“I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it. I said I don’t like the fact that I have to do it.”

“Quit havin’ such low faith in me, Boss. I always get a job done.”

“The Hono Woods? This isn’t gonna be some Konoha brat, is it?”

“I hardly agreed to babysit this kid in the first place, now yer tellin’ me he’s one o’ them? Bump that, eh.”

“Didi? What’s that then, a name so nice you say it twice?” Chuckling at his own joke, the light male slung an arm around the girl’s slender shoulders as they continued to trekk down the clodden street.

“I like Bunny. I think I’mma stick to that, eh?”

“I refuse to consider that an option, Ino.”

“And neither should you. Do you understand me?”

“Now, now, if I ‘member correctly, it was some such like ‘Di’ or to that extent, yeah?” A grin flashed across the male’s face at that, pointed teeth glistening.

“‘sides, I can always call y’Bunny if y’don’t like ‘kitten.’ See how courteous I’m bein’?”

“Ino..” His hand rose to stroke the ivory locks that fell upon the female’s slender back, attempting to soothe her quiet sobs as she shuddered against his chest. Her words whirled around his mind, her rasping voice to forever echo within his ears with the heavy sincerity in which she spoke.

“Tell Hareki it’s alright to cry if either one of us die..”

“Don’t speak like that,” He pleaded softly, rocking the slender girl to and fro in his attempt to comfort. “We’re goin’ t’be fine, Hareki’s goin’ t’be fine. We’re fine. I promise.”

The Mist Nin grinned appreciatively at the girl’s taunting words, a feral laugh escaping his throat. Fiesty one, she was. Just how he liked it. “Guess I’ll be the one t’find out in the end, eh? Interestin’..”

“By all means, kitten. After you.~”