[Closed] Back is Forward

[Lunanana]

There were few undeniable truths to this world. Aside from some facts that our decisions shape our life, the future was uncertain and that cats purr, there was another one, way closer to home than the others. Yoshinori Tei was absolutely adorable when he pouted. The slight blush on his cheeks made her heart do flips and turns that she thought were medically impossible, and yet, felt every bit of it. He was seated on the kitchen chair, old newspaper pages layed down on the ground and Tsuki was standing between his knees, holding up some hair cutting scissors.

”Yoshinori, baby, it’s just a little trim. Just enough to get the hair out of your eyes…” She pleaded, leaning in and placing her hands on his thighs gently to keep her balance. Gentle kiss on his chin before pulling back to see his face. They were going to visit his mom and… If the circumstances allowed, revisit his father’s office. Tsuki herself was not yet ready, only an oversized black shirt of Yoshinori’s hiding her indecency as she straightened her back again, patiently waiting for his answer. She assumed he didn’t like short objects near his face but she promised to be gentle and careful, no sudden movements. Any shinobi could be thrown off by that, it was part of the profession.


”I’ll be careful, I promise, and If I’m not, I’ll do whatever you ask me to. Kunoichi’s word.” Tsuki’s hand extended into a mock scout’s promise gesture, as a teasing smile played on her lips. He was so cute! Her own cheeks turned a little rosy, as she waited, fidgeting the tool in her hands.

[Niro]

Yoshinori’s hair had been getting longer that much was undeniable, and as much as he grumbled about it, he had no one to blame but himself. He usually liked to keep it cropped just right: long enough to play around with a little style, but short enough to let his scalp breathe in Konoha’s infamously stifling heat. Lately, though, it had grown wild, brushing past the tops of his ears and curling at the nape of his neck. Too hot. Too heavy. Too annoying. And yet, between missions abroad with Tsuki and the whirlwind of happenings in the village, he hadn’t carved out the time to get it trimmed.

He’d made a passing complaint about it earlier that morning while they were folding laundry and tidying the apartment. He hadn’t thought much of it at the time but Tsuki had perked up instantly, her eyes gleaming with a kind of playful determination that made Yoshinori wary in the best way. One thing led to another, and now here he was, sitting on a chair in the kitchen and a slightly betrayed expression on his face, wondering how she had talked him into this.

Her hands rested gently on his thighs for balance as she leaned in, sending a shiver of warmth through him, to press a gentle kiss to his chin. His pout faltered, turning to a sheepish blush that colored the tips of his ears. “It’s fine, I need one,” he relented with a dramatic sigh as she ruffled through the overgrown mess on his head. “Just… if this goes sideways, we’ll have to shave it. And then I'll look like an egg.”

He laughed as the tension in his shoulders melted as he let his eyes drift closed, surrendering to the gentle tug of her fingers through his hair and the occasional snip of the scissors. There was something soothing about it, this domestic and quiet kind of trust. The world outside might have been chaotic, but in here, it was just the two of them, wrapped in this intimate little ritual of care. Every time her hand grazed his cheek or brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes, his heart gave the smallest thump of contentment. “Okay, okay. I trust you,” he murmured again, softer this time. And he meant it. Not just with his hair but with everything.

[Lunanana]

His comment brought out something he’d probably never heard before from her – a quick but perfectly timed snort, which turned to a chuckle. ”Egg… Have some faith in your woman…” She added, her hands lifted from his hair while she laughed to avoid hurting him or making a wrong cut. Soon, Tsuki fell into silence, snipping, adjusting, working with care, her expression entirely focused. Has she had any experience cutting hair? No. But she was good at precise measurements, especially due to her hobbies. She also knew when to stop, and not make it worse.

Taking a few steps back, she took in the view. It was perfect, actually. Dare she say she was even proud of herself a little. It definitely reflected in the way she looked at him. Slowly, Tsuki lifted up her hands, and imitated taking a picture. A memory. As if remembering that she also had to show Yoshinori how he looked (not that it was the most important part of this or anything), she quickly ran to the bathroom and took one of the smaller mirrors. Coming back, she slid through the hardwood floor due to her socks in front of him. Slowly, she lifted up the mirror and let Yoshinori take the view in. Then, came a silent and shy – ”Tadaaaa…”

She slowly handed him the mirror, squatting beside him, resting her head on her crossed arms that she placed on his lap, as he inspected the length near his ears, on his neck, all around. She patiently waited, either for scolding or for praise. Eitherway, she looked at him like he was the most beautiful thing on this planet.

[Niro]

Yoshinori couldn’t help but grin at the sound of Tsuki’s laughter light and bright, like wind chimes caught in a summer breeze. It always had that effect on him, that laugh. It cracked something open inside, a quiet joy that spread through his chest and settled there. “I do, I do. Promise,” he said earnestly, though the corners of his lips still tugged into a playful smirk as she moved around him, inspecting her would-be canvas. The room grew still as she began. Yoshinori sat upright and silent, barely daring to breathe as the first lock of hair fell. He didn’t want to break her concentration or distract her, not with the very real possibility of walking around like a lopsided egg if things went south. He had no idea if she’d ever cut anyone’s hair before, he suspected not, but the focus in her eyes and the gentle press of her fingers steadying his head made it impossible not to trust her.

Snip by snip, he listened to the gentle rhythm of scissors and the quiet fall of strands onto the hardwood floor. When she pulled back and set the scissors down with a satisfied breath, Yoshinori finally exhaled his own, and relaxed a little. Judging by the pleased look in her eyes, he’d been spared. He ran a tentative hand through his hair, fingers combing through the shortened strands with cautious optimism. “Well, well, well…” he teased as Tsuki dashed off, the sound of drawers and cabinets opening echoing from the bathroom. When she reappeared, sliding in her socks across the floor like a kid skating through the house, Yoshinori laughed, catching her effortlessly with one arm as she handed him the mirror.

He tilted it, turning his head left, then right, his smile steadily growing. The shape was good; sharp where it needed to be, softened in all the right spots. It felt right. It felt like him. Yoshinori looked down at her, at the pride in her eyes, the way her fingers toyed absent-mindedly with the fabric of his pants as she waited for his verdict and leaned in. “Looks amazing, love,” he whispered before brushing his lips against hers in a soft, lingering kiss. “If we weren’t shinobi, you’d make a hell of a barber. Or a chef.”

He chuckled, imagining Tsuki in an apron, trimming someone’s bangs in a little countryside shop or tasting the broth of a stew she’d spent hours perfecting. She was endlessly capable; cutting hair, brewing medicine, fighting beside him, healing his wounds, feeding his soul. It was hard not to be in awe of her sometimes. The laughter faded gently, replaced by something quieter as his hand came to rest on hers, their fingers curling together. His expression softened. “Are you still okay with swinging by Mother’s?” he asked, voice quieter now, uncertainty peeking through.

It had been a while since they’d last visited. Part of him longed for the comfort of old walls and the familiar scent of pine cleaner and dried herbs. But the other part… well, going back always stirred ghosts. Memories buried in the floorboards, in the garden stones, in the way his mother looked at him with both love and sorrow. He glanced down at Tsuki again, trying to read her expression, to gauge if she felt ready for that step. And beneath the hesitation in his voice, there was something else. Hope. Hope that maybe, with her hand in his, it wouldn’t feel so heavy this time.

[Lunanana]

She beamed when Yoshinori nodded his head in agreement that the haircut was a success. In reality, it was really a lucky gamble as she was very glad that both of them were lucky today. It could’ve gone sideways very easily and she made note that next time she’d get him to the barber’s instead. Tsuki kissed Yoshinori back, with the same gentleness, her smile not fading yet. ”I’m glad we’re shinobi instead. I don’t need to deal with a lot of people in my profession… And I found someone special. Although, that was not really- Anyway, you look great. It suits you, and… Yeah, you look great.” A faint blush appeared on her face, as she slowly stood up, holding his hand, while her other arm found it’s way around his shoulders, her head resting on his.

She felt the subtle shift. It was alright. He helped her make peace with her parents, as much as it could be done, and she wanted to return the favor. Although, she never viewed their relationship as based solely on doing something because you received something – it was different. They were helping, encouraging, kissing wounds of the soul better not because they felt in debt to one another. Simply because they wanted to. Because that’s how love worked – you gave and asked for nothing in return only to find yourself the most rich of them all. ”Yes,” The words came out soft, almost a whisper. Honest. Her thumb brushed the top side of his hand gently, reassuringly. ”I’ll go get ready, and… If you want, we can tell her about, um.” She looked down at her stomach and then back at him, pulling away just enough to see his eyes. Tsuki leaned in again, kissing his forehead in the most loving, accepting way. Because she did – with everything, the whole package, all demons included.

Slowly, she slipped away from him and made her way to change, choosing a simple, midnight blue dress, and taking some time to put her hair up diligently, tidying up any loose strands. It was respect, rather than show. She knew her role today – supportive one, there, no matter how it went, she was ready to hold his hand and walk through even the hardest of conversations. She lifted her eyes to see him enter after her, as she was neatly folding his shirt and putting it away. ”It doesn’t matter how it will go, if you’re worried. At the end of the day, we’ll still be here, together.”

[Niro]

"That sounds good," Yoshinori murmured, his voice low with quiet consideration. He gave a small, thoughtful nod as Tsuki mentioned telling his mother about the growing life within her. Their future. "We’ll play it by ear, see how she’s feeling today." His brow furrowed slightly as his gaze dropped, the smile on his face fading into something more solemn. The idea of sharing such joyful news was quickly tempered by the ever-present uncertainty of his mother’s state. Some days were brighter than others. On those days, she would smile and laugh, reminisce about the past as if the years hadn’t touched her mind at all. But other days...

He sighed, fingers brushing back through his hair. “We might even get lucky. She might be out for appointments today.” The hope in his voice was genuine, even if laced with guilt. He hated feeling that way about her absence, like it might be easier not to face the storm, but he also wanted to protect Tsuki from the more painful corners of his past. Though older now and frailer than she liked to admit, his mother remained stubbornly independent. Karasu, loyal as ever, trailed her like a silent guardian, always near enough to catch her when her body or mind threatened to fail her. Yoshinori admired her resilience, but he also knew how unpredictable her mood could be. It was best to hope for clarity, but be ready for rain.

Returning to the bedroom, he moved with quiet efficiency as he scanned the shirts hanging neatly in his closet. Predictably, they were all black, each one just a shade or texture apart from the next. He chose one that seemed softer to the touch, with a subtle pattern woven in that set it apart ever so slightly from the others. As he slipped it over his head and down across his shoulders, his voice reached her again, this time tinged with worry. “You’re right. I’m just not looking forward to it if she’s having a bad day.” The truth clung to his words like damp fog. A shiver trailed down his spine at the thought; memories of broken conversations, forgotten names, and fragile moments he tried not to dwell on too long.

Turning back toward Tsuki, he held up two pairs of slacks, nearly identical to anyone else, but subtly different to his practiced eye. The weight of emotion slipped from his face, replaced by something lighter, almost boyish. “Okay, which of these looks best?” he asked, tilting his head with a small grin as if inviting her into a private ritual. “And before you ask, yes, they are different.” There was something deeply comforting in the normalcy of it; choosing pants, cracking dry jokes, pretending for a moment that everything outside their home didn’t exist. A brief sanctuary. And as he stood there, waiting for her to decide, the smallest flicker of a smile returned to his lips, quiet but sincere.