Child of the Moon

Girl Talk

Tsukiko finished off another dango stick, smiling happily as she savored its taste, while Kurenai watched her with a highly amused expression.

"So, I've noticed some glances passing between you and Kakashi," Kurenai said, changing the subject from work to... something Tsukiko was still trying to figure out.

The surprised choke from Tsukiko set the red-eyed woman laughing at her fellow jonin.

"Seems I might be on the right track," she mused.

Tsukiko coughed, trying to dislodge the dango from her throat.

"The heck made you think of that?" she croaked, drinking some tea to wash down the near-death experience.

Kurenai chuckled. "Honestly, it's a little cute, the way you two dance around each other."

"There is no dancing."

"You said that..." Kurenai's teasing expression fell, as she quickly tried to stop herself.

"Last time?" Tsukiko finished for her. Her heart ached a little, but thinking about things in that context, she could see Kurenai's point. "Uh... he was easier to read than Kakashi. For one thing, he didn't always wear a mask."

"Hmm, yes, that might make it harder to tell," Kurenai said, clearly relieved that she hadn't upset the blonde ninja. "Well?"

"Well?"

"Do you like him that way?" Kurenai pressed.

"Um..." Tsukiko thought about it and opened her mouth to respond. "I...guess? I don't know?"

Kurenai sighed, rolling her eyes at Tsukiko's indecision.

"Should we make a list of his good points and bad points?"

"That seems a little weird."

"Tsukiko, the two of you are driving the rest of us insane," Kurenai laughed. "One of you needs to say something, and get this out of the way already."

"...Is Asuma having the same discussion with Kakashi?"

Kurenai laughed, shaking her head at the now pink-faced jonin. Tsukiko pouted, glancing out at the street. She spotted a familiar face.

"Yo, Ayame, you look terrible!" Tsukiko called, hoping to change the subject from herself.

The girl she'd targeted, was a shy young girl, with lavender hair, and large green eyes. She started with surprise when she heard her name.

"Oh, Tsukiko-senpai," she said, breathing out a relieved sigh. 

"Tsukiko, don't try to change the topic," Kurenai warned.

"Are you two talking about Kakashi?"

Tsukiko's face turned a darker shade of pink. "What? Why would you think that? That's stupid. Why would we be talking about him?"

The two ninja looked at Tsukiko with pointed looks.

"Not the point," Tsukiko huffed. "You look a little tired, what's going on?"

Ayame sighed, shaking her head at Tsukiko with a small smile. "I just finished tending to one of the worst injuries I've ever seen."

An image of Kurai with a large bloody wound winding around his body flashed into Tsukiko's mind, as Ayama remembered it.

She jumped to her feet, people looking over at her with surprise.

"Tsukiko?" Kurenai questioned, though she also was concerned about what Ayame was talking about.

"What happened, Ayame?" Tsukiko demanded.

"I'm not sure," Ayame said, her eyes wide with surprise. "Kurai was brought in from the Forty-Fourth Training ground, and there's some talk that he was attacked by some psychopath."

"What was Kurai doing in the Forest of Death?" Kurenai questioned.

"I'm not sure, but- Wait, Tsukiko-senpai, where are you going!?"

"Sorry Ayame," Tsukiko said, taking off towards the Hokage's mansion. "Kurenai, I'll pay you back!"

"You're not off the hook yet, Tsukiko!" Kurenai called after her.