Not you, too!

10: Traveling by train and the first day in the Hidden Springs Resort

Soon they were on their way, sitting opposite each other on the train and only speaking when they were sure they must.
Mostly they enjoyed the scenery and quiet.
Sasuke was acting weird in Neji’s opinion. She had balked at the entire mission, but now was so in character she was even flirting with the sand ninja whenever another guest happened to pass and it was unnerving the Hyuuga.
“Oh, Ganjou. Look you have a smudge of lipstick on your cheek. Here let me clean that off.” She said as she leaned in to wipe at it with the crisp cotton handkerchief from her purse, brushing his arm with her breast as she did so.
Kankurou was grinning the entire trip and that annoyed Neji even more.

When the train entered the Stone Country, it was still early in the afternoon. The babies were curled up on Neji and Kankurou’s laps. Shikamaru was seated on the aisle and had gone to find something for them to drink.
Kankurou shifted and disturbed Sasuke as who was leaning against his shoulder.
“Mmmm, what’s wrong?” she asked, shifting and pulling her knees up onto the seat.
“My butt’s asleep,” the sand man complained quietly.
Sasuke looked up suddenly and turned to Neji with a smirk.
Neji caught the look and returned a confused one. Sasuke rolled his eyes, “Just give me the baby and you can go walk it off.” She said, shifting her legs back down and accepting the sleeping blond.
“What was that all about?” Neji asked, when the puppet master was out of sight
“Just wondering something, don’t get uptight.”
“What is up with you Tsuki?” Neji asked. “You’re acting your part a little too well,”
“Ah, but how can you tell? Those two days were about taking care of Naruto like this. I wasn’t being a wife yet. Now, I have to be Katsuki-chan. I will do the most convincing job I can. I seem to recall Kachou-san saying that we had to do the job right or he would leave us behind. I know that Taiyou would be very disappointed if that happened, and I wouldn’t want that. So, don’t complain about my performance on a mission.” He hissed in a low voice.
“This is a very important mission.” Neji hissed back.
“All missions are important. This is just a mission but I haven’t failed a mission yet, and I’m not going to start with this one.” Sasuke returned
Shikamaru came up the aisle, followed by the Sand ninja, with four cups of tea and a jug of milk. He slid into the seat next to Neji and pulled out a bottle as he handed one of the cups to the Hyuuga.
Sasuke pulled out one of the bottles from the bag she carried and passed it to the shadow ninja, then accepted the cup from Kankurou.
“What were you two talking about?” he asked as he took his seat again.
“Otohime-chan is jealous.” Sasuke said, sipping at the cup as Neji glared at her.
Shikamaru looked around as he screwed the caps on the bottles and asked, “What would she have to be jealous of?” as he handed one of the bottles to the Uchiha he got an answer.
“Affection,” Sasuke responded taking the bottle and shifting the baby in her lap.
“What?” he asked.
“I just asked Tsuki-chan why she was being so cuddly and flirty. It seams a bit much for someone who has been married for as long as they have.”
“Well, I don’t think . . . . .” the genius began.
“And I was only explaining that just because some people are becoming bored with their relationship already, doesn’t mean that everyone is.” Sasuke purred back, elaborately.
“Now, I know that . . . . .” The leader of their little group attempted.
“Some people can be more discreet with their physical displays, but that doesn’t mean boredom.” Neji countered, sounding strained.
“Well, yes that is . . . .” Shikamaru began again.
“And that is your excuse, discretion? It couldn’t it be that you were trying to keep it a secret since over half of the village knows already. Maybe some people are just not as proud of their love as they claim.” The Uchiha finished, looking smug.
“Hey, that isn’t . . . . .” the shadow ninja tried once more.
“Are you thinking that some people are embarrassed to show their affection? Is that what you are saying?” Neji said, narrowing her eyes as she glared at the other.
“Um, Otohime. I don’t think it’s . . . . .” Shikamaru sighed as he was cut off once again.
“Well, that could be what I am saying. Or I could be saying that some people just think they feel strongly about each other, but they only act like they are interested enough to mess around a little.”
“Now, Tsuki . . . . .” the pony-tailed one said.
“I really think you should butt out of this Kachou.” Kankurou suggested.
“Mess Around A Little! Does this look like messing around a little?” Neji shrieked as she shifted the baby to the side and grabbed the surprised Shikamaru by his neck and crushed a kiss to his lips.
“Okay, so maybe you can’t butt out, now.”
Sasuke smiled and leaned back holding the bottle up to the now awake baby on his lap.
Neji held the kiss long and hard as her frustration had been driven to the level of near arousal and she felt Shikamaru respond finally, then pull away reluctantly.
“Um, Hime-chan. Why did you do that?” he asked, leaning his forehead on hers.
“I don’t really know. Are you mad?” she asked, as she felt the baby pushing between them. “Oh, sorry Ouji. Here, I’ll bet you are thirsty.” She shifted away from the Nara and handed the bottle to the little brunet in her arms.
“I think that Tsuki has made a point here. Haven’t you, Katsuki-san?” Shikamaru asked.
“Well, maybe. Tell me Tamamura-san, don’t you think that it is better to be able to share something in public, even if one has to go to these extremes. Something about a nice public kiss that makes one feel truly loved. But as we sit here, we risk nothing. No one we know will catch us, and our lives in the Village do not need to suffer. Now how far could we go with our desires in the middle of Konoha in our daily wear?”
“I think I get it.” Kankurou suggested. “My darling wife is enjoying this trip a little more than most because of certain restrictions she has had to deal with at home. So, what? I say let’s use this opportunity to be someone we aren’t. And let the characters act as they should, no strings, eh Tsuki?”
Sasuke smiled. Shikamaru stared. Neji gawked.
“Or I could be wrong.” Kankurou said into the awkward silence.
“No. You aren’t really wrong. I think, too far into character and there would be strings. Let’s just place limits. I mean Kachou and Otohime can do as they please as they already have strings. But for you, hands off the chest. And try asking for a kiss if you want one. A surprise attack and I kill, not kiss.” He said, as the others stared on.
“I can live with that. However, when the day ends, I am off limits. I don’t swing that way and I don’t need remember who you are if you look like this. I have a very active imagination. What about the brat?” he said.
“How dare you say such a thing about our son. You aren’t a brat, are you Taiyou? What a mean man your Otousan is. I say we make him go and get us some onigiri with umeboshi.” Sasuke said, lifting the little baby up and cuddling him close.
“Gods, Sasuke. You have got to be the greatest actor I have ever seen. That looked and sounded just like Ayame with her little boy.” Shikamaru said, staring.
“Must have been convincing if you forgot my name, Kachou. Now, you. Go find us food. Like a good hubby and daddy.” And Kankurou was dismissed, which he took good-naturedly.
“Well, that was interesting. And as for you Hime-chan, try not to let him goad you like that. It was nice, but I think we can figure this stuff out for ourselves.” He said to the embarrassed Hyuuga.
“I am sorry, Kachou. It won’t happen again. Well, not that way, at least.” She said, glaring at the Uchiha who was more interested in the empty bottle she was holding up before her face.
“Gods, you eat as much now as ever. How do you stay so trim? I mean I have noticed, you are all muscle but the way you pack it in, you should be bigger than Choji in his meat tank jutsu.” She was mumbling to the baby in her arms.
“You do realize he isn’t going to answer you, don’t you?” Neji asked, and received a scornful glare.
“Of course I do. It’s a relief. Normally had I asked him, I’d be blessed with an hour of him yakking about it.”
“Ah, I see. If you ask him now, you just don’t get any answer. Much better option.” She taunted.
“Actually, it is. But you don’t spend as much time around him as I do. So you wouldn’t understand.”
“Enlighten me.” Neji was beginning to think she could take revenge on the Uchiha with this topic. “And while you’re at it, tell us why do you spend so much time with him?”
“Because he is always there. I have tried being alone, and it doesn’t happen. Every time I find someplace to be by myself - he’s there. And He spends the whole time trying to break through. It is consistent and persistent. I resigned myself to it, and so there it is.”
Neji stared as the realization of what Sasuke said filled her head. Sasuke didn’t seek out Uzumaki, it was the other way around. She had always believed that Sasuke was the one to follow the other around since his return from Orochimaru.
After Naruto killed the snake, most of them believed Sasuke had transferred his need for power to the blond. Neji had thought that it was an off shoot of the whole Florence Nightingale theory, sort of like how Ebisu now puppied behind Kaoru who had nursed him back to health after an accident while training Konohamaru. But, if Sasuke had tried to ‘be alone’ and Naruto had not allowed it, perhaps it was the blond who was more intent on the Uchiha.
Neji mused on this as Shikamaru played with Choji-chan and Sasuke ate the rice balls that Kankurou returned with.
Two hours later the train reached it’s destination and they disembarked.

Sasuke wasn’t kidding about keeping in character for the mission. As they walked up the path to the entrance of the Hidden Springs Resort and Onsen, she was clinging to the arm of the Sand ninja who was pushing the stroller holding the little blond.
Neji had opted to carry Choji and Shikamaru walked beside her with his arm around her back.
They presented a picture of two happy couples hoping to have a nice vacation in a place that catered to young families with small children.
They signed in and were led to their rooms. Once again they separated to unpack and rest from their trip, and would meet later for dinner.
The babies would be returning to their non baby form just after that, so they would eat early and order a late snack to be brought to their rooms for the young men who would surely be hungry after the day of sustaining the jutsu and missing a full meal.
Sasuke had crashed onto the bed and was resting as Kankurou unpacked his bags.
The Uchiha couldn’t relax though, as thoughts ran rampant through his head. Yes, he had been telling the truth about Naruto following him around. But he had failed to tell them that the blond refused to let him be alone for too long, because whenever that happened the last sane Uchiha ran the close border on there being none such left. Naruto seemed to sense that the brunet’s sanity was easily near unhinging and would come around and challenge him or just keep him company. It was amazing that the young man who had so many reasons to become evil or crazy was aiding the one the town thought stable in retaining his delicate hold on that stability.
Sasuke could really stand some of his Uzumaki therapy around now, too.
Something pulled on the hem of his skirt and he sat up to find the tiny blond clinging to him from where he had crawled over and pulled himself up on the edge of the bed.
“Sometimes I wonder if that damn Demon isn’t a mind reader.” He said, pulling the little baby up onto his lap, holding him close and resting his chin on the blond curls. “What does Kyuubi think about all this, Naruto? I’ll bet he misses you when you aren’t responding to him while curled up with your binky. Strange to think that the thing they thought was going to take over your mind and make you a monster has kept you from it all this time.”
“Puppy!” the baby had called out and Sasuke looked at him.
“Really? That is a thought. Gods, if that is the case, hmmm.” And Sasuke began to laugh.
Kankurou came through the bathroom door after showering and stood there in just a towel.
“What’s funny?” he asked.
“I think that Naruto’s demon is affected by this jutsu. Imagine the Nine-tails Fox, as a kit.” He said and the Sand ninja began to chuckle. He was still laughing as Sasuke placed the baby on the floor and headed for the bathroom. As he passed he reached out and yanked the towel, leaving the Sand ninja suddenly naked and hearing the bathroom door close.
“Hey!”

::::Introductions:::::
Katsuki family:
Kankurou – Ganjou means Strong
Sasuke – Tsuki means Moon
Naruto – Taiyou means Sun
Tamamura family:
Shikamaru – Kachou means Patriarch
Neji – Otohime(Hime-chan) means Princess
Choji – Ouji means Prince


I know all of you anti-Kankurou people are about to kill me. This is far too early to do that. I am just playing with them again, see I was listening to a song by Jo Dee Messina and this just happened. I wanted to give Sasuke some release and deep seeded personality issues. He has to overcome this before he can have that kind of relationship. Plus, imagine how this will come back and bite him on the, well you know. Anyway, My Give A Damn's Busted.


blisblop - That was amazing. An actual review with a close and decisive style to it. I loved it. As for me being brave? Not really, it was a request. I have a very good friend that I showed a story written by Maggiemay, and he tells me I could do better. Not that it wasn't a great story, I would recommend it, if I could figure out the stupid User panel. Anyway, there are many stages to the AB world, and while she researched it well, she only touched on the most extreme. I start with the extreme, and am trying to meld in the rest. As for other people's 'Issues' we'll get into that, too.


Don't jump to any conclusions in the who will top the Uchiha? game. I have a distance to go.


Next Chapter Vacation – A walk in the park