If Only Things Were Different

Chapter 3

Karin got off from shower when she heard a rustle down her kitchen. She thought it was nothing and proceeded to change into something comfortable. She was drying her hair with a towel as she comes down from her room when she spotted some bill on the dining table. She smiled dryly and took the bill to sock away.

She headed towards her room and into her drawer, she kneeled down to reach the part of where she put all her savings. After that, she took enough money she earned from her job at the restaurant as a waitress to buy some food.

Humming down her way to the market, Karin sensed a familiar presence. She continued her walk, decided not to bother whatever is going to happen.

Nearing the market, Karin vividly heard a fight near the river. 'It was where Itachi and the others fought when Hiruzen died. Who could it be this time?'

She looked around, trying to feel some panic from other ninjas on patrol but there is none, 'must be another intense training.'

She shrugged it off and went into a vegetable stall and picked out some ingredients for her smoothies. She doesn't have the means to eat outside every day so she tries hard to make herself a smoothie, if not every day, at least no week she'd go by without taking in nutrients to keep her strong and healthy as she needs it for her work. And she doesn't want to rely on the money he sends her.

After buying everything she needs, she counted the change she has. 'This could be enough to at least eat at Ichiraku twice this week.' She smiled at the thought of eating outside. Preparing something for herself can also be a hassle.

When she got home, she was surprised to see the tall, curly-raven-haired, guy with deep dark eye and a patch on the other to cover the lost one, dressed in all black with a sword on his back, smiling down at her.

"Shisui..." she uttered.

"Oi," he said, "Is that how you greet your onii-san?"

"Shi nii-sama, what are you doing here?"

Remembering she hasn't closed the door, she kicked it back immediately and locked it. She looked around to see if the windows are closed.

Seeing his sister panicking for him, he smiled.

"It is good to really see you face to face and not just sneak in with you sleeping to see how you are and leaving money for your expenses--why do you go to work, Karin?"

Knowing how fast Shisui talks, she knew he never left and had kept an eye on her as soon as she stepped inside the village.

"I don't want to rely on your money, nii-sama."

"Karin," he said in a serious tone, she gulped. "I told you to not call me that."

"Oh, right," she scratched the back of her neck.
She started walking towards the kitchen to set down her groceries, "did you eat?"

"Don't bother, I made breakfast already. And I brought some groceries too."

'Oh boy, another scolding.' she thought.

"Why are your cabinets and your refrigerator empty? Why don't you have milk, juice, coffee, meat, fish, all the nutrients? Why does your blender look so old? Do you not eat proper meal young lady?!"

"Okay, mom," she said, trying to calm Shisui.

"Don't 'mom' me, young lady. You know what you're doing."

"I was trying to save some money...?"

"Why?"

"I feel bad for you, it's your money."