soon as possible, and if there is anything I can do to repay you, please tell me."
"Don't take her up on that," Genma sighed as he leafed through a novel. He had pushed back his chair against a wall to get away from me. Being cooped up together sometimes led to some tension between us. Fortunately, it never lasted.
Yoshino shook her head. "Forget it, Maiko. You helped me once. I'm just evening the score."
"Minato played it smart by groveling to ask for her help," Shikaku noted with a snort. He was sitting sideways at the foot of the bed.
"Who's he?" Shikamaru interrupted, looking at Genma.
"Shiranui Genma. He's my boyfriend," I replied, distractedly petting his hair.
Genma looked up and waved. "And you're the smart boy who helped Maiko. Hi."
"I wasn't alone." Shikamaru looked up at me. "Chouji wanted to come, but he had a clan thing. I told Neji he should come, but he's convinced you don't remember him or something, although he might be saying that because his father is back."
"I would be happy to see Chouji whenever he has the time, and if Neji doesn't come to me, I'll find him."
"That's what I thought." He yawned then added as an afterthought: "Also, Itachi-san said he'll come later, something about training, but I think he just wanted me to be first so you'd squeeze me to death and be too tired after."
I gently tapped his nose. "You know me so well."
"I'm not sure it's a good thing," he said seriously, which made all of us laugh.
"Oh, come on, I'm not that bad!" I grumbled just for show. I squeezed Shikamaru in retaliation.
His protests were filling the room when the door opened brusquely to let in a blonde storm.
"Maiko-san!"
"Naruto-kun!" I let Shikamaru go (he fled toward his father at the arrival of the hyperactive kid) and helped Naruto to climb on the bed.
He threw himself at my neck. "You're awake!"
"Yes, I am. Were you worried?" Feeling him nod against my neck, I rubbed his back. "Sorry about that, little frog. I'm doing much better now, promise."
"Yeah, Tsunade-obaasan said so!"
I straightened as I noticed the Slug Princess standing in the doorway. Shikaku and Genma promptly stood up. The legendary sannin had that kind of effect on most people even after fleeing her village.
Tsunade didn't look in a good mood. She was staring at us coldly.
"We'll leave you alone," Shikaku decided, retreating like the tactical genius he was.
I thanked the Nara family and promised to see them soon.
Once they were gone, Tsunade stepped into the room, followed by Shizune. "I'm here for a final check-up."
"You're leaving soon, Tsunade-hime?" I asked politely.
"Yes. Minato will have gathered my money by tomorrow morning. Out of the bed, gaki," she ordered Naruto, lifting him off the mattress with only one hand.
I obediently straightened to let her work. Clearly, she was still pissed with me about what I had said while I was ethereal. In retrospect, it really hadn't been smart of me (ghosts were so tactless).
Naruto might have ingratiated himself with her, but he hadn't worked miracles. It had been unfair of me to expect anything else.
Criticizing her also showed an ungratefulness which was quite embarrassing now that I was thinking about it. Tsunade had come back to Konoha despite her revulsion for the village just to heal me, and the first thing I had done was to antagonize her. She had fought against her trauma for an ingrate. I could understand that I wasn't currently her favorite person. I didn't know how to make it up to her, though. I couldn't pretend that I wasn't disappointed that she would leave without looking back.
"I'm going to play with Naruto in the hallway for a while," Genma announced, standing up and stirring the boy toward the door.
I sent him an unimpressed glance. The excuse, as good as it was, was transparent. No one wanted to be around Tsunade on a bad day. Hell, I would have gladly left! She wasn't radiating killing intent, but she certainly set a chilling mood.
"Well? Aren't you going to say anything to convince me to stay?" Tsunade asked after a few minutes of tense silence.
I was trying to find a good argument, something to change her mind, but the illumination wasn't coming. Still, I supposed I should say something.
"What did the Hokage tell you about me? about… my birth circumstances?"
"Everything, which is the least he could give me since he asked for my help. That sounds like a lot of bull to me, but whatever, I don't care."
"That's a lie."
"Excuse me?" Tsunade said threateningly, removing her hands from my forehead.
I stood my ground. I didn't have any other choice anyway. "You care. You always care. You cared so much that you got burned. You care because if reincarnation is possible that might give you a chance to bring back those you loved. You pretend you don't because you can't stand to make yourself vulnerable again and because you know that even if reincarnation is possible, it wouldn't bring back your brother and lover as you wished them to be."
Shizune's was holding her breath as she squeezed her pet pig.
Tsunade stepped back, frowning. "You don't know me or what I went through."
"I know who you could become."
"The Godaime? Ha! See, that's how I know you're inventing things. As if I would waste my time to be Hokage! Only an idealistic fool would take the title!"
"Like your brother? Or your lover?"
She grabbed me and pulled me forward. My shirt strained under Tsunade's grip.
"Shut up !"
I stayed quiet until she calmed down (I wasn't that foolish!). The fabric was pressing against my skin uncomfortably, but that was still better than one of her infamous punches.
When she let me go, I slumped against the pillow and adjusted my clothes.
"We're leaving," she stated, turning around and expecting Shizune to follow.
"When I was one year old, I tried to kill myself," I blurted out.
Shit. What was I thinking? How would this help?
Tsunade had frozen near the door but kept her back to me. Shizune had gasped and was staring at me wide-eyed.
Too late to stop.
"I had admitted to myself that I was reborn in a world that I knew to be violent and in a constant state of war. I had lost everything, from my family to the world I knew. I didn't want to start over. I wanted to die, for good." I breathed in and closed my eyes. I didn't like to remember those terrible years when processing my reincarnation had been synonymous with deep grief. "When my new parents brought me outside for a picnic, I waited until they were distracted and I just… fell into the Naka river." Everyone had thought it was an accident. Of course, what toddler would have suicidal thoughts? I never disabused them of the notion. To that day, no one ever knew… so why was I telling her? Sage, I was desperate… or that ghost experience addled my brain more than I thought.
"So? You were saved, obviously," Tsunade said harshly, but she had turned to look at me over her shoulder.
"Yes, by a man with light blue hair. I remember because when I opened my eyes after he had made me spit out all the water in my lungs, I hated that man and that world so much that I thought this was the stupidest and ugliest hair color I had ever seen."
While Shizune made a disapproving face, Tsunade — who had slowly turned around — watched me impassively, until slowly she started to laugh. After a few seconds, she was laughing so hard that her apprentice was watching her worriedly, and her pet pig was honking softly.
"I know!" Tsunade bellowed. "That's what I thought too the first time I met him!"
"What?! Tsunade-sama, I thought you loved uncle's hair?!" Shizune protested.
"It grew on me," Tsunade admitted as she crossed her arms. "But when he was a kid, his hair was short, spiky, and brighter. It looked silly." She huffed. "So, Dan saved your life."
"I hated him for a while," I admitted, "but now that I'm not wishing to die anytime soon, I'm thinking… maybe I owe him one." As I said those words, I realized how true they were. While I had accepted that Dan Katou had stopped me from drowning once, it hadn't meant much to me until now. Shit. I really had to convince Tsunade to stay in Konoha by tomorrow morning, now.
She snorted disdainfully. "Whatever. You're years too late for that. I don't care about your sob story. Dan always had a hero complex, but I'm not him."
She left.
Fine. I needed time to plot anyway.
If Naruto was too young to do it all on his own, I would have to help him a little.
oOo
The next morning, at ten o'clock, I was sitting near the gates of Konoha with Genma hovering next to me. I had gotten a temporary discharge with a long list of conditions such as avoiding straining myself.
Tsunade arrived looking like she hadn't slept enough. I knew she hadn't. I had convinced one of her old medic friends to take her out for drinks. She had returned to her hotel at two in the morning, which led her to delay her departure.
Although her loyal Shizune and Tonton were by her side, she was accompanied by a quite diverse group of admirers and well-wishers, who offered her gifts of thanks and appreciation. They also begged her to stay in equal measure. They had managed to delay her as well.
Before that, I knew for a fact that Yoshino had delayed her some more with the complicity of the Genin Corps. They had done everything in their power to appear incompetent (I owed them one), successfully postponing the arrival of Tsunade's money and paperwork.
Of course, all of that was perfectly transparent by now, and I bore the brunt of Tsunade's ire when she caught sight of me.
"You! This is your doing! Well? How are you going to convince me to stay and spare your insufferable—"
I held out a scroll under a nose.
"This better be worth it," she grumbled as she rolled it out.
Shizune read over her shoulder and mouthed the words: "By decision of Konoha's council, under the guidance of the Yondaime Hokage, here is hereby ordained that all teams sent in a situation where a fight against an enemy of equal or superior force is possible should include at least one individual able to provide medical assistance…" Shizune paused as she raised a hand to her mouth in wonder and read the details in silence for a while until she reached the best part. "... First aid lessons will be mandatory in every year of the Academy for all students. This decree will be known as the Katou decree and takes effect immediately."
While Shizune cried silent tears, Tsunade was silent and unmoving, her eyes fixed on a point of the scroll that I suspected to be the name of her lover.
The Yondaime slowly walked up to us. When he had her attention, he bowed to the waist. "Tsunade-sama, as Hokage, in the name of Konoha, I beg you to stay and form our shinobi to be medic-nin, so that no more lives are lost when their death is avoidable. Please, help me bring the change you and Katou Dan advocated for years ago.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu."
A Hokage didn't beg and plead without consequence. I had stood up to be able to bow with the dozens of other bystanders who bent to the waist and shouted in unison. " Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" (A/N: formal "please / thank you in advance")
We waited in this position for a time that appeared way too long to my aching body. I couldn't look up in this stance, but I realized that even Shizune had bowed.
Tsunade's voice, although it was soft and calm, could be heard clearly in the resulting silence. "I'm keeping the money."
"Of course, Tsunade-sama," Minato agreed.
"I won't do any surgery work. I won't fight. I won't do any missions. I'll just tutor, oversee and advise."
"Absolutely."
"... Then I agree."
The resulting cheers were deafening.
Genma helped me straighten, but I was too happy to care about my aching back. It worked! I couldn't believe it worked! I was half-convinced she was going to curse us all, flee without looking back, and punch me on the way. I threw my arms around Genma's neck and squealed. "It worked!"
"Well done," he whispered, grinning and patting my back.
I bounced up and down, and then promptly stopped. "Oh, I have a cramp," I hissed, lifting and grabbing my leg. "Holy shit, Genma, it worked!"
Chuckling at my reaction, Genma got me to sit down. He crouched to rub my calf.
An oink was my only warning before I had a lap full of pig and a crying Shizune hugging me. "Thank you! I can't believe you did that! How did you manage it?!"
"Oh, you know, I convinced the Hokage to schedule an urgent council meeting at seven in the morning, promising cakes to compensate for the early morning and complaints that would ensue. Then, I bribed the Uchiha clan heir with more promises of cakes so that, with the help of his mother, he convinced his father to finally back up the decree that the Yondaime had wanted for years. I also got Naruto to get the Hyuuga clan's head brother and nephew to my room, so I could convince them to do the same with Hyuuga Hiashi. Then… well, actually, that's it, this way they had a majority for the vote. So, I guess, the answer is… cakes? I'll have to bake a lot of cakes."
I nodded as I contemplate the organization that would require. What did I promise again? There were lemon pies for Minato, cookies for Itachi, crepes for his mother, waffles for Naruto, and… that's it. The Hyuuga were boring people who refused bribes even in the form of sweets. They did it for 'the good of Konoha'... which I couldn't blame them for.
"I want something with alcohol." Tsunade appeared behind her apprentice, disgruntled.
"Pardon?"
"Why am I the only one who wasn't bribed with cakes? I want one with alcohol."
I grinned. "Sure thing, Tsunade-sama! You got it!"
"Good." Looking appeased, she stared at me with a hand on her hip. "You might not be a total fraud, after all," she concluded before walking away.
Shizune thanked me one last time before going after her.
I chuckled and shook my head.
"Why are you amused that she called you a fraud?" Genma asked.
"Excuse you, I am ' not a total fraud '," I corrected him, adding the quotation marks with my hands. "I'm laughing because I just realized that she had been waiting for someone to give her a reason to stay. She had already done half of the hard work by stepping into Konoha after being away for so long. Since yesterday, she was always pushing me to give her a good reason to stay. She didn't want a sob story, good intentions, or promises. She just wanted someone to give her something that she could do, without pushing her to fight her phobia or brushing away her trauma."
"And you did."
"She did. She grasped the opportunity given to her and molded it to her wishes. She gave her conditions to the Yondaime." I smiled slowly.
The thing was, I used to think that Tsunade was a fraud. I always admired her for her work as the Godaime in the manga, but before that? She had fled Konoha, left everyone behind when she could have helped so many, and people still admired her. I thought she didn't deserve their respect. I had judged her harshly, and it probably showed in the way I talked to her. I was wrong. For someone in distress, she was strong. Like everyone else, she just needed some help and patience.
"I'll saturate her cake with rum," I concluded. She deserved that. That would just require a few tries before I remembered a good recipe. Oh, well, I was sure I could find some volunteers to eat the failed results.
oOo
"Why so many cakes?"
I looked up from the batter I was mixing.
I had been released from the hospital yesterday, and I was occupying my free hours with all the baking I had planned. The kitchen was completely covered with plates of sweets.
To see Kakashi appear in the middle of it was a surprise. He went to take a crepe.
From his place on a stool balancing on two feet, Genma pointed his senbon at him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, those are for Uchiha Mikoto. I have a feeling she'd know that one's missing."
"She would," Kakashi agreed, pulling back. Our eyes met. He raised a hand lazily. "Yo."
I snorted and looked back at my batter. "Hi."
"Good to see you up."
"I know, don't I look much better when I'm actually in my own body rather than playing ghost?" I joked. "How did your mission go?"
"You were right, and we were just in time."
I looked up eagerly. "Really?!" I was convinced they would be too late.
"Apparently, Orochimaru's injuries slowed them down more than expected. The sannin was in worse shape than we thought. We reached Utakata-san in time, helped him escape, and convinced him to talk to the Hokage outside of the village. I just came back from the meeting."
"And?" I asked eagerly.
"You'll have to ask Minato-sensei for the rest of the confidential information."
"Alright. At least, that's great news!" I smiled as I poured the batter into its baking pan. "I'm so glad it helped! It makes everything else a little worthwhile, you know..."
The stool clattered on the ground as Genma stood up. He came behind me and took me in his arms, kissing my temple. "Hey, it's alright."
I nodded, trying to keep my mind focused on baking rather than on the memories of Orochimaru's experiments. "Yeah," I murmured, but my voice was made husky by the sobs kept inside. I had to admit defeat and put down the dishes, wrapping my hands around Genma's to focus on his touch.
"So," I tried again to say after a few seconds, clearing my throat as I did. "The cakes, right? Well, I bribed a lot of people," I admitted to Kakashi with a fake smile. 'Fake it until you feel it' was a method like any other.
"Does that have anything to do with Tsunade-sama staying in Konoha?"
"Yeah," Genma confirmed, still holding me. "Did you see the calendar?"
The Calendar was a board that each division kept in their headquarters. They noted on it the most important and recent information for the people who were sent on a mission and needed a quick briefing upon their return. Most information was internal to a division, but Tsunade's return was important enough that it inevitably appeared on every board around Konoha.
Those things were coded so that no infiltrator could obtain information at first glance. I had caught sight of a few and all of them were really puzzling in their own way. The Cryptanalysis Team used a string of what looked like random numbers and letters, while the Intelligence Division used nicknames for everything. I didn't want to imagine what the ANBU's looked like. From what I had gathered, it was often the first test for newcomers: to be able to decipher the Calendar was proof that you belonged in the division.
"Actually, no," Kakashi replied. "Minato-sensei told me. There was mention of, I quote, ' Maiko's scheming '."
"Aww, scheming. I like this description. It makes me look more shrewd and cunning than I am."
"Are you belittling yourself?" Genma asked.
"I am not." I waved at the cakes around me. "I bribed people with sweets, Genma. It's not exactly what I call scheming ."
"I think that the scheming part was referring to the fact that you organized the signature of a decree kept in the drawers for years by convincing its detractors to change their minds using their weaknesses for the sole purpose of keeping a traumatized but nonetheless indispensable veteran in our walls, but also consequently making a cultural change who might save hundreds of lives in the years to come and possibly give us an advantage on other villages. Oh, and you did so in less than eighteen hours. Just saying."
I raised the spoon I was holding as I thought his analysis through. "That didn't sound so smart and complicated in my head."
Genma laughed and kissed my hair. "Yeah, maybe that's your strength, sweetheart."
"Maa," Kakashi drawled, "it looks like I missed some entertaining things."
"You did," Genma agreed. "I'll tell you all about it. I had a ringside seat. But for now, I have to play delivery boy, and you have some things to talk about." He squeezed my waist and kissed me one last time before taking the packages I had prepared.
Kakashi followed him to the entrance, where Genma briefed him about my reaction to his offer, no doubt. I didn't hear anything, and I didn't worry about it.
I was on attempt number three for Tsunade's cake. The first one had been too soggy with rum, and the second had been too bland. I was going to succeed, just you wait! Even if I had to spend all my money on rum (which was really expensive as it came from a small production in the south — but at least they had some!) to do so, I'd get it right.
"Are you busy?"
I looked up to smile at Kakashi.
He had come back like the silent shadow he was. Leaning against the doorway with his hands in his pockets, he was watching me with one half-closed eye.
"No. I'm just putting this in the oven, then I should clean the kitchen a bit, but we can talk."
"Genma said he talked to you."
"He did," I confirmed as I opened the pre-heated oven and put the baking pan in. "And I was surprised. I mean… it's not exactly your style to want to commit, is it? And even if we keep the triad courting out of this — because that's a whole other level of 'wow' — such an unconventional relationship is still more than I—" I closed the oven's door and turned around to find Kakashi standing close. He had pulled down his mask and pulled up his hitai-ate, baring his face. "—expected from you," I finished in a murmur.
Kakashi leaned down, and it felt like a magnetic pull. I was leaning forward, but what I got wasn't a kiss…
"I love you."
My eyes widened in surprise.
"You're right. Serious relationships aren't my style, but then I've never fallen in love either," he drawled. He poked the tip of my nose. "I guess you're my first." Then , he kissed me.
I threw an arm around his shoulders and soon went on tiptoe to follow his lips. I regretted it ten seconds later, when I had to pull back as I hissed: "Cramp, cramp, cramp."
With an arm around my waist, Kakashi lifted me and carried me to the nearest stool. "Where?"
"Right foot. I'm so sorry. Those cramps keep coming back."
"That's an after-effect of the chakra stimulation done by the medics, especially when the muscles aren't used to it," he explained as he removed my slipper and pressed his thumbs against the sole of my foot. He kissed my ankle as he did so, with a tenderness that was very different from the sensuality he'd shown in our previous relationship. I stayed silent as our eyes met and not only because I was biting my lip to keep the whines in.
"Better?" He asked.
It was actually. His pressures were so precise and effective that he had clearly done it before. I nodded.
Despite the pain, I was thinking of something else entirely. I had realized an omission. I licked my lips and leaned closer. "I love you too," I murmured, "and I love Genma, and I really want this to work so I'd like to try, but I'm worried this isn't for you. It would break my heart if you pull back one day because of this, Kakashi. Our friendship means more to me than sex. I just… If we do this, I want to do it right, for the three of us."
He closed the space between us for a quick kiss, just a press of our lips. "What do you want?"
"Your promise that, whatever happens, you won't let this break our friendship."
"I can promise I'll do my best."
I didn't resist when he pulled me from the stool. I slid on his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world and put my arms around his shoulders where they belonged. We kissed again, and I clung to him. "For the record, I'm not having any kid before I'm twenty-five," I murmured after a while. Even though we weren't talking about the triad courting, for now, it had to be mentioned.
"I don't think I'll ever be ready to have kids so go ahead and take all the time you want. Forever is fine with me."
I laughed and settled in his embrace.
An hour later, Genma came back from his errands to find us cuddling on the couch. He joined us in a pile.
"If we do this, we need to invest in bigger furniture," I noted after five minutes of silence.
"Agreed," Kakashi and Genma said in unison.
oOo Changes of PoV oOo
Mikoto called for her sons as she arranged a tea tray on the table for the cookies, waffles, and crepes recently delivered.
Sasuke and Naruto arrived first, followed by their silent big brother. Itachi took a look at the sweets and asked: "Did Maiko-san come by?"
"Her boyfriend did. Apparently, she's still too weak to make the delivery herself."
Itachi nodded, the spark of interest in his eyes fading as he asserted that Maiko was nowhere to be seen. For a long time, Mikoto had wondered if she should be wary of this woman who had gained the affection of her son so easily. However, she had noticed that Itachi was more relaxed since he had met her, at least when his father wasn't around, and that was something that shouldn't be stifled. Mikoto had chosen to wait and see.
Then, Itachi had come to her and asked for her help with talking to his father, just because this Maiko had asked for a favor, although he insisted: "It's not really a favor, okaa-san. I believe she's right. I don't know, however, how to make father see this."
Itachi hadn't asked for her help in years! Mikoto hadn't looked a gift horse in the mouth. She didn't try to influence her husband often, but he rarely resisted her. It had been especially true with his heir by her side. Fugaku had told her afterward that he was surprised it meant so much to Itachi. He too had been worried about Maiko's influence over his son, and he had even questioned Itachi about it during their discussion.
As Mikoto watched him eat a cookie, she remembered his words: "Yes, I like her and I respect her opinion, not because she convinced me that she's right but because she makes me believe that what is right, in this case the presence of a medic-nin in every team, can become reality if we fight for it. I like her because she makes me believe in a better world, not in dozens of years, but for tomorrow. And yes, maybe tomorrow will actually be more difficult since we don't have enough medic-nin yet, but aren't the efforts necessary worth it when we know that in the future our comrades are more likely to come back? Just because something is difficult to obtain doesn't mean it isn't worth it."
That was more words than she heard him say in a while.
Their eyes met as Naruto and Sasuke argued about what was better, the crepes or the waffles. Mikoto smiled, and Itachi gave her a very soft smile back.
"She's a good cook," Mikoto commented.
"Yes, she is," he agreed," but she's jealous of your bentos."
"Oh, really?"
"Hers aren't as pretty as yours."
"I see." Mikoto pretended she wasn't absurdly pleased by this.
oOo
Hiashi and Hizashi stepped into the later's house just in time to see Neji hide a package under the kotatsu.
"Neji? What is it?"
The young boy hid his embarrassment as he put back a small bento box over the table. "Maiko-san sent it. I don't know why."
Hizashi stepped forward and removed the lid to find several cookies inside. "I see." He glanced at his son, who was looking away, pretending he wasn't interested in them. Hizashi made a few hand seals and waved a hand over the box. He didn't notice anything out of place. "They are gifts for you I believe. Go ahead."
Neji looked up, wide-eyed. "Can I eat them?"
"Did you complete your training?"
"Yes, father!"
"Then you can, this is your reward. Eat them outside to avoid crumbs everywhere."
"Yes, father, thank you!" Neji grabbed the box and scampered outside, only stopping to bend low in front of the clan head.
Hiashi chuckled and followed his brother into the kitchen, where Hizashi prepared tea. "It's good to see Neji being excited about anything."
"Yes," Hizashi agreed. "I do not believe he's really fond of sweets, but he has them so rarely that he must appreciate the novelty of it."
"Or the attention that this Maiko gave him."
Hizashi hummed in answer, his wife's absence making itself felt. It hadn't escaped his notice that the reason for his son's attachment to this Maiko might be that she was filling a void in his son's life.
"How did she convince you, Hizashi?" The clan head asked seriously. "You haven't come to me with a request in years. How did she convince you to do so?"
"She didn't. Neji did."
"How?"
"He asked me exactly what I asked you. Why did his mom die?" Hizashi looked up from the teapot to stare at his twin. "She died because no one in her team was able to recognize the symptoms of a simple poison. She died because the poison induced a state of delusion, irrationality, and paranoia who led her to question Konoha. She died because they believed she was a traitor, and they never thought of questioning it because she was of the branch house!"
"Hizashi," his brother tried to interrupt.
Hizashi made a dismissive gesture as he breathed in deeply to calm himself. "How was I supposed to tell him that, Hiashi? How was I supposed to explain that could happen again, to him, to me, to anyone… because nothing changed since, and our clan contributed actively to this status-quo."
They had rehashed the why and the how for hours the other day. They weren't going to start again when Hizashi had finally managed to convince his brother to go against the elders' opinion on this. The contempt for medical ninja was ingrained in their clan. It was considered to be a lesser specialty for women and branch members without talent for combat.
Hiashi allowed a few minutes of silence for his brother to calm down. The tea was ready, and they went to sit with a cup of strong brew.
"What role did Kamizuki Maiko play in your decision to come to me?"
"She asked me for the best way to change your mind. She was white like a sheet but nonetheless ready to come to your door and petition you herself if she had to. I asked why she was so intent on this. She said that she was in debt to a dead man. Neji… replied that it was stupid because she might die if she moved and then what good would she do to anyone?" Hizashi sipped his tea for a long while. When he put down his cup, he was smiling. "I have never seen Neji so restless and… alive. So I made a deal with her, that I'd go talk to you in her stead if she continued to care for Neji."
"You're entrusting your son to an outsider?!"
"Of course not. I'm simply developing my son's social network. She is the Hokage's assistant."
"The elders wouldn't like it."
"What will you do about it?"
"About what? … This is good tea."
"Mom's favorite."
"Ah, yes."