Take Me in Your Arms - K.H x F!Y/N x I.U

13. Melodies in the Firelight

Essentially filler again, but Sasuke's in this one, so do with that what you will. (Also, upon editing, the songs got changed - just to lyk, if y'all have been into the musical portion)

Age: 17

Cigarette smoke filled the foyer as your father beckoned your party into his house. With nicely-rolled, purple cigarettes hanging out of both of your mouths, your father squeezed you heartily, before letting go to greet your nin-ken briefly, and then your guest of honour.

Sasuke's nose was crinkled with all the smoke in the air, but he quickly smoothed out his expression when both you and your father turned  your attention toward him.

"This must be your special student," your father remarked in a warm tone. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, after hearing oh-so very much about you, young Sasuke."

You wrote to your father terribly often, so he knew of your new arrangement with Sasuke, as well as the old. In the break between his graduation and team assignment, you properly took Sasuke under your wing; every morning, you'd be at his door at nine, and, every night, he'd walk you down to the izakaya so you could bar-tend. It was a nice set-up, and your father had already heard every detail in your last two letters.

"I hope you hear nice things, sir," Sasuke murmured, bowing his head low.

Snatching up Sasuke's hand between his large, weathered ones, your father shook the near-twelve year old's hand with a broad smile as Sasuke grew bewildered at the old man's zeal.

"Ashi speaks very highly of you, little man," your father drawled. Sasuke's eyes darted to you then back to your father as he said, "Let's just hope you're as good a team player as she makes you out to be."

"Pardon me, Inuzuka-san?" Sasuke asked politely.

Your father pulled away from Sasuke with a deep chuckle. He laughed, "Y'know, I only married into that clan - I'm a Sato, one of many - 'sides, there's hardly a need for formality here, son. Call me Hiroto."

Sasuke's face screwed up in an uncomfortable manner at your father addressing him in such a way.

It would have made you laugh, if you were unaware of his familial circumstance.

Tapping your cigarette against an ash tray, you took a drag and blew it up into the air. "What are we making for dinner, Pappy? We've had a long journey, and we're all starved."

"You're preaching to the choir, petal," he said, turning to go to the kitchen. You, Kiiromaru and Sasuke followed as the old man continued, "All day, I was out there. Toilling. All of my Ajisai are white this year."

Drawing to the liquor cabinet in the kitchen, you popped it open while your father started collecting various things from the pantry and cabinets. Getting three crystal glasses from the top shelf, you wondered aloud, "That's a good thing though, innit, Pappy? Ajisai are worth more white, aren't they?"

"The white ones are only for decoration, can't eat 'em - so, I can only sell them to the Lords, but I can charge a premium because no one else wastes their time with those testy flowers," he explained. You hummed as you poured some Umeshu in two of the glasses and your father sighed, "My soil's too alkaline this season; it's terrible."

"Better than acidic," you reminded, going to the fridge. "Imagine y'had a field full of Andromeda - you'd make zero scratch."

With the Umeshu bottle in hand, you swigged it before fishing out a bottle of ginger beer. Capping the bottle of liquor, you put it in the fridge to chill, and took the ginger beer bottle to the liquor cabinet. You poured the bronzed liquid into all three glasses before capping it and drawing back to the fridge to return it.