how did this even happen...

[mooneye]

It wasn't a bad sort of place. Lots of things to do and people to see. Plenty of freedom to dart over the rooftops and down the alleys--or out of the village and into the woods and rocky wild places beyond. Obito liked Michi no Sato.

He had stopped for lunch and was eating at a table outside the restaurant, watching people walk past. The food was good. The cold breeze was nice. Ah, yes. Years and years trapped in a cave with a crazy old man and a bunch of plant monsters--it had left him really able to appreciate the little things.

[ooc: here is an AU Obito in his twenties. Got through the time with Madara, and Rin's death, but didn't go completely evil after all of it...]

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[bunsofsteel]

She doesn't answer immediately, fingers picking at her nails as she studies the table with more than a passing fascination. Talking about the future scared her more than she cared to admit -- after all, it was clear that whatever happiness she had here would vanish once she went home. Even if she could manage to keep her hold on Sasuke and bring him back, she'd never get Itachi, too.

Tenten wasn't sure what bothered her more -- that she wouldn't have those two once she went home, or that she didn't know if she even wanted to go back, anymore.

[youngesthokage]

He looked over to Tenten at her silence and one hand reached to run along her shoulder without him directly addressing her, eyes going to Obito. "No, it is not, but that is not all bad."

[mooneye]

Obito agreed, but raised and dropped one shoulder. There were goods as well as bads. "So far it--this place--has been very pleasant. For me."

[bunsofsteel]

She tilts her head to give Itachi a small smile, rolling her shoulder to help dislodge his hand as she reaches across with her other to take it, lowering them both to the table again. "It has good points and bad ones," she says finally, smile curving into a frown as she thinks of that Neji. "But overall, it's... nice."

A brief shake of her head, and she turns a smile back on the older Uchiha. "Do you know what you're going to do here yet, Uchiha-san?"

[youngesthokage]

He squeezed her fingers but let out a soft sigh of a breath. Very well, no assuring then. He looked back to Obito for his answer.

[mooneye]

"Do? Ah... I haven't thought about it." In truth he's been living like something of a cheerful hobo, since he got here. "What do you two do?"

[bunsofsteel]

Her face goes slightly pink as she coughs, squeezing Itachi's fingers again. "Train, mostly," she answers, lips curving into another smile as she glances toward Itachi. "Every now and then I'll head into town, pick up a few odd jobs like moving things for some extra money."

[youngesthokage]

"I haven't quite settled into any one thing myself. Mostly calligraphy for a few of the shops." He shook his head slightly. "I've mostly focused on using extra time training... and the like."

[mooneye]

"Training is important. And the like." He smiles slyly, though it isn't outright teasing. It's just subtle, as he glances down into the cup held in his right hand. "Hmph. In a town that has no need of... say, spies and assassins, I suppose I could... juggle, or something."

[bunsofsteel]

Itachi! Her flush goes a little darker, but she still smiles pleasantly as if he wasn't making veiled references to their sex life. Or maybe she was only imagining it... In which case, what did that say about her?!

She can't help but laugh a little, resting her chin on her palm again. "Juggle? Really?"

[youngesthokage]

"I haven't even heard word of trade, or tourists, so I'm honestly not sure how close another village even -is- to here." He shook his head slightly. "But juggling Obito-nii? Really? Surely that's not your best talent."

[mooneye]

"I'm a man of many talents. Juggling happens to be one of the more non-lethal ones." He mimed a vague tossing-and-catching. "It's good for getting back... what's that word? Coordination. You know. Making your left and right work together."

[bunsofsteel]

She just nods, grin still tugging at the corner of her lips. "I'd like to see that, sometime. If you taught Itachi how to use kunai, I'd imagine you could juggle those, too, huh?"

A pause as she looks over him again, but she's not about to ask why he had to get coordination back. That seemed pretty rude for a first meeting.

[youngesthokage]

Itachi gave him another long contemplative look. "I think you've managed beautifully Obito-nii."

[mooneye]

There was a brief, genuine smile. "Well, don't think that until you've seen me try and juggle kunai." And he raises his eyebrows playfully at Tenten. Challenge accepted.

[bunsofsteel]

Her grin looks fairly innocent, but she's pleased that he took the challenge as it was. If this guy was Itachi's cousin, she had to know as much about him as she could. "I think I'd like to see that some time, Uchiha-san."

[youngesthokage]

Itachi huffed a breath knowing that it was directed at both of them, so he leaned over and ran his fingertip over his cheek. "Unlike her, I didn't mean the juggling."

[mooneye]

He met her gaze--amused and curious himself. "It would be my pleasure. Though, I can't promise it won't end in some sort of horrible tragedy." Just a joke. Though you never can tell, with juggling. And he leans into Itachi's touch, expression softening at the small display of tenderness. "You're too kind to me, little cousin."

[bunsofsteel]

Her eyes narrow as she follows Itachi's finger. There he was again with all this touching, like what she'd walked in on, and she didn't like it one bit.

"Hopefully not," she answers, grin freezing on her face as she resists the terribly strong urge to grab his arm and tug his hand away from the other's face. "Come on, Itachi, I thought with those eyes of yours, you'd be able to tell he's not genjutsu, you don't have to touch him."

[youngesthokage]

"Not at all Obito-nii." Her words cause him to look over, and consequently pull back, and there was puzzlement written all over his face. "I'm not checking if he's -real-."

[mooneye]

He watched Itachi's puzzled look and Tenten's smile and--oh. Ohh! There is just the tiniest glitter of mischief in his expression, probably there and gone to quick for them to catch.

[bunsofsteel]

She missed it completely, too busy looking over Itachi and trying to keep a frown from edging onto her lips. Was he really so ignorant about something like this. Favorite cousin or no, she didn't like him touching him so much, and she just shakes her head before turning her attention back to Obito.

"Well, maybe you should start with something that's not as bladed, huh?"

[youngesthokage]

He noticed she was displeased with him, but he couldn't understand -why-. He sank back in his seat, picking up his tea as he went. Bewildered, he looked back to Obito.

[mooneye]

"Not at all. If anything, we ought to pick something even heavier and pointier. Where's the fun if it's not a bit dangerous? But I will leave the choice up to you, my dear." He shook his head, just once form side to side, and pulled his hair over his shoulder. "Itachi, this braid is holding very well. Thank you, again."

[bunsofsteel]

Her smile is all teeth at his next statement. What was Itachi doing braiding his hair? "Perhaps kusurigama would be a nice challenge," she answers sweetly, her hand on Itachi's again.