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I was aware that greatness didn’t come overnight, but at most times I expected it to- For instance I’d go to sleep one night then wake up the next with the third stage of my sansutsomu dojutsu fully unlocked and ready to go. Of course I doubted that this would ever happen to me, but you can’t help but dream, right? It was better than living my life with no aspirations or hopes whatsoever. Just because one of mine was out of the ordinary didn’t mean that they all were. ”That would be lovely though.” I’d comment on that with one of my usual sly grins as I’d move my knife and fork around the plate, picking up a few pieces of pasta and eating it, then targeting the garlic bread soon thereafter. I was actually quite surprised at how nice it turned out, since usually either the garlic bread would be burnt, or the pasta would be cooked to the extent that it looked like some kind of sea jellyfish- The food was actually.. very nice!

His helpful words about me continuing to train made me nod my head and give him perhaps not a grin but an actual smile. I’d been training but the eyes.. it was something that you needed help with, really- Or I couldn’t get to the next stage without some help surely, and it would require the aid of one of my brothers or my father, but these days I spent so much time at this apartment that there wasn’t all that time to start training for it- Or, I hadn’t thought about training it with my family up until now. With that thought thoroughly embedded in my mind, I’d then take another forkful of pasta, and start planning in my mind- I’d become great, and I’ll get to the third stage quickly- At least, that was my plans of going about things. Placing my knife and fork back down on the plate, I’d have finished eating before Kaeor had- An uncanny talent of mine was that I ate quite quickly- Or it wasn’t really a talent to say the least. More like a quirk?

"It's fine. I'll be ok Areru - really."

At this, I’d simply nod before responding through voice. ”..Are you sure? You look really worn out, Kaeor.” I’d say, having added his name in for extra effect- He didn’t exactly look the picture of health and I of all people knew what that looked like. It was hypocritical for me to say so but for him to be tired by the time he got back home? As an academy teacher he’d have been mildly tired but this work seemed to take more than that out of him- It wasn’t as if his face was drained of colour but he was simply tired, and I understood that, and naturally, I was concerned for him. ”..If you want to go to sleep, go ahead, alright?” I’d tell him as I’d then reach over to his own plate and stack it atop of my own, placing the knives and forks on the top as I prepared them to wash- He looked sapped of any energy that he had, so it was only fair that I go ahead and do the dishes, It wasn’t as if I expected him to do it after a day of work anyhow.

Getting up and walking over to Kaeor, planting a single innocent kiss on his forehead as I’d bend down a little bit, I’d then break the contact for now and move a few meters in front of the table to the sink, near where I placed the dishes- Being so close, I’d still be able to talk to him- The joys of having a dining table in the kitchen didn’t stop having advantages. Turning the warm tap on, I’d wait for the sink itself to fill up with water before I could begin. Squeezing some washing soap in, froth would suddenly erupt from the once clear water that I’d summoned. It didn’t take too long, and once there was a good enough amount of water in there, I’d begin, not caring if I got food on my hands whilst doing it unlike some other girls who I knew- Proudly doing the dishes without rubber gloves, I didn’t really care to say the least. And it wasn’t’ as if getting prune-like hands was going to kill me- I had more important things to think about. Slowly turning my gaze over my shoulder and back towards Kaeor, I’d then, almost with a pause at the start of my words, begin to speak to him again.

”..I’m going to the doctors tomorrow to see what they can do about it.”
I’d tell him, my tone almost a little unsure, but I needed to tell him about these things, as it showed the last time when I had kept a few things out of his reach. Of course, as far as I was concerned, I was unaware of any treatments at the moment, and it having been a week since I was sent that horrible piece of paper, I’d stayed away from the hospital. Now it was time to go back, and see if there was anything that could be done. Usually I’d take things in my stride and take it fine, but the thought of leaving this earth at any given moment without saying my goodbyes was just.. a painful thought.

The praise that he gave about the meal that I cooked for him seemed to light up my eyes as I’d adopt some kind of a proud expression on my face. Of course, in that way I had to say that I was like a child in the way that I was both easily excitable and my expression changed as easily as my emotions did, being a girl and all- But this was only with the people I was comfortable with. With people who I weren’t too fond of or I had no connection to, I usually just kept a calm and stoic figure, but not as much as the mask that Kaeor put on when around others. ”I did- I should make a cookery book or something.” Sometimes I wasn’t sure if the mask was him speaking to me or if it was the other way around, but I loved him, and that was all that mattered, really. Giving him one of my trademark grins I’d then eat another forkful of pasta- It didn’t taste amazing really, but for something that I had cooked myself, it was astounding.

His questioning as far as my eyes went, I’d pause for a few moments- I knew it well, but placing it down to words was something that I wasn’t entirely used to, so the words I spoke were slow, and yet, so careful. ”There are three tiers. I’m at the first- Pretty puny, eh?” I’d say, poking fun at myself. Unlike those who stood tall and never thought ill of themselves, I did like most people have a few things I wasn’t too happy about, and my eyes were one of them- I wasn’t ashamed to have them, no, I was proud more than anything, but to know that there were ways of increasing its power and that I was only at the first level, it was quite embarrassing really, especially seeing as all of my family were at least on the second, the majority of them having perfected their own vision with the third. I was, yet again, the baby.

Yet, although the conversation was directed at me currently, I was glad to hear when he spoke of himself and the day that he had today, which drove the conversation away from myself. It wasn’t as if I was self conscious or anything (Or, perhaps) it was just I much preferred speaking about other people- sometimes. His day did seem full of worry and trouble really, and I myself wasn’t too happy with him going off and risking his life in such a way but I knew- I knew that he could take care of himself in such situations. I was unsure about myself as I was a pretty delicate person, hence my view on joining ANBU had swayed over the last few days since I had revealed to him my weakness, but my trust in Kaeor that he could excel in the ranks of such a profession was sky-high. He would do well, I knew he would.

Fixing my hair with my right hand, I was overdue for a haircut by now and the black strands had started to get in my eyes, and yet I went on to speak whilst doing this, my fork suspended on the edge of the plate. ”I see-” pause. ”Please don’t try and overwork yourself- I don’t want you stressing out because you’ve got so much to do.” I’d tell him, my tone quite concerned- He had been working quite hard over the last few days because of his new job, which was expected since it was early days, but it wasn’t that I didn’t see him as often mostly, it was because I could easily tell on his face that it had been a long day, he looked tired, and I wasn’t all that used to it in the entire period of our relationship. It was a strange sense of tiredness- I couldn’t exactly place my finger on it. ”I’m sure you can’t just phone in and say you’re not going to work but if you ever need anything asked I’ll be more than willing to go speak to Atlas for you, Kaeor. I don’t want you getting sick.” I’d say, once more using the Raikage’s first name, a small grin appearing on my face as I spoke his words, knowing how much Kaeor despised me saying it, almost as if that had been the comic relief.

It wasn’t as if I plunged the conversation in to a scene of awkwardness, no.
I was just concerned about him, that’s all.

Taking a bite in to the garlic bread, my eyes would lay plastered on his own, as if I was trying to read his mind at the current time, anticipating his response before his tongue could speak them.

As minutes past the lengthy process that was happening in the kitchen furthered as I had created, from my mind, a substitute for what would hopefully be a kind of garlic bread- Half a baguette each, with homemade garlic butter- Or, butter with a clove or two of garlic mixed in. To be honest, I couldn’t understand why Kaeor didn’t let me cook often because from this creation that I had made, it was easy to say who was truly the culinary genius out of the both of us. If I wasn’t so prone to burning food then surely I’d be the next.. famous cooking celebrity you’d see on the television. As ideas went through my mind, my ideas of a profession having now changed to Cooking TV personality, I’d move around the kitchen like some kind of pixie, my long black hair flowing behind me, as I hoped Kaeor would be home in time for the meal that I was busy preparing for him!

It wouldn’t be too long as the door seemed to release a clicking noise, as the key turned in the lock- He was back! Turning my head swiftly towards the door I’d watch as the silver-haired shinobi made his way in to his apartment, as I, being the responsible cook, would keep my concentration on the food that I was cooking, to assure that I didn’t burn the place down- Last time I’d tried to cook I’d managed to almost set the kitchen on fire, so this time I was taking extra security measures! ”Welcome home!” I’d coo to him in a soft tone, listening to him murmur to himself- I was fully aware of how draining his new route of career was on him, and since he had changed, I was very much more willing to do more things around the house to help him- But not to say that I was ready to go to the sidelines of course, the hell was I disappearing that easily! Watching from the corner of my eye as he’d walk about the place, I’d then turn one of the buttons on the cooker, turning the heat down from the pasta, which by now was almost ready.

Taking out another pan I’d place it on a spare hob on the cooker, dispensing a small tin of ready-made tomato sauce complete with everything in it. Of course simplicity was my talent when it came to cooking, and for me to make my own tomato sauce to eat for this meal was truly something outstanding- Sure I loved the guy but me, chopping onions? That was a sight that I myself would have loved to see happen. ”Hey- Don’t be cheeky. I’m almost done.” Turning the heat up on the hob that I had placed the contents of the jar in, I’d then bend down to the grill, and take out my makeshift garlic breads, picking them off- ”Ow, ow, ow!” under my breath this would be said as I’d pluck them off the tray, my fingers burning at the very touch, although within moments the feeling would be gone, as I placed them on the ashen plates that were on the countertops, one for each.

After this was then done, I’d go on to the next step; Taking out the pasta from the pan, and draining it carefully over the sink using a convenient strainer. Once that was done and all water gone from the pan itself, I’d place the pasta back after having turned all of the hobs off, then going forwards to mix the pasta and the sauce, which wasn’t too hard, and yet it took all of my concentration to do so; I could just about muster some words to Kaeor whilst doing so. ”Special occasion? Is this really so much of a surprise? Kaeor, I cook all the time.” I’d seem almost clueless about what he had meant as he stood closely behind me, my head tilting to the side and swiftly pecking him on the chin before then going about with the rest of the kitchen routine- I wasn’t too sure myself about what he was trying to get at, although the point was I did cook, just.. the outcome.. usually.. wasn’t all that.. eh.. appetizing. This however, looked fantastic! Serving them on plates, I’d grab some knives and forks and then with a fantastic balancing act I’d take out both plates to the table, putting them down, having escaped from his grasp!

”Sit.”
It was almost like.. a command!

It wasn’t that I was busy- No, far from it- Or was I? with my current position being sitting on the floor in Kaeor’s apartment with a book in my hands, I did look as if I was doing some productive work, but it would be a lie if I said that I was. Tracing over the pages with my eyes I picked up little information, but at least I looked as if I was doing something. I did have some ideas of what I wanted to learn next as far as techniques went, but I’d need to ask my dad for help- I wanted to up my sansutsomu ability and gain stronger eyes like my brothers had, but it would take a long while until I’d be able to do something like that surely- But becoming better than each person in my family was quite a feat-! Not that I was doubting I’d be able to surpass them, of course. I looked forwards to the day when I could defeat my brother when sparring.

But right now I didn’t really mind all that much- Lazing around the house was easy enough for me and now that days had passed since Kaeor had found out about my problem I had lost a bit of muse to go out and train since then but over the past day or so I found myself simply wanting to resume my place as one of Kumogakure’s upcoming storm specialists- The weather being so important to the village I was sure that as my control over them (as far as combat went) got greater, the more use I’d be able to be for the village itself. But.. Getting up and placing the book down on the seat of the sofa, I’d then walk in to the kitchen and mosey about for a little bit, sticking my nose in each and every tin I could find to try and see if anything nice was around that I could nibble on whilst waiting for Kaeor to make his return from work.

And the time? Around 7pm, the sky having darkened quite notably by now as, apart from the streetlights outside, the sky and houses were coated in an inky black- I’d been told that he’d be home later because of a small meeting in the academy regarding the pupils and parents, so by this time I hadn’t seen him for most of the day, and I was still dressed in my usual red clothing, parading around the kitchen as I so famously did, now deciding that looking at the clock, it would be better for me to start cooking some food for him seeing as he’d be arriving back soon- Surely. Hoping that he wouldn’t get halted any further from returning home I’d then move about the place, and take out various tins and things from compartments, as I began to plan out the meal I was going to cook.

However due to the fact that my cooking skills weren’t exactly top-notch, I decided that pasta and sauce would probably be the safest bet seeing as I was pretty proficient at cooking that and there wasn’t that much that I could mess up. Taking out the pasta and placing it in a saucepan I’d then go to the kettle, fill it with water, and then wait a few further moments until it boiled, before taking it in my hand once more and pouring it over the pasta, setting up the heat, and beginning to cook it. It wouldn’t take too long, so I was hoping that Kaeor himself wouldn’t take too long in coming back to the apartment- I was sure that this meal would be beautiful- Basic, but very beautiful. Walking back and forth as I kept an eye on the cooker, I’d wait for the pasta to cook, placing in some salt to prevent it from sticking to the side of the pan as I was so infamously known for-

”I hope to god this doesn’t stick to the pan this time.”
Speaking to myself, I felt fine doing so since there was no-one here at the moment to listen.