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Koneko~We've been walking for a while now...When can we stop?
Ann~When it gets dark. It's not even dinner. Anyways, this is better than having to run
Koneko~But we could have been at the inn by now...and these fiends are starting to get annoying
Reiketsu~That's only because your daggers can't pierce those rock fiends and the flans are so gelatinous they practically repel physical attacks
Tenka~Stop being mean nii-san
He grunted
Kiba~Reiketsu really took from your side of the family
Ann~I guess my genes are pretty dominant?
She nervously laughed
Kiba~But Koneko is right. We should rest for a few minutes. At least to drink water
Ann~Alright alright. We can stop at the next ruin over there for some shade. Sounds good?
Koneko~Finally!
She ran ahead to sit in the shade
Reiketsu~Sometimes she's too much of a cat
Ann~Which is why you need to watch over her
Reiketsu~I know I know...And even when Ryko is with her I still have to make sure she's fine
Ann~That's my boy
He glared at the road ahead
Reiketsu~I don't get why though...Mom was fine by herself...Why do I have to look out for her? We're the same age and she can command dogs
Kiba~Cut it out Reiketsu
Reiketsu~Huh?
Kiba~I don't need to be a mind reader to know what you're thinking. Mom just wants you to know how important family is. Not all ninjas live long
Reiketsu~Yeah dad...I know
Kiba~Good, cuz five year olds, even ten year olds, shouldn't have to live alone and support themselves
Reiketsu~what about Hokage? He was alone though
Kiba~But he had a monthly allowance. Your mother didn't because she didn't want a recorded trail of her existence that could possibly send her back
Reiketsu~Why would she be sent back?
Kiba~She was originally from the Mist, and a lot of strings were pulled so she could be with us when we were kids. You'll need to ask Grandma the next time you see her. I don’t know the specifics
Reiketsu~That sucks...Probably won't be til the holidays. I wonder what happened. Zabuza always said Grandma does what she wanted…Did it actually involve following the rules?
They all sat with Koneko and Ann took out some snacks
Koneko~What about all the other food?!
Ann~The next place where we can get supplies is gonna be Djose, which will be a few days from now. If they don’t have anything, it'll be at Moonflow, which is another few days
Koneko~That's so far!
Reiketsu~Shut up and eat your ration. At least we don't need to hunt for now
Koneko~You don't have to be mean either...
Tenka sighed and gave her a few pieces of his snacks. Ann and Kiba shook their heads

They soon started off again in relative quiet, until they passed a traveling cart merchant flagging the family over.
Koneko~Mom, Dad, can we?
Kiba~It doesn’t hurt to look.
Ann~Go ahead you three. We can get something.
They trotted off.
Ann~I just felt deja vu there.
Kiba~Did this happen with Auron?
Ann~It did…
When they got closer they heard the merchant telling the triplets a story about a charm he was holding.
Merchant~This charm's feather came from a Midnight chocobo that was so wild–
Ann cutting in~It was so wild it had yielded to only one summoner in its life.
Merchant~That’s right young lady. Have you bought one before?
Ann chuckled~I’m starting to think you’re the same man. Can’t be too many people with eye-scars
Ann pointed to her sword’s pommel where a worn version of the charm hung.
Merchant~Ah, you were that spry one with that gentleman with a red coat. It’s hard to forget such distinct features, especially in two different people of different ages.
Koneko~This is where you got that from?
Reiketsu~Why’d you keep it for so long?
Ann~I did. I kept it because I got two. The other one is with grandpa
Tenka~And the other one he has?
Ann~From grandma. I didn’t know that until after I put it on him
Kiba~I think you three should pick for us then. Make sure you get something for yourself too.
Merchant~I’ll throw in a family set discount. How does 1500 gil sound?
Ann~Make it 1000.
Merchant~Still driving a hard bargain.
Koneko~Wait, mom. Can we get one for Zabuza and Haku too? Oh and Ryko?
Ann~Yeah. Go pick out the colors with your brothers. *to the merchant* How does 2500 sound for eight pieces?
Merchant~You got yourself a deal.
Ann paid for the charms while the triplets discussed the colors. In the end, they chose two red, two white, two yellow, one blue, and one green.
Kiba~Who gets what colors?
Reiketsu~I got blue. Zabuza and Haku’s are the white ones.
Koneko~I chose the yellow ones for me and Ryko.
Tenka~Mine is the green one. Yours and mom’s are the red ones.
Ann~Do you kids want some help tying them on?
Koneko~Do we have a hair tie? I want mine on my tail.
Ann~We should. I usually keep a few…
She knelt down to check her pack.
Tenka~Dad, can you help me tie it on my necklace?
Kiba~Of course. Rei?
Reiketsu~I haven’t decided where I want mine yet.
He placed it in his pouch, letting his hand linger on the feather for a moment before pulling his hand out. Ann found a hair tie and helped Koneko tie both yellow charms on it then wrap it on her tail without being too tight. When Kiba finished tying Tenka’s charm, it looked like a pendant.
Ann~That’s okay, honey. Would you like to help with mine or dad’s?
Reiketsu rolled his eyes but nodded anyway. He took a red one from Koneko to tie to it with the other charm on Ann’s sword. Koneko moved to tie the other red one to Kiba’s left glove cuff. Kiba patted her head when she finished.
Ann~Tenka, give me the last two. I’ll put it in dad’s pack.
Once it was secured, they headed off again towards the inn.

By night fall, they reached the inn
Koneko~Is there food?
She plopped down onto the cushion
Ann~Just wait
Koneko groaned
Tenka~Don't be like this sis. We've gone longer without food before
Koneko~But we're inside..There should be something to eat...
Reiketsu~Maybe we should sleep outside if it means you'll stop complaining
Kiba~Cut it out. The two of you shouldn't be acting like this. You know better and you were trained worse
Koneko~Okay...
Reiketsu~Sorry...
Ann~come on guys, room is this way

After putting the three to bed, Ann sat with Kiba
Kiba~Alright?
Ann~They're just fighting so much. They weren't like this at home and Auron didn't have this much trouble with me even when I was acting up
Kiba~Don't worry. I'm sure they'll stop bickering with each other soon enough. It'll come sooner if they need to work together, and for now it seems like that's the only time they do
Ann~I know...but it worries me is all. I just don't want any of them to get really hurt. Medical treatment here isn't the same as back home. Which is why I have a problem with my left shoulder sometimes
Kiba~That explains why you refuse to sleep on my left when you came back
Ann~Yeah. I think that was when I got pushed over a cliff in Gagazet, or I fell off a chocobo in the Calm Lands. I forgot which.
Kiba~Please try not to hurt yourself this trip
Ann~I'll try not to
Kiba~let's get some rest. We got a long day tomorrow

Ann~Alright kids, get up
Koneko~Too early...
Reiketsu~Five more hours...
Tenka~Maybe lunch...
Kiba~I'll see what they can do for breakfast
Ann~We'll be taking the chocobos until we get to Mushroom Rock
The three sat up
Koneko~Is breakfast guaranteed?
Ann~Yes
Tenka~Not rations?
Ann~Shouldn't be
Reiketsu~Did you already take out our clothes?
Ann~Get dressed. You have 10 minutes
She tossed them their clothes and grabbed their bags as she went out
Kiba~Got them up?
Ann~Yup. Get breakfast?
Kiba~She said that we can use their kitchen for a fee since it's too early for their employees
Ann~That's fine. Come on
She turned to the clerk
Ann~[Please, tell our kids that we’re in the kitchen]
Clerk~[Sure thing]

After breakfast, they went out and rented 3 chocobos. Tenka and Kiba sat on one while Rei and Koneko were on another.
Reiketsu~Why do you get your own?!
Ann~Because I can ride one and I'd rather have two less chocobos to run after. At least you're leading the bird first
Tenka~So I can't lead it?
Kiba~You can if you want. I'd rather you not fall off is all
Koneko~I can have a turn too right nii-san?
Reiketsu~Yeah, after me
Koneko~Promise?
Reiketsu~Yeah. We'll trade in an hour, how's that?
Ann~Riding chocobos is like riding a horse. Squeeze your legs slowly and they'll go
Kiba~Go on Tenka
Tenka made a squeeze and the bird started to walk
Ann~Rei, your turn. And make sure your sister gets a turn too
Reiketsu~Yeah yeah. Why am I not surprised she heard?
He gave a squeeze and went off to catch up with Tenka and Kiba, then slowed next to them. Ann was next to catch up
Ann~Wow, you guys are better than me
Koneko~How'd you do?
Ann~i squeezed too hard and my chocobo went into a full sprint, and when dad stopped it, it went off again because I was still squeezing my legs
Reiketsu chuckled and Ann reached over to smack him. He reached out to hit her back, but Ann moved away making him fall off. Koneko pulled the reins to stop.
Koneko~Gonna fight now?
Reiketsu~Just make sure the bird keeps running
Ann and her chocobo had already run off. Reiketsu jumped back onto their chocobo and they chased after their mother
Tenka~Should we chase after them?
Kiba~Stay on the main road and don't go any faster than you're comfortable
They hurried off after the other two. Reiketsu was standing on the chocobo and tried swinging his sword at Ann
Reiketsu~Go faster sis
Koneko~He won't go faster
Ann~Don't hurt the birds, kids. They're rentals
Reiketsu~I won't hurt them. I just wanna hurt you
Ann~we'll see about that
She directed the bird over the cliff and jumped down to the lower road
Reiketsu~Follow her
Koneko~Are you sure?
Reiketsu~If you can catch up to mom, I'll let you have my candy bar that I've been saving
With that Koneko did the same
Tenka~We don't need to follow them do we?
Kiba~It seems like the roads go the same way. I think we'll be alright

At the end of the road, they found Reiketsu and Ann holding each other in a lock while Koneko was still on her chocobo.
Kiba~How long have they been like that?
Koneko~A while. I’m not sure exactly how long
Kiba got off then helped Tenka off
Kiba~Try to separate them while I get your sister down
Tenka nodded and went over to them
Tenka~Mom, nii-san, aren't you done yet?
Reiketsu~Nope
Ann~Not till he taps out
Reiketsu~I don't with Zabuza, what makes you think I will with you?
Ann~because I'm stronger than you
Reiketsu~But you'd never seriously hurt any of us
Tenka~He does have a point. That's the limit for Zabuza too
Ann~Oh? Are you sure?
She went tighter
Reiketsu~Yeah, pretty damn sure
He choked out a cough and Ann dropped him
Ann~You should have told me I was choking you!
Reiketsu~Worth it...
He coughed a few more times while Tenka shook his head at them. Ann sighed and picked him up
Ann~Where's Koneko and your father? And the chocobos
Tenka~I guess he returned them. They're at the gate
The two walked over to them
Kiba~What happened?
Ann~Reieketsu didn't tell me I was choking him
Koneko~Again? Why won't one of you learn?
Ann~We're too stubborn?
She gave her mom a confused look and Tenka patted her head
Kiba~Don't think too hard about it, Koneko. You should have expected that
Koneko~I should have…
Ann~It's a good thing, Zabuza and dad aren't here. They won't make it any better