Back in the hidden leaf village, the bell above the door chimed softly as Akane stepped into the Yamanaka Flower Shop. The familiar scent of flowers filled the air, a mix of sweet and earthy aromas that brought a small, bittersweet smile to her face.
Ino Yamanaka stood behind the counter, arranging a bouquet with practiced hands. When she noticed Akane, her expression brightened, but there was a hint of curiosity in her gaze. "Akane! It's been a while. What brings you in today?"
Akane walked over to one of the displays, her fingers lightly brushing the petals of a white lily. "I wanted to buy some flowers for Daichi," she said quietly. The memory of her fallen teammate weighed heavily on her, even after all this time.
Ino's expression softened, and she nodded in understanding. "Of course. The lilies are a good choice—they were his favorite, right?"
Akane nodded, picking up a few more flowers to add to the arrangement. As she did, she felt Ino's eyes on her, studying her as if trying to decide whether to say something. Finally, Ino broke the silence.
"Akane... a few days ago, I saw you with a really handsome red-haired boy," Ino said, her tone light but with an undeniable curiosity. "Who was that? I don't think I've seen him around before."
Akane paused, the memory of Kenshin beside her in the village flashing in her mind. She had anticipated this question, but it still caught her off guard. She turned to face Ino, her expression composed.
"That was my younger brother, Kenshin," she explained. "Well, technically, he's not my biological brother. He and his mother were shinobi from the Hidden Rain, but they're moving to the Leaf soon. His mother decided to adopt me since... his father was an Uchiha."
Ino blinked, clearly surprised by the revelation. "Wait, what? Rain shinobi moving to the Leaf?" She frowned slightly, her curiosity turning into skepticism. "That's pretty unusual, especially given their reputation. How did that even get approved?"
Akane hesitated, realizing that she needed to tread carefully. "It's... complicated. His mother is an Uzumaki, and she wanted to make a fresh start. Plus, with Kenshin's father being an Uchiha, she thought it would be best for him to be here, in his father's home village. Not to mention that our village had a close relationship with the Uzumaki clan as well."
Ino still looked doubtful, her brows furrowed in thought. "I guess that makes sense, but it's not every day something like this happens. I mean, the Hokage must have signed off on it, right?"
Akane nodded, trying to keep her tone casual. "Yes, she personally offered them a chance to move to our village."
Ino glanced over at her mother, who was busy tending to another customer. Then, she turned back to Akane, a spark of interest in her eyes despite her reservations. "You know, I think I might be a little interested in your brother. He seems... mysterious. Maybe you could introduce us properly when they move here?"
Akane's smile faltered just slightly, though she quickly masked it. The idea of Ino being interested in Kenshin didn't sit well with her, but she knew Ino didn't know the truth. "Sure, maybe," Akane replied noncommittally, hoping to steer the conversation away from Kenshin.
Ino's mother noticed Akane and gestured that Ino was free to go if needed. Ino nodded and turned back to Akane. "Hey, why don't I come with you to Daichi's grave? I could use a break, and it's been a while since I visited him too."
Akane hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "I'd like that."
With the flowers in hand, the two girls left the shop together, walking side by side through the village. As they made their way to the cemetery, Ino kept the conversation light, but Akane's thoughts were elsewhere, swirling around the future and the day when Kenshin would return to the Leaf.
When they finally reached Daichi's grave, Ino grew quiet, her usual cheerful demeanor fading into something more solemn. Akane knelt down, placing the flowers at the base of the headstone. She traced her fingers over Daichi's name, her heart heavy with memories of their time as teammates.
Ino stood beside her, silent for a moment before she spoke. "I still miss him, you know. He was more than just a cousin—he was like a brother to me."
Akane nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "He was like family to me and Maki too."
They both fell silent, the weight of their loss hanging in the air between them. After a while, Ino spoke again, her tone softer. "I'm really glad you're not alone, Akane. I mean, with your brother and all. It's good to have family."
Akane didn't respond immediately, her thoughts too tangled to find the right words. Finally, she simply said, "Yeah, it is."
As they left the cemetery, the sun began to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows across the village. Ino turned to Akane with a bright smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Let me know when Kenshin gets here, okay? I'd love to help show him around the village."
Akane nodded, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "I will," she promised, even as her heart tightened with the weight of the secrets she was keeping.
As they parted ways, Akane couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread. The day when Kenshin and Kana would return was drawing closer, and with it, the complications of their new life in the Hidden Leaf.
All she could do was hope that they would be able to overcome everything and hopefully have a peaceful life together.
On the other hand, back in the hidden rain village, The air was crisp and cold, the snowflakes gently falling and accumulating on the ground as Kenshin and Kana moved through their final preparations.
The Hidden Rain Village had taken on a quiet, almost solemn atmosphere in the winter, the usual hustle and bustle muted beneath a blanket of snow.
Kenshin and Kana were in their modest home, which was now stripped of personal touches and almost bare. The room was filled with neatly rolled storage scrolls, each one holding a small part of their lives—clothing, books, trinkets, and a few mementos.
The scrolls, though numerous in their variety, barely made a dent in the space they once occupied.
Kenshin was focused on rolling up the last of their belongings, his movements methodical but with a slight edge of distraction. He glanced at Kana, who was meticulously checking each scroll to ensure nothing was left behind.
"Everything seems to be in order," Kana said, her voice calm but her eyes betraying a hint of nostalgia. "It feels strange, leaving everything behind like this."
"I know," Kenshin replied, his voice low.
Kana looked up at him, her expression softening. "Yes, but still, it's hard to let go."
Kenshin nodded, glancing around the room one last time. "Onee-san came by earlier to let us know we can leave tomorrow. I felt kinda relieved that it's all approved but at the same time, it's hard to shake this feeling I've been having."
Kana paused in her work, her gaze concerned. "What kind of feeling?"
"Just... a strange sensation that something important is being left behind. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's just the stress from working on my jutsu," Kenshin said with a shrug.
Kana walked over to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You're probably just anxious about the move."
He smiled faintly, appreciating her support. "Yeah, you're probably right."
They continued their work in silence, the only sounds being the rustling of scrolls and the faint creak of the floorboards. The snow continued to fall outside, blanketing the village in white, making it feel like an entirely different world.
As they finished packing the last of their belongings, the small pile of scrolls was neatly arranged in a single bag. It was a modest collection, but it represented a significant chapter in their lives.
[Image of Ino]
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