[Open] Momento Mori

[twinlionfists]

She had noticed the villagers running around preparing things for the past few days. Every time she attempted to speak to one of them about what was going on, however, they seemed to be too busy to answer her questions. Finally, she'd braved asking Kakashi-sensei's landlady—the owner of the bookstore—and was informed about the festival to honour the dead.

Hinata had quite a few dead to honour, here or not, and she purchased her own candles and some ingredients to make dishes to put before the shrine. It would be awkward since she didn't have any photographs of her mother and putting one of her cousin would seem a bit morbid, but she hoped that they would appreciate the thought anyway.

That was what counted, right?

Perhaps she wasn't the only one of the shinobi intent on doing so as well.

Comments

[heroscomeback]

Naruto had four candles.

One for dad. one for mom. One for Old Man Hokage and one for everyone else, because he didn't want to forget anyone.

"Hey Hinata~!" not only could he recognize her everywhere, he could also feel that seal upon her from short distances.

[twinlionfists]

The spot between her shoulder blades tingled and sent warmth through her body as he called out to her while he approached. She felt her melancholy disappear in the face of his presence. "Naruto-kun," she breathed happily. "I didn't expect to see you here."

[heroscomeback]

"Ah, yeah, well, I heard about this festival for the dead thing. I thought I'd light some of those candles and then eat ramen for all the living~" yes naruto, this works perfectly.

[twinlionfists]

She smiled as she set up her candles and incense. This would be the third time this week she did this, but she had a lot of people she wished to honor and there was no harm in trying to commune with her own mother, was there?

"Did you bring some food or drink to leave those who have passed before us?" she asked softly, pulling out the small onigiri she'd spent hours making early that morning for this purpose. She was glad that she'd brought the extras however.

[heroscomeback]

"I got this!"

....and he might just have completely missed the point of offerings as he lit candles, incense and produced -out of seemingly nowhere!?- a bowl of ramen. His way to honor the dead was by sharing teh food received by his stomach... or something?

[twinlionfists]

She smiled softly at his happy face as he set about eating the bowl of ramen and pushed a few of the spare onigiri towards him before turning to her own duties. Hinata had had thoughts about being able to do something like this with Naruto-kun, but until now it had been nothing more than a daydream.

"Thank you, Mother," she whispered as she finished her prayers and waited for Naruto-kun to be finished.

[heroscomeback]

"Awesome! Hey, hey look!" yeah, he was adressing the candles. "Hinata-chan made those, and I'm sharin em with you!" yeah, he's in his own pretty-awesome world right now. Prayers? Silence? Not him, no.

[twinlionfists]

She flushed happily as he spoke to the dead he was honoring about her silly rice balls. "They are nothing terribly special, Naruto-kun," she whispered softly.

[heroscomeback]

"They ain't to you, but.. ahah~ lotsa things look stupid to other people and are special to others." sort of like him yeah? He looks stupid, but he is pretty special to her!

[twinlionfists]

She gave him a small, pleased smile, letting one of her hands slip into his closest. "I understand, Naruto-kun. Have you made any plans to look around this festival at all today?"

Because any time spent with him was good for her.

[heroscomeback]

"hm.. I didn't really think about hangin around here, but I gota reason to, now~" after all, she was here too! Doing things with her should be fun!

[twinlionfists]

She smiled as she squeezed his hand within her own. "I have not had the chance to do anything here either."

But she would do anything with Naruto-kun.

[heroscomeback]

"Pretty sure there's a lot we can do. Aren't these uh.. golfish-scoop things all the rage? I keep seeing people walkin around with these things." it was indeed a festival staple. "There's all those foods too~"

[twinlionfists]

She giggled at him from behind her free hand. "There are many games that we can try, Naruto-kun. And, of course, all of the different foods to try."

[heroscomeback]

"they gotta have like.. barbecued stuff, and some noodles somewhere, and red bean cakes" he did love red bean soup, but he'd never pass up those cakes either! "Hahah~ I,m gonn win at all those games~" he should make up for all those festivals the ero-senning kept his money!

[twinlionfists]

"I...your mother is teaching me how to make red bean cakes, since that is obviously her favorite sweet as well."

[heroscomeback]

"She is? Did you learn yet?" because for some reason, now going home and making something even -better- than any salesman at the festival could make was an amazing idea.

[twinlionfists]

"I've only done it once so far, and they turned out okay," she replied with a slight blush. "I will do better next time. I promise."

[heroscomeback]

"How about next bein like.. real real soon~" yea, as in NOW soon? looks at these eyes, how can you refuse him?

[twinlionfists]

She blanched as she looked at him. He was so excited. "Um, Naruto-kun, it takes a long time for the beans to cook so that I can use them. And even longer to form it into the cake."

Really, all day.

[heroscomeback]

"..oh?" he scratched a whiskered cheek. "hmm.... so that means we can just buy them here then, huh?"

[twinlionfists]

"Yes, and I will buy some ingredients to make them for you tomorrow?"

[heroscomeback]

"YEA! Hinata-chan, you're the best!" cause he apparently hadn't thought of that. Red bean cakes, two days in a row? Epic! "So, first we find em here, then we go get your stuff, huh?"

[twinlionfists]

"Of course," she said, her face bright red from his compliment. She still hadn't gotten used to that.

[heroscomeback]

"Awright!" he gave an overjoyed grin. "I think I smell em that way!" he pointed to the south and instantly headed that way after claiming her hand. "Ehe~ red bean cakes~ Here we come!"