Reminisce [private]

[Hanone]

The Motomori were a huge clan. They owned massive amounts of land, beasts and had millions of yen worth of valuables. One would think the oldest son of the clan leader would too have all these things, but this was far from the truth. Since he had left the clan almost 14 years back, he'd turned to poverty then eventually to basic comfort.

Here he was now, 27 years old living as a Sunan citizen and shinobi. He lived with his sister , Aika, whom he had brought with him when he left the clan and raised from toddlerhood. Their house was modest. It was located between the rich neighborhood and the low income neighborhood. It had two bedrooms and a rather fancy heated pool in the stoned in backyard. it was more like a large bath than a pool, but none-the-less it was fancy. Eiji had worked to purchase the house for that reason.

Anyway. It was a nice afternoon and for once, both Aika and Eiji were off work. He would be heading off to a shitty mission by the next morning, so he took the chance to spend some time with his sibling. It had been over 3 weeks since they'd shared a meal. Eiji hated cooking, so he had bought some 'take it home and re-heat it, they'll never know the difference" kind of meal. It was in the oven when he sat down at the table and lit a grape flavored cigarette.

He took a long drag of the deathstick before letting it out in slow, unfurling smoke circles. "Aika, could you make some tea?" he asked as a way to get her to come out. The house was small, was that mentioned? Small and single level. He was easily heard in the other room... matter-of-fact, everything was easily heard throughout the whole house at all times. Not very private, but then Eiji wasn't squeamish. Aika was an adult now, anything she did in the privacy of her own room was her business in his opinion.

 

[Hoshirei]

Aika was in her room, reading, as per usual when she heard her brother ask her to make tea. With a small, almost silent sigh, she marked her place and looked around her room. It wasn't horribly spartan, especially when it was the only place she really felt comfortable with her feminine side. It was all golds and browns. Her bed was all soft and fluffy, not to mention silky. She loved silk. She had to shake her head to clear it. She needed to go make tea after all.
The younger Motomori, daughter of Ijiiji, exited her room. She was in more casual clothes than normal, her breasts only loosely bound. She was certainly boyish, but when she was home, it was time to let loose. She walked the short path to the kitchen and immediate started on the tea.
"It's good to have corresponding days off, isn't it? I seriously could have cooked if you wanted me to. I know how much you hate it."
She obviously hadn't seen him "sneak" a pre-prepared meal in or she would be going about that in a different way. She set the water on the heating element and leaned against the counter. Had it really been three weeks since the last time they'd actually eaten together? Sometimes it felt like much longer. She still remembered the first few times he had gone on a long mission. She had almost freaked out. It had been shortly after he had told her the true circumstances of why they left their clan, and she had been scared that her aniki had been captured by the clan or something.
Aika hadn't cried when he finally returned, but he had certainly received quite the hug. If she had been any bigger, she might have knocked him over.

 

[Hanone]

He was glad to see her come out of her room so promptly and took another lazy drag from his cig. The first puff tasted the best, everything else was just okay. It was a terrible habit. He'd quit so many times in the past.. but then he never could really give it up. It was a habit he took up after losing Satsuma, a memory he often tried to forget, yet he couldn't fully. Aika had known Satsuma a little. He'd lived with them for almost a year. Eiji had been 17 when they were together and he had died before Eiji's 19th birthday. He never did ask her about it. She had only been... what? 7?

Looking up at his beautiful little sister, Eiji sighed and put his smoke out in the ashtray. (He never got more than halfway through one before snuffing it out). He watched her tend to the tea, then looked in her in the face when she was facing his direction once more. "it's fine. Do you... remember Satsuma, Aika?" His lips pulled slightly to the side. It was a faint nervous tick.

---------------------------------------------------

10 years ago...

---------------------------------------------------

The house was shiny and nice. It had only been built 10 years ago and the last owner had taken such good care of it, it looked as though it were just built. It even smelled of lemons. It still smelled of lemons after almost 5 months living there too.

Eiji was only recently made a chuunin and with his promotion he'd been able to purchase a home for Aika and himself. It was just in time for her to be enrolled into the academy; she had only a few months left before she could begin. They had moved from the shittiest part of the Grand Palais and he was glad to be rid of the slums.

In that short time Eiji had met another male. He was a few years older than himself, handsome and tall with dark hair and a small chin beard. His smile was something you expected on prince charming from one of those storybooks. At first he'd gone to see him, then it got serious. Eiji actually felt... love.

After a few months of the relationship and with more and more time away from home and Aika, it was beginning to worry him he was abandoning her and that wouldn't do. To be honest he never really cared what anyone thought of him, save his little sister. He had stayed away to shield her from his lifestyle choices, but he finally decided not to hide it from her. She was older than her age, being forced to grow up quickly. He hoped she would understand.

So on a Friday night, he made the decision to bring Satsuma home with him.

It was almost seven o clock and her daytime caretaker was already gone for the day when Eiji unlocked his front door and came in. He looked about for his sister, not finding her in the livingroom, then allowed his boyfriend in.

"Be nice." the youth warned, his eyes dark.

Satsuma was a nice guy. He grinned and gave Eiji's shoulder a squeeze before attempting to reassure him, "Don't fret. Kids love me!"

He rolled his eyes at him before turning toward the livingroom and called out, "Aika are you still awake?"

 

[Hoshirei]

She looked up at the ceiling for a moment as her older brother spoke. Did she remember Satsuma? She closed her eyes for a moment and thought. He had moved in, what? Ten years ago? She knew he had died on a mission with her brother, and she still missed him every now and again. She hadn't seen her brother smile so much before he came, or after he was gone. Aika nodded softly that she remembered.

----------------------------
Same memory
----------------------------

She was in her room, pouring over her latest study. The daily company had brought about what was called geometry. She had been fixated for hours, and when she heard Eiji's voice from the living room, she stretched, noting that her back was a small bit stiff from being in one position for so long. She got up and stretched as she walked out of her current study hall, the kitchen.
"I'm awake nii-san. The lady brought a math book this time, I've been studying since she left. What time is it anyway?"
Her bright blue eyes caught sight of the man beside her brother. She eyed him a bit. He had heard her name, but would he still think that was a pet nickname? The kids today at the playground had. She was in boy clothes, but she was more comfortable that way. Boy clothes allowed her more movement, and allowed for her exuberantly boy-ish nature. She was starting to get really tired of everyone thinking she was a boy.
"Who's this, Eiji-nii?"
She really was curious as to who this man was. He was handsome, but she got this vibe from him. It was similar to the one she had sensed from her brother more than a few times.

 

[Hanone]

Eiji reached out to the tomboy girl who came out from the kitchen and put a hand on her shoulder. She was already such a pretty girl, though it was well hidden under the boy clothing and shorter hair most of the time. Every time he noticed the soft lip or sensual eye shape on the girl, he was glad he'd decided to raise her so...unattractively. Living in the Grand Palais for so long put her at terrible risk for kidnapping or worse... she hadn't needed that.

But not wasn't the time for those thoughts. Smiling a little nervously, he turned his eyes over to the taller man. "Aika, this is Satsuma."

The tall man reached out with a big hand, offering her a handshake. "I'm your brother's friend." he offered, thinking to take over the conversation and save Eiji any embaressment. However, Eiji wanted her to know the truth and sighed at him for trying. He quickly made it clearer.

"Satsuma is my... boyfriend." The word sounded funny to him. He usually called him 'lover' but thought that boyfriend was a better option given the moment.

Satsuma looked a little surprised he offered his real title up then winked at Eiji and returned his eyes to the girl. "You give him a run for the money on the beautiful department though, don't you?" He was being nice, and sincere but not in a creeper sort of way. He knew a lot about Aika since Eiji talked about her often. He knew she was unhappy about being so boyish and that it was a recent development. He hoped to break the ice nicely.

 

[Hoshirei]

Aika couldn't help but smile when Eiji placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked intently at her brother, waiting for her explanation. She noted her brother's nervous smile, and couldn't help but wonder what exactly he was nervous about. Since when was she one to be mad about any of her brother's choices? When introduced to the other man, Aika smiled gently and took the man's large hand, though hers was rather dwarfed by it. Her lip twitched into a half smirk after her brother sighed at Satsuma's introduction. At her brother's clarification, she smiled fully.
"I knew it! I knew it wasn't work that was keeping you away more often!"
She was rather happy. She couldn't stop laughing. Normally not a hugger, after Satsuma's comment that she gave her beautiful brother a run for the money, she couldn't help but hug both men. Her brother was first, then Satsuma, then her brother again. Once she finished laughing, she had to sit down on the couch to catch her breath.
"Sorry about that. I just couldn't believe I was actually right! The sitter didn't believe me. Kept calling you a misogynist. Had to look that one up in my dictionary."
She balled her fists at the memory. She had really wanted to wallop the woman after she found out the definition. Instead, she had locked herself in her room until the woman apologized. She had even conned the woman into buying her a book about anatomy and physiology. She had even guffawed at the notion that such a young girl wanted such an advanced text. It was tucked neatly into her book shelf, waiting until she was done with her current texts.

 

[Hanone]

Eiji was more than pleased the girl had accepted Satsuma. He was the first person since Aika that Eiji truly cared for and if his sister hadn't taken to him well... it wouldn't have been easy to deal with.

Satsuma, as promised, was kind to the girl. He laughed heartily with her fond embrace, returning it with a single armed hug. If she were old enough to notice such things, she might find the older man's scent pleasant. He was wearing a nice cologne.

Eiji too returned the hug, but less tight. He was not a hugger either. It was perhaps one of five they'd shared in their lifetime. His happiness faltered slightly hearing Aika's babysitter had spoken such about him to her, but allowed the thought to pass by for now. She would end up fired by the next week.

Satsuma would end up moving in a month later. He was home as little as Eiji, but for a time they were a family, albeit a strange one.


--------------------- Present Day -------------------------

Eiji withdrew another smoke and lit it. By then the tea would probably be ready, but he wouldn't push for it. When she got it, he would drink it. His eyes always looked distantly hurt when he thought of his old lover and he would shake his hair down before his eyes as to hide them. Even from Aika.

Other thoughts came to Eiji's mind then, the ones that always followed the thoughts of living Satsuma; that was of his death. It was probable that Aika thought the same things. She was only 8, but Eiji had been a disaster. It wasn't something the rest of his peers knew about because in public, he hid his anger and pain, but at home he was a whole other matter. Nothing was like that first day though...


----------------------- Flashback --------------------------

It was dark when he returned home. It was nearly 3 in the morning. Eiji and Satsuma had been sent out on a mission a week ago and hadn't returned on time. They were supposed to be back no later than 3 day after leaving, yet they had not come home. The babysitter had left Aika there the last day on her own, having other things to attend to so the girl had, had to fend for herself.

Eiji came in loudly. He crashed in through the door and knocked a small table over. The crystals there for lighting the room fell and skittered across the floor, coming on and off like an emergency light before finally going out once more and laying still on the ground. Eiji too fell to the ground and for the first time since his love died, tears fell from his eyes. A terribly cry erupted from his lips as the sorrow he had been containing burst from him like an overfilled balloon. Sobbing, the small man wrapped his arms around himself and fell to his side on the ground. It was as if the pain would not end, it was tearing him apart and was a living thing inside his broken heart.

 

[Hoshirei]

The seven year old Aika had been happy that Satsuma had returned the hug, especially since hugs were kind of rare in their family. She was even happier when Satsuma had decided to move in with them. Her brother had never seemed happier, having his two greatest loves close. Sure they weren't home much, but she liked the new sitter much better than the last one anyway, so it was fine with her.

--------------------------------------Present------------------------------------------------

Her brother's smoking habit always intrigued her. She understood why the first few drags would seem better, but she almost hated how much of the cigs he just left unsmoked. She had tried smoking once, and hadn't found it all that enjoyable. Perhaps a different flavor was in order if she ever did take it up?
She heard a whistle come from the tea kettle and tended to it. Aika doctored up the tea to how they both liked it, and finally sat down at the kitchen table. Her eyes glanced for a moment at the spot where Satsuma's chair had once resided. They both just couldn't take the reminder. She then looked at her brother's face. He had hidden his eyes from her with his "mane". She felt the distinct urge to raise his chin up and give him a sympathetic look, but the feeling just brought back the horrible night where their happy little home had shattered all those years ago.

------------------------------------Past-------------------------------------------------------

Aika was bored, thunking her head against the wall for the fifth time that day. She had already read all of her books. She even tried to read them again, but remembered every bit, so she gave up. She was worried about her brother. What if someone from the clan had caught up with him? What would they do to him? And if they ended up being able to force her location out of him? She could only shudder at the thought.
She heard a loud noise coming from the entrance of their home. Quicker than she realized, she had made a small crystal dagger sprout from her skin and went to investigate. What she found, she would never forget. Her brother was on the floor, and he was crying. She rushed over to him and was at a loss for a moment about what to do, until she discovered the door was still wide open. She ran over and closed it, before coming back and hugging her brother as best she could.
Where's Satsuma? Normally he's in right after nii-san. she thought while making soft calming sounds and rubbing her brother's back like he did when she awoke from nightmares. Aika was really not sure what to do. She was afraid to ask the question that kept coming to the fore of her mind. She forced herself to think, to use her mind to figure out any hints of what had happened.
First clue, Satsuma didn't enter the house right after Eiji like normal. Second, Eiji was crying as if someone had- She forced herself not to jump to conclusions. She breathed in her brother's scent a bit. Sweat, Satsuma's cologne, and something she couldn't quite place. She thought for a few moments and finally placed it. He smelled of death, very recent death.
Aika felt her throat tighten and she pulled at Eiji's arms to try and make it so that he could hug her and feel her warmth. Trying to give her brother something to anchor himself to. If it didn't work, she'd just try to wiggle her way into his arms and hug him firmly around his shoulders.

 

[Hanone]

He hadn't really meant to wake her up, but how could he not? Was she even sleeping? He didn't know, he couldn't see passed the tears clouding his eyes. He vaguely heard her come out then noticed her beside him. Her small frame was seated so close, he could feel the heat of her. He reached out, fumbling for her and found her small waist and held on with the grip of a desperate man. He buried his sobbing face into her lap and continued to cry, letting his sadness leave him until there was nothing left.

Almost a half an hour passed before he was calm again, tired out and lethargic on the floor. His lips were cracked and hurt when he tried to speak, but he did. He needed to say it to her. "He's... dead, Ai-chan. I'm sorry." He felt at fault, as if he could have saved him. Maybe he could have. That was the worst thing, he really thought it...

-------------------------Present------------------------

Eiji couldn't bare thinking about that anymore and shook his head hard. His hair fluttered about and he raised his chin once more. The barest hint of wetness clung to his eyes, but nothing fell. He too looked to the place Satsuma used to sit and a hint of a smile touched his lips then he looked down to the table where his tea now sat. He put out his cig, after only 1 drag, then took a sip.

Needing dearly to change the subject, Eiji looked up at his beautiful sister. "Aika. Tell me something nice. Anything new with your life?" A little happiness was always good.

 

[Hoshirei]

She felt her brother latch onto her, and did her best to comfort him. She pet his hair softly and let her tears finally surface. As soon as he came around and choked out what he needed to say, Aika broke down. She wasn't as close to Satsuma as Eiji was, but it hit her hard nonetheless. She wiggled down and cried while lying next to him. She didn't remember ever going to bed that night.

-------------------------------Present-----------------------------------------

She sipped at her tea, noticing her brother's glance at Satsuma's place with a smile. She smiled softly back at him. When he asked for a different subject, though not bluntly, Aika was more than happy to oblige.
"You remember my first medical class? How I came home fuming because I was the youngest in the class? I just discovered that I far out rank some of them even to this day. Serves them right. None of the older kids really ever listened properly."

---------------------------7 years ago----------------------------------------

She had gotten so frustrated in class today. Her class had mostly consisted of kids thirteen and older. She was the youngest in the class at ten. Her sensei took this as a sign that she was a bright, studious child. Everyone else, however, had teased her mercilessly, saying that she was a freak. She couldn't help that she had an idedic memory, though she tended to hide that fact by pretending to forget things. All of that was just before class started.
Once the sensei had walked in, they still wouldn't shut up! He told the class to quiet down at least six times before Aika could barely handle it anymore. She hated disrespectful people. She was still rather short, so she stood up on her desk and created a crystal megaphone that attached to her hand. She spent more than a minute or two berating the class for being so disrespectful. When she had started, everything became quiet. And, once she was finished, it stayed silent the rest of the class. Afterward, her sensei had the gall to tell her what she had done was out of place. She was there to learn, unlike those other wastes of time, which she expressed in more subtle sentiments.
She was absolutely furious as she walked home. She wasn't really one to take anger out on people, but right now she almost wished her brother had kept on the old sitter so she would have someone to yell at. Aika found herself stomping, crystals rising out of the ground with each stomp before sinking back down into the ground. Before she opened the door to their residence, she took a few deep breaths. She could feel crystal forming around her fist though, so her brother would definitely know she wasn't happy.

 

[Hanone]

Eiji sipped on his tea some more. He was glad she was willing to change the subject. It allowed him to put his mind to better times and stop thinking about his loss. His sister's life always interested him too.

What she brought up was a memory he could recall well. When Aika was little she was picked on a lot. And she wasn't a quiet girl. no matter what she might think about herself, when there was something to be said, she said it. As she brought up her school days, a fond smile appeared on her brother's lips and he too imagined those times. Such a little tomboy...

-----------------Past---------------------

Eiji had been off for two days and was going in later that night. ANBU business this time. The babysitter would be coming over around 8 and staying the night with Aika. Eiji did not leaving her alone yet, she was still too young in his opinion. And with the ever-looming threat of his clan, he wouldn't care leave her without a witness.

But he was still home, cleaning dishes in the kitchen after forcing himself to make a sandwich. Eating it was easier than making it. He'd actually made two, but his own was gone.

As expected, Aika was home on time. Due to his paranoia of the clan, he and drilled into the girl about being punctual and to be home on time. but she wasn't okay today. He could feel her chakra even from inside of the house and moved to stand int he kitchen doorway so he could see her when she entered. Since the house was so easy to hear through, he spoke clearly, "What happened, Aika?"

 

[Hoshirei]

Crystal had grown to cover up to almost her elbows when she heard her brother's voice. She was able to control herself enough to not slam the door, though she held up her still fisted other arm to show her brother. It was usually only when she was furious that the crystals started growing to cover her body. This time it was only her arms, but last time it had ended up giving her a crystal body suit before she had calmed down sufficiently enough to make the crystal sink back into her skin.
"Classmates were being annoying. Kept talking even after the sensei asked for quiet. Stood up and chewed them out. After class the teacher had the gall to tell me I was out of line! I was there to learn! How else could I do that if they didn't shut up? Just feel like I need to punch something. I'm so frustrated with all of the people saying that I'm too young to be studying medicine. Or that I look like a boy."
Aika paced as she told her story, starting to feel the anger flush out of her system. She would've been fine with the boy comment if what had happened next hadn't happened. Her eyes blanked as she remembered what happened before class.
-----------------------
"Hey! Hey! Little boy!" Aika just ignored the thirteen year old with an eye roll, not even deigning to turn toward him. "Motomori! You look at your elder when they're talking to you!" Again, she ignored them, this time with a sigh. "Didn't you hear me? I'm your elder! Look at me when I'm talking to you!" Aika snapped her anatomy book closed and stood up from where she was sitting. The thirteen year old was quite a bit taller than her small form, but she held her ground. She had been leaning against a crystal formed tree, though she had used a darker crystal that made it look almost like a real tree.
The young Motomori glared at the boy in front of her. He shoved her back into the tree, his friends blocking him and her from view. "You're too young to be studying such material. Unless you feel you're ready for something like that."
"It's a medical textbook, you imbecile." she growled and showed him spine of the book, right in his sternum.
The boy coughed before grabbing her by the collar. He pressed her harder against the tree. "Look little boy!"
"So Aika's a boy's name now? Is that what you think? I'm a girl, idiot."
It was the boy's turn to growl and he rared back a fist. He swung forward just as she coated her face with a thin layer of diamond-like crystal. She heard the boy's knuckles fracture and smirked. Sometimes, she really liked her bloodline. Besides her brother it was the only good thing to come from her clan, at least that's what she believed.
-----------------------
"A boy tried to punch me in the face. He ended up with his knuckles fractured for his idiocy. I don't think I will ever understand why people feel threatened by those smarter than them, especially when they're younger. I'm the youngest in my class. The only ten year old. Everyone else is either twelve or thirteen. Almost makes me wish I could have a tutor for this section."

 

[Hanone]

Eiji was relatively even tempered. There were few things that could rile him into anger outside of a fight, but anything that had to do with Aika was personal.

At first he just smiled slightly at her frustration. He knew the academy was a pain in the ass. It really didn't matter what they said to her now, in a few years it wouldn't make a difference. His sister would pass them all by. She already was, but when the time came, they would literally be nothing but bad memories.

But his amusement faded. A dark look passed over the beautiful man's face. Yet his composure remained intact, for the moment anyway. He nodded appropriately to her comments and offered a calm sounding response, "People are always threatened by what they know they cannot beat. You're better than them. But of this boy who hit you. What exactly happened today? Details, details, Aika-san." He leaned against the doorway, his arms crossing over his chest. Then almost as an afterthought he added, "Oh, what's his name too?"

Aika knew Eiji well. She was his sister and they lived together. But he'd never really reacted out of pace before.

 

[Hoshirei]

Aika couldn't help but sigh when her brother wanted more details. Of course he wanted more details. Why had she brought the idiot thirteen year old up in the first place? Oh right, because that was part of why there was crystal covering her forearms.
"He kept calling me a boy, trying to get my attention. I hate it when people call me 'little boy' like he did." she clenched her fists again before continuing. "I was reading my anatomy book, the really thick one, and said I was too young to be reading that sort of text. I got annoyed and finally stood up from sitting against my crystal tree and he shoved me against the tree. His buddies surrounded us to hide us from the view of the senseis. Said something about me being interested in a certain type of literature, and I thunked my book against his sternum. Not hard, just made him cough for a second. He called me a little boy again and I gave proper retort. I asked him if Aika was a boy's name now. He growled at me and then hit the crystal cover over my cheek."
She stated the story matter-of-factly, more of the frustrated edge coming off. The crystal on her arms even started receding back into her skin.
As for the idiot's name, Onoko Katsurou."

 

[Hanone]

Well that had made up his mind. And mind you, Eiji was only 20 at the time and a much more temperamental person than he was now. Aika's retelling made him unhappy, but it was the punch the boy had thrown at her that boiled him over. And what was his name? Onoko Katsurou. Onoko... Onoko... he knew an Onoko. He was a little douche fucker in the ANBU. And he was an older guy which suggested this boy was his kid.

Smiling suddenly, Eiji leaned over and kissed Aika on the cheek then moved toward the doorway. "Follow me, nee-chan." And he strode from the house with a strong pace.

The two would leave their own home and make their way to the other side of the Grand Palais. Onoko Nishu lived there. He was a widower and Eiji assumed was this Katsurou's father. As they walked, Eiji refused to say anything or answer any questions if the girl did in fact ask any about where they were going.

A few minutes later they arrived at the doorstep of a regular looking house. Nothing special, but nothing bad either. Maybe a little nicer than their own. Eiji knocked lightly. Someone could be heard moving inside then the door opened and a boy stood there. He was about 12-13 and had this annoyed look which only grew more smug as he saw Aika there too. "Oh, and what do you want now? I had to get my hand fixed, you little bitch."

Well that was all he needed. Eiji reached in, grabbed the kid by his collar and said in a menacing tone, "Don't you ever bother my little sister again, got it?"

The boy was not impressed. He was already taller than Eiji and began to laugh, but he was met with a fist to his teeth. Three snapped from his gums and the boy himself was knocked backward several feet. He landed hard on the ground where he grabbed his face and started to sob. Snarling, he slammed the door shut and turned to Aika. "Now he got what he deserved."


-------------Present-----------

Eiji smiled wider. He remembered all that. He also remembered how angry the boy's father was later and how he'd been confronted. It had ended up in a brawl and the man had been sent to the hospital. Eiji was fine. Yes, it was a good distraction.

"You've always been remarkable, Aika. You will always outshine all your peers and if anyone forgets that, I'll break their teeth too, won't I?" His mood was lifted now and he took a longer drink of his tea. It was a nice flavor.

The timer one the oven went off and Eiji had to rouse himself from the table and retrieve the food. It was a layered bake thing that in no way could Eiji have made. She would know he'd bought it for sure.

Grinning sheepishly, he brought over two slices on plates then sat back down, serving both of them. Eiji was two bites in when he set his fork down. Thinking about her past just opened the floodgates. When was it when things changed for her?

"You know, the boys weren't always mean to you after that. If I don't remember correctly I'm pretty sure that same boy asked you out a few times." Not that she would have taken that offer, but there were other ones that had come to embarrass the girl. One in particular. "Do you remember that one boy, what was his name... Isamu?"

------------4 years ago--------------

Aika had some time since stopped dressing like a boy and was now more girly. Her hair had grown out slightly and was even styled, though she always seemed to keep it relatively short. But after 12 her body started to change. She grew some curve and by the time she was 13, she even had boobs. Eiji rarely teased her about it, but once and a while he'd mention how she needed new shirts.

It wasn't just Eiji who had noticed. It was also the boys. Some of the same ones who had once teased her were at their doorstep asking for her attention. None more than Dungo Isamu, the son of a local baker. He was... well he was a very fat teen with a double chin and a horrible bowl haircut. His perpetual pink cheeks were always redder than usual around Aika. And who could blame him? She was a stunning beauty, like her brother and without the boy clothing and very short hair, she was a knock out.

Isamu was certain he would marry Aika some day. He'd met her by their outlet store... how did it go? Yes..

Eiji had asked Aika to run down to the newly opened bakery outlet down the street after work with him. He didn't like to cook, as usual, and the place was rumored to have the very best rolls and sweets. The two had ended up there before dark. Eiji stood waiting for Aika to choose when the fat boy came around the corner from the backroom, rook one look at the girl and literally fell over his feet. He had collided with the display counter and fumbled to fix his shirt which had lifted up slightly to show his rounded stomach. He flustered, but tried to right it by asking them for their order. Apparently that only worked so well for the boy because he messed it up bad. "Welcome to Dungo Treats, I'm Isamu, would you like to try our beautiful today? I mean our donuts today! They're nice, not as nice as you but, oh I mean.." Red beyond belief, Eiji chuckled behind his hand.

"Yes, want some beautiful today, Aika?"

 

[Hoshirei]

Aika watched her brother's face and body language. She wasn't overly shocked when she saw a glimmer of something in his eyes. The kiss on the cheek told her that something was certainly up. He left quickly, and Aika had to almost jog to make sure she kept up with him. As they crossed the Palais, Aika became more wary, but not of what her brother was going to do, more of where they were. The first few years they lived in Suna, they had lived in the worst section of the Palais. There wasn't much else they could afford. She was hardwired not to trust much of this place.
They arrived at the home of the Onoko family and she wondered even more what exactly Eiji-nii planned on doing. When the boy answered the door, and called her a bitch, she growled, ready to strike him. However, her aniki had other ideas. He grabbed the boy by his shirt collar and growled out his words. The boy started to laugh at her brother and Aika growled once more, that is she tried to growl. It was cut off by her surprise of Eiji punching the kid straight in the mouth. She put a hand on her brother's arm after the door was shut, smiling a little evilly up at him.
She nodded and replied, "Especially since he called me a bitch!" And now, all of the frustration was gone.

------------------------------present--------------------------------

Aika smiled into her tea. Yes, he certainly would break any disrespectful prick's teeth. She smiled once again when the oven went off and Eiji pulled out the certainly store-bought dish. She knew Eiji didn't like to cook, so him doing this, it was good enough for her.
When he grinned at her, she just smirked back. She was in her past a little when Eiji brought up the next topic. Oh, right. She had forced herself to not recall the times that Katsurou asked her out. One was fairly recent, but she'd tell Eiji about that later. Especially after he brought up the poor boy that could never quite control his tongue when she was around, even now.
"Oh yes, I remember him."

--------------------------4 years ago-------------------------------

Aika was looking around the treats shop with a bit of awe. It was amazing how people could make these amazing treats. Lately, she'd been having a hankering for chocolate. She had figured out about two weeks prior. Had gone to do rounds at the tower and was sent home because she had become violently ill more than once. In between puking sessions, she had felt the need to go to the restroom. She ended up screeching bloody murder and one of the nurses walked in. The nurse had talked her down and helped her recall that it was a natural thing, no matter what she thought. She had helped her get cleaned up, got some pain meds for the cramps that had made her throw up, and helped her home. That had not been a fun week.
After she got paid, Aika decided it was time to indulge in the chocolate hankering. She had been bent almost in half, looking at the different confections when the boy tripped. She immediately went into medic-mode and made her way over to the boy to make sure he was okay. She was rather flabbergasted when he stuttered over his words, replacing the word donut with beautiful.
She was a little shocked. She knew that her appearance had changed quite a bit, but this was the first boy to actually stammer over himself over her. When Eiji chuckled, she glared at him a little bit. He should know/remember how some of the guys acted around him. Her brother was twenty-three and absolutely gorgeous. She saw more than a few men, and women (though she just scoffed at them, her brother was gay for heaven's sake), staring after her brother and stammering while trying to speak to him.
"Nii-san, be nice."
She turned and smiled at the boy, a small glint of mischief in her crystal blue eyes. This next move would probably make both guys stutter over themselves.
"Some of the gals at work have been talking about this cake that you guys carry. It's called, what was it again?" she tapped her chin a few times before finishing. "Ah yes! The 'Better Than Sex' cake. Do you have any of that available today?"

 

[Hanone]

Eiji's smile turned into an all out laugh, a rarity for the man. He was so solemn by nature that it was a surprise to hear it. Being unable to stand by, Eiji joined in on the joke, wrapping his arms around Aika's shoulders and kissed her soft cheek suggestively. "Sister, better than sex cake is only good when it's homemade. You need to add some special love into it to make it just right. Unless you do add some special love into making it, eh Isamu? If that's the case, and you make it personally, I'll have some too."

The poor round boy stuttered and blushed furiously. He wasn't used to such teasing. What was more was he couldn't take his eyes off the contact between the siblings. If you could see passed his embarressment, you could almost see him looking a little.. lustful? "Um.. we.. have that cake... no I don't make it... sir." he stumbled over himself, hurrying to get Aika a slice of their 'Shinigami's 7-layer Chocolate Cake' otherwise known as 'Better than Sex' cake. It did look pretty amazing. It had seven layers of cake, the layers interchanging between dark and light chocolate and between each cake layer was thick, mousse style buttercream frosting, also dark chocolate. The cake was topped with white chocolate curls and cocoa powder dust.

Eiji wasn't a chocolate fan, but even that cake looked good to him. He almost ordered his own, but decided on just some coffee and a croissant. Once the boy was racing off to fetch his order, Eiji released his hold on his sister and grinned. "I think he's in love. And did you see that? He liked when I kissed you. Haha!" Kid was a pervert! But it made it all more fun. In fact it was possible, depending on how well Aika had taken the whole situation, that Eiji would end up making trouble for more people like this in the future. It could very well be the beginning of a friendship, not just a sibling relation.

 

[Hoshirei]

Aika's crystal eyes sparkled when she heard her brother laugh. It was a true laugh, almost as good as the ones she had heard after Satsuma had said either something cute or funny. When he kissed her cheek, it only took her a second to continue on with his new idea. She giggled with a mischievous look in her eyes. She watched the boy as he stumbled over his words again and went to fetch first her order and then Eiji's. While she was sure the boy could still see her, she scooped out a bit of frosting on her finger and licked it off. The soft moan wasn't fake, the icing was really that good. The poor boy just couldn't stay in the room any longer and rushed out.
"Poor guy. With you adding to the teasing, I'm surprised he didn't pass out from a nose bleed or something!" Aika giggled softly. She thought about what she had seen in the boy's eyes when her brother had kissed her cheek. There was certainly intrigue, and- dare she say it?- lust within his eyes. She figured the boy might still be listening. This wasn't a huge shop after all, it only made sense that it was of similar acoustics as their home.
She sat down at one of the small tables and tucked into her cake. After one bite of every layer together, her eyes widened and she moaned softly again. She thought a little more. If it was this fun to tease boys, then she might just like being a girl after all. She scooped up a forkful of cake and leveled it carefully, pointed toward her brother.
"Eiji, I know you don't like chocolate a ton, but you have got to try this!"

 

[Hanone]

He had no doubt the boy had been listening in and was dying somewhere in the back. This was only reaffirmed as another plain girl came back with his order. The boy was probably hyperventilating in the back. Chuckling, he too went to the small table and slipped into a seat, crossing his legs at the knee. He sipped on his coffee and smiled lightly at his little blossoming sister. He shook his head at the offer of the cake, denying the chocolaty delicacy for now (he would later buy a piece himself when Aika wasn't looking and enjoyed it thoroughly but not today).

--------------present--------------

It wasn't the last time they would see Isamu. In fact over the next few years he would find Aika, blush and stutter over her whenever his eyes met hers. In fact to this day Isamu worked at the small bakery. Eiji was sure he wanted to marry her and... "You know, Isamu would marry you and give you lots of babies if you ever asked him." Eiji snickered behind his tea, peering over the rim of the cup at Aika. He was sure she wouldn't be amused.

"But that's only because you're so pretty. Almost as pretty as me, right?" he teased her again. They were probably very close in that department, as seen one more than one occasion. Sure she hadn't been able to fight him like that when she was 13, but when she was 16, or now? Certainly. In fact it was only last year she was making that point very clear. Eiji's eyes looked sharp for a minute and he spoke to Aika, his voice reflecting his sharp expression. "Don't suppose you remember what happened last year? That one night.. when what's his face was over."

[letting you do this one XP]

 

[Hoshirei]

[present]

Kimi had taken to a sip of her tea right when Eiji mentioned that Isamu would be more than happy to give her lots of babies. She choked on a sip that she had somehow breathed in. She spent a few moments coughing before using medical chakra to remove the fluid from her lungs. She wanted to reach across the table and whack her brother upside the head. Her first reaction, however, was crushed by wanting to get him back for his words.
"Well, he is looking rather handsome lately. He's definitely converted much of his old weight for muscle. Must be all that hand mixing he does."
She smirked through a bite of food, though it turned into a smile when her brother complemented her. She couldn't help but chuckle at his words.
"We do look quite a bit like twins, no matter the age difference." Aika smiled once more and then saw Eiji's eyes change. When he spoke, it brought back the memory of a meeting she didn't quite like to recall. Her nails visibly changed color and lengthened at the memory.
"Yes, I remember him." she paused. "Unfortunately."

-------------------------1 year prior------------------------

Aika had actually agreed to go on a date with a boy after him asking rather sweetly. For once, she hadn't bound her breasts, and had worn something rather feminine. A tight, slinky black number that showed off just enough of her curves to titillate the mind of her date. Eiji hadn't been home as she left, which Aika counted as a saving grace. If he had seen her, he probably would have forced her to go change. She wasn't all that comfortable herself in this dress, but one of the nurses had given it to her specifically for dates.
She met Inaku at a restaurant and they had a nice dinner. He had then taken her to a club where she let loose. She had her favorite drinks and they danced for a while. They ended up in a make-out session in an alley on the way home. He had then taken her back home, leaving her unfortunately flustered, hot, and bothered. Inaku had wanted to be a gentleman and had refused to come in and finish what he had started.
Some gentleman. A gentleman wouldn't have left me like this!
Aika headed toward her room, and her b.o.b., when she heard pants and moans coming from Eiji's room. Her own frustration forgotten, she went to investigate. If her brother had brought home a man, then it was her "job" to make sure that the man was there for more than her brother's body. After Satsuma, she hadn't really trusted many men around him. A few were alright, but none of them could ever take the edge, that Satsuma's death had left, off of her heart, let alone Eiji's.
Without a knock, she tried to open the door.