#neko morino

[madeleineengland]

Cat art by NekoMorino

[missalienqueen]

This fic was so great! I love the ending and the babies and Yuu!!! And old Neko 😭

Her telling him that one job with Ebisu is what led to her drinking had me reeling, the conflicting emotions of knowing he saved her from physical pain, but caused emotional pain 🥲

Unwavering VI - Ibiki x Reader

this is for @snuggleboots

Warnings: Reader is dealing with psychological aspects of her work and she's having trouble with alcoholism. Please do not read if this triggers you.

Masterlist - Part V

The Finale!!!

Newcomers

Two days after Ino’s ninth birthday you’re called on a mission that’s going to intercept Ibiki’s ongoing mission.

He learns about it through a messenger hawk, knows that you will probably ask Ino to take over feeding Neko and her little brother Yuu. The small black cat they adopted shortly after moving together - officially - is as stubborn and charming as you are and Ino’s head over heels in love with him.

You’re late.

Raido’s stoking the fire, wise enough not to talk to him now that he’s anxiously stalking around their small campsite.

You’re not one to be late, not on a mission. What if something happened to you?

“I’m sure she’s fine.” Raido points out eventually, the other man one of the last ones of their friend group to have realized that there was something between Ibiki and you. Something other than hatred, that is.

“Well, if she’s fine, she should-” Ibiki breaks off when the rustling of leaves changes. Someone’s approaching.

He’s immediately in fighting stance, only to relax moments later when he takes in the Hitai Ate with the Konoha signature glistening in the sun light.

“You’re late.” He announces the moment your feet hit the ground before him.

“Thanks.” You huff back. “I know.”

“It was partly my fault.” The young man next to you blunders out. Ibiki knows him only by sight. He made Jonin recently.

“Explain yourself!” The guy flinches back and you send Ibiki a glare.

“Chill. We’re here. You’re okay.”

“That is no excuse-”

“Raido!” You dare to cut Ibiki off. “I’ll take a walk with your team lead and discuss the strategy. Fill in Tamatora for me.”

“Will do.” Raido does a mock salute as you grab Ibiki’s elbow and pull him with you into the surrounding forest. He allows it, if only to get a moment to talk to you alone.

Behind him, he can hear Tamatora whisper to Raido: “Is Ibiki always this scary?”

“Always.” Raido answers loudly. “Don’t worry about it. He just doesn’t like other people.”

-

You only speak when you’re out of earshot of your respective partners.

“I threw up.” You explain quietly. “Only once but that slowed us down in the first bit. Then Tamatora thought he’d seen something and forced me to investigate only for it to be a wild boar. I’m sorry we’re late. We were racing through the last part to catch up.”

“Why did you throw up?” Ibiki’s not one to be deterred by a story. You flinch.

“Promise not to freak out, okay?”

“If it’s something serious…”

“Promise.” You hold up your pinky and he rolls his eyes but links his pinky with yours. “I promise not to freak out. I will stay perfectly calm until you’ve told me.”

“I’m pregnant.”

“WHAT?!” Above him, a murder of crows rises from the tree branches, cawing loudly. 

You stare back at him, unimpressed.

“Wow, Ibiki, Honey, this is you not freaking out? Glad I made you promise.”

“What’s possessed you to go on a mission in that state?” He’s going to foam at the mouth any second, he can feel it.

“I was on a physical right before that and I’m only in my first month. We caught it by accident. If I was any other Shinobi, you wouldn’t blink an eye at this. This isn’t even a high risk mission. It’s just gathering Intel. There will be no Kunais flying.”

“As far as we know now! You’re going to turn back-” You interrupt him again.

“I will do no such thing!” You stare him down and it’s impressive how much of an effect that still has on him, even three years into your relationship. Even after all that time he’d been crushing on you before he allowed himself to make a move.

You soften under his gaze, attuned to his feelings now to the point where you can read his mind through his eyes. Not to mention that you can actually read his mind if you want to.

“I am not taking this lightly, okay. You know I’ve dreamed about being a mother ever since I’ve held Ino for the first time. I’ll be extra careful and no harm will come to these two.”

“Two?” His voice breaks oddly. You nod and take his hand, press it to your still flat belly. 

“Two heartbeats. We’re going to have twins.”

It feels like his heart is beating in his hand right now, pressed against your skin. Or maybe he can feel the heartbeat of those growing beneath his fingertips. So small, so precious.

“Do you trust me?” You ask and he nods, unable to speak.

“Good. I will not let anything or anyone harm me. Now we’ll talk about the mission, circle back to Raido and keep an eye on Tamatora. He’s a bit too eager to prove himself for my taste.”

“Leave him to me.” His voice comes out gruff. He likes how it makes you shudder. 

“What kind of lipstick are you wearing?” He asks, pulling you into him.

“Not transfer proof, sorry.” You whisper. “It’s the shitty one you bought me last month.”

“I said I’m sorry.” He grumbles as you giggle and hide your face against his chest. 

This is how he likes you best, at ease with him, daring to step on his toes to get a rise out of him. You’re just like the cat you picked, a daredevil that likes to be loved, not questioned.

-

Saying Goodbye

The knocking on the door is gentle, almost hesitant.

“I’m getting it.” Ibiki gets up from the floor, gestures at Takara to stay with her brother Takumi. 

To his surprise, it’s Ino, all her weight on the shoulders of a boy he barely knows. 

“Yes?” He asks, voice wary.

“My name is Sai.” The boy introduces himself. “I’ve found her at the ‘Dull Kunai’. She wasn’t able to get home herself but she insisted on coming here.”

“I’m fine.” Ino insists at that, moving to stand on wobbly legs. She smells like alcohol, it wafts off her like she’s bathed in it. “You didn’t have to carry me.” She glares at Sai before noticing Ibiki, paling at his sight.

“Uncle, I-”

“You come here, smelling like this?” His voice is cold, words sharp like Senbon.

“Hey!” Sai steps in front of Ino, hands up like he’s trying to tame a beast. “Ino’s not doing so good.”

“That I understand. But that is no reason to endanger her aunt-”

“Ibiki!” He stiffens at your voice behind him. He’d left you to take a nap half an hour ago, but you’ve always been able to sniff out anything potentially dangerous.

He steps aside, knows better than to speak. You take one look at Ino and open your arms for her. She falls into them, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Oh, Baby.” You mumble into her hair before locking your eyes onto Sai. “Come in.”

“I really shouldn’t.”

“You will.” If he’d been ready to step into Ibiki’s path before, he seems unwilling to do so when it comes to you. 

Sai hangs his head and follows Ibiki in.

Neko, half-blind and too old too walk most of the time, but still too curious for her own good, immediately comes over to inspect the guests. She rubs herself against Ibiki’s legs, purrs up at him.

Yuu’s a little more direct, immediately starts climbing up Sai’s leg and digs his little face into the pockets of his trousers in search of snacks.

“Don’t do that, Yuu.” Takara picks the cat up with ease. She’s got her father’s temper, his eagerness to cut to the chase. She’s also as strikingly beautiful as her mother, but he’ll worry about that when she gets older.

“Who are you?” She asks, dark brown eyes peering up at Sai. “What are you doing with Aunty Ino?”

“Yeah!” Takumi asks from the floor. “And why do you smile so creepily?”

“Be nice.” Ibiki hears himself say even though he wants to say the opposite thing himself. “I’ll make tea for our guest.”

“You can sit with Takumi.” Takara offers and plops Yuu down on her brothers lap.

“I’m painting my nails.” Takumi explains. “Do you want some?” 

Sai eyes the bottle of black nailpolish.

“Why?”

“Because it’s pretty.” Takumi sniffs arrogantly. “And because you can hide poisons in your nail polish if you know how to do it.”

“Do you have any other colors?” Sai asks, suddenly interested. Takumi nods eagerly. “Of course. I’m not a savage.”

…

When you come back into the living room, your cheeks are wet and your eyes are red-rimmed, but you smile openly when Ibiki asks if you’re okay.

“Ino’s asleep.” You explain softly and take a seat at the table, accept the cup of tea Ibiki offers with a quiet thanks.

“I’m painting Sai’s nails.” Takumi explains, rolling into his mother easily. He’s always been more of a cuddler than his sister, taking more after his mother than Ibiki.

“I see. Good work.” You praise him, card your fingers through his silver hair before you lock your eyes onto Sai. 

“What were you doing at the ‘Dull Kunai’ today, Sai?”

“I was just walking past.” He offers with the same fake smile he’d been wearing when he came to the door.

“Were you really now? Ino mentioned that you’ve been meeting there every day these past weeks.”

The smile slips from Sai’s lips like it had never been there before.

Ibiki straightens immediately and Takara copies his posture like everything he does.

But he trusts you to go about this the right way, holds his daughter - and himself - back with the simple gesture of a hand on her knee.

“What were you really doing there?”

“I…” Sai stops, swallows thickly before looking down on his freshly painted nails. “I’m not really good with emotions.” He offers quietly without making eye contact. “Or other people.” 

Silence follows his admission. No one speaks, even though Takumi looks like he really wants to. 

Eventually, Sai’s lips pull into a thin line. “Ino always seems to be happy. Or angry. But mostly happy. When her Sensei died, she told everyone she was fine, but she didn’t look fine. So I followed her, just in case… I know the ‘Dull Kunai’ from some old missions. It’s not a good place to be alone, even less when you’re drunk. I didn’t want her to get harmed. So I just stayed with her until she was ready to go home.”

“What about today?” You ask, your voice softer now. 

Sai shrugs, rubs his palms over his thighs. “She didn’t want to go home.”

“May I touch you?” His eyes open wide at your question. You offer your hand, palm sideways. Sai eyes it warily.

“You’re a Yamanaka, right?” He asks, voice as wary as his look. “As a former member of Root-”

“I’m not going to read your thoughts.” You explain. “I just want to say thank you.”

“Oh,” He hesitates for a second before taking your hand, shaking it awkwardly. “Anytime.”

“Welcome to the family.” Ibiki rasps out gruffly, seconds before Takumi flings himself at Sai. “Aunty Ino is my favorite.” The boy declares. “Thank you for saving her.”

“Anytime.” Sai repeats a little stunned and Ibiki might imagine it, but it looks like there’s a real smile playing along his lips.

-

Not done yet

He wakes from a nightmare filled with pain.

Your arms are tight around his body, rocking him softly.

“Shhh… You’re okay. You’re alive. You’re with me.” You whisper until he calms down enough.

He’s in his bedroom, you’re by his side. He’s alive, his body no longer the only thing between a Summoning Seal and the terror it unleashes. 

“The kids?” He manages to break out and you hum softly, relax your hold on him.

“They’re asleep. They’re fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” Your head knocks into his as you nod. “I am. We’re all here.” 

As if to emphasize your words, Kyou beings to cry and you huff.

“I’ll be back in a second.”

He has just enough time to sit up when you’re back again with your five month old daughter.

“You should sleep.” You insist even as you let him pull you into his arms. 

Ibiki doesn’t answer right away, content to watch Kyou drink eagerly. 

The last weeks have been harrowing. 

He might have survived Pain’s Assault on Konoha thanks to Katsuyu, but it has left his mind scarred. He’d not noticed it until now, too swamped with work, with keeping the village and, more importantly, his family safe. But now that he has room to breathe the memories come back with vengeance.

“I should have been there with you.” You tell him quietly over the sound of Kyou drinking. He freezes immediately.

“Absolutely not.” That’s the only thing that keeps him sane this days. Knowing that you’re safe, that you will never have to experience this level of pain.

“Ibiki.” He hushes you softly, kisses you until Kyou reminds you with whimpers that she’s not done drinking yet. You switch her to the other side, rest your head on his shoulder. 

“Listen to me.” You tell him through kiss-bruised lips. “I am a capable Shinobi. I am like a mother lion. You will not get to my children.”

“Remember when I pushed you out of the way? That one mission with Ebisu?”

Your eyes move to his head and you nod without speaking.

“It was never about the scars.” He admits, the truth spilling out of him now, over a decade later. “I just couldn’t bear the thought of you going through that pain. I… Isn’t that what love is like? To carry the pain of those you love so they walk without it?”

You press a kiss to the underside of his jaw.

“I love you.” You tell him quietly. “But that mission made me start drinking.”

He freezes again, cold hands of fear gripping tightly onto his heart.

“I don’t think you can carry all our pain, nor do I think you should.” Kyou lets go of you with a soft sigh and you lift her up and over your shoulder, rub her back until she burps. Without the need to read his thoughts you place your youngest child into his waiting arms, watch as he cradles her close. 

Kyou falls asleep immediately. She fears nothing in her fathers arms.

“Sometimes..” You start, haltingly, “Watching others suffer from a pain you could have shared… is worse.”

…

There is no easy solution to this. 

He cannot ignore the scars on his mind like he could ignore the scars on his head. Not when his family depends on him.

It’s a slow process, the undoing of beliefs he’s gained over decades. 

It’s slowed down even more by political unrest and a literal war.

The twins are not yet Genin and he can’t even feel bad that he’s glad about it. They will not have to fight in this war. He knows them safe with you, promises his own safety with as much fervour as he can manage.

But he returns home, mind forever altered by the images of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

It’s only at night, in the safety of your shared bedroom, that you rest your heads together and link your minds, that he realizes…

Your deepest desires, brought to light by a Ninjutsu, are one and the same. 

To come home after a day of work to a home filled with laughter. To hear Kyou’s first word, watch the twins graduate, fall in love, make their way into the world. To have Idate close and Ino closer. To see Inoichi alive and well again.

There’s only one difference in your dream and Ibiki has to break away laughing when he realizes.

“Really?” He asks, still chuckling helplessly. “You still cannot stop thinking about the brown dress?”

You pout and he allows himself to kiss you, knows he’ll be able to do it again and again and again, never growing tired of it.

“I should have bought it.” You admit, not the least bit ashamed of your desires, no matter how small. “It would have looked so good on me. And it really was the color of your eyes.”

“You always look good.” Ibiki pulls you close. “But if you want this dress that bad, we’ll get it for you.”

"Really?" You sound surprised.

“Anything for you. Just promise to stay with me.”

“That’s easy.” You cuddle into him. 

If he strains his ears he can hear the quiet breathing of his children from down the hall. 

Life might not make it easy for him, but with you by his side, it is.

taglist: @snuggleboots @missalienqueen

[kagami--uchiha]

"They don't call me shinobi no neko for nothing." A wide grin spreads on his face, the Uchiha seemed almost too amused. Should he clear it up already? Or should he poke some more fun for himself.

"I am pretty sure they don't have to know.. But you know that Morino-San is pretty good in finding informations, right? He will know, even if I am not the one to tell him." And oh, Kagami wanted to burst into laughter right then and there, but he has to remain calm.

After all, he has only begun teasing the boy.

‘Can he not feel them or something?’

Jun has had a rather busy day being a general menace to society and was planning on ending it by shooting spitballs at his favorite person to pick on: Kagami. Yet he’s been doing it for a good three minutes and the Anbu operative hasn’t done anything. “I know something isn’t clicking in either my head or his…”

The Sharingan was a wonderous thing.

Wonderous ina sense that it could trick about everyone, even more so when it's on a level as his. More than just bemused did he watch Jun from a branch above him, shooting spilballs at Kagami. Heh.

"Maybe you need to aim at his ear, people are more sensitive there." He mused, not even trying to sound any different.