Three weeks.

It had been three weeks since I came back from the dead.

My first two weeks, 8 Claws attacked me. I took each one down without a second thought. I only had trouble with three of them, but none came close to truly harming me. Not to mention the ANBU generally either took them out or helped me before it got out of hand.

Now, the attacks had stopped which worried me slightly. They were no longer sending amateurs then. They were probably hardcore training a Claw specifically to kill me.

I would be ready.

Thankfully, Tsunade had officially ended my interrogation. They had received all information I held on the Rising Phoenix with minimal resistance. Thankfully as well they hadn't pushed when I refused to relinquish details on my training, on their training methods.

I had suffered through one flashback.

I wince as I remember that. The panic that had gripped me as the memory ripped through me, ripped me apart.

It sucked. And it had obviously left a lasting impression on Tsunade, Ibiki, and Kakashi.

I absently dodge a woman holding what appeared to be hundred grocery bags. Tsunade had summoned me to her office. I wasn't quite sure why.

When I got the the hokage's room, I knocked only for courtesy purposes, before walking into the room uninvited. Technically, I'd been invited the moment she summoned me, anyways.

I pause in my entrance when I notice a familiar pink haired kunoichi anxiously talking with Tsunade.

So that's why. Tsunade was trying to reunite me with what was left of my old team?

"Cashile," Tsunade greeted. Slight irritation crosses her face at my lack of patience at the door.

Sakura whirls around and covers her mouth, clearly shocked. "So... It's true," she whispers. Guilt must have really torn her up after my disappearance, I suppose. She did accuse me of being a complete traitor, and tried to order the remaining team 7 to kill me.

She bounds over to me, and crushes me in a hug. "Oh Cashile, I'm so sorry," she sobs into my shoulder.

I try not to grimace and force a smile. It was very obviously forced.

"It's cool, Sakura. I'm still here, aren't I?" I try to comfort, attempting to pry myself from her tight hold.

I glare at Tsunade. She had to set this up. I was perfectly satisfied baking, burning cakes in my apartment, waiting for Claws to attack, cooking real food and most importantly, not socializing with people from my past.

Oh God. I did sound like a complete crazy, didn't I?

There had to be some other reason for this though. The only logical reason I could come up with was that she was worried about my mental health.

I mean, I would be worried about my health after the last questioning session I'd participated in, when they tried to pry further into how exactly I'd been trained.

After a very one sided tearful reunion, Tsunade cleared her throat, bringing Sakura out of her hazy state of mind. "Well, Cashile, I have a proposal. It's more of an assignment, than anything. An order if you will."

I raise my eyebrow, prompting her to continue. "Sakura, you're dismissed. Go back to the practice lab and review the last six chapters of your current book," Tsunade ordered.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

I didn't shift under the hokage's gaze. "I've discussed with your two sensei's," Tsunade started, "And we've decided to promote you to jonin." she declared.

"ANBU?" I perked up, hopeful. This was what I'd been training for since day 1.

"In due time. The promotion comes with a catch, actually," Tsunade said.

I wrinkled my nose in discontent. Not ANBU? This should be good.

"What is it?" I asked.

She hesitated for a moment. "We've decided to give you a genin team. Of course you can always go to Kakashi or Ibiki for guidance, but you're more than qualified for this position as a team leader."

She left no room for argument.

"A jonin sensei?" I asked, confused.

"We firmly believe that it will help... Rehabilitate you after... Recent events." She spoke distastefully of what she was referring to.

"No fucking way," I snapped.

How in the world was I going to obtain power by... By supervising and teaching a bunch of snot nosed brats. I wouldn't be able to tolerate that for years to come.

Tsunade honestly looked surprised. "I'm already bending the rules; double promotion isn't exactly... Common," she told me, "But under your circumstances I think it can be allowed."

"This still doesn't explain the idea of having a genin team!" I snap back, "I mean me, a sensei? Is that really what you want?"

"Do you want to be a jonin?" Tsunade questions. I grudgingly nod. "Well, this is the only way that that is going to happen."

"Did you really just say that?" I laugh after a moment of amused disbelief, "Never tell me that there's only one way for me to accomplish what I want."

Tsunade gave me a glare. "Any other option but this is going to be made extremely, extremely difficult for you," she threatened. I roll my eyes and her glare deepens. I wince slightly. Time to reel back the sarcasm and change the subject.

"When is Naruto supposed to get back? And what happened to Sasuke?" I ask. They'd been avoiding the subject like the plague. Time to see if my prediction had come true.

"We predict that Naruto will return from his training in three to six months," Tsunade informs me. "As for Sasuke..." She trails off awkwardly.

"Ah, I see. So I was correct: he went off to Orochimaru?"

Tsunade nods. I twist my lips to the side thoughtfully. Power beyond compare... But apparently, it came with the price of being his pet.

That's not something I wanted.

"What does being a jonin sensei entail?" I ask, mildly curious.

Tsunade seemed relieved that I was biting. "Just because you become a Sensei doesn't mean your personal growth is put on hold. You might still receive missions on top of the C and D rank genin missions. Also--"

She kept rambling, listing off everything about being a sensei.

"Alright, I'll do it," I decide.

Tsunade let's out a relieved breath, then suddenly narrows her eyes. "And don't you dare simply fail the team so you can be a jonin without being a sensei," she warns.

I put a hand to my chest, gasping. "I'm hurt," I mock. "You think so little of me and my values?"

She gives me a dull look. "Yes."

I drop the act. "Fair enough," I nod.

"Remember, you will always be accompanied by a team of ANBU, even on missions," Tsunade said, "You won't even know they're there."

"One ANBU is standing just to the side of the window while another stands on top of the roof. Another is in the tree outside while another is on the ceiling just outside this door. The other ANBU on the team did a much better job of hiding."

Tsunade blinks, then scribbles something into a piece of paper. "Graduation is tomorrow, and teams will be made the next day," she informs me. "Be in my office in two days to receive your team information. Dismissed."

"Ah, actually, I have one more request," I say. Tsunade reluctantly nods, allowing me to continue. "Can I have a class list with information on all of the graduating academy students?"

Tsunade gives another sharp nod, pulling out some papers. "Be back in two days to receive your flak jacket and a new Konoha headband," she orders.

"Yes ma'am," I salute mockingly.

"Just get out," Tsunade points tiredly to the door. I raise an eyebrow then disappear, flickering out of the room.

***

I needed new clothes.

My old skirt, boots and jacket were just too... I don't know, but it just didn't work anymore. And they were slightly too small. And my old uniform of the Claw was completely and utterly too intimidating to wear around Konoha. I may don it again for high level missions, but as of now... Well, I didn't exactly want to wear it again.

And so I needed to go shopping.

"My God!" I exclaim, brushing through the clothes in the shop, "Half these clothes look as though they were made for a prostitute!"

The storeowner shoots me a dirty look. "Ya don't like what we have, don't buy it," she snaps.

"Infallible logic," I reply, "Now, do you have anything not made of tissue paper that won't fall off the moment I'm in a fight?"

She led me to the boy's section.

"Oh, fuck you," I mumble, but all the same I delve into the boy's clothing.

And I grinned at what I found.

The overcoat was slightly similar to Ibiki's, something I couldn't help but wrinkle my nose at. But it was tighter, with straps and pockets scatter over the material. While all the black was slightly off-putting, it worked. The outfit was protective, loose enough to allow movement but tight enough so it wouldn't be cumbersome. The boots I chose were the same material as the general ninja sandal but black.

Overall, it... Well, it worked.

I go to check out and the woman raises an eyebrow at me. "Really?" She asks. "You actually went for the boy's clothing? Whatcha tryin' ta prove?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Nothing in particular," I reply. She scans my choppy short hair and glanced back down to the boy's clothes before rolling her eyes and grabbing for it.

"Money is money," she muttered.

I brushed a hand through my hair. "Couldn't have said it better myself," I agreed.

***

When I got back to the apartment, two boys littered my couch. As Aiden had suggested, we were successfully living in harmony. Unless you count the constant bickerings between the three of us and who got to make dinner at night. Aisa begged Aiden to make him cup ramen, but I of course tossed all of that nonsense 'food' out.

"Nice clothes," Aiden commented casually, barely picking his head up from the book he was reading. I snickered at the reading glasses and he raised his head up enough to glare at me before returning his gaze to the book.

"Wow, you look awesome!" Aisa exclaimed, eyes wide. "Nii-chan, can I get new clothes? Please please please? I'm graduating tomorrow if I pass and then I'm going to be in a genin team in two days!"

"Sure kiddo, we'll go to the store tomorrow after I get off from work."

Aisa's shoulders slumped. "But that could take forever."

"I'll take you tomorrow," I piped up. "I'll pick you up after school, deal?" I held out my fist and smiled.

"You don't have --" Aiden was interrupted by Aisa's joyous squeal as our fists connected.

"Deal!" He grinned.

I glanced over just as Aiden whipped his gaze back towards his book. "Whatcha reading?" I asked.

"Hamlet," he murmurs. I raise an eyebrow.

"Light reading," I comment. "Some interesting points are made in it though. 'For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison.'"

"What's a prison?" Aisa asks, bouncing on my leather couch, nearly crushing Aiden's legs.

"Denmark," I reply.

"Denmark?"

"The world. Konoha. This house. Take your pick," I throw out lazily.

"Interesting choice of quotes," Aiden remarks.

"And what would yours be?" I challenge.

"Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love."

"Weak," I insult.

"And yours was better?"

I roll my eyes and turn towards the kitchen, throwing my coat over a chair. "Tea?" I call over my shoulder.

"Why not?" Aiden turns a page. "Aisa?"

"Can I have chocolate milk?"

"It's almost dinner time," Aiden replies, "You can have water, tea, or juice. Chocolate milk can wait."

"Uuuugggh!" Aisa groans, flopping back on the couch. "Fine. What's for dinner?"

"Caaassshiiiile?" Aiden shouted.

"What?"

"What's for diiiinnneerrrr?"

"No need to whine, Aiden," I snap, walking back into the living room and delivering Aiden's tea. "I have leftover beef and rice."

"I want ramen!" Aisa shouts.

"Ramen is poison," I appeal. "It's disgusting. Toxic. And besides, beef and rice will give you the energy to perform well on your tests tomorrow."

"Which you should be studying for," Aiden says pointedly.

"Uuuggh, studying is borrrringg."

"You said it," I agree.

"Keep getting all As on your report card and I won't bother you," Aiden promises.

Silence falls between us as I start to heat up the leftovers. I was just relaxing, watching as the beef sizzled in the pan.

"Cashile!"

I jump, a knife leaping to hand as I whirled. I let out a breath and relax when I see Aisa standing behind me. "Geez Aisa, there's no need to shout!"

"I'm sooorrrryyy," Aisa pouts.

I glance up and see Aiden watching us worriedly. "It's okay," I reassure them both. "We're okay." I glance pointedly towards Aiden, who takes his cue and returns to his reading.

"What did you want, Aisa?"

"Can you help me practice for my exam?" He begs.

I nearly immediate shot him down before pausing. I'd have to deal with even more idiotic genin than Aisa soon.

Might as well get used to it.

***

Dinner went well, and now I was drinking another cup of tea with Aiden as we played our game of chess. Aisa had gone to sleep at Aiden's insistence, though there'd been little to no struggle after he pointed out that Aisa need his rest for the exam tomorrow.

"Your hair is a lot shorter," Aiden comments. "And kind of choppy."

I accidentally knock over a knight. "Dammit," I mutter, putting it upright.

"Why'd you cut it? Your hair is gorgeous."

"Yeah, long hair is absolutely fantastic until someone grabs it in a fight and you end up dead," I snap back sarcastically.

"I guess," Aiden shrugs. "It's pretty in long pigtails."

"Fuck!" I swipe at the chessboard, breathing heavily. "You really think I had a choice in whether I had my hair cut or kept it long?"

Aiden gazed at me for several long moments before beginning to upright the upturned pieces, evidently having memorized where the pieces had been. The silence stretched before us.

"That pawn was at A5, not A6," I finally say, pointing at the black pawn. Aiden nods his thanks.

"I can cut your hair if you want," he offers casually.

My head snaps around. "Cut my hair?"

"Just a trim, if that's what you want," he replies evenly.

I squeeze my eyes shut and he leans forward, putting his hands on my shoulders. "Thank you," I whisper, opening my eyes and staring into his smile. "I'd like that."

"It's no problem, Cashile."

Later that night I lay slumped on the couch, sleeping on the opposite side of where Aiden sat. We'd fallen asleep reading Hamlet together.

"Aiden?" I ask sleepily, not even opening my eyes as my voice disappeared into the dark room. Silence greets me. "Aiden?"

I nearly had fallen asleep again when I heard a slight shift from the other end of the couch then felt a hand in my newly trimmed hair. Then Aiden whispered three quiet words that followed me into my sleep.

"Still here, Cashile."

__________________________

*SQUUUUUEEEEEEEAAAALLL*

I know you guys are fangirling.

How'd you like this?

Oh man you guys are LOVING the Cashile Aiden moments.

Please please please please comment! We're feeling a little stuck right now so please help inspire us!

Okay okay!

Comment, Vote and Fan!

YASSSSSS me and g-man (don't laugh!! Dx) got it on POIIIIIINT.

Sorry guys 'that was my own fangirling.

So what do you think about cashile getting her own genin team? I was opposed tit at first, but g-mannnn convinced me that we were awesome enough it pull it off (which we are btw) I don't regret it :3

Comment!!! Fan and vote.

Thanks for the support!!!

-S

Ja ne!

Insomniac_Lullabies