Eiko’s parents; Eiko makes more sense now.
Pov: Riku
I knock on the door of the sand siblings house... palace? No smaller... mansion? But its... lets go with big house. Gaara opens the door and invites me in.
"Gaara! You look amazing in the Kazekage robes, how are you holding up?"
I approach Gaara as he gives me a handshake and we sit at his table, I have been invited to the siblings house in order to talk and relax, the rest left after staying a day in Suna however.
"I am doing well, apologies I just got back from my office, I will be back in a moment"
Gaara heads to his room to get changed and Temari who is in the kitchen yells out.
"You know you have a new nickname right? Just heard it this morning"
"Another?"
"Yeah, the rock sage! Ha!"
That was definitely spread by Kakuzu... he is looking for me. A greater name means more bounty and higher chance of spotting my location when I leave Konoha.
I let out a chuckle.
"How is Kankuro? He better?" I ask and Kankuro descends into the dining room to answer me himself.
"Much, that Sakura girl really knows what she is doing, I had this muscle pain in my shoulder for ages and then its gone after she heals the poison"
"Hahahaha- yeah she is learning from Tsunade herself, our hokage knows how to punch you so hard you slam into the streets of Konoha and also remove any injury at the same time- its incredible!"
He sits down and Gaara comes back and takes a seat as well, and soon Temari comes out with various dishes local to Suna, and we talk late into the night.
"You need anything make sure to send us a bird! And thanks for the food, was incredible!" I wave as I leave there house.
"No problem! Stay safe alright!" - Temari
"Thanks again for your help! You are welcome anytime" - Gaara
"Thank that Sakura girl again as well, I really hated that shoulder pain!" - Kankuro
And I'm off! To Konoha!
---
-1 week later-
Team Yamanko has been in need of a break for a while and after our last mission we were granted a month off and weekends are full dates with Eiko but during the week I have nothing to do... train? Yeah I have eight minds in all my available bodies constantly doing that during my breaks... I'm getting 8 months of training done in one month, and they don't have to sleep or eat so even more than that.
I remember being so weak but because I have so many minds my rate of growth is skyrocketing, I'm a genuine S-rank ninja and the other nations have put a flee on sight order with just my reputation alone, and because my reputation was blown out of proportion and people keep feeding into it, I'm certain to be one of the most recognizable shinobi in Konoha, citizens make a path for me in the street and even tell there kids that if they don't behave the 'Terror' will know...
That's so fucking ominous.
I don't mind it but is annoying having to henge when I want to eat out with my friends... pretty sure the restaurants and stores I regular at know me as Kanata more than Riku.
Haaaa~
Guess I will have to work too... I head to my basement and pick up a few pages which have the label 'sasori'. Yeah Kankuro made sure to blueprint every puppet and send me the pages... hundred or so pages for every puppet.
A hundred puppets.
I nod to Ace and Jewel who are working here too and I sit down and start helping manage the information, this will help me upgrade my puppets and I want to upgrade them one by one in the order I made them first... so Ace!
No idea how this is going to go and what I should do but he will be upgraded!
---
-two days later-
Its the weekend! I get to hug my future wife! Should probably have slept in instead of working... should also shave, stupid Luke genetics trying to give me the greatest moustache!
I stretch and sprawl over the floor and I wave to my two not-puppets who shoo me away and I spring up and to the bathroom to clean up.
After I exit the shower I hear a knock on the door.
"Just a minute, just need to get changed!"
Three... *rattle* two.... *click* one... *stomping*
Zero.
"Haaa- haaa- Riku need help?" Eiko asks as she clearly is out of breath and- *flop* drops to the floor and starts crawling to my legs while out of breath.
"Eiko..."
She grabs my ankle and looks up my towel... smiling dumbly, little bit of blood dripping down her nose.
"Wolf... want to stay home or go out?"
"Home!" She barks from the floor and her breathing gets heavier... less from rushing up the stairs and more from looking up at me.
"Want to make breakfast?"
"Yes!" She barks out instantly and I let out a chuckle as she starts stripping, I stop her.
"Its getting colder again, please keep clothes on, I don't want you getting sick"
She pouts but zips her oversized jacket up again...
"Shinobi are resistant to the cold right...?"
"Bad wolf, no horny! Ill be dressed and down in a minute"
"Okay I can watch- wait. I can wait"
I sigh and get dressed in everything but my vest and we go down and start making some bacon.
"Rabbit! You are free the whole weekend right?"
"Yeah, want to stay over?"
"Sure... (whispers) can my parents come to meet you tomorrow.."
"Sorry? Speak up cant hear you"
"My parents want to meet you! Tomorrow! Please!"
"Ok...? Why are you getting all... freaked out?"
"..."
"Wolf?"
"I thought most partners panic when this happens..."
"Probably, but I'm not most partners~"
She giggles and hugs me from behind.
"Careful wolf! I have a knife here"
"Psh- you could chop food in your sleep"
I chuckle and we make our breakfast and finish it in the dining room where Eiko sits on my lap... she said we don't have to wash up that much when we eat off the same plate... ignoring her antics we have an entire day to be together and so I have to find something to do!
"Hey can we check on your garden! Are those new flowers sprouting yet?"
Never mind! Eiko knows what she wants.
We spend some quality time together, gardening, doing some light exercise, eating and cooking lunch, sitting on the roof eating snacks while the sun goes down, cooking dinner together and eventually showering together before we finally sleep in the four blanket bed.
"Ish so cold~"
Eiko is still freezing however even while hugging me to death.
"Need another blanket?"
"I need another you~"
I let out a laugh and whisper in her ear.
"Perhaps some clothes?"
"No! Maybe I will be warmer if..."
"If?"
I can feel her torso shifting as she holds back a giggle.
"If you do to me what you did on my last birthday..."
*karate chop!*
"No horny!"
"Just a few more months~"
"I feel like every time I say 'no horny' you get hornier"
"Sheehehehehkekekeke~ run little rabbit! If you don't~ hehehekekekek-"
I stop her taunting my giving her a kiss.
"... that will suffice.."
"Don't want more?"
"..."
"Wolf?"
She leaps onto my mouth and eventually we both fall asleep, I did get Ace to give us another blanket however, I'm dying under here but she is barely warm... I would propose I sleep on another bed next to her but... yeah wolf would freeze herself by crawling into mine...
The things we do for the ones we love~
-next morning-
*smack*
I wake up to Eiko kicking me in the face.
"Eiko... why are your feet in my face"
"..."
"Eiko?"
"(Muffled) Haaa~ so close, can you please stop manually controlling your lower self to be so flaccid? I prefer it when its bigger!"
I lift the blanket and see her grinning at me.
"Should I back up rabbit?"
I lower the blankets and sigh with a smile on my face, yawning and stretching wolf decides to start backing up until her ass is in my face.
"Rabbit?"
"Wolf?"
"Should I back up?"
I stare at her ass and wonder...
"Nah"
She pouts and surrenders via crawling back under the blankets and hugging my legs, I do the same and try to sleep some more.
...
"Stop that"
"(Muffled) what?"
"Take it out of your mouth, bad wolf!"
...
Why does it feel like I'm disciplining an actual dog...
I feel her shuffle around and her cute little head pokes out of the covers and stares at me.
"Are you even attracted to me rabbit?"
"Of course"
"Then please, please, please, please-"
"Fine"
"Please, please, please- wait what?"
"I'm trying my best to make sure that we don't cross any lines before marriage... but even I have thresholds wolf"
Why do I want to not do anything before marriage? Well not for any reason other than preference I suppose... just feels right, and makes it feel ten times more special.
"What does that mean!? Yes!? No!? Rabbit answer me!"
I look down at her trembling in anticipation as she hugs the covers around her face, I let go of manual control.
"Rabbit answer- oh!"
Her face goes crimson as something pokes her.
"Only hands Eiko, now turn around"
"Rabbit... I love you"
"I love you as well wolf"
-3 hours later-
I'm sitting in the loungeroom in my bathrobe drinking tea with Eiko, she is as I first met her currently- Serene and beautiful, composed and elegant, shining and radiant.
"That good?"
"Rabbit. That good"
She takes a sip off her tea and I cant help but laugh.
"When are your parents coming over? Dinner? Lunch?"
"Dinner if that is fine with you, gives us time to clean the mess"
"You mean our room? Where you screamed 'Oh Yes!' And toppled my bedside table?"
"The very same Rabbit, Should also mask the scent with any ninja skills you have"
"Of course my lady, should I also give you a shoulder massage? A foot rub?"
"I suppose"
She smirks and I send Ace and Jewel to clean the mess while I go behind Eiko and start massaging her shoulders.
"Any food they prefer? I can have Anchor pick up the ingredients"
She sets her tea down on the small table and thinks.
"I do believe that they love those sausage rolls you made me a few weeks ago, hmm maybe some small sandwiches as well... they love multiple options and finger foods, and something that doesn't fill them for the main course... maybe go with some form of noodles? Not ramen, we eat too much ramen with that friend of yours... any chance at getting us some of that ice-cream you got from the land of lightning that one time?"
"Finger foods, check, Noodles check, and cant get that sorry, but I should be able to make some chocolate coated biscuits to have with tea in the loungeroom?"
"I suppose it will do rabbit, we should also clean the house and especially that basement of yours"
"Its what Ace and Jewel are doing now, I can tell your tense but no worries Wolf! I got this! And after your parents are gone I will even reward you for your efforts~"
Her ear twitches at that as she takes another sip of her tea before placing it down again.
"Reward?"
I whisper in her ear and she goes beet red.
"R-rabbit, t-that's... I m-mean of c-course, yes! Uhhh what were the t-terms again?"
Pff- she is trembling so hard right now.
"Should I massage your feet next my lady?"
"Y-yeah, please... massage higher too"
"Ohoh?"
"God! How do you expect me to hold myself back all dinner when you say something like that! Calm me down again!"
I move to her feet and as I massage them she squirms in her chair.
"Stop teasing me Riku! Please release me!"
"Release you? How so?"
"Why you- Riku! Stop being mean and- and"
I walk my hands up her legs and torso till I meet her chin before coming for a kiss..
"(Muffled) Riku! Please!"
"Tonight Wolf... now though, I might just-"
*knock knock*
"Ooh unlucky wolf, another time~"
"Riku! Come back here please!"
I walk down the hall and open the door to see team seven minus windoor man.
"Whats up guys?"
"Just get out of the bath Riku? We came over to hang out! Dattebayo!"
I chuckle.
"Yeah just out of the bath... hang out huh? It is the weekend is it not?"
Sasuke gulps and he looks to the two others.
"I have a feeling that I'm repeating history, maybe we shoul-"
Naruto interrupts him.
"Come on! I want to see your workshop! Have you finished your Ace upgrade!?"
"Naruto..." Sakura looks awkwardly to Sasuke.
"Naruto how is Hinata? Been on any dates? Met her parents? Having dinner with her parents anytime soon? Say tonight?"
"Uhh no, why?"
Sakura smacks Naruto on the back of the head before bowing and running away dragging Naruto.
Sasuke looks at me seriously.
"Apologies, I will make sure to be on Naruto duty today"
"Pff- your good Sasuke, thanks though"
He nods and walks off.
I close the door and walk down the hall back into the loungeroom, Eiko has decided she needs to suddenly release stress and I try to leave before she sees- never mind
"Rabbit, run"
I smirk and and she jump tackles me and starts furiously making out with me, I guess I teased her too much...
-1 hour later-
"Done Eiko? Lets not have to bathe for third time today..."
"Of course Riku, sorry about my behaviour..."
"Wolf... sorry for teasing you, now lets make a dinner that your parents will cherish!"
-one in door date and dinner prep later-
*knock knock*
My Telekinetic sight lets me know that's Eiko's parents and I quickly finish cleaning up the kitchen before heading to the door where Eiko has taken there jackets and hung them by the door for them, the stern and handsome father Hiroki nods at me before talking, and the bright and beautiful mother Emiko nods.
"Greetings Riku-san, I know we have met many times before but I wished to have an official dinner and spend time dedicated on personal matters rather than short greetings and business"
"Of course, you will always be welcome Hiroki-san"
I do a small bow and then lead them through the house starting on our little tour, when we arrive at the basement Emiko asks about the various not-puppets I have and when going out into the garden Hiroki asks about the various plants that im growing and it seems he has a vested interest in agriculture.
Eventually we reach dinner time and I start placing plates alongside Jewel who helps ensure the three have a wonderful evening.
"So Riku-san, we have been hearing many tales of your work... it has been quite different from the stories Eiko tells us" Emiko asks and I respond.
"Ah yes 'the Terror', more bark than bite really, people who know me see me as an idiot more than anything really"
"Hmm. I hear you are friends with lady Hinata as well, how did that come to be?" She asks.
"Don't really know... she just knocked on my door and asked for help with something and then it spiralled from there I suppose..."
"Any ideas on when I'm going to get a grandchild?" Emiko says bluntly.
"M-mother!" Eiko blushes and yelps.
"That may be why the clan wants you, however Eiko is not some machine, I assume you have been treating her right?" Hiroki squints at me and asks coldly.
"Father!" Eiko yelps and slams the table.
"Well... probably a year after we get married no? And of course, Eiko is a wonderful lady that I'm blessed to have" I say without shame and Eiko blushes a shade deeper and tries to hide in her jacket before shouting at me the same way.
"Riku!"
Hiroki nods and starts eating a few of the finger foods while Emiko asks again.
"Starting as soon as your married huh?"
"(Muffled) Mother! Please lets not talk about this" Eiko shouts from her jacket.
Emiko giggles to herself and Hiroki sighs.
"Enough about that-" Hiroki attempts to sway the conversation but Emiko interrupts.
"Is she anything like her father? I mean with getting all... odd on occasion?"
Hiroki starts choking on the food and I suddenly realise why Eiko is weird, her mother is shameless and her father sounds to be the 'Eiko' in the relationship.
"Pretty much yea-" Eiko leaps over the table and puts her hand to cover my mouth and starts speaking louder.
"Wow! Dinner is over already!? That's crazy! Lets go have tea in the loungeroom!"
She starts pulling the dishes away and Emiko chuckles evilly while Hiroki tries not to make eye contact with anyone... his stern expression cracking into sweat and panic... okay he is the 'Eiko' of there relationship... he hides that well, is that what everyone sees Eiko as? Polite and quiet?
We all sit in the loungeroom and Jewel starts pouring tea for us.
"This is the little Jewel right?"
"Yes he is very handy" Eiko replies and starts talking about his cool features.
"*cough* Riku-san, do you perhaps-" Hiroki speaks but Emiko makes him choke on his tea by whispering into her daughters ears.
"(Whisper) you don't make him bring his puppets in the bedroom right?"
I do a spit take and Jewel starts cleaning the mess, I look to Hiroki who is staring off inti the distance.
Okay... this family is crazy, simple as that... Hiroki why do you look so guilty?
"(Whisper) no I'm not anything like father! Riku's work stays out of the bedroom!"
What? What work can Emiko bring into the bedroom??? She manages the Hyuga's finances right!?????? Does he want to be covered in money while- oh gods how does Eiko know that!?
I stare inquisitively at Eiko and she blushes and stammers out.
"W-We have t-thin walls!"
"Haaaa- Unfortunately her father was never the quiet partner..."
"Emiko!"
"Yes? Your bright red darling? Sure your not thinking of doing that right-"
"Stop with the teasing, I told you I wanted to make a good impression on Riku-san!"
"And I told you not to throw out that-"
"I said I was sorry! Please Emiko! His opinion of me is already at the lowest!"
Hiroki switches personality at the speed of sound and is now frantically waving his arms about and he goes from stern parent to worried parent who dabbles in panicking.
Emiko smirks and sips her tea. While Eiko looks at me and gives a panicked smile.
Ohhhhh! She was worried about her parents meeting me! Not the other way around...
"Riku-san I am so sorry... I don't- I mean- uhhh" Hiroki panics almost exactly like Eiko and I look at Emiko and raise my eyebrow.
"Sorry about the spectacle Riku-san, Hiroki here has been getting egoistic lately and I needed to take him down a peg, when little Eiko eventually starts thinking herself the queen of the world because she fucks you, you will understand"
Oh wow. Very shameless. And after tonight everything about Eiko makes sense.
"N-No problem... Emiko-san..." I reply awkwardly because what way can I in this situation?
I look at Eiko who has decided to turn into her jacket by hiding in it on the floor and Hiroki who is looking at the door, Emiko sees that and says something you probably shouldn't say in front of your future son in law...
"Ah right, getting antsy already? Sorry Riku-san I made the mistake of promising anal tonight, it seems we should leave before Hiroki gets all worked up"
Jewel cleans up another spit take from me and I blink rapidly as she gets up and drags Hiroki to the front door, I get up and help them with there jackets... Emiko speaks up again and I brace for the wildest thing ever leave her mouth.
"You guys doing anal? Most don't consider that a problem before marriage"
...
How do I respond to this....
"N-No Emiko-san..."
"Ah, that's good Hiroki was panicking that you two started fucking already, oral? Hand stuff?"
Can I shut the door in her face??? Is that rude?? They were so polite and fierce when I met them before... way too much information, I don't think I can look at them the same way again...
"Uhh- no- I, Emiko-san-"
"Please call us Emiko and Hiroki"
"Ah- yes- uhh"
"I see your flustered and blushing, I can see from your expression that you are doing both, we will have to say our goodbyes for now and we really enjoyed the dinner, don't stay up too late you two~"
She leaves and I just stare at the door in silence and mental overload.
"Rabbit... I'm sorry"
"Wolf, simple question. How did you turn out so normal?"
"Hehehe- I uhh- *cough* about that thing you promised this morning?"
...
"Your thinking about that now!? I feel like I just went through a fever dream, I mean what was that Eiko! Is that normal in your house!???"
"Only when I am not around yeah... they kind of encourage me to hang out at yours... so that thing?"
"Eiko! Haaaa- never mind... go upstairs ill be up in a minute..."
She jumps and pumps her fist before running up the stairs.
I am going insane.
---
I wake up and am greeted by Eikos chest squeezing me...
"Eiko... what happened to the social norms that I was used to before? You know when we cuddled and hugged and we said cute and wonderful things... when the world was more sane..."
"Rabbit, I'm so sorry" Eiko hugs my face tighter and I respond.
"(Muffled) Wolf?"
Is she crying!? I can feel her trembling, I immediately return the hug and sit up, she unlatches from me and looks at me with teary eyes.
"What's wrong Eiko? Did something happen?"
"I'm so sorry Rabbit *sniff*, I have been waking up extra early to try and... please you..."
"I knew that one...?"
She wipes her eyes.
"I just love you so much and *sniff*- and I didn't think about you... and- and"
She starts panic breathing and clutches onto me, I pat her back and start trying to calm her down.
"Calm down Eiko... is something worrying you? Just take a breath"
She does and sits there taking breaths for a while... she then begins to speak.
"Ill stop sleeping naked and showering with you... and I will stop trying-"
"Woah, whoa, whoa, what is happening Eiko? Are you alright? Do you feel cold?"
"Its not my blood thing! I just, your the best and I'm not... all I do is try to sleep with you and you emotionally connect with me and try to make me feel better and always ensuring I'm happy and-"
"What does this have to do with you crying? Did I do something wrong?"
"No! No, no, no, you are amazing but I'm not... you would be better off with anyone else and not sick stupid Eiko..."
"Hey! I love sick stupid Eiko! She is the best! This is because you sleep naked? And try to be naked at every opportunity? And try to get in my pants?"
"Because I'm a no good pervert who is sick and not even better at cooking or- or cleaning or earning money-"
"What? Wolf your losing me here?"
"My mother and father are two sides of the same coin that are equals and bring things to the table... I feel so useless and like a constant baggage... you even comply with my desires like last night and I felt so guilty afterwards..."
Eiko... you are upset because you don't do anything? I can see how being made... obsolete can be threatening and painful... what should I say? How do I say it?
"...And- and you are just always on those missions that give you so much money... and you give me so much money that I don't even use, and the gifts and the time you dedicate to me... and all I have given you is trouble and a pillow... also that giant teddy bear..."
She starts sobbing into my pyjamas and I rub her back, making sure to be as soothing as possible before replying.
"Eiko... you are not trouble-"
"But I am! I feel like garbage with how you treat me so well and all I do is bother you in the shower or on weekends!"
Oh wow, this is an emotional outburst- Eiko... I never knew you thought like that.
"And it was like that back at home too, my parents always stumbling over themselves to cater to me... always making sure I was fine and coddling me to ensure nothing bad happened... I just want to feel useful"
Ohhhh... this is a problem that stemmed from her sickness as a child... why is she bringing this up now? What made her break that dam? And how can I patch that leak? Make her feel useful? And ensure that she doesn't think like this again?
"Eiko-"
She cuts me off again and continues ranting.
"I just want you to know that I love you as much as you love me and I keep stumbling over myself and I don't have any friends to ask for any advice on this and my parents- you met them! They are a staple Hyuga in public but in private they are so-"
I decide that words aren't working but a simple kiss will, she stops complaining and focuses on the moment.
I have to somehow make sure she feels better without 'helping' so that she doesn't think she is a burden again and we get stuck in a loop...
She unlatches her lips from mine and starts silently crying.
"Riku... *sniff* how can you marry someone like me?"
If only she could see herself like I see her... that may be a good start actually... yes, lets start with how whole she makes me.
"Because without you I would crumble Eiko, sure I have friends and few who are able to listen and talk, but with you... you make my mind so stalwart, you make my soul warm and lively... you make my body tingle in excitement whenever you are near... you think yourself useless but you are a cornerstone to my mental health... you help me relax in my free time... I want to devote myself to you and I have the privilege to do that... sure we joke sometimes and maybe you go a bit too far with the pervert stuff but I love you for you Eiko... please don't talk so badly about yourself because I love you so much and it hurts to see someone badmouth the person I love, even you"
"....Riku...."
She starts bawling and hugs me so tight, I pat her back and I lay down and pull the blankets over us so we are covered and warm.
"Riku... I love you"
"I love you so much more Eiko... and I will make sure that you do too"
*sniff*
"Starting with you helping me shower, eh? Emrys is annoying to dry off..."
"Thank you..."
"And then I can teach you to help take care of my puppets, they need repair and upkeep all the time you know... and you could start learning to carve, I can teach you how to make toys and we also start cleaning the house together every weekend, cant have my crew doing that when they have so many important things to do you know... you also know how to cook splendidly... I feel like being spoiled today..."
"Thank you, you deserve everything..."
I chuckle.
"I already have everything... (whisper) her name is Eiko"
Thanks for reading :)