Lingyue's Kiss

About that.

Uchiha Tenshu was at a loss for words.

He had tried to explain before.

He had helped Uchiha Yukino overcome her isolation and loneliness. He had helped her find hope.

Unfortunately, when it came to Uchiha Lingyue, an extreme sister-complex, logic simply didn't apply.

In Uchiha Tenshu's eyes, Uchiha Lingyue was a beautiful girl. Her lovely features and icy, aloof expression, as cold as a mountain of ice, hit all his buttons.

But every time Uchiha Tenshu opened his mouth, she cut him off before he could get a word out. "Don't explain. I don't want to hear it."

She folded her arms across her chest. Her slender figure was remarkably tall, and her long, straight black hair fell down her back. Her eyes brooked no argument as she looked down at him as if he were a bug.

With an attitude that arrogant,

she still managed to make him furious.

Fortunately, at times like this,

Uchiha Yukino would always come to his defense. With Yukino stepping in, Tenshu could temporarily escape Lingyue's "harassment." Lingyue might stop picking a fight with him, but her eyes still brimmed with suspicion and caution.

She watched Uchiha Tenshu's every move with wary eyes, wherever they were, afraid he might do something out of line.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yukino would gently reassure Uchiha Lingyue, telling her that Big Brother Tenshu was someone they could trust and asking her not to keep picking on him. Uchiha Lingyue pouted, staring at her little sister Yukino in disbelief. She couldn't believe her sister was defending an outsider so fiercely.

But as an extreme sister-complex, Uchiha Lingyue still listened to Yukino. Though she remained reluctant, she was no longer as forceful as before.

Uchiha Yukino would then look at Tenshu with an apologetic smile, hoping he wouldn't take Lingyue's temper to heart.

Seeing Yukino's gentle expression, Uchiha Tenshu felt his irritation vanish at once. He smiled and said he wouldn't hold it against her. After all, he had lived two lives. Why would he seriously hold a grudge against a little girl? Besides, Uchiha Lingyue was only trying to protect Yukino.

She might have been a little overprotective, but having someone like that as Yukino's older sister—

Uchiha Tenshu couldn't have been happier!

Fortunately, after this little incident, Uchiha Lingyue's attitude toward Uchiha Tenshu didn't change completely, but it did soften considerably. And as they spent more time together,

with Uchiha Tenshu telling Uchiha Yukino stories day after day, Uchiha Lingyue continued to make cutting remarks, but her tone had softened.

And the relationship between Tenshu and Yukino seemed to be changing in subtle ways with every one of these encounters.

Of course,

most of his daily interactions with Lingyue involved bickering and arguments, and Uchiha Tenshu took plenty of abuse for it. Getting along with Uchiha Lingyue was a real headache.

"Big Brother Tenshu, why are you here so early today? Don't you usually come in the afternoon?"

Over here,

Uchiha Tenshu entered the room, moving as quietly as he could, but Uchiha Yukino still noticed him right away.

The moment she saw him, her soft, chubby-cheeked face lit up with the most sincere smile.

She was also surprised by how early he had arrived.

Usually, Big Brother Tenshu trained in taijutsu in the morning, then studied ninjutsu and genjutsu at noon. He only came to see her in the afternoon, when he studied Medical Ninjutsu and the like. Then they studied together.

"I..." Uchiha Tenshu had just started to speak when Uchiha Lingyue abruptly cut him off.

"Hmph, so you finally showed up!" Uchiha Lingyue's voice carried a hint of displeasure and haughtiness. Her already chilly face was even icier now.

Though Uchiha Lingyue acted the same way she always did around Uchiha Tenshu, giving him the cold shoulder and even seeming a little annoyed,

Uchiha Tenshu still noticed something different. He saw a subtle change in her eyes: her clear gaze had turned slightly red, as if she had been crying.

Uchiha Lingyue seemed to realize she had let her guard down. Her little face flushed in alarm, as if someone had seen through her secret. But she quickly composed herself, stamped her foot, and snapped, "What are you looking at? Can't you see I got dust blown into my eyes? Hmph, and don't go saying anything stupid. Got it? Otherwise..."

Uchiha Lingyue shot him a warning look.

Uchiha Tenshu understood perfectly well that she was deliberately reminding him.

She still hadn't told Uchiha Yukino about Elder Uchiha Raimon.

Besides, Uchiha Yukino's health was poor. If she found out something had happened to Uchiha Raimon, it would only cause bigger problems. So even now, the two of them were keeping her out of it.

But when Uchiha Tenshu showed up, Uchiha Lingyue was afraid he might accidentally let something slip. That was why she was so tense.

Uchiha Tenshu understood, of course.

He would never bring any of this up.

So he put on an apologetic expression and said to Yukino, "I'm really sorry. Something unexpected came up, and I'll have to leave the village for a mission soon. That means I won't be able to come tell you stories every day for a while!"

Though Uchiha Tenshu put it that way, he hadn't simply made up an excuse. Every word he said was backed by the truth, so he wouldn't leave himself open to any major questions.

"I see!" Uchiha Yukino nodded helplessly. She didn't seem too bothered, but a hint of disappointment still showed in her eyes. She spoke softly. "It's okay, Big Brother Tenshu. You must have something important to do. And I need to study Medical Ninjutsu properly, too, so I won't be lonely."

As she spoke,

Uchiha Yukino paused. Her clever mind suddenly sparked with an idea. She furrowed her brows and asked eagerly, "But, Big Brother Tenshu, are you going on this mission alone? Is it dangerous? Could something happen to you? Maybe Father could send some people to help you. Could you stay here by yourself instead?"

"Uh, there's no need for that!"

Uchiha Tenshu hurriedly waved his hands. He was leaving for something important, and if he missed this chance, finding a better excuse to leave next time would be a real hassle.

Not to mention,

this was the best time for him to leave the village. If he let this opportunity slip by,

things would only get more difficult later.

Besides, to treat Uchiha Yukino's illness, he had to visit some special places.

Those places were also essential for his own future development. How could he let someone else go in his place?

So he had no choice but to go himself.

Uchiha Tenshu could only reassure Uchiha Yukino. "Don't worry! I'm strong, and I even asked Uncle Raimon for a safe mission. Nothing dangerous will happen! You know what I'm like. I'd never go somewhere too dangerous!"

"Mm. You have to come back safe and sound!"

Seeing that she couldn't talk Uchiha Tenshu out of it, Uchiha Yukino pouted and spoke with a pitiful look.

Uchiha Tenshu was about to comfort Yukino when Uchiha Lingyue spoke first. "Hmph, he'll be fine on his own. With his strength, those simple missions won't give him any trouble." Though she said that, a hint of worry still flashed in her eyes.

Uchiha Tenshu smiled. "Yukino, don't worry. I'll take care of myself. The mission might be a little difficult, but it won't stop me. Besides, it'll be easier to work alone. If I bring anyone else, they might just slow me down."

Uchiha Yukino hesitated, then finally nodded. "All right, Big Brother Tenshu. Just be careful."

Uchiha Lingyue turned her head away and muttered, "Tch, don't go getting yourself killed out there." But her slightly clenched fist gave away the tension she felt.

The three of them chatted for a while longer.

First, Uchiha Tenshu told Yukino that day's story. Then he patiently taught her some Medical Ninjutsu and traded a few barbs with Lingyue.

When the time was right,

Uchiha Tenshu got up to say goodbye, ready to make his final preparations for the mission ahead.

Uchiha Yukino's eyes were full of reluctance.

"Don't worry! You won't be lonely while I'm gone. Before I leave, I'll write out a story for each day. But, Yukino, you can only read one story a day. Save something to look forward to, and don't read them all at once!"

"Mm, don't worry, Big Brother Tenshu!"

After seeing Uchiha Yukino nod obediently, Uchiha Tenshu nodded in satisfaction and prepared to leave.

Uchiha Lingyue followed along beside him.

She quickly walked ahead of Uchiha Tenshu.

"I'll see this guy out!"

At the door,

after the door to Yukino's room closed,

Uchiha Lingyue suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Mm? What..."

Uchiha Tenshu froze as she stared at him.

Before he could finish speaking,

she took a deep breath, as if mustering all her courage, then quickly kissed Uchiha Tenshu on the cheek. She flushed bright red and hurriedly backed away, turning her face aside.

"Hmph, this... this is to encourage you to come back safe and sound. Don't get the wrong idea!" Uchiha Lingyue's voice came out hurried and tinged with embarrassment.

Uchiha Tenshu was stunned. He hadn't expected Lingyue to do something like that. He thought of how she had always found fault with him, constantly picked on him, and bickered with him over everything. He touched the cheek she had kissed, and an unfamiliar feeling welled up inside him.

"Mm! Then... I'm off," Uchiha Tenshu said softly, coming back to himself.

"Come back soon. Don't die out there." Uchiha Lingyue still sounded stubborn, but there was no hiding the worry in her voice.

Uchiha Tenshu smiled and turned to leave.

Uchiha Lingyue stood at the doorway, watching his back until he disappeared from sight. Only then did she slowly turn around.

The next moment, she came back to herself!

Oh no, oh no! Why did I do that? How can I face Yukino now?

Uchiha Lingyue's face flushed bright red as she thought this. But the next instant, she seemed to think of something and nodded.

"Mm, just like Father said, Yukino and I... we're inseparable. We'll always be together!"

"Besides, with Father's arrangements, then, then it doesn't count as..."