On the Right Path [Kaji]

[Kagetsu Yuii]

The day had started out like any other.There was the early morning bustle and noise had not yet to reached its peak as students, civilians and shinobi alike began their days. The scent of coffee and baked goods seemed to waft from every building to meet the hunger of the shuffling hive and happy birdsong, in contrast to the dragging feet and bleary eyes, penetrating through the streetways. Intermittently the village hum was sharply interrupted by screeches of crows as they fought over yesterdays scraps or the shout of the rare employee sent to brave the cold to lure in customers.

The same could be said for the steady beating heart of the village, The Torre Celeste. It saw a doubling of the steady, all hours stream of patrons, politicians and shinobi during morning hours. The foot traffic made navigation hard, as those ending their graveyard shift shuffled in zombie gait, associates stopped for idle chatter and a constant flow of messengers entered and left both the main tower and the Legation.

For the fluffy orange messenger cat, dressed sharply in a tiny grey cable knit sweater, tiny satchel and a dashing pair of glasses perched on its nose, the maze of foot traffic was an extra challenge. It had to hug closely against stone walls, dash column to column and weaved through mazes of legs to avoid being squashed underfoot or worse- see its handsome fur disturbed. It was relieved to reach its goal of a small corridor hidden completely from sight just off the main reception area. There was no indication that the hall was special, but it sat and began cleaning at the offending dust on its luxurious coat as if waiting for something to happen.

A quarter hour passed until a shinobi still surreptitiously tucking away a lacquered mask appeared from the very wall itself, leaving a bare second for it to burst forward and slink into Anbu territory.

Expertly, it navigated the passageways that led into Sileo Tempestas, as if sneaking into the best-guarded facility in Lightning was common practice for it. Perhaps it was, as it somehow avoided the many cameras and intermitted guards throughout by dashing like a blur between safe zones. Somehow, it was only seen twice while dashing between the ankles of AiT who cringed to know they would have to report their failure to catch the orange and grey bullet. Somehow, it had arrived on the desk of Okada, Kaji, dropped a note in a familiar feminine script, then proceeded to lick and chew its back foot in the way that gave all a perfect view of its genitalia until shoo'ed away.

————
| Okada,
| I require your expertise on a matter of grave importance deep in the eastern part of the forest. |
| Fetch your horse and gear and meet me at the forest entrance at your soonest convenience. |
| ,Y. |
______

There had been no indication of such a need the last time they'd spoken sometime the night before.

———————-

At his leisure, Kaji would find Yuii exactly where she had described, dressed in lumpy woollen and leather greys and dark green shades of the forest and apparently well prepared for whatever trip she had in mind. Three bags sat at her feet, all stuffed until their seams stretched, as well as the regular gear one expected to see for a trip that would take at least a few days on the road. An additional two bags were tied to the back of a demure looking mare that seemed more interested in nosing through snow for grass than anything else. Oniyuri was nowhere in sight, a rare occurrence in the last few months.

In fact, the big cat had rarely left Yuii to use the bathroom in the last few months. Why was hardly a mystery to Kaji, though Yuii had kept her own lips tightly sealed even as the first signs began to show. There had been a marked decrease in her physical affection at first, then longer and longer days spent at the office where her usual lumpy sweaters could hide all a while longer. When she was around, Yuii was clumsy, distracted and seemed to year only a third of anything said to her. Her odd behaviour had been what had prompted the feline's hovering, in fact, and she'd expressed her concern a few times already that Yuii seemed to be ignoring her current state completely. What that meant, on the other hand, was left in mystery as the tigress advised to let her strange behaviour run its course. There was no way Oniyuri would have left Yuii to herself, not without some change.

Crouched with her back to a boulder that marked one of the larger pathways into the forest, she was in the midst of rifling through one of the bags while muttering half a conversation to the wind. When she noticed him,"I was wondering when you would show up," she chimed cheerily in her 'we might be watched' tone, once Kaji had closed in. She straightened to her feet with an extra push of effort and tucked her fingers back into her gloves. "There's been a discovery of old runes in the far east of the forest, but everyone that I send to go check it out gets chased off. I figured we might as well have a look. Shouldn't be more than a few days, since we're going through instead of around. The long path is safer, but we're not about that, right?"

Two of the bags were for Kaji's horse, and the third was tied to the placid mare. "Sorry for the short notice," she babbled as everything was tied away, "and the speed. If I don't get away quickly, I don't get away at all. I bet Megumi is wandering around with a stack of papers screaming my name as we speak. She'll find the note...s eventually. Besides, I can train all I like but if I sit cooped up in that tower I WILL lose my mind! Historically, insane leadership does NOT go well for the village. I think my first action would be to get rid of all the uncomfortable chairs in the Torre and burn them in the greatest bonfire the north has ever seen. OH, speaking of fire, I brought the greatest hot chocolate you've ever tasted! Trust me, I'm an expert!"

On and on she babbled as they prepared, saddled, and began a slow trot into the forest. It was at the end of a small tirade about a comet with a face that she finally called for a slower pace. It was then, and only then, that she grimaced in pain and dismounted with such speed that one would expect to find acid on the saddle. "Raiden's tits, that must be what its like to be kicked in the balls repeatedly," she complained, massaging her groin, "The efforts I go through for you, you know? Just, marry me already." It seemed like a joke, but she stared at him expectant of an answer.

 

[Okada Kaji]

Forty winks: that was the price Kaji Okada was paying for reporting to the ANBU Central Command so early in the morning. He was at his personal console near the back of the room, elevated to oversee the quiet room, which was dimly lit by a wall of sixteen security feed monitors, the crystal of scrying and its constant glowing in a myriad of colors. The junior aides to Kaji occasionally came and went, begrudging the need to be in office whenever he came to work, which was random hours of the day and night. For the most part, the aides left him to his work before dawn; when he was quite the curmudgeon.

When the messenger entered this chamber of the sleeping beast, it slipped through narrow double doors, making a small creaking sound as it went. The cat only found silence and peace at first, as the tall office chair at the Commander’s console had its back turned. The chair hid the form of Kaji, who was slumped in the seat and napping quietly until the creaking sound woke him up. Dressed in his typical shinobi uniform— Kaji spun his chair around in a slow, bond villain reveal, expecting an aide but only finding a pleasant change: the orange cat. “Ah, hello little one” Kaji greeted the feline with a smile and relaxing tones as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. “You caught me in a little cat nap” admitted Kaji, so coyly. He then reached out to stroke the cat’s forehead with a softly grasping hand, like a reward for the stealthy deliver he offered.

A moment passed as Kaji took the delivery cat’s note— Kaji grew a more genuine look of glee and intrigue as Yuii seemed to be about something mischievous with the sudden message. “Oh ho ho ♪” he chimed with a slight redness on his cheeks, excited at the prospect of an adventure the way a normal man might have been excited for an impromptu message that read “I’m home alone, come over.” So Kaji began to pack up his things but paused when he noticed the cat still sitting at the desk, staring stubbornly. “Oh sorry, I almost forgot,” Kaji said before dipping into a drawer to receive a small, ribbon-tied sack of catnip. “For your trouble my friend,” he said before placing it on the table. The cat was satisfied and made an agreeing meow, then snatched the parcel and made a quiet exit.

---

Excited for the rendezvous, Kaji stopped by the bungalow at the forest’s edge and packed his usual travel bag worthy of a standard adventure. He spent a moment changing from the typical uniform to his personal attire. When he arrived on the forest trail riding atop his sunan mare, Kukki, Kaji was dressed in a mixture of earth-toned leathers, and midnight blue cotton slacks. Kukki was in just as good of spirits as she delivered her rider, and offered a warm whine once she spotted Yuii around the boulder. Instinctually, the chocolate-hued mare came to a slow stop beside Yuii’s own steed, and Kaji dismounted with relative ease.

“You should know I’m always right on time for an adventure” Kaji said in response to Yuii's greeting and mention of timing. He then gravitated towards her for the few paces it took. He resisted the urge to give her a warm embrace and did so easily as she coolly got to business, mentioning the purpose of their foray into the deep woods. Once Yuii so cheekily mentioned not wanting to take the safe route Kaji seemed a bit more concerned than normal. “Well, normally I’d be all for plunging into the unknown Blue; that’s all me— for sure,” he admitted, albeit nervously, trying not to spoil the mood by being overprotective of his Bluebird. How long would she try to keep the inevitable discussion off the table? With a bead of sweat, Kaji continued to play along with her non-pregnant charade. “Lead the way, hun.” Instead of whining, Kaji accepted Yuii's plan and bit his tongue, if only to see her eager smile. While Blue was trying to keep her little secret, Kaji found himself spending way too much time developing one of his own, secretly compiling a list of names for consideration.

“Oh, umm, I also brewed us some tea before I left,” Kaji said in response to Yui's excitement about hot chocolate. “Two hot thermoses are in my bag; yanno’, if you want to lay off some of the caffeine for a while. Have you tried red raspberry leaf before? They say it's very good for, umm, uh,” and then he pursed his lips, drumming fingers over them as he almost spoke that forbidden p-word. Attempting to distract himself, Kaji went to confiscate the extra saddlebags he presumed to be for Kukki, who’d easily handle the extra load.

And so Kaji kept an almost awkward silence as Yuii was especially talkative during the start of their sudden adventure. Kaji mostly offered her smiles or winks as responses, and the occasional “oh” or “mhm” to confirm his reactions and agreements. He didn’t seem too off-color for the behavior since he honestly did enjoy listening to her ramble more often than not. Their journey was underway, and they were riding on their tandem horses when Yui's tale about a unique comet came to a stop, and she clumsily climbed down from her steed. Apparently, saddle soreness was getting the best of her. Kaji had to hide his laughter, though he understood that everything must have been a pain or hassle for her at the time being. He almost wished her burden was something they could take turns with, or that he could just bear for her instead. “Aww, try not to over-exert yourself Blue,” he said as he hopped down from Kukki’s back and approached her. “Saddle soreness is no joke. Maybe when we break for camp tonight I’ll give you a massage— how’s that sound? You’ve been seeming a little uncomfortable lately, and I read about some techniques that might relieve you a bit.” His eyebrows perked as he considered the typical implications that meant. Now that they were a bit deeper into the grandness that was the ancient forest, they were secure enough to get closer. Kaji slipped a hand around her waist softly, encouraging and engaging her new curves. All the meanwhile Yuii said something peculiar, heavily dropping a hint for the first time to something that must have been lurking in their minds for quite some time. His face warmed to a red shade as he looked down at her in green-to-blue-eyed eyed contact, which then trailed down to the beautiful curve of their child in her womb. “Heh, I’m down to tie the knot,” he answered, mimicking her nonchalance in case she really was joking; then he pecked at her forehead and rubbed her belly for good luck as if she were a golden Buddha statue. “Been thinking about it, I guess— Yuii Okada or Kaji Kagetsu… how does this work in the Lightning country?”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

At Kaji's offer, a smile played across her face that was easy to translate into an eager 'yes'. There was a piercing pain in her back that never seemed to go away and by the days end her entire body was sure to be in some level of discomfort. A massage sounded amazing even at that moment, and Yuii was fully prepared to take him up on the offer that evening. It had been a long time since they had spent an entire night outside together. This time it wouldn't just be a hole in the ground, though. They could have a good, roaring fire, a dry, warm tent enough of a layer between them and the earth it could be called comfortable. Already she could smell the wood smoke, imagine the stars blanketing the sky and feel Kaji's hands easing away the day's labour. The last was made easier with his embrace; if only the morning sun and the days work could go faster. The long ride ahead was going to be taxing and just a little frustrating. Especially now.

In all her planning of the day, Yuii had not once considered such a haphazard proposal. A blush to match his own rose from the depths as what she had done sunk in., The words had simply blundered out in what was becoming dangerously frequent slip-ups she strained to explain each time they happened. There were few moments in one's life that were meant to be as romantic and memorable as a proposal, and Yuii had wanted to wait until at least that night when the worst of the day was behind them. Yet, as she briefly considered brushing off the requested marriage as a joke, she realised it couldn't have happened any other way. This, like everything else that sat on the tip of her tongue, would have gone unsaid until forced out by circumstance- if ever. They didn't have time for that.

Despite the abruptness of the subject, Kaji was quick to agree. It was a nice change from the pragmatic exchange when they had discussed living together. Maybe this time he believed she had thought the idea through. Because she had as he would soon come to discover; probably a little too well.

"Good." she answered succinctly, leaning into his arms to absorb the kiss to her forehead like a flower in the sun. The hand to her belly gained a small exhale of surprise, though she didn't protest or move away. "The first one has a nice ring to it and I never liked the other. Besides..." From early days she had insisted on being called 'just Yuii' so often that it sometimes felt like the entirety of her name. On formal occasions where the request could not be vocalized, she had grinned and watched unhappily as the power of being associated with her clan took hold of the situation. With the change, she could be free of all that and instead feel like her name reflected the most important part of her life. Her, Kaji and...

With a crafty smile, she took up his hand and pressed against the side of her abdomen in the spot she knew would work. Seconds passed, then came a now familiar flutter of motion that danced against Kaji's palm. Yuii watched for her reaction, then grinned broadly, "The idea of something so perfect being stamped with their mark, legitimate or not, feels like an affront to this whole love affair. " Once again, it was a bit abrupt, but they were moving with enough momentum to make up for months past now and she didn't want to stop, "I don't want to go back to Kumogakure without being your wife. There really is a temple, but before that, we could cut through the forest, take a pass, head anywhere and..."

 

[Okada Kaji]

For all the talk of runes, temples, and secretive excursions, Yuii had Kaji expecting an entirely different kind of adventure that day. Ultimately, life itself was the greatest adventure of all— but this sudden, life-changing foray was like an exclamation at the tail end of one chapter, and the start of another with the woman who had become so essential to Kaji Okada. So suddenly, their idea of love became something meant to last forever, and they were both so sure that they could confirm their intentions on a whim.

With a guiding hand, Yuii moved Kaji’s touch on her belly bump to the perfect spot, and there he’d feel his first kick from their love child. The sensation overtaking him was as great as any physical blow and consumed his thoughts like a genjutsu ravaging his mind. The pride, love, and most of all the anxiousness were all too much to bear; a storm of emotion that even exceeded the limits of his years of training in the ways of stoicism. Yuii would never see Kaji cry, but a layer of sheen over the white of his eyes suggested that the floodgates were at peak capacity. He held them back though if only to remain the absolute image of the man that Yuii Kagetsu— soon to be Okada, adored.

Yes, she wanted that name— that title of lowly rice farmers and lumberers from the hills of Akatsuchi in the Land of Earth. To Kaji, the Okada name was always just a root grounding him to his humble beginnings, but now, Kaji found a new bond in sharing his surname for the creation of his Okada family: a man, a woman, and their first child. “You want to be my wife, and you’ve given me so much already” Kaji answered, nearly weak in his tone. “There has been a fire inside of me since the day we met, and each day thereafter has been so much brighter. And now, you’re giving me a child.”

Keeping only his pinky and ring fingers intertwined with hers, Kaji pulled her forward gently, seeking to just walk with Yuii until she was ready to ride her horse again. The obedient steeds would follow along to the rear of the couple. “To the temple or to a comfortable patch of grass— it matters nonetheless; I want to go where your heart lays,” Kaji said. Exuding the most confident trust in Yui's plan for their journey, Kaji threw his caution into the wind and would have followed her to the farthest reaches of their dangerous world if she willed it. “Let’s go, Blue.”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

Yuii let herself be pulled forward at a steady pace, her face a mask of joy. The comfortable pace into the unknown was a happy metaphor for the changes their lives were about to see, and the beauty of it did not escape Yuii. She squeezed his fingers tight and admired the profile of man she had desired and adored from their first unexpected meeting. The feelings she had for him were a heavy, warm blanket that wrapped around her tightly in a comforting embrace of emotion she fought hard to never say aloud. Certainly, their passionate moments were sparkling, star-like jewels that amassed a hoard that could make any dragon envious, but it was the comfortable, gentle moments that she lived for. In a world gone mad with violence, in a profession that could see them dead any day, knowing that there was another soul who wanted her completely was the greatest gift. "Grass? Don't be silly, you're my heart." she laughed, teetering forward to give his stubbled chin a kiss, "that's why I'll always come home to you."

In that moment, the familiar spark of mischief alit in Yuii's eye as the desire to create another diamond moment bubbled to the surface. However, good sense prevailed, and she instead drew his hand up and around her shoulder, "I wish we could stop awhile," she admitted, looking longingly at the forest, "but its better if we keep going forward right now." Her hand sought out and massaged the lizard tattoo beneath his shirt like he had done to her belly. Her body grew tense as she pondered the road ahead, then the one behind, "They've been suspicious." They were obviously her clan, Yuii knew she didn't need to explain as much. Kaji would have already noticed the way one of the Kagetsu seemed to be everywhere Yuii was sure to be lately. There had been entire nights she had been unable to return home because of the dogging. It had only been their caution that had seen her through. "They might follow. Depends on how convincing I've been." Like the rough horse ride from Kumo, Yuii had taken too many risks in exchange for throwing her wolfish cousins off her trail. It was beginning to feel like one too many. Their little one was too precious to risk to the prejudice of old blood.

"I'm sick of pretending," she sighed, pressing closer, "It took a while to really let it sink in that we are having a child. I could ignore the sickness, explain away the roundness, and I think had our little one not grown tired of it and began practising taijutsu on my pelvis, I would have kept doing it. Ever since I woke up to the situation, I've been consumed with puzzling out how to cope with all the change that is about to happen. I realised that there was no way we could continue to hide our relationship without jeopardizing it, and nothing to gain from placating people that will never do more than tolerate me." Another sigh and Yuii curled herself as best she could against Kaji's side while still keeping pace, "I guess I'm trying to apologise for being horrible and worrying you the last few months. It was difficult to let the meaning of our drunken decision sink in, but I've never once regretted it. I guess I'm kind of exc-"

From the direction of Kumogakure, the sound of horses echoed through the trees. Every muscle in Yuii's small body tensed at the sound. It could have been anyone, but that was the problem. "Can I ride with you on Kukki? I picked Kuni because of shes docile, but I'm afraid she'd get left behind." If it were up to Yuii she would never get on a horse again, but the anxiety she felt at that moment was enough to get her back into a saddle and moving on.

 

[Okada Kaji]

And so they were carrying on down the winding dirt path, one surrounded by tall weeds peeking up from fresh snow and curvy hills. The ancient forest was a symphony of nature: babbling brooks, chirping birds, and the occasional rustle of scurrying woodland creatures. This atmosphere and all its wintry splendor was just a backdrop to the portrait of the loving duo and their trotting mares. Winter’s kiss created steam from their every breath but the warmth of their embrace drove the cold away. Kaji’s arm draped over Yuii's shoulder was better than the comfort any scarf could provide, and in their closeness, they made a hearth of bodily contact.

Despite the boost of morale they gained, the road was still long and it would just become unbearable as the sun sailed towards the horizon. Thinking forward, the immediate future seemed copiously promising. “Mhm, the farther we go, the greater the reward,” Kaji promised. “We’ll continue going to a point where the Kagetsu can’t follow; farther than they can chase.” And the road to that place came with rises and falls, just like their journey as a pair. Together they took on the steep hills, graceful when working as one. In truth, Kaji couldn’t have asked for more: transparency after many months of keeping their obvious secrets. Yuii provided a glimpse into how frightening it must have been to keep her pregnancy a secret, as if she thought the knitted sweaters would lie for her. “Drunken decision…” Kaji lingered on the words. “Really? ‘The Raikage’s congratulatory henny,” Kaji realized the night which brought this beautiful change; a slippery when wet affair sponsored by top shelf liquor. He couldn’t help but smile for a moment, glowing and with his ears hot and blushing. “That means I started noticing pretty early on. ‘Gotta admit you had me worried here and there… but, this wasn’t easy for you and I knew you weren’t ready to talk about it. There were so many times that I wanted to say— no, do something, but— well, that’s behind us. Don’t worry about it, we’ll take the rest of this journey in stride, together.”

“I’ll carry you if you’d like, just say the word.” Kaji gradually spoke softly in an alluring tone then, aiming to loosen the tension. “We’ll make a proper camp for the night… get a roaring fire going, and then butter the pan… See about a helping of panini—” Kaji’s crooning came to a sudden halt as a rotting log cracked under a heavy footfall. Keen shinobi ears knew the sounds well; the thunder of hooves drawing near, only delayed by the difficult terrain of the dense forest. "... Action."

Yuii's idea of taking Kaji’s steed was sound and preferred, however, there was still an opportunity to be found in Yuii's loner mare, Kuni. Kaji faced his beloved Blue and urged her. “Quickly, we’ll divert them with clones” Kaji bade her as he crossed his hands to mold and refine chakra. A sudden burst of steam yielded an exact duplicate of Kaji formed purely from chakra. The clone-Kaji held out an eager hand, seeking a soul mate of his own as he and the true Kaji urged Yuii to supply them with her own doppelganger. Once the pairs were complete, the faux coupled would climb onto Kuni while Kaji sought to assist Yuii in hurriedly mounting Kukki first. Kaji locked his hands together it order to offer a sturdy support for Yuii in climbing onto Kukki’s long saddle. For a riding horse of Kukki’s rare caliber, toting Kaji along with the featherweight Yuii was an easy task. The horse practically started on her own the moment Kaji jumped over her haunches.

The power of Kaji’s sunan mare on the run was uncanny; Kukki was an incredible creature who easily defended her master’s dedication to riding her over any other kind of animal companion or simple mount. Her elegant stride sent cool wind careening past them. Streaks of silky blue strands flowed into Kaji’s face yet Kaji had never seen the road ahead so clearly. “I have you,” the rider said reassuringly, treating Yuii like precious cargo as he pressed against her from behind and took the leather reigns, reaching around her middle curves to grasp them. “I have you” he repeated with rushed breath and a racing heart as they moved in an impossibly fast gallop. “Give us something to cut off the path, and I’ll make sure we lose ‘em.”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

Even as she flew into the same handseals and produced her twin for Kaji's clone's embrace, Yuii felt a pang of guilt to be sending her docile mare off to fate. Her face creased with worry as she left Kaji's side for only a moment to retrieve and stuff three small items into her coat pocket. Kuni didn't belong to Yuii, they'd made no bond, but she knew the owners would miss her dearly if the worst were to happen. If her cousins were to find the mare, they might injure her while taking down the decoys, or worse. Silently she sent a prayer to one of the more benevolent gods to look after Kuni, she gave the horse one last fond pat that signalled for the clone to begin their ruse and hurried to mount with Kaji.

Thoughts of her long gone mount fled as Yuii's world narrowed to the warmth of Kaji's torso on her back and breath at her ear, the far-off thunder of hooves and balancing her weight just right to avoid stabbing pain. Compared to Kuni, Kukki was a smooth ride, but every wrong move made her muscles protest. And yet it was worth it to be as far away as quickly as they could be. Perhaps she had been hasty in her reaction. Perhaps the horses were another squad of shinobi sent out unbeknownst to her. Perhaps in fleeing they looked more guilty than they would have keeping pace. She had been careful, so careful, yet, Yuii could not shake the protective, paranoid voice that nagged her to beg Kaji to make Kukki ride faster. If that was even possible.

Against her better judgement, she opened her mouth to call for an end to their gruelling pace but was stopped. The familiar release of chakra as one of her maintained jutsus ended its short life pulled at her chest. The clones were dead, or at least hers was. With wide eyes, she turned slightly to exchange a look of concern with her courageous lover. "I'll try," she responded, showing no encumberment as she twisted in Kaji's arms enough to peer back on the road they had come. She could see a trio of riders now, tact and dressed in familiar coloured cloaks that made her heart sink. Her instincts had known all along; her clan had sent pursuit.

Inexplicably, the three black stallions her three family members rode upon were keeping pace. Yuii sucked a breath between her teeth, hugged herself against Kaji's neck, and rose her hand to bid her chakra to form her first Genjutsu. "Three riders," she explained, fighting with her chakra to form properly. As the genjutsu took hold, the closest steed shrieked suddenly and careened with its rider off the roadway into the forest as if attacked by wolves. She heard the other two shouting obscenities she could only guess at as they realised the source of the disturbance. "Now two," Yuii reported her jaw setting. The second jutsu was trickier, it required seals, but with Kaji's steadying hands she was able to bring her own together in the familiar flurry of motions. Again, her chakra fought back as she forced to shape to her will. The earth between them and pursuit began to quake and shift, catching the second rider off-guard and sending them and mount to the ground. Yuii winced at the barely audible cracking of bone. "One left."

A flash of metal from beneath the remaining rider's cloack was all the warning they would get as wire linked grappling hook was shot at Kaji's vulnerable back. Yuii reacted before she thought and moved her arm to protect her love, and managed a surprised scream as like a ravenous beast, the hooks clamped onto her flesh. Yuii could see the glee in her clansman's eyes as she screamed again as their forward motion was reversed. "Brace!"

 

[Okada Kaji]

Somewhere between the peril and rushing adrenaline, Kaji’s lip began to curve into an untimely grin, and his eyes opened wide with excitement. This kind of danger wasn’t meant to be enjoyed, yet, as they fled Kaji was feeling a similar sensation to what he might have in the thrills of passion. There was no time to question his sanity for this, only natural instinct: snapping Kukki’s reigns and gripping his beloved Yuii for dear life. They were racing along a most-uninviting course through the deep woods with high obstacles to leap over, and sharp turns with devastating penalties of the horse failed to make them. Occasional low-hanging branches thrashed them like whips as they darted through the most untamed, unwelcoming paths. It was a lesser-known route which transcended the ancient forest and led to the dense wilderness which formed a natural barricade north of the Hidden Cloud.

“How are they possibly keeping up” Kaji asked rhetorically, clearly frustrated as the opposing riders managed to keep a bead on them. It pained him to challenge his horse this way; racing on such an unforgiving terrain. Kukki was powerful— there was no doubting that, but she was being put through her paces with exhaustion rearing its ugly head.

By the time the traces of their clones dispersed, it became clear that fleeing would not be a viable clan. These attackers weren’t proving to be too much of a challenge for Yuii though, as she quickly punished two of the three enemy riders. “Incredible” Kaji remarked, feeling Yuii's efforts to weave jutsu despite her stringle just to remain on the saddle. She was twisting awkwardly just to have a shot on their enemies, and the ride was already painfully difficult before the mad dash. Kaji kept arm wrapped around her, attempting to hug her to him in an effort to reduce her wild bouncing, but even he too was being thrashed by the reckless ride.

But then there was one. The last Kagetsu rider aimed some kind of contraption, or so it must have been as a gleaming silver object shot out with a wire attached worthy of taking flight. Focused onto their path with tunnel vision— Kaji was left exposed, and so Yuii pulled herself around him, almost dislodging Kaji in her effort to shield him. “This can’t be” lamented Kaji as he knew what was happened; Yuii’s desperate action, and then that gory sound of something piercing flesh with a wet thud. The sound of her agony racked Kaji’s eardrum— his heart ached thrice as bad, but neither compared to the real pain of Yuii's devastation. Kaji held onto Yuii with all of his worth then, refusing to let her slip from his arms from the pull of that barbaric contraption. He pulled back on Kukki’s reigns desperately, almost causing the beast to fall back as she resisted forward momentum so drastically. Life suddenly fell into slow motion.

There was no time to gather Eelspine in his grasp, instead Kaji lost his grasp on the reigns with one hand, leaving his other arm to both hold onto Yuii and the horse. His wiry arm flexed with maximum tension. His freed hand reached across himself, over Yuii as if he were hugging her for dear life, but he was actually reaching for the handle of a dagger strapped to his shoulder for such occasions. In one fluid motion, Kaji unsheathed a blade carved from a shard of obsidian and swung it backwards to sever the cable attached to his beloved Blue. With a snap she was freed, albeit still in immense pain.

“I’ll kill them” Kaji roared, “I’ll kill them all,” showing an off-color, unhinged rage. But the sounds of misery from Yuii and the red sanguine fluid quickly painted the couple left Kaji’s mind blurred, struggling between anger and compassion. There was no time for a last-stand, Kaji knew. There was only enough time for one decisive stroke of vengeance. So like a driver whipping the wheel, Kaji commanded Kukki to hook a sharp left up a hill which went nowhere, suddenly closing the gap between them and the pursuer. So eager to take one life, Kaji flipped that black dagger in his hands and flung it with an axe chop motion. The damned thing was set on a straight course, sailing without even the slightest spin as it landed squarely within the eye slit of the masked pursuer. “Die slow, you bastard” grunted Kaji as he took in the sight of the ride falling off the back of his steed, and rolling in the mud. The horse he rode continued running in no direction, in particular, just darting away.

With the last rider down, it seemed as if the chase might have been off, at least for the time being. Either way, they couldn’t risk venturing on without tending to Yuii's wound first; pain aside, the traumatic blood loss would serve a risk to the child as well. “Oh my love” Kaji whispered to Yuii as he swaddled her with affection, “you were amazing… again you spared me from death’s grasp.” Not wasting time, Kaji dismounted and hurried to aid Yuii in getting off of the horse, even carrying her if she allowed him to take her away from the trail. “I know we may not have much time to spare, but we are so far from the village now that it’ll take them some time to send another party— if they’ll even bother making more sacrifices... I’ll patch you up in no time, don’t worry.”

And so, using just a bit of his hunting wisdom Kaji delivered Yuii to the first suitable clearing he could find. It was a spot far enough from the wooded trail to not be a dead giveaway at night if they had a fire roaring, and safe enough to not make them prime targets for natural predators. With the sun dipping on the horizon, Kaji knew they’d most-likely set up camp here unless Yuii absolutely insisted on pushing forward. Honestly, Kaji hoped the Kagetsu would be brazen enough to try them again, yet he doubted they’d stage anything during the night. Few foes stood a chance against him in a dense forest in the dead of night.

Kukki stood by as their idle witness as Kaji set a blanket down on a firm log and aided Yuii to a seat. “Have you ever had a wound like this before, babe?” He bothered asking her, but had a presuming tone and prepared a knot of cloth for her to bite down on. “The hook’s still lodged in there it's blocking some of the bleeding. You’ll have to keep still while I extract the hook or else it’ll get worse. I’ve been working on my healing techniques since that time I healed Xia, so this will be a cinch to fix.”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

As with Kaji, time slowed for Yuii. Her field of vision narrowed on the rider, who was pulling hard on his steed's reigns. The wire connected to the two hooks in her flesh grew taunt. Every muscle in her body contracted as she held onto her lover in an attempt to desperately to keep herself aloft on Kukki. Her arm wrenched painfully away from her body as the rider and his horse made the hard stop she had predicted in screech. Her shoulder made a sudden, telltale pop as it pulled free from its socket, and the hooked flesh stretched and gushed streams of blood. Despite Kaji's strong grip, she felt she would slip any second. With her arm caught and the inability to make hand seals to summon her own weapon, Yuii readied herself to do the only thing she could for Kaji; let go.

A breath before she let her grip slip, Kaji made his move.

Light flashed on a blade Yuii hadn't been aware he carried, and the tension on her arm suddenly stopped. With a small squeal of pain and relief, her arm swung lifeless like a hooked salami, slapping down against her side with momentum. It was strange, she could feel where her fingers brushed Kukki's coat but each time she tried to summon up the muscles in her arms, they refused to move. Damp trails of blood trailed down her skin, but the pain radiated so fiercely from her shoulder that her arm barely throbbed. As Kaji drew Kukki around, Yuii could only try and hold on with her one good arm and pray.

There were moments in life that one never forgot, and for Yuii, this would be one she carried into the afterlife. Kaji's rage knocked her breath away. Such power and emotion, and all just because harm had fallen on her. It was one thing to know you were loved, but another to witness the full emotion through action. And yet, as the same blade buried deep in the socket of her relative, Yuii wished he'd held back.

Ishiyo would have her skinned alive now.

Numbly, as if the world had become an old black and white film, she watched their attacker's body fall and the horse, confused by the loss of direction, dart off into the trees. There was not so much a twitch of arm or leg as they tumbled like a sack of potatoes, sending weapons and scrolls scattering across the roadway. With his end, she felt the last gate slam on her chance of ever scraping together the semblance of a relationship with her clan and relatives. They would know who had caused this, they would know she had killed one of their own, it didn't matter who had thrown the blade. This moment would be unforgivable.

Doe eyed and in minor shock, Yuii didn't protest as Kaji helped her down from Kukki. Between the turmoil of loss and the ungodly pain in her arm, Yuii felt like a dying flower in the wind. She was clinging helplessly to the last strong root tied to Kaji, just trying to weather through so she could recover. Though it hurt to jostle her arm, and a tiny part of her wanted to let Kaji carry her, Yuii stubbornly and wordlessly insisted on finding her own feet and trudging from the path with minimal aid. Walking was a blur, however, and she was surprised to find themselves sitting in a tiny, hidden glade that felt decidedly safe. Slowly Kaji's words penetrated the pain and odd sorrow that had a choke hold on her mind.

"The other two aren't dead, and there is whoever chased Kuni" Yuii answered in an exhausted sigh while easing down onto the blanket by Kaji's hand. Even in her stupor, the stubborn kunoichi knew they couldn't go much further without tending to her arm. Once their forward motion had stopped though, Yuii knew continuing would be difficult. Her belly has turned solid with a painful contraction brought on by adrenaline and stress. She needed to breath, relax, lest they see their child too early.

That was not something she would tell Kaji; he'd only worry.

With a thought Yuii created a small blade not unlike the one Kaji had thrown at her dead relative but made of nothing solid, to then cut away the thin quilted fabric of her jacket sleeve. The thin shirt below followed the outer layer to reveal her hook torn forearm. Yuii grimly watched as Kaji looked over her arm, focusing on the coat hanger hook sized steel barbed weapon lodged firmly by one of three hooks in her arm.

"Once before." she admitted to his question with a tired half-smile, "You'd better tie it off too. There is as likely to be poison as there isn't. Probably paralytic. Depends on how hard they were trying to catch or- or kill us." Her vision swam, and for a moment she thought she might be sick, "C-can you put my shoulder back in too? Thank the gods one of us can heal, we'd be lost without you."

Yuii fell silent, peering at her good hand resting on the swell of her belly as Kaji worked on the other. As she was, even as a master genjutsu user, Yuii was limited to slow casting a few choice jutsu, and her innate strengths. Hardly nothing, but in their current danger she may as well have been a swaddled baby. "I was careful," she insisted at Kaji without prompt, "I was so, so careful. She couldn't have known. I wouldn't have endangered our child like this. When she finds out there will be hell to pay now. I just don't know how she could have known."

Wide blue eyes searched Kaji's face for answers, hoping he could offer an explanation he couldn't have had. "The body! You have to destroy the body. There can't be any trace left. If she can prove we killed one of my cousins sh- I feel sick," Vision swimming again, she pressed her palm to her lips as the content of her stomach began to turn sour again. With some long, deep breaths, the increasingly distressed pregnant woman avoided spewing up in her love's lap, but only just. Shamefully, her lunch met the first leaf bare bush her feet could get her to, so long as Kaji let her arm go long enough to let her.

"I'm scared," her small for hunched forward as her stomach lurched threateningly again, "please. The body. I wont be able to relax until its gone. Please Kaji."

 

[Okada Kaji]

Soft touches and scanning eyes revealed the severity of Yuii’s wounds. She was soldiering through a horrid combination of traumas to her arm, but risking a chance of going into shock as all the factors of her injury and experience were too much to help all at once. Kaji was eerily quiet as he went through the steps of analyzing and determining how to aid her, rushing to do everything in his power to relieve her pain and save her life. Her arm was still gushing blood, no-doubt struck through an artery by the hook, which was still reaching through her delicately-designed appendage like meat in a butchery. Kaji was in a race to cure the poisoning— symptoms quickly surfacing, in addition to stopping the bleeding rapidly draining her life force. Kaji didn’t even have time to think about her shoulder, and her cries about the dead body long behind them had Kaji fighting to focus so that he might save her. But he couldn’t ignore her— not with panic threatening to seize her into shock.

“Forget about the body, I’ll take care of it,” he said in an assertive, hushing tone. “Don’t worry about our pursuers, I’ll handle that— handle it all in due time, I promise— let’s just focus on you and the baby first. I’m going to stitch you back together, my sweet girl.” His voice became low and cooing as he worked to reach beyond the pain, prioritizing an effort to stave the bleeding first. “Bite down on this for me” he bade her while taking a glove off and rolling it into a leathery knot. Kaji was never as careful as when he focused the chakra into his finger-tips. He pinched the barbed hook until he snapped the ends and created an object smooth enough to push through without worsening her agony. The process, though fast, was almost as agonizing to Kaji’s psyche as the pain was to his beloved. He had to fight the urge to cry out apologies as his actions felt confusing as if he were torturing her with this necessary evil. It was simpler to finish pushing the hook through the other side than pulling it out, so Kaji worked tediously to extract the wicked blade through Yuii's arm until it fell to the ground, bloody red.

The most gruesome part of it all was finished, yet that was also the simplest part. Now the shinobi-turned-surgeon was faced with his lover’s mangled arm, far beyond those first-aid strategies he learned so long ago. Were it anyone else Kaji would have had a simple solution within his capabilities, but just a glance into those crystal eyes jeopardized Kaji’s ability to do what came to mind— remove the arm. No, not his beloved and mother of his child; he could never mutilate the one he loved. But removing the arm meant stopping the spread of poison, and a simple stub to repair with healing jutsu in his limited repertoire. But then Kaji remembered that evening they spent together with the monk, Xia, in a cave Yuii dug at the summit of the Soaring Thunder. Kaji did know a means to save Yuii just as he saved Xia, but he was missing the influence of Bhelzira’s healing salve now, meaning he’d have to go a step farther to replicate the process.

“Your lives are precious” whispered Kaji as he took Yuii's good hand in his and rested them on her belly. His pair of emerald eyes closed tightly as he focused. It was a poor time to meditate, yet Kaji focused on the cold wind passing over them and the sounds of nature so vast and darkening. He was quietly searching, revealing himself as an ethereal presence interacting with the weave of chakra which sewed the fabric of life and death… innocence and chaos in nature. Kaji was frozen in the passing seconds, but then a release of painful reaction from his beloved would snap Kaji back to reality. His eyes snapped wide open and he took a heavy breath of the cold rushing into his lungs, burning. There in the distance, he saw that familiar creature, The White Stag marching in a thicket.

Boney white antlers reached skyward from its head with perfect curvature and were faintly lined with angelic white fur. There was a different kind of intelligence staring back at the human through it’s big, beautiful eyes. Black pools that focused intently on the shinobi and their peril. The creature was a perfected blend of a powerful, yet sleek and graceful design. It stood tall over the green earth and would have towered over the two shinobi by comparison. It inspired growth in nature with its every step as grass and earth-sunken roots reached upwards as it passed, penetrating the veil of white snow. Just as quickly as it emerged, the mystical creature fled, but Kaji took no time to reflect as a sensation swept over him: renewed power.

“As the guardian of these realms, I suppose you too are in my purview, my love” Kaji said, suddenly glowing with a new presence of magical energy. He was as warm as a summer day, and looked over Yuii, touching her softly on the cheek as his new power graced her as well from his touch. She could feel his warmth, feel assured, and should have felt safe, even though it was only Kaji who began to transform into his ascended state as the Sage of One Thousand Scales. The pupils of his emeraldine eyes changed into a reptilian shape, and red pigmentation formed distinguished marks which spread between his eyes to the bridge of his nose. The red pigmentation began to spread around his neckline and down across his body, appearing on the bare hand which became hardened by dense scales over his knuckles. “It’s because of you that I was able to accept this power” Kaji revealed to Yuii as he placed his hand on her injury. Swathing green light glowing between the couple came with healing where Kaji touched Yuii, magically sewing her arm back together and reversing the damage of that piercing hook, slowly but surely. Even her shoulder popped back into place as the order was restored to her body. This power was unlike anything normal men could produce, both healing Yuii and flourishing the nature around them, just as The White Stag had done when it appeared. The scent of blood was replaced by the aroma of wildflowers sprouting from the snow.

“You’ve made me strive to be a better person, Yuii… even denounce parts of myself I thought to be essential and inescapable. ‘When I realized you were with child I also realized that I needed to let go of my past in order to make room for the future, and this began with the removal of my curse seal… And look at just what the curse was keeping me from: the power to protect you— to protect everything.” He could feel the power of his senjutsu as it wiped away her pain, all as if it were healing Kaji himself— the depth of their bond was allowing Kaji to heal her as if they were one. But, with his senses so heightened by the powers of his ascendence, and his bond to Yuii so strong, he could feel more happening with her. How incredible was this power— the blessing of the White Stag— his lizard kin of the Hidden Oasis— and the gift of life?

“She’s coming,” Kaji said, looking to Yuii and down to her womb. Their connection was deeper now than ever before, to a point she must have realized by now as well. Kaji decided, “I will call upon Bhelzira to aid us, then I will deal with the fallen, and thwart anyone who dares to disturb us tonight.” He then placed that hand used to hold Yuii's hand over her heart and emanated another flurry of the chakra he attained from nature’s blessing. It flowed into Yuii, sharing the incredible gift and vitality with her in her time of need and even more importantly, delivered a healing pulse which eradicated any traces of poison left from the hook. “I promise we have never been safer than we are right now; the birth of our child has been blessed by nature itself.”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

In quick succession, Yuii found herself back on the blanket and under Kaji's care. Her mouth, fuzzy from the contents of her lunch, was washed away by a small bottle of water still deep in her pocket from the early months. For the baby and her lover, she was trying to relax but Kaji's reassurance had the opposite effect. Image of that body sitting on the hill where it had fallen against the snow with Kaji's dagger sticking straight up from it's masked eye plagued her mind and body. Yuii's stomach felt knotted, like she has swallowed a stone that had tangled its way into her intestines. Had there been anything left in her stomach she was certain she would be sick again.

It wasn't his fault, the detached reasonable part of her soothed as Yuii bit down on the offered glove, the extent of the Kagetsu's brutality wasn't public knowledge. He couldn't have known how much danger they were in, how angry Ishiyo would be to lose a favored offspring, how very long her aunt could hold a grudge. If the clan matron could easily prove that Yuii or Kaji had killed one of her own, she would twist it into a metaphorical dagger to maim and destroy everything they cared about in life. Yuii knew, she had watched it happen before.

Yuii had been six when she and her fellow unmarried cousins above the age of five had been woken up in the dead of night and summoned before Ishiyo. She could remember the confusion as they peered among each other trying to figure out what had happened. Who had stepped out of line? Who was Ishiyo 'this' angry with? Only the eldest had a grim, quiet expression that Yuii knew now meant they had known what was coming and who of their number was missing.

At the snap of Ishiyo's fingers, an adolescent no older than sixteen was led in by her elbow. She was bloody and bruised with a swollen lip, purple eye and a pronounced limp. Her clothing was dirty, like she had been dragged through the mud, and it hung over her stomach in a pronounced bump. Tear tracks were clear on her cheeks, though none still flowed as she looked between the four dozen children who watched her silently.

On Ishiyo's order, the ragged girl had fallen to her knees and begun to ramble out her story. The exact words were lost to her, Yuii had just been a child, but bits had stuck with her from then on. Hana, who Yuii had not recognized until she spoke, had formed a relationship with a man that was not her chosen fiance. She had become pregnant, even planned to elope with him when the clan had discovered her. The baby would be sent to a monastery, it could not be Kagetsu, ties to her lover would be severed, and charges would be layed against him. Hana would marry once she had recovered and would dedicate herself to the clan. She would not be allowed to take missions that took her outside of the village. "Nothing is worth going against the word of the clan."

Yuii had later learned that Hana was forced to claim the baby was a product of attack, that there had been no relationship. The clan sought compensation, dragged the reputation of her baby's father through the mud along with his extended family. Their small business importing fruit was destroyed, all but the few tied to the village as shinobi left and her lover eventually committed suicide. Ishiyo made sure they all knew.

The event had been pushed back in Yuii's memory as she'd grown, however. It hadn't been until she'd begun to her own body changing that Hana's face began to haunt her. Yuii was terrified of what could happen. They were not mere children. They had connections to the most powerful man in Kumogakure. The corrupt council that had allowed such atrocities had been expelled after the death of Hayata Shin. Kumogakure was learning not to bend to the will of the clans like it once had. And yet, that would not stop her aunt. They couldn't make it easy for her; that body needed to be gone. They needed to purvail.

The hook punching through her skin refocused Yuii's senses, and she clamped hard against the leather glove. In a strange way, the poison was a kindness, she realized as metal was extracted from her mangled arm. The proper feeling had yet to return. And so, while there was pressure and pain (so much) it was muted and far away. If only she could slow the deep, gasping breaths, burning beneath her skin and settle her shaking hands that had gone beyond her control.

"Thank-you, Yuii whispered with a slight slur, daring to take the glove out as Kaji refocused on her shoulder. She could not see the extent of the damage, but knew it was worse than estimated just by Kaji's stormy, pained expression. Their eyes met, and her brows hooked upwards to silently ask what she feared to know. The gentle way he held her hand was her answer.

"Ih's alrigh'," words were becoming difficult and her breath felt short. Yuii let her head lull onto Kaji's shoulder as he meditated. Her face tucked close against his neck, and with one, long deep breath of citrus and leather, she calmed more than any reassuring word or gentle touch had managed. She wasn't even aware of the strangled whimper her own body produced as her shoulder began to burn more intensely.

What followed felt more like a dream than reality. From the forest stepped the most exquisite creature she had ever seen, a male, adult pairing to the little doe she had saved on the morning of before her first night with Kaji. Except the power it exuded and way the forest practically reached out to touch it spoke of a far deeper power. The last, sensible piece of her wondered if she was hallucinating.

The dream continued as Kaji's skinned warmed and began to glow like a gentle summers day. She squinted against the light and buried further against the tan flesh that emanated peace. Her breathing eased, and the tight pain in her belly released. She barely registered that his skin had hardened, but the sudden surge of healing power and the pop of of her shoulder returning to place was impossible to ignore. Even the scent of blood was gone.

"Oh," she sighed, stirring enough to peer up at Kaji from his shoulder. His transformation felt as much like a dream as the stag had, but it was impossible to ignore the renewed vitality in her body and hard scales beneath her cheek. "Oh," she repeated with more vitality. There was nothing more she could really thing to say in replay to such a love filled declaration. "Oh my love. Scales really suit you." A giggle burst out, surprising even Yuii, and she surged forward to steal a lingering kiss. "You know I love you."

Kaji's declaration of their infants imminent arrival snapped Yuii from her reverie. A well timed contraction spread across her abdomen, punctuating his point. It only lasted a minute, but it was more intense than any other she'd felt yet. "You're kidding." She groaned in the face of facts, "Don't say things like that. She can't be. It's too early and I-" Another wave of pain hit, knocking the breath from Yuii's lungs. She could only clutch at Kaji and breath until the pain stopped again.

"And what do you expect an egg layer to do?" Oniyuri hissed, slipping from the shadows as if she had been lingering there all along. She settled on her haunches and surveyed the scene with the eye of an expert. "He's not wrong. Your cub's arrival is imminent."

Yuii's breathing evened and she straightened enough to glare down the striped know it all. She began to stand, but wobbled and ended up on her hands and knees as another wave hit, "Yuri. Be nice t- ahhHH! Oh gods, This can't be happening. Not now. It isn't meant to be now. Heal me, make it stay in!"

Oniyuri just laughed and stretched out on the ground as if to watch. "Like you get a choice," she glanced over her claws, then fixed her yellow eyes on Kaji. "Cubs aren't born in a minute, unlike eggs. You have time. I've had two hundred of my own; you're in for a long night."

 

[Okada Kaji]

Their moment’s embrace was a symbol of the transition from one form of trouble to the next, as new pain replaced those wounds dealt by Yuii’s kin. Kaji wanted to feel elated and so full of joy that Yuii was safe from that peril, but as she held him so tightly, it was as if the pain of her contraction resonated into him as well. It was a side effect of his senjutsu, Kaji knew, one which made his head spin from how unnatural the blow felt. He bit his lip, grimaced, but kept the reaction to himself despite it confounding him at first. In fact, it even dulled his senses enough that he missed the sudden emergence of Yui's bestial companion; that cynical tigress, Oniyuri. The mountain of striped fur and claws came forward from the underbrush, which had Kukki neighing uncomfortably in turn. Absorbed by Yuii's state, Kaji was neglectful towards the tiger's arrival but soon proved to appreciate her. Oniyuri meant Yuii's absolute security if the night went poorly and Kaji’s suspicions that the Kagetsu would pull back proved false. And as Oniyuri began to provide Yuii her own brand of comforting, Kaji was able to separate himself from his lover long enough to focus on more tasks at hand.

The sun was escaping and with nightfall would come a winter chill too insufferable for the duo of humans, and even the horse and tiger if left exposed. The contractions left Yuii distracted enough that Kaji could prioritize his actions logically, and he arose from her side with the intention of building a campfire. “Always on time or always prowling, Oniyuri?” Kaji eyed the tiger and a smirk crossed his lips. “Keep her safe and warm while I set the camp and deal with a few loose ends.” He dared to issue the tigress a command knowing full-well that she usually took barters or did as she pleased, however, Kaji was certain that the tiger did not arrive on a whim solely to spectate. “I won’t be long,” Kaji said, looking to Yuii with a promising gaze.

The moment Kaji Okada climbed out of the pit they were calling a camp, Kukki took a step to cross his path as if she were expecting Kaji to climb onto her saddle. It was undoubtedly her fear of the tiger making her so ready to depart. “No, no girl,” Kaji bade the mare with a hushing and sweet tone. Leaving simply wasn’t an option, well, not for Kaji, which left him resolute to release his valiant steed from service for the night. “Its okay girl, we’re camping here tonight… It's going to be cold, so I want you to return to the stable where you can be comfier.” His words caused a protesting neigh and swinging head shake from the horse in protest, but Kaji patted the scruff of her neck and revealed the ivory chess knight figurine from a pocket beneath his jacket. “I’m sorry… you must go, Kukki; don’t worry, I’ll call you to me again come dawn if we ride.” The horse seemed obstinate to Kaji’s command, insisting on staying but he held up the figurine, forcing its magic to expel her from his presence with a reverse summoning. “She hates going home alone,” Kaji said with his back turned to Yuii and Oniyuri. Silver steam began to roll off of her with a faint phosphorescent glow until the mare faded from sight within it, vanished back to their bungalow at the great forest’s edge.

Kaji began a search which yielded some instant results as he hauled a fallen branch back to the camp with the smaller segments and leaves cut cleanly by Eelspine. Kaji sawed these pieces down at an even pace and gathered them into a neatly stacked pile, which fit perfectly at the center of their camp. With a few hand seals he manifested a unique arcanic jutsu for the first time that night, thoroughly dehydrating the moisture from the logs with a presence of focused, broiling chakra. The wood quickly reached its point of ignition, and a roaring campfire snapped into existence. Of all the vast natures of chakra, it was fire and its many variant forms which resonated with Kaji at his core— first learned and most mastered. The glow and warmth of the campfire turned their camp under the stars from a horrid experience into what would have been blissful if the situation wasn’t bordering extremes.

Now there was only one more matter keeping Kaji from being by the side of his beloved: the body. Keeping his word, he marched into the cover of darkness and stood over the body, which was now as chilled as dirt from winter’s grasp. First Kaji retrieved his dagger and wiped off the blood on the victim, who no longer had a reason to care. Afterwards, he continued his procedural search. Kaji found a small pouch jingling with a few coins, a dossier which included a pen-sketched portrait of Kaji, a vial of the same toxin he used to affect Yuii. He also carried unimpressive weapons, which Kaji left behind. “Requiescat in pace” were the words Kaji whispered as he removed the mask to see the face of the man he slew, unperturbed by the gruesome sight and crimson mask beneath it. Using that same broiling jutsu from before, Kaji began to vaporize the remains of that assassin he killed, first reducing the body to a shriveled husk, and then reducing the remains to cinders with a burst of emeraldine flames from the tip of Eelspine.

It was all simply darkness from the camp’s perspective as most of Kaji’s work in the distance went unseen. But when that green glow revealed Kaji, he began making his way back to Yuii, confident no viable traces would remain. By the time Kaji stepped back into the fire’s light the green glow dissipated in the darkness. Kaji knelt by his backpack on the ground and began pulling out various odds and ends, all the meanwhile glancing at Yuii. “How do you feel?” It had only been moments, perhaps half an hour tops, but Kaji was vigilant in his concern for Yuii. “If you can stand to eat I’ll prepare a meal—” he started but paused, thinking of how stupid and unhelpful he must have sounded. In truth, this was one of those rare scenarios where the depth of Kaji’s experience wouldn’t serve him well, as he knew little to nothing about childbirth. And so he looked to the tigress with a plaintive look in his eyes— the silent ask for help, that is, if Oniyuri’s experience would transfer over to a human delivery. Kaji was still beaming with his Sage Form, however, all that new strength and even his senjutsu felt useless in the face of what was to come. “Just tell me how I can help,” Kaji said in a humble tone, no longer facing the situation as a shinobi, but now as a Father.

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

"I don't want a long night," Yuii whispered, curling her fingers against Kaji's shoulder. The pain had lapsed for the moment, but her lower body still ached with the constant pain that had arrived around the start of their trip. That hadn't been from their horse ride, she realized with dumb astonishment, at least not all of it. Through the anxiety and the excitement of finally taking a step into the brighter future, she'd completely ignored the signs in her own body. Would she have spurred them to leave if she had known their little one's arrive was in the cards, she wondered as Kaji gently pulled away, or could she be sitting in their home or the hospital right now facing the daunting task of explaining herself?

Oniyuri grinned at Kaji and wiggled the black smudges above her eyes, making Yuii glare her way. "Both of course," she purred, stretching against the ground, "best you remember that." Her yellow orbs surveyed the little ground hole they called a safe haven. She seemed to approve of it, or at least found no immediate fault which was the best they could hope for. Yuii sighed, unaware she had been bracing for the cat to decide they needed to move on. This was their nest, their safe space, and now that she was in it she didn't want to leave. She'd never really gone through that stage preparing their home for their child to be, but it occured to her that the forest had always felt like home. Of course this is where they would have their child, it was natural.

"I'll be fine," She reassured, feeling almost normal while the contraction pain eased away, "With or without the sass bag." Her lips curled up in good humour which a positive sign among many, though there was still the anxiety of the birth to come. The healing from Kaji and its extra energy had left her feeling refreshed and invigorated but in truth she was relieved to have her contracted friend there. It was as the great cat said, she'd pushed out enough of her own children to at least know what was happening to Yuii. Judging by the soft panic rolling off Kaji and her own basic knowledge, they could use the extra hand. She truly had no idea what to do at that point.

Kaji was half way out of the pit when another contraction hit, knocking the air out of Yuii's lungs. She let out one long, high pitched groan and found a tree to lean against as the pain lanced through her again. This time was observed it logically, almost consciously detached from her body. It hurt, it hurt a lot, but this was different from the poison and the broken arm. She wasn't dying, it would end, she just needed to breath. Then it was.

With a dazed, pursed lipped stare, Yuii watched as Kukki melted away in light. "Me too," she replied sympathetically and automatically, "She'll forgive you". Part of her was a little envious of the horse's return to home, but at least they wouldn't have to worry about Oniyuri eating her. Her striped sister was a selfish brat when it came to food and Yuii wasn't going to be able to counter that.

Her gaze lingered on Kaji as he collected wood. She wanted to follow him and clutch on to his arm, beg him to stay, but the logical part of her kept her feet planted. She knew it was the better choice too. He'd be back soon, she'd be fine, everything was going to be fine. Then the pain came back, panic took hold, and she almost followed Kaji again. In fact, she was three steps towards him when Oniyuri placed her body in the way.

"Yuri move. I need Kaji. I need him to make it stop," even as the words left her mouth Yuii knew it was ridiculous and yet part of her wished he could just stop the process. She'd wanted to be married, to be far from Kumogakure and more importantly her clan, she wanted Kaji to unerringly hold onto her, she wanted the baby to just slip out magically. Anything but the pain havocing through her, "Please Yuri, make it stop."

"No. but you can start walking." Oniyuri's voice jarred her with its lack of sympathy, "Moping and whining wont birth your child." Yuii made a desperate lunge to pass the great cat as Kaji disappeared from sight, but was easily knocked back. "Walk around the fire and stay warm, otherwise your mate will get testy."

Oniyuri's deep commanding voice took root immediately as it offered the first real sense of direction. Yuii grimaced, but found her feet taking her around the fire before she'd really had time to think about it. "Walk, right, I can walk."she muttered as the pain eased away again, leaving her feeling sheepish about the earlier begging. The steady act of putting her feet forward was relaxing if not entirely helpful with her pain. "Is it always like this? This is awful, why would anyone ever want to do this for a baby." There was a mirthful twinkle in Oniyuri's eye in reply, and Yuii thought she knew the answer already. Because it was so fun to make them.

It must have been minutes, but in what felt like seconds another contraction hit."Arg, it isn't helping. It hurts. It feels like my hips are breaking." she screeched under her breath, going white knuckled against another tree.

Once again Oniyuri was quick with an answer that didn't really make her feel any better."Stretching, You're a shinobi, not a child. Just keep breathing."

Stretching as a horrible, innocent word for how awful she felt. Stretched, just she was prepping for training instead of enduring her body getting ready to push a small watermelon out. "Fuck breathing, I'm dying. Let me lay down and end it." she spat.

Then the pain was gone again, and Yuii felt stupid all over again under Yuri's knowing gaze. "Fine, I'll walk," she hissed.

Yuii realized, as one step fell in front of the other, that the distance she could travel each time between back breaking pain was growing shorter. She'd reach the twig, the next circle, then the stone, then the little leaf again until one less rotation was possible. Sometimes she would repeatedly reach the same place, but most were quickly shaving away at time. She could predict them coming soon enough. "They're getting closer together," she answered in quite awe as Kaji made his return, "I'm alright, just tired. I feel like I've done a full days training."

"They're meant to." Oniyuri cut in, closing her eye, "Closer and closer, then your body will tell you when to push."

"I know, I know but I thought, hoped maybe this wasn't really happening now but it's happening now." Yuii paused in step, her blue eyes gleaming in the firelight and stared into the darkness, " We're having a baby, how are we having a baby? This is a horrible idea." The heavy statement was followed by quiet laughter. It made Oniyuri glare, but she waddled to where Kaji was fumbling through his bag and joined him on the ground.

"You promised me a massage," she pleaded, squirming her way into his arms by force. She'd barely gotten comfortable with her back to his check before more pain followed. It was all she could do to keep breathing through the intensity but even being near Kaji somehow lessened the pain. Within a minute it was gone again. "I love you. I don't think I say that enough, but I really really do. Even though you've done this horrid thing to me, I really really really really do." Tilting her head back, Yuii curled her fingers through Kaji's black locks and sought a kiss. a Minute later she was back to pain and angry screeching. "I'm over this! How much longer is this going to take!?"

"A few more..." Oniyuri laughed, her teeth baring, "hours."

------

It was a few more hours yet, intense pain, low screeches of profanity and a maybe broken but easily mended hand bone that saw the end of the horrid experience that was birth. Yuii had switched between her usual loving self to a horrid, wailing banshee that could could not be placated. By the fifth senseless demand, Oniyuri had stepped in to direct, making sure what needed to be done was done. She almost seemed bemused by it all, thought the panic of first time parents probably was from an outsiders view.

It was worth it.

The blue eyed, black haired wonder curled peacefully in her arms had come into the world wailing to assure them all that while early, the little baby Okada was ready to face the world. The moment she was in Yuii's arms it was instant love unlike any other. She'd fallen quickly for Kaji; his charm, his wit, his looks, but this was a difference kind of intensity outside of realm of thought. "What have we done," Yuii whispered into the cold night, her face breaking into a smile, "she's gorgeous." Cautiously she massaged at her little newborns fingers and sighed. Oniyuri, who'd offered her body as a backrest in the last moments huffed with amusement in reply.

"They're all the most beautiful," she replied, giving a toothy grin, "get her dry and warm, clean up this mess and you can ooh and awe over her until sun up. You'll want to burn the worst of it, otherwise you'll have a pack of tail tagging howlers on your camp."

As it had turned out, Yuii had had some inclining of their child's arrive even if she'd ignored the signs. The bags she'd brought had in part been food, most lost with Kuni, but the others had the very first necessities an infant would need. She'd never intended on coming back before the pregnancy ended. On her direction, Kaji would be able to find a blanket, clothing and a small hat for them to swaddle her against the cold. Yuii herself was left cautiously standing and limping away with Oniyuri's aid to get herself cleaned up.

Yuii was only gone twenty minutes or so before she was wobbling back in new clean clothing, eager for the fire and the company of her family. Her face lit up at the site of them again. "Yuri tells me the adrenaline will wear off and I'll want to sleep soon, but I can't imagine ever wanting to close my eyes again." She babbled excitedly, "I keep worrying this is a dream." Then with more seriousness, "She needs a name."

 

[Okada Kaji]

Perhaps they couldn’t have done this in a place more perfect than under a sea of stars. It was a rare kind of night for the usually overcast blanketed land of lightning. Starlight gave their surrounds a faint blue glow which accented the vibrant orange of the campfire, perfectly lighting a night neither Kaji nor Yuii would ever forget. And when she came to him, nestling by the fireside and with professions of love, Kaji was quietly accepting them, almost smugly, so sure that he knew full well. In truth, it was usually Kaji who bled affection, stamping the words “I love you” on Yuii whenever he could, always passionate when they were behind closed doors. Normally it was Yuii who played it cool; she’d answer “yeah, I know” most of the time, but could never use those exact words, but she finally used them then and there. As she confessed so emphatically, Kaji grew a grin and rosy cheeks, satisfied that it was finally his turn, and he said: “yeah, I know, Blue.” A bit of light kissing was like an exclamation on the moment, and frisky caressing that could have gone farther if Yuii wasn’t going into labor.

And then Kaji’s hands began to search her, pressing on Yuii’s curves in a gesture that would have sent Oniyuri fleeing into the darkness, disgusted if it were any other occasion. “Let’s see if I can help work out some of the tension while you dilate” Kaji suggested, clearing up any confusion brought on by his approach. His grasp was firm on her hips, then soft as he worked her sore muscles and joints with a type of magic that couldn’t be learned at the academy. He listened to her breathing to know what was working, what didn’t, and when it hurt, seeming like a sudden expert massage therapist. While it did seem to be working the gesture was more like proactive comforting than a means to make labor an easier. There was nothing Kaji Okada could do at that time but be her hand to hold, her shoulder to lean on, and a voice to reassure her. In the back of Kaji’s mind, the threat of the outside world continued to loom over him like winter’s chill to his backside, but he couldn’t let that distract him.

And as Oniyuri said, hours of painful contractions came and went: servings of misery with a side of panic and some uncertainty for garnish. Each time Kaji found himself refuting the idea that it was the big one, or that it was going to be too much for her that time. While Kaji did trust Oniyuri, by the time the real delivery began Kaji resorted to his summoning jutsu and brought Bhelzira into their camp through another silvery haze. With a heavy footstep, the large reptile emerged from the rapidly fading steam and further filled the air with the sweet aroma of the large flower which grew from her back. An abundance of thick leaves masked how the amazing flora was attached to her, but it didn’t lessen the awe in the slightest. Bhelzira had vivid and bumpy green scales the color of bright leaves which shimmered softly in the fire’s light. She had a pacifying expression on her wide face despite a sudden cold breeze tingling her skin from head to toe. Her presence inspired similar reactions to the foliage at her wide feet, though it paled in comparison to the holy stag. “Ah, so the time has come for the youngling to hatch,” she said in a deep yet gentle and motherly tone. “It is frightfully cold out here, Guardian—no place to have a child but I trust you’re here for a good reason.” Even her scolding came with kindness on the tail end. “Let me have a look at you, mother,” said the long-scaled nurturer, and she took a few more heavy paces into the camp. Due to her size, she couldn’t move in too closely, especially with her aversion to the raging campfire near here sensitive flower. Big brown eyes scanned over Yuii, and Kaji, who was returning to his place beside her to provide some comfort in the presence of his conjured ally. She made a sound like crunching leaves as vines grew from beneath her mounted plant and moved as if they had minds of their own. “She’s here to help” whisper Kaji, feeling the need to urge calm as the vines floated towards Yuii and began to stroke her belly so lightly that she’d barely feel the touch—tickling. “Hmm, she’s a healthy baby girl, ready to get out of there,” said Bhelzira mid examination, “weighing a healthy three and a half bones.”
“That’s lizardfolk for kilograms” Kaji explained to both Yuii and Oniyuri, who didn’t seem to buy into Bhelzira’s act at first glance. Kaji knew she’d be quite a big help though, and as those hours wore one, the shaman-lizard provided sagely insight to aid in the birthing process.

Not all of the night consisted of those mystical, beautiful moments— no, much of the process proved to be painful, even grisly, as the miracle of childbirth was something akin to wartime triage. Oniyuri was like a sergeant barking orders at Kaji as if he were incompetent, aggressively ordering him to be more encouraging, giving instructions to Yuii, and so forth. Over Kaji’s other shoulder was Bhelzira, who kept tabs on Yuii's vitals, progress, and provided more kind words. And at the resolution of this hard-fought struggle was a beautiful baby girl, just as promised. Indeed, a newborn with a few silky raven blades of hair, a button nose, rosy chubby cheeks, and small sapphires orbs still hiding from the world. It would be a long time before Kaji would wear that jacket again, or so he thought of removing it and swaddling the newborn in it for suitable warmth. “She looks just like you,” Kaji said with a grin as he handed the babe to Yuii. He was glossy-eyed, looking at this small gift from the heavens and the woman who delivered her. Unanimously, it proved to be the proudest moment in all their lives. “We have a child,” Kaji said in a resolved tone, so simply put yet full of joy, awe, and determination all at once.

A short time later, Kaji did some essential tidying around the campsite with Bhelzira’s aid while Yuii did the same with some much-needed assistance from her own animal companion. By the time Yuii returned to their toasty site, she found Kaji seated and marveling at their daughter with her nestled in his arms. Kaji looked up at Yuii, more peacefully than he had been all night, and gestured for her to come to him. There together it was now the three of them, and he’d want it no other way for the rest of time. Just what was going through his mind then? Perhaps he and Yuii were truly synced in thought as she raised an important point: the baby needed a name. “Haven’t you thought of any yet?” Kaji was surprised Yuii hadn’t simply named the baby already and was actually excited to make a pitch or two… he wasn’t exactly the best with names, just too pragmatic for such a creative task. But Kaji was thinking hard over the long night, often wandering in his mind to the many memories that led to where they were that night. He thought of their adventure the Soaring Thunder Monastery when he first knew his love for Yuii Kagetsu was something real, and the guidance of Xia, who made him identify what was in his heart. But Kaji knew suggesting a name like Xia’s would sound odd, so he kept thinking.

Then Kaji considered the lad who was much like a son to him Tatsuo. In many ways, it was taking Tatsuo under his wing as an apprentice that set Kaji on the path to healing from his own past and put his heart and mind in a place to receive love from someone so miraculous as Yuii. Of course, Kaji never considered the name Tatsuo or anything like it— that made him laugh. No, there was one particular adventure where Kaji created an alias off the cuff to fool some farmers…

With absolute sincerity, Kaji looked to Yuii and asked: “how about Nadeko?” Suddenly, their newborn let out her first wailing cry! “Ok ok, not Nadeko— geez, I thought it was a nice name.” And then, with a bit of coaxing and more importantly handing her over to Yuii, the baby became silent and content. “I hope you have a better idea, Blue.”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

The were a beautiful sight, father and child all aglow in the firelight. This was another of those moments that Yuii knew she would never forget. It was a shame, she reflected while picking her way back down the hill to Kajis side, that she had not thought to bring a camera with her. She would have liked to have shown others the precious scene. Perhaps if she could have conveyed the absolute love they had for each other and now their little daughter, the Kagetsu could have seen the sense in letting them be together.

Yuii ached all over, but surprisingly it was no worse than how the worst training session left her feeling. A hot bath would have been amazing right then, or even a little hot water to shower in, but she would have to content herself to drying her cold-water washed hair by the fire and absorbing Kaji's warmth. She did just that, easily sauntering to Kaji's side with a bare limp and with far more care and the use of Kaji's shoulder, she easing herself down to the ground beside him. A sneaky kiss and much squirming saw her tucked as closely as possible against his solid frame without disturbing their newest family member.

The baby looked peaceful now that she was warm, and while not completely asleep had her eyes closed against the firelight. Again, Yuii was amazing over how cute she was. It was rare for an infant to come out with a full head of hair like theirs had, and her skin was a clear, healthy hue. "I didn't want to pick without you," she explained in a soft tone, "or before meeting her." In truth, their little one's name choice had sat at the edge of Yuii's mind for a long time. She'd been looking for inspiration from every corner of the village, considered countless options and even nearly settled on a few. The trouble was, every name came with a face in Yuii's line of work, so every time she though she had settled on one, someone passed through to ruin it.

Comfortable to let Kaji muse over the name, Yuii let her head lull against his shoulder and continued to watch the little one's face. She could watch her for days, Yuii realized with an edge of surprise. Something about her tiny features were mesmerizing in such a benign way. Just as surprising was the lance of worry and distress that struck her as Kaji's first name of choice brought a sudden wail from their daughter. "A nice name for someone else's daughter," Yuii teased gently, eagerly taking their bundle into her arms, "Nadeko?" Yuii tried again, eliciting another protesting screech from the babe. That was definitely off the table.

"If this was in the clan, I wouldn't get to decide. Not really. " Yuii added balefully between gentle shooshing, "They pick based on fortunes and if you choose a name besides the three given to you, they'll label them a bad luck charm. It's an illusion of choice." The bundle stopped squirming as she found her fist by mistake and began to suck eagerly at her fingers.

Yuii sighed as if the weight of picking a name was crushing her, "It's alright little one, I'll feed you soon enough. First you need a name. Babies without names can be stolen by fairies and replaced, and then your father and I would have to hunt you down and save you." Yuii's stomach gave off a sudden groan of hunger, making the baby jump in shock and Yuii laugh, "We'll both eat. It feels like I haven't had a bite in weeks." Her gaze travelled up to Kaji and took on a pleading edge, "There's food in the bag I think, at least a little. Most of it was with Kuni, hopefully wandering around the forest."

Shuffling the little bundle's weight against her chest, Yuii inched herself into a comfortable position. "She's fuzzy like a peach," she muttered to herself, still wondering over her little face. Then it clicked, "Ume?" she asked louder, directed at Kaji. At least there was no screaming this time,

 

[Okada Kaji]

The truth was that Kaji might have accepted whatever name Yuii suggested for the baby. While Kaji was capable of an opinion and certainly did care about her name, he wouldn’t have been so critical of her mother’s choice. When Yuii spoke the name “Ume” Kaji smiled, yet he felt as if something was missing. It was a beautiful sound but lacked a certain pop that would announce her as someone to be noticed and revered.
“Umeko” Kaji put in with such an assured tone. He knew it was perfect— so multifaceted with meanings prepared for whoever their sweet babe became one day. “Yes, Umeko is perfect” Kaji repeated, confident in the way the name rolled off the tongue. “Our beautiful daughter, Umeko Okada.” The mention of her last name was prideful, yet Kaji couldn’t help but remind himself of the pressures of the world outside of that little camp. With the Okada name, there was nothing awaiting Umeko but a barren world. Everything was for the taking, but like her father, Umeko Okada was born entitled to nothing but the love of her parents. With a hopeful sigh, Kaji wished upon the stars that Umeko might appreciate that enough when the time came.

“Well, you should feed her, and I’ll work on feeding us,” Kaji said with a resolved sound. He pulled on his collar, stretching it slightly to flash one of his pectorals, and chuckled before carefully sliding from beside Yuii and Umeko. So new to the idea of parenting, they hadn’t even discussed the essentials, like breastmilk or formula. Kaji indicated that he was expecting Yuii to pop her tiddie out, though if you are what you eat, Kaji figured Yuii would give the baby a sugar rush. “I’ll refresh the fire and get started on that stew I planned. I packed everything we need in a scroll” he said as he began fishing through his pack. “I’m sure Kuni is okay; I’ll track her down in the morning.” To sound so sure, and tired, Kaji was acting as if the night wasn’t long and sunrise wasn’t a mere hour or two away. Even Bhelzira was napping in a corner of the camp, and Oniyuri might have snored once. In fact, Kaji was so focused that he failed to notice that his Sage Mode had exhausted long ago. As a provider, Kaji seemed to show no sign of slowing.

So then Kaji got to work as promised and began renewing their fire. He tossed in new logs using the spares he left lying to the side until the flames were roaring again. Then Kaji created a spread of ingredients and tools using his summoning scroll and concocted a soup stock in a tall iron pot. “This is granny Okada’s recipe” Kaji admitted, sounding a little eager to prepare it. “A warm meal to beat the cold will do as well. ‘A hearty Earth Country stewed Beef. ” If Yuii watched closely, she’d see Kaji toss cubed chuck roast into the pot to sear. The aroma was enough to awaken the tiger and Kaji only winked at her. While the beef seared, He chopped up carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, and of course garlic. There was some tomato paste thrown in, and a complex process that took about half an hour of prep alone. Utilizing his fire affinity, Kaji revealed how to cheat with the cooking time… He sealed the top, and with his chakra, he began to circulate the heat, and ultimately, he cooked their meal in a mere few minutes, rather than the two hours usually required. “Let’s eat up and try to get some rest” Kaji prescribed as he took a ladle and began pouring bowls of stew. “If you can manage, we’ll need to erase this camp in the morning and resume our journey unless we intend on defending this spot. I predict the light will bring more of your kin.”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

The name had felt incomplete, even to Yuii's ear as she suggested it. With Kaji's addition, it was perfected. "Umeko" she repeated, letting the name slip from her tongue for the first time. It was such a simple extra piece, but it completed her title perfectly. And with her new last name, a gift from her father? The name sang, slipped from the tongue like a song, and could never be easily forgotten. As Kaji spoke it for the first time, Yuii could not help a warm smile brimming with pride and shining with excitement for their daughter's future. Then, with tenderness, she repeated,"Okada Umeko." definitively.

As with a great many things, they had never spoken about which of their names that their daughter would take. But, as with a great many things, they were of one mind. Yuii had never given it any thought, but now the choice seemed only natural. There was no other choice. How could she want anything else for their daughter? "There, now you're safe Umeko. That is a sweet, heroic, a name you can be proud of." she asserted, tracing her finger across the dozing baby's brow then shifting her slight frame until they were face to face, "because Okada is synonymous with love, strength and now family. You're very lucky Umeko; your Papa has created a great legacy for you to follow. It's one you can be proud to be a part of." The newborn squinted and flailed her arms until her fist found her mouth which she began to suck on energetically. She seemed to care more about her first meal than the future.

If Yuii was with the clan, she would be allowed the day to sleep. They took all newborns from their mothers and placed them in a cosy nursery where they would be fed and cared for. She would visit if she wanted, but ultimately there would be nothing she had to do.Some time in generations gone by, the Kagetsu had recognized that by 'expecting' their women to have children that the babies weren't always safe or wanted. They realised women born and raised to serve the village often lost touch with their maternal side. Yuii wanted to think she would feel robbed of the experience she was struggling through now; latching and feeding her little daughter without instruction during the first hours of her life, but she knew she would never know to miss it. It would take some coaxing, rearranging and many weary sighs before they finally achieved their purpose. Another minute of rearranging so that all but the skin that was necessary was covered, and both mother and child settled.

There was nothing else for Yuii to do then but watch Kaji cook, though there was nothing else she would have rather been doing. Sleep was already trying to pull her to under, but the gnawing at her stomach kept her eyes open. His cooking method was interesting, and Yuii resolved herself to demanding he teach her scroll storage like that. Their bag weight could have been reduced significantly for this trip, and ion the future they would need even more for little Umeko. In record time he had the meal prepped and cooked, and like a magician revealing the grand finale the lid was lifted to unleash an aroma like nothing else. Yuii's stomach roared as her nostrils filled with the amazing smell of stew. "It smells amazing." she gasped, certain this was the hungriest she had ever been.

With some struggling, Yuii rearranged the still latched baby until she had an arm free. With that, she cleared a bit of ground for her bowl then reached eagerly to take her portion. She was three large mouthfuls into inhaling her soup when Kaji brought up the morning.

"Undoubtedly. I'll have to manage," she stammered between bites, "They'll go looking for the one that vanished and we're too close." Her eyes flickered to Umeko, who somehow seemed to be feeding and sleeping at the same time- her daughter indeed.

"They can't have known I was pregnant- I know you figured it out but I think I wanted you to. I was really careful in public. They'll think we kept going deeper into the forest, the living ones didn't see I was hurt. They're strong shinobi, but the people my aunt has direct control over are all city folk, they couldn't survive." Her brows creased upward in thought. If they were lucky, they could be gone fast and far enough that the Kagetsu would never know they had spent the night so close by. Unlike her cousins, Kaji and Yuii had the skills and abilities to make it through the forest safely and any dangers that presented themselves could be dealt with.

"I don't know why they attacked us." she whispered, her shoulders hunched forwards as if weighted down her own thoughts and revelations."I really have been careful. We're on a sanctioned mission. I did nothing that should have given away my intentions. I've told no one about us except Kogami. I've maintained a genjutsu for weeks and worn loose clothing to be safe. Where did I go wrong." As Yuii spoke, her voice took on an edge of desperation. As if by somehow unlocking the key to what had caused the clan's ire would also show her the way to fixing it. They were supposed to be her family, they were supposed to want her and despite time and experience showing her otherwise, Yuii still blamed herself for being the core reasoning the clan didn't like her.

"Unless..."Yuii waivered and bowed her head, struggling against the idea, "Do you think they just wanted me dead? Or you? Or..." Perhaps it was the exhaustion, the hormones, the intensity of the night and day before, but Yuii felt a vital piece inside of her snap. The instant sense of loss was too much. Yuii never cried- but she began to.

"Oh Ume, I'm so sorry. "she wept, clutching the now sleeping day-old to her chest. Kaji jacket played the dual purpose of swaddling blanket and tissue. "She's never going to be safe with me as her mother. I'm going to bring you both nothing but more heartache and misery. When they learn about her, about us, they'll stop at nothing to tear our whole life apart." "She would have been better off if you'd let the poison do its job and cut her out instead. What are we supposed to do now?"

 

[Okada Kaji]

The wild lands were a rugged place, and no one less experienced than expert trackers stood a chance of finding Yuii and her betrothed, who held that qualification. Together they stood more than a chance of losing the Kagetsu behind, but that wouldn’t stop them from being a problem in the future. As Yuii, Kaji, and baby Umeko sat together in the face of a roaring campfire, they considered the immediate future challenging their prosperity as a family. The realization that her clan managed to stalk their movements to this point— attempting to thwart their travels— had tears rolling down Yui's cheeks. She was commiserating, treating their love like some selfish decision that would cost Umeko her rightful future. But Kaji was there, wrapping an arm around Yuii and holding her and the babe close to his chest.
“Your clan has been keeping their eyes on you since the night we met,” Kaji said as rested his head against hers. “They might have been aware of our activities for quite some time, but mistook our secrecy and caution as an admission of guilt. All things considered, it was fairly reserved for them to not act before now… I’m not taking their side, but maybe we asked for this— for their overreaction by keeping secrets.”
Of course, it was never their intentions to bring danger onto themselves and especially not the precious child they shared. “Might makes right in the game of shadows. ‘By keeping our relationship a secret, we’ve opened ourselves to be dealt with similarly— so they sent what, assassins to silence us?” His conclusion was a harsh one, but pragmatic like always. “Not long ago, I met Ayumu and expressed my concerns. It had to be done. ‘And we talked about you and me, and Umeko, and of course, your clan. Dealing in the shadows has allowed the Kagetsu to deal with us how they’ve pleased all this time, even if they waited to make their move. ‘Ayumu has shared a sound idea: where the Kagetsu may shun us, we will have the Cloud accept us, and the Kagetsu will be powerless.” Kaji was paraphrasing their wise ally and leader, who swore to Kaji that the village would only support them once they learned of the secret love. “I can imagine a life where we gave your clan what they wanted; I could take Umeko and vanish into these mountains, leaving you to the will of your kin… But no, that’s not how it's going to be. We are meant to be together and won’t have it any other way. The Cloud will back us, and your family will have to accept us.”

There was a strength in love that often went undervalued in the world of shinobi. Traditional teachings referred to it as weakness, but in the last two years, Kaji Okada became like a philosopher, recording new findings in the study of love’s impact on a shinobi. One can have a heart and still be strong: the thesis of a man whose life was built upon the strength of self and the idea that love was a flaw. Together, Kaji and Yuii could find the courage to fight for each other, and Umeko, the way they did for their village when they served as shinobi. With a hint of pride, he said “Who needs a clan when you have an entire village to call your family?”

 

[Kagetsu Yuii]

Kaji was probably right. The Kagetsu had been watching and known all along but had acted when it became apparent that the relationship would no longer be a secret. They didn't care who Yuii was with privately, she was getting too old for the third attempt at an arranged a marriage, but revealing a long-standing relationship with a foreign-born shinobi was worth stopping. They didn't want that kind of public blemish or the fallout. It was all very logical and remorseless. It showed just how little they cared for her.

"Oh,"A painful sob wracked through Yuii's body, arching her over until her forehead touched her knees. The floodgates were opened, and two decades of anger, and frustration and dejection. She was aware of Kaji's arm spreading a comforting presence on her back, like a heavy blanket in the dead of night. New mothers instinct spurred her to raise her shoulders just enough to slip Umeko from the protective curl of her body and hand the tiny baby to her father's care.

Kaji's warm baritone slipped over her like a river over stone, soothing but not really soaking in. The sick, anguished part of her actually considered a future where Kaji left with Umeko. Where she returned to the clan and ignored the beautiful little life they had created together. Where she lived every day as she had before Kaji's arrival before she'd had a taste of being loved or loving in return. Missing every milestone, every birthday, every precious second just to stay in the comfortable niche she had always known and to placate her clan. One selfish and selfless act that would assure Umeko and Kaji would be safe.

Act just as her own mother had, and leave a void in her daughter's life.

"Oh my love, are we meant to be? How can you know?" She asked hoarsely, lifting her chin to peer through a curtain of blue, "Or is being together going to cost us everything? Are we just being given everything so it's so much worse when it's gone? Am I really a risk you're willing to take?"As in all moments together and even entrapped in her own doubt, Yuii gravitated towards him. Her whole body arched against him like cats as it sought physical comfort to calm the discord of her mind. Innately she knew where her heart lay, even when she dared to question it.

"I'm a living curse, Kaji." futilely she scrubbed at the tears that kept falling, "My own mother didn't want me. I was left in the nursery with nothing but a name because she must have known that everyone who loves me would and have been hurt irrevocably. Kiyo, my sensei, even Sunuke has vanished- when I name someone family their lives are ruined. Even my chakra manifested into gifts that assured I shouldn't be loved. I don't want to lose you too, I love you more than life itself, but are you sure fighting them will be worth it?"

That same sick part of her considered committing a crime worse than murder to a Kagetsu. Push at his mind weave genjutsu that made him see her logic. Make him fear her. But even as she considered the thought, she banished it; there was no room for darker timelines here. "If that hadn't been my arm? If you'd been hurt? I couldn't have even healed you," she drolled instead, "What if going public doesn't work? If the village rejects us? If it doesn't keep Umeko safe? How could I ever live with myself if anything happened to her?" Armed with nothing more than her quivering words a side blue eyes, however, it was apparent that it was grief speaking, not the normal rational Yuii that would have been easily comforted by Kaji's steady presence and fortitude Hormones, stress, exhaustion and self-loathing had banded together after such a terrible, then wonderful night.

"Am I really the person you want to spend this life with?"

 

[Okada Kaji]

“We have taken the path of being who we want to be— you could say it first joined that night when you beat me so bad at goblin’s eye” Kaji answered, somehow finding the room to reminisce with his lips curving into a short-lived smile. “Nothing is meant to be; life is what we make it and you are what I want above all else.” They were idealistic words on the verge of pragmatic, and above all true, and meant to console Yuii as she nuzzled into Kaji’s waiting embrace. The taught and corded muscle of one arm coiled around her while he took their newborn and cradled her against his chest with the opposite. For Yuii, Kaji was the hard edge to cling onto when the tide of life tried to sweep her away. For their daughter, Kaji sought to provide solid ground for her learn to stride through life across, dependable and secure. “Forget the cost” he countered, countering Yuii's lamenting that the Kagetsu might press upon them relentlessly. “Anyone trying to pry us apart will find the leading edge of Eelspine in their belly.” It was a grim resolution, but Kaji would fight to the death for Yuii and Umeko, and she knew it, though that would take much more than what the Kagetsu could try.

Yuii's sobbing was countered with soft kisses from Kaji, who sought a place by her neck and nibbled her ear. It was no time for love games, yet there was an air of confidence in him. In truth, he was sure they could live happily if they tried, but not until the Kagetsu clan was satisfied in some way. They could have simply followed the ways of Kaji’s upbringing— impatiently clipping the Kagetsy so that their own family could grow without encroachment. These two weren’t murders though… were they? “Cursed? I have been cursed before, Blue— trust me; you are a blessing. ‘Try just a little bit harder with Umeko than you do with your students and I’m sure you’ll be a perfect mom.” Then his emerald orbs drifted to look down at the product of their loves in his grasp; their first co-creation, Umeko. “Our daughter. ‘I’ll be so proud if she grows up to be just like you... beautiful, intelligent, and so clever that combat training will be nothing but a precautionary measure. ‘Our little girl won’t take shit from anyone.”

Kaji could try to lighten the mood all he wanted, but the fight against misery was rightfully tough this time. When Yuii considered their trouble, Kaji had hope in spade, using the power he attained just from looking into her crystal eyes. “There is never a day promised to us, mi amora. ‘I have lost everyone ever close to me before you, and I’ll be damned if anything ever comes between us." His mind’s eye flashed to gruesome lasting images of the people closest to him through life, all finding their demise, beaten by the many dangers of the shinobi life. With a long blink and deep exhale Kaji freed himself from the imagery and returned his focus to his lover. “And if the village does not accept us— well, we’ll still have each other… If the Cloud runs out of room for us someday, then we can go anywhere and make the whole world our nest. ‘Doesn’t matter where; I’m happy if it's with my girls.”

There was earnest satisfaction in his tone as if moving on from any place seemed suitable to Kaji. Even there in that shoddy camp, the couple had made a temporary abode full of hope and love. A beautiful child was born and sleeping soundly. They kept the company of loyal and wise allies in Oniyuri and Bhelzira, who were both pretending to sleep by the fire, notably cuddled for warmth despite their many differences. Of course, Kaji and Yuii foresaw a lifetime together in the Hidden Cloud, but even if that chance crumbled, they had friends in the wild and could thrive anywhere together.

“It’s me and you Blue: for this life and whatever comes after... ‘Forever, I guess.”

#shipgoals