#ic: 'ink dipped in lotus and sakura';;-- 'the best housespouse artisan;;;'

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

“Is he? I did not think he was.” Then again, Sai could admit sometimes he was still not quite to his fellow shinobi’s levels of social understanding. Sai had presumed that the increase to Naruto's charisma was linked back to his ascendancy as Hokage, but he hadn't noticed any particular "flirtiness"... Was their guest's version not as promiscuous? How interesting. He thanked the butcher and with a flick of his wrist and his ever-present brush set an ink clone to fetch his inks while he redirected to go home directly. "If you would not mind, Uchiha-san-- how is he different from how yours is?"

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

“Yes. We have two more.” One for every possible joining of genetics, and Sai loved them all fiercely. “I believe Kakashi-sensei took on Utsukushinagare because how promising he was as a non troublesome student,,,.” All of their friends’ children,, generally,,, seemed much less... caught up in wild shenanigans like Team 7 had been;;;. Sai wondered whether it was because of Team 7 or was it a generational thing...?? “Ajikaku and Aikokyū are in the civilian school and the Academy respectively,,.” Speaking of which,, Sai should really be finishing up the Suna recipe soon,,,. As the final ingredients were slowly, methodically added with an almost mechanical precision the resulting mixture had solidified and thickened to the point that the wooden spoon was useless;;; the artisan shinobi tilted his head as he re-read the instructions that Temari had written. "Hmm..."

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

“With Sasuke? That’s understandable, there is plenty of valuable experience to be found outside of Konoha...” Sai sometimes wondered if he could pull a Kakashi and just... leave the Village to wander around the nations. To be fair, Sai doubted Naruto could deny Kakashi, given the status of their relationship and Kakashi's casual irrelevance for the Hokage's Hat even before he became Team 7's Sensei;;;. Placing the pot back on the stove Sai set the temperature to high...

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

Sai nodded seriously, whisking together cornstarch and rice flour with water,,.. “I am very lucky indeed,” He mused, agreeing wholeheartedly;;;. "I feel like I've grown closer to them, yes," Sai was fairly sure that it wasn't done to mention that like Naruto said sex did lowered the boundaries of their friend-group;; "It is... nice to sometimes set aside time to "hang out" with our peers." Shino and Gaara were lovely as muses on their respective "friend-dates" while Sai sketched,, and likewise they appreciated his attentive quietness when Shino's low voice murmured insectoid factoids into his ear or Gaara's sand curled around Sai's wrist, his ankles when he wasn't keeping it back,,,.

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

Shikamaru...? Well, perhaps Uchiha-san's Shikamaru was more openly Nara than even their Shikamaru, Sai mused;; he continued to strain and resoak the chicken as they talked,,,. "My life... Out of all our peers my life might be one of the most boring to hear, Uchiha-san." It was true. Sai took the least amount of interesting missions,, particularly since he mostly took C- to B-ranks now-a-days,,. "So I believe the correct answer is "nothing much",,," Sai smiled at Kyosuke, tying an apron around his waist. It was oddly shaped,, like half of it was supposed to end in a frilly pink heart while the other portion had given up for soft, rounded edging,,,. The pink-and-cream-coloured cloth had little ink-green ivy decals trailing up some corners unevenly,,. There was a frill-covered large pocket in the front,,,.

Sai ran through a few hand-seals,,, and a tangible chill settled over the metal bowl,,. "Do you know anything about Suna cuisine?" He asked Kyosuke politely.

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

“Hm. Perhaps it’s because you are "Sasuke’s brother"?” Sai postulated as they approached the Lee-Haruno house in the shinobi district. It was facing the street, painted cream with spring-green bordering,, -- the front was decorated with small hydrangeas spilling out of their boxes,,. "But Naruto has extremely good judgement in people. He... also likes to share his love for people... abundantly." Which was one word for it. "We should establish a base-line first of what the end of your War concluded for your Konoha,,. It is... miraculous that Konoha came out with so little tragedy to our shinobi, besides the complete end of the Sannin." Tsunade had welcomed death with tired eyes, finally reuniting with Dan, Nawaki, and the rest of her precious people in the Infinite Tsukiyomi,,. Orochimaru had been executed at last, under Tenzo-taicho's mokuton and hand.

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

“...Yes,” Sai directed the Uchiha’s attention to the sheaf of parchment on the counter,,. “Would you kindly ‘use the back of the wooden spoon to slap the surface to keep it moving as it cooks’?” Meanwhile Sai brushed the inside surface of the glass pan he chose with water, assuming that this was to keep the purin from sticking to the sides of the pan,,,.

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

Sai blinked, curving one half of his mouth up for a sympathetic smile. “I understand what you mean. We haven't seen Utsukushinagare for some weeks, now, but he seems quite content in his last missive." Sai... wasn't quite sure whether his internal reaction to when he first left was classified as 'missing him' or not. Lee certainly did,, how he wept (Lee always wept) when Utsukushinagare first left Konoha,,,. Sakura had more of a typical reaction, he felt, but Sai could feel that she too was semi reluctant to let their eldest go out of the Village... He felt the spoon slowly gain resistance to his stirring as the liquid began to thicken.

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

Holding his whisk aloft as he mixed the starch-water with the boiling milk,, the only visible change to Sai's composure was the light pink flush brought to his pale cheeks,, the artist finding himself uncharacteristically touched by the sentiment even from somebody who, ultimately, would have no bearing on their existence as an impermanent stray,,,. "Thank you. Is there anything interesting that has happened on your side of Konoha of late?"

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

"Suna niwatori no muneniku purin." Sai said plainly, removing the chicken from the bowl and rinsing it a number of times,,,. "It was served once while I was a part of the Konoha delegation in Suna, and it was... pleasant the time I had it. I don't believe Sakura has tasted this dish just yet."

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

“Yes,” Sai acknowledged, not stopping his administrations. “However that is what Temari’s recipe says to do, and she is the one with the most knowledge about Suna cuisine, so surely she must have a reason for saying so...” And Sai was fairly sure that puddings of any kind did not require tinfoil to line their containers,,,. With the fragrant smell of their (well, mostly Sai’s) makings in the air the artisan took the hot, viscous mixture from Kyosuke and began pouring it in the glass, the offwhite liquid spreading out in heavy pools,,,... “The recipe calls for it to sit in the refrigerator for 6 hours. Would you like to stay until they come back or would you rather leave?” For anyone else that might come off as rude, but their cohort all knew Sai well enough to take it as the genuine, either-way suggestion that it was,,,;;;.

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

“Utsukushinagare takes after me.” It turned out that Sai’s pale colouration wasn’t strictly due to Root’s care but Sai's own heritage,,. Curious. “...Very much after me. He has been described as a miniature version of myself,, in fact,,,. I can see Lee's kindness in him though; he has apprenticed to Kakashi and wanders around the nations wherever his mentor goes,,,." Despite the rumours that Kakashi was filling in the role of wanderer as Jiraiya did Sai doubted it was quite like that;; -- the retired shinobi genuinely seemed to be wandering around out of the Village from sheer enjoyment. He didn't even need to complete missions but Kakashi still did,, half of the time not even bothering to send his mission pay back to Konoha but to Gai in Suna;;;. "He's a wonderful child. I'm- very lucky to have him;;."

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

Sasuke smiled as the lady at the desk greeted him as he entered the library-- mean-while Sai was slowly making his way to his favourite inkstore.

Sai was in a good mood today, since nothing had particularly inconvenienced his morning. Ajikaku and Aikokyū were already sent to the Academy,, and Sai believed he finally had time to try one of the Sunagakure recipes that Temari-san had mentioned since her last visit. A perfectly even strip of paper was tucked into the inside of his vest, containing the incredibly neat writing of the ingredients he wished to obtain in time for the pre-baking preparations,,,.

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

Sai blinked, shaking his head softly. "I have some recreational painting planned out for this afternoon, apologies,,,." Picking up the large glass pan he opened the refrigerator with his foot,, (the foot-pedal opener had turned into a surprisingly useful addition from Ino,, given but Lee and Sakura's tendency to get... rough even just accidentally with their appliances,,,.) he slid it in, closing the door softly behind him and turning back to consider the items he needed to clean-up;;;. Sai escorted Kyosuke to the door,, inclining his head to the Uchiha as he bid him a pleasant rest of his afternoon,,,. "Good luck on exploring Konoha, I suppose."

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

What was Uchiha-san referencing? No matter.

Sai’s lips barely curled downwards as distaste flitted through his eyes and expression before it cleared rapidly for his usual bland mien. "Tsunade-sama still lives in your Konoha? How curious."

"Thank you." Sai unlocked the door with an ink-stained hand,, neatly shucked his sandals aside as he called out 'tadaima' to the empty house,,,.

All in all it did seem like a regular shinobi home;;-- geode arrangements around a corner or there,, watercolour paintings set in light wooden frames lining the door's hallway,,, scuff marks in the sycamore flooring,,,. Sai went directly for the kitchen, setting the chicken on the granite countertop as he went to set out his preparations meticulously.

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

"Yes, Sakura. Though I suppose a number of our friends have not either,,,. Would you kindly hand me the milk?" He requested, indulgent in not retrieving it himself despite what Lee would most likely say-- and precise in easing his guest to feel welcome while he worked,,,. "Why would Sakura surprise you, Uchiha-san?"

“Sasuke?” Kyosuke paused in his walk, looking over his shoulder in surprise and confusion. Didn’t Sasuke send him a letter that he wouldn’t be back for another while? What was he doing this close to the village then? //twinuchiha - for walking by Sasuke

"Yes? Did you need something?" Sasuke asked calmly, not recognizing what should have been familiar features-- for he had let go of his restless gaze for family After everything, now that he truly was the Last. Not to mention Sasuke's penchant in the last months of avoiding his reflection. Was he needed back for a mission? Or paperwork?