Chapter 32: Gravity

Whoa, gravity is working against me, and gravity wants to bring me down. Oh, twice as much ain't twice as good and can't sustain like one half could. It's wanting more that's gonna send me to my knees.

.

"You know that you're going to have people try to move in, right?"

Hanako's eyes widened with horror. "No," she breathed out.

"Yes."

"No," she denied.

Asuka hummed and took a sip of her tea. The little breakfast café was cozy but filling up fast as various people filtered in.

"No," Hanako insisted. "You can, we already talked about this, but no one else."

The kunoichi took a bite of shortcake. "Hon, you probably won't have a choice. You'll just be walking down the hallway one day and glance into one of the empty bedrooms, but it won't be empty. Some shinobi will have broken in and put pictures of their team and family up all over place and planted dirty laundry. They won't have 'moved in' but they'll be sleeping there every night."

"Gahdamm'it," Hanako cursed.

"I suggest you just tell anyone that tries it that they have to pay rent. That'll scare them off real quick," Asuka quipped.

"Yeah, you fuckers are cheap," muttered Hanako, taking a vicious bite out of her breakfast scone.

Asuka laughed. "You fuckers? Now the true feelings come out."

Hanako rolled her eyes in response. "You know what I mean. Speaking of," she added after a thought, "how is mother reacting to news?"

Asuka buttered a piece of toast and put jam on top of it. "She's not, because I haven't told her yet."

"No?" Hanako questioned with a grin.

"She'll just freak out," the kunoichi rolled her eyes at the thought. "I'll tell her when I move out."

"Sounds fun."

"She'll nag and bitch at me the entire time before I move anyways. This way there's less bitching."

"Are you going to tell her new address?"

"No. She can figure that one out on her own. She's enough of a gossip she'll figure it out sooner or later."

"You think?"

"I know. Information flies fast in this town. Even among civvies."

"Fair enough." Hanako shrugged. Most of her clients came to her via word of mouth. Information was its own currency in a shinobi town.

"How are those two kids doing, the pink ones?" Asuka asked, her mouth partially full of toast.

"Pink ones?"

"Yeah, the ones that hired a shinobi to for some sabotage."

"Oh," Hanako said in realization, "The Haruno kids. They are good, last heard. The little one, Souta, went back to Land of Iron for some education. He's young, still needed to finish learning family business. Older one, Satoko, she's still here, making family branch of business. She's smart, I like her."

"I've heard good things."

"Really?" Hanako picked through the sweets on the table in front of her and chose a lemon bar. Asuka had already eaten at least twice what Hanako had, four times the amount of calories, but they both knew that the kunoichi would remain the skinnier one at the end of the day. Chakra usage burned through calories like no other.

"Good quality steel, from what I've heard. Weaponsmiths like the ingots, they make good blades." She popped another sweet into her mouth. "Iron and coal, too. Some other metals, can't remember all of them."

"Interesting," Hanako mused. Raw materials would always be in high demand in a militarized society like Hidden Leaves. She glanced at the time on a clock inside the café and cursed quietly.

"What is it?"

Hanako quickly grabbed her purse to pull out her wallet. "Need to get back to work."

Asuka nodded. "Think about what I said, yeah?" Hanako pulled out a few bills to place on the table to cover her portion. "Charging rent would probably save you a lot of headache in the long run."

"That is sure, they are cheap," Hanako agreed before breezing out.

.

.

Back at the office, Hanako was picking up again where she had left off when Asuka stopped by to invite her to brunch. She had finally caught up on work and was even a little ahead. Hanako was even taking on a few of the side projects that she had, looking at some investment opportunities that had arisen. A few, she didn't think were very viable but several had potential in them.

She spent a while reading in the office. Since she didn't have to spend every moment at the office and plenty of extra overtime working on spreadsheets anymore, Hanako had moved her operation into the actual office when she was actually working and started using the newly dubbed reception desk for entertaining clients. The more important clients got to visit her office, like Mr. Eiji, and a few of her other business clients.

To be honest, she was starting to get a little bored. Hanako had gotten used to working plenty of overtime and not getting home until late every day. Now that she was getting through her work so fast, Hanako was starting to get shiftless.

Hanako spun in a lazy circle on her chair and tapped a pen against her notebook. Without any clearly defined deadlines her mind was wandering so much that she had trouble concentrating on work as dedicatedly as she usually did.

She put down her book when she heard the sound of the door opening.

"Can I help you," she asked, getting up and entering the reception area. She drew back slightly in shock but braved on with a friendly smile.

A woman in her mid-forties. Her face was still smooth, but her dark hair was shot through lightly with grey and pulled back into a high bun decorated with hair pins, pearls and tassels dangling delicately. She wore makeup. Subtle, but distinct, with black eyeliner that sharply elongated her eyes, giving them an upward tilt that was entirely attractive and entrancing. Her dress was tastefully elegant but understated. It was the hair pins that tipped Hanako off as to the woman's identity, the pearls dangling, peaking in and out from between the tassels and glinting in the light.

"My name is Utatane Koharu," she introduced herself. Hanako mirrored her words softly, though she already knew who Utatane Koharu was.

"How can I assist you?" Hanako couldn't think of why the Left Hand of the Fire Shadow would be in her office.

"Tea would suffice," she had a voice that Hanako could only hope to when she was that age. Sultry, assured, and full of authority. Everyone knew that Utatane Koharu, along with Mitokado Homura, were the bureaucrats of the Hidden Leaves. They carried out the very will of the Fire Shadow, with all of his authority, tending to the details that he simply didn't have the time to. Part of his original team, the Fire Shadow likely trusted those two more than he did his own wife and children.

"I do not have tea brewed," Hanako said carefully, "but would you like to try some cold remonaido?"

Koharu nodded in assent. Hanako ushered her into the office while she poured her pitcher of lemonade into a more presentable carafe and grabbed clean glasses and cookies to arrange on a plate. Koharu took a sip of the liquid and gave a pleased expression at the taste. Her demeanor was otherwise unruffled.

"Your new home is lovely," Koharu said without preamble.

Hanako's eyes widened. "It is," she replied. "I'm very pleased with the property, but I have not taken possession."

Koharu eyed her like a cat watching a mouse that it wanted to eat. A cat that could play with the mouse for a while, draw out its death for its own amusement, or make a quick meal of it. "You never asked permission to buy it. As an asset of the Hidden Leaf, you must ask permission for these things." Hanako's heart stopped and ice filled her stomach.

"I—I was not aware," she stammered. "Forgive me, but I had no knowledge of such constrainings."

"Details that slip around our awareness are often the details that kill us," Said the older woman with a grim look. "These things kill shinobi faster than any blade."

Beneath the table, Hanako began to bounce her knee up and down rapidly, doing her best to keep the movement from showing.

"But," the kunoichi continued after a long, uncomfortable pause," you have been useful. The processors you obtained for the village – I must confess – I am impressed. Your ingenuity. I would not have expected a civilian like you to have thought to work with the rackets."

"It was gamble," Hanako let out a breath that she hadn't realized she was holding, "but paid off."

"That," Kohaku pronounced, "it did. Well enough that I'm willing to ignore your mistake." She sighed. It was almost convincing. "Of course, you will have to make it up to the village. You are useful in your current role. But it seems that we have overlooked something of true value." She tapped a finger against her chin. The catch was coming, Hanako was sure of it. "I want you to work for the village."

What?

Hanako blinked. "Huh?" She couldn't even form a proper response.

"Secondarily, of course" Koharu said, "to your accounting firm. You have a talent for capital acquisitions. I would like for you to act as the Village Hidden in the Leave's agent. Anonymously."

"In exchange?" Hanako said with suspicion. She had approached the Fire Shadow last time. And now, several months later, they were approaching her?

"More freedom." Kohaku leaned back easily, in movement that gave Hanako the impression of a coiled snake. Relaxed, but still ready to strike at any moment. "You have an inquisitive mind, Yamada-san. You weren't born in this village, and traveled, from what I understand, extensively. I know, as well as you, that you will never be happy confined to its interior your entire life. You're too adventurous, you question the state of things too much. We can give you more freedom. Of course, you will still have guards at all times, but trips for business? Pleasure? We can grant it."

Hanako couldn't help but be tempted. "How often?"

"No more than three cumulative weeks per year outside the village walls on your own business. As much as is required if on ours. And you would have a full guard squad."

"Paid by whom?"

Kohaku smiled sharply. The snake in Hanako's mind's eye reared back, a warning. "The village. You would provide any additional expenses, such as travel or accommodation," as would be expected of any client.

Three weeks a year to leave. Koharu didn't mention how often she would be required to travel for the village. It couldn't be often. Hanako knew how much the shinobi valued her very presence, it was what kept her from having any privacy. But capital acquisitions, for a military city the size of Hidden Leaves, those could be prolonged trips, potentially adding onto that three weeks.

She wavered. On one hand, how much would she be required to travel? Would she even be paid for her time? What types of deals would she be required to make? Would she be selling her soul for all intents and purposes? But on the other hand, she could leave. Three weeks a year. With that kind of time, she could make it as far as Tea Country, maybe. Maybe even as far as the other side of Wind, even though she wouldn't be able to stay long. She could see more of this new world. Talk to more people than just shinobi and the civilians that supported them. Academics. Artists. Musicians. Maybe even philosophers. Scientists.

It was like standing on the edge of a precipice, trying to decide if it was better to jump and brave the roiling waters below, or hang on and try to scramble over a narrow ledge by the tips of ragged and bloodied fingers, scrabbling for even the smallest of holds among sharp rocks.

"I would have to look over contract," Hanako finally pronounced. Kohaku's expression did not change, but Hanako could feel the satisfaction rolling off of the elder woman. She was being given a chance to expand and grow. Albeit in the direction that would benefit the village, but something was better than nothing.

"I'll have a courier send it by. Let me know if you find the terms agreeable." Both women knew that the terms would be agreeable, no matter what was in the contract. Hanako would agree to them for even a hint of a taste of freedom. Kohaku gathered her robes and swept out of the office, leaving behind her half-drunk glass and a plate of untouched food.

Hanako went limp in her chair and stared at the ceiling. Unbelieving.

What had just happened?

.

.

The most common way that people in Hidden Leaves moved residences, Hanako learned, were genin teams. Those who didn't have the resources to move themselves, tended to hire the teams of – well, to be frank, genin were children. Shinobi put a lot on their children. They matured faster than any other group Hanako had ever seen in her old life. Wise beyond what they should have been, but they were still children. And the shinobi knew it.

The rank of genin seemed to be reserved for those who were not yet adults, and the few adults who truly could not make it in the world of shinobi. Most genin began to progress to the chuunin rank around fifteen or sixteen if they were particularly talented. Seventeen to twenty if they were not. By the age of twenty, a jounin sensei would leave their students, having stayed with them for some nine years to pass down what knowledge they could.

Hanako was reminded of this particular tidbit of information while she watched a team of fifteen-year-olds bicker and fight amongst themselves while their sensei behind them pretended he was in his happy place. The Missions Office wasn't particularly full, teams taking assignments and civilians entering to submit requests filtered in and out. Most of the higher level missions came in by courier, it was rare that a client approached the Missions Office themselves, so the civilians inside were mostly older, or working class commissioning teams for acts of physical prowess that they could not achieve themselves.

She listened in on an artist who worked with steel sculptures describe to the clerk at the desk in vivid detail the skill set he needed. Apparently, capable of handling heat up to over a thousand degrees for long enough to mold steel and strong enough to help him physically shape it were his biggest requirements. He gesticulated with large, sweeping movements to approximate the shape and size of what he wanted. The clerk noted everything down with a bored air. Evidently, that was a chuunin requirement, at minimum.

The mission that Hanako was commissioning was much cheaper than the last team that she had hired. This one was a team of genin, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old, to move her household. Really, all she needed was for someone to move all of her boxes into the new place. Hanako wasn't strong enough to move her things that far, and she didn't feel comfortable asking the elite shinobi that she did know to do something as mundane as carrying boxes for her. Asuka would do it, probably, but she was about to have to move herself from her own parent's home into the new house.

She penciled down a few times that the team could show up. Everything was already boxed up, and Hanako really wasn't moving much in the way of furniture except for what she had replaced from her own pockets when Toad and Yamanaka Inotashi had fought and destroyed half of the house. Only the things that she had bought herself would be coming with her.

Handing over a filled out check for the Missions Office to file with her bank, Hanako turned and exited the office, leaving the next person to take her place at the desk.

Outside, the wind picked up slightly, causing a heavy, hot wave of air to wash over her the second she was outside. This world didn't have much in the way of central air and heating, relying instead on high ceilings and fans to help move the air about. It was a lot like Europe in that respect. Only certain places had air conditioning, one of them being the Fire Shadow Tower. That, and, she was sure, people wealthy enough to have it installed.

The hot air wrapped around her, and she moved a hand to shield her eyes from any dust that might have been carried with it. Fire Country was hot, named so after the heat of summers, probably. She didn't know for sure, but it was her running theory so far.

As it was early in the day so far, not quite yet noon, there were still plenty of civilians moving around. From around two to five, the streets would become more deserted as most people would take cover indoors away from the sun and the heat, but for now it was bustling. There were a few more errands for Hanako to take care of. While she wouldn't be moving until the next day, there was still a plethora of things for her to take care of. Several contractors were at the new home, which Hanako had not yet decided on a name for, and she needed to oversee and check on their work. A plumber was checking over the bathrooms and found several pipes in need of maintenance and replacing before they broke, and but the kitchen was in good condition. According to the plumber, the hot water heater was allowing corrosion on the pipes somehow.

Hanako was in the middle of a market, buying food to take to the new place with her when she encountered a familiar face.

"Hatake-san," she called out to him as she finished placing cucumbers in a bag. The shinobi turned around as if he had only just now noticed her but Hanako knew better. Her chakra was too pervasive for a higher-level shinobi to not notice her presence at almost all times. A younger silver-haired woman was with him, clad in a flak jacket and the standard issue grey of the chuunin ranks. The woman's eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight of Hanako. Her eyes were also a dark charcoal, but her face was decidedly heart-shaped, lacking Sakumo's strong, squared-off chin. Her build was also a little different. Shorter and lither. She also couldn't have been older than twenty now that Hanako had more time to study her face.

Hanako bowed politely to the two. Hatake Sakumo could be an ass at times but he wasn't without any social graces. "Yamada Hanako-san, this is my clanmate, Hatake Hina," he said, by way of greeting.

"Please take care of me," the two women murmured the traditional phrase as they bowed. Over the initial shock, Hina was studying Hanako's profile more carefully now.

"Hina-san has just reached the rank of chuunin," Sakumo said, with a proud look at his clanmate. "I've been showing her some better vendors that she can get her equipment from. Vendors that won't rip you off," he said with a meaningful glance at Hina.

Hina colored slightly. "I thought it sounded like a reasonable price," she crossed her arms.

Sakumo nudged her off balance with a light shove of his shoulder, forcing her to uncross them to regain her balance. "Bomb tags are expensive, but not that expensive." There was something else that went unsaid in his gaze like he wanted to say more.

Hanako got the sense that there was a larger conversation that she was interrupting. "Please, do not let me interrupt." She smiled at the two. "Have good rest of day, and it was very nice to meet you," she addressed Hatake Hina before she continued past the two.

"I'll see you around, Hanako-san," Sakumo said warmly and Hanako gave him a wave before leaving.

There were a few more small stores Hanako stopped by before continuing on to the new place. Soon her arms filled with bags that were a little heavier than she had expected, if she were being honest with herself. The new house was further out, closer to the Northern outskirts of the village. The house was close to the Naka River again, and northeast of what Hanako would previously had said were the Nara Clan lands. That was untrue, for the Nara lands swept around like a crescent moon, giving them direct access to the forested lands outside of the village. According to local gossip, they had their own gate through the village walls, but that was a rumor that may or may not be true. Gossip wasn't ever one hundred percent reliable, after all. So, the neighborhood was more surrounded on three sides by Nara lands.

The street leading up to the neighborhood was shady, given cover by vast oak and beech trees. The trees were, in truth, so massive that Hanako didn't know quite how all of these homes had been built in and amongst them without damaging any of them. Arborists in Hidden Leaves must make a large amount of money. That and tree trimming crews.

Her fingers were aching and straining from holding the handles o the bags that she set her goods down with more than normal force the moment she got through the door. Richly colored wood greeted her, a bright foyer which was currently bare, but had the potential to be so much more. Hanako unstrapped her sandals automatically but forewent house slippers as she had none in this one yet. Dust and dirt had been tracked through by the contractors, but it wasn't a lot all things considered. The side gate to the back was open as there was a team of genin there that Hanako had already hired cleaning up any tree branches that looked like they were in danger of falling. Taking a glance out back, it looked like their sensei was taking the opportunity to teach his students about the virtues of being on their guard as he fired pinecones and other projectiles at them with pinpoint accuracy every time their attention slipped. Hanako was already impressed by the shinobi in training, as they were doing all this while hanging upside down and in various other positions unsupported by gravity.

She was still easily impressed by shinobi, even the ones in training.

Several random pieces of furniture had been left by the previous owner including a dining room set and two mismatched nightstands in separate rooms, along with several futons rolled up neatly and other odd linens and a few rugs, and a complete dining set of dishes and cutlery. Nothing in any room was a complete set, but most of what was left were harder to move, making Hanako believe that they had been left behind more out of a lack of ability to move it than anything.

Hanako spent a little bit of time cleaning up what mess had occurred in the kitchen from its inspection and put away the groceries that she had purchased. Since she would be moving in the next few days, she was doing her best to eat everything in her current place so that she wouldn't have to move it all at once.

The house was much larger than what she was used to, and Hanako reveled in the new space. It had already been determined which bedroom would be Hanako's which was, of course, the master bedroom. Asuka had laid claim to the bedroom the furthest away from it and closest to the guest bathroom.

The master bedroom was particularly nice, because of the bathroom that was adjoined to it. Windows just a little higher than usual to allow for privacy but lots of light, and a large garden tub for soaking in as well as an open shower. The walk-in closet was also more of a dressing room than a closet, with a nice area to get ready and put on makeup. The doors of the home were all sliding though, which while a bit annoying, was something Hanako found she could get used to since they added very nicely to the aesthetic.

Once things were cleaned up and Hanako had moved the extra furniture to the sides where her movers could more easily work around them, she was ready and went home for the day.

.

.

Asuka was, as Hanako was now learning, a fastidiously clean roommate. Not obsessively clean, no. But unconsciously and automatically, yes. The instant she used a glass, it was either washed and put away or placed in the dishwasher ready for the end of the day. By contrast, Hanako would leave a single glass out all day to use for her water or tea, reusing until it was ready to wash at the end. Hanako also didn't really check the guest bathroom as she rarely used it, but Asuka's toiletries were all precisely placed and everything clean. Hanako would have said it came from the military training, but she had known too many veterans in a previous life to ever believe that had anything to do with it.

Hanako was still positioning a few things around the house. Overall, the two women went together pretty well. Asuka had brought a few calligraphy scrolls to put up and had an eye for where they would look good at. She also brought a few items of furniture of her own, including a very nice and comfortable couch and coffee table. Their things were still a little haphazard and mismatched but the two were merging their styles well.

They were discussing their options for décor over coffee. Asuka was wearing comfortable shorts and a sports bra while Hanako was still wearing her house robe.

"There's a shop that I've gone past a few times on my way to the tower that has some good artworks. A few originals but mostly prints."

Hanako cocked her head to the side. "Are you talking about bookstore by market near Akimichi clan grounds?"

"Nah, that one doesn't really have anything besides trashy romance novels and magazines," Asuka said dismissively. "I'm talking about the one near the police station."

"Hey," Hanako said, only superficially offended by the dig at her collection of romance novels. "There's some good ones in there."

Asuka snorted. "Unrealistic ones, you mean," she returned with a grin. "Full of heaving bosoms and handsome rogues. Seriously, Hanako, how many of those books that you have don't refer to a clitoris as a pearl?" Asuka made the air quotes gesture around the word 'pearl.'

"The same number that do not call penis girthy member plunging into depths. None of them," Hanako flashed with a shameless grin, causing Asuka to laugh.

"Gods of the forests," she complained at the ceiling.

The civilian leaned forward on her elbows. "So, what is flavor for you? I am sure you have."

"Oh, I'm more into the ones with the imperious noblewoman who hires her ronin guards and she's very into bring tied up in compromising positions. Bonus points if she has an absent or abusive husband. Or the one about the confident, sexy kunoichi who dominates her partner. Or partners."

"I've read some of those."

"From the bookstore by the Akimichi clan grounds?"

"Maybe."

"That's what I thought."

.

.

If Hanako ever thought that the get-togethers and parties would have ended just because she moved residences, she was crazy. They had mellowed out some now that Hanako officially had a purple-haired roommate. Asuka's word held more sway than Hanako's when it came down to it, and Asuka's comrades-in-arms were less willing to tread all over Asuka's privacy than they were Hanako's.

Was Hanako hiding behind that? Yes. Did she feel even the slightest bit bad about it? Absolutely not. Besides the fact that they were friends, it had factored into Hanako's decision to ask Asuka if she wanted to be roommates.

The trees in the courtyard dampened sound a bit though and made it easier for the place to feel more private when there was a gathering. Hanako was working on some documents for a client that she had brought home in the dying light of her day. Raucous laughter was coming periodically from the living room and kitchen area as a shinobi recently returned from a mission was telling what sounded like a hilarious tale.

The courtyard had sort of become her impromptu home office. There was always the back yard if she wanted some real privacy to work, but for most things she found herself working amid the trees and near the water pond. It was currently empty of any fish but Hanako was considering getting a few to put in the bubbling feature. Maybe some goldfish. A few brilliantly green tree frogs hopped around and croaked above her, feeding on the various bugs that lived there.

Footsteps on the floor behind her made Hanako raise her head and put down her pencil at the approach of another. Hanako slid a piece of blank paper over the document she had been working on in a superficial effort to preserve confidentiality.

"I thought you left your work at the office," intoned a deep voice.

"How's your clanmate?" Hanako asked by way of reply.

"Learning," he said dryly. "The Hatake aren't exactly known for asking for help when we need it and trying to figure things out on our own. Even if it does burn us."

"Speak from experience?"

"Maybe." He flopped down next to Hanako and put his head down on a cushion and his hands behind his head to look up at the sky.

"Do you ever get tired of wearing vest? It look uncomfortable."

"Nah, it's like a second skin at this point. More uncomfortable to not have it, really." With that, he closed his eyes.

After deciding that he wasn't going to open them again, Hanako uncovered her papers again started working again. A client had come to her at the end of the day asking for some forms to be drafted and filed with the bank as soon as possible the next morning for some emergency they had. Hanako had gathered that something had happened to an employee of their and they were 'taking care of the problem' so to speak. Whatever it was, Hanako didn't want to know, but there was some funds shuffling and money being paid out to multiple parties. It wasn't her job to care. Her only job was to move the money.

Cicadas started chirping as the sun got lower and lower and the already shaded porch became steeped in dusk. Hatake's breathing had long since evened out and Hanako had decided that he was taking a nap. Hanako finished drafting the documents about when it was almost too dark for her to be able to read what she was looking at. All she needed would be her client's signature in the morning and then she could take it to the bank for withdrawals and to move funds around.

The sounds of shuffling papers must have woken Sakumo up because with the slightest of starts, his charcoal eyes opened, and he blinked several times.

"Just finishing work," Hanako reassured him. Almost on cue, a loud burst of laughter carried from inside. Glancing in, Hanako could see that a board game was being brought out by Asuka. A strategy game that might take several hours to play. She knew because she had tried to play it before as well and been thoroughly crushed within the first part of the game. Hanako didn't have the patience for strategy games that took too long. Her mind wandered too much.

Getting up, the civilian put away her work before she padded to the kitchen and greeted a few shinobi who had come over. She selected a bottle of red wine and grabbed two glasses and a bottle opener and going back out again. Hanako poured hers first and took a drink. The wine was rich and heady. Not sweet, but with just enough of a hint to overcome the dryness. She swirled it around in her glass to sniff and looked over at Sakumo, who was observing her through half-lidded eyes.

"Now that I have drunk, would you like some?" It was a shinobi custom that when one offered another a drink, they first took a drink of it themselves before extending the offer. To show that it wasn't poisoned, of course. There were a few traditions like that which were wholly shinobi in their origin.

Sakumo grunted in assent and reached forward for the bottle to pour himself a glass. "A good wine," he pronounced once he had tasted it. "How is your work?" He asked after they sat in silence for some time.

"Good," Hanako said blandly. Then added, "Picking up faster and faster."

"Picking up?"

"Is like, becoming more busy."

"Hmm. Interesting phrase, picking up." He took a sip. "I'll have to use it sometime."

She let out a soft laugh. "Makes more sense in my language. But work is getting more busy. More clients, more responsibility. Is good money."

"Have you thought more about taking on an apprentice?"

"Some," she replied before becoming thoughtful. "Have not found one who would do well. Is much math to learn. Not many want to do."

"I'll keep an eye out for any that I can toss your way."

Hanako laughed in response. Then, "Why is your hair so long?"

Sakumo shrugged and self-consciously ran a hand over his ponytail. "It's an old tradition, from the Warring Era. It's a boast, or a taunt, really. That no enemy can touch your hair to use it against you. Or that you're good enough to kill anyone who gets close enough to try."

"You are old-fashioned?" She leaned forward, propping her chin up on one hand.

"Only with some things. I do it for my old man, really. He was real traditional. A stickler for the old ways. In some ways he never trusted what the village became, was always convinced that it would eventually fall apart in a civil war. He kept to the old ways, trained my sister and me in the old ways. Taught us Lightning Dialect, a few other dialects. Always made sure we knew the code phrases and ways to get to old clan hideaways outside of the village."

"You have a sister?"

"Just one, Sakiya. My elder sister." His voice lit up at the mention of her name.

"You sound like you love her very much."

"I do. Sakiya has been with me since the very first day. She's always been there to guide me, to help me when I couldn't help myself. A guiding hand in the darkness. We – had – a little brother as well, but he didn't make it past his first year. I like to think that if he had survived, I would have been for him what Sakiya has been for me."

Hanako poured another glass, first for Sakumo, and then for herself. Inside, the board game was still going strong, despite the loud accusations of cheating from one player against another. It was unspoken that of course the player was cheating, because they were all cheating.

"I had three brothers," Hanako revealed. "All older. Two served in military. Oldest was, um," She fumbled for the word. "He made things."

"An inventor?"

"No, is not word, he made design for things, improve, make better."

"What kind of things?"

Hanako grew frustrated at her inability to find the word. "Like machine, things like, um, process. Make things simple."

"Can you draw the character?"

"Ah, yes," she had already put away her writing supplies, so she leaned over the edge of the porch and drew out the character with a finger into the dust.

"Ah," Sakumo said in recognition. "An engineer."

"Yes! That," Hanako said with triumph. "Engineer. Oldest brother was engineer."

"That's quite impressive."

"It was," Hanako agreed. "He was best of us. Smarter, hard working. Always helped when had schoolwork, relationships, problems. Nothing was too complicate for him." Hanako let out a quick breath, her chest suddenly felt tight. She quickly wiped away at tears that hadn't gathered yet.

Sakumo placed a hand atop of hers. "You miss him?"

"All the time," she whispered. Hanako quickly looked away so that he could not see the tears that were filling her eyes.

He was silent while she regained her composure, not saying anything and not judging.

"Sorry," Hanako murmured when she cleared the cotton from her throat and got control of herself again.

"Nothing to be sorry for," he said gently. "There is never shame in missing your family."

She nodded her head and his fingers squeezed hers lightly.

"No shame," he repeated.

Hanako suddenly felt like she needed a justification to leave, embarrassed by her display of emotion. "Excuse me," she apologized and rose to her feet. "I need to, um, I need to go check on my guests." She gave a weak smile and quickly left, eager to escape a conversation that had quickly hit far too close to home. His eyes lingered on her back as she fled for the safety of the gathering.

.

A/N:

Life is getting back to normal for Hanako. This chapter was sitting at mostly complete for the last month or so. The last bit kind of flowed out and it felt - complete.

I hope you're all holding up well and staying safe!