Room 504, Saturday Mid-Afternoon

[intraspective]

Ino got back from the Diner and, feeling exhausted from being around Inoue--who, she had to admit, was adorable--just sorta fell over on her bed.

Yeah.

She blinked up at the ceiling, slowly relaxing. At least, so far, no one else had shown up? Ino wasn't quite sure what to make of that, however much the idea of more kids creeped her out it was still...

Well. It was still odd.

And she'd totally jinxed herself now. Great.

[For certain wee people.]

Comments

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

They'd been doing recon all morning, analytically studying the island, before turning their attention on the dorms. Being ninja, they got into the building with the greatest of ease, exploring each floor.

At the next open door Isamu peered around the doorjam, then pulled back quickly. "She's there," he whispered to his sister, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Alone."

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"Is she busy?" she asked dubiously. "We don't want her to yell at us."

She yelled loud.

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"Lying down. Not asleep - her breathing isn't right." Isamu looked again. "Ideas?"

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Kagami chewed her lip thoughtfully. "Maybe give a report? About our current status."

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"Sounds good." Isamu headed into the room, not bothering to hide his footfalls, and stood at the edge of the bed. One hand on his hip, he looked down at Ino.

"We've explored the island, and nobody has seen us yet. We're doing well, aren't we, Mom?"

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

Kagami tagged after him. "We did it all like you and Dad said to."

[intraspective]

...

...

Ino cracked one eye open to stare at the kids. Then the other.

"And what," she said, shock making her mild, "are you two doing here in the first place?"

She could feel a headache coming on. No need to question who these kids had for a Dad.

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

The Sound forehead protectors were dead a giveaway, really. "Reconnaissance," Isamu told her confidently. "It was our mission to make sure there was nothing strange outside the village: And there was. There was a swirly-thing that brought us here."

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

"It didn't hurt at all," Kagami assured her, holding out her arms for inspection. "Just a bit strange."

[intraspective]

...

"And where's the rest of your teams?" she asked, pushing herself into a sitting position and fixing the children--her children--with a Look, while trying to figure out how to pry their names out of them. "You know that teamwork is important."

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

"We left him behind as a lookout. He can't keep up with us, anyway," Isamu said loftily. "We're too good."

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

"And Karin-sensei doesn't care so long as we're careful."

[intraspective]

"First: no one on your team is useless. Even if you are better, then you've got to learn to work with those who aren't. How else would you ever have your own team? And secondly: Karin-sensei is totally going to get in trouble for that thinking."

Ino could only guess the expression on her AU-face, but it wouldn't be a pleasant one.

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"Dad says it doesn't matter if the rest of the team can keep up with us," Isamu countered. He tended to backtalk. "He works alone all the time, so why can't we?"

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

"And Dad also said that there's no point in being a crutch and having others use us."

[intraspective]

Ino was going to kill 'Dad'.

"Your Dad," and that sounded so weird, "is a Jounin. He's allowed to work on his own. As my children you'll learn how to work properly in a team or I'll know why."

The she smiled at them. It wasn't a cheerful smile, not exactly.

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

Isamu glanced over at Kagami, giving her a look of 'they're doing it again!' before looking up at Ino. "Teams are expendable. And Karin-sensei doesn't know anything, anyway. You and Dad have both said so."

When in doubt, point out the obvious.

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

"Mostly expendable," Kagami quickly amended as Mom's face darkened further. "We don't let our team die anyway."

Which wasn't saying much really.

[intraspective]

"Right," Ino said, scowling, "and your Dad is going to be in a lot of trouble the next time I see him." Seriously. "Teams aren't expendable. No matter how good you are you can't do everything all the time."

"And useless or not, whatever I've said, doesn't mean you're allowed to bad-mouth your sensei in my presence."

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

Isamu rocked back on his heels, frowning down at the floor but not meeting Ino's eyes. He kept his hands clasped behind his back. "Are you and Dad going to have another Discussion?" The capital letter was obvious.

[wee-soundofmind.livejournal.com]

Kagami edged closer to her brother. "I think Dad's going to lose," she said, with big eyes. "Mom's got that Look again."

[intraspective]

"A Discussion," Ino rolled that word around, pleased with the capital letter, "yes, yes I think we will be having a Discussion."

She got a wicked grin. "In fact, how about we go and see Dad right now. I insist."