_{(1,630 words)}

The tent did not look right at all to Chou. It leaned towards Irisu too much.

“Big sis Irisu, what are you doing?” He asked as he watched the two others fumble with tent poles.

“Can’t you tell from looking? Get over here and support the sides!” Seto growled.

Chou ran over to Seto and quickly shoved a pole under the tarp, he ran over to the side that Irisu was holding when suddenly the tent collapsed on all three of them. After a short period of cursing and fighting with the fabric, all three of them managed to crawl out from under the tent.

Seto glared at the two others. “Seriously, you two. As Konoha trained chunnin, isn’t putting up a simple tent beneath your abilities?”

His words fell on deaf ears as Chou was busy staring at Irisu, who had fell on top off him under the tent previously.

“Um… Big sis Irisu? Did your breasts grow bigger?” Chou suddenly blurted out.

“My breasts?” Irisu blushed and looked down. “Yeah, I guess they sorta did.”

“Don’t let him say things like that!” Seto hit Chou and yelled at Irisu.

“But he’s only a little boy. It’s cute.” Irisu smiled.

“He’s 15!” Seto sighed. “He’s only two years younger than us!” Seto pointed a tent pole at Chou.

“Hey, Team Bakado. What are you morons doing?” A young girl’s voice interrupted the argument. They turned to look at Lyketna Namida, the daughter of the woman who had hired them to act as escorts to the Village of Eight.

“Miss Lyketna. We were just putting up our tent. Is everything alright?” Irisu quickly said as she saw Seto’s normally grumpy expression change to an elevated level of irritation. “Chou, why don’t you give Lyketna some candy and go play with her?”

“No, I think I’d rather help put up the tent.” Chou shook his head.

“No. I think you should go play with Miss Lyketna.” Irisu said through a gritted smile and she began to take off a sandal to hit him with.

“Fine. Gee, put your shoe back on.” Chou walked over to the 10 year old girl and said to her, “but I’m not giving her any candy.”

“Like I would accept any from a pervert Bakado like you.” Lyketna frowned and stuck out her tongue.

“It’s not Bakado. It’s Sadako, Team Baka… Sadako.” Chou told her and stuck out his own tongue.

“Whatever. Worse bunch of bodyguards I’ve ever seen.” Lyketna sneered and walked away.

---

When the sun rose the next morning, the small group was already moving on the road. Irisu ran back to the small carriage carrying Lyketna and her mother.

“Miss Namida? How are you two doing, we’ll probably reach the Village of Eight by noon. Do you need anything?” Irisu asked as she watched the little girl sleeping in her mother’s lap.

“No, sweet girl. And please, call me Aya.” Lyketna’s mother smiled and continued braiding the sleeping girl’s hair.

Irisu ran back up to where her team mates were walking. “Everything’s good back there. Lyketna is asleep and her mother is doing alright.”

“I hope that little demon stays sleeping until we reach the village.” Seto grumbled.

Unfortunately, Lyketna did wake up and was already causing Seto’s anger level to rise by the time they arrived at the Pal mansion in the Village of Eight.

A tall lavishly dressed man walked out of the mansion and greeted the travelers. “Dear sister Aya, it is so nice to see you.” He gave Lyketna’s mother a kiss on the cheek. “And Lyketna, you’ve grown so tall.” The man hugged Irisu.

“Uh… actually she’s Lyketna.” Irisu pointed at the bashful Lyketna hiding behind her mother’s skirt.

“Ah. Of course. Then you are the help, I assume?” The man looked at Irisu’s fishnet shirt and short kimono, slightly dirty from the two day journey, with disapproval and made his judgments before she answered.

---

Despite Seto’s objections, the group stayed in the mansion while Lyketna’s mother handled her business with the man. As Irisu wandered through an enormous garden, she overheard angry voices.

“Why did you bring that girl?” Irisu realized that it was the man speaking.

“She’ll be turning eleven in a few days. Isn’t it about time you took her back?” The other voice belonged to Aya.

“No. I can’t accept her. She already looks so much like Chise. I don’t doubt she’ll grow up to be just like your sister. If this is about money, I won’t be blackmailed.”

“Money? No, she’s your own daughter for sakes! I know Chise’s death was hard on you, it was on all of us but Lyketna deserves to know who her real parents are. Listen to me, Lyketna is going to find out someday that I’m only her aunt, how do you think she’ll feel to know her own father doesn’t acknowledge her?”

“Shut up Aya! Just shut up, I don’t want anything to do with that… girl. Tell her whatever you want, but I’ll never take back the child of that woman.” The man spun and walked away.

Irisu knew she shouldn’t have listened to their conversation. She ran out of the garden.

---

“Good morning Miss Namida, I would like to discuss something with you.” Irisu approached Aya the next morning.

“Of course. Shall we go someplace private?” Aya smiled and they sat on a bench in the shade.

“I know about Lyketna. I accidentally overheard your conversation in the garden yesterday, I’m sorry.” Irisu said.

“Conversation in the garden, you say.” Aya repeated sadly.

“Is it… is it true?” Irisu asked her.

“Yes. I’m not Lyketna’s mother. Her birth mother was my older sister, Chise.” Aya looked at the space between her feet.

“And you’re trying to send her back to…?” Irisu asked, her voice getting strained.

“Her father.” Aya finished for Irisu.

A deep silence fell after those two words.

“Why?!” Irisu suddenly jumped to her feet and shouted. “How could you? Isn’t Lyketna important to you?”

Aya looked into Irisu’s light blue tear-filled eyes. “Of course she is! I love Lyketna more then my own life!”

“Then it isn’t right! You don’t send away people you love!” Irisu stomped her foot.

“It’s because I love Lyketna. Look around you. Her father owns all of this land, I have nothing. He can send her to the best schools, provide her with beautiful clothes and give her a better future than I could ever hope for her. Konoha isn’t where Lyketna should be, it’s here.” Aya said in a emotionally choked voice.

“You’re wrong! A girl needs her mother! You selfish person! You’re a mean cold-hearted witch. You don’t love Lyketna at all! If you did, you wouldn’t go away and leave her alone!” Irisu knew that her words and anger were misdirected, and the person she really wanted to say those words to would never hear them. Tears continually streamed from her eyes and she rubbed them with the back of her sleeve. Embarrasment and frustration fueled another burst of anger. Her chakra began to cause fallen leaves and twigs to swirl around her feet. “Don’t give Lyketna away! You can’t do that to her!” Irisu suddenly stopped in mid-shout as she felt little arms wrap around her waist.

“Stop it! Stop being mean to my mommy!” Lyketna squeezed as hard as she could.

“Lyketna.” Aya whispered.

“Mommy!” Lyketna cried as she ran to Aya’s arms.

When Irisu put out a hesitant hand towards Aya, it was grabbed by Seto. He shook his head and lead her away.

---

“We have decided to stay a little longer.” Aya announced later that afternoon. “My brother-in-law will provide an escort back when we return.”

“I see. Then we should be on our way.” Seto said to her and his group.

“Yes, please tell the Hokage I appreciate her support. And here, please accept this as a token of thanks.” Aya held out a wrapped package. “It’s not much, some food I prepared and a silver coin.”

“There was no need for…” Seto began to say, however Chou had already bowed his thanks, grabbed the gift with both hands and was stepping away. “Yes, then thank you.” Seto bowed and followed Chou.

“Miss Namida, I’m sorry. I said a lot of stupid things, I’m really sorry.” Irisu bowed as low as she could.

“Irisu. I want to thank you for your strong words. I think I understand your feelings and am grateful for them.” Aya bowed.

“No. That is…” Irisu began to say more but she noticed that Lyketna was glaring at her. “Well, okay. Please take care.” She turned to join her group.

---

Without anyone to slow them down, Team Sadako reached Konoha shortly before sundown.

“Big sis Irisu, you’re really not going to tell us what happened back there in the garden?” Chou asked Irisu again after they made their official report to the Hokage.

“Nothing happened. Just let it be.” Irisu sighed. “I’m beat, I’m gonna head home.”

Seto frowned. He didn’t like to see Irisu sad but knew that Irisu would tell them when she felt like talking. “Take care getting back.”

Chou looked at Seto then at Irisu. “Well, see you later. Wait up Big brother Seto, buy me come candy! At least let me hold the silver, please!”

As Irisu walked back, she saw someone sitting under the tree behind her house. She smiled and quietly sat down next to him.

Shikamaru woke up from his nap and felt Irisu’s arms around his neck and wetness on his back.

“Irisu, what are you doing?” He asked her.

“Please. Just for a little while.” Irisu whispered.

“What a bothersome girl.” Shikimaru said and let Irisu continue to cry.