one_long_mission | [closed] Multi-Purpose AU Post for Neji and Flirtsuke

Neji only huffed and shook her head, feigning disapproval, though it evaporated quickly in the face of the older Sasuke's grin.

"You mean you, of course," she all but chided with a small, contented smile, moving closer beside him to follow the younger. "Which reminds me, I had intended to ask what it was you would like for dinner tonight. I had thought curry."

Sweet, not spicy.

"But if I use 'me' to refer to 'him', it gets pretty confusing, I'd rather call him chibi." besides, that was what he was. "He sure is the most energetic kid around though." they caught up to the comically pouting kid, and Sasuke ruffled that dark hair. "Oh~ you didn't lose one this time~" yes, he had been trying to dislodge those paper cranes.

"It's harder to hold five..."
"Yeah, it is, but you'll get the hang of it, just like when you went to four. Don't forget to take breaks and recover your chakra, because even if I don't mind carrying you home doesn't mean it's any good for your system." he had no choice but to hurry somewhat more, since his littlest self had decided those tomatoes were within sighting distance and he -had- to drag him over. "Was I really that excited when I spotted a pile of tomatoes at his age?" he asked the sky.

"This one, I want this one!!" he pointed. "they scolded me when I chakrawalked to the top of the pile." he pouted.
"There are some things you can't do even if you're a shinobi~" he claimed the indicated veggiefruit, able to just tell he wanted the biggest and reddest, and turned slightly. "Curry's good. There's a few sorts of em though, what do we put in? Beef for sure, carrots too right?" Since carrots were close by, he headed that way, his littlest self at his heels, staring at his big shiny tomato.

She hung back slightly to watch him with -- his younger self. Odd as it was, it was still as endearing to watch as it had been during the festival. Even if the boy could hold more cranes now, the way Sasuke watched out for him...

Her smile softened further. He would be a wonderful father, someday.

"Beef or chicken yes, perhaps some corn and peppers," she added, ever-so-casually slipping her hand into his to hold. A silly gesture, maybe, but one that had grown more natural over the months.

His own expression warmed as he felt her hand in his, taking ahold of it lightly but firmly, studying the bunches of carrots available before selecting one and placing it in the basket.

"You know, you can put your tomato in that basket, Sasuke." it felt odd to say his own name, but he got used to doing it sometimes. "Nothing else is going to contaminate the taste."
"Can I eat it now?"
"No, no no You are -not- pulling the wibbling lip cutesy eyes trick on me, young man." he shook an index. "If you do what you did last time, they'll be angrier."
"Cause with apples, at least we have a core to show, but I can eat a tomato whole?"
"It's not like that, you're supposed to wait until it's paid for. I'm not going to let you do this all the time." he might have been scolding him, but really, that kid had to learn some rules. that made him wonder if he was like this with his brother too.

The littlest Sasuke carefully put the tomato in the basket he was given to hold, staring at it.
"You're being silly." the older one chuckled. "At least look in front of you when you walk." he had a few strange but endearing oddities, that boy. After picking fresh corn, he spotted something else near the peppers. "Do we put in onion too?"

She laughed quietly and only shook her head at the younger boy. Tomatoes, it seemed, were always the way to his heart, no matter what age.

"Onions and garlic, yes," she confirmed with a nod. "Sasuke, I trust you're paying attention?" That tone was directed to the younger of the two, a quirked eyebrow to gauge his interest. "Learning to shop is important."

"But I'm not gonna make curry" he blinked over, seeming to not mind the recently joined hands.
"It's about more than just making curry. It,s how you pick everything. That tomato you picked, you knew it was going to be the best, right? Here... " he gathered him in his arms and lifted him onto his shoulders, passing him the basket. "Go ahead~ tell me which is going to be the best onion."

The boy blinked owlishly, gears running, undestanding the basic concept. "But I don't like onions..."
"Pretend they tste like tomatoes, pick the best."
The youngest had a pouty frown on as he studied the onions. they all looked the same, didn't they? Oh but no.. some were a bit smaller, or rounder... "This one!" he extended an index.
"Here..?"
"Nu-huh! that one to the left and up! Yea~ There!" he cheered and claimed it, adding it to the basket.

Garlic was easier, and then peppers. "Anything else?" leeks came to mind, but he wasn't entirely sure so didn't suggest it. "We just need the meat after that? I feel like beef, but since it's hot outside, chicken won't be as heavy on the stomach.."

Neji just nodded in response, brushing her thumb over the back of Sasuke's hand before pulling back to reclaim her own hand to use, moving on to choose some other fresh vegetables. Thankfully it wasn't quite yet fall and there weren't any pumpkins for sale... She shuddered lightly. Disgusting.

"If you wish to eat beef, then beef we shall have," she pointed out, arching an eyebrow. "Simply less of it." Meats were never something she cared for one way or another beyond the protein content... hm. Perhaps tomorrow, fish. "Just make sure you buy the proper kind of broth to go along with it, hm?"

He would miss that touch, but at least it allowed him to reclaim the basket, since he felt his other self struggle with it.

"But what if you want to eat chicken? You should tell me." he purred.
"Wha'd you mean the right broth?" the littlest Sasuke asked, chin resting on his older self's head. "It's different if you use different meat?"

"Huh-huh~" the other grinned. "Kinda like tomato cream, it doesn't taste the same if you use sundried tomatoes." better have a comparision he can illustrate in his head and link to his tastebuds.
"...but both are totally yummy!"
Okay, maybe that didn't work...

"As both broths taste good, but are suited for different occasions," she added by way of explanation, glancing up to the younger and feeling her lips threatening to curve into another smile. "Tell me, Sasuke, what do you enjoy beyond tomatoes?"

No, she wasn't above using his younger self to fish for ideas to use on his older self...

"I like omusubi with okaka in it! Sometimes I just eat the flakes raw too." he gave a light laugh. "But I like aaaaaaanythin with tomatoes in it!" it was not rare for the littlest one to make his own breakfast or lunch either. "Niisan showed me how to make riceballs and now I can do it all by myself! Cooking the rice is super easy!" boy did he sound proud!

His older self gave a light smile, unknowing of her designs, as he picked the appropriate broth after they wandered over to that alley, headed for the meat section. "Ground beef, or we pick a steak and cut it into pieces...?"

"But nothing sweet, yes?" In that, at least, she and Sasuke had similar tastes, it seemed.

She turned her attention to the older one, moving in closer and peering over his shoulder. "We can afford the steaks, so I would prefer if you bought those, thank you."

"Niisan likes sweet stuff... He can have it." the boy grimaced.

"Steaks it is~ We can probably eat some of that later on too." he was not really minding expenses. "I wasn't even sure which was most commonly used in curry. Good thing I asked." he had not eaten much of that stuff himself, really. "Menma was always big on ramen, and since I was on my own, I wasn't really into anything fancy unless I was out and wanted to impress the ladies~"

"Of course." She only nodded, keeping tally herself mentally. Not that she truly minded the expense; after all, being able to afford some of the finer things was rather reminiscent of home. "In which case, I would be pleased to show you how to actually cook fancy things so you may attempt to impress a lady. Seeing as how you are no longer on your own."

She flashed him a brief smile before moving on ahead to select the proper kind, glancing back to attempt to ensure the younger one was paying attention, too.

"Hmm~ that is right, I do have a lady to impress now~" he purred. "I must learn to be able to make amazingly fancy things to enhance her lifestyle." he ran a hand through her hair, smirking. "Trust me, you will only have to show me once~" and if he went to see any chefs at work? He might become something of a mimic prodigy thanks to that sharingan.

The youngest was staring at the basket below, where his tomato laid. His thoughts were clear.

"Sasuke." She clapped her hands once, close to the younger boy's face. "Pay attention. The tomato will still be there. You shouldn't let your attention be consumed by one single thing, understand?"

Harsh, maybe, but she didn't... know any other way to teach.

The boy gave a cry and nearly stumbled back, gripping at his older self's hair for support.
"Whoa there~" Sasuke hastily rose his free hand to resettle him so he would stop. "You weren't listening to Neji huh?" he caught one of the paper cranes and handed it back to him. "Focus at all times, Sasuke. You never know when something'll happen"

The boy pouted, placing the crane again atop his head. "But you're always really reaaaaaally relaxed."
"I'm also older and more experienced than you are. This'll serve you later, understand?"
"How's pickin up veggies n'stuff gonna help with anythin?" he had once known what most of the future entailed for himself, but living here, it seemed he had forgotten.

"Just listen and remember it, or else I'm eating your tomato."
He gave a light whimper. "Okay, okay! What was it all about?" he glanced around, noticing where they were. "Pickng meat? But aren't all those steaks and stuffs all alike?" he wasn,t getting how useful this could be.

"One can be relaxed and yet aware of everything that goes on around him." She stared up at the younger boy and only shook her head, bringing one finger up and extending a hand to demonstrate just what he should look for in a cut of meat; the fat content, the cut itself, the area of the animal from which it was cut. As she gestured with one hand, she brought the other up, out of his immediate sight, and lightly poked his arm, testing to see if he was only focusing on her words, and nothing else.

"Pay attention to your whole surroundings at all times. That is what a shinobi is."

The youth looked down, murmuring. "How'm I gonna remember alla that?"
"How? easy. Unless..." he was unaware if his younger self was at that stage yet. "...do you have the sharingan?"
"Yeah, but-- you mean I can use it?"
"You betcha~ It can record a great deal of information, you know? Don't overuse it though, you'll ahve to learn when's a good time and when it isn't. Save chakra for emergencies too."

The boy gave a nod. He would just try to remember what he heard for now, since having her repeat would be something she sure wouldn't do. The tap on his arm had him blinking and glancing over.
The older one chuckled lightly. It seemed this market outing was serving as useful lessons for his younger self.

Neji actually gave the older of the two a rather displeased look at that. "The Sharingan isn't something to be used so lightly, Sasuke. Your memory on its own is better than you give yourself credit for," she addressed the younger of the two firmly. "Using Jutsu unnecessarily is a quick route to finding yourself unprepared should the need arise."

That was addressed to both of them, before she collected her cut of meat and retrieved the basket from the older one. "Come, there is nothing else we need."

Sasuke bit his lip lightly.
"Ahahahah! She scolded you!" the younger laughed.
"She scolded you too, you know?" he grumbled after handing the basket over.
"She scolded you first!"

Since there was no way he could win, sasuke sighed and rolled his eyes. "Either way..... sorry." he did sound extremely apologetic as he adressed her, taking two longer strides so he could lean over just a little. "I'm not going to do that anymore, or... well, encourage others to do it."

"I should hope not." She looked to him and just briefly raised a hand to touch his cheek -- all wasn't quite forgiven, but it wasn't anything that need come between them. "We can speak of this more later. For now, let's pay, and get you home. Unless you're joining us for dinner, Sasuke?"

She glanced up to the younger of the two with a raised eyebrow, uncertain if Mikoto-san would appreciate her stealing two of her children.

"Right." he murmured, briefly bringing a hand up to touch her own, accepting the light comforting gesture.

The youth tried not to look too disgusted. "No thanks. Curry doesn' sound all that tasty..." it might be something that would come later to him, who knew? "M'gonna go train more~ Been a while since I tried throwin kunai n'shuriken n'senbon."

"Keeping up your throwing skill is a must too." he approved his younger self's use of time. "Remember, you don't have to keep these papers on your head all day..."

"Suit yourself." She only shrugged, giving him an approving nod in response to how he chose to spend his time. "Though training with the cranes and working your throwing at the same time is preferable, if you are not yet at that level, do one at a time. If you need tips, speak with Tenten."

The female of his teammate certainly possessed the same skill with weapons, no matter the age.

"Right! I'll do that~" the boy chirped happily.
Sasuke picked him up and set him back on the ground as they paid for their purchases, then handed him his tomato. "There you go. Say hi to mom for me?"

"Uh-huh! I will. See you, older-me, see you, Neji-neesan!"
And he was off like lightning, Sasuke shaking his head slowly as he claimed the bag with the heavier meat. "...and were you going to continue from earlier?" he asked, knowing it would be best to have anything irking her out of the way... mainly about how he chose to use his dojutsu. "I wouldn't have told him, if I knew you disapproved it that much." he still felt bad, judging by how his eyes instantly fell to the floor.

She offered him a flash of a smile at being addressed as 'nee-san' before returning her attention to Sasuke and claiming the other bag. "It is relying too much on a bloodline for things it is not suited for," she murmured quietly, free hand moving to find his again. "There is a measure of pride in the possession of the Sharingan, that is true, but using it for a task that can easily be accomplished through other means? Is wasteful. Not only in terms of Chakra, but in terms of skill, as well."

She brushed the hand holding the bag near her temple. "Like the Byakugan. If I were to rely too heavily upon it to see everything around me, not only would I severely strain my eyes, but should the time arrive where, for whatever reason, I cannot use my bloodline? I would not have developed my regular sight to see all that can be seen, as well. Do not permit your bloodline to become a handicap, Sasuke. You are too talented for that."

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