It's been awhile, surprise?

[Willoria]

It wasn't often that Minako spent time with both of her dogs at once. She typically kept the pair separate due to her duties, but she also wanted the two to have time together as siblings. But on a day like today especially. She was intent on spending time with her Sensei. She hadn't seen much of her as of late due to her own duties in ANBU which had taken a good deal of her time, and even mandated a couple of hospital visits. Then the last few weeks she'd found herself struggling with some sickness of her own. Now she just had new stresses on her mind and needed someone to talk to... her Sensei seemed like the right person to see.

With both Ryu and Rei at her side, Minako made her way to Masami's home and knocked on the door, leaning against the frame as she waited for an answer. It was a cool day and the breeze was refreshing. Even Ryu and Rei seemed to enjoy it, the pair periodically exchanging a nuzzle or a lick in a small show of affection. They hardly parted from one another and seemed intent on walking side by side in such a way that they were up against each other. It was oddly adorable.

[Kabu]

Masami meanwhile was relaxing at the kitchen, sipping on some tea as she had just finished taking care of household chores, her son having gone out to spend time with his friends. She had wanted to spend some time with the boy herself as he had only just returned from Suna after being away for a while but he had been insistent on seeing one person in particular. It did make her happy of course to see that the kids had all grown close over the years but she couldn't help but feel a bit lonely at times. She had never really been one to crave company in the past, her closest friends aside, but as of late a switch seemed to have flipped in her mind and she didn't like the notion of being alone nearly as much. She did enjoy her time alone at points but still... She let out a sigh, looking into her teacup almost sadly as she got lost in her own thoughts.

She was soon brought back to reality however by a sudden knock on the door, her head tilting to the side in puzzlement. She wasn't expecting any visitors, was she? Oh well... She had been wishing for company so maybe was really a blessing in disguise.

She got up from her seat and walked over towards the door, blinking in surprise as she opened it to find Minako with both Ryu and Rei by her side, little Haru waking from the nap he had been taking on the couch at that moment. Excitedly the pup ran towards the trio, barking repeatedly as he pawed at Minako's legs in attempt to get her attention.

Masami giggled at the sight of her pup being so happy to see her old student, someone whom she was actually happy to see herself as well. It really had been some time since they had seen each other. It made her happy that Minako had come to seek her out, though she couldn't help but feel this wasn't any ordinary social call.

She stood aside, motioning for Minako and the two grown dogs to come inside. "It's been awhile Minako, though I have to say... You seem somehow different from the last time I saw you." she spoke, her nose twitching as she caught a bit of a different scent than she was used to from her old student... It was a scent that seemed somehow familiar, but what was it? She had a feeling she would be finding out soon enough.

[Willoria]

Minako couldn't help a giggle as Haru pawed at her legs, bending to pick him up immediately. She held him carefully and scratched him behind the ears and under the chin before setting him down and smiling at her Sensei. "Yeah, sorry it's been so long, Sensei." Minako replied almost sheepishly, shooting a playful glare at both of her dogs as both Rei and Ryu pushed passed her and into the house rudely. Both seemed eager to find a comfortable couch or chair to curl up in. Though of course Rei, being the more nurturing of the two, immediately set to nuzzling at Haru to join her. She was sure to find a spot to curl up in that would include enough space for the other dog as well so she could groom the pup.

Minako would take Masami's invitation to enter and follow her inside, sighing to herself. "Things have been a bit chaotic lately... a lot more duties, more missions..." her mind went over the strange mission with Yoru himself. Some part of her hadn't been sure she'd return from that one. She'd practically thrown herself in the way of deadly jutsu to try and protect her Commander. Then there was the mission to escort Yozei to his new post and the things that had happened there.

She took a deep breath and let it out slow, her mind going a hundred miles a minute. "Things have just been... crazy." she remarked.

[Kabu]

For a moment Masami turned to watch the dogs interacting, giggling as Haru excitedly ran after Rei and curled up by her side, happily nuzzling against her. It was a truly adorable sight, and one that she simply loved to see. Haru had been growing bigger but he was still a baby and he craved attention and affection that she couldn't always provide. "Ain't that one of the cutest things? It truly warms my heart." she spoke as she turned back towards Minako, her lips turned up into a small smile.

After a moment she wrapped her arms around Minako in a very brief hug before releasing her and leading the way into the kitchen. She had of late grown to be a bit more affectionate but even still she had her limits and she very well knew that Minako did as well. "I've come to know chaos very well, almost like a close friend... Between my duties as a shinobi and being a mother, I frequently have my hands full for one reason or another. I rarely have any time to just sit back and relax these days. It's even more rarely that I get to see my boyfriend with our schedules being the way they are. I swear Hajime gets to see him more often than I do, though I shouldn't complain about a boy spending time with his father." she responded to Minako's remarks with a shake of her head, motioning for her to sit at the table while she moved to pour another cup of tea for herself and one for Minako as well.

"I guess though that's just what it means to be an adult." she added, setting Minako's cup down in front of her and taking a seat herself, closely watching the woman even as she raised her cup and took a sip. "So, are there any of these problems that you can tell me about? I want to be able to help if I can." she further added, some amount of curiosity mixed with concern fully evident both on her face and in her tone.

[Willoria]

Minako chuckled seeing Haru and Rei together, reminded of seeing Rei interact with one of Yoru's dogs at his home, a simple farm dog. Rei had always been the gentler of the pair. She found herself wishing she could tell Masami about it but realized it was probably best not to. How did she explain spending time at the private home of a Bannin? Without revealing an ANBU mission? Minako wasn't quick thinking enough in the moment to find a reason and instead had to withhold the cute story she knew her Sensei would appreciate.

She followed Masami to the table after the brief and somewhat awkward (on her part) hug. She hadn't been very good at affection since her brother's death, though she was getting better at it. "It's good that Hajime gets time with him..." she remarked, though she found the thought raised questions she didn't realized she'd have, and the woman sighed heavily as she sat down. She accepted the cup of tea as it was poured for her, sipping on it carefully as Masami spoke and found that, as usual, her bluntness rose to the surface quickly. "I'm pregnant." she said suddenly, punctuating her own words with a nervous laugh.

Minako shook her head and sighed again, staring down into her teacup. "I suppose that counts as chaos, right?" she asked, chewing on her lip for a moment. "Especially after... after what happened and how badly I was wounded. I always thought that... that this wasn't possible. The kinds of wounds I had... I mean I never asked directly, sure, but... but they literally had to shove everything back into place afterwards and sew me back up. Healing, even with Iijutsu, took literal months I... I thought I wasn't capable of having kids. I was trying to come to terms with that and then..." Minako let out a single huff of breath out of her nose, not unlike the way one of her dogs might've when frustrated.

[Kabu]

At first Masami simply blinked at the sudden revelation, the woman opening her mouth as if to speak, though soon giving up, closing her mouth as the words refused to come. Minako was pregnant, huh? It was almost hard to believe in a way... Minako had never shown any interest in men that she could recall so for her to suddenly appear and announce she was pregnant was surprising to say the least and took a bit to process. And so for a moment she sat in stunned silence but she soon smiled softly, reaching out to grab one of Minako's hands, giving it a light squeeze. "So that's why that scent seemed different and yet all too familiar." she softly spoke, some part of her knowing full well that she should have recognized it earlier.

"I know it's a lot for you to take in, doubly so with all that's happened to you, and it's going to take some time to get used to but I'm happy for you." she continued, smiling all the while. Yet even as she spoke there was a burning question in the back of her mind, her smile turning a bit mischievous as it came to the forefront of her thoughts.

"So, how long have you known? Whose the father? When and how did it happen?"

[Willoria]

Minako leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand just as Masami grasped her other. She looked at her Sensei and gave a small, though uncertain, smile in return. She sighed quietly as the questions came and at first she simply shrugged. "I just found out a couple days ago." she said quietly. "I mean... I've been with a couple guys recently but one of them I was extra careful with. He was an enemy shinobi I ran into during the Steam Event and... well honestly I was being an asshole during the entire encounter... even stabbed him after..." She suddenly blushed deeply and cleared her throat, pulling her hand from Masami's before rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "Point is, it's impossible for it to be him." She suddenly felt like she had been having some kind of dirty confession with her mother. 'That was just to see if I could stomach using such methods for information gathering... not that I should be admitting that much to anyone.'

Minako took another deep breath and shook her head. "No it'd have to be..." she trailed off and swallowed hard. "It'd have to be Yozei." she admitted. "We were on a mission together, took awhile to complete and just... we got close." Minako leaned back in her chair and shook her head.

[Kabu]

Masami tilted her head as Minako answered her questions, her brow furrowing at the mention of one of her students having antagonized and even stabbing another shinobi during the festival in Steam Country. She really wasn't happy to hear about that... Some part of her even wanted to launch into a scolding and a lecture about being antagonistic and having risked disrupting a peaceful gathering but she resisted the urge, now not really being the time for that. There was a much more important matter at hand, the identity of the father of Minako's child.

...The answer to which she hadn't expected in the least. "Yozei is going to be a father... to Minako's baby?" Masami muttered to herself as she attempted to process this new information, the statement eventually turning into a question. If she was understanding right they had gone on a mission together and had gotten frisky at a point. How close had they gotten to feel comfortable having sex? What kind of mission was it? She had so many questions and she wasn't sure if it would be fully appropriate to actually ask most of them.

After a moment of silence and sorting out her thoughts she took a deep breath, turning her attention back towards Minako. "Well... you and Yozei huh? That's certainly a surprise. I never would have thought Yozei would have it in him to bed a woman like that." she suddenly spoke, a light smirk on her face. Honestly even surprised as she was she was happy to know the boy had finally taken action. She had been a bit worried that he might not have any interest in girls.

"So... what are you gonna do? Does he know?" she suddenly asked after a moment, her expression turning a bit more serious. "He may be a Konoha shinobi but he's not living here in the village anymore. Souta and I made a family work across a distance but not everyone can. I've mostly gotten used to it and have adjusted but honestly it can be hard on me at times, I'll admit. I get lonely very easily these days. It's a strange feeling." she spoke with a bit of an embarrassed chuckle at her own admittance.

[Willoria]

Minako was giving Masami a look that strongly suggested she was waiting for the lecture. Though as Masami made a comment about Minako and Yozei being a surprise, Minako herself couldn't help a bit of a chuckle. "There's a lot about him that might surprise you." she remarked as she sipped her tea, immediately blushing at the thought. The things that had happened during their time together had surprised her as well and not just the fact that Yozei had given into lustful urges. By the end of it, that had been the least of what had surprised her.

She shrugged though as Masami asked what she was going to do now. "I haven't told him yet, hardly seems like the kind of news to give in a letter." she commented. "And given the kind of life he lives now... should I even send a letter? I don't know much about royalty, but can I even guarantee he'd get it? Is that information that should even be risked someone else seeing?" She groaned in annoyance and shook her head again. "I don't plan on being in a relationship with him, and I am fairly certain he's not interested in one with me... but I also know the idea of leaving a kid with no father figure is a sore point with him. So I can't just not tell him. And I don't plan on keeping this from him, just not sure how to get in touch with him."

For a moment Minako put both of her elbows on the table as she buried her face in her hands. "Why does this feel so complicated?"

[Kabu]

"Minako, I know it's hard but you need to find an opportunity to tell him face to face, even if you have to sneak into the palace to do it. You're right, a letter won't do for this but not really for any reasons like practicality or any of that. It's just... even if you don't plan on being in a relationship this is still a very crucial moment for both of you and the baby. This baby is going to need both of their parents and the two of you need to decide together how you're going to handle this." Masami responded very matter of factly, her tone seeming to be somewhere between that of a concerned parent and a teacher lecturing their students. And really that's how it was... she couldn't help but feel this was a very important teaching moment and she had been in a similar situation herself, granted there was a vast difference in that she and Souta had been together and very much in love even before she had gotten pregnant. In some ways having a baby had even served to make their relationship stronger than it had already been.

At that point she had fallen silent, sipping on her tea as she took a breather. If there was still one thing that hadn't changed about her it was that she rarely talked that much in one go. It wasn't that she couldn't or didn't want to, just... she had never really been particularly good at it.

"I apologize if it seems like I'm lecturing you. Old habits are just hard to break, even moreso now with a teenager of my own in the house. He's a good kid but he's sometimes worse than you and Kara were when it comes to listening to me. I know he's just trying to be more independent but even so he seems to actively enjoy making me pout. He's growing up to be just like his dad, I swear." she remarked, letting out a quiet sigh, though it soon made way for a light chuckle and a smile.

"Still though, growing up I never thought I would even get a chance to say this but being a mother is perhaps one of the greatest things to ever happen to me."

[Willoria]

As Masami emphasized the need to tell Yozei, Minako couldn't help a frown. "I don't know, I think I could handle this just fine on my own. I have Ryu and Rei to help me as well. I'll have to move out of my parents' home finally but I think I'm ready, I've had the funds awhile just hadn't been emotionally ready..." but her words trailed off as she remembered the conversation she and Yozei had had after their moments of intimacy. Though the entire thing had been a whirlwind of lust, he had been remarkably sweet to her after the fact and made clear how he felt about the idea of leaving a child of his without a father. Minako sighed heavily and nodded after a moment. "No... you're right." she said quietly, picking up her tea cup and sipping on it a moment. 'He was so paranoid about it, it was his first thought afterwards... and he has family here. He might not be a boyfriend but he is a friend, I can't do that to him.' she thought to herself.

'...or to this kid.' she suddenly realized as well.

She looked at Masami as the woman apologized for lecturing her and laughed, shaking her head. "Honestly I probably need one right now." she admitted. "I haven't exactly had my head on straight since Minaru died. Can I really say that people shouldn't be worried about me being a mother? All I think about anymore is how to end life quickly... or be ended." she shook her head. "I literally told a superior on a mission a few weeks ago that I was expendable and not to worry about it if he had to sacrifice my life but now... this little life..."

Minako sighed, resting a hand on her stomach as her brow furrowed. "How much does this change?" she asked herself, before turning to look at Masami. "Yozei's father is Hokage... am I nuts for thinking I should talk to his family about getting a chance to talk to him in person so I can tell him?"

[Kabu]

Again Masami wrinkled her nose as Minako spoke, that urge to scold and lecture her rising once again, though once again she suppressed it. She wanted so badly to yell at her about just casually throwing her life away but she held off... She had had similar thoughts and feelings after the kidnapping and experimentation, feeling that her life didn't matter, that it would be okay if she were to die for the village's sake... Perhaps it was her duty as the girl's former teacher to set her straight but in this particular instance she couldn't help but feel like she would be a hypocrite.

She shook her head, clearing her mind just in time to hear Minako speak up once more. Even despite the seriousness of the circumstances she couldn't help but giggle. "You're not nuts at all, that's reasonable and perfectly normal. Takeo and Aina should be able to give you more insight into how to approach it than I can. I think Aina would even appreciate it if you paid her a casual visit sometime. The nest has been gradually emptying and while she either doesn't realize or doesn't want to admit it, I know it's been hitting her really hard and she could do with having more company from time to time." Masami responded to Minako's concerns, a thoughtful look on her face as she watched her former student a moment. There is someone else who might like to know about this news. she thought to herself.

"You know, I realize this isn't really my place but I also think you should go see Kara sometime. She told me once her biggest regret is that you two never really got a real chance to bond and become friends while you were kids." she spoke up after a moment's thought, pausing to take a sip of her tea. "I don't think it's too late to try and salvage it but of course as with everything, that's for you to decide."

[Willoria]

Minako sighed heavily again, chewing on her bottom lip as she thought about it all, in particular about talking to the Hokage and his wife about things. "Just seems like it should be Yozei who gets to give them the news... but I'm in an odd situation. He's the one who is far away, and they seem like the best ones to approach about how best to tell him instead..." She wrinkled up her nose in thought, letting one of her hands drop down at her side where she suddenly felt a wet nose. Chuckling to herself she looked down to see Rei had shoved her head under her hand and couldn't help but laugh. "Rei and Ryu have hardly left my side since I found out. As always, its like they know."

The woman remembered meeting Aina in the past, with Masami as her Sensei in her younger years the Hyuuga woman hadn't been a strange sight. They'd met a few times though it seemed strange to think about the idea of giving her the news that Minako was carrying the woman's husband's grandchild. Naturally the thought caused Minako to make a face for a moment as she remembered the slight complications that was Yozei's family.

She looked up as Inokara was mentioned and she nodded slowly. "Yeah... I should go see her." she admitted. "I spent so much time with Minaru I kind of shut her out... looking back, I see that more now."

[Kabu]

In response to Minako's admittance Masami nodded, a small smile on her face. It made her glad to see her students might be able to become friends after all. Even as adults after all these years it would be good for the both of them to get a chance to finally bond. She herself had made plenty of friends during her adult years, many more than she had as a child or even a teenager. And she wouldn't give any of them up for anything. She was closer to some than others but they were all precious to her in one way or another.

She was about to speak up when she was interrupted by a sudden weight in her lap, a quick look down revealing Haru sitting on her lap and looking up at her. Upon seeing her look down the pup barked happily, causing her to giggle. "You think so too, don't ya Haru? Everyone needs friends, whether human or animal. Companionship is what helps us grow and enrich our lives. Learning to rely more on my friends and family was a lesson I had to learn the hard way." she softly spoke, scratching the pup behind his ears even as she looked back up towards Minako, a strange mix of emotions present in her gaze and a gentle smile on her face.

"You know Minako, even as much as you and Kara were and always will be my beloved students, I count you also as two of my closest friends. Teaching and spending time with you kids was part of what allowed me to regain my confidence and get my life back on track when I thought my world had no means of righting itself. I just want you to know that." she admitted, looking once more down at the little pup in her lap whom at this point had curled up for a nap as she let out a sigh, an embarrassed blush crossing her cheeks at the things she was saying. "Ah jeez, what am I doing getting sentimental? At times like this I feel like maybe I should consider joining Aina in retirement. I don't think I'm really cut out for this line of work anymore."

[Willoria]

Minako chuckled as Masami referred to her and Inokara more as friends than students these days and the woman shrugged as she finished her tea. "I mean, you're still my Sensei but you're probably the closest friend I have anymore too... I haven't even told my parents I'm expecting yet." she admitted, blushing slightly. She smiled slightly the more she thought about it, the more she was finally warming up to it all. Getting the news had been quite a shock to her, but after a couple of days she was finally coming to terms with it and realizing how much planning she had to do. Though as she thought about plans she couldn't help a chuckle. "...I may have to get Hajime to babysit." she said suddenly. "I get some pretty last minute missions these days, I may need some help within the Clan Compound from time to time... think he'd be up for it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'd hate to rely on my parents constantly... assuming they even respond positively to the idea of me being a single parent." She suddenly cringed as she thought about that one. She had a feeling that might not go over well at first.

Though of course that just brought up more thoughts. 'I'm going to need my own place... on compound... just big enough for me and the kid, and the dogs... I don't even know where to start with all that...'

[Kabu]

As Minako spoke, Masami couldn't help but giggle at the thought of her son acting as a babysitter. Hajime was always eager to please and she wasn't sure she had ever seen him say no to anyone, a trait he had surely picked up from herself and Souta. "Of course he would. He's a sweet kid, going out of his way to help people out wherever he can. I don't think he would ever refuse a request from a close friend. As for your parents, if you would like me to come along when you tell them I can. I still remember when I told my parents about my own pregnancy... I swear dad nearly fainted from shock." she responded to Minako's questions and concerns with a chuckle, thoughtfully smiling as her mind wandered back to her own pregnancy. It had certainly come as a shock to be sure, she had even denied it at first, thinking there was no way it was possible. Over time though she had grown more used to the idea and even come to love the new life she had had growing inside her. That certainly hadn't made the pregnancy any easier though...

"And remember if you need any help at all, you can count on me. I know how difficult it can be. I love my son but he did not give me an easy time. " she added, wrinkling her nose as she recalled the proceeding months of pain and sickness, being unable to do much on her own. "I felt like such a burden on my friends and family. Souta even practically lived here for a while to look after me." she chuckled. "In the end though... I really do feel like all the pain was worth it, even if I wouldn't have thought it at the time."