Yukino rolled her wheelchair over. "You two! Scram! What are you doing to Shiro!"
"Sister! This bastard kicked me in the stomach!" One of them said.
"You rushed at me with a palm strike! What was I supposed to do?" I said.
"You rushed at him with a palm strike! What was he supposed to do?" Yukino said.
"Wha-" Both of them stuttered.
"You're actually defending this pig?" One of them shouted, angry.
"Sister, open your eyes! Because of his uselessness, you were nearly killed! You could've even been crippled!"
"Weakling huh? Was still winning against you two, by the way..." I mumbled on the side.
They glared at me.
"I already said, enough!" Yukino pointed at them and puffed her cheeks as she suddenly began berating her in her own Yukino way. "Get out of here! This is my courtyard to begin with, scram! Idiots! You're the pigs! Leave my Shiro alone! Bullies! Get! Get!"
They slowly began backing away. Their faces were priceless with their mouths agape as they fled backwards. It was like watching someone shoo away two chickens.
One of them clicked their tongue and glared at me. "Fine, but this isn't over."
"I do NOT approve of this!" The other twin said as the two of them turned to leave.
Finally, their backs receded past the gate and left us alone.
"Phew..." I heaved a sigh of relief and fell to my arse.
Yukino rolled her wheels over.
"You made it, little snowflake," Yukino said softly.
Something in my chest loosened. "Yeah," I muttered, "told you I would."
She suddenly showed a downcast gaze. "Sorry about them... I didn't expect my brothers would come bully you the minute you came to visit."
"No, no," I said quickly. "Don't worry about it, Yuki, I had it handled."
Her gentle finger traced the wound on my cheek. It was soft, almost didn't hurt at all.
"Really? It looked like you were being bullied."
I looked away.
That mission.
The hesitation.
The guilt.
The fact she ended up in a wheelchair.
It all twisted somewhere ugly in my chest again, just as the feeling had unraveled too...
I gulped. Looking up at her as she sat in her chair. "Y-Yeah, why? Don't trust me after last mission anymore?"
"What? No, that's not what I meant, I... Nevermind." She sighed. "Dummy. How are you? I haven't seen you all week."
"Been... Better." I stood up. "Better now that I've seen you."
Yukino blinked.
Once.
Then looked away.
"…You say embarrassing things very casually."
Yukino sighed softly and motioned toward herself.
"What's there to look at? As you can see," she said dryly, showcasing the wheelchair with her hands, "I'm currently quite dignified."
I snorted. "You look like someone shrunk a grumpy old woman."
Her eyes widened. Then narrowed on me. You could practically feel the killing intent ooze off her. It sent chills down my spine.
"Eh? Yuki? Yuki?!" I kinda panicked.
She turned calm suddenly. "Wanna take me for a ride?"
"...A ride?"
She gestured dramatically at herself. "I'm in a wheelchair, genius."
"...Right." I coughed awkwardly. "Yeah. Sure. We can do that."
Her smile brightened instantly. "Good. Hurry along before I decide not to forgive that insult earlier."
I grinned despite myself. "Threatening your rescuer already?"
"Yes."
"Wow."
"You deserve it."
Fair.
I moved behind the wheelchair and pushed her out of the courtyard.
To the side, behind a wall, two pale eyes stared back at me.
Then two more.
…They never left.
Hiashi and Hizashi were standing behind the wall, waiting and glaring at me.
Were Hyūga born stalkers or something?
Wait, the Byakugan makes a lot more sense now... Nevermind.
Well, let me play with them a bit.
"Mind if I steal your sister for a bit?" I said with a wry smile.
The silence from the brothers was deafening.
Finally, one of them spoke up. "…Be back before sunset, or else."
They still looked like they wanted to interrogate me.
Or kill me.
Hard to tell.
"Relax," Yukino said before either could object further. "He's harmless."
I paused. "…That felt kinda insulting."
She smirked. "Good."
We left before her brothers could recover.
The second we exited the estate walls, the atmosphere changed. Immediately. Yukino relaxed into the chair. Actually relaxed. Like she could finally breathe.
"…Thank you, Shiro" she said quietly.
"For?"
"Coming."
Like I wouldn't.
I shrugged awkwardly. "You asked."
"Still. I appreciate you being with me."
We rolled through Konoha slowly as the village buzzed around us. People moving, kids laughing, and shopkeepers yelling. Just your everyday normal life. The usual. Something neither of us had really gotten to have a lot of lately.
"You know," Yukino said eventually, "my brothers haven't stopped hovering."
"I can tell."
"They mean well."
"They absolutely threatened me and tried to kill me on top of that. If that's what 'mean well' is like in the Hyuga, I worry for you."
Yukino chuckled. "Oh, shush. You know, honestly? I did give them a hard time back there but, they were just evaluating you, you see."
"That somehow sounds worse."
She laughed softly.
God. I missed hearing that.
She turned her head around to gaze up at me pushing her wheelchair. "So, where are you taking me away to, handsome?"
I smiled wryly. "Don't sound like a kidnapped princess now..."
"Oh, the horror, kidnapped by a snowflake." She said in the most sarcastic tone imaginable.
I leaned in. "I'll take you back to your brothers."
"Hey I'm just kidding Shiro," she smiled wryly back at me. "You know I'm kidding right?"
"Of course, and as for your question..." I grinned widely, pointing a finger all smug.
She got all ready for excitement, fists balled and close to her chest as she waited for me to say it.
"Where else? We got one favorite place, don't we?" I said.
Yukino shot her hands up in the air and shouted. "Ichiraku's!!"
People instantly stared.
"Oop-" she covered her mouth with both hands. "Sorry."
"Ah, it's fine, I'm sure Teuchi appreciates the free advertisement."
"You're right, Teuchi would!" She giggled. "Oh! Did you take the kids to try yet?"
I laughed out loud.
"Wha-what? Why what happened?" She got all flustered and confused.
"You should've seen it yourself, Yukino. Yahiko went on and on about how the ramen was subpar, average at best, while finishing his third bowl. It was hilarious."
It got a chuckle out of her. "Sounds like Yahiko."
"I know right? They've been eating there non-stop ever since. It's almost like they take my wallet for granted."
Now it was Yukino's turn to laugh out loud, her voice ringing soft like bell chimes.
The familiar red noren curtain swayed gently in the afternoon breeze, the smell of broth drifting out into the street before we had even fully rounded the corner.
Yukino straightened immediately. Actually straightened. Her eyes lit up. "…You walked faster."
I looked down innocently. "No idea what you're talking about."
"You absolutely walked faster."
"I simply happened to gain motivation."
Her expression flattened. "Food motivated you."
"Rude. I'm not as much of a foodie as you."
"Rude!" she puffed her cheeks, then chuckled. "But also accurate. Let's eat!"
I dramatically ignored her and pushed open the curtain. The tiny ramen stand was mostly empty at this hour. Behind the counter, Teuchi stood stirring broth in a large pot, sleeves rolled up and brow lightly damp from steam.
He looked up lazily. Then blinked.
"Shiro?" he said. "Again?"
I pointed at him. "Wow. That's hurtful."
"You've been here five times this week."
"Three."
"Five. Not that I'm complaining." He snorted.
Then his gaze shifted and froze. "…Yukino?"
The humor disappeared from his face instantly.
For a second, he just stared.
At the wheelchair.
At her legs.
At her.
His expression tightened with concern.
"Hey," he said carefully, stepping out from behind the counter. "What happened?"
Yukino gave a tiny smile.
"Long story."
He crouched slightly beside her.
"You okay?"
Something softened in her expression.
"…Getting there."
Teuchi looked between us.
Then narrowed his eyes at me.
"You better not have done this."
I recoiled. "WHAT?!" I pointed at myself in betrayal. "I literally almost died preventing this!"
"That sounds suspiciously specific."
"I was there," Yukino said quietly. Her pale eyes softened slightly. "He saved me."
That stopped Teuchi. He looked back at me, then sighed through his nose. "…Alright." Then he pointed at me. "But if you make her cry, I'm charging you triple."
I looked offended. "Why is everyone threatening me today?"
"Because," Yukino said dryly, "you attract violence."
"…Fair."
Teuchi finally smiled. Then clapped his hands once. "Sit. Both of you." He paused. "…Well. You know what I mean."
I parked Yukino beside the counter while Teuchi immediately moved things around without even asking, making extra room for the wheelchair.
He did it naturally. Like he'd already decided she belonged there.
Yukino rested her chin lightly in her palm. "…You remodeled."
Teuchi puffed up instantly. "You noticed!"
"The shelf wasn't there before."
He pointed dramatically. "Exactly! Storage."
"Very impressive."
"I know."
I leaned against the counter to whisper. "She's mocking you."
"I am not," Yukino said with complete dishonesty.
Teuchi narrowed his eyes. "…You absolutely are."
"Maybe a little." She laughed.
"…Feels like it's been forever since you came by."
Yukino looked down slightly. "…Sorry."
"Hey." He waved a hand immediately. "Don't do that." His voice softened. "I was just worried."
Silence settled for a second. Then Teuchi suddenly slapped the counter. "Anyway!" He pointed dramatically. "Lifetime discount customer!"
Yukino immediately perked up. "…Still valid?"
"Obviously!"
She turned toward me with the tiniest look of smug triumph imaginable. "Told you."
I narrowed my eyes. "You bullied this man into a scam."
"It wasn't bullying," Yukino said calmly. "I was adorable."
Teuchi nodded solemnly. "She was. You'd best treat her right."
"Unbelievable," I muttered.
"What'll it be?"
"Same as always," Yukino said softly. Then paused. "…Actually." Her pale eyes flicked toward me. "Extra pork."
I blinked. "You sure?"
She looked away slightly. "…I haven't eaten proper ramen in a while."
Something uncomfortable twisted in my chest. "Then make it two extras," I said immediately.
Teuchi gave me a look. Then smiled. "Got it."
The smell hit a few minutes later. Rich broth. Warm noodles. Comfort. All the good things in life.
Yukino leaned in to try and take the first bite, but it looked like her wheelchair wasn't close enough, so I gently put my hand around and pushed her forward a little.
"Ah," Yukino reacted, glancing my way as her cheeks flushed red. "Thanks..."
"Don't mention it."
Once she was finally comfortable, she took a bit and actually closed her eyes.
Her shoulders relaxed and the tiniest sound escaped her lips. "…Okay," she muttered quietly. "I missed this."
I grinned. "Worth kidnapping you for?"
She looked at me flatly. "…Yes. Please kidnap me more often."
When we finished, Yukino pulled out money first.
Teuchi immediately pushed it back.
"Nope."
"Teuchi."
"Lifetime discount."
"Teuchi."
"Nope. My treat."
I sighed dramatically and tossed money onto the counter anyway.
Double what should normally be the price.
Teuchi blinked. "…Shiro."
"Shut up."
"That's too much."
"No," I said. "It's not."
Yukino glanced between us. Then quietly pushed more coins forward too. "For worrying you."
Teuchi looked genuinely caught off guard. Then rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "…You two are trouble."
"Yet," Yukino said softly, "you enjoy the company, no?"
"Yeah, yeah." He waved us off. "Get outta here." Then quieter, "…don't disappear again, alright?"
Yukino smiled, a small one. "…Okay."
...