Mikoto

Do you remember our dm a while back, creepy snake man? I was kind to you then. But I advised you that if something goes south, you would feel my wrath and be very sorry if this crossed my path again. Guess what, sweetheart? It crossed my path again and now you have a reckoning to bear.

What the absolute fuck is wrong with you??? How demented you must be to claim such ignorance of social skills, to then turn around and be cunningly manipulative in a very mean and cruel way. I know your type. I know your game. You are not fit to crawl out from underneath the rock of misery that buries you. I had a very bad vibe from you right out of the gate. My instincts are always correct.

I don't wish any bad things upon you, that is immature. You have your own "health" issues and guess what, karma is a bitch. But as God is my witness....if you continue in your passive aggressive manner and keep hurting Shisui mod, I will hunt you down and make you wish you were dead. I promised you I would do just that and I NEVER go pack on my promises. You remember I said this to you before, yes? I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE. Block me. Have tumblr ban me. I WILL FIND YOU, YOU SLITHERING PIECE OF SHIT. That will be your worst day....ever. And THAT is a promise!

To think I kept you back from unleashing your fury.. I love you lady. Without you I would be lost. Without your stone cold loyalty and principles and your adamant refusal to stray from your gut feeling, we all would be lost. You have shown me this time and time again.

I haven't written a letter to you since before we were married. This is unusual for me. I wanted to write to you from my station, as the men I am with are taking camp. There is no telling when I will have this opportunity again. I will write to you again at my soonest convenience.

I have fond memories of traveling with you, as soon as were wed. I remember it as clearly as I remember this morning's events. I remember traveling as far as the cliffs on the edge of Suna, and looking down on the plains of sand for miles. I remember being ambushed by mercenaries at the border between Suna to Iwa. You were there to fight along with me, and you fought more fiercely than I did.

Motherhood had come to you quickly. It changed you to be more beautiful and resilient than I could ever imagine.

Our years being husband and wife did not surrender my love for you, and death did nothing but bring you closer to me. We have walked through the valley of death together, and nothing could prepare me to return to the living with you at my side again, but here we are.

Nothing will ever separate us, my love. Happy Birthday.

Yours Truly,

𝘍𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘬𝘶

He sent the letter along with a small velvet box inside which housed a ruby and diamond 14k gold ring.

And all at once, she feels young again. Loved again. Chosen, in the same quiet way he has always chosen her.

She admires the beautiful ring and decides to wait for him to return home to slip it on her finger. His tenderness settles deep, leaving her with only one aching thought.

Mikoto paused in the middle of what she was doing. At first, she paid no mind to the distracting twitch. The flat settled around her with its familiar creaks, the quiet breezes of evening slipping through the rooms. But a moment later, something tugged at her attention.

Someone was outside.

She set aside the rag in her hands and tilted her head, listening. The chakra beyond the door was familiar enough that her heart recognized it before her mind did. A small smile touched her lips.

Shisui.

She crossed the room and opened the door before he could finally convince himself to knock. "There you are." Her expression softened as she looked at him standing there, hand still half-raised. "You've been outside for longer than you've been deciding whether to knock, haven't you?"

If he's not home

The concern in his voice was so familiar that she couldn't help but smile. "No," she said gently. "He is not here. It's just me."

She stepped aside and rested a hand briefly on Shisui's shoulder as he passed, a small gesture of welcome. "You never have to ask whether I have time for you, Shisui."

The words came naturally, as though they had always been true. Once he was inside, she closed the door and turned back to him. He looked nervous, as if carrying something heavy. Her heart ached a little at the sight.

"Well first of all, happy birthday to Itachi, as Itachi's mother and the woman who gave birth to him, you deserve the praise of bringing him into this world." Also because Itachi wasn't here.. but that wasn't why he came here to talk today.

He sighed, glancing around. He hated stalling and he was an impatient guy, so he pushed forward.

"I came here because.. I'm getting married. And I'd appreciate if.. you gave me your blessing."

Then, the words sunk in. Surprise flickered across Mikoto's face. "Oh, Shisui. You're getting married?" There was pride in her voice, the same pride a mother might feel hearing wonderful news from one of her own children.

"Come here." Before he could protest, she drew him into a brief embrace, one arm wrapping around his shoulders. When she finally pulled back, her hands remained on his arms. "Of course you have my blessing." The answer came without hesitation. "You never need to ask for it."

When he finally finished, she didn’t react with shock. Instead, her expression softened. "Shisui. I’m not going to tell you that you deserve better. That isn’t my place."

She took a small step closer, not invading his space, just closing the distance enough that he couldn’t disappear. "But I am going to ask you something important."

Her eyes searched his face gently. "Are you safe with him? And are you still yourself when you’re with him? Or are you someone you have to become just to be loved?"

"A coffee date?" she echoed softly, a fond light in her eyes. "Shisui, you don’t need to arrange something like that so cautiously. If you want me to meet him, just ask. What matters to me is you. Not how this looks, or what anyone thinks of him."

Her voice lowered, becoming steadier but even kinder. "If he makes you feel safe, if he makes you feel like yourself, then I’m not going to stand in the way of that. I would never take happiness away from you out of fear."

A brief pause, her gaze gentle and unwavering. "I would like to meet him," she added softly. "Just to understand the person who makes you smile like this."

Mikoto paused in the middle of what she was doing. At first, she paid no mind to the distracting twitch. The flat settled around her with its familiar creaks, the quiet breezes of evening slipping through the rooms. But a moment later, something tugged at her attention.

Someone was outside.

She set aside the rag in her hands and tilted her head, listening. The chakra beyond the door was familiar enough that her heart recognized it before her mind did. A small smile touched her lips.

Shisui.

She crossed the room and opened the door before he could finally convince himself to knock. "There you are." Her expression softened as she looked at him standing there, hand still half-raised. "You've been outside for longer than you've been deciding whether to knock, haven't you?"

If he's not home

The concern in his voice was so familiar that she couldn't help but smile. "No," she said gently. "He is not here. It's just me."

She stepped aside and rested a hand briefly on Shisui's shoulder as he passed, a small gesture of welcome. "You never have to ask whether I have time for you, Shisui."

The words came naturally, as though they had always been true. Once he was inside, she closed the door and turned back to him. He looked nervous, as if carrying something heavy. Her heart ached a little at the sight.

"Well first of all, happy birthday to Itachi, as Itachi's mother and the woman who gave birth to him, you deserve the praise of bringing him into this world." Also because Itachi wasn't here.. but that wasn't why he came here to talk today.

He sighed, glancing around. He hated stalling and he was an impatient guy, so he pushed forward.

"I came here because.. I'm getting married. And I'd appreciate if.. you gave me your blessing."

Then, the words sunk in. Surprise flickered across Mikoto's face. "Oh, Shisui. You're getting married?" There was pride in her voice, the same pride a mother might feel hearing wonderful news from one of her own children.

"Come here." Before he could protest, she drew him into a brief embrace, one arm wrapping around his shoulders. When she finally pulled back, her hands remained on his arms. "Of course you have my blessing." The answer came without hesitation. "You never need to ask for it."

When he finally finished, she didn’t react with shock. Instead, her expression softened. "Shisui. I’m not going to tell you that you deserve better. That isn’t my place."

She took a small step closer, not invading his space, just closing the distance enough that he couldn’t disappear. "But I am going to ask you something important."

Her eyes searched his face gently. "Are you safe with him? And are you still yourself when you’re with him? Or are you someone you have to become just to be loved?"

"A coffee date?" she echoed softly, a fond light in her eyes. "Shisui, you don’t need to arrange something like that so cautiously. If you want me to meet him, just ask. What matters to me is you. Not how this looks, or what anyone thinks of him."

Her voice lowered, becoming steadier but even kinder. "If he makes you feel safe, if he makes you feel like yourself, then I’m not going to stand in the way of that. I would never take happiness away from you out of fear."

A brief pause, her gaze gentle and unwavering. "I would like to meet him," she added softly. "Just to understand the person who makes you smile like this."

Mikoto paused in the middle of what she was doing. At first, she paid no mind to the distracting twitch. The flat settled around her with its familiar creaks, the quiet breezes of evening slipping through the rooms. But a moment later, something tugged at her attention.

Someone was outside.

She set aside the rag in her hands and tilted her head, listening. The chakra beyond the door was familiar enough that her heart recognized it before her mind did. A small smile touched her lips.

Shisui.

She crossed the room and opened the door before he could finally convince himself to knock. "There you are." Her expression softened as she looked at him standing there, hand still half-raised. "You've been outside for longer than you've been deciding whether to knock, haven't you?"

If he's not home

The concern in his voice was so familiar that she couldn't help but smile. "No," she said gently. "He is not here. It's just me."

She stepped aside and rested a hand briefly on Shisui's shoulder as he passed, a small gesture of welcome. "You never have to ask whether I have time for you, Shisui."

The words came naturally, as though they had always been true. Once he was inside, she closed the door and turned back to him. He looked nervous, as if carrying something heavy. Her heart ached a little at the sight.

"Well first of all, happy birthday to Itachi, as Itachi's mother and the woman who gave birth to him, you deserve the praise of bringing him into this world." Also because Itachi wasn't here.. but that wasn't why he came here to talk today.

He sighed, glancing around. He hated stalling and he was an impatient guy, so he pushed forward.

"I came here because.. I'm getting married. And I'd appreciate if.. you gave me your blessing."

Then, the words sunk in. Surprise flickered across Mikoto's face. "Oh, Shisui. You're getting married?" There was pride in her voice, the same pride a mother might feel hearing wonderful news from one of her own children.

"Come here." Before he could protest, she drew him into a brief embrace, one arm wrapping around his shoulders. When she finally pulled back, her hands remained on his arms. "Of course you have my blessing." The answer came without hesitation. "You never need to ask for it."

When he finally finished, she didn’t react with shock. Instead, her expression softened. "Shisui. I’m not going to tell you that you deserve better. That isn’t my place."

She took a small step closer, not invading his space, just closing the distance enough that he couldn’t disappear. "But I am going to ask you something important."

Her eyes searched his face gently. "Are you safe with him? And are you still yourself when you’re with him? Or are you someone you have to become just to be loved?"

Mikoto paused in the middle of what she was doing. At first, she paid no mind to the distracting twitch. The flat settled around her with its familiar creaks, the quiet breezes of evening slipping through the rooms. But a moment later, something tugged at her attention.

Someone was outside.

She set aside the rag in her hands and tilted her head, listening. The chakra beyond the door was familiar enough that her heart recognized it before her mind did. A small smile touched her lips.

Shisui.

She crossed the room and opened the door before he could finally convince himself to knock. "There you are." Her expression softened as she looked at him standing there, hand still half-raised. "You've been outside for longer than you've been deciding whether to knock, haven't you?"

If he's not home

The concern in his voice was so familiar that she couldn't help but smile. "No," she said gently. "He is not here. It's just me."

She stepped aside and rested a hand briefly on Shisui's shoulder as he passed, a small gesture of welcome. "You never have to ask whether I have time for you, Shisui."

The words came naturally, as though they had always been true. Once he was inside, she closed the door and turned back to him. He looked nervous, as if carrying something heavy. Her heart ached a little at the sight.

"Well first of all, happy birthday to Itachi, as Itachi's mother and the woman who gave birth to him, you deserve the praise of bringing him into this world." Also because Itachi wasn't here.. but that wasn't why he came here to talk today.

He sighed, glancing around. He hated stalling and he was an impatient guy, so he pushed forward.

"I came here because.. I'm getting married. And I'd appreciate if.. you gave me your blessing."

Then, the words sunk in. Surprise flickered across Mikoto's face. "Oh, Shisui. You're getting married?" There was pride in her voice, the same pride a mother might feel hearing wonderful news from one of her own children.

"Come here." Before he could protest, she drew him into a brief embrace, one arm wrapping around his shoulders. When she finally pulled back, her hands remained on his arms. "Of course you have my blessing." The answer came without hesitation. "You never need to ask for it."

Mikoto paused in the middle of what she was doing. At first, she paid no mind to the distracting twitch. The flat settled around her with its familiar creaks, the quiet breezes of evening slipping through the rooms. But a moment later, something tugged at her attention.

Someone was outside.

She set aside the rag in her hands and tilted her head, listening. The chakra beyond the door was familiar enough that her heart recognized it before her mind did. A small smile touched her lips.

Shisui.

She crossed the room and opened the door before he could finally convince himself to knock. "There you are." Her expression softened as she looked at him standing there, hand still half-raised. "You've been outside for longer than you've been deciding whether to knock, haven't you?"

If he's not home

The concern in his voice was so familiar that she couldn't help but smile. "No," she said gently. "He is not here. It's just me."

She stepped aside and rested a hand briefly on Shisui's shoulder as he passed, a small gesture of welcome. "You never have to ask whether I have time for you, Shisui."

The words came naturally, as though they had always been true. Once he was inside, she closed the door and turned back to him. He looked nervous, as if carrying something heavy. Her heart ached a little at the sight.