#obiryū october

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-Six | Good Ol’ Days ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Jiraiya, Hatake Kakashi ] [ Verse: Good Ol’ Days ] [ Vulgarity, alcohol ]

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“You wanted to see me?”

Exhaling from his pipe, Madara glances up to see one of his underlings lingering in the doorway to his office. “Yes. Fees are due in one of our new districts, I want to send you to collect.”

Immediately, Obito’s expression sours. “Me, on collection? But -?”

“Yes you, on collection,” his employer cuts in, giving him no time to complain as he reads a correspondence, chewing the stem of his pipe idly. “Everyone else is busy and you’re the closest thing I have to a collection officer. I’m not about to send one of those trigger-happy pups. You’re level headed enough to handle it.”

The younger Uchiha looks nearly ready to pout. “...what district is it?”

“Madison avenue to Thirty-Fourth.” Turning behind himself, Madara uses his pipe to point to the map of their territories he keeps as a kind of banner. “Here. It’s mostly businesses, not residential. It shouldn’t take you long.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Still clearly disgruntled, Obito nonetheless heads to the coatrack bearing his jacket and hat, muttering to himself as other members of the gang eye him with perked brows.

He’s used to it.

The brim of his bowler sits squarely atop the contraption over his missing eye, the whirling, steam-powered gizmo working to focus as his gaze shifts. And as always, it’s a bit of a struggle getting his coat on over the cogs and pistons of his false arm.

But every time he gets annoyed with them, he reminds himself he’s lucky to have them.

Stepping out to the curb beyond their headquarters building, Obito hails one of their drivers, giving directions and sitting back for the ride. He’s never been to this part of town, let alone since the Uchiha gang got ahold of it. Now they’ll be making further profits with their racketeering and protection fees for all of the business within the district. More work, but… more money.

The ever-present tradeoff.

When they arrive at the proper corner, he orders the driver to return in two hours and wait for him. Hopefully by then he can visit all the buildings within their new territory and collect the cash. As much as Obito sometimes enjoys getting to rough up anyone unable to pay, he really just wants to get this over with today. The sooner he’s done, the sooner he can get home and have a drink, enjoy the rest of his evening. Why Madara couldn’t have asked him this morning, he’ll never know.

His stops, to his surprise, go rather smoothly. It seems they’ve already been warned of the new management, business owners looking somber yet handing over the protection fees owed to the Uchiha mafia. Obito, rather used to it, just looks on boredly as citizens fork over their hard-earned wages.

But then he comes across the district’s most...interesting establishment.

A club. Specifically...a speakeasy.

Frowning lightly at the sign over the door, Obito nonetheless heads in. Business is business, after all. Making his way through the entry hall and passing a few patrons, he can hear the jazz music coming up from the belly of the club. Once through the entryway, he finds himself in the main room. Along the right hand wall, a beautiful bar of solid oak offers drinks, people seated atop the stools and conversing. Tables fill the belly of the space, the very middle kept open for those wanting to dance. The smell of cigar smoke, perfume, and spirits fill the air.

Toward the back, a live band plays: strings, brass, and drums come together to make a hopping tune that a line of dancers flare their skirts to, the crowd hooting and hollering as they move.

...where hell is he supposed to find the owner? It’s a madhouse in here!

He tries to maneuver around in search, eyepiece zooming onto potential faces as he slips in and out of crowds. But no one really looks the part...so he tries the bar.

Scrubbing a glass, a man with a rather similar eyepiece to his own gives him a curious glance. “What can I get you?”

“I need to speak to the owner,” Obito offers, glancing round a bit furtively. “He here?”

“I don’t believe so. He’s not around very often.”

Great. “Well it’s important. Business. His protection fee is due...and my employer isn’t a very patient man.”

Grey brows lift. “...I see. Lemme see if I can get him on the phone. Meanwhile...you might as well sit and get comfortable. How about a freebie on the house for all of your...hard work?”

Obito almost scoffs at the clear suck-up to the person here to enforce the protection fee. “Yeah. Sure. Just make sure you make it clear I don’t have a lot of time. I’ve got other places to be tonight. Otherwise I’ll have to arrange another meeting, and that won’t make me very happy.”

The silver-haired man just gives a nervous smile. “Sure, sure...have a seat, I’ll make the call, let you know.” With that, he pours Obito a shot of whiskey before heading to a nearby telephone.

Sighing, Obito accepts the peace offering and finds an empty table, knocking it back with a smack of his lips. Across the hall, the previous act is ending, the dancers disappearing through a curtain as an announcer steps up to the microphone.

“Wasn’t that just fabulous, ladies and gents? A beauty, every one of ‘em! But now, we’re gonna change our tune for a spell and bring you another lovely lady. Voice and face of an angel, folks. One of our most popular acts to step on this stage, I give you...Ryū!” The man ducks aside, gesturing to the stage as he exits.

Rather than out from behind a curtain, a platform lowers...and then rises back to the level of the stage. With it comes a woman and a microphone held within a stand.

She’s dressed in a silvery gown covered in sequins. Strands of colorless plastic jewels hang from the hem along her thighs, turning her into a sparkling, shifting specter. Add in the white waves of her hair and her pale skin, and she’s almost ethereal. Delicate hands hold the mic stand, head bowed and eyes closed.

A hush falls over the room.

Then with a rush, a jumping jazz tune kicks up from the band. Head lifting and eyes opening, Ryū gives the crowd a dazzling smile, hips swaying and catching even more light. All around her, it reflects in a million tiny specks of light.

Obito finds himself staring, jaw a bit slackened.

A few bars of music pass before she starts singing, tone smooth and sweet as she croons the jazzy number. Below on the floor, couples immediately get up and start dancing, the entire room energized and alive.

A minute passes before Obito shakes his head clear. With a crank of his eyepiece, he gets it to zoom in toward the stage, giving him a clearer view of the singer when his other eye closes. She shuffles around her microphone with shimmies and shakes, every move flooding the hall with light from the spotlight on her person. And her voice is full and lilting, perfectly bringing the number to life as it fills the entire hall.

He’s never seen anyone so enthralling.

For the whole of the song he just sits and watches through the lens, not noticing the passing time. It’s only once the music stops and the crowd starts clapping that he snaps out of it, opening his eye and clapping along.

Wow.

And then, a moment later, his otherwise-empty table finds itself occupied.

“So...you’re the dog Madara sent, are you?”

Taken aback (and mentally chastising himself for getting caught off guard), Obito turns to see a man that dwarfs even his own solid build. Tall, barrel-chest, and with a wild mane of snow-white hair, the club owner lights a cigar and gives it a few puffs. “Er...yes. Obito.”

“Normally I’d be pretty peeved at having my evening interrupted, but...well, I can never say now to this particular act.”

Obito blinks before looking back to the stage. A gear starts turning in his mind.

“So. Protection fees. Any shift in the price since our little neighborhood changed hands again? I’d hope the Uchiha are a bit more reasonable, but...I won’t hold my breath.”

“No change,” Obito assures him, tone a bit distracted. “Can’t speak for next month, but...for here and now, it’s the same.”

Nevertheless looking agitated, the man reaches into his back pocket and fetches a billfold, counting out the proper bills. “Y’know, I’d like a chance to meet the man himself. See if we can come to some kind of...agreement. Prohibition is making things a little dicey for me, now. But, if he wanted to lend me a hand getting things...moved, then we might be able to come to a more lucrative business arrangement.”

“...er…” Obito balks, not sure how to respond. “...I’ll...let him know you want to talk. Can’t make any guarantees, though. He’s a busy man. A bit reclusive. There’d have to be a lot of arranging before you could likely meet.”

“I’m patient. To a point. Talk to him, see what he says. Cuz I’m tired of cops breathing down my neck looking for booze. A little help in that department would make it easier for me to make money...and in turn, that boss of yours.”

Obito just gives an awkward nod.

Handing over the money, the owner breathes a plume of smoke, gaze turned fondly back to the stage. “...ah, my pride and joy. I don’t get away enough to come hear her sing…”

The gear snaps to a stop. “...she’s your daughter?”

“Mm. All I’ve got left after her mother passed. Her and this club, it’s all that keeps me going. Hence me wanting to keep the place afloat. I’d rather have her sing here than anywhere else. Never know what you’ll run into, otherwise.”

Obito’s awkward air only gets worse, realizing he was ogling the owner’s daughter. “...right.”

The man glances to him, and then offers a hand. “Jiraiya. And it was Obito, right?”

“Yeah.” He accepts the shake. “Not the best circumstances, but uh...pleasure.”

Jiraiya just snorts. “You don’t have to sugarcoat it, boy. You work for someone extorting me. Odds are he’s extorting you and the rest of his cronies, too. I’m not about to shoot the messenger, so you can ease up. You’re not the one wringing money out of my pocket. Not directly.”

Obito, suddenly feeling sheepish, doesn’t have a reply for that.

“...well, I’m going to go make a few phone calls,” Jiraiya then offers with a sigh. “Might as well get a little business done while I’m here. You just...do whatever it is you lackies do, I suppose. And don’t forget to ask old Madara about that meeting. We can have it here over drinks if he wants.”

“Er, right. I’ll let him know.” Watching Jiraiya retreat, Obito leans back in his seat with a sigh.

It’s true, the outlawing of alcohol has hit a lot of their businesses hard. Getting spirits to their bars and other establishments is getting harder and harder. Even if Madara doesn’t help Jiraiya specifically, they do need to address the change in the law and how it’s affecting their profits. They also rely on gambling and other crimes to bring in money, but alcohol is practically the backbone of their operations.

If there’s one thing people love to do, it’s drink.

A hand rubs at his chin, thinking. It would be smart of Madara to meet with this Jiraiya fellow. This club is clearly popular if the current turnout is anything to go by. Helping him keep and expand his clientele through the dry years would be wise.

But he also knows that the old Uchiha is a stubborn man, and getting him to leave his hovel and actually do business face to face would be...difficult. Maybe he can convince Madara, maybe he can’t. But he better try, either way.

In the meantime, however, he finds his attention drifting back to the stage. By now, Ryū has moved on to another song, this one just as lively and engaging as the last. She has such a charming face...add in her jovial expression, happy body language, and the purring tones of her voice, and Obito realizes he could very well let the rest of his evening slip away here if he wanted to.

...but he has a few other places to hit, and his driver will be waiting sooner or later. Besides, it sounds like he’ll be back eventually to try and arrange that meeting with Jiraiya. He can lurk around then.

The song ends, and the crowd actually seems to sadden as it’s announced that Ryū will be taking a break, appearing again later to let her vocal chords rest. She leaves the stage manually by the stairs this time, greeting guests with a warm smile as she works her way around toward the bar.

Which will take her right past Obito’s table.

He can’t help but stiffen, torn between hiding under the rim of his bowler and maybe trying to catch her eye. In the meantime, the band plays music alone without an act, even more people getting up to dance.

Maybe he should just bolt -!

“Oh!”

...too late.

Ryū pauses at his table, open curiosity on her face. Likely because of his replacement parts and his scars…

Giving her a momentary glance, Obito tries to smile, but...it probably comes off more as a grimace.

“You’ve got one of those eyepieces like Kakashi at the bar!” Rather than perturbed, she seems...excited! She takes the seat beside him, leaning in as Obito leans back. “Is it true you can use it like a telescope? How nifty would that be? Though…” She suddenly sobers, chin tucking toward her chest. “...I guess most people get them because of an injury, right…? I know that’s why Kakashi’s got one…”

“Er…” He tries to level his head, a bit taken aback (and flustered) at her sudden proximity. “Y-yeah, I lost the eye when I was a boy. I just got this a few months back. I’m...still getting used to it. But yeah, I can use it to see things far away. Not too far, but...to the stage, for example.” He just...conveniently leaves out he was watching her with it.

At his positive reaction, she brightens again. “Wow…! I mean...I’m sorry about your eye. But m’glad you got that gizmo to help! And...it looks like there’s something with your hand…?”

Obito gives a dry sound of humor. “Observant, aren’t you?”

At that, she turns sheepish. “Y...yeah. My father says it’s a good thing, but...sometimes I can’t help but feel nosy. Tell me to buzz off if you need to. Y’just don’t see this stuff up close too often! My ma was a doctor, so it sort of...fascinates me a bit.”

“Oh?”

“Mhm! She passed when I was little, so...I don’t remember much. But I still feel kinda drawn to this stuff.”

Obito eyes her for a moment. She’s so...uncensored, just spouting off whatever comes to mind. It’s a bit refreshing. “...yeah, I have a false hand. And, er...technically the whole arm to my shoulder. Makes putting anything on a real pain.”

Her eyes go round as dinner plates. “Oh, wow...I’d bet! A whole arm...I’m so sorry.”

“Not much I can do about it. And I’m lucky to have the parts I have. My uncle, uh...got them for me.” Technically not a lie, but...also not the whole truth.

Madara did get him the parts...but only to make him into a decent lackey. And he holds the debt over Obito’s head for his work. Work that is extremely illegal and in many cases harmful. But, well...humans have their vices. Someone might as well supply them.

“I see! Well m’glad you have them,” Ryū offers again, smiling once more and making Obito’s stomach feel...odd. “Say...you come here often?”

...oh. How to answer that…? “...er...no. This is my first time, but...I’ll probably be back. My employer, uh...works with yours…?” Also technically not true, but...how else to break that subject…?

Understanding seems to wipe her face clean for a moment. “...oh.”

Obito flinches.

“Well, it is what it is,” she sighs. “At least you’re nicer than the fella who used to come around before. I didn’t like him much...had this weird way about him. Gave me the heebie jeebies.”

Well, that’s...a better reaction than he was fearing.

Ryū sighs, blowing some of her fringe along her brow. “Well...I better go get some water before I head back on stage. But it was nice to meet you, uh…” Her face goes slack. “...oh! I never -? I’m Ryū! And uh...you were…?”

“Obito,” he replies, taking her offered hand and shaking it.

“Obito! Well...I guess I’ll see you around then, hm?” Giving a smile, she abandons her seat and approaches the bar, talking to the one called Kakashi.

Obito watches them, trying to be discreet. They seem...friendly. Ryū lends her arms atop the bar, one hip cocked and talking as Kakashi listens.

...are they…?

Realizing he’s delving into things he really shouldn’t, he gets up and heads toward the door. By now he has no idea how much time has passed, and he still has a few buildings to visit before he can head back. In his mind, he stews over the entire encounter: Jiraiya’s business offering, Ryū’s friendly curiosity.

...well, he’ll be back either way. Whether it be another collection, or trying to arrange this meeting Jiraiya wants.

He can puzzle things out then.

     A few things: we’re into the prompts I got to make, which...I basically just took my idea list and made prompts around them xD And second, uh...I’m very behind. I just got burnt out and tired and busy, so...take all my excuses kjdfgjh      Anywho, this is...meant to be Steampunk...? 1920′s Steampunk America. Cuz...I dunno, reasons. It’s just a random idea that’s been stuck in my head for months with no occasion to be written until now xD I’m not very knowledgeable in EITHER of those things, but...I tried lol      Anyway, I...dunno if I’ll write more tonight or not. Either way I’m p sure I’ll be at least a day or two late finishing this ship month cuz I’m just...wiped, lol - but I WILL finish, either way! Thanks for reading~

[kusunokihimea]

"Do you think I can sit with you for dinner? At your house's table?" [[ Harry Potter AU, with Obito not respecting the boundaries of houses

[ @abyssaldespair ]

     Ryū pauses in her reading, looking up from her book and blinking. “I...actually don’t know,” she replies, tone uncertain. “I’ve...never really thought about it. I don’t...think there’s a rule that says you can’t? I suppose I could ask someone...but I don’t see why not.”

     They’ve already passed what seems to be a far more questionable line, what with Obito occasionally slipping into the Hufflepuff dormitory. It caused quite the stir at first, what with a big bulky Slytherin making his way into the least threatening house’s dorm. But Hufflepuffs are also by far the most welcoming, and after a little explanation (and a lot of blushing), Ryū managed to convince them to let him stay in the common room every so often. Just...so long as he didn’t try sneaking into the actual dorms.

     Obito’s not nearly as mean as he looks, after all...and he’s quickly becoming a regular, and a bit of a favorite with the other Puffs.

     So surely a spot at the house table won’t be much of a problem, will it? The staff might question it, though...not to mention the other houses. They all sit together for a reason...will that start a problem of people mixing up the tables too much...?

     “Well...maybe so long as we don’t make a fuss and no one notices,” she eventually offers with a shrug. “I s’pose the worst they can do is make you move, right?” Or maybe deduct house points...but it’s not like he’d be hurting anything!

[kusunokihime]

     [ So I’m not online buuut just giving a wee update: I have all but two of my drafts in the queue, which as it is now will run for five days before hitting empty! I wanted to get that done to ease back into activity after the WHIRLWIND that was last week, lol

     Otherwise I’m hoping to be on more steadily starting tomorrow, we’ll see how things go! Otherwise you can usually find me on D.iscord, esp in Ghost’s RP server while I lurk =w= ]

[abyssaldespair]

boundlessbomber reblogged your post:kusunogatari: [ ObiRyū October | Day One |...

God damnnn this was so freaking precious Reiji is such a precious bean ;w;

[[ yyYEAAASSS I love him so much! uwu ♥

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Sixteen | Incantation ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Hatake Kakashi ] [ Verse: Ghost Among the Ghosts ]

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“Hi, Mom...it’s me again. I brought you some fresh flowers! Sorry I left the other ones here so long...I’ve been busy the last few weeks. School is going well, but...it’s a lot of work. I’m keeping my grades up, at least. But that means less time for...everything else. And no, I still don’t have a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend, for that matter. But maybe that’s a good thing. I’d be really inattentive lately, and that wouldn’t be fair. I dunno, maybe I’ll meet someone after, y’know? But if work is busy too, then...guess I’ll just be a crazy old cat lady. Though I don’t have a cat yet…”

She’s rambling. But then again, that usually happens when she takes a day to catch up with her mother. Sitting cross-legged in the grass, Ryū lets an elbow rest on a knee, chin held in a palm. It’s nice to just...sit and chat.

And given Reika can’t really reply, it means she can go on for as long as she wants.

“Dad came to visit yesterday. That was nice. He said he was going to stop by and see you while he was here. I hope he did. Guess he didn’t leave anything, but...well, I told him I was going to stop by today. Maybe he just figured things would get cluttered, otherwise.”

Beyond the freshly-replaced flowers, Reika’s headstone is clear. There’s a small growth of lichen, but she’ll take care of that while she’s here. Otherwise, the polished black marble is flawless.

“Anyway...I guess there’s really not much else to report. Kinda stuck in a bit of a slog, I suppose. Same routine over and over. Classes change, but the routine doesn’t.” Shifting positions, she leans back on her palms, sighing. “There’s a few people I’ve seen in a couple of classes with me, but...haven’t really made any friends. Dad says I’d scare them away anyway cuz I spend so much time here.” Ryū can’t help a snicker. “I might’ve had my baby goth phase in high school, but it didn’t stick. I just...like dark clothes and hanging out with my dead mom! Nothing weird about that, right?”

The only answer is wind rustling through the cemetery trees.

Another sigh escapes her, seeming to get lost in thought. “...guess I kinda just fell into it all. The image, I mean. People were always calling me Ghost, so...it was easier to roll with it than fight it. Is that weird? Maybe not. Guess I just kinda adopted it. Maybe part of it’s still sticking, huh?”

Another thoughtful silence before she straightens, hauling herself to her feet and brushing leaves and grass from her clothes. “Well...I won’t bug you any more today. Though I’m not really looking forward to heading back to my dorm. It’s so cramped, and my roommate snores. Not to mention I have an essay to do when I get there. So maybe I’ll just...wander around a bit. Y’know...procrastinate.”

After clearing the lichen, Ryū says her goodbyes before heading further into the cemetery rather than back toward the gate.

It’s strange. She’s here so often, yet she’s never really taken the time to look at any other parts of the graveyard. Even back when she was embracing her spooky image in high school.

Better late than never, she supposes.

The further you go, the older the plots get...and eventually, entire family crypts start popping up. Ryū eyes them curiously, feeling an old itch start bubbling up to the surface. Maybe she’ll just...take some pictures. For old time’s sake. Surely nobody will mind, right?

Out comes her phone, subtly snapping photos of some of the more unique headstones. One bears an entire full-size weeping angel, arms outstretched to the sky in mourning.

“Wicked…!”

Okay maybe her goth phase isn’t as over as she likes to pretend it is.

Soon enough she’s losing herself in it, taking artsy pics of as much spooky splendor as she can manage. The cloudy Autumn day only adds to the atmosphere, she can’t help it!

And then she hits the motherlode.

Looming up out of the gloom is one of the crypts: its own stone building to inter members of a family. And this one is massive...let alone clearly old as old gets. A wrought iron gate blocks access to the interior, and no matter how she cranes her neck, Ryū can only see so far.

Backing up a few paces, she realizes there isn’t a family name carved anywhere in the stone. That’s a bit odd. Instead, a phrase is etched along the top of the threshold. Usually it’s something in Latin, but...this doesn’t look quite right.

Brow furrowing, Ryū reads it over a few times in her head. Maybe it is Latin and she’s just...really rusty. But her curiosity persists, and so she googles it.

...nothing really comes up.

Well, drat.

A sigh escapes her, tucking away her phone for the moment. Under her breath, she tries sounding it out, doing so slowly with the Latin pronunciation that she knows.

As soon as she finishes, a flash of cold washes over her, seemingly coming up from the crypt.

Every hair on her body stands on end, tensing as eyes fly wide.

...what the…?

Fog then begins to plume up the steps, curling around the gate. And as she stares, Ryū sees hands slowly reach to grip the bars. Then with an ear-splitting creak, it starts to swing open.

Oh this is not good...what did she do?! What, was that some kind of...incantation? That stuff isn’t real…! And why would it be carved into a crypt?!

A deep, raspy chuckle then sounds, and a shiver runs its way up her spine. Every part of her brain is screaming at her to run...but she can’t get her legs to move, locked into place as she trembles.

“Well well...been a while since anyone’s given those words a read. Was starting to wonder if anyone would ever bother…”

With a lurch, she manages to stumble back half a step, body feeling rigid and stubborn. “Who...who’s there…?”

“You mean to tell me you read the invocation, and you don’t even know who you’re talking to? I should be offended. And here I was so relieved at finally getting a chance to stretch my legs! Hell gets so boring after a while…”

A figure then starts to emerge from the fog. And Ryū’s heart feels about ready to jump right out of her chest. Hell...this person’s from Hell? Then...doesn’t that mean -?

“I guess I can still manage an introduction. But...you first, hm? Only polite, since you rang.”

...is it wise to tell them that? “It...it’s Ryū. M-my name is...is Ryū.”

“Ryū…?” They seem to roll the word around in their mouth, as if tasting it. “Hm...I suppose that’ll do. And my name...is Obito.”

They take one last step, and Ryū beholds the demon in all their glory.

...it’s not an image she expects.

It’s not a gargoyle-like creature. No cloven hooves, no horns. It’s just a...a man? Wearing black slacks, shining black shoes, a violet button-down shirt, and a black vest. A hand wrapped in a fingerless glove adjusts a matching purple tie. Short dark hair, glowing red eyes, and...and…

Scars. All over the right side of his face. Some even peek up from under the loose collar of his shirt.

“Why is it everybody always stares, hm? Something on my face?”

Ryū forces herself to blink. “...I-I -?”

Ignoring her, the demon glances around. “...huh. Not where I expected to pop up. No one’s used this place in a long time. Being nosy, are we?”

“Wh-? N-no! I...I was just looking, and…?”

“And decided to recite the obviously-demonic carving on the wall?”

She sputters. Obviously demonic? How was she supposed to know?! “I-I didn’t know that’s what it was! I-I swear!”

Obito just rolls his eyes. “Uh huh. That’s what they all say.”

“Can’t you just, um...g-go back where you came from?”

“I’m afraid not, you see…” He starts sauntering toward her, her own legs attempting to retreat. “Demons, once called out of Hell, can only return once they have their contracted’s soul in their possession. It’s a system. And given that you called me...that means you.”

“I-I didn’t call you! It was an accident!”

“Yes, yes...you humans and your accidents.” He steps closer, Ryū finding herself with nowhere to run as her back finds a tree. Leaning in, Obito gives her a very unabashed once-over. “...hm…”

“W...what?”

“I think you’re lying.”

“Wh-? Why would I lie?!”

“Because I can smell it on you.”

“Smell what? I-I just took a shower this morning before I came to see Mom!”

Obito gives a roll of his eyes. “Oh, brother...so you don’t know…?”

“Know what?!”

“That you’re a witch.”

She freezes. “...I’m a...a what?”

“Oh come, now. Your appearance is telling enough. Tell me...did your mother look like you? All ghost-like…?”

Ryū feels the blood draining from her face. “...I…”

“Thought so.”

“I am not a witch! I just had a goth phase in high school! And the only reason I did was because everyone forced it on me!”

“And why do you think they did that?”

“Because I look like this!”

“And? You really think they couldn’t tell? It’s a subconscious thing, especially in this day and age. Very few people legitimately cry ‘witch’ nowadays. Most who do just get laughed at, but they’re out there. Or rather, you’re out there.”

Head shaking, Ryū rebuke, “Well...still! Witch or not, I did not call you here on purpose! So just...go back where you came from, and leave me alone!”

“I told you, I can’t do that. Not until I harvest that soul of yours. Or...mine, really. Semantics.”

She stares at him. “...so, I...I really am stuck with you…?”

“Until you utilize your contract, that’s exactly right. So hurry up and make your request so we can get this over with.”

“...and if I don’t?”

“Don’t what?”

“What if I don’t make a request? What if I just...ignore this so-called contract I didn’t agree to? Then what?”

Obito’s face goes slack. “...you can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“For one thing, contracts have consequences the longer they go on. Consequences that are rather dire for mortals. Eventually you’d just be begging for me to end it, so there’s no real point in drawing things out.”

“I could...I could hire an exorcist!”

That earns an outright laugh. “Oh, you could. But it wouldn’t go well. We’re contracted. My suffering is your suffering. And vice versa.”

...well shit. She’s running out of ideas. Surely by now demons are rather used to all the ways humans try and wriggle their ways out of contracts. Ryū’s eyes flicker back and forth, trying to think of a solution.

All the while, looking amused, Obito watches her. He’s never actually met someone from a witch bloodline before. While they don’t all look like she does, that just makes her all the more unique. Part of him wonders what her skills would be. Are witch souls worth more than a regular human soul…? He’s not actually sure. But he’ll admit, it feels rather tantalizing compared to other humans he’s contracted with. Almost seems a shame to waste it.

“...you know, there is one way to circumvent this whole ordeal.”

He speaks without meaning to, her head shooting up.

“...and what would that be?”

“You could always become a demon yourself. It’s not easy, and technically you’d still be damned, but...you wouldn’t die.”

A stubborn scowl overtakes her face. “Not sure that’s much better.”

Shoulders shrug. “Just letting you know. Hell’s really not all that bad when you’re on Lucifer’s good side, you know.”

“...I’ll bear that in mind,” is her dry reply.

“You really should make up your mind. Time is ticking. And I’ve got other things I could be -”

“Hey!”

The pair of them turn, seeing another figure making its way toward them. Silvery, messy locks fall over a fair face, the bottom half obscured by a mask. There’s really not much remarkable about him...except for a glint of silver that jostles around his neck as he runs.

A cross.

Behind Ryū, Obito’s eyes narrow.

Reaching them, the newcomer holds an arm out between them, barring Ryū back. “I’ve been waiting for you to show your face again. Let her go!”

“This is none of your business, Kakashi. She summoned me.”

“I told you, it wasn’t on purpose!” Ryū insists from behind Kakashi’s arm.

“It’s too late! Intentional or not, what’s done is done. She has to forfeit her soul one way or another. I’m just doing what I’m meant to do.”

“Don’t you remember what it’s like to be human?” Kakashi barks in protest. “Why hurt them when you used to be one, Obito?”

Ryū’s eyes widen. He was human…?

Obito’s lip lifts in a sneer. “I was human. And that life was nothing but suffering. Poverty, loneliness, despair...and then a violent, painful end before I was even a man. Can you really blame me for letting that bitterness overcome me? Life wasn’t, isn’t fair, Kakashi. Humans suffer, and they cause suffering. They must reap what they sow.”

“And what has she done wrong, beyond being at the wrong place at the wrong time? Do you really want to damn an innocent just because you suffered in life? That won’t reverse what you went through. It will just make someone else suffer, too. Let her go.”

All the while, Ryū watches them both. It’s clear they knew each other before Obito became a demon. And if Obito is telling the truth, then...it seems to her that he had every reason to be persuaded into a role like this, given what he went through.

Suffering begets suffering, after all.

...then maybe…

“You can’t break this contract, Kakashi. You’re hardly strong enough to have any influence here. It doesn’t matter if she’s willing or not. It was a done deal as soon as she spoke the incantation. One way or another, I’ll -!”

“I know what I want.”

Both men turn to her, expressions equally surprised.

“Miss, no - you can’t go through with this! If you do, your soul will -!”

“You heard the lady, Kakashi.” Behind them, Obito gives a bone-chilling smirk. “She’s made up her mind. And about time. What’ll it be, then?”

Gently urging Kakashi’s arm aside, Ryū steps forward, studying the demon. “...so, in order for the contract to be fulfilled...you have to complete whatever task I give you...right?”

“That’s right.”

“No matter how long it takes?”

“Yes. But we demons are very efficient.”

“...and the task can be anything?”

“Well...there are a few exceptions. I can’t raise the dead, for example. Can’t make you immortal. But most things are on the table. Tell me your wish, and I’ll let you know.”

She can’t help a dry snort at the word ‘wish’. As if she sought this out. “...all right, then. What I want from you is...to protect me from all possible harm, within your ability, until I die naturally. Only once I’ve lived whatever life you can allow me to live can you have my soul. If you purposefully allow me to be killed to try to complete the contract early, then you’ll have failed, and the contract is null and void.”

As she speaks, Obito’s grin slowly falls to a neutral, and then surprised expression.

Behind her, Kakashi gives a humorless laugh. “...so, rather than a guardian angel...you’ve snagged yourself a guardian demon. Well that’s a first.”

Ryū doesn’t reply, still looking at Obito. “...so? Is that on the table…?”

Sighing curtly, Obito looks aside as if trying to think of some kind of loophole. But after a minute of silence, it’s clear he can’t recall any. “...I suppose it is.”

“And because you’ll be performing your contract, there won’t be any of those consequences you talked about?”

“...in all honesty, I can’t be sure. I’ve never had a contract quite like that. The longest I’ve had to wait was a week.” He looks her over. “...you really want a demon to be hovering over your shoulder for the rest of your life?”

“I figure that’s the best outcome I could ask for, all things considered” is her quiet reply. “...besides, something you said struck me a bit funny.”

“...and what was that?”

“That you were lonely.”

His face goes slack. “...you...can’t be serious.”

Even Kakashi has no rebuke for that.

“You’re extending your contract to the fullest possible extent because a demon implied that they were lonely…? You must be a special kind of naive, lady.”

She gives a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “You’re the one who implied it, not me. Not everyone is a jerk, you know.”

He scowls, but doesn’t have a retort. “...all right, then. We shake on it...and your request will be set. No changing your mind. Got it?”

“Obito, I can’t let you do this!”

“There’s no can’t, Kakashi,” Obito retorts. “You couldn’t stop me if you tried. Buzz around her like an annoying little fly if you want. There’s no saving her.”

Turning to the other human, Ryū gives a somber smile. “I’ll be okay.”

“But -?”

Before he can try to argue, Ryū reaches out, and takes Obito’s hand.

The same rush of cold eddies around them, and Ryū can’t help but flinch as her hair whips around her face. Leaves kick up, the trees creaking as they get caught in the ethereal wind.

Hands still locked, Obito sneaks his other arm around her back, pulling them chest to chest with their hands pressed between them. A smirk curls his lips, hovering several inches over her own. “...it’s done.”

“This isn’t over, Obito!” Kakashi insists.

The demon turns to him, expression bored. “Well, I suppose you might have time to build up some power before she kicks the bucket. But I won’t be letting a soul go that easily, Kakashi.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” the demonologist replies lowly.

“Run along, then. Go bury your nose into your books and find some holy relics. You’ll be racing against the clock for this one.”

Glowering, Kakashi turns on a heel and leaves them.

“Finally, a little privacy,” Obito then sighs, giving a stretch. “You think he’d give that demonologist bit a rest…”

“So...you two know each other?”

“In a manner of speaking. But let’s not get into that, now. You’ve got a life to get to.”

It’s then that Ryū hesitates. “So...other people can see you…?”

“Only if I want them to. And even then a very small handful could otherwise. You’d be one of them, actually. If you had a bit more training, you might even be able to see what I really look like.”

“...you mean this is a ruse?”

He smirks. “...yes and no. This is my human appearance. I died at thirteen, but as a demon I’ve kept aging. This is how I’d look if I’d lived. But it’s not what I truly am, now. Not fully.”

“So I won’t have to explain why someone is constantly following me, then.”

“Not unless I decide to show myself. Which, for my own convenience, I doubt I’ll do often, if at all. I’d like this whole experience to be as painless as possible, since you seem to have it in your mind we’re going to be buddies in the meantime. Just think of me as a voice in your head that only you can see.”

...well, this is going to take some getting used to. But at least for now she has time. And it seems that this Kakashi guy wants to try and break this contract. Maybe he’ll succeed. For now, however...she’ll just have to adapt.

“...all right then. Come on. We’re leaving.”

“And going…?”

“Back to my dorm. I have homework.”

“You’re a student?”

“Studying to be a nurse.” She starts walking, and Obito follows.

“Riveting.”

“You’re the one who asked.”

Yes, this is going to take a lot of getting used to.

     This is...super random but I guess it works for the prompt xD I dunno anything about demonology or whatever, so this is...purely me winging it. Also any religious mentions are just for the sake of context. That’s another subject I know little to nothing about lol      A human (well, kinda) and a demon stuck in each other’s company. Surely nothing is going to wrong in this situation, right? Riiiight.      I’d...say more but it’s late and this weekend is gonna suuuck so I’m gonna go sleep. Thanks for reading!

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Ten | Trash ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin ] [ Verse: Medical Machine ] [ Alcohol, pregnancy ]

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Nibbling the scar in his lip in concentration, Obito carefully solders another wire into place. He’s almost got this project finished...just a few more, and he should be done!

“Oi! Obito!”

His shoulders deflate with a sigh as a hand knocks on his door. “...what?”

“We’re going out for drinks - you’ve been sitting in there all day! C’mon man, let’s go!”

“But I’m -!” He exhales curtly in frustration. “I’m almost done with -?”

“Dude, your little robot will still be there when we get back! I’m tired of having to drag you kicking and screaming out to socialize,” Kakashi argues through the door. “Asuma and Gai are ready to go, and we’re meeting Genma and the others! Just get out and get some fresh air for a few hours, all right? You’re freaking me out.”

Obito scowls, but knows better than to argue. His roommates tend to make his life difficult when they want something. If he appeases them now, it will give him more free time later. “All right, fine! Let me just...change real quick.” He’s wearing his tinkering clothes, which are singed and stained.

“You’ve got three minutes!”

“Yeah, yeah…” Pulling his shirt over his head, Obito makes quick work of shifting outfits, shoving his rather thin wallet into his back pocket before heading out to meet them.

It’s not that he doesn’t like going out. He loves a good evening with drinking and friends. But it just seems like any time the rest of them are free to do so, he’s trying to get some work done! Just once he’d like to have an evening to go uninterrupted and actually finish a project.

For Obito, you see, is a tinkerer. At least, that’s what those who aren’t into the hobby call it. Ever since the introduction and normalization of robotic tech and androids, it’s really taken off. And Obito just happened to have a knack for it. He’d make all sorts of little bots when he was growing up - mostly things to help his grandmother as an unspoken thank you for bringing him up. Then he joined the robotics club in high school, winning prizes and even money at building competitions.

Which then led to him quite obviously pursuing the field in college. While he had big dreams of helping with the latest generations of androids, he’s been mostly shuffled into smaller-scale, more basic projects.

Frustrating, to say the least.

Which is why, in his free time, he works on his own models and tech. Nothing to a full android scale, but he’s...working up to it. He often scavenges parts from dumps and learns about them that way, reverse engineering the broken parts and building up his pool of knowledge.

The thing is...he doesn’t know anyone else with the interest. Kakashi is smart, but doesn’t really care about robotics. He can listen and understand what Obito’s talking about, but the bored, glazed-over look he gets only discourages Obito from sharing his new excitement any time he makes a new discovery. And the rest of their friend group, well...they only go downhill from there.

So, he keeps it mostly to himself. Which earns him a little crap from his friends, given that it makes him a bit of a hermit in his room whenever he gets in deep with a new project to tinker with. But...he’s still glad they take the time to drag him out every so often.

He’d likely be taking the hobby to an unhealthy degree by now if they didn’t…

They go on foot, their apartment not too far from downtown and plenty to do. The bright lights of the city bear down on them, billboards and signs vying for their attention for any product under the sun. But Obito ignores them, milling with the others as they discuss the goings-on of their days, their weeks. Given the divide between his interests and theirs, Obito is more of a listener more of the time, but he doesn’t mind.

That’s what forums are for: he can type novels to his heart’s content on the subject, and other like-minded tinkerers can chime in and reciprocate.

The bar they slink into is familiar, the boisterous atmosphere a welcome change from the typical quiet of their apartment. Already there, others their age from college call out in greeting. Kurenai immediately latches onto Asuma, Yugao perched atop Hayate’s lap. Anko gives them all a grin, a tankard already in hand.

And Rin greets Kakashi with a kiss and a smile.

Obito ducks into his jacket collar furtively. While several of the others are also single, he’s still the most lagged-behind in terms of romance and experience.

Kakashi blames it on his hobby.

...and Obito really can’t deny it. There are women who involve themselves in the hobby, but sadly most tend to be a bit...distant given how flocked they get. And sure, Obito likes men too, but there just hasn’t been much of a connection beyond the hobby with anyone.

And all of his roommates are straight, sadly.

Taking a seat at one end of their sizable table, he agrees to a beer, sipping it as everyone settles in and relaxes. Obito observes, chiming in where he can but mostly letting his mind wander in the white noise of conversation to how he’s going to wrap up the bot left back home on his desk.

“Obitooo!”

A while into the night, he jostles as Rin sits next to him, flushed in the face from indulging in spirits. “...hey, Rin.”

Her lips pout. “What’s that for?”

“Heh?”

“You don’t sound very excited to see me,” she retorts.

“Sorry, er...was lost in thought.”

“You’re always thinking,” she teases, fixing some of his hair and making him balk. “Don’t you ever get, like...bored of it?”

Obito can’t help a snort. “Not really, no. That’s the thing about thinking: you can do just about anything with it.”

She listens with a rather spacy expression, then swiftly changes the subject. “Obito, you need a girlfriend.”

“Wh-?”

“Y’know, ‘kashi tells me about how much you just sit in your room...s’not healthy! You need to go out sometimes, right?”

“I do go out. I’m out right now!”

“And when was the last time you were out?”

His silence required to try and remember is telling.

“M’serious, Obito...I worry about you, y’know.” She’s back to pouting. “You’ve always been so...reclusive. I don’t want you to sit in that room and not experience life…! To...to look back and realize you missed it all!”

He gives a nervous chuckle. “Rin, really - I’m fine. I’m not -?”

“M’gonna ask around my circle for a blind date for you.”

“Wh-? No, don’t do th-!”

“I know lotsa nice girls, Obito! I bet one could make you happy, huh? Just give it a tryyy, okay?”

He flounders, not sure how to get out of this one. “I, uh...look, that’s really nice, but -?”

“C’mon Rin, leave the man alone,” Kakashi then cuts in, dragging his girlfriend back to another chair and ignoring her whining. “You can pester him about it when you’re sober, hm?”

“But ‘kashiii -”

“Why don’t you go check on Kurenai? She hustled to the bathroom pretty quick, she might need some help.”

Rin’s mouth opens into an o of concern, and she scurries off with her new mission.

“...sorry about that,” Kakashi sighs. “Admittedly she’s been going on about that sober, too.”

Obito glances aside, feeling embarrassed. “...is it really that concerning?”

“You know how Rin is, she has to take care of everybody. Just tell her you don’t want a date. Might take a few tries, but she’ll take the hint.”

His lips fall into a pout. In truth, well...he’d like a date, but...not with that kind of setup. It’s all the more mortifying given that he used to like Rin so much when they were in grade school. Having her try and set him up on a date just feels...weird. “...I’ll try.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Kakashi takes the chair Rin was occupying, leaning back with a beer in hand. “You’ll figure it out.”

Obito gives him a glance, not quite sure what ‘it’ is in this context.

Not long after, the hour growing late, the group agrees to disperse. Rin and Kurenai whisper at the other end of the table as they all get ready to go.

“...I think Kurenai’s pregnant.”

Obito, swigging the last of his beer, almost does a spit take at Kakashi’s blunt revelation, choking instead. “What?!”

“She hasn’t had a single drink, but was still running to the bathroom. Bet you anything it’s morning sickness and she’s pregnant. And it doesn’t seem like Asuma is sober enough to put two and two together yet.”

Gawking, Obito looks around the group. Kakashi has always been keen, and...yeah, given what he can see, it does seem to be the case. “...pregnant...oh man…”

“Life marches on, eh?” Kakashi muses. “I had a feeling they’d be the first ones to pop one out.”

...something in Obito’s gut clenches. So...someone in their group is going to have a baby. And he hasn’t even -

Kakashi interrupts the thought with a slap on his back. “C’mon, let’s head home.”

“...you guys go ahead. I...need to pick something up.”

“Whaaa…? Like what?”

“A part for my bot. I’ll just swing by the scrap heap then be back.”

“You good?”

“Yeah, I’m a little buzzed but I’m fine. Cold air will help. If I’m not back in half an hour, come looking for me, all right? You know where I’m headed.”

Kakashi stares at him for a moment, and Obito fears he’ll call his bluff. “...all right. Got your phone?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Good. Hey...be careful.”

“I will.”

Nodding, Kakashi then files out with the others, Obito bringing up the rear and splintering off to cross the street. While he doesn’t actually need any additional parts...he’s not quite ready to head home yet.

Not with so much on his mind.

Hands in his pockets and breath pluming in the air, Obito follows a familiar route. He goes to the scrapyard so often, he could probably do so in his sleep. The amount of good tech that gets thrown away honestly astounds him sometimes. But, that’s more for him to salvage and make use of, so he can’t really complain.

And it will give him something else to think about.

Reaching the edge, he slips through the fence in his usual spot, turning on his phone’s light to start looking for anything viable. Gears, wires, plating, plastic...he rummages through it all for anything that can catch his eye.

Anything that will make him forget for a moment that he’s such a black sheep among his friends. Falling behind and feeling more and more divided from them. He doesn’t want to think about kids, and dating, and getting married, and settling down...it’s all too much…!

Finding an android hand, he tugs it up to look at it, finding it stuck. Another tug, still nothing. Sighing and clenching his phone in his teeth, he uses both hands, pulls, and -

An entire body surfaces.

“Shit -!” Losing his footing in surprise, he falls over backward in a shower of parts.

...someone tossed a whole android...?!

Staring at it, he heaves himself back up and starts digging, revealing an entire robot. Well...mostly. Every part is intact save for the components kept in the torso, ripped out and severely damaged. There are deep dents along the entire body casing.

Someone beat the absolute shit out of this thing, but...why? Androids are so damn expensive...you might as well just light a bank account on fire.

Taking in the damage, Obito then looks at the face. It’s modeled to be female, with delicate features...making the deformations all the more shocking, in his opinion. The hair is white and wavy, and that makes him blink. All-white androids tend to be used in the medical field. So...wait...is this one of them?

Why the hell is a medical android so busted up and tossed for scrap? That doesn’t make any sense!

Turning her over, Obito checks the back of her neck for her model and serial number, checking it on his phone.

...it’s one of the latest models.

Okay, this is just weird.

Brow furrowing, Obito tries to puzzle this out. So someone got ahold of one of the latest medical robots on the market...ripped out most of its components...and then totally trashed it before throwing it in the dump. He can understand a potential parts robber, but there’s still so much valuable tech left! It doesn’t make any sense!

...he can’t just leave it all here.

He urges her back over to face upright, her powerless eyes a bit haunting. Androids are so realistic now, it’s like he’s staring at a real dead body. Now the only question is...how to get her back without anyone gawking at him. Including his roommates. He could disassemble her, then reassemble her back at the apartment, but he’ll need something to carry her in.

So he scrambles up to his feet, dragging her to a hidden alcove before dashing back toward home. Once there, he fishes out a duffle bag from under his bed, and a kit to take her apart.

“Whoa, you okay?” Kakashi asks, frowning.

“Yeah, fine! Found some cool stuff, can’t carry it all, so...I’ll be back!”

“But -?” Watching him dash back out, Kakashi just wilts. “...must have been a hell of a find…”

It’s almost one in the morning now, but Obito doesn’t slow down until he gets back to the scrapyard. Practiced hands break her down into smaller parts, and then he hauls the whole thing back home, furtively glancing around in case anyone thinks this is weird.

And thus just making himself look more suspicious.

But he returns unfettered, heading straight into his room and shutting the door.

He’s got a lot of work to do.

Carefully taking her back out, it takes far more time putting her back together than taking her apart. He starts making a list of her missing and damaged parts.

Man...this is gonna take a while. And given how stingy tech corps are, he can’t find any info on what’s been taken from her core.

So he texts Rin, who just so happens to be a nurse.

Hey, so this is weird, but if you could get me blueprints for a certain medical android, I’d owe you big time.

Knowing she won’t reply until she sleeps off all she drank tonight, he nonetheless gets to work. First thing’s first: carefully fix all the indentations. Then figure out if any components in her limbs were actually damaged, and either find replacements or fix them himself. Thankfully it’s almost all superficial, and he can move on to the rest of the mess: her core. There’s a lot of torn cabling and wires...that alone is going to be a nightmare. But he’s waited for so long to be able to work on a full working android model...he can’t let that faze him.

It’s late morning before Rin replies.

You realize I could lose my job for that?

But it’s really really important! Pleaseee?

...why do you need it?

Promise not to tell?

I’m already considering one illegal thing today. Why not another?

I found a Meditech android in the scrapyard, and I wanna fix her. But she’s missing some parts of her core.

Holy shit, really? You should return that! It’s hospital property!

I will! AFTER I fix her! Please Rin, you know how much I wanna get into full android work!

Several minutes pass as she clearly thinks it over.

...okay fine! I’ll try. Gimme the numbers and I’ll see what I can do.

You’re amazing, you know that?

I do, thank you.

A few hours later, she sends him the file...and Obito starts digging. As he figured, a lot of it is tech he’ll likely never get his hands on.

...legally, that is.

Thankfully he knows some people, and heads to the forum for help. Within the hour, he has trades arranged for all he’ll need.

Now to wait for shipping, and then the work...and he should have a functional android.

All the while, his roommates just figure he’s gotten himself buried into yet another timesink. Kakashi tries to sneak a peek, only for Obito to shove him back out every time.

“You can see when it’s done!”

For over a month...he barely leaves his room. Kakashi has to remind him to eat, let alone sleep. But then finally, after countless hours of work and frustration...he gives the reboot system a try.

Just barely audible in the silence is a quiet whir of tech booting up before they start running silently. Unseen, her software begins powering up , a diagnostic completed before she can begin to function. Sat in his computer chair, she’s completely still for several minutes.

Obito chews his lip, wondering if this is going to work.

And then...her bowed head lifts, and eyes open. They blink once, twice, subtly taking in her surroundings before focusing on Obito.

“...ID?” he asks.

Another blink - man, she looks so real…! “Meditech at-home care android model V-seven-nine. Serial number four eight two, nine nine seven three, zero zero zero zero.”

Huh...an at-home model. So she wasn’t at the hospital, but living with a patient. “Name?”

“My data bank is empty. Would you like to register a name?”

Oh shoot, that part of her memory was erased...or was never filled in the first place. He hesitates for a long moment. “...er...register name: Ryū.”

There’s a moment’s pause as it’s committed to her memory. “...I am Ryū. How may I help you today?”

And so begins his own check, running through as many system operations as he can think of to ensure nothing is on the fritz or damaged. All the while, ‘Ryū’ answers every question, performing scans and reporting all functioning as normal.

“...holy shit,” he then breathes. “I did it. I actually fixed you.”

“Would you like to register a patient?”

“...what is your patient registry?”

“No data available.”

“...run a patient registry scan for past entries.”

Another small pause. “...no data available.”

“...so you never got programmed. Seems to me you either never arrived at your destination, or...you were stolen from them early on. But why only take your core components and then trash the rest of you...?”

She doesn’t reply, the question rhetorical.

He sits on his bed with a thoughtful sigh, rubbing his chin before shooting Rin another text.

So...she’s up and working. Seems she was programmed for at-home care. Any records from the hospital of one of them going missing?

Hm...not from ours...give me a minute and I’ll check elsewhere.

As he waits, Obito watches the android. She just...sits, perfectly still, occasionally glancing around and blinking as programmed to appear more human and less unsettling. As he has several times while working on her, he can’t help but marvel at how far android tech has come over the years. She really does look human.

...and then there’s the question some ask about the humanity in a machine. If they can learn enough to be considered sentient. Some fear it, others embrace it, and a few even demand their freedom as equals to humans.

Obito...well, for the most part, he’s in the middle. It’s amazing technology, but...still technology. Can it become sentient? Maybe. He’s never seen full proof of it, at least not yet. As for being treated like a human, well...he’s pretty iffy on that.

But the longer he watches her, the more he wonders. Then his phone buzzes.

So I checked every hospital in the county, and nothing. No reported losses or thefts. I’ll check at the state level, but I mean...that’s pretty far, given where you found her.

His brow furrows. All right, thanks. What should I do with her in the meantime?

I mean...you can bring it in, we can always use it. But officially, we dunno where it belongs, so...y’know. Up to you, I guess. Unless I find something.

Well, all right then.

...now what?

In truth, he’s getting excited. If no one can claim her...maybe he can keep her! Obito does have his share of chronic conditions from his accident when he was young...he could probably make use of her. But does he really need to keep her, or...is he just geeking out about having an android?

As if sensing his thoughts, she looks to him, head tilting.

...he has to admit, her casing is really pretty. But it’s just an empty shell for a highly advanced computer.

...isn’t it?

...there have been rumors. Of AI going rogue in androids along the east coast. Nothing confirmed by the manufacturers of course, but the forum buzzes about it every time a supposed account leaks. The androids break their programming limitations, making decisions outside their parameters, and acting irrationally.

...acting human.

No one’s sure yet what causes it, but...it makes him wonder. Maybe he can use her as a bit of an experiment. See if he can replicate the supposed ‘malfunctions’.

But for now, he better wait until Rin exhausts all other avenues. He doesn’t want to mess around with a stolen android. But...that doesn’t mean he can’t at least interact with her.

“Hey, Ryū.”

“Yes?”

“My right shoulder is sore.”

She blinks, and then gives a smile. “If you’d like, I can perform massage therapy to try and ease tension in the muscles. I can also utilize acupuncture if you prefer.”

Her language is so….stiff. But whoever did her voice did a great job for a medical android - soft and comforting, clearly meant to ease patient stress. “Let’s try the massage therapy.”

“Please, have a seat.” She rises from his chair, letting him take it instead before asking, “Are you comfortable removing your shirt?”

He hesitates a moment. “...sure.” Pulling at the garment, he tosses it on his bed. Beneath are the plethora of scars from the accident that nearly crippled him in grade school.

Even if she isn’t human, he can’t help a surge of self consciousness.

...and then something odd happens.

So light he barely feels it, she runs fingertips over the hardened tissue. “...I do not have access to your medical records. May I inquire what caused this scarring?”

Another pause - he hates going over this, but...well, he supposes it’s relevant. “...accident when I was young. I was struck by a car. I’ve got a lot of pins and plating from putting me back together.” After a pause, he jokes, “Makes going to the airport quite a hassle, heh.”

She doesn’t reply, and just keeps...mapping out the marks.

“...is it in the way?”

Her focus seems to return. “No. But it will help me to diagnose and solve other issues in the future. Thank you.” She then adjusts her posture and starts working at the knotted muscle in his back.

And...dang, she’s really good at this.

With pinpoint precision, she finds and soothes at the sore spot, and soon enough Obito is a puddle in his chair. Twenty minutes later, the pain is entirely gone.

“How do you feel?”

Slowly sitting up, he rolls his shoulder. “...great! Thanks.”

She smiles again. “You’re welcome! Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

“As a brief reminder, I am also outfitted with custodial knowledge, and if your medical dependency is severe enough, I am programmed to handle housework, assistance with day to day activities, and escorting you out of your home if desired.”

That ears a blink. “...seriously?”

To his surprise, she laughs. “Seriously! I am a full home-care model, and can handle all regular duties of a human caretaker to an even more sophisticated and efficient degree. And should you find any of my programming insufficient, you need only contact my manufacturer, and they can arrange a software upgrade to handle your individual needs.”

...huh. He wasn’t expecting all...that. “And, er...do I need documentation to have you upgraded? Your receipt or anything?”

There’s a pause, and he can tell she’s checking her internal manual for an answer. “I’m sorry, but I do not have the information you’re looking for on hand. Please contact my manufacturer for clarification.”

Well, shoot...if he does end up keeping her, that might pose a problem. He supposes he can always take her to a less legal place to have her tinkered with...at least, anything beyond his own capabilities. He might be able to find bootleg copies of any new software, but given all she sounds like she’s capable of, that shouldn’t be a problem anyway.

“Oi, are you done in here yet? Who are you talking to?”

Stiffening, Obito doesn’t have enough time to get to the door, and Kakashi opens it up.

...and stares.

“...am I...interrupting something?”

Bright red at Kakashi’s clear assumption, Obito blurts, “I-it’s not what it looks like!”

“Hello!” Ryū then offers.

Kakashi perks a brow. “...hi. And you are…?”

“I am a Meditech at-home care android. I have been named Ryū. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

...he blinks. “...you have an android?”

“She’s what I found in the scrapyard last month. I just finished putting her back together!”

“A whole-ass android was in the scrapyard?”

“Yeah! Rin’s been helping me figure out how to fix her. And now, er...she’s fixed!”

“...huh. And uh...does it belong to someone?”

“Rin’s checking. No records yet. So, I...might get to keep her…?”

“Well it better pay rent. And if you get frisky with it, keep it down, all right?”

Flaring red again, Obito gives a holler, throwing a shoe as Kakashi closes the door. Said shoe bounces harmlessly to the floor.

“Stupid Kakashi...as if…”

“If it addresses the issue at hand, I am equipped with -”

“No! No no!” Obito cuts in, face about to explode as he interrupts her. “I already know that, I saw when I was reassembling you! I don’t need it!”

She blinks. “...heightened aggression and tension in male patients can sometimes be attributed to pent-up se-”

“NO!” Oh lord he’s going to die from embarrassment. “I...I don’t need that, okay? Kakashi is just getting on my nerves. It’s fine.”

“Would you like me to check your blood pressure?”

“...no, I’m fine.”

“Perhaps you’re hungry! Could I fix you something to eat?”

...she’s not going to stop, is she? “Okay, sure. But uh...I live with three other people. Kakashi was one, Asuma and Gai are the others.” Though Asuma, if Obito remembers right, is looking for a place to live with Kurenai and their soon-to-be baby.

“That’s no problem! I’m capable of adjusting any recipe in my index to suit as many household members as necessary.”

...well, might as well get this over with.

Asuma just chuckles at the sight of her, and Gai marvels at “this brilliant new technology” until Kakashi convinces him to stop.

And while she’s cooking, Rin sends Obito a text.

So how much do you love me, bff of mine?

...a lot? Why?

So no registry records in the entire state. So I looked that serial number up, and guess what?

What?

There’s no match for it. It wasn’t part of any official manufacturing run.

Obito gawks at his screen. So, what...she’s a bootleg?

No, seems she’s legit given what all you told me. It’s more like...someone went in to the factory, made ONE android, and made off with it after clearing the record of its assembly. To the system registry, it doesn’t exist.

He has to sit down for a moment, the background noise of the guys peppering Ryū with questions going unnoticed. ...so what do I do?

I’m not sure. I mean the RIGHT thing to do would be to turn it in, but...I mean, there’s also no proof you stole it or anything. But nor that you bought it. It’s a really weird grey area. My guess is...someone made an off-the-record ‘droid to try and steal the technology from the company for their own.

Obito stills. ...that’s why only some of her components were missing. That was all the thief needed.

Exactly.

...well, I...guess I’ll think it over.

Sure. Lemme know if you need anything else, kay?

Will do.

Obito puts his phone to sleep, stunned. An off-the-record robot. And he just happened to find her.

...now what should he do with her?

His thoughts are broken as laughter rings out, and he looks up to see Ryū smiling as everyone points at Gai, a pancake perfectly centered on his head from her pan.

...if he didn’t know any better, he’d think she was real.

Well, for now, he’ll just...keep her here. If anyone else finds out her origins, he might have to turn her over. Thoughts start turning. Maybe someone on the forum can help him forge some documents for her. Shouldn't be that hard. Then maybe he can keep her.

...it’s been barely an hour and he already feels attached, damn it.

“Oi, Obito!”

His focus returns. “Huh?”

“What would you like on your pancake?” Ryū asks after Kakashi gets his attention.

“...uh, just...butter and syrup, please.”

She gives another smile, and he feels his chest clench.

...oh no.

     Aaand I went overboard again xD BUT I haven’t gotten to use this verse yet, so...I indulged lol      Not very, uh...traditional? Def the first time I’ve written a muse as an android, but I’ve had the idea for a long time. It’s a bit parallel to day...three of last year, I think? BUT it’s not quite cyberpunk, and the roles are reversed, as well as amplified lol      Otherwise, uh...not much to say? Posting late cuz today was muh birthday and I had stuff to do .w. Tomorrow is also gonna be busy-ish sooo we’ll see if I finally start falling behind :’D But for now, that’s all I’ve got! Thanks for reading~

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-Nine | Along the River ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Uchiha Sachiko ] [ Verse: River Runs Deep ] [ Blood, death ]

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He was barely a toddler when the raids came through. When houses burned, blood ran, and lives were lost. Among the fallen were his mother and father, leaving him only with his grandmother to raise him in her little house along a creek. Memories of that night were fogged, blurred...and only faded as he grew older.

By the time he is six years old, they are all but gone, knowing only his grandmother’s house and her love.

Little boys, however, are mischievous little things. And Obito is no exception. Inquisitive and daring, he often wanders around the woods behind the house, sitting at the very edge of the village. Animals and spirits alike scurry from his sight, sticks held like swords as he battles imaginary foes. And other times, he jumps around in the creek, catching frogs and salamanders, and sometimes even little fish!

But that’s not all that lurks in the water.

Sitting on a rather large rock along the bank one afternoon, he catches his breath, having just finished chasing a bullfrog. His bare feet are all muddy, the hems of his pants wet. Sachiko will surely scold him, but...he wasn’t paying as much attention as he should have. He had a frog to catch! Dazedly watching the sunlight warp and wiggle along the surface as it tumbles over some stones, Obito then slowly sits up straight.

...is...is that…?

Blinking large eyes, he stares at a gap in the rocks. It almost looks like there’s a face there...looking back at him from the water.

“...hullo…?”

Rippling with the flow of the water, the face...blinks!

It is a face…!

Forgetting his manners for a moment, Obito goes plunging back into the water to get a closer look. And as he does, the being’s eyes go wide...and it disappears.

“...huh?” Looking around, he searches for...whatever that was. “...hey! Come back!”

Behind him, unseen, the face peers around his previous perch, watching him silently as he goes rummaging around in the little rapids.

“Come back! I just wanna see ya! Where’d you go…?” He peers into crevices in the stones. All that looks back is a crawfish, clicking its pincers menacingly. “Aww…”

“...what do you want?”

“Yah!” Startled, Obito scurries forward, spinning around and bracing for a blow. But all he sees is the little face behind the rock. “...who are you?”

“I asked you first!”

He stares. This kid - girl? - has hair as white as snow. It curls about her ears like the white foam that gathers around the rocks. And the large, mirror-like silver eyes in her face are like a snake’s, pupils long and thin. Her ears are pointed, and the beginnings of moonstone horns - little more than nubbins at present - peek out from her temples. “I, uh...I thought I saw a person in the water! Was that you…?”

She nods. “Mhm. This is my river!”

At that, Obito frowns. “...river…? It’s barely even a creek!”

The girl’s cheeks puff in a pout. “That’s because I’m still little! See?” Out she comes from hiding, revealing she looks no bigger than himself, maybe even a little smaller. “I’m young for a river! But I’ll grow!” A finger points north. “My mother is over there...I branched off from her banks. Someday I’ll be just as big and strong as she is!”

“...uh…” Obito’s a little skeptical, but who is he to tell a river spirit what is and what isn’t? “Okay. So are you...a kami…?”

“Mhm! You can call me Ryū,” she offers.

“Do you have a shrine?”

At that, Ryū balks, suddenly pink with embarrassment. “N...no. Not yet…”

“But every kami needs a shrine! Are you really a kami without one?”

“O-of course I am!” she rebukes, stomping a foot and sending a huge splash outward, knocking Obito over to sit in the shallows. “Someday I’ll have a big shrine, and you’ll have to come pray to me for your fish and your water!”

Braced up on his palms, Obito stares up at her. Okay, so...she’s stronger than she looks. “O-okay! I...I didn’t mean t’make you mad. M’sorry. I’ve...never met a kami before. Just the little ones that run around in the bushes! Bāchan’s got a whole bunch of little houses for them in the garden!”

At that, Ryū perks up. “...she does?”

“Yeah! I leave ‘em candy sometimes.” Grimacing, he hauls himself to his feet, dripping. “Ehhh…” It’s gonna take forever for him to dry off!

Studying him for a moment, Ryū then claps her hands. At her beckoning, a whirlwind dances over the top of the water! With a few turns, it whips all of the water out of Obito’s clothes, his hair left standing on end.

Seeing as much, Ryū breaks out into giggles caught in her hands.

“...what?”

“N-nothing! But...you’re dry now!” Suddenly looking coy, she smiles behind her palms. “...I didn’t mean to knock you over.” Barefoot, she walks atop the water to where he stands, offering a hand.

Nervously, Obito takes it.

“Step up!”

“...huh?”

“Just do it!”

Looking unsure, he does as asked. And like a solid step, his foot rests atop the water. “...eh?!”

“Other foot, now!”

Gawking, Obito takes another step. He’s...he’s standing on the creek!

...river.

“Is...is this magic?”

“Mhm!” With a tug, she takes him back across, letting Obito step off onto dry land and ridding him of the last of the water. “There!”

“Er...thanks.”

“Be more careful next time you go splashing around for frogs, huh? You never know what might be in the water,” Ryū teases.

It’s Obito’s turn to pout. But he doesn’t really have a retort, either. “Okay, okay…”

With that, Ryū gently ushers him back toward the house where Sachiko begins calling him for lunch.

When Obito turns around, she’s already gone.

...that did really just happen...right?

At least he’s not wet and muddy anymore.

“There you are!” his grandmother greets as he steps back up into the house. “Catch any fish?”

“Nah...tried to get a bullfrog, but it got away.”

Sachiko chuckles, ruffling his wind-puffed hair. “Well, someday you’ll catch some. Then we’ll have fresh lunch, hm?”

“Hey, bāchan?”

“Yes, dear?”

“You believe in kami, right?”

“But of course!” The old woman points to the kamidana that looks out toward the entrance with a gnarled finger. “I still put out offerings for our house spirit. And whatever I can for the little ones in the garden.”

“There’s one in the creek, behind the house!”

At that, Sachiko’s eyes widen. “A river spirit…?”

“Yeah! She’s little, though. Like me!”

“I see…! Well, we’ll have to make her feel welcome, won’t we?”

“Mhm!”

With a little blade, Obito takes some branches from the forest, and begins to whittle in his spare time. More than once, he nicks his fingertips, having to stop and stuck on them to stop the bleeding. With little nails his grandmother gives him, he carefully starts constructing his very best attempt at a tiny little shrine. While he knows it’s nowhere near a proper one...well, they all have to start somewhere.

When it’s finished, he goes about settling it in the proper spot. Carefully wedging it protectively in a nest of stones, he stands back to let Ryū come up and take a closer look.

“...what is this…?”

“It’s a shrine!” He braces proud hands on his hips, looking smug. “I made it all by myself! With bāchan’s help.”

She just...stares at it.

...and Obito starts to get nervous.

“Do...you like it…?”

After a pause, she turns to him, chin trembling and eyes teary.

Obito stiffens. “Wh-? What’s wrong? Is it -?”

“It’s perfect!” she cuts in, leaping forward and latching onto him tightly, forcing him to spin slightly at her force to avoid falling over. Around them, a joyous wind eddies and ripples the water in an arc. Face hiding in her neck, she quietly mumbles, “...thank you.”

Above her, Obito’s cheeks tinge pink. “...y-you’re welcome.”

Every morning, he and Sachiko dutifully come out and leave an offering. To Obito’s surprise, Ryū never shows herself when the old woman is around. It’s only in front of the boy she emerges from the water, always miraculously dry.

“How come bāchan doesn’t get to see you?”

Sitting on one of the rocks by her shrine, Ryū hums. “...well...sometimes seeing a kami can be a bit, um...much for people. And I don’t want to frighten her.”

“You wouldn’t scare her!”

“...no,” Ryū agrees, still frowning. “...but it can still startle them. And it’s not good to startle old humans. It can make their heart go too fast. For you it’s okay, because your heart is young and your mind is open. Sachiko-bā’s mind is open, but...I’m afraid her heart might not do well, ne? So I want to be safe. Humans don’t live as long as we kami do.”

That makes Obito stiffen. In truth...he hasn’t ever given his grandmother’s mortality any thought. To him, she’s a constant. She’s always been here, so...surely she always will be!

...right?

“...but…?”

Seeing the conflict in the boy’s face, Ryū gently sighs. “...we river spirits can help with healing - water is the element of it, after all. I’ll do my best to help keep your grandmother healthy for as long as I can! But, Obito...all things have to pass eventually. It’s part of life, ne…?”

Frowning heavily, he wants to argue...but despite his young age, he also knows she’s right. He sits beside her, looking somber. “...yeah…”

She carefully leans against him. “Just make sure she drinks water from my river every day, ne? I’ll do all I can.”

“...thanks.”

Time, however, stops for no man and no kami. Seasons blend together, rising and falling as years begin to pass. Obito gets a little older, and a little older. Sachiko, however, hardly seems to change: sitting on the rear engawa and slowly fanning herself, looking over the water with a Buddha smile.

And it’s not just Obito that grows. With every passing wet season, the creek behind the house grows a little deeper, a little wider. Reeds grow along the banks, which Sachiko teaches Obito to weave into baskets to hold their food. Fish begin to swim in the currents, Obito spearing them for food whenever the weather is good, as well as finding freshwater clams and crawfish. And every evening, little glowing mushi float over the water, their light reflecting along the surface.

They, however, aren’t the only kami that start gathering by the river.

A kappa spoon shows up. Lurking in the waters, she watches the humans with her amber eyes. And every so often, an okuri inu wanders from his guarded path to drink from the banks.

Ryū welcomes them all. Like her waters, her physical form also matures. Taller, her silver-threaded white kimono grows with her, the patterns shifting and changing depending on her thoughts or mood. Her hair is longer, falling nearly to her tailbone: a mess of waves like her rapids. And the horns at her temple have grown, with several branches that curl out behind her head.

A few years later, Obito makes a second attempt at her shrine. This one is bigger, more refined, and set atop a stone slab he hauls in along the riverbank. Ryū still keeps the first one, nestled among other treasures beneath the water.

Even other villagers begin to make offerings. Sake and plum wine are poured into her currents with every harvest. She brings rains in the Spring, and cool winds in the Summer.

Life is peaceful.

...but peace rarely lasts.

At the elders’ requests, the boys begin to learn how to fight. Obito trains with blades and armor, often practicing his forms behind the house.

With doleful eyes, Ryū watches.

She still remembers how her mother’s waters would run red with blood when war swept over the land.

And like the turning of seasons, war once again falls upon them. The boys wait anxiously for the day it finds their village.

That is all they are: boys.

Children.

As Summer wanes, the fighting finds them. Samurai on horseback, intent on conquest, ride through and alight thatch roofs. Men who dare lift blades to them are cut down. Blood pools in the mud of the streets.

It all seems so hopeless.

“No...no!”

With every ounce of effort she can muster, Sachiko makes her way to the banks. In her arms, slack and unconscious, is Obito. Blood runs down his face...and horrible burns pucker his flesh.

“O-kami-sama...please! Don’t take my boy...don’t take what I have left! Please...please spare him…!” Stepping into the water, she brings his body with her. “Save him, I beg of you…!”

Emerging from the water, Ryū’s face is tightened with emotion. Water drips from her form, kimono heavy. “Obito…!”

“O-kami-sama…” Sachiko reaches a trembling hand, which Ryū gently takes. “Please…!”

Looking near tears, Ryū then turns to her friend. Carefully, she urges him further into the current, palms at his cheeks as he floats along the surface. A wind begins to eddy around them, the god’s eyes closed as she concentrates.

Around her, the water begins to shimmer, taking on an emerald hue. As it washes over the boy in her arms, his wounds begin to close, scarred and pink.

His eyes open, looking foggily up to her face. “...Ryū…?”

“Shh...you’re safe now…” Glancing aside, she motions to the kappa. “Hold him here.”

“Where are you going?”

Her silvers turn to steel. “...to finish this.”

Face slack, the kappa doesn’t argue, watching as the god approaches the bank.

Water brings life, washes wounds, and nurtures fields.

But so too can it drown.

Within moments, tumultuous storm clouds gather over the village, dark and rumbling. Lightning strikes, winds whipping. Torrents of rain begin to fall, dousing the flames. And as Ryū walks the street, forks of lightning find marks in the samurai’s iron armor. The god’s wrath washes over the village, scourging the invaders and leaving the villagers untouched. Screams of terror sound from the samurai, who scramble to retreat.

With a geyser-like hiss, Ryū shifts into her true form: a ribbon of white and silver scales, needle teeth bared in fury as claws dig into the earth beneath her.

“BEGONE!”

...then there is silence, broken only by the rain.

Staring out after the warriors, Ryū watches as the hiding villagers slowly reappear. Mourning cries begin to build for the fallen. Hands reach for the burned and broken buildings.

But those who survived will rebuild.

At each of the wounded, Ryū stops and does what she can. Many are saved. A few are still lost. Only once all are accounted for does the rain begin to ease, the clouds lightening and starting to scatter.

Returning to the river, she carefully brings Obito to the bank. Already the kappa has peeled away what remains of his armor, his body light.

“O-kami-sama…”

Turning her head to Sachiko, Ryū watches the human cry in relief, smiling as tears tumble down her face.

“Thank you...thank you.”

Softening, the god brings her snout to the old woman’s brow, carefully resting the cool scales against her skin.

“Ryū…?”

In a blink, Ryū retakes her human form, knelt and bringing Obito’s head to her lap. “It’s over. And I doubt they will return. Not knowing an angry god watches over this place.”

With a swaying, scar-marked hand, he reaches up to cup her cheek. “You saved me.”

“Of course,” is her soft reply. “You were my first friend...you built me my first shrine. You are forever nestled at the center of my heart, Obito.”

Smiling, he lets his eyes close, exhausting overtaking him.

For weeks, the village licks its wounds. Homes are rebuilt, graves dug, memories shouldered. And along the riverbank, a proper shrine is raised for their patron god. Dragons adorn every surface: painted, carved, and molded.

Standing within it, Ryū quietly takes in its beauty.

“Well...I think this one is better than either of mine.”

Turning, she alights as Obito enters. Still recovering, he leans heavily on a crutch. “They are all beautiful,” is her retort. “It’s not the appearance, but the intent. And yours were always the most heartfelt. So too is this one. But I will always treasure yours the most.”

Head ducking, he goes red.

“How are you wounds…?”

“Fine...I’m just sore. I’ll be all right. I was lucky.”

Her gaze drops at the memory of the fallen. “...it won’t happen again.”

“I know.”

Considering him for a moment, Ryū then crosses the floor to stand before him. “...you know, I wouldn’t be as I am if it weren’t for you.”

“Huh…?”

“You befriended me, and respected me. Believed in me. All kami need to be believed in and remembered, lest we disappear. Without you...perhaps I would have dried up. Faded away. But now...now I’ll flow for generations. And it all began with you.”

Now quite brightly blushing, Obito has no retort.

Allowing a smile, Ryū takes his cheeks in her hands, bowing his head to plant a kiss on his brow. “...thank you, Obito.”

“B-but -? I should be thanking you! You saved me, you -?”

“I did what I had to. What I wanted. It seems...we needed each other.” Her hands lower, taking his spare gently in her grip. “...and so...we will be together. Won’t we…?”

Looking a bit dumbfounded, Obito then softens and shuffles closer. “...yeah. We will.”

     This is depressingly late, but honestly I just...got too burnt out. Things I were trying weren’t working. So I gave up for a few days, let my brain rest. I THINK I can finish, now. One more free day for my choice, then another prompt from Meg, then we’re done! At least it’s not December, yet :’D      But anyway, some kami verse! I am...a huge sucker for this, okay. Japanese mythology is so interesting. I feel like maybe I don’t know enough to write this kind of thing perfectly well, but I try! It’s a bit like Obito’s bakeneko piece, but...reversed! lol      Anyway, gotta get some stuff done, but I’ma try to at least start another one tonight. We’ll see how it goes~ Thanks for reading!

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Seventeen | Trick or Treating ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Hatake Kakashi ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life ]  [ Vulgarity ]

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“Is he here yet?”

“No, not yet.” Very carefully, Ryū applies the last of her makeup. Funnily enough, it doesn’t take much. Just some gaunt, dark makeup around her eyes to make them look sunken and ghastly. She doesn’t even need a wig, her white waves straightened to make a foreboding curtain around her face.

“Ugh, I swear that guy manages to be late at every turn…” Scowling, Kakashi descends the stairs. His own costume is...mostly applied. Ryū just needs to finish wrapping his head, the rest of his mummification already complete. He claims the holiday is lame and for kids, but...she totally noticed him spiffing up what she’s already gotten done.

He might claim Obito’s dragging them out, but she knows he’s actually glad his friend asked.

“It’s not that late yet,” she gently retorts, turning her face to look for anything she’s missed. Just a little black lipstick, and she’ll be done! The second hand store had the perfect white dress, which she’s (temporarily) dirtied for effect. Some carefully tacked-on gauze gives her a spooky look, and just like that: she’s a wraith! “Want me to text him?��

“No, I’ll do it.”

Ryū gives him a glance, a brow perked. He’s standing at one of the windows by the front door, clearly keeping watch. That seemed a little...odd. But she soon shrugs it off. “I hope it doesn’t get too cold...it’s gonna ruin our costumes if we have to wear coats…”

“It’s pretty cloudy, we should be fine. You sure you don’t wanna go to Rin’s party? She said you could go.”

“I know...but I can’t let you dorks go anywhere on your own,” she replies, carefully applying her lipstick. “That’s just asking for trouble.”

“...uh huh. Doesn’t have anything to do with Obito going with me?”

“If Obito weren’t going, you wouldn’t be going. So I guess you could say that,” she counters cheekily.

Kakashi scowls, hidden behind the wrappings on his face.

“Besides, they’re all older than me. It’d be weird. Can’t I just go trick or treating with my brother without being interrogated?”

“Okay one, they’re only about a year older than you. And two, Obito and I are their age, so what’s the difference?”

Ryū turns, pouting. “I’m the odd one out! They all think I’m just a little tagalong. Doesn’t matter that it’s only a year, they still think I’m a twerp. I can tell, they don’t like me…”

Kakashi rolls his eyes. “They like you just fine. You’re just too sensitive.”

“And you’re not sensitive enough!”

It’s then a frantic knock sounds at the door, and they both look to see Obito peeking in the window. “Let me in!” he calls, muffled through the glass.

“About time,” Kakashi mutters under his breath, opening the door. “What took you so long?”

“I had to fix my facepaint, it started melting!” Staggering through the door, Obito arrives in all his zombie glory. Scars left uncovered, he instead has a fake wound on his forehead, and...well, it looks like it’s actually bleeding, given that the paint is indeed starting to ooze.

“Oh, jeez...here, lemme see.” Ryū crosses the gap, a makeup remover napkin in hand. “I can make a new one with some makeup that won’t run. You’ve got it on here way too thick, that’s why it’s being goopy, silly.”

“Uh -?” Not given a chance to refuse, Obito finds himself dragged to the mirror in the main hall, Ryū quickly getting to work. “...you know how to do that?”

“Yeah, duh. We did a workshop on it in theater class, remember?”

“I didn’t do that one, I did props!”

“Well maybe you should have done makeup instead,” she teases, cleaning his forehead. “Now hold still.”

Kakashi, arms crossed, watches the pair with a halfhearted glower. “Hurry up, it’s almost dark. We’re gonna run out of time.”

“It’ll just take me a minute! Obito should get to look the part, too. Have a little patience big bro.”

“Yeah big bro,” Obito echoes, grinning.

“Shut up or I’ll give you a real wound, instead.”

“What crawled up your ass and died, Kakashi?”

He heaves a curt breath, not wanting to admit it. “...nothing. I just want to get this over with since it was all your idea.”

“Says the guy who can’t stop fiddling with his costume to make sure it’s just right,” Ryū retorts. “Admit it, Kakashi - this is gonna be fun! You don’t have to be such a stick in the mud all the time.”

“Trick or treating is for kids.”

“And we’re still kids,” she reminds him, leaning out past Obito to look at him. “Stop trying to grow up so fast! We’re not gonna think any less of you for letting loose and having fun sometimes.”

“...okay maybe I will, but that’s just cuz I have to make fun of you,” Obito offers, pretending to flinch as Ryū lightly baps his arm. “Kidding, kidding!”

Kakashi just rolls his eyes. “Someone around here has to have some sense.”

“Hey, Ryū’s got plenty of sense, and she’s not a jerk!”

Blinking, she flushes a light pink.

“She’s also too easily swayed by your shenanigans, so that doesn’t count,” Kakashi counters dryly.

“Well maybe she just likes to have fun!”

“Okay guys, c’mon, enough arguing,” she cuts in with a sigh. “Obito, how’s that look?”

Not realizing she was done, he leans in toward the mirror. “Whoa! That looks so cool!”

Her pink cheeks get pinker. “Think that’ll work for tonight?”

“Yeah! Thanks!”

“You’re welcome!”

“Okay, now are we ready to go?”

Ryū holds up a hand. “One sec!”

Kakashi groans, head tossing back as she dashes upstairs.

“Y’know, you didn’t have to say you’d go,” Obito offers, crossing the room to stand beside him.

“Ryū wanted to go.”

“Doesn’t mean you have to.”

“Yeah, actually, it does.”

“Why?”

Another grumble. “...cuz I’m her brother. I don’t want her out alone after dark with anybody.”

“What, you don’t trust me?”

“I trust you the least.”

“Aww, why? You know I’d never -!”

“Just nevermind,” Kakashi mutters, edging too close to a rather sensitive topic.

“Okay, back!” Ryū hurries back to the main level. “Here!”

“What’s this?”

“They’re trick or treating bags, duh! Gotta have something to hold all our goodies, right? We made them this week in Home Ec for the elementary school students. I had some extra time, so...I made us all some! They’re based on our costumes.”

“Dude, this is awesome - thanks!” Obito holds out his bag, which sports a felt zombie face on it. “Is there anything you don’t know how to do?”

Kakashi deadpans as she blushes again. “W-well yeah, plenty of things.”

“...okay, anything else, or are we good to go?”

“All right all right, let’s hit the street!” Bag in one hand, Obito holds his aloft, staggering and dragging a foot toward the door.

“Obito, come on! We won’t even make it to the neighbor’s if you go that slow!”

Rather than replying, he just groans.

This is going to be a looong night, Kakashi can’t help but mutter mentally.

Once they get outside, Ryū pushes against Obito’s back to speed him along, earning a laugh as he breaks character. “Save that for when we’re closer to the doors!”

“You don’t like my zombie walk?”

“I like it just fine, but you’re too slow! Kakashi’s right, we don’t have all night. Don’t be a walker, be a runner!”

“What, like...this?!” Spinning around, Obito makes a wild sound, reaching out and making Ryū squeal in surprise as he starts chasing her.

“I’m a ghost, you dork - I don’t have a brain for you to eat!”

“That makes two of you,” Kakashi calls from behind them

“Hey, shut up!”

“Don’t run ahead.”

“First I’m too slow, now I’m too fast. Make up your mind, Kakashi!”

They reach the first house, everyone huddling up on the doorstep as Ryū rings their doorbell. A young couple opens the door, marveling at their costumes before giving them each a heaping handful into their bags.

“Hey, so are we gonna trade each other for stuff we don’t like when we get back?” Obito asks, looking into his bag.

“Maybe, if we have enough time.”

“Kakashi do you even like candy?”

“I like the sour ones. And dark chocolate.”

“I like mint and chocolate!” Ryū pipes up. “Ooh, and peanut butter!”

“Eh, I’m not too picky. Sweet is sweet to me.”

They slowly make their way around the neighborhood, visiting house after house and dodging gaggles of younger kids pursued by their parents. They even manage to cross paths with a few others from their classes.

“See! I told you we’re not too old,” Ryū teases her half brother with a grin.

“Obito and I are still pushing it,” he counters. “Most of our classmates are probably at parties instead.”

“And yet you’re here with the cool kids.”

He snorts. “Debatable.”

They even manage to cross paths with a teacher from the school, his wife helping take their son for a round of trick or treating. Ryū hoists the little blond to her hip, cooing over his fox costume. Naruto is quickly a bundle of giggles at her attentions.

“She’s pretty good with kids, huh?”

Kakashi glances to his friend. “She’s been babysitting for them.”

“Whoa, really?”

“Mhm. It lets her earn a little spending money, and she’s learning some responsibility.”

“And practicing for being a mom.”

The Hatake’s expression sours. “If she wants to be one, sure.”

“She’d be a great mom! She’s super sweet and patient.”

“Good thing, since it lets her put up with you.”

“Hey!”

As the evening ages, the trio decide to call it a night. Each of their bags are rather swollen with goodies, and Ryū digs through her own eagerly.

“Wow, there’s a lot more here than I thought we’d get!”

“Good thing we went down that side street - they had the best haul!” Obito agrees, peering into her bag. “A lot better than my neighborhood. Everyone’s so stingy…”

“So you’re just here to loot ours?” Kakashi asks, brow perking as Obito goes pink.

“No!”

“He’s just teasing,” Ryū assures him, rolling her eyes. “Come on, let’s get back and trade!”

They return to the Hatake household, sitting in a circle on the living room floor. Each dumps out a little candy mountain at their front.

Right off the bat, Kakashi hands over everything but sours and dark chocolates to his sister, who in turn gives hers of his favorites. He’s left with a bit of a small pile, but he doesn’t really care. Sweets aren’t his thing.

“Okay Obito, what can we trade?”

“Uh…” He rummages around. “I’ve got some chocolate and mint stuff. Not much with peanut butter, though.”

“Okay! What do you want that I’ve got?”

They start haggling, Kakashi unwinding the bandages on his face enough to chew some sour Starbursts. He can’t help but be amused at how seriously they take it. Unlike himself, they both sport some pretty hefty sweet teeth.

“But that’s not fair!”

“I don’t want them!”

“Then take some more of these!”

“It’s fine!”

“Ryū, he said he doesn’t want them,” Kakashi cuts in, getting tired of their babble.

“But -!”

“Are we going to watch a scary movie?”

The question acts as the perfect distraction. The other two teens blink. “...are we?”

“Might as well sit and watch something while we eat all this, huh?” Kakashi pops another Starburst.

Obito glances to a clock. “It’s kinda late, though. Should I head home?”

“Aww, already?” Ryū gives Kakashi a pleading look. “Can he stay?”

“What?”

“Tomorrow’s Sunday, it’s not like we need to be up for school! He can just sleep over after the movie. We can put the inflatable mattress in your room!”

A hint of suspicion colors his gaze. “You’re gonna have to make extra breakfast.”

“I don’t mind! Pleeease? We’re having so much fun, I don’t wanna quit yet!”

Ugh, she’s too convincing for her own good. “Fine...I’ll make some popcorn. Go find a movie.”

“Yay!”

...he’s going to regret this, isn’t he?

Throwing a bag of popcorn into the microwave, Kakashi subtly watches into the living room. Ryū and Obito both look over Netflix, trying to find a good movie.

“No, not that one! It’s too scary!”

“I thought that’s the point?”

“I wanna be able to sleep tonight!”

“Nothing to be scared of! Kakashi and I will be here, right?”

“W-well, yeah...but -?”

“Okay, let’s keep looking. Scaredy cat.”

“Am not!”

Obito just chuckles. “How about this?”

“...okay.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

Kakashi just rolls his eyes, splitting the popcorn three ways. “Here.”

Lights turned out, they start the movie.

Like most horror films, it starts out slow. Ryū, wedged between the boys, sinks into her seat and subconsciously munches her popcorn, staring at the screen. And despite his usual boredom with the genre, even Kakashi pays attention.

And then the first jumpscare happens.

“Eep!”

Kakashi flinches as Ryū shrieks, shying back from her slightly as his ear complains. But then he glances over to check on her.

And she’s curled up into Obito’s shoulder.

His eye gives a slight twitch.

Obito, watching wide-eyed, hasn’t really reacted. But a few minutes later, when another shot of the movie’s monster flashes across the screen, he lifts an arm without breaking his stare at the screen to let her closer.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

By the end, neither of them have moved. Only once Kakashi flicks on a light do they both jolt, realizing their positions.

“...time for bed,” Kakashi then mutters. “C’mon Obito, help me set up the air mattress.”

“Uh...right.”

Ryū scurries to the bathroom to brush her teeth, the boys awkwardly heading to Kakashi’s room.

Kakashi doesn’t say a word, letting Obito stew in it for a while.

“So, uh...Ryū really doesn’t like scary movies, huh?”

Here we go. “She likes ones with ghosts. Gore bugs her, though.”

“Really? Doesn’t she want to be a nurse?”

“Mhm.”

“...then -?”

“There’s a difference between real world injuries and overdone movie wounds,” Kakashi sighs as he throws some blankets over the temporary mattress. “If it’s too over the top, it freaks her out. Besides, she’s only sixteen. She’ll get over it before she actually gets into med school.”

“...right.”

More awkward silence.

“Does she, uh…”

“Does she what?”

“Does she...like me?”

Oh brother. “She seems to tolerate you pretty well, yea.”

“That’s not what I mean! I mean does she...like me?”

“How should I know? Ask her if you’re so curious.”

“I can’t just ask her that!”

“Why not?”

“Cuz -!” Okay, he doesn’t really have a reason. “...it would be weird.”

“Weird.”

“Yeah!”

“What are you, twelve? No wonder you’ve never had a girlfriend.”

“Maybe I haven’t wanted one!”

Kakashi deadpans. “...do you like her?”

Obito flashes pink. “...I dunno. I...I guess so.” A pause. “...is that...bad?”

“You tell me.”

“I mean, you’re her brother, and…” Something seems to sink in. “...oh…”

“Yeah. ‘Oh’.” Finished, Kakashi just glances to his friend. “...you’re an idiot, but...apparently she’s into that sort of thing.”

“...wait, she -?”

“Yeah. If you weren’t thick as a brick wall, you’d have noticed by now.”

Suddenly Obito is far more nervous. “...are you mad?”

Kakashi sighs. “...no. I just worry. That’s what big brothers do.”

“...sooo…?”

“...so...just don’t fuck it up. Then I won’t have a reason to get mad.”

“Er...right. Okay.”

“Okay guys, bathroom’s free! G’night!”

Obito fumbles for a moment. “G-goodnight!”

“Night,” Kakashi calls back. Once he’s ready for bed, he slips under his covers, hearing Obito do the same.

...well, breakfast is going to be interesting.

     Well this is...late and a bit on the short side, but I ran out of time. Today was busy and I ran out of steam =w= But it’s done! Also got to rest run the sub-verse idea of Ryū and Kakashi being related cuz I just like the vibe :3      Anywho, just some silly fluff with out favorite dorks. Makes me sad trick or treating won’t really be a thing this year (if people are smart, anyway).       ...I’d say more but I’m tired :’D Thanks for reading!

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Four | Circus ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Orochimaru ] [ Verse: Fabulous Freaks ]

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Humans have, for uncounted years, enjoyed making spectacles of things strange, obscure, frightening. To gawk at what is different is to take comfort in one’s normalcy.

But few ever think of what it must mean to be different.

“Over here! Hurry up!”

Panting in panic, a young boy is wrestled forward, the canvas sack over his head barring breath and vision alike. Rough, chafing rope holds his wrists behind his back, a hand dragging him forward by an upper arm.

He has no idea where he is, or why...or who has brought him here. Around him, a cacophony of noises only make him all the more confused, a plethora of conflicting smells burning his nose. Smoke, food, dung, perfume.

...where is he?!

Why?!

Then something changes. A door is heard to open, he struggles up several stairs, and then it closes behind him. Everything cuts off. The noise, the smell...the abrupt change makes him stagger.

“...take it off. Let’s see what we used all this effort on.”

The canvas is whipped from his head, and the boy flinches, stumbling back a step. He’s...in some kind of wagon. Cluttered with photographs, props, and other paraphernalia he can’t begin to recognize. And before him, sitting on an elevated chair with one leg atop a knee, is a person.

He...can’t tell if they’re a man or a woman. Porcelain-pale skin is made all the more striking by dark eye makeup, the person in question looking down at him appraisingly.

Like a steer for slaughter.

“Ooh...he really is ugly, isn’t he?” The stranger gives a venomous chuckle. “No wonder he was abandoned. Who could stand to look at a face like that…?”

Taken aback at the sudden cruelty, the boy flinches. He wasn’t abandoned…! His grandmother, the last of his known family, had died a few months ago, leaving him alone. He’d taken to the streets, but...they were cruel to all, let alone someone so...so…

“What is your name, boy? Do you even have one?”

Glowering half-heartedly, he hesitates for a long moment. “O...Obito.”

“Obito...well, welcome to your new home, Obito.” The stranger gestures outward with both outstretched arms. “A humble traveling circus. Fitting for someone like you, don’t you think?”

“This isn’t my home! You kidnapped me!”

“Mm...yes, yes I did. But tell me, boy...what do you have to go back to? Look at you.” Taking up a cane, they prod at his ribs. “Thin as a rail, dirty, sickly...you’ll simply wither away if you stay out in the gutters. Why not stay here, with others displaced like yourself…?”

Obito steps back from their touch, still glaring. He knows this...person has a point. He’s been eating garbage and refuse, avoiding the cruel looks of strangers. Nothing but a miserable, fading existence. But...a circus…? “...w-what do you want with me?”

“To put you on display! To take what makes you odd...and let it turn you into a star. I have many oddities just like you. People who are different. That amaze, frighten, or confuse onlookers. People come from miles around to see our little family of freaks. All you need to do is stand and be gawked at. Do that, and I can guarantee you meals, a cot to sleep in, and a place to call home. More than fair, don’t you think…?”

Obito’s nose wrinkles. “...I already get stared at…”

“But you get none of the perks, do you? Why let yourself wither away, embittered and alone, when you could thrive, knowing that this hideous face is no longer reviled, but revered! It’s so simple, Obito…” The cane lifts, catching his chin and forcing him to meet the gaze of his captor. “...so just say yes. Or...I can dump you back in the gutter. It’s your choice. So make the right one, hm…?”

Chin trembling, Obito tries to logic his way out of this...but in truth, he knows he should agree. He has nothing left. Nothing. Would it really be that bad? To trade his pride for a chance at living? “...f-fine.”

Lips curl into a cruel smile. “Perfect…! Take him to the others, let him...settle in. We’ll introduce him to his new life in the morning.”

The same brute who dragged him takes out a knife, earning a flinch. But he only cuts the rope, letting blood and feeling flow back into the boy’s hands. Wringing them gingerly, Obito realizes he has little else to do but follow.

Now unblinkered, he takes in his surroundings once they leave the wagon. They’re behind the tents and attractions, animals sulking in cages and people milling about. Clowns, acrobats, beast tamers...all looking far less bright and animated than they do when the spotlights are on.

“This way. No lollygaggin’.”

Flinching, Obito follows the man into a tent.

Within, several cots are already strung up and occupied. They all look like adults. “Toward the back is an empty one. Go get some shuteye, you’ve got work to do in the morning.”

Stepping aside and eyeing him warily, Obito does as suggested and heads toward the rear of the tent...which goes dark as the flap falls behind the exiting troupe member.

He freezes, trying to let his eyes adjust.

“Pssst! Over here!”

Startling, he sees a light bloom ahead: dim, but visible. Like a moth to a flame, Obito hurries toward it, stumbling over things on the ground before reaching the very back of the tent.

Atop one of the cots is a person draped with a thin blanket, hiding their visage as it drapes low over their face. A pale, dainty hand holds aloft a candle. “That one there is empty. Just across.”

About-facing, Obito finds the empty hammock behind him before turning back to the other figure. It’s rather small...maybe someone close to his age? The voice is also diminutive, quiet and soft. Obito assumes it belongs to a girl. “W...who are you?”

“...just another one of the freaks,” she replies. “You must be new…”

He hesitates. “...yeah. I’m Obito.”

“...Ryū.” Slightly, her head tilts up, and though the shadows are deep beneath the blanket, the light nonetheless catches a pair of silver eyes. They flicker, and Obito can tell she’s studying his face.

Ashamed, he glances aside, hiding the deformed skin that stretches from brow to chin, ear to nose.

“...you don’t have to hide, you know.”

“...everyone stares…”

“But here, to be weird is to be normal. We all have something different about us. So when you put us all together...it’s really not so weird anymore.” Lifting her free hand, she pulls back the blanket.

Obito stares.

Like some kind of ghost, her entire form is colorless. Snow-pale skin, grey eyes, and every hair he can see completely white. “...they call me Specter when I’m performing. Kinda obvious why, huh?”

“But...you don’t look weird,” Obito protests, forgetting to hide his face. “You’re so pretty!”

She tenses, clearly taken aback before she brings the blanket back over her head. But he still sees the rosy blush in her cheeks. “...I’ve never seen anyone else who looked like me...except my mama. When she died...I got taken here. I’ve been here since I was four.”

“Four…?” He wilts - at thirteen now, it’s quite the difference. “...my gran took me in when I was a baby. My parents died when our house burned...everyone thought I would die from my wounds. But I didn’t. Now I just...look like this.”

Ryū’s gaze lifts. “...they’re scars…?”

“Along my whole side down to my thigh,” he replies bitterly. “Everyone else called me a freak...but Gran loved me all the same. When she...w-when she died, I had nowhere else to go…”

“And that’s when Orochimaru found you.”

“Who?”

“The ringmaster. They take in anyone they think will get more people to come to their circus.” It’s Ryū’s turn to sound bitter. “They tell us we’re a family, but...it’s all a lie. No one is happy here. We’re just ways for them to make money…”

“Why don’t you leave?”

“Where can I go? I’ve been here almost my whole life, I know nothing else. The only talent I have are the dances I had to learn...what use is that to anyone? And none of us get to make any money...we have nothing. It all belongs to the ringmaster. Including us.”

Not having an answer, Obito chews the scar along his lip in thought. “...someday, we’ll leave. When we’re grown! We’ll figure something out, right?”

Her gaze falls. “...someday.”

The pair fall into a somber silence, the wax of the candle starting to wane. But before it dies, Ryū lifts a hand. “...may I…?”

Looking back up, Obito hesitates...but then steps a little closer to her cot.

Gently, she lets a few fingertips trace along the ridges of the scars. They even extend up into his hairline, leaving him with lopsided locks.

Her dainty touches make the skin tingle, and Obito has to repress a shiver. “...ugly, aren’t they?”

“...no. They’re strong,” is her rebuke. “...they show that you lived.”

He has no retort for that. “...I-I should...try to sleep.”

Letting her hand retreat, Ryū offers, “Just do as you’re told, and you won’t have any trouble. And if you need any help, just ask me, okay?”

“...okay.” He moves to the empty cot, kicking off his shoes and struggling to lie down without being tossed back out.

Only once he goes still does Ryū extinguish her candle.

Outside, the muffled sounds of the waning circus evening keep him awake. So many unknowns, so much to fear. But...he has a dry place to sleep. Something over his head. Food to eat.

And...maybe a friend.

He can handle this...for now. But someday, he’ll escape. And he’ll take Ryū with him. He doesn’t know how they’ll do it, but...they will.

Someday.

The next morning, the same man that dragged him here wakes them at the crack of dawn. And Obito sees the others who occupy the tent: the rest of the malformed. A set of conjoined twin boys, another with extra limbs, a woman with a bearded face, and a man with just one eye in the center of his head are just a few of the people subjected to scrutiny.

Along with the rest of the troupe, there’s a hurried breakfast before they help in carrying out the preparatory tasks of upkeep. Cleaning up garbage, setting up props and tents, hauling in supplies from the train...whatever it takes to be ready for another wave of guests.

Once that’s done...it’s time for their real work to begin.

Led to a long, narrow tent, Obito balks at the sight of cages. And like trained dogs, every one of the so-called freaks takes their place within one.

“The hell are you waiting for? Get into place!”

Obito feels a push at his back, nearly stumbling as he’s forced toward a small, empty crate. Once inside, the door is shut...but not locked.

“Remember...look alive, ladies and gents! Don’t leave the guests disappointed.”

...and so it goes.

For hours and hours, people parade through the tent, gawking and pointing at the unfortunates within. Small children hide behind their parents, whose noses wrinkle in disgust. On and on and on it goes.

And then the worst possible happenstance comes to pass.

Shuffling past his cage, a pair of young people stop. Obito, despondent, looks up as he hears his name uttered in question.

...he knows these two.

Staring at him in horror, a boy and a girl meet his eyes, full of questions they can’t bring themselves to ask. For a long moment, the trio stare at one another...before the boy beyond the bars urges his feminine companion away, the pair of them whispering to each other before fading out of sight.

He’s never felt so humiliated.

Only once the daylight starts fading is the tent closed, and the cast freed to have their evening meal. Legs sore from being so confined, Obito winces and hobbles behind the rest of them.

Only Ryū waits for him.

“...I heard two people say your name,” she murmurs softly, noting his look of shame. “Did someone recognize you…?”

“...yeah,” he replies, tone warbling. “Now everyone will know.”

“...we’ll change cities, soon. I’m sorry, Obito.” She offers a hand, gently leading him back to where they’re fed.

But her day isn’t yet done.

“You...perform?”

“Mhm. I tightrope walk,” Ryū confirms. She’s changed into a white leotard and leggings, hair bound up tight behind her head.

“Can I see…?”

“You can stay by the back entrance - I think you can see from there. Just don’t let anyone spot you, okay?”

“Okay…!”

Tucking behind a barrel, Obito peers out as Ryū’s act is announced: Specter, the ghost of the circus who defies gravity itself. Up a ladder she climbs to a rope tied between two of the main poles of the largest tent. Barefoot, she makes her way out, balance maintained as she walks, flips, and seems to dance. With each stunt, the crowd gasps as the rope sways.

...there’s no net, should she fall.

Obito watches with bated breath, both fearful she’ll stumble, and yet entranced as she remains upright. But when the act is done and the applause sounds out, she’s still safe.

He sighs at last.

“That was amazing…!”

Giving him a glance from her cot that night, she ducks her head with a demure smile. “...thanks.”

“Does everybody do more than sit in the cages?”

“Some do, but not everyone.” Ryū considers him. “...do you have any special talents you could do?”

That makes him hesitate. “...I dunno.”

“If you find one, maybe you can get an act. If you do, you get out early to prepare.”

Well, that’s all the convincing he needs! Any less time he has to spend in that tent, the better. So when no one is looking, he starts practicing with throwing knives.

It takes time - they change cities more than once before he’s any good at it, and several more before he’s confident. Presenting his new talent to the ringmaster, he’s given a secondary slot to perform.

...and so it goes. Days blend into weeks, to months, and then to years. All across the land they travel, the circus torn down and put up again and again as the train takes them back and forth.

Soon enough, Obito is no longer a boy. After years of lugging supplies and pitching tents, he’s gotten far bulkier than his scrawny childhood self. Easily able to pack just about anything, he performs feats of strength for onlookers, including smashing a bell with a weight propelled by a hammer strike.

It earns him the stage name the Burned Beast.

And all the while, Ryū keeps up her acts. She too blossoms, growing into a young woman and becoming one of the most popular acts of the circus. Posters bear her face, and she’s often toted around on Obito’s shoulder to gain more attention before her act every night.

But it’s not just her talents she’s lauded for. While her ghostly appearance puts off some, it brings in others.

Needless to say...most back down when Obito looms up behind her, glowering them all back like mice before a hawk.

While he’s made a friend or two beyond Specter, the pair remain closest with one another. Ryū tends to any injuries he gets, gently keeping him in tip-top shape. And Obito serves almost as a guard whenever necessary.

And neither of them have forgotten their wish to someday escape.

They often speak of it long into the night, ruminating and reminiscing: discussing what they’ll do once they’re free.

The only question is how to do it.

Staring out at the darkening horizon one night, Obito’s brow furrows. “...seems like it’s going to rain tonight.”

“Really?” Ryū joins him at the mouth of the barrack tent, pinning up her hair as she glances out. “...well, it should be fine. We’ll be inside for the rest of the night.”

As she retreats, Obito keeps up his vigil. Something doesn’t feel right.

...but they have a show to put on.

Over the years, Ryū’s act has grown and evolved. Nowadays, she’s packed in on Obito’s shoulder, waving to the crowd until he throws her straight up to cling to a pair of hanging ropes. Twists and turns see her travel up and down the lengths until she finds her way to the tightrope.

And at Obito’s insistence, he remains below, ready to catch her should she fall. For a time, everything goes as per usual. Ryū wows the crowd with her stunts and agility.

But as the act switches to its second phase, the wind begins to pick up, rain pelting the canvas of the tent. And in the air, thunder rumbles.

It’s not just rain...it’s a thunderstorm.

Watching Ryū, Obito spares glances to the entrances. The weather is blowing in, causing those on the ends of the stands to huddle inward. Light flashes as bolts fling across the sky.

...this isn’t good.

And then, with a mighty clap, a streak of lightning hits the top of the tent...and flames begin to spread in spite of the rain.

Panic.

Circus people and guests alike scatter, scrambling for exits as the fire eats at the structure.

“Ryū!”

Huddled atop her rope, Ryū looks down to Obito and his open arms. “I-I -!”

“Jump!”

Steeling herself, she does just that, landing in his grip with a grunt.

He runs.

Like tinder, the rest of the circus is going up in flames. Canvas is quick to catch from flying sparks. Wagons erupt into fireballs. Cages are opened to let animals free, people fleeing into the rain.

“Obito!”

Still carrying her, he ignores her calls. Into the barrack tent he barrels. “Grab your things!”

“But -?”

“This is it! Our chance to run!”

Panic pales and pinches her face. “Where?!”

“Anywhere! We can’t stay here, it’s all -!”

With a crash, a flaming beam collapses atop the tent only feet from them, tongues of fire reaching eagerly for anything and everything it can reach...and blocking the way out.

“Run!”

Hauling her bag of meager possessions as Obito does the same, Ryū follows as he slashes the rear panel of canvas with a knife he’s kept hidden away from his act. Neither of them look back, fleeing toward the tracks where the engine - trying to avoid the spreading flames - begins to move.

“Get on!” Tossing his bag, Obito turns to Ryū, picking her up and setting her within the car.

“Obito!” She reaches a hand, hauling him up as he lands halfway onboard. As the locomotive begins to pick up speed, they watch the flaming carcass of the circus fade into the darkening distance.

...shocked silence falls over them both.

They aren’t the only ones who ran. Several others huddle in this car, and the rest are just as occupied.

No one finds the ringmaster.

Claiming a corner, the pair of them hunker down, clinging to their bags and trying to wrap their heads around the devastation.

“...it’s really over...isn’t it?”

Obito gives her a glance. She seems far more upset than he expected. “...yeah. It is.”

Clearly frightened, she leans into him, Obito not hesitating to wrap protective arms around her frame. “...I-I can’t believe it…”

“...we’re free.”

She looks up, expression slowly slackening to wonder. “...we’re free…”

“No more cages. No more ringmaster. Nothing. We can go our own way, now. Just like we planned, for so long…!” Carefully, he takes her face in his hands. “...no more Specter. No more Burned Beast. Just Ryū, and Obito.”

She softens, bringing a hand up to rest along his wrist. “...together.”

Eyes flickering over her face, Obito lets himself smile...and then do something he’s wanted to do for quite some time now. Lowering his own, he slowly - hesitantly - brings his lips to hers.

There’s a moment where she stiffens...but then she goes lax in his hold. It’s a slow, chaste, somber thing...but when they pull apart, they reconverge into a warm, comforting hold.

There’s no telling where they’ll end up now, with their pasts now up in cinders. But wherever it will be, they’ll be there together.

     So this is uh...very angsty x’D I don’t think it’s at all what Meg prolly pictured but it’s immediately what came to mind for me kjhdjfgdg      Circuses are, in some ways, not very great places. They’ve improved over time of course, but many still abuse animals, and even people still. Oro is our ringmaster as their actions in Oto could be seen as something similar: gathering up people who don’t fit in to “profit” off of them. So while they can be fun, my mind immediately went to the darker side of them mostly because of Phantom of the Opera but shhh.      ANYWAY, I could’ve fleshed this out more but I’m on a bit of a schedule ahaha~ So parts might seem a little rushed, but I tried ;w; That said I really enjoyed writing this one. Angst isn’t ALWAYS my cup of tea, but when I have a craving for it, it’s lots of fun x3      Thanks for reading!

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-Eight | On Your Own ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life ] [ Vulgarity, blood, death, gun ]

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It’s two am.

And Obito is awake.

And not by choice.

Sitting at his desk with a cheek in a hand, he glowers at the wall in front of him. Not because it’s done him any offence, but because of what lies on the other side.

His neighboring apartment, for about two weeks now, has been playing host to a very fussy, very loud baby. Which has been keeping him up at all hours of the night, depending on when it feels like crying.

Needless to say, it’s been leaving him a little on edge.

Groaning, he drags his hand down his face. He has a very important appointment tomorrow, and he really doesn’t want to be losing any sleep right now. He was just finalizing his plans when the crying started, and now he feels his temper about to snap.

Can’t they shut that thing up?!

Growling as the decibels go up a notch, the pencil in his hand cracks and he stands with such abruptness that his chair nearly clatters over. Enough. He can’t take it anymore. He’s going to go over there and tell these people that they either shut that baby up, or he’ll do it himself.

Permanently.

Obito is, after all, no stranger to death. Having given up on schooling when a life-shattering accident left him too far behind to catch up, he turned to what began as petty crime to get by. And now? He’s barely into his twenties and already an infamous name in the city’s underground as a talented (and therefore expensive) hitman.

...in all reality, of course, he’s not going to hurt a baby. But by God he’s going to make them think he would if it will get him some Goddamn peace and quiet.

Wrenching open his door, he turns to face the proper direction, strutting up and pounding on the next door down. At least he always looks plenty intimidating. Hopefully it won’t take long to scare these idiots into -

He can hear the scrapes of the locks, and he puffs up as the knob turns, the door swinging open to reveal...a girl?

Good grief, is she even an adult?

Her face is pinched with exhaustion and worry, dark shadows under her pale eyes, and...wow, pale everything else. For a moment Obito’s almost convinced she’s a ghost haunting this apartment rather than living in it. But in her arms, still wailing like a banshee, is the baby.

“...uh…”

Suddenly he doesn’t know what to say. He wasn’t expecting...well, any of this.

But she clearly knows why he’s here.

“I...I’m so sorry,” she offers, voice a bit emphasized to be heard over the babe’s cries. “I’m trying to get her to calm down, I just...I think she’s colicky and she won’t settle. I’m so, so sorry…”

Obito just...blinks. Wait, is…? “...are you here alone?”

Immediately, the question - out of context - makes her stiffen.

He backpedals, hands lifting in defense. “I...I don’t mean like -? I mean...do you not have, uh...anyone else to...to help you?”

Oh no. He’s flipped a switch. As soon as he finishes his inquiry, her lip starts trembling, eyes brimming with tears.

He hates when girls cry…!

Lifting her spare arm, she tries to wipe them away, clinging to her composure by a thread. “N...no...I-I don’t.”

“Where’s the, uh...dad?”

She glances aside, looking ashamed. “...off to college. He didn’t….h-he didn’t want anything getting in the way of his...e-education. So he had his parents give me some money, and...here I am. But it’s already going so fast, and I...I don’t have anywhere else to go. This was the c-cheapest apartment I could find, but...I can’t find a job with her, there’s n-no one who can watch her, so I...I’ve just been sitting here trying to figure out w-what to do…”

Greys lift back to his face. “...I know she’s been d-driving everyone nuts. But she just keeps getting colicky and I don’t know why. I’m really sorry if she’s been keeping you awake. I’ll...I’ll try to get her to bed.”

Obito just...stares. So some jackass knocks her up...and then leaves her to her fate? Throws a little cash at her and calls it good?! What the fuck is wrong with this guy?! “...not to be, uh...creepy. But are you…? Have you graduated?”

“Yes...just last month. She came along two weeks later. I b-barely made it through my last year.”

“...and he’s off scot free, is he?”

“He -!” She hesitates. “...he’s...he already had a full ride. He’s really smart, and -!”

“I don’t give a fuck how smart he is,” Obito cuts in, making her jump. “He’s clearly trash if he did this to you. Fucking prick.”

Looking unsure at his volatile language, she doesn’t have a reply.

“...so you really don’t have anyone else you can ask for help?”

Her posture wilts. “...no. I was in, um...foster care. And my foster parents weren’t...the best. My dad was absent and my mom died when I was little. No other relatives that I know of, so...it’s just me.”

Sighing, Obito rubs at the back of his neck. He already knows what rent is here: it’s cheap, but still too much for anyone without a job. She’s been here two weeks...so rent’s due in another two.

In truth, the only reason Obito sticks around here is because it’s low profile. He has enough cash to upgrade, but staying low works well for him.

This whole situation isn’t sitting right with him...and something about her reminds him of...someone else.

“...first thing’s first. You need a babysitter. Or a...a nanny. Whatever it’s called.”

She blinks. “...but -?”

“Then you can start looking for a job. Odds are you won’t find anything that pays too well. You have a car?”

“N...no -?”

“Then either something within walking distance, or you commute by bus. Or there’s always the kind of job women get in a neighborhood like this, but,” he amends at her offended look, “that’s not...preferable.”

“...I don’t have any money for a -”

“I’ll cover it.”

Her face goes slack in shock, eyes wide.

“...consider it an investment,” he adds, glancing aside to avoid her gaze. “You get this kid on a schedule and get yourself on one too, maybe I won’t be losing so much sleep. My job pays well, and I don’t have much to spend it on, anyway. You need to get a foot in the door. And I know what it is to have no one to lean on.”

Clearly still unable to process his words, she just...stares at him, mouth slightly agape.

“...I’m Obito, by the way.”

“...Ryū…”

“And who’s this?”

She blinks several times before looking down to her baby. By now, she’s settled to a series of whines and half-sobs. “...Amaya.”

“Well Amaya, you’ve been a pain in my ass for two weeks,” Obito offers, hands on his hips and leaning toward the infant. Dark grey eyes - squinted shut as she cries - open as his talking distracts her, drawing her gaze. “So let’s do something about it, hm? Maybe then we can be friends.”

Seemingly entranced, Amaya stares up at him, suddenly quiet.

Both adults go still.

“...um…” Ryū seems at a bit of a loss. “...I think she likes you.”

Obito, staring back at the baby, looks equally confused. “...usually I frighten babies,” he admits, straightening his posture. “With the whole…” He gestures to his face.

“Well, it seems she doesn’t mind,” Ryū counters, managing a tired smile as Amaya sucks on a thumb. “Maybe I can finally put her down for bed…”

“And then I can do the same,” Obito agrees, loosely folding his arms. “I have work tomorrow, but...we’ll talk when I get back.”

“Do you…?”

“Hm?”

Ryū hesitates. “You...you don’t have to do this...I mean, we don’t -?”

“I told you, I have the money. And I need the sleep. Once you get a leg up, you’ll be fine. Not your fault you were dumped here without any help.”

Her expression wilts, and he prays she isn’t going to cry again. “I’ll...I’ll make it up to you! Do you need, um...anything? I could cook, o-or clean! I handled most of all that growing up, so I’m good at it!”

Obito blinks. He...hadn’t considered that. In truth he doesn’t need much cleaning, he’s pretty tidy (and not home much to make a mess anyway). Cooking, on the other hand…

Maybe that can be where they start.

“...all right. We’ll begin there. You can be my, er…” What’s the term?

“Housekeeper…?” Ryū supplies.

“Yes! That way there’s no commute, no fuss...and you can bring her with you, hm?” He gestures to Amaya.

Ryū brightens, looking at him like he just pulled her out of a burning building. “I...o-okay! Um…” She looks around, seeming a bit overwhelmed at the sudden plans. “...should I...wait until you get back tomorrow?”

“Yes. I need to, er...plan how this will work.” And by that he means making sure she doesn’t stumble upon anything...compromising in his apartment, like his selection of weapons and files on his targets.

That would be...unfortunate.

A wide smile blooms across her face. “All right then! I’ll just...wait to hear from you. And…” Her demeanor softens again. “...thank you. You have...no idea what this means to me. To us.”

A bit awkward at the praise, Obito looks aside and clears his throat. “Er...you’re welcome. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

The door closes, and Obito mulls over the entire conversation. Not...what he had in mind, but maybe this will work.

...he knows what it is to be left without anywhere to turn, anyone to lean on. But even then, he didn’t have a baby to worry about on top of it all. Poor girl.

...he shouldn’t call her girl. She’s an adult, only three years younger than himself. But...well, he’s aged a lot mentally in his lifestyle. And clearly she’s just getting started. A level one adult, while he feels like he’s at least level fifty after all he’s had to go through.

Sighing, he relishes in the silence as he heads back to his apartment, needing hardly any time to collapse into bed and find sleep.

Come morning...it’s time to get to work.

Going over his target’s file and the plan he’s made to get the job done, Obito packs his sniper rifle and heads out. Dressed in a suit and putting on an air of confidence, he walks right into a private office building and makes his way to a top floor. It’s currently empty, as well as several floors below it, in preparation of new clients.

The perfect opportunity, as his target works just across the street on the same level. He’ll have a shot, and some room to work (and hopefully go unnoticed enough to get out without being caught). Setting up the tripod, he cuts the glass of a window to give the bullet less to travel through, assembling the weapon and awaiting the proper moment.

Settled at the scope, he watches as the executive he’s been paid to off heads into his office, taking a phone call.

All alone.

Adjusting the crosshair to account for the wind, Obito takes a steadying breath, holds it...and fires.

A splatter of red blooms along the wall behind his target, body immediately limp.

Perfect.

Practiced hands then quickly disassemble the gun, getting it back into its case and making his way to the elevator.

By the time anyone heads up to investigate the noise, he’s already heading back out the door. A call to his burner phone confirms the kill, and the wiring of the funds to his account.

All in all, he’s only gone an hour.

Back in his apartment, he finds it’s still quiet. Seems Ryū and Amaya are having a good morning. Changing his clothes and stashing his gun, he then goes about readying his apartment for his guest.

Well...guests, he supposes.

He does have a gun safe, and all of his supplies fit within it. And a locked file cabinet holds all of his research and client information. He highly doubts Ryū’s the type to even begin sneaking around, let alone be able to get past the locks he has in place.

He’s ready.

Heading back to her door, he knocks and awaits an answer. Though still looking exhausted, Ryū appears a bit more perky today than she did yesterday. Maybe she also got some sleep.

“Good morning!”

“Morning. Should we, er...give this a try?”

Nodding, Ryū packs Amaya into a carrier, heading the few steps down the hall and into Obito’s apartment. A few glances show it’s...rather Spartan, with hardly any personal effects, or...even mess.

...does he really need her to -?

“So, uh…” Obito itches at the rear of his neck, trying to think. “I know there’s not much to be cleaned, but...it’s lacking in other ways. I don't go grocery shopping much. I tend to order food rather than cook myself. It’s expensive.”

Ryū blinks. He did say he had the money, though…

“It’s also not healthy. And my money goes to a better place this way anyway,” he adds, seemingly reading her thoughts. “So it’s a win several times over. Now we just need to, er...figure out how this will work.”

“Do you...work regular hours?” she asks, setting Amaya down.

“Not really. I’m a contract worker,” Obito replies, having perfected that lie long ago. “I get a call, I go in. Otherwise I tend to jump about doing other things. I’m at the gym a good bit.” Mostly to keep in shape for his work, but also to help keep his mangled body as limber as he can manage. That and the physical effort keeps him from thinking too much. “So usually I’m not home much anyway.”

Ryū curls a thoughtful hand against her mouth. “...well, I guess I could start with a time in the morning to get breakfast out of the way for you, and then...if you’re gone all day, fix lunches to take with you…? And I can work on other tasks while you’re gone, and have supper ready by a set time, or...you can call if you’re going to be late.”

Obito blinks. That...seems pretty simple. “Sure. I’ll get a new card to leave with you so you can pick up whatever you need. Pretty sure you know what you’re doing.”

“B-but -?”

“Hm?”

She hesitates. “...that’s...putting a lot of trust in me, isn’t it?”

“True. But if you mess up, I’ll just fire you,” he replies blithely. “I think you know better than to try anything.”

“I...I guess so. I guess I’m just not used to anyone, um...trusting me that much,” she admits.

“Well, you’re trusting me, in turn. I could be a total creep tricking you into all of this for other gains,” Obito counters as he folds his arms, seeing her jolt slightly. “...but I’m not. So we’re even in that regard, hm?”

“...seems that way.”

Glancing to a clock, Obito sighs. “...well, how should we start? Now? Tomorrow? Or -?”

“I can start today!��� Ryū chirps in reply. “...that is, if you want me to.”

“Sure. Though I’ll need time to get the card, and another key…” He hums to himself, rubbing at his chin. “...I’ll do that today. Then you can really get started tomorrow. For now,” he adds, reaching into his pocket to fetch his wallet and handing her a wad of cash that makes her eyes go wide. “Go get whatever you want for the week.”

“O...okay. Um…” She looks back up to him. “Any...allergies, or dislikes…? Things I should avoid?”

He waves a hand. “Not really. So long as there’s no szechuan, I’ll be fine.”

To his surprise, she snorts. “Well, all right then.”

“We’ll go get the spare made first, then you can get going, and I’ll head to the bank. You’ll probably be back first.”

“Okay. What time should I plan for dinner to be ready?”

“I’m usually back by six.” A pause, and then, “Do you have a phone?”

“I do!”

He exchanges their numbers. “I’ll call if something comes up.”

From there, they both head out, a keymaker a few blocks away. Ryū totes along Amaya, who stays relatively quiet for the trip. Once she has her spare key, she scoots off to find groceries.

And Obito heads to the bank.

The card is simple enough, and will make anything else she has to get down the road a lot simpler. That way Ryū can just attend to any business without having to ask him about it every time.

From there, he decides to take some time at the gym until the end of the day. It’ll help him think, and blow off some steam. Especially since he actually has energy from a full night’s rest for the first time in...well, since Ryū moved in, really. As he pushes his body to its limits, he mulls over the situation as a whole. He’s sure this is going to work. Just...get her going. Make sure she has a kind of...foundation to go off of.

More than he was granted, since he’s able to pay his fortune forward.

Once the time for dinner starts rolling around, he walks back, the cool evening air wicking the sweat along his skin. He always prefers to shower at home...you never know what’s lurking in the public ones.

He’s seen some things.

One elevator ride later, he comes up to his door, finding it locked and slipping in his key.

As soon as he does, he pauses.

The kitchen is directly across from the entryway, and it’s...occupied for once. Hair tied up in a messy bun, Ryū scurries back and forth, juggling a few pans and something in the oven. A menagerie of smells actually makes Obito’s stomach whine petulantly in hunger. It’s clear she’s done some actual cleaning, too - while he doesn’t leave things lying around, he can’t remember the last time he dusted. A window is open, letting in fresh air and leaving the apartment smelling far better than its usual musty scent.

While the appearance isn’t that different, the feeling is...like another world. And not just the apartment...it’s clear Ryū is feeling a lot better, too.

It’s all so oddly...domestic.

After he stares for a solid thirty seconds, she notices him, perking up. “Oh!” Turning to the oven’s clock, she sees that it reads a quarter to six. “I’m almost done!”

“...that’s fine,” Obito manages to reply, finding his head. “I...need a shower, anyway.”

“Okay!”

Moving to the bathroom, Obito does just that, emerging and dressing in his typical evening lounge wear of sweatpants and a tank top. Peering back out, he finds the kitchen empty, food left to keep warm.

Instead, Ryū is on the couch.

She’s...asleep?

Head slightly tilted, her mouth is a bit agape, breathing softly. And atop her chest, also asleep (and clearly having just been fed), is Amaya.

In spite of himself, Obito’s face goes a bit warm at the sight, averting. He...can’t see anything from here (the baby is covering anything...lewd), but her shirt is still very clearly tugged to one side.

...seems she tuckered herself out. But the dark circles are starting to fade. Apparently she’s already making up her rest deficit. And while she’s clearly tired, it’s more of an...accomplished tired than ‘up with the baby all night’ tired.

In spite of himself, Obito feels his lips twitch. She really is cute, what with her demure demeanor. But...she’s also pretty plucky, trying to make this all work on her own. Part of him can’t help but admire that. She’s pretty tough despite her fragile appearance.

...okay, he’s...thinking about this too much. And they both need to eat something.

Not wanting to be rude, he sheepishly approaches, carefully jostling Ryū’s shoulder to wake her.

“...huh…?”

“You, uh...fell asleep. Hungry?”

Blinking a bit blearily, Ryū stares at him for a moment before stiffening, realizing her position. “Oh -!” She (very carefully) scrambles to adjust her outfit, not wanting to wake the infant. “I...I’m sorry -”

“No, it’s fine. I’m not the only one that needs to eat around here,” he tries to joke, lips flickering into a sheepish smile.

Still, her face is quite warm, carefully tucking Amaya back into her carrier to nap. “I, um...I hope dinner’s okay?”

“If it’s half as good as it smells, it’ll be more than fine.” Heading to the kitchen, he pauses, noticing she’s not following. “...coming?”

Her brow furrows. “...but -?”

“You made it, you get to eat it. Just...get over here.”

Blinking, Ryū does as asked, skittering across the apartment and taking a nervous seat opposite Obito at his little table.

An awkward silence blooms, each of them taking a bite.

Obito, however, quickly perks up. “...this is really good!” he offers after swallowing. “You take lessons?”

“Um, no...just...consulted the internet a lot growing up,” she admits, looking shy at the praise. “And...a lot of practice.”

“Consider yourself a permanent hire,” Obito adds, shoveling another spoonful into his mouth.

A bit pink, Ryū nonetheless brightens at his words, giggling a little and taking another bite herself.

Maybe this is going to work, after all.

     Ohhhhhhh my gods this is late, but I’m been SWAMPED irl and just...really burnt out, so I kinda...took a week break BUT I’ve been working on things! I had another prompt for today but it kinda got...out of hand SO I did this in the meantime!      I think it’s super cute ;w; Single parent AUs are just! really cute. I almost went with Obito being the parent (maybe I’ll do that another time lmao) but this just felt easier to do for a quicker one xD      THREE MORE TO GO and one has a prompt already, I might tweak the other two. I need shorter ideas so I can get them done I’m so behind, I’m a bad u_u But at least there’s this for today, we’ll see how tomorrow goes! Thanks for reading~

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-Seven | Upside Down ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Hatake Kakashi ] [ Verse: Into the Abyss ]

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“Seal team?”

“Ready.”

“Witnesses?”

Along a wall, the other four Kage watch dourly, expressions and poses wary. “...ready,” Gaara offers, arms crossed but otherwise appearing neutral. Quite a change from A’s teeth-grinding grimace. Both Mei and Kurotsuchi mimic Gaara’s cool look, each a shade of curious.

Giving the group an unreadable glance, Kakashi’s eyes then look back to the subject at hand. “...Obito?”

The Uchiha, currently kept strapped and sealed in a chair at the center of the chamber, heaves a soft sigh. “...ready.”

Around them, a small group is allowed to gather: a record’s keeper to document the event, a backup squad of ANBU...and Obito’s wife.

It’s her he glances to as the four-man cell of fūinjutsu experts surround him in preparation. She looks unusually tense, face drawn and eyes flickering over the room before meeting his own. For a moment, she attempts a smile...but it doesn’t quite register.

He knows she’s nervous. This is, after all, a big day.

For over a year now, he’s had basic access to his chakra, kekkei genkai unlocked only when sent on missions and after prior approval from all five Kage. But after having proved no (current) intention to misuse or mishandle his abilities, Obito is being granted unfettered access to his bloodline limit, and his chakra.

All that will remain of his prior seals will be the Hyūga-like imprint kept at the rear of his head, under his hair: one that, when activated by a small, trusted group of individuals, will completely immobilize him and cut off access to any energy or Sharingan.

It’s never been used...and for that he finds himself thankful.

And he doesn’t plan on it ever being used, either.

Once in position, the seal team all hold their hands aloft, pointed at Obito.

“...begin.”

In rapid, synchronized succession, they all begin forming a series of hand signs. Only once the long, complicated string of gestures is complete do they all lay a hand on Obito’s body: one on each shoulder, one on his back, and one on his chest.

A hot flash of chakra washes over him, earning a quick grunt of pain as the previous seals are released. Along his stomach where they glow, they flash a bright white...and then fade.

Silence falls over the room.

“...and with that, I think we’re finished,” Kakashi offers, hands in his pockets and stance loose as a sign of trust. He blinks owlishly.

Behind him, the ANBU remain tensed.

“Go ahead and unbind him.”

There’s a tick of hesitation, and then the seal team does as ordered. The seal-laden straps along Obito’s ankles and wrists are released.

He doesn’t do much beyond giving a subtle look around. One wrong move, he knows, and he’ll be slammed to the floor and restrained.

Another thing he’d rather avoid.

“...well, as you all can see, he’s hardly leaping up and beginning to destroy the village,” Kakashi then notes, tone almost jovial. “The restraining seal is still in place, and still accessible by myself, the ANBU captain, the other Kage, and his caretaker. If anything happens - which, as I’ve reiterated a hundred times, I doubt - then we can immediately bring him to a stop and reapply the removed seals.”

Unbidden, Obito’s nose wrinkles. They still have to refer to Ryū as his ‘caretaker’, given her supposed role as his control switch. It bothers the hell out of him, but...well, it’s one of the major factors that’s let him come this far. Without her so-called ‘hold’ on him, ensuring he behaves, he’d probably still have his chakra sealed by now. But with her as both a lock and a bargaining chip, he’s managed to earn his way up to this point through good behavior and her diligent reports and management.

Neither of them like it, but...it’s the price they pay.

“So, with that, I believe we’re finished here. The records department will provide copies of the process’ transcripts to all of the Kage for their records. We’ll have the rest of our meeting, and then you’ll all be free to return to your villages, so long as nothing goes wrong. ANBU, you are dismissed - records, you’re free to go make those copies. If you would, fellow Kage, we’ll return to my office to finish our business before retiring for the afternoon.” He then gives his friend a glance. “...and you’re free to go. Just behave yourself.”

“No plans not to,” Obito replies with a sigh, remaining seated as everyone else makes to leave the room.

Everyone but Ryū.

Only once the chamber is empty does she cross the space between them with quiet footsteps. “...well, that went about as smoothly as we could have asked,” she offers dryly, letting a hand come to rest on his shoulder. “Are you all right…?”

“Fine. Stung for a moment but that was it.” As a test, he builds chakra behind his eyes to summon his Sharingan, and then the Mangekyō.

Ryū watches wordlessly, expression unreadable.

“Everything seems to be in working order,” he reports, letting the red eyes fade back to black. “...still odd to have both, though.”

That earns a whisper of a snort.

Considering her silently, Obito then asks, “...are you all right?”

She seems to weigh that question for a moment. “...yes and no. I’m glad you have your freedom back, at least as far as they’ll ever allow. But I’m worried.”

“Why?”

“Because now they have an even greater excuse to hurt you if something goes wrong. You’ll be punished far worse now than before should something go awry.”

Obito wilts a bit, reaching and taking her hands. “It’s going to be fine. We just have to be careful.”

“I know...but there’s only so much we can do.” At his questioning look, she explains, “You still have enemies. People who might try to harm us. And while you should be allowed to fight back, any lean out of line has the potential to see you blamed and punished.”

He sighs. “...true. But we’ll just have to keep going and roll with whatever punches we’re given. Kakashi, I’m sure, will have thought of this too. He’ll be keeping an eye out.”

The wrinkle of worry in her brow doesn’t ease, giving only a hum of affirmation.

“Well...let’s go home,” he offers after a lengthy pause. “You’ve been on your feet all day.”

At that, Ryū gives him a weary glance. “I’m fine.”

Obito pointedly ignores her, standing and letting hands rest on her waist for a moment. Which is getting harder and harder to do, given the swell of her middle.

Looking at it still gets him giddy. Touching it? He’s over the moon.

Part of him still has a hard time comprehending that their baby is growing in there. Their baby…! A conception that was a struggle in and of itself.

Which is why, after so much effort, he tends to get a little...overprotective at times. Besides Kakashi (and maybe to an extent, Naruto), he really doesn’t have anyone else he trusts, let alone cares for.

Gods help anyone that tries to do them harm.

Ignoring her pout, Obito then lets an arm rest across her shoulders, the pair of them leaving the sealing chamber behind. He knows that, for the next couple of weeks at least, he’s going to be watched like a hawk by the ANBU...and not necessarily at Kakashi’s orders. By now the Rokudaime is more than aware that Obito has no foul intentions. Convincing everyone else of that is the hard part.

But he doesn’t mind. He’s gotten rather good at ignoring the feeling of eyes on his back since being released from prison. It’s a near constant. So in reality...little will change. It’s not like he has any plans to abuse his powers.

...well...there is one thing he wants to try, but...that won’t harm anyone or anything. Just a little experiment he wants to attempt for technically the second time. But at a smaller scale, and just to entertain an old idea.

No one will even notice.

Once they’re home, they work on lunch together, both of them having been cleared for the day off. While Obito insists that it must be getting close to time for Ryū to start her maternity leave, she’s been stubbornly continuing little jobs and tasks at the hospitals. Nothing like her usual surgeries. Mostly just outpatient monitoring and patrolling the hallways for any patients in need of help. She’s not due for a few weeks yet, and she claims she wants to ‘miss as little as possible’.

So the forced day off is something he can’t complain about.

They take the rest of the day easy, eventually climbing into bed for the night. Obito wraps arms around his wife, breathing in her scent as he pulls her to his chest.

“Sure you’ll be all right tomorrow?” she asks, referring to her needing to get back to work while he has a rare second day off in a row.

“Yeah, gonna just lounge around and enjoy it. Something you should be doing.”

He can feel her eyes roll. “Soon enough. Send Fubuki if you need anything, okay?”

“Will do.”

With that, they settle in for the night, Ryū rising early for another shift and leaving him alone to doze.

By the time he’s fully awake, she’s already long gone.

Sitting up with a grunt, he lets the blankets pool at his waist for a time, considering his options.

...maybe he could…

A hand reaches up and rubs at his chin, considering it. He doesn’t think it’ll go awry...no one seemed to notice the first time he tried it. And even then, he technically wouldn’t be doing anything to anyone else...just himself.

...to hell with it, he’ll try it. Just for a bit.

Rising and dressing, he downs a quick breakfast first. Then he sits atop a cushion in the middle of the sitting room floor. Sharingan spinning, he concentrates his chakra...and then casts the genjutsu.

As before, it takes a good amount...but when he looks around, he doesn’t feel too tired.

And thankfully, he’s alone.

Heaving to his feet, he glances surreptitiously around the little house. It...doesn’t look much different. Not that he really expected it to.

Whether or not anything else is different, as when he first tried it...well, he’ll just have to go out and see.

Peeking out the front door, he finds the street empty, and makes his way out, attempting to look nonchalant. And once out, he makes a beeline for the administrative building.

“Ah, Hokage-sama!”

Jolting a bit, he pauses as a random chūnin smiles and waves at him.

...it worked…!

He grins, giving a wave back and feeling oddly...giddy. It’s a silly notion, but...well, he just wants to try it, just for a little while.

Limited Tsukuyomi went over well enough the first time, even if he failed to catch Naruto (which...turned out to be a good thing). And this time, though smaller in scale, it seems he’s managed to implement the change he wanted.

He’s Godaime Hokage, being named after Minato to take the seat.

Sure, it was a childhood dream, but...well, given he’s at a place in his life where he can take a little time to indulge himself, why not? Just for an hour or two. Just to see what it would have been like.

So the only remaining question is...will everyone be flipped as they were before? It was a mirrored world, everything backwards in regards to personalities, and some once dead still being alive. He’ll have to find someone he knows well enough to tell.

But for now, he continues on toward ‘his’ office, greeting everyone who does so in turn with a smile. He has to admit...it’s a nice change of pace to the usual glowers and nervous glances he gets.

No wonder Naruto got so wrapped up once he realized the Minato and Kushina of the dream world viewed him as their son. It’s a dangerous temptation: what could be.

But Obito knows he won’t fall completely into it.

He has something far better waiting on the other side.

Still, for now, he reaches the proper building and starts climbing the stairs until he reaches the right floor, opening the door that’s usually concealing Kakashi.

Only this time, he...uh...wait, he’s still here?

“Hokage-sama!” Standing at attention beside the door, Kakashi then gives a swift bow.

Obito stares at him for a moment, a bit...weirded out.

At least now he knows the personalities have indeed been mirrored again. There’s no way Kakashi would greet him like that, even if he were Hokage.

“...er...good morning,” he greets a bit stiffly, still processing his friend’s reaction.

“I’ve prepared today’s paperwork for you, and would like to remind you that the Mizukage will be here for that meeting you scheduled early this afternoon. There’s also the roster of jōnin candidates for you to review when you have a moment. And then of course we have the block to assign missions today. The new genin teams will be arriving today.”

...oh. He’s actually going to have to work, is he? “Thanks. Let’s...start with the reviews.” It’s not like his decisions will have lasting impacts - as soon as he closes the genjutsu, this will all cease to exist. Not that it really exists at all, but...well, semantics.

Settling into the chair, he lets Kakashi hand him the folders of the new candidates. He doesn’t recognize any of them...probably all generated solely for the purpose of the genjutsu.

Either way...this is going to take him a while.

All throughout, people walk in for one reason or another. To Kakashi’s credit, he helps redirect anyone unnecessary, allowing Obito to work in relative peace.

Hours later...he realizes how late it’s getting. It’s actually starting to get dark outside…!

He wasn’t going to be in the illusion for this long!

Granted, time doesn’t pass at the same rate - it’ll have been an hour or two at most outside. And given he hasn’t been pulled back out, it’s safe to say no one’s discovered him. He probably just looks like he’s meditating. But he really should think about getting back.

“Anything else for the night?” Kakashi asks, standing dutifully beside the desk.

Sinking in his chair with a sigh, Obito waves a hand. “No, I think we’re done. Go home.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leaning an elbow against the desk, Obito braces a cheek against his fist before an idea strikes him.

“...actually…”

“Yes?”

“Do me a favor, and summon Suigin Ryū to my office.”

Kakashi blinks. “...Suigin Ryū?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“N-no sir, of course not. Right away.” Giving one last bow, Kakashi dips from the room, letting the door snap shut behind him.

...what was that all about…?

Adjusting his posture, Obito sits up straight, arms folded along his desk. He’s curious what Ryū will be like - will she be reversed as everyone else is? Or maybe she’s somehow avoided it due to his subconscious interference.

Because a particular daydream he’s entertained in the past is stuck in his head, and...maybe he’ll have a chance to give it a try.

Gods know it won’t ever happen in real time.

He jolts, however, as someone flickers into the room.

Several feet out from his desk, an ANBU officer kneels, head bowed in respect. A tightly-woven bun of white hair is all he can really see to define them, otherwise garbed in the rank’s usual attire.

“Tōshō, reporting.”

Eyes wide, Obito blinks. Tōshō...frostbite? Is that their codename?

...wait…

“...er…” He’s...not sure what to say.

This is not what he was expecting.

But as his silence drags on, the ANBU looks up, revealing a dragon’s mask. And behind the gaps in the porcelain, Obito can see a pair of silvery eyes, pupils constricted like a cat’s.

Good gods it is Ryū.

“...permission to speak, Hokage-sama?”

“Of...of course.”

At that, her demeanor suddenly changes. She straightens to her feet, gloved hands (tipped with metal claws) urging her mask from her face.

She looks exactly the same, and yet...different. Her air is sharp, cold, and...confident.

“You shouldn’t ask for me so directly,” she then offers, tone soft and yet oddly firm. “Kakashi is already suspicious, Hokage-sama.”

“Sus...suspicious?” He has no idea what she means.

A small, curt sigh escapes her. “It’s not proper. While we are not breaking any laws, it’s still hardly appropriate for a Hokage to be maintaining this kind of...relationship.”

...okay. He’s...not sure what she means, but he also gets the feeling asking would bring up questions he can’t answer.

His awkward silence, however, prompts her to go on. “All of the previous Hokage had proper marriages and courtships. I know I am not a suitable match for you, and my...disposition may not be -”

Before he can stop himself, her denial of her qualities sets him off. “To hell with that, I love you!”

They both jolt - Obito because he realizes he’s just spoken highly out of turn...and Ryū because she clearly wasn’t expecting that.

“...you…?”

Color blooms hotly in Obito’s face. Oh, how to save this… “I...I don’t care about reputations! You...you…” He wilts. “...you mean...so much to me. Regardless of the circumstances. And your disposition isn’t an issue. You are who you are...but I’m still here calling you, aren’t I?”

To his surprise, she gawks at him, and for a moment this cold, disciplined version of his wife looks very much like her soft, uncensored counterpart. It makes him burn with curiosity about her entire backstory to end up like this. A hardened ANBU with none of Ryū’s typical warmth or loving nature. How on earth could that come to be…?

...but it seems there’s still something between them. Just...nothing ‘proper’, in her words. So some kind of...secret relationship? True, an ANBU and the Hokage could be rather compromising, but...

Slowly, her expression settles back into a cool neutral...but tinged with doubt. “...I am an assassin,” she murmurs. “A trained killer, with suppressed emotions and no regrets. I am...hardly a proper partner for a Hokage. If you were to take a wife, I am the furthest candidate to consider.”

“And how many lives do you think I’ve taken, to get this far? All shinobi kill, Ryū.”

“But few do it as well and as coldly as I do.” She lifts her hands, palms up, looking to them in confliction. “...sometimes I wonder if I am...still human…”

“Of course you are.” Obito stands, coming around his desk. This is...a bit unsettling, he won’t lie. “If I had any doubts on that front...you wouldn't be here.”

Her gaze lifts back to his face.

“Never mind what’s proper or not. I certainly don’t.” A hand lifts to cradle her face, and he has to admit...her lack of reaction to it is...odd. To be this blank...is it possible she was caught up in Root…?

The thought nauseates him, given her actual encounter with the band of shinobi. But it would explain her odd coldness and rank.

She sighs. “...the village expects you to settle down. Properly. And you deserve someone warm. Someone who would be a good wife, a good mother. I fear I could be neither of these things, Hokage-sama.”

Okay, this is really weirding him out. Ryū is an excellent wife, and he’s sure she’ll be a phenomenal mother! Hearing her say otherwise bothers him more than he’d think. “Nonsense. And please...call me Obito.”

“...of course, Obito.”

Sighing, he lets his hand drop back to his side. All of his earlier plans now feel...entirely inappropriate. He can’t do this. Not with...not with this Ryū. As much as he adores the real one...he can’t bring himself to feel the same for someone so completely her opposite, even if she looks exactly the same. This isn’t the woman he loves...all the things he loves her for are...are gone.

“...perhaps we best leave this for another night,” he murmurs. “I...didn’t mean to upset you. And I’d best get some rest.”

Nothing is betrayed in her expression, simply declining her head in agreement. “...have a good night, Hoka-...Obito.”

With that, Obito conjures another surge of chakra, breaking the genjutsu as he finds himself seated back in the sitting room. It looks to be early afternoon, a far cry from his initial sitting this morning.

But Ryū isn’t home yet.

The strangeness of the other world leaves him feeling...itchy. Unsettled. Uncomfortable. So much so that he has to get up and start moving lest it overtake him.

In fact, he leaves the house behind, taking a familiar route. And halfway to his destination, he finds her.

Seems she’s coming home a little early.

Relief washes over him in a way he can’t describe, and Obito goes so far as to flicker the rest of the distance.

“Oh -!” Ryū startles as he appears in front of her, clinging to her tightly (but mindful of her belly). “O...Obito? Are you -?”

“I love you so much,” he murmurs in her ear, face tucked into the crook of her neck.

“Obito, what’s wrong?” She can tell he’s clearly upset, carefully bringing hands up to embrace him back. “Did something happen?”

He can’t explain. Not right now. Instead, he starts rambling. “You’re the best wife I could ever ask for. And...you’re going to be the best mother. I’m so lucky that I have you...that I have this family. If I ever lost it...I…”

Prying him off enough to look at his face, Ryū’s own is pinched with worry. “...koi, please...you’re scaring me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“...I...I used my Sharingan. Made...another world. I’ve done it before: a mirrored world, a test for Mugen Tsukuyomi. I wanted to...to see what it would be like. To live in a world where I became Hokage as I once dreamed. And at first, it was...nice. Everyone recognized me, smiled at me, respected me. But you...you were…” His grip moves to her shoulders, shaking his head. “...you were all wrong…! ANBU, and cold, and...nothing like the real you. It just...it…”

She listens quietly, piecing together the whole story from his jumpy thoughts.

His head bows, and to his surprise, tears bead in his eyes. “...it made me realize how...thankful I need to be. How thankful I haven’t been.”

“Koi, you’ve more than proven what I mean to you! You don’t have to -?” She’s cut off as he hugs her again, staggering back half a step. “...we both know how lucky we are. How blessed. Neither of us take the other for granted, not even for a second. I don’t doubt you. I never could. I’m sorry that...illusion unsettled you so much.” She takes his face in her hands, guiding his brow to rest against her own. Eyes close, trying to convey her feelings. “...I’m right here. And I’m not going anywhere. Ever. You have my word.”

His own eyes still open, Obito flickers them over her face. Her soft, open face that can never hide her intentions or her emotions. He loves that about her...he loves it so much, it hurts…!

“...I’m sorry,” he then croaks. “I...must have really scared you. I just…”

“It’s all right. I’m just glad you’re okay.” She looks back to him, expression full of boundless ardor. “...let’s go home. We’ll take it easy tonight so you can regain your bearings.” She moves, taking his hand in hers and giving it a comforting squeeze. “It’s going to be fine, Obito.”

Swallowing harshly, he nods, letting her pull him back down the road toward home.

“...so, how was it, being the Hokage?” she asks, trying to change the subject.

“...boring,” he admits. “I no longer envy Kakashi. But he was my assistant.”

“Oh? Did he do a good job?”

“He did, actually. Almost too good...it freaked me out how helpful he was.”

That gets her to laugh, spare hand hiding her mouth. “Don’t let him hear you say that, he’ll be offended!”

“It’s true!” Obito insists, a warmth blooming in his chest at her laugh.

...no more genjutsu.

He has everything he could ever want, right here.

     Well, I had a very...different idea for this, but Obito ended up noping out on me xD Which...I can’t really blame him. Seeing your wife-not-wife might ruin any ideas you get when it comes to being alone in the Hokage’s office, huehue.      Anyway, I’m still behind :’D And this weekend looks like it’s gonna be a little busy, so I doubt I’ll catch up fully by tomorrow. BUT I will of course be finishing either way. Just...late, as usual xD But on that note, I’ma go~ Thanks for reading!

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-Five | Pent Up ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Nohara Rin, Hatake Kakashi ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life ] [ Vulgarity, blood ]

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Why, why, why is it so hard to keep ahold of his temper…?!

So much more seems to grate at his patience than it used to when he was younger. Sounds, touches, even smells can start chipping at his mood, making him more and more agitated until something has to give. It’s like his brain has turned into a ticking time bomb, randomly exploding when just the right criteria are met.

Needless to say...it’s made most people wary of him. And now that he’s starting his senior year back in the district he once hailed from, he’s especially wary of being labeled dangerous, unstable, a freak.

He’s already embarrassed himself once. The pool party, barbeque, whatever that Rin invited him to ended in disaster when he had one of his seizures. Right in front of everyone...they all just stared in horror as he seized up, plunging into the pool.

But then the girl who lived there had dragged him up, spurring the rest of them into action. The damage, however, had already been done. By now he’s sure everyone already knows about it before he even steps foot into the high school this morning.

...he just has to stay calm.

Finding his locker, he ignores the dubious looks he gets, the whispers that seem to follow him. Even at the reformative school he’d been transferred to after his accident had seen him an odd one out, mostly due to his appearance...but his breakdowns and spasms hadn’t helped, either. By now it’s all just white noise, fiddling with the combination lock on his locker door.

“Hey!”

Half a second late, Obito realizes he recognizes that voice, if only vaguely. A turn shows the girl from yesterday...Ryū? Admittedly he remembers almost nothing about her - only that she used to tag along with Rin when they were younger, and how much harder that made getting the other girl alone.

...of course that doesn’t matter now. Rin’s with Kakashi, for...some reason.

He just blinks at her, watching her approach with her books clutched to her chest.

In turn, she offers a smile. “So, you made it. How are you feeling today?”

The question earns a reflexive tick of annoyance. He gets really sick of people asking him that, but...there’s a genuine concern in her expression most people tend to lack. Usually they’re more exasperated than actually worried. “...I’m fine. Stiff, but it’ll pass.”

“Ah, good...that must have been so scary…”

“I’m used to it. It’s been happening for five years.”

Further sympathy wilts her brows. “...that must be really tough.”

He doesn’t have an answer, simply grunting and opening the door once the lock gives way.

“Well...if you need anything, let me know! Maybe I’ll see you in some classes?”

“I doubt it. Most of mine are pretty low ones compared to a lot of seniors.” And surely she’s not at his held-back level. She seems pretty smart, from what he can tell.

There’s a small awkward pause. “Oh...well, maybe a club…? I’ve been in the theater club since I was a freshman. It’s a lot of fun! But there’s a lot of others too, if you’re looking for something to do.”

Ugh, clubs...aren’t classes bad enough? “I’ll think about it.”

She seems to realize he’s getting annoyed. “Well...okay! I’ll, um...I’ll see you later, Obito. Have a good morning!”

He watches her go. Is she really one of those people that’s constantly peppy and good-natured? Isn’t that...exhausting? Well, whatever. He better get to first period. Last thing he needs is to be late on the first day. People are going to have enough reason to give him crap.

Thankfully he doesn’t have any confrontations on the way there, taking a back row seat and folding arms atop his desk to rest his chin. He’s barely been here ten minutes and he’s already sick of it.

...but he told his grandmother he’d try. She’s so eager to see him graduate from a proper school. All Obito can think is that he hopes she lives that long. She’s not exactly a spring chicken anymore. Out of everyone in his life right now...she’s his rock. The one person he never gets angry with, never gets upset by. Sachiko feels like the only reason he’s been keeping it together.

Even his old friends have clearly changed. Rin, while still friendly, seems a bit more...conscious about talking to him. Especially when Kakashi’s around. And Kakashi’s still quick to butt heads with him over practically nothing. Like yesterday with Rin’s invite to the party. It would have pissed him off...if Rin hadn’t rolled over for him so easily.

...he can’t expect them to be the same, but...he’ll admit, he’s not a fan of these changes. He knows things can’t be the same, but...even Rin no longer feels like a friend.

...maybe this whole ‘coming back’ thing was a mistake.

Morning classes pass in a bit of a fog, Obito in no way motivated to pay much attention. He just wants to check off this day from what will surely be a very long list of days until the year ends. The sooner that gets here, the happier he’ll be.

Come lunch, he’s realizing he’s now going to have to confront a few things. One being the crowds, and the noise. Another being trying to find a seat

Cuz he knows no one’s going to want to sit by -

“Obito!”

Jolting a bit with his tray in hand, he spots Ryū waving at him from a table. Nearby, both Kakashi and Rin seem to hesitate.

That narrows his eyes...but he decides to sit anyway. If they’re going to treat him like a stranger, he’ll just do the same. He doesn’t need them. He doesn’t need anyone. They want to distance themselves from him? Fine.

Instead, he sits next to Ryū.

“How were your classes?”

“Boring. But about what I expected.” He pointedly avoids looking at the other pair, working on getting his food arranged on his tray. “You?”

“I already have homework in two classes, but...hopefully it won’t be too bad.” There’s a mild silence, Ryū seeming to notice the awkward air between the three former friends. “...what about you guys? Any hard classes this morning?”

“I had three AP classes but that’s usual,” Kakashi replies, also obviously ignoring Obito. “Schedule’s pretty full, but it’ll be fine. Need them for my college apps.”

Across from him, Obito scowls at the casual bragging.

“Rin?” Ryū gives a bit of a strained smile.

“Nothing too, uh...bad. Pretty typical. One homework assignment so far. Also not sure what club I want to join...I liked gardening club last year but apparently the damage to the greenhouse from that storm over the Summer means it’s cancelled for this semester at least.” Rin’s mouth falls into a disappointed frown. “So I dunno if I should wait, or...join something else in the meantime. Cuz depending on repairs and stuff, it might not happen at all.”

“Aww! That really sucks...you could join theater!”

At that, Rin gives a short laugh. “I...don’t think so. Not really the acting type, and...it’d be weird being there just one semester or one year. You guys are a pretty close-knit group, right?”

“Well, yeah. But we welcome new freshmen every year!”

“Mm...I’ll think about it.”

“What about you, Obito?” Ryū asks, turning to him. “Want to join any clubs?”

“Or you could play a sport!”

“Not sure a sport is a good idea with my condition,” Obito replies, making Rin balk.

“O-oh...right. Sorry…”

“Well, doing some kind of extracurricular activity is good for your educational resume,” Kakashi offers nonchalantly.

“Not sure my educational resume is really going to impress anybody, given the circumstances,” Obito retorts, looking annoyed.

“Doesn’t mean you should just give up.”

“I’ll do whatever the hell I want.”

“Hey, guys, it’s fine,” Ryū cuts in, a placating hand rising. “Everybody does high school differently. APs or not, clubs or not, it’s whatever.”

“Yeah I only got into one AP this year,” Rin confirms with a nod before shooting Kakashi a look.

All the while, Obito tries to keep a hold on his temper. He can tell Kakashi is just trying to get a rise out of him. And while he already has pent up anger concerning the other boy, he doesn’t want to let it win.

So he instead focuses on deep, even breaths while the girls try to diffuse the situation. Now, if only it weren’t so loud in the cafeteria...it’s grating on his nerves.

“I’m gonna go get ready for class,” Kakashi eventually relents, standing and taking his half-empty tray with him.

“Kakashi -!” Looking a bit flabbergasted, Rin tries to call him back to no avail. “...I dunno what’s gotten into him today!”

“Just his typical asshole self,” Obito mutters. “Has to boss everyone else around, has to make himself look good when no one gives a shit.”

“I think he is worried about what you’re going to do after graduation,” Rin replies, looking a little nervous. “I mean...you’ve got an uphill battle ahead of you, given your...um...setbacks.”

Obito’s expression only sours, temper fraying further. “Well he doesn’t have to be such a shithead about it.”

“...it’s just...going to take some adjusting, y’know? Everyone...being back together. We’ve all changed, right?”

That does it. Appetite ruined, Obito stands without a word and dumps the rest of his food, tossing the tray into the wash pit.

Behind him, the girls both jolt in surprise. But only one gets up to follow him.

“Obito!”

He doesn’t stop, shoulders hunched and hands in his pockets as Ryū jogs to catch up.

“Don’t listen to Kakashi, he’s just -?”

“Just a massive prick and a pain in my ass,” Obito growls. He can feel the embers of his temper starting to flicker with flame.

“I’m sorry...you didn’t have to sit with them. I just figured -?”

“It wasn’t your fault. You -” You’ve been nothing but nice to me. “...Kakashi’s picked fights with me since we were kids. And...I’ve picked fights back. We’re just not meant to be around each other that much. Don’t worry about it.”

Managing to come around to his front, Ryū cuts off his path, expression guilty. “...still. I...should have read the room.”

“I didn’t have to sit there. It was my choice.”

“...well...tomorrow we’ll sit somewhere else, okay? That way it won’t happen again.”

Sighing, he stares at her. “...why are you being so nice to me?”

The question seems to take her aback. “W...why wouldn’t I?”

“Cuz no one else seems to want to.”

“Well everyone else are just a bunch of jerks. I know this is awkward...for everybody. And maybe Rin’s right, maybe things have changed, but…” She sighs. “...you still deserve to be treated kindly, and given a chance to meld back into things here. So I’m, at least, going to try to help you do that.”

It’s his turn to exhale, far more curtly than her. “...just pisses me off. Rin invited me yesterday, and then let Kakashi walk all over her. She just...abandoned me when she was the only reason I showed up! Then today she lets him say all that shit, and only stutters out excuses. She’s letting Kakashi blindside her.”

“...maybe she is. But...she might come around! You guys just...have to get reacquainted. And that’s not going to be easy. For now, I guess all you can do is...just try to be patient. See how things go. Maybe they’ll settle down, and...maybe they won’t. Only way to know is to try. In the meantime. I’m not going anywhere.”

For a moment he scoffs. She’s not going anywhere, is she? The person he knows the least out of this group? But...then again, maybe that’s a good thing. Whereas he has soured memories and expectations for Kakashi and Rin, Ryū is...a blank slate. Known only briefly. Vaguely.

And already making a good impression.

So despite his original intention to blow her off, he sighs. “...guess you’re right.”

“...I think for now, you guys should give each other some space. Kinda...ease into it, you know? I mean...five years apart is a long time. Trying to act like all that time didn’t pass will only make this more difficult. Take a little while for yourself. Get settled in overall, then you can worry about anything else.”

He considers that silently.

...that is until a pack of unruly freshmen make their way down the hall.

Loud, obnoxious, and clearly not yet learning any respect, they push through between the pair. Ryū, slighter in frame, stumbles back and slams into the wall, head knocking with a hollow thunk.

Something in Obito clenches.

“Watch it!” the ringleader taunts, pulling a face. That is, until Obito grabs him by the shirt front. “Whoa whoa whoa!”

“Apologize,” the Uchiha growls, ignoring the sudden attention they’re getting.

“Jesus man, you look like you got into a fight with a weed trimmer and lost! What the fuck is wrong with your face?”

Clutching her head, Ryū looks up with a wince before panicking.

“Funny, I was just going to ask you that. Cuz you look like a little prick that just got decked in the nose.”

“Wha-?”

With a crunch, Obito reels back and...does just that. The freshman falls to the floor hard, clutching at his face.

“What the fuck, man? What the fuck?!”

“You hurt my friend. Seems only fair you get a taste of your own medicine. And I’m really tempted to teach you a second lesson…!” His heartbeat is rushing in his ears, his whole body hot with anger. All he can focus on is the blood on this little asshole’s chin...and how much more he’d like to see.

“Obito, stop!” Ryū pulls at his arm, trying to waylay him.

“You’re gonna regret -!”

“Stop!” Desperate, Ryū instead steps right in his path, latching onto him tightly. Face in his chest, she clings arms around to his back.

He freezes.

“...don’t. It’s not worth it. He’s just some little punk. You’ve done enough!”

Blinking, Obito feels the heat receding. His tensed form slowly goes limp.

And all around him are staring eyes, whispering mouths, pointing fingers. But what tops it all off is seeing both Rin and Kakashi. The former stares in horror. The latter glowers.

A shaking seems to overcome him. It’s too much, he - he can’t -?

Urging Ryū aside, he flees.

Not one to give up so easily, she follows even as the warning bell rings.

Ironically, his hiding place is the storage room for theater club props.

“...Obito?” Navigating her way around the odds and ends, she finds him crouched in a corner of set pieces. “...hey…” Carefully, she takes a knee beside him. “You all right…?”

“N...no…”

She sighs before just...sitting beside him. “...this has been a really shitty first day, huh…? I’m sorry. How about we just...stay in here for a bit? Let things...settle down?”

“I’m gonna get in so much trouble…! First day back and I’ve already fucked it up! I just...I wanted…” To Obito’s frustration, his voice starts breaking and tears sting at his eyes despite rubbing at them with the backs of his hands. “...I wanted...to get through this. F-for my...for my grandma. She wants me to…”

At that, Ryū softens, laying a hand gently on his arm. “...it’s gonna be okay. I’ll tell the staff what happened. Because to be fair...I did get hurt…”

At her sheepish smile, he looks over, sniffling. “...you okay?”

“My head kinda hurts, but...I’ll be fine. Freshmen are just...brats. Punching them might not be the best way to get them to shape up, but...it is a way,” she admits with a hint of a giggle.

“...I got angry. I shouldn’t have done that, but...I’m just so…!” His hands lift, to bury into his hair, pulling at it in frustration. “...I get so mad! I dunno why!”

Wilting again, Ryū leans against him softly. “If...I had to guess, it probably has to do with your condition. Did you...have any cranial trauma?”

“...yeah…”

“That can really mess with your emotions, depending on where it happened. People even develop new addictions or behaviors after they get hurt like that. But...you can get therapy for it. Maybe...that’s something you could look into?”

“We can’t afford it,” Obito counters bitterly. “...it’s just me and my grandma. She can’t…”

The thought trails off, and Ryū hums in response. “...well...maybe something will come along. But it sounds to me like this anger isn’t entirely your fault. A lot of it probably comes from the trauma you went through during your...your accident. But I bet you can overcome it…! It’ll just take time, and the right resources.”

Obito, knowing he can’t really access the latter, just stays quiet.

“...how do you feel now…?”

“...tired. Frustrated. But I’m not angry anymore. Not for now,” he adds with a sigh.

“That’s good, though! Think you can go back to class…?”

Another sigh, arms folded atop his bent knees to rest his chin. “...I dunno.”

“Then we’ll just stay here a little longer.”

“But you need to get to class.”

“This is more important.”

Obito’s brow furrows, watching as she stands up. More important?

“I’m really excited for the plays this year...we’re going to do Beauty and the Beast this Winter, and then Grease in the Spring! I hope I get good parts, since it’s going to be my last year…” Ryū looks over props from past productions, a fond smile on her face. “...it’s been a lot of fun. I’m going to miss it…”

“...can you do it in college?”

“Maybe. I dunno if I’ll have time, but...I’d like to. If all goes well, I’d like to go into nursing, like Rin. But theater and choir have made me really happy, too. They’re just...not really stable careers,” she adds sheepishly.

“...but they make you happy.”

“...they do.”

Breaking his gaze from her, Obito looks over the props around him. “...did you guys...build these?”

“Mhm. Well...I didn’t. We have people who work on props, or the lighting, or music. It’s not just actors, after all. But we all have a lot of fun.” She looks to him thoughtfully. “...I’d still say you’d enjoy joining us, if you want. Gives you a creative outlet, and you can make some friends! You don’t have to be an actor if you don’t want to. Maybe...stop in a few times, see if you like it? You can always quit if you don’t.” Ryū smiles at him. “But...maybe an outlet would be good for you. Something to think about and look forward to. Something...new. And fun!”

He mulls that over, looking unsure.

“...well, just think about it. We don’t have our first meeting until Wednesday - last period is cancelled so people can look at the clubs and pick one. Maybe you’ll find another one you can do instead, too!”

Almost immediately, Obito pushes that notion aside. If he’s going to do a club...it would probably be this one...if only because he’d already know someone in it. “...okay.”

For a while, Ryū finds some memorable pieces in the room, showing them off and recounting memories about them. Obito finds himself enthralled, glad for something else to think about.

...but all good things have to come to an end.

A knock sounds on the door, the pair of them looking up as the school secretary comes in. Her arms fold. “There you are. You’re both quite tardy to your next classes. And you’re to come to the office about a fight that happened during lunch period.”

Ryū tenses. “Obito wasn’t -!”

The woman holds up a hand. “A few witnesses said the freshman started things when he pushed you and injured your head, and that it ended when mister Uchiha punched the assailant. Both he and the freshman will be serving detention after school today. Guardians have already been called.”

Behind Ryū, Obito’s face falls. So...Sachiko already knows.

“Obito has a medical condition the school needs to take into account,” Ryū retorts. “Ignoring that will be grounds for discrimination for his disability!”

“You can discuss that with the principal,” the secretary retorts. “To the office. Both of you.”

To Obito’s surprise, Ryū glowers the whole way down, arguing quite haughtily with staff once they arrive. Jiraiya has already shown up, listening quietly to his daughter’s arguments.

“Obito shouldn’t be punished, he needs help! Punishing him won’t address the real problem and leave the possibility it happens again!”

“The school is not responsible for mister Uchiha’s health or disabilities,” the principal retorts, waving a hand. “If he has issues, they’re to be handled on his own time to ensure he attends school properly without resorting to violence.”

“And if he doesn’t have the means?”

“It’s still not the school’s responsibility. Obito’s job while here at school is to attend his classes and pass them, and refrain from poor behavior. If he can’t do that, we’ll have to remove him.”

Ryū bristles, but pauses as Sachiko is ushered into the room. Worry tightens the old woman’s face.

Obito’s head bows in shame.

Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, Ryū looks pleadingly to her father.

Glancing between everyone present, Jiraiya heaves a heavy sigh. “...the way I see it, we have a student on our hands that lacks the resources to be able to attend school as he is. Which means we need to get those resources squared away, so he can use the school his granny’s tax dollars pay for, and that he should have the right to use.”

The principal perks a brow.

“If we get the kid into therapy and his behavior improves, he can stay, right?”

“...correct.”

Arms folding over his barrel chest, Jiraiya simply replies, “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

Ryū’s expression brightens, Obito’s slack in shock.

“Oh, sir...you don’t have to -?” Sachiko lifts her hands, looking hesitant.

“Nonsense. Any friend of my daughter’s is a friend of mine. Friends help each other. We’ll get this little snag taken care of, and then everything’ll be fine.” He gives a cool, pointed look to Obito. “...right?”

“R...right.”

Looking exasperated, the principal waves them away. “Just...make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

The four of them then leave the office, Jiraiya talking to Sachiko as the teens idle uncertainly.

“...is he serious?”

“Mhm,” Ryū replies, smiling. “Dad helps a lot with stuff at the school - admittedly he’s...made a good amount of money. So he tries to give back. The party yesterday? That’s one of his ideas. He’s been doing it since I started school. He takes a lot of pride in the community, and maintaining it. I think yesterday already made him realize you need some help.”

“...I don’t -?”

She cuts off Obito’s retort with a hand on his arm. “It’s not pity. It’s help. A tool you can use to succeed. Besides, I’m sure he’ll find a way for you to make it up if you want. I know he hates mowing the lawn, so...expect him to wrangle you into something.” Her expression softens. “...it’s gonna be fine.”

Still looking conflicted, Obito just sighs. He’s not...used to this. How is he supposed to react…?

“Well, you two better get back to class,” Jiraiya then offers. “Sachiko and I are gonna hash some things out. You’ve still got your detention Obito, but that should be it. Just try and keep a lid on that temper until we get something figured out.”

“...yes sir.”

“Then off you scoot!” He ushers them down the hall.

“Well...guess I’ll see you later,” Ryū offers. “Think you’ll be okay?”

“...I guess.”

“I can wait after if you -?”

“No,” he cuts in firmly. “You...you’ve done enough.”

“...okay. Well, I’ll see you after class, then.” She gives a little wave, branching off down another hallway.

Obito watches her go.

“...thank you.”

     Oof, this is very late OTL Almost finished it last night but I just...had a really bad day and an even worse night so I call it quits. Came back with a fresher mind and got it done. Still not 100% sure about it, but it’s done kjdfgjkdhfg      I always struggle with modern and this one felt really hard to write, idk why. I’m not very good at writing grumpy characters kjfdjdhfg but I tried :’D      Anyway I’ve got irl stuff to do so idk if I’ll get more done tonight or not, but I’ll try. Thanks for reading~

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-Four | Artificial ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū ] [ Verse: Pretty in Pictures ]

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“Tch…!”

With a far harder throw than she intends, Ryū pelts her phone against the top blanket of her bed, the mobile bouncing harmlessly against the plush surface.

She just gets so sick of this…!

Rather than the bed, she sits at her desk, burying her face in her hands as elbows rest atop it. She’s not even sure why this particular phone call is setting her off so badly. It’s just another party she’s being advised to attend by her agent. She’s been to more than she could ever count since she was fourteen and her contract was first drawn up.

But her temper has been rather...short lately. Or maybe her patience is a better word. She’s just so fed up with all of...of...this!

All of it!

The fake people, the fake smiles, the fake friendships...even her fake relationship. It’s all so obnoxiously artificial. While she’s been slowly waking up to this reality for a while now, it’s really been sinking in the last two weeks.

The last fourteen days since she nearly committed suicide.

For whatever reason, all the worries, all the thoughts she’d been holding back over the years had come to a head. Something about the charity auction and dinner had lifted it all to the surface at once, swirling in her mind like a whirlpool that dragged her down into the deepest depths of the depression she’d been trying desperately to deny. Her brain had latched onto how performative it all was. How much that bothered her. All the scummy people there to throw what looked like fortunes but were really drops in the bucket to make themselves look better than they were. It had left her feeling so sick, so...hopeless.

Then it had bled into the fragility of her own position. How her marketable looks and aesthetic could only last so long...how beauty and allure would fade, and then what? She’s been built into an image, but...what would she have left when that image changed? How much would she lose?

...and who?

A desperate walk for air and clarity had instead led her to the bridge near the hotel, the rushing waters a tempting way to let everything be washed away.

...but that was not to be, a stranger happening upon her. She’d nearly fallen in surprise, but he’d caught her, saved her, pulled her back to solid ground.

For a time she had no idea who he was...but managed to track him down with a little help from her assisant. She still only knows him by Tobi, but...he’s unlike almost anyone she knows.

He’s obviously not of the ilk she’s usually kept tethered to: rich, chic, sophisticated, fake. He’s a real person, with real struggles and problems and faults. Not like the spoiled brats she’s been forced to grow up with, complaining about nothing while those like Tobi struggle to survive. Hiding behind masks of marketing and social media. Appearing flawless, but hiding nasty, shallow realities behind their smiles.

It makes her so nauseous...but Tobi has been a crack in the dam. A knothole in the fence she’s been kept in for over a decade, giving a glimpse of the other side. While she’s still getting to know him, and maybe she should be skeptical of strangers...she can’t help but feel slightly attached to him. Largely, she suspects, because he saved her life (inadvertently or not), but also because he’s been a breath of fresh air socially. No pretenses, no one-upping, no grovelling (ugh, she hates when people do that…). He’s just...normal with her. Nothing like anyone she knows...except maybe her father. But even Jiraiya has his moments. Even now he still tends to baby her a bit, clearly a bit stuck on her being his “little girl”.

...she can understand it. Her career robbed them both of her growing up normally. Trying to cling onto that makes sense, really.

But it all comes together to exhaust her...she’s not her own person. Hasn’t been in over a decade. The facade is falling apart, she’s too tired to keep it up, she needs…

...a break.

The party is scheduled for tomorrow. Rather late notice compared to most social functions she gets roped into, but doable. Apparently she already has a fitting for a dress and professional makeup applications scheduled for her.

But the more she thinks about it, the more she makes up her mind.

She’s not going.

And she’s not telling her manager. She’s tired of the man’s grip on her, and maybe doing something of her own volition for once will help it sink in: she’s not just his plaything to make money with. She’s allowed to say no.

So, instead, she retrieves her phone (by now calmed down enough to feel bad for throwing it) and sends Tobi a text.

Are you doing anything tomorrow?

She can already hear the angry complaints: from her manager, her agent...Itachi. But damn it, she wants to make her own decisions for once! Nearly plummeting off that bridge has made her realize how much of her life needs to change. And she’s going to start changing it now.

A few minutes later, her mobile gives a buzz, and a few taps show a reply from Tobi.

Nothing important, no. You need something?

Her mouth settles into a determined line, quickly messaging back, I need an excuse to dodge a party tomorrow, and I think going to see a friend is good enough.

A bit of silence, then another reply. Haha! Standing up your snobby friends? I approve! Name the time and the place, we will do whatever you want.

A kind of giddiness overtakes her, a smile finally pulling at her face. Tobi is such a sweetheart. So much less rigid and ridiculous than anyone else she’s usually stuck with.

I’ll mull it over and let you know - nothing too drastic, just...a break from the drama.

She feels a lot better, now. Maybe...slightly nervous because she’s never been the rule breaking type. But damn it, she needs a break.

No one on her team - no one at all, really, except Tobi - knows about what happened on the bridge. Knows how low she got, how low she’s been. It feels like a facade she can’t drop. That if someone were to find out how close she’d been to jumping, they’d lock her up in a psych ward. She doesn’t want anyone fussing, but...she also wants a breather.

...she especially can’t let word get back to Jiraiya. It would break his heart. He’s already lost his wife...losing his daughter would crush him.

The thought alone makes her feel terribly guilty: how much she would have hurt him. But...she’s not going to get that bad again. No...things are going to change.

Even if that change is going to be painful...she hopes, in the end, it will be for the best.

With her plans arranged, she goes about her evening before turning in, a smile on her face as she slips into sleep.

Come morning, she’s made up her mind.

Have you ever gone rollerskating?

Tobi’s reply is a bit slow. That’s really random. Why?

I’ve always wanted to learn. Can that be what we do today?

I guess so, sure.

Sorry...I just need to do something NORMAL today.

No apologizing. It’s your decision! But I’ll warn you now...I don’t know how either. So when I fall on my ass, you can’t laugh.

Then you can’t laugh at me, either!

Grinning at her phone, Ryū then goes ahead and looks up the nearest roller rink. There’s one on the west side of town...that should work pretty well! She texts Tobi the address and they agree to meet there at noon.

Her dress appointment is at noon, and her makeup at three. Looks like she won’t be making those...

This almost feels like those playdates her mother used to take her on when she was really little: a bunch of kids brought together for an activity and to run out some energy while all the moms looked on. A reminiscent feeling of excitement builds in her chest.

This is exactly what she needs.

After a quick breakfast and picking an outfit, she gets in her car and starts making her way there. GPS guides her until she pulls into the lot. As it’s a Saturday, it actually looks pretty busy. Realizing she doesn’t know what Tobi’s car looks like (or...if he even has one), she instead heads inside and starts to shoot him a text to let him know she’s here.

“Hey!”

Jumping, Ryū turns to see...he’s already here! “Oh! Hey! I was just gonna text you - you haven’t been waiting long, have you?”

“Nah, got here a few minutes ago. Trying to decide how badly I want to embarrass myself,” Tobi replies with a grin.

“Well, everyone will be laughing at both of us, I assure you. But I’ve always wanted to learn how to do this, it looks so fun…!”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

They each pay for their admission before heading into the belly of the building. Most of it is taken up by the actual rink, but there’s also a place to sit and eat, to get your skates, and an arcade.

“Hungry?” she asks.

“Meh, not yet. Let’s give this a try first. Then we can have a pity lunch to nurse our inevitable wounds.”

That gets her to laugh. “Good plan!” At the skate counter, Ryū starts with the two-side roller skates rather than the single line of wheels on the roller blades. Surely that will be easier to keep her balance on.

Tobi, on the other hand, goes right for the blades.

“Feeling daring?”

“I figure I might as well go all-in,” he shrugs.

“You’re braver than I am, heh.”

Sitting on nearby benches, they swap their shoes for the skates. Still seated, Ryū gives them a testing roll against the carpet. “...oh boy…”

“Hey, it was your idea!”

“I know, I know! I’m just nervous.” She flashes an uncertain but excited smile. Clinging to the back of the bench, she hauls herself to her feet. For a moment she wobbles, but then regains her center of balance. “...okay...that’s not so bad.” As for how to actually move...she has no idea. Lifting a foot, she tries to take a step...and nearly crashes as her other foot bears all the weight and starts to move backward. “Oh sh-!”

Tobi, still seated, manages to grab her arm and steady her. “Easy!”

Color floods her cheeks, hoping no one saw that… “S-sorry.”

“You apologize a lot, you know that?”

“It’s...a bit of a reflex.”

Of course it’s then a gaggle of kids come zooming by, stopping as they spot Ryū’s trouble. “Hey! Need some help?”

She chuckles sheepishly. “Um...maybe…? How do you...go…?”

“Ya gotta push your feet out!” a little girl offers, giving a demonstration. Rather than moving her feet back and forth, she sweeps them out to the side. “So ya push!”

Ryū watches, blinking. “...so...like this…?” Cautiously abandoning her hold, she tries to mimic the motion. At first, she wobbles rather dramatically, arms flailing like a cartoon character to maintain her balance. But then she starts drifting forward, body getting accustomed to the leans. “...oh...wait...I-I think I got it?”

All grinning, the kids swarm around her, cheering her on as she practices on the carpet. Once she makes a few passes back and forth, she looks up to Tobi, grinning widely. “I’m doing it!”

He just snorts, still sitting. “Okay, good. Now you have to teach me.”

For a moment, the kids pause as they look at him.

“My friend and I have never roller skated before,” Ryū offers. “But he said we could learn together! He’s Tobi - I’m Ryū!”

The kids’ wariness then seems to ease, and they start encouraging Tobi to his feet.

“Now, uh...I have a bit of a bad leg. So go easy on me,” he asks, wobbling much as Ryū did as he gets going. But slight infirmity aside, he manages to get the hang of it after a few passes. Ryū can’t help but giggle as the kids give a cheer at his success.

It’s Tobi’s turn to give a shy smile. “...well. I haven’t fallen yet.”

“No, not yet. But we’re still going slow on the carpet.”

They agree to practice a bit more, the flock of children disappearing back to the crowd on the rink. Soon enough they’ve mastered the carpet.

Time to try the smooth wood of the rink.

“...can I ask a stupid question?” Ryū offers as they approach one of the gaps in the wall to board the rink.

“Sure?”

“Can I hold your hand? Just to help, uh...steady myself?”

She knows that might be a bit weird. While she herself considers Tobi a friend - maybe not yet a close friend, but a friend nonetheless - she also knows the gesture might be a bit...forward.

But to her surprise, despite a small pause, he nods. Gripping his hand and weaving their fingers, Ryū takes the first step. And oh boy is it slippery. “W-whoa, okay, uh…” Hanging onto the wall, she lets Tobi follow behind her. Once they’re both a bit steady, they wait for a gap before merging onto the outermost layer of the rink.

They’re slow, and people keep passing them, but...they aren’t falling. Synching up their steps, they find a rhythm and start gliding smoothly in an oval around the outside.

Realizing she’s actually doing it, Ryū’s expression brightens, a smile lifting her lips and eyes shining with childish excitement. How long has she wanted to do this, and now she’s just...doing it! She made a plan, and stuck to it.

...when was the last time she was able to do that?

From the corners of his eyes, Tobi watches her, expression unreadable.

They do a few passes before agreeing to peel back off. Breath a bit elevated with adrenaline, Ryū looks to Tobi with uncensored joy. “That...was amazing!”

He laughs, not...really seeing the appeal of going around and around in a circle. But it’s making her happy. “Should we eat something?”

“Yeah!”

It’s mostly just pizza and the like, so they settle on splitting one. Sipping her soda, Ryū watches the other skaters from their elevated table along the edge.

“So, why roller skating?”

“Huh?”

“Why was roller skating what you picked to do today?”

She chews her straw, thinking. “...I dunno. Just seemed like fun. Kids used to skate on the street I lived on when I was a kid, but...I never got to do it. My mom always said I was too young and that I’d get hurt, and then...we moved after she died. I kinda forgot about it. But I think I just figured it was one of those childhood things I missed out on with how I was raised. So...maybe it was a bit immature to ask for it, but...I wanted something normal. Something boring.” There’s a pause. “...that really makes me sound like a privileged jerk, doesn’t it?”

“Psh, no,” Tobi assures her, waving her concern aside. “I’ve never done it either. Just depends on how you were brought up.”

“I guess so. But I mean...asking for something normal and calling it boring. Do I sound rude, wording it like that?”

Another wave. “No. You said it yourself before: you live in a fake world. Wanting something that feels outside that...bubble is your right. Don’t worry about it. Any time you need a break, just let me know. We’ll do something boring.”

His reply makes her laugh. “Want to do some more?”

“Ah, I’ll wait. My leg’s a bit sore.”

Worry immediately colors her expression. “You okay?”

“Fine, fine. You go, I’ll watch. Don’t fall, hm?”

“I won’t, I won’t…” Giving him one last glance, Ryū then abandons the table and heads back out onto the rink.

Once she’s gone, Obito grabs a pill vial from his coat pocket, popping a pill and washing it down with soda.

What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.

And as he promised, he watches her do her circles, slowly getting more confident and extending her movements. They even play a game she participates in, getting eliminated about halfway through. Even in her defeat, sitting in an alcove along the rink, she’s pink-cheeked and grinning.

...she really is having a blast, isn’t she?

He can’t help but be a bit envious of that. Of getting so excited over something so simple. But...well, she has reasons to be. Her life - while in some ways so much easier than his own - is still riddled with problems. Getting a moment to get away from that seems to be doing her a lot of good.

Eventually she comes back, sitting with a gasp to catch her breath. “Man...I’m tired! I didn’t think it would be such hard work, but...my legs are sore! How’s yours feeling…?”

“Fine, I took some Advil. I’ll be all right. It just gets stiff sometimes.”

As he’s becoming familiar with, uncensored concern colors her face. “All right...I’m sorry, I didn’t even think about…?”

“I told you, it’s fine. Glad I got to do a bit. Maybe it’ll be good exercise for it.”

“...okay.”

“So, want to go again, or…?”

“I think I’ve had my fill for a while. What about you, anything else you want to do?”

“Nah.”

Finished, they turn in their skates and retrieve their shoes before heading to the door. It’s there they have to part ways.

“Hey...thanks for humoring me today,” Ryū offers, a bit bashful. “I had a lot of fun…!”

“M’glad. So...how many angry texts do you have?”

“No idea, I turned off my phone. I’m sure I’ll get earfuls from everyone later, but...for right now, this was more important. I...really needed today.”

Tobi looks her over thoughtfully. “...feel better?”

“Better than yesterday, at least.” She gives a tired smile. “...slowly but surely.”

“...good. Well, you better go hide for a few more hours, hm? And I need to get home.”

“Thanks for going with me.”

“Of course. Next time you want to be a rebel, let me know,” he grins, watching as she waves (Tobi returning the gesture) and returns to her car.

...well, that went better than he expected. Seems she’s starting to test her new boundaries, figure out what she can get away with and what control she can start taking back.

It’s only a matter of time before she starts questioning things beyond her schedule.

Obito grins to himself, checking his phone to ensure he didn’t miss anything important. But he finds himself distracted, remembering the look of wonder on Ryū’s face.

...it was cute.

...he’d bet a hundred dollars she’s never had that look when around Itachi. Just those artificial smiles to placate him.

And Obito can’t help but smirk at that.

Obito one, Itachi zero.

     ...okay this is actually really cute and makes me wanna get back into roller skating kjdhfgjh - that was totally random but maybe my subconscious is trying to tell me something xD      So this is meant to be pretty early in PiP: only about two weeks after the first bit I ever posted. Hence Ryū knowing Obito by ‘Tobi’ and not yet knowing he’s an Uchiha or anything. So just a lil bonding time for the pair of them ;3      Anywho I am...still a day behind (again OTL) so I’ma try to at least start today’s, maybe finish it in the morning and get back on track! Thanks for reading~

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-Two | Domino Effect ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Jiraiya ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life ] [ Vulgarity, blood ]

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Sometimes, a single, seemingly-innocuous action can begin a chain of events that no one could have predicted.

She begins the day so nervous, it feels like she’s going to throw up.

It’s only been three weeks since they moved here. Three weeks to adjust to a new city, new neighborhood, new house...and now, a new school. Ryū hasn’t even unpacked all of the boxes in her room. But today she starts the final year of her high school experience knowing absolutely no one, and dreading having to start completely over.

A knock sounds on her door, and she spins around to it, immediately feeling foolish for being so jumpy.

Catching the movement, her father perks a brow. “...everything okay in here?”

“Yeah, just…” Her arms lift in a gesture of general hopelessness. “...y’know.”

Jiraiya softens into a warm smile. “I know this is cliche to say, but...it’s gonna be fine. Rough at first, I’m sure. But you’ll find a niche eventually. ‘Just be yourself’ and all that stereotypical fatherly advice, hm?”

She gives a flat snort. “...I guess so. I guess I just wish it wasn’t so close to the end...feels like it’ll be over before I even settle in.”

Sighing, Jiraiya rubs at his neck. “I know, I’m sorry honey...but wherever work calls, you have to follow. I know your mother wasn’t sure about this move, but…”

“But, that’s how it goes,” Ryū finishes quietly, having heard the sentiment more times than she can count since word of her mother’s relocation was broken to her. “I’m not...mad or anything. I know there wasn’t any choice. I just have so much to...start over with now, and when I already have a new phase coming up in just a year with college.”

“Believe me, your mother and I talked about it for weeks when this whole thing came up. She didn’t want to go, either. None of us did, really. But you’ll get it figured out. I know it’s a shakeup you weren’t expecting. But it’ll work out in the long run. Just keep your head up.”

“...I will.”

“Well...I’ve got breakfast all ready. Want any?”

Ryū’s face turns a bit queasy. “I...dunno if that’s a good idea. I don’t feel so good, and...I’d rather not give my stomach any ammunition.”

In spite of himself, Jiraiya laughs. “That’s fair enough. You sure you don’t want me to take you?”

“I’m a big girl, Dad...I can handle it.”

“All right. Well...I’ll be ready for you to sob on my shoulder when you get home.”

“...thanks.”

Fetching her stuff, Ryū heads out to her car and tosses it into the passenger seat. She still has plenty of time to park, head in, and find the right classroom for her first period class. Thankfully she and her parents got a tour a few days ago, and it...mostly stuck.

Now to put her memory to the test.

The parking lot at the end of the building is mildly empty, and she finds a decent spot. Doing her best to blend in with the crowds heading inside, Ryū tries to look far more nonchalant than she’s feeling.

Whether or not it works...she can’t really tell, too focused on staring straight ahead and going over her mental map.

First thing is first: find her locker, put away anything unnecessary, and then head to first period. Should be simple enough, right? It’s crowded, but she knows the number, eyes flickering between the plates on the doors and her path to avoid bumping into anyone.

Once in place, it’s a matter of recalling the combination. Or, rather...looking to her palm where she’s scribbled it: one less thing to have to memorize quite yet. It opens at her urging, and she shrugs her bag off her shoulder just as her neighbor shows up.

And oh gosh...what a neighbor they are.

She gives a glance, and then does a double take. This guy is huge! Tall, bulky, and from her position to his right...she can see a pattern of scars along the side of his face.

For a moment, her eyes go wide in shock. What could have happened to -?

“Heads up!”

Behind them, someone barrels into the pair of them...or rather, mostly into her neighbor, clipping her in the process.

“Hey!” she cries out at the impact, having to catch herself as not to end up in her locker.

Beside her, the guy isn’t so lucky. A book, notebook, and several utensils clatter to the floor in a racket. Immediately, laughter breaks out.

And Ryū forgets where she is.

Puffing up like an angry bird, she calls, “Watch it, jerkface!” Of course by then the perpetrator is too far away to bother responding, but...it makes her feel better. Under her breath, she mutters, “What an asshole…” before taking a knee beside her companion and picking up his things just as he kneels to do the same.

They both pause, each with a few items in hand. While Ryū’s expression is clearly surprised, his own is heavy with suspicion, wariness, and a clear expectation of being treated poorly.

“...I’m sorry about that,” she then mumbles, handing over his things. “That was so rude…”

“You better get used to it.”

His blunt reply sees her stagger for a moment. “...y-yeah, I...guess so. I’m Ryū, by the way. Are you a senior, too…?”

For a moment he doesn’t reply, going back to gathering up his things. Seems he’s...maybe not so friendly…?

“...uh -?”

“Obito. Senior,” he then offers, and again she’s taken aback by his clipped response.

“Oh, well...nice to meet you…?”

He just scoffs, turning his back and leaving.

Ryū, left in the wake, just...blinks.

A domino falls.

...well that was odd. Mulling the interaction over for a moment, Ryū just sighs before fetching her things and heading to her first class.

Not a good first start, but...hopefully it’ll get better.

Class, however, isn’t exactly a great time to make friends. Teachers give their lessons, students either pay attention or slack off...and then they’re shuffled off to the next one.

Come lunch, she hasn’t had a chance to say a complete sentence to anyone else.

And now for the hardest part...finding a place to sit in the lunchroom.

Thankfully she’s early enough she finds a mostly-empty table, sitting and simply eating her food. And then -

“You’re in my spot.”

Almost choking on a bite of rice, Ryū stifles a cough as best she can looking up to see...the boy from earlier? “S-sorry. Was just, um -?”

Rather than complain further, he just...sits next to her.

She blinks.

With rather obvious gusto, he starts shoveling food into his mouth. Guy must have an appetite, though...with his size, she can understand why. Must take a lot of fuel to keep him going. Suddenly feeling rather small and a bit intrusive, she pokes nervously at her own tray. The nervous indigestion she felt when she woke up threatens to make a second appearance.

“Thanks for this morning.”

She flinches a bit at his words before the meaning registers. This morning…? Oh! When his stuff fell! “Y...yeah! Sure. Nothing got lost, did it…?”

He shakes his head, mouth full.

“...o-okay. Well that’s...that’s good.”

...she gets the feeling this guy doesn’t talk much. Or if he does, it’s not usually pleasant. So the thank-you brings a little hopeful flutter to her chest. Maybe she made a good impression…?

“You’re new, huh?”

...is it that obvious? “Yeah, I...just transferred. I moved three weeks ago.”

Obito gives her a glance, expression a bit calculating. “Senior year...that sucks.”

Her shoulders wilt. “...yeah. My mom had to move for work, so...the rest of us followed.”

“Have a lot of friends back where you came from.”

“Um...a few. I really miss them now, though…” She tucks a few stray locks behind her ear. “...not very fun being the new kid this late in the game. You’re...the first person I’ve really talked to yet.”

“Lucky you.”

Her brow gives a slight furrow of confusion.

In response, he nods his chin out from their table. Ryū follows the gesture and then balks.

While not everyone, a fair number of people are giving their table a glance, whispering and looking concerned.

“You might be able to guess, but...I’m not very popular. Sitting next to me might not be the best decision if you want anyone else to talk to you.”

“...but…?” She looks back to him, now far more confused. “Why would anyone dislike you?”

“I’m not a very nice guy.”

Ryū studies his face for a moment. “...you’ve been pleasant to me.” Blunt, sure...but not rude, or mean.

“You helped me this morning.”

“Well of course! Why wouldn’t I? I don’t know anything about you. I’m not going to make any assumptions. You needed help. I gave it. It’s really not very complicated.”

It’s Obito’s turn to look her over, chewing one of his last bites. “...you’re pretty naive, aren’t you?”

She sniffs. “I know there’s bad people. I’m not denying that. But more often than not, bad people are just someone mistreated who need the kindness the world has yet to show them. Being bitter and throwing that bitterness back at what made you that way doesn’t make you bad. It makes you unfortunate. And that can always change. Very few people are stuck being as bad as others make them out to be.”

He blinks.

Another domino falls.

Lunch ends without much further surprise, Ryū making her typical pitstop at her locker as Obito does the same. Neither of them speak to each other, but the tense, awkward air of this morning seems to have lifted. Between each of their last few classes, the same silent camaraderie falls over them.

And then the day ends.

Shoving things into her bag (by some grace, she’s avoided any major homework on her first day: just some reading to do before Wednesday), Ryū shuts her locker door with a small sigh.

“So...how would you rate your day?”

Ryū hums in thought at Obito’s question. “I’d say...a seven…?”

“That high?”

“Well...nothing bad particularly happened. So I can’t count that against the score. But not much good really happened either, so it’s mostly neutral. Except one thing.”

“And that is?”

“I think I might have made a friend.”

Obito blinks, eyes widening just a few degrees in surprise. “...you sure that’s one of the good things?”

“A friend is always a good thing, right?”

“...depends on the friend.”

Another hum. “...well, I guess we’ll have to see. But they’ve made a pretty okay impression so far.”

“You might not want to hold your breath on that.”

A smile threatens to lift her lips. “Guess that’s up to them then, isn’t it?”

He just scoffs, turning and heading down the hallway.

Ryū, however, gives a little laugh to herself before taking another exit closer to the parking lot.

“Sooo...how’d it go?”

Barely in the door, Ryū blinks as her father questions her. “Uh...okay, I guess.”

“Not catastrophes?”

She snorts as she shuts the door behind her. “Not really, no. I might’ve made a friend.”

“Oh really! Is she nice?”

“He is...um…” A pause, nibbling her lip. “...I’m not sure yet. But his locker is next to mine, and we ate lunch together.”

Jiraiya perks a brow at he. “...I see. And by ‘not sure’ you mean…?”

“I mean I’m not sure. He’s a bit...strange. Kinda closed off. I think he doesn’t really have any friends, so maybe he’s kinda new to it.”

A wariness colors her father’s face, but he doesn’t voice any concern...yet. “...huh. Well, could be worse, I suppose. Get your homework done if you’ve got any and we’ll start dinner before your mom gets home.”

“Okay!”

A few days later, Ryū arrives at the lockers first. Admittedly she’s a little early, so...she not-very-subtly lingers, deciding she’ll wait to see if she can say good morning to Obito before they have to get to class.

But something else happens first, instead.

With a loud bang, a body is flung against the lockers just to her left, and Ryū feels her heart leap to her throat, entire form tensing in fight or flight. Stumbling back, she spots Obito, teeth gritted as he’s pinned against the metal doors. Across from him is another student she doesn’t recognize.

Clearly, they’re having a...disagreement.

“Fuck you, man! Keep your creepy comments to yourself, no one gives a shit!”

Gripping his agitator’s wrists, Obito spits back, “I dunno, seems you give enough of a shit to do this…!”

“You think you’re a tough son of a bitch cuz you can rile people up? Guess what, asshole? All that’s gonna do is make sure you end up sad and alone. Maybe if you stopped being such a prick, you’d actually -!”

“Hey!”

Both of them turn to Ryū. Her face is hardened into a glower, grey eyes steely. “The hell you want?”

“For you to let go of him and go cool off. Keep this up and you’re both going to end up in detention or suspended. If you want to fight, save it for after classes.”

“This has nothing to do with you, so fuck off y’dumb b-”

With a grunt, Obito launches forward and slams his brow into his opponent’s, forcing him to reel back with a pained cry. Straightening and fixing his rumpled shirt, he offers, “Watch your mouth when you’re talking about my friend.”

The word earns a jolt, Ryū losing her edge with a sound of surprise. He...he said -?

“If she’s really gonna sink to your level, that’s her decision. Anyone dumb enough to put up with you deserves what’s coming to them.” Steadying himself, the other teen staggers off, the gathered crowd starting to disperse.

“...do I want to know what that was about?” Ryū decides to ask, giving Obito a glance.

“Misunderstanding,” is his only explanation, turning to his locker.

“...are you hurt?”

“No. And next time, you might want to keep your mouth shut. He was right, that was none of your -”

Ignoring his rebuke, Ryū pushes a shoulder to get him to face her.

“What are you -?”

“You’ve got a split in your brow,” she cuts in, reaching into her backpack for a small first aid kit her mother insists she take with her. “It’s going to drip on your clothes, so hold still.”

“I don’t have time for -!”

“It’ll only take me a minute. My mom’s a doctor, I know what I’m doing.” Taking out a sanitizing wipe, she cleans off his brow, ignoring his flinch as it stings along the split. Gauze then presses to the wound, a few checks given to ensure it’s stopped bleeding. Then out comes a butterfly bandage to pinch it shut. “...there. See? Quick and painless.”

He tries to reach to touch it, but she bats his hand, making him balk at the rather forward action.

“Don’t touch it, your hands probably aren’t clean. Leave it alone.”

“Bossy, aren’t you?”

“I told you, my mom’s a doctor. I got my bedside manner from her,” she replies, giving him a cheeky glance. “...besides, I’m not about to let my friend walk around with a split forehead. Try not to headbutt anyone else today, okay? I’d rather not have to do that again.”

Rubbing a spot away from where it split, Obito watches her quietly as she replaces her kit.

“What was that really about?”

“Nothing. I said something stupid, and he got mad.”

“What did you say?”

“You’re really nosy, aren’t you?”

Her arms cross. “I’m trying to figure out why someone would want to beat the tar out of you. And what possessed you to do whatever it is you did. You realize there’s better ways to get attention, right?”

Something in her words makes him scowl. “Technically I didn’t start it. He did.”

“And…?”

He seems to weigh his options. “...I was supposed to graduate last year. I’m a year behind. People give me crap about it, it pisses me off, so I mouth off back.”

Ryū blinks, not...expecting that. “...you were held back?”

“Kinda hard to keep up when you spend six months of a year in a hospital, and another two in physical therapy. Not everyone cares about that particular detail, though. They just assume I’m stupid.”

Understanding slackens her face. Hospital…? Is that where the scars…? “...he was mocking you about your repeating a year?”

“...yeah. So I jabbed back. Surprise, he didn’t like it. Go figure.”

“...well I can’t really condone fighting fire with fire, but...it does sound like he started things.”

“I don’t like just sitting and taking anyone’s shit.”

“And what did mouthing off get you? Besides a mild beating? Was that really satisfying enough to make you feel better?”

He doesn’t have a retort, so...Obito reverts back to scowling.

Ryū heaves a sigh. “...there will always be jerks. But picking a fight with every single one is only going to get you into deeper trouble, Obito. You know the truth about your grade, Don’t pay anyone else any mind about it. Just finish up your last year, and then you can put it behind you. No one will care once you’ve graduated, okay?”

“Tch…”

She softens, laying a hand on his arm. “...I don’t want to see you get hurt again. Next time someone gives you crap, then...tell me.”

His eyes drop to her hand, and then lift to her face. “...what -?”

“And then I’ll give them what for myself.”

“...you? Really?”

“Yes, really. What?”

He studies her for a moment, and then snorts. “...yeah, okay.”

The third domino falls.

“Hey...can you give me a ride?”

Turning from her locker a few weeks later, Ryū gives Obito a glance. “Sure. Where do you need to go?”

“...I’ll give you directions.”

Brow furrowing slightly in concern, Ryū nonetheless leads the way to her car, Obito in the front seat and directing her where to go.

...they end up at one of the city’s cemeteries.

For a moment, Ryū sits in her seat, uncertain. But Obito gets out without a word, and she has little choice but to either sit and wait...or follow.

She tries the latter.

They trek a ways inward before he stops at a small plot. Four graves bear the Uchiha name. And judging by the dates...they would be Obito’s parents and paternal grandparents.

As Ryū looks closer, she stiffens. The matching death dates for his mother and father...are eighteen years ago today.

It’s the anniversary of their passing.

Obito doesn’t say anything. He just clears away some old dead flowers, replacing them with new ones from his backpack. Then he just...stands there, seemingly lost in thought.

Ryū can’t help but feel a bit...intrusive. But he doesn’t tell her to leave, and as she quietly steps up beside him, he doesn’t flinch as she gently leans against him. She doesn’t speak, knowing there’s not really anything to say.

A domino tilts dangerously far.

Trying to think of a kind sentiment, Ryū hesitates for a long moment. As one comes to mind, she tilts her head up and over to look at him.

Just as he tilts down and over to look at her.

Suddenly their faces are only a breath apart.

Both of them freeze, eyes wide and expressions slack in surprise. Ryū finds a heat building in her cheeks, suddenly flustered.

It’s Obito who moves first, reverting his posture with a clearing of his throat.

Ryū in turn tucks back down, trying to calm the tapdancing of her heart.

“...thanks for...taking me. It’s way too far to walk.”

“Of course...I’m glad I could help.”

A silence blooms and grows, neither sure what to do next.

“...well, I...should take you home. I’ve got chemistry I need to get done…”

“Yeah…” Obito turns, heading back toward the car with Ryū right on his tail.

...and after a moment, she gently takes his hand without a word.

Silently, he squeezes it.

The domino topples with a clatter.

     I....really struggled with this so idk if it really worked, but...I tried? Meg wanted bully!Obito so...this is my attempt xD Little interactions building up to something bigger. idk my brain is dying ahaha      It’s late and I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, so...I’ll stop there =w= Thanks for reading~

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-One | Sacrifice] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū ] [ Verse: Of Monsters and Men ]

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“All right...there we are.” Gathering up the mixture of herbs, spices, and tea leaves, Ryū carefully bundles them in some cloth, tied shut with a ribbon. “Whenever a nightmare strikes, brew this in hot water and drink. It will ease your mind and urge your body to sleep.”

“Thank you...you’re a blessing, you are.”

The woman just gives a soft smile. “Thank the earth and its bounties, not me. I just know how to use them. Take care of yourself.”

Making his way out, the man plagued by ill dreams takes his leave, dipping his hat to another just making his way in. The second figure lingers a bit stiffly in the doorway, his own hat removed from his head and instead nervously wrung in his hands as he waits for the healer to notice him.

“Oh!” She comes up short, turning and seeing him at last. “I’m sorry - have you been waiting long?”

“No, just a moment. I, er…”

“Has it been a fortnight already? My how the time flies…”

“Yes ma’am, it...it does.”

“May I take a look?”

Nodding, the man comes further into the cabin as she flares the lamp hanging from the rafters. With careful hands, she takes and tilts his face to the light to better examine it.

Along one side, horrible claw marks mar the surface of his skin. Half-healed now, they look clean and healthy.

“They seem to be doing well...you’ve been keeping up with them, then?”

“Yes, ma’am. Every night, and every morning. Like you told me.”

Ryū smiles. “Good. I’m sorry I didn’t realize the day, I’ll have to mix it now. Do you mind a short wait?”

“Not at all. The rain forced us back, so I’ve nothing to do until it dries.”

“Yes, the weather has been something atrocious lately...soon Winter will be here.” Moving about in the one-room cabin, she begins pulling ingredients from drawers and cutting them from hanging samples. A mortar and pestle are taken from their shelf, herbs thrown into its groove to be mashed. “I dread the thought, but...it’s as Nature intends. We’ll be thankful come Spring thaw and planting.”

“Do you ever have a sour thought, Miss Suigin?” the man then dares to ask.

She offers a soft laugh in return. “Oh, I do. But I keep them inside so as not to sour the air, too. I’d much rather make it sweeter.”

“Oh you - you do that just fine.” His lips flicker upwards in an uncertain smile. Was that too forward…?

“Well aren’t you just the sweetest thing!” A warm smile lifts her lips, and he finds his chest fluttering. “Mister Uchiha, you’ll make me blush with compliments like that.”

“Well, it’s true! You’re the kindest soul in this little town, and you do well by all of us with your medicines. A kind word is the least I can spare you.”

That seems to leave her without a retort, working at her mixture for a moment in silence. “...I appreciate it. I do dote on everyone. Life out here is harsh, so...any little thing I can do to help folks along is good enough for me. Hardships are easier to face when we work together, and that’s done best with everyone of sound mind and sound body.”

Obito just watches as she goes about her mixing and mashing, wondering for the hundredth time how she knows all she knows. A score of books line a shelf...maybe it’s something written that she follows?

“All right...I think that’s done it. You know enough by now, but I’ll say it for my own peace of mind: take a sample on your finger and run it along each mark until they’re all covered. Let it sit overnight, and for as long as you can stand it in the morning before you wash it off. A few more weeks, and we’ll have those wounds scarred shut. It might not be the prettiest thing, but...it’ll keep the wounds clean and minimize the scarring.” She then gives him a curious tilt of her head. “And the rest of your symptoms?”

“Hardly notice them, ma’am. None of those strange headaches, no flashes of anger. All gone.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“Thank you, miss Suigin...truly, I -?”

She waves aside his thanks, having heard it many times before. “I know well enough by now how grateful you are. But save your breath for yourself, and take care. If something goes awry, let me know straight away.”

“I will.”

“Go on, then - get some rest, it will be dark soon.”

Nodding politely, he takes up his medicine and takes his leave. By now the downpour has faded to a light misting, the smell of cold air creeping into the evening. She’s right...Winter is just around the bend, and he still has so much to do before the first snow falls.

Around the corner of the cabin, he doesn’t see a pair of jealous eyes watching him, turning from the window and fading into the dark.

Once home, he lights the lamp by his bed, taking it to the broken mirror he’s got hanging on a wall. Every time he catches sight of his reflection, he has to grimace. Whatever that beast was that attacked him that night...it sure left its mark. But thanks to the village healer’s efforts, the angry red tissue is calming, finally starting to close. The pain is nearly nonexistent now, and the strange feelings he’d felt have all but disappeared.

She really is amazing…

Pushing the thought away as his face warms, Obito carefully unravels the hide the paste she’s made him rests in. It smells oddly spicy, but never stings. Practiced fingers delve into it, watching his reflection to carefully trace it along every mark.

It feels oddly cold...but maybe that’s just because of his prior blush.

Once it’s all in place, he fixes himself some supper to let it dry, lest he smear it on his pillow. The stew he’d left to simmer while out working it’s a bit dry, but edible. The recipes his grandmother taught him before passing have served him well, but...he can’t help but wish he had a wife to do so alongside him.

Traitorously, he thinks again of the healer. Oddly enough, despite what he considers to be great beauty and soothing manners, she’s yet to be married. Part of him wonders if her position keeps most folks at bay, or...if it’s the quiet, lingering superstition about her. While most everyone depends on her concoctions, some find her skill with them...odd. Add in her unique appearance, and some have dared to whisper witch.

But no one has outright accused her, so the clergy of their little village have yet to act. Obito finds the notion ridiculous. Some plants harm, some plants feed, and some plants heal. Knowing the difference doesn’t take otherworldly knowledge, or whispers from the devil. Anyone daring to call her some evil spellcaster would be deeply mistaken. Only has she ever helped the people of their little town, never harmed!

Someday...he might muster up the courage to ask her. But for now, it doesn’t feel proper. His work in the village crop fields earns him a miser’s pay, and his cabin is hardly suitable...it needs work. He’ll only make her an offer once he feels that offer is worthy.

So for now, he’ll sit and sigh at the thought.

He tides up after his meal, gently prodding the poultice to ensure that it’s dry before slipping into bed. He’ll have to do the same routine come morning, then the next night. Over and over until the wounds are fully closed. But he doesn’t mind the effort if it means keeping himself whole.

And getting to see the healer every fortnight for more.

Autumn continues to pass at pace, the weather slowly chilling as Obito and the rest of the farmhands work to bring in the last of the harvests and store them away for winter. Animals too are butchered, salted and dried to cover the long Winter months. It’s often a narrow window that they survive the harshest part of the year. At least one life is typically lost. But they all fare far better together than they would apart.

But two days before he once again needs to visit the healer...something changes.

On his way to the fields, Obito slows as he spots an odd sight. A rather sizable group is gathered outside the local church. It’s not Sunday...they aren’t congregating for that. Then what…?

Trying to weave his way to the front, he realizes the crowd forms a ring around a space just before the doors. And at the center is the pastor...and the healer.

Her face is taut with apprehension. “If I’m to be tried, then I want to face my accuser.”

“So you can hex the poor soul? I think not. They will be kept out of sight for their safety, should you decide to loose the devil upon them. They claim to have seen you practicing the dark arts within your home more than once. These accusations must be heard, and you must be tried for your crimes.”

...oh no…

“I’ve committed no crimes! If mixing plants for a person’s health is a crime, then so is any other harmless task! How many of you have benefited from my work, my knowledge?” She turns imploringly to the crowd, desperation in her eyes.

To Obito’s amazement, not a single soul speaks up, all glancing aside in shame as they refuse to admit it. In his chest, he feels a growing heat of anger.

“Me!”

At once, they all turn to him, parting as he shoves his way forward. “Me, and nearly everyone else! If this woman’s intent was to harm, she would never help us! How many wounds has she patched? How many fevers has she broken? If her intent was to harm...she would never have lifted a finger for us. Half of us would be dead or dying if not for her help. That sounds far less like the work of the devil than it does of an angel.”

Across the gap, her face alights, staring at him hopefully.

“A ruse to cover her tracks,” the priest hisses in retort. “She lulls us into a false sense of safety, of security...while in the dark she conspires with devils and demons! She is cunning...but the eyes of the righteous have seen through her veil!”

Obito’s teeth grit, and he tries to move forward. But arms hold him back, even as he struggles. “Those eyes lie!”

“Throw him in jail to keep him out of the way,” the pastor orders, looking down his nose at Obito. “We cannot let his infatuation with this she-devil interrupt our just and legal proceedings. If God demands a sacrifice to keep our village pure...so be it. Let the trial commence!”

Grunting and yowling as he’s dragged away, Obito does his best to fight back. But it’s one against many, and he’s soon thrown into the singular cell of their little jail.

Hands grip the bars. “Let me out! She’s innocent! Innocent, I tell you!”

The men who dragged him only sneer, turning their backs and shutting the door behind them.

With the slam of the entrance, a sense of finality seems to overcome him. He can hardly escape...and he’s the only one willing to defend her. Surely they’ll convince themselves of her guilt to lay blame on one soul: let her bear their collective sins and be washed away.

No...no!

Slowly, he sinks to his knees, hands still gripping the bars. It’s not fair...how could they do this…?

...he never got to…

The agony of silence and unknowing is torture. The town constable brings him scant meals, refusing to speak as Obito peppers him with questions of the goings-on. A day passes, then another, and another.

That third day, he realizes two things. That he has not been applying her poultice, and that today would have been the day for his next visit. The knowledge clenches his heart. As before, a headache has been creeping up on him, his temper fraying...but that may just be his present circumstances.

He has to get out of here...he has to free her…! But how...how…?!

As the day fades, night slowly blanketing the village...Obito realizes it’s too light. Beyond the single barred window, flickering light begins passing by.

Torches.

Hauling himself up, he gasps as - haloed against the darkness of the woods beyond the village - her cabin goes up in smoke. Hungry flames reach skyward, as if seeking to consume the stars.

“No…!”

Not far from it, a pyre has been erected. And led from the courthouse, fighting and screaming, is Ryū. Hands bound, she’s fitted amongst the kindling and straw to the wooden pole at the center.

They’re going to burn her…!

Rage seems to fill his veins with molten magma, burning from the inside out. Hollering incoherently, he pulls at the bars despite knowing he cannot budge them. Torches are laid at the base of the pyre, and like her home, flames begin to climb.

And then, atop the fiery halo, pale moonlight breaks over the scene as clouds shift aside to bare the full moon.

Like a blow to the head, Obito’s headache reaches a fever pitch. He collapses, clutching his head with a howl of anguish. His entire body seems to pulse with anger and pain. It burns...it burns…!

Outside, the crowd turns to the jail as a ragged wail breaks through the night.

And then, with a shower of stone, the wall bursts forth. Eyes a molten gold, a dark beast crawls from the rubble, teeth bared with a chest-shaking growl.

“Monster!”

“I-it’s come for its mistress!”

Roaring with a flare of spittle and glint of pearlescent teeth, the creature lanches forward as the terrified villagers scatter. He wants to tear, to gut, to destroy!

But first!

With a leap, he reaches the pyre, ignoring the flames and clawing her bounds to shreds. She coughs and wheezes from the smoke, but gestures desperately to the singeing fur of his side.

“O-Obito…!”

But he spares no time for himself, easing her over his shoulder as her form goes limp, too exhausted to stay awake. Lip raised and snarling, he stares down the villagers with their muskets and pitchforks. Oh how he longs to shatter their bones and carve their flesh!

For now, however, there are more important things he must do.

In a half-lope, he lowers to three limbs, one spared to hold her as he flees. A few foolhardy humans try to chase, but he’s swift as the wind, disappearing into the moonlit trees and underbrush. Soon, the only sounds are those of his rushing breath, pluming in the cold as they leave the village behind.

Only once he feels they’re a safe distance does he slow, coming to a stop at the bank of a creek. Gently, he sets her along the sandy shore. A whine crawls up his throat. The hem of her dress is singed, heat blisters along her bare feet where the flames had crept close. As carefully as he can, he urges them into the cool water.

A gasp sounds, and he balks as Ryū suddenly wakes at the feeling. “A-ah…!” Her voice is raw, growling and wincing from the smoke she breathed. Struggling to sit upright, she looks to her feet before her gaze lifts to her companion.

She doesn’t look at all afraid...but rather, sad.

“...I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I thought I could keep it at bay, but...without your medicine…”

He crouches beside her, head tilting.

“...there was wolfsbane in the poultice. It was treating your wounds, but...also the infection of the beast you were marked by. If they’d closed without you missing a dose, then...it would have been held at bay. But now...there’s nothing I can do. With every turn of the moon, you’ll change. It’s all my fault…”

Ears falling, he lets his snout come to rest at her cheek. It wasn’t you...it was them…! He longs to speak, but can’t muster words in his shifted form.

Rather than retreat, she carefully raises hands to hold his massive jaw. “...your burns…!”

Looking at his side, Obito realizes he was indeed wounded...perhaps this hide is too thick to feel?

Ryū begins urging water up to the melted flesh, earning a flinch. “Sorry, sorry...but we need to keep them clean. I think I can find what I need here to make a poultice…” From the plants along the bank she does her best to make a mash with a clean river rock, tearing the hem of her skirt to bind it. “...it’s not perfect, but...it should help. You’ll bear these marks as a man, too. And all for my sake...but...thank you. You saved my life.”

There’s another careful nuzzle to her throat.

“...they were right, you know.”

He pauses.

“I am a witch,” she admits softly. “But not the kind they believe in. I come from the earth, I know its secrets, I bend them to my will. But never could I harm someone. I’m inspired not by the devil, but by the mother of us all. I knew it was only a matter of time before they accused me. Their beliefs always lead them to the wrong conclusions…”

The pair go silent for a time. The creek serenades them with its gentle trickles.

“...I know not where we’ll go. What we can do. But...we are alive. And come morning, when the moonlight fades, you’ll be a man once more. That, at least, is something. But Winter is fast approaching...we’ll need to be swift.” Gentle hands stroke at the coarse fur of his snout. “...will you go where I go?”

Obito brightens, declining his head in a nod.

“...then together we will go.”

     OKAY...I actually really like this one xD It could be longer but I need to catch up dfkjggh - still managed to hit my 3k goal mark though! Hopefully tonight I can get another one done and be back on track lol      We have a proper werewolf this time, not a Nightwalker werewolf xD And he is ANGER! Do not touch his witchy waifu! Also I didn’t use any other characters cuz...I didn’t know who to use so it’s just the duo this time lol so fill in the blanks any way you want!      Anyway, I have irl things to sit and wait for (and...actually do) so I better run for now, but hopefully I can be back in time to get more done today! Thanks for reading~

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty | Astronaut ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life ]

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“Happy birthday, Obito!”

“Wh-?” Stepping into the hallway, Obito immediately finds himself staggering back. A wild Ryū has decided to tackle him, arms around his neck as he wraps his own around her waist to help hold her up. “Uh...hi?”

Standing nearby, both Kakashi and Rin snicker. “Did you forget what day it is?” the latter asks. “We thought she was gonna explode waiting to say hello this morning!”

Ryū retreats as Obito sets her down, cheeks pink and expression sheepish. “I had a feeling you would have forgotten…”

Obito, also embarrassed, itches the back of his neck. “I might’ve remembered if I wasn’t running late this morning…”

“As you are every morning,” Kakashi replies, perking a brow as Obito balks.

“Oh leave him alone, Kakashi,” Ryū sighs. “At least for today of all days? Tease him any other time than today.”

“But today is the best time for -”

Rin, turning to him, gives him a look...and he quiets.

“I got you a present!” Ryū then offers, pulling a wrapped parcel from her backpack. “Do you want to open it now, or...wait until after class?”

“I can open it now!” Eyes eager at the sight of the gift, Obito grins wide as she hands it over. “You’re the best, you know that?”

“Wait until you see what it is,” his best friend teases, ignoring Rin as she elbows him.

“Don’t spoil it!”

“I’m not!”

Looking the wrapping over, Obito can’t help but notice that it seems rather like a game jacket...did she get him a video game…? He gives her a glance, only proceeding as she nods with an excited look of her own. With a few pulls of his fingers, he reveals the cover.

“No Man’s Sky…?”

“It’s a space game!” Ryū quickly blurts. “You get to play as an astronaut! It’s all randomly generated, and there’s over eighteen quintillion planets you can find and explore! And all the flora and fauna are generated, so you never see the same thing twice...it looks really, really cool! I know you like space stuff, so...I thought it was a good fit!”

Listening, Obito then looks to the jacket. A huge space game, huh? That sounds amazing! “Thanks, Ryū! I’ll have to play it as soon as I get home!”

“Just don’t put off your homework,” Rin chides with a knowing smile.

“I won’t, I won’t...hey, wanna come over and watch me play, Ryū?”

“Yeah! I’m really curious what it’ll be like! Apparently it had some issues at launch but it’s improved a lot since then. I wanna see all the cool animals and planets!”

Grinning ear to ear, Obito pulls her forward for a squeezing hug. “Thanks, Ryū...you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“I wanted to! Besides, what kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t?” She pokes his chest lightly. “And you got me something for my birthday. It’s only fair!”

That makes him chuckle. “Yeah, you’re right...I’ll have to have you try playing it too!”

“Well, I...I can try. I dunno if I’ll be any good at it. I mostly play simple games, eh heh.”

“I bet you’ll be great! We can -”

It’s then, however, that the bell rings for first period, and the four teens wilt.

“Welp...see you guys at lunch,” Kakashi offers, retracting the arm he’s had around Rin’s shoulders.”

“Don’t forget we’ve got a club meeting at lunch, Kakashi!” Rin then offers, and his shoulders wilt.

“Do I have to go…?”

“Yes, yes you do. Just grab your lunch and head to the club room. It won’t kill you.”

“...we don’t have anything today, do we?” Obito then asks, turning to Ryū.

“I don’t think so. Today’s Wednesday, so no play practice. And I haven’t heard anything else.”

Obito gives a small sigh of relief. That means he can get home at a good time to play his new game! “Okay, cool. See you at lunch, then.”

“Mhm!” For just a brief moment, Ryū lifts on her toes a bit to give him a quick press of her lips to his cheek. “Hopefully today goes fast, I wanna see your game!”

Under her touch, his face grows warm. “Y-yeah! It’s gonna be fun.”

With that, the four of them split up to head to their first classes.

And as they tend to do on a day with something else to look forward to...classes pass slowly. Obito finds himself zoning out for most of the morning, chin in his palm as he blinks owlishly at the teachers. It doesn’t help that he finds most if not all of his classes to be exceedingly boring. One of the few redeeming features of high school was an unexpected one, that being the drama club that takes place after classes.

Which is where he really got to know Ryū, and...well, the rest is history. They’ve been dating for over a year now, and he’s pretty sure it’s been the best year of his life so far, all things considered.

As his last morning class finally comes to a close, Obito wastes no time in making his way to the cafeteria to pick up some food and meet the others. Ryū beats him there, her classroom far closer.

“Hey!”

“Hey. Kakashi and Rin go through yet?”

“Yeah, they went to the club room already. So I guess it’s just us this time around.”

“Meh, that’s okay. Might be nice just the two of us for once, hm?”

That gets her to smile. “Yeah! There’s a free table near the back corner, maybe we’ll actually be able to hear each other and talk.”

He snorts. “In this chaos? Maybe.”

They snag the table, dragging the chairs side by side and starting to dig into their lunches. Typical idle chatter flows between them. The cafeteria is a hub of noise and distractions, but they do their best to block out the rest and make the best of their brief break before afternoon classes.

“Got much homework for today so far?”

“Just some reading for literature,” Ryū replies, taking another bite of salad. “That won’t take me too long. I might end up with something in geometry, but we’re in a pretty easy chapter right now. You?”

“So far nothing is due tomorrow, so I can put things off.”

Ryū gives him a look, but it’s clear she’s torn between chiding him about homework, but also getting a chance to watch him play. “Well...okay. Just be sure to give yourself enough time so you’re not crunching it the night before it’s due.”

“I know! I’m the master of time management. I can wait until just the right moment,” he replies with a grin.

“There’s also play practice tomorrow and Friday to account for, hm?”

He nods, mouth full.

“Okay...just making sure you remember.”

Obito’s eyes give a teasing roll. Sure, he can be a little scatterbrained, but it usually turns out fine. Ryū, ever the worrier, is practically his assistant with how much she drops little reminders for things. The first of the two plays they’re doing this year is at the end of the month, so it is crunch time for practice and making sure everything is ready. So missing any practice now won’t be a good idea.

But he knows his lines, and the prop crew he’s in is just about finished. He’s not worried.

All too soon however, lunch is over. The pair tidy up after themselves, parting yet again for afternoon classes. Just three more blocks, then they’ll be free for the afternoon.

As soon as they are, Obito flees his last classroom and makes a beeline for his locker. A day without homework! Well...he does have some, but it’s not due until Friday. Which means...he’ll work on it tomorrow!

“Ready to go?”

He glances over to see Ryū, backpack already on her shoulder. “Yeah, let’s go!”

Both of them walk to and from school every day, living close enough to it that the journey isn’t too bad. Even now in February, with a bit of snow on the ground, they make the trek on foot. Obito’s house is closer, which means their walk is pretty short this afternoon.

“Gran! I’m home!” he calls as they head in, stomping snow from their shoes outside and removing them once inside so they can dry.

“Have a good day today?” Sachiko calls back, making her way toward the front door.

“Yeah! Know what day it is?”

“Of course I do,” the old woman replies with a laugh as she enters the room. “I’ve had to wait all day to say happy birthday! I was going to get up early, but…”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. You need the sleep.” He hugs his grandmother tightly, having to lean down a fair bit to reach her.

“Well I haven’t gotten a cake made, but I’ll do that now. Hello Ryū, dear!”

“Hi missus Uchiha!”

“Ryū got me a new game for my birthday, so we’re gonna play it for a bit before homework, okay?”

“A game? For the computer?”

Both teens withhold smiles at the simplification. “Yeah! Just holler when you need help with dinner, okay?”

“Of course, of course. Will Ryū be staying?”

“I can if you’d like me to!” she chirps in reply.

“Certainly! You two have fun and I’ll work on that cake.” With that, Sachiko starts tottering into the kitchen.

Exchanging a look, the pair giggle before retreating to Obito’s room.

They sling their bags down, Obito working on getting the game installed. Ryū, wasting no time in getting comfy, lounges on his bed and starts some of her reading assignment in the meantime.

“Book any good?” he asks.

“Eh, it’s okay. Kinda boring, but...that’s how class books are, really. At least it’s not as bad as the last one...I almost didn’t finish it.”

“You? Not finish an assignment?”

“I know, right? It was just that bad. So this one’s looking better than that, at least.” She flips another page, lying on her back with one leg up over a bent knee. “How long until the game’s ready?”

“A little while.”

“You could start some homework while you wait.” Ryū glances to him, grinning.

“Or...I could not.”

“You heard Rin. She’s gonna scold you if you slack off!”

“What Rin doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” he counters.

“Maybe I’ll tattle on you.”

“Pffft, you better not. She’s got enough to worry about without nitpicking me about my grades.”

Ryū just sticks out her tongue before going back to reading.

At least, until Obito clambers up onto the bed next to her.

“...hi.”

“Hi.”

“Not gonna interrupt me, are you?” she questions, not looking from the page.

“Hm...no. Just figured it was less boring to wait this way.”

That makes her snort. “I guess that’s fair. Gonna nap?”

“Nah. I’ll just…” With a bit of wiggling, Obito sneaks arms around her, making her giggle once he finally finds a comfy spot.

“Your arm is gonna go numb.”

“I’ll live. It’s comfortable.”

She just gives an amused shake of her head, still reading.

A while later, Obito dozing, he jerks at the little jingle his console makes when the game finishes installing. “...oh! It’s done!”

“Already? That seemed pretty fast!”

He disentangles himself and sits down in his chair, looking things over. “Yeah, it’s good to go! Ready?”

Just finishing a chapter, Ryū marks her place before joining him in another chair. Excitement alights her face. “I can’t wait to see it!”

Selecting the game, Obito boots it up. An introductory sequence plays: he’s waking up on a planet, seemingly dazed...and alone. The temperature is dangerously low, and he’s already at risk of freezing to death.

“Oh! You’ve gotta find shelter! Where’s your ship?”

“I dunno!”

“Over there! There’s a cave! I bet it’ll protect you!”

Scrambling, Obito directs his character underground...and the temperature starts to stabilize. They both breathe a sigh of relief. “...okay...I need to figure out the controls and stuff.”

As Obito tinkers with commanding his character, Ryū watches quietly, trying to sneak peaks back outside whenever Obito wanders closer to the entrance of the cave. And then -! “Oh! Look! Look out there!”

“Heh?”

“There’s an animal!”

“Oh!” Creeping closer, Obito gives them a better look.

It has...four pairs of legs, and a little bitty head. But a dense pale-green fur covers its body, plodding along amongst alien-looking flora.

“It’s so funny looking!” Rocking back in her chair, Ryū laughs unabashedly. “Look at it’s head! It’s so tiny!”

Obito laughs right alongside her. “What even…?”

“What is it?”

“You’re asking me?”

“I think you can scan things? And you get money for it!”

“Uh…” He tries toggling some buttons.

“Maybe you can’t scan things yet. But oh my gosh...that thing is hilarious. Is there anything else?”

“I dunno, we’ll have to explore. But I don’t wanna freeze to death!”

Together, the two of them start stumbling along the beginnings of the game. Obito starts getting the hang of it, finding a scanner, a terrain editing tool, and his ship. And once they get far enough...he takes off and leaves the planet’s atmosphere, heading out into open space.

They both take a moment to marvel at it. “Whoa…!”

Opening his map, they find there are four planets in the system he’s in. A signal starts coming from one of them.

“So, uh...how many planets did you say there were again…?”

“Something like eighteen quintillion?”

“...uh...how many is that?”

“It’s two steps over a trillion. So...million, billion, trillion, quadrillion, quintillion.”

“Holy shit…”

“Yeah! And you can run into other people if you play online!”

“Maybe once I’m better at it. I don’t wanna look stupid…”

“You won’t!”

But before much more progress can be made, Sachiko calls for them. “Time for dinner!”

“...I thought we were going to help with dinner?” Ryū asks, brow perking.

“You know Gran, she conveniently forgets that part most of the time…”

They head back to the kitchen where Sachiko already has a cake made, and a meal ready to be eaten.

“We could have helped!” Ryū gently protests, only to have her concern waved away.

“I’ve made more dinners than you’ve eaten,” she counters with a twinkle in her eye. “I can manage a few more.”

Unable to retort, they sit and enjoy her hard work, Obito flushing pink as his grandmother insists on lighting all the candles. Ryū, grinning, films it all with her phone.

“...don’t show Kakashi.”

“I won’t, don’t worry.” Together, she and Sachiko sing him happy birthday, and then Obito blows every candle out with one breath.

Sachiko then serves them each a piece, Ryū insisting hers is too big only to be shushed.

There’s no telling Sachiko no.

By the time they finish the birthday meal, Ryū admits she’d best head home. “I need to finish my homework and get my chores done...but I’m glad you like your game so far! Maybe this weekend I can come see more?”

“Sure! Maybe by then I won’t suck at it.”

She just laughs. “...happy birthday, Obito. I hope it was a good one.”

“The best,” he replies, leaning in to give her a kiss. “Thanks for the game, and for coming over. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye!”

He watches her go, waving before heaving a contented sigh. It was a good day, all things considered.

Another year behind him...and another to go.

     kjfdghfdjhg this is a day late because...I ran out of time OTL Gonna try to at least start today’s tonight but I doubt I’ll finish. Just so fricken busy lately ;A;      ANYWAY, just...random modern fluff uwu NMS is actually really cool and people who hate on it are nerds who don’t know the whole story of what the developers had to go through, but...I won’t rant on that xD Ryū and Obito playin’ games and snuggin’ is just a Good Vibe.      But yeah, that’s all for this one! Time to try to speedrun 21 xD Thanks for reading!