The Red String of Fate: New Generation

Confronting The Past - Mizuka

"I'm not ready for this..."

Kakshi turned and held her hands, his steel grey eyes gazing into hers kindly.

"Then fuck this. Let's go home. I still don't like them."

This made her smile and let out a little laugh.

"You're not helping...."

He kissed her, giving her a renewed sense of strength.

"I'm sorry. But, you still don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"I don't have much of a reason not to at this point."

"Like I said, give me the signal and I'll neutralize them both."

Kakashi put a finger to his throat like a kunai, slowly slashing it across. She pushed him away playfully.

"Oh shut up!"

They were both laughing now. He always had an incredible way of making her feel better.

"Just relax. He's not going to try anything. This isn't worth stressing out over."

He put an arm around around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. Her belly shook with laughter, making the baby inside wiggle and squirm. Kakashi opened the door for her, letting her into BBQs. As she passed by the booths, making their way to one in the back, she saw Shikamaru, Choji, and Sai sitting at one close by. They all grinned and waved. She waved back before glancing up at her husband. Kakashi's playing this much cooler than he feels the situation warrants, she thought. He's got a kill team at the ready in case this first meeting gets out of hand. And being very pregnant means I can't do much to help. It made her both feel more nervous and a little better at the same time. As they passed the booth divider in the back, she saw that her parents were already there. Seeing them made chills race up her spine. Kakashi felt it as well, because he placed his hands on her hips comfortingly, taking control of the situation.

"Hellp Kizashi, Mebuki."

They both began to stand before he waved his hand dismissively.

"Stop, stop. Not necessary."

He gently guided Mizuka so he could sit down first, under the guise of helping her. It was a strange move, but she knew he was strategically placing her so he or part of his team in the booth behind them could rescue her. She wondered how many meetings he had with Shikamaru before this meeting actually happened. As much as he was supportive of mending things with her parents, he was also leaving nothing to chance with his bride and unborn child. He was in complete control of the situation, which had been thoroughly planned, unbeknownst to Kizashi and Mebuki. Or even her, really.

Kakashi was right: Kizashi looked like an old man at this point. He looked broken and tired. Her mother looked as indifferent as usual.

"Hello Mizuka."

"Hello Kizashi."

She could see the formality of using his name sting him in the face. That wasn't the intention, but she didn't think he deserved the intimacy of daddy, dad, or even father. She hadn't seen him in years, not since he attacked her at the Konoha hospital right after her return to the village. Her mother stayed quiet like she always did. That was her biggest issue with her mother: her silence and thus, dismissiveness, as she received abuse at the hands of her father. Something had changed in Kizashi's eyes, though. The hardened look had softened, the one he wore for most of her childhood. She wasn't sure if she could trust it, though.

"You look beautiful, Mizuka. Motherhood really does suit you well."

She placed a hand on her belly.