It's so pretty...

[stillpure]

He was dressed up. Where his mother had managed to locate anything to dress him up with on such short notice with he had no idea, but it meant when he took off roaming he was a streak of dark blue and red amid those at the festival as he went here and there, utterly fascinated by the new sights.

He'd been to festivals in Konoha, yes, but those were different. This was -new-.

It also meant he wasn't exactly being the most attentive person ever, and had escaped the people he'd been with. Unintentionally, of course.

Comments

[bunsofsteel]

She laughs again, seized by the inexplicable desire to ruffle his hair, but instead she just lets him have the apple, thoroughly amused. So Iruka wasn't his sensei, but his teammate? "And what does Iruka-sensei call you, hm? I promise not to use it on you, but~" She leans in close with a conspiratorial grin, "Maybe I'll use it on your older self. He'd like that, you think?"

She laughs again and sits back, tilting her head as she waits for his answer.

[stillpure]

"I don't think so at all." He gave her a long stare. "But... it might be funny. Iruka calls me Tachi-chan." He took another bite of the apple, shaking his head.

[bunsofsteel]

"Tachi-chan?" Her cheeks go red as she tries to stifle more laughter, imagining just what kind of faces her Itachi will make in response to that. Probably make one of those protesty noises and pout. Finally she manages to swallow her giggles enough to offer her pinky for a promise. "Well, I'll keep my word and not call you that, okay, Itachi-kun?"

[stillpure]

He gave her a long hard stare, then hooked fingers with her. "Okay."

[bunsofsteel]

She can't help but laugh again as she releases his finger, leaning back against the bench. "Don't worry, if he gets annoyed, I'll make it up to him, somehow~"

Though she's not responsible if Sasuke starts taunting him with it.

[stillpure]

He stared at her for a beat. "....I don't wanna know."

[bunsofsteel]

If she were cruel, she could tease him about it, but instead she just laughs and gives into her desire to ruffle his hair. "So tell me more about you and Neji, hm? Does he still act like he has a massive stick up his behind?"

[stillpure]

He blinked at her. "Uh... No? I mean. He's kinda like dad about sweets, but he poked me in the head with chakra a couple times when he decided I was focusing too hard and thought it was funny...?"

[bunsofsteel]

"He thought something was funny?" Sure, Neji had lightened up a lot in the three years since their first Chuunin exams, but... "I think you'll be good for Neji. So it's you, Neji, and your... mom, right?"

[stillpure]

"No no no. It's me, Neji-san, we'll get him soon! Naruto-nee, Otouto, he's thirteen, and mom. Oh! And an older me, but I don't think Neji-san knows he's around yet. He's been mostly sleeping since he got to us."

[bunsofsteel]

"The Itachi who's sick, you said?" Her lips twitch as she stares straight ahead, rather than look to him. "You know... you'll have to let me know some time Neji's out of the house. I'd like to speak with him, if I can. And-- wait. Naruto-nee?"

[stillpure]

He nodded at once. "Mm! She's really nice." He leaned in, voice dropping to a pointed whisper. "I think Neji-san -likes- her."

[bunsofsteel]

She's about to comment on just how interesting his house must be with all of those people in there, but the whisper stops her, mouth slightly open before twisting into a wide grin. "Really? What's he do?"

Gossiping about teammates wasn't a bad thing to do, right?

[stillpure]

"It's just this look he gets when he looks at her. All soft and stuff. I haven't seen them alone really though so I can't say for -sure-."

[bunsofsteel]

"Really." She can't hide a smile again, a little thoughtfully as she rests a hand in her chin, elbow on her knee. "That I'd have to see for myself. The genius and the dropout, huh? Three years ago, if you told me that, I'd have smacked you upside the head for being ridiculous, but now...? Yeah, maybe."

[stillpure]

He shrugged. "He walked her home after he went and confronted you so..."

[bunsofsteel]

"I think I'm going to have to talk to this Naruto-nee." Her smile turns more than a little impish at the thought. Neji's first crush, hm~? And it's Naruto of all people?

Giving him a sideways glance, her smile doesn't change. "And what about you, Itachi-kun?"

[stillpure]

He blinked up at her in turn. "What about me?"

[bunsofsteel]

"Do you have anyone like Neji does~? You can tell me, I won't tell anyone~"

[stillpure]

He stared at her in bewilderment. "Um."

[bunsofsteel]

"No? Hmm..." Oh well, that was alright, he was still just a child, anyway. Speaking of... "Do you have any friends your age you've met here? Being stuck with Neji's got to get boring sometimes~"

[stillpure]

"But I like Neji." He bit his lower lip. "And Otouto's nice even though he's bigger." He shifted his weight. "I'm used to not being around people my age."

[bunsofsteel]

She just hums again and shrugs, stretching both arms in front of her as she sits back more comfortably against the bench. "Well, lots of kids can be brats, too, so maybe that's not so bad~ It must be weird, having your little brother be older than you though, huh?"

[stillpure]

He nodded immediately. "We switched ages. He's thirteen and I'm eight. He was three before I got here."

[bunsofsteel]

"Oh? I remember Sasuke at thirteen... he was pretty cute, if kind of a brat. I'm surprised he and Neji get along, considering everything... Oh! Did you know, I'm living with a Sasuke who's even older than the one you're with? He's around my own age."

...Wait. Should that have been something she shouldn't have mentioned?