TITLE: Florescence

SUMMARY: To be an older sister, was a full-time job. Her career as a Shinobi was simply a hobby. SI/OC AU.

AUTHOR NOTE: This is actually a rewrite of one of my older stories, "Well, that's new". A better version hopefully! I'm looking towards better developing my characters as well as the relationships they make rather than simply trying to get on with the plot. I haven't got a beta-reader or anything and don't... actually know how to go about finding one, not gonna lie. So there are going to be a few errors because it's me and I'm dumb.

Also this is my stab at Naniwrimo, so this is going to be hilarious.

"Mebuki! You're a month early!"

The woman glowered from her wheelchair, her hands clamped over the swell of her abdomen. "No shit?"

The overly perky nurse paid no mind to her snarled words and simply turned to the man that was pushing her along. "Maternity ward."

Despite the slow start, Mebuki could admit that the nurses were nothing if not professional. Even if the wheels of her chair did squeak and the lights overhead made her feel terribly nauseous as they trundled her into an empty delivery room. The bouts of pain washing in and out.

Her husband was absent from her side and he wasn't back for a few more days.

He'd promised that he'd be back in no time and she knew that he'd be heartbroken that he missed this but, fuck it, it seemed like Mebuki was going to be doing this alone.

If alone meant being in a room with a midwife, a doctor and an orderly which had been pulled into the fray.

When she'd first found out she was pregnant, nine months had seemed like a long time to wait before they welcomed their first child into the world. It had seemed like an eternity but, apparently, eternity was a lot shorter than she'd thought since as soon as the months had starter; here she found herself, flat on her back with her legs in the air as the doctor told her to push.

"I can see the head! One more now!"

With a grunt, Mebuki shattered the hand of the poor orderly which she'd snagged as labour had really hit her.

The sharp high pitched wail was bliss by contrast.

The new mother slumped back into the shitty hospital pillows, her hair sweat laden and sticking to her forehead as the flush slowly faded from her cheeks. Instead, she glowed with pride as she watched the baby be passed around, a green glowing hand pressed over. . .

Mebuki blinked.

"Girl or boy?" She asked, her voice husky.

"It's a girl." The doctor told her with a smile, sighing in relief as she finished her inspection of the baby before giving her to the midwife to be cleaned up. "A perfectly healthy, if not small, baby girl."

"Good, good."

She'd grown up with three older brothers, Mebuki had always dreamt of having her own sister. Sadly, it never happened and instead, that want had been channelled into a need to have a daughter of her own. Something which came true and her mind raced because despite having nine months to think about it, she hadn't been able to come up with a name.

Oh she'd thought of many names, just not the right one.

Besides, it felt wrong to name their new daughter when half of the reason she existed wasn't by her side.

"I can't believe I missed it," Kizashi murmured mournfully.

He was rather mellow at that moment in time, unusually quiet so that he wouldn't wake the baby in his arms.

It was actually rather sweet.

From the moment he'd gotten out of the shower, because like hell would Mebuki let him touch their daughter after just getting home from a mission, he'd refused to let go of their little girl. His eyes wide and reverent as he ran a curled finger over the apples of her cheeks.

"She's so small," He whispered, conscious of how big he seemed by unfair comparison.

"She was impatient." Mebuki reminded him, her hand resting on his arm with a soft smile - it hadn't been his fault. They had no idea that their daughter would decide, hey whilst papa's away I'm going to arrive!

"Just like her mother."

"I will smack you."

"I'm holding the baby you can't - OW!"

Kizashi flinched away from his wife's swats, his grip tightening so he didn't drop their precious cargo.

"Aren't you supposed to be taking it easy?" And not beating me into a pulp?

Mebuki rolled her eyes, her husband's childish antics was something she'd gotten used to. Not that she'd ever admit it to him but she appreciated his lighthearted views. Even if he did act like a five year old at some points and god help him if started on those god awful jokes…

"They're still waiting for the birth certificate, you know," She softly reminded him, stepping closer so the baby was lodged between the two of them. The warmth lulling her into a deeper sleep as a small hand curled around Mebuki's offered finger.

He blinked, his eyes suspiciously wet.

"You waited to name her?" He murmured, sniffling ever so slightly. "You waited for me?"

"Of course I did, you idiot," Smiling up at her husband, her partner in crime before their eyes slid down to the bundle between them. "What'dyou think? We didn't really get around to thinking of names."

"Mei?"

"Mm, no." A pause. "Ayaka?"

"Doesn't feel right," Kizashi confessed "Suzue?"

Mebuki hummed, nose wrinkling.

"Maybe we should wait, when we go see your parents, they might have some good names."

"What about Suzue?"

Mebuki had to stop herself from pinching the bridge of her nose, and it looked like her mother-in-law was suffering the same urge as herself. Honestly, her husband and her father-in-law were like peas in a pod. So similar, the same sense of humour, the same attitudes towards everything and apparently, the same taste in girls names.

They'd spent the first half an hour cooing over their first grandchild and even now, their baby girl was nestled in her grandmother's arms. Peaceful and silent as she snoozed on.

She'd always felt welcomed into the Haruno Clan, her own family were far away after committing to their travelling business as merchants. So her husband's family swiftly took her in, Mebuki was often found having tea with her second mother or even going there every now and then for the company.

Upon delivering their first grandchild?

It was the first time Mebuki had seen her mother-in-law cry.

Noriko was a hard woman, toughened by her childhood in Kiri. She was firm, cutting, almost ruthless in whatever she did. It was like watching day and night when her husband's parents spoke, they were so different but then again, Mebuki couldn't help but smile as she glanced over at her own husband, the same could be said about the two of them.

"She said no to Suzue," Kizashi drawled, the man and his father eyeing her with distaste since they liked the name very much.

"When you push a human being out of you, then you can decide their name," Noriko cut in, thoroughly chastening both her husband and her son. Though it was probably softer than her usual scoldings but Kizashi still pinkened at the ears. "What about a flower? Hm?"

"...Kikue?" Kenta offered jovially, looking to the small child in his wife's arms, as if to see whether or not it had her approval.

Mebuki snorted at the small yawn her daughter gave.

The names continued to flow and so did the drinks, Noriko settled quite comfortably in her chair and Mebuki wasn't allowed to lift a thing. Kizashi simply dashing between them all, serving refills whenever someone seemed a little low on tea.

They'd only expected to be there for half an hour, maybe an hour at most.

Dinner time was swiftly approaching though and the day had taken a lot out of her despite it not being physically demanding. Her daughter was going to begin to get fussy at some point as well and she'd rather not have to breastfeed in front of her parents.

"Sakura?" Kizashi finally put in, after a brief moment of thought.

It sounded right but at the same time, ...not. It was hard to explain, it was like a mismatched puzzle piece. Noriko seemed to feel the same way by the slight twist her of thin lips, the scar curving around her chin twisting with it.

"What about Mio?"

The two glanced over at the older woman who'd thrown her hat into the name-ring.

"Mio?" They shared a look before a nod.

"Mio."

CHAPTER WORD COUNT: 1349

STORY WORD COUNT: 1349