The Lazarus Ninja

"Act like you love me..." she said quietly. A tear slid down her cheek. "Act like you want me."

Keiji did not hear her he was humming the dango song. Isamu was still rather squirmy he figured it would sooth her

She looked at them briefly. "...." Ushio got up and went back to the house to make some food.

Isamu opened her eyes and started pointing to the apple bunnies. She was hungry. "Hmmmpghh..."

Keiji sighed as ushio walked away, his attention turned to Isamu. The girl was pointing at the bunnies " hungry izzy?" he said picking one of the apples up. He moved it about in front of her face " you wont eat me will chu" he said in a high pitched voice

"Gooo!" She giggled when he started the ventriloquism. Then Isamu tried getting on her feet. But she landed on her butt and huffed. Isamu's wings popped out and she tried to bite the apple.

Keiji moved it away " sit down Missy " he said sternly. He didn't want her wings giving out and she end up falling. " papa can help you stand later for now sit and you can have the Usagi " Keiji said more gently

When he used his mean voice, she whimpered and sat down. Isamu looked down and her wings covered her body. She was scared, since that was the first time he was so strict with her.

Keiji moved the bunny to her mouth " say ahh"

"Ny...n...nyaaaaan." She moved the wings away a little and opened her mouth for it.

Keiji pushed the apple into her mouth " take your time and chew on it izzy chan "

Isamu crunched on the apple. She crushed it in her mouth and swallowed slowly. "....mmyaaa..." 'Juice!'

Keiji looked around for a juice box. Finally he located one, he placed the straw at isamu's lips. " go on drink " he muttered.

Isamu wrapped her lips around the straw and happily sucked out the juice. She then looked up at Keiji. 'Pa...papa upset?' she asked sadly.

" no izzy I'm not upset, just confused " he said quietly

'Why, Papa?' She sat down and looked up at him, worried. Were Papa and mama angry with each other? Was it Isamu's fault?

He shrugged " your mom went into the compound and I'm not sure why" Keiji said

'Mmm...maybe you should smile for her, papa!' Isamu grinned and crawled over to Keiji. 'Go tell mama you lover her.'

After a while, she stared at him. '...and I meant NOW.'

Keiji narrowed his eyes on his daughter,a child should not speak to their parent as she justhad. " Isamu do not take that tone with me, if you do again there will be no more pancakes " he said picking her up. He looked to the compound " however the wise man does listen to council" Keiji began walking them back into the Akimichi compound.

She pouted and shrank in his arms. She was just a bit frustrated, seeing her parents so distant.

When they entered the kitchen, Kaji would have a surprise. Isamu sprouted her wings and flew to the table, where her food lay.

Ushio turned to Keiji, her cheeks and face dusted with chocolate.

She grinned and held out a huge, heart-shaped cookie, the size of a flat screen TV. On it were the words 'Go on a date with me'.

Keiji cocked an eyebrow as he read the cookie. His eyes fell on Ushio " all you had to do was ask ".

She shrugged and smiled. "You've always been the sweet, caring one.... I want to do something nice for you and have you love me again, okay?" She pecked him on the lips. "So, just act like you don't love me. I... I'll make you fall in love me too."

Keiji placed his hands on her waist and kissed her on the lips adding some tongue. ``Ushio that is just how I am`` he said breaking the heart into with a shadow. ``Ì still love you honey`` he replied smiling.

"I love you too... You deserve to be pampered and spoiled for a while, okay? Let me baby you for a while. I'm...miserable without you."

"Goo!" Isamu agreed, before going back to eating her mashed potatoes.

"See? Isamu-chan is my witness." Ushio smiled and pressed a bit of cookie to his lips. "Have I ever told you that you have a very sexy smile?"

Keiji shook his head " I don't need pampering " he looked at isamu who had a piece of carrot dangling from her nose. " she eats like you " he said taking the cookie from her grasp. As Ushio finished her little speech he chuckled " probably more than once". Keiji got to his feet " I'm going to write out some scrolls " he said walking out of the room, he left a shadow clone to help Ushio with the clean up.

Ushio crossed her arms and pouted. Keiji was a tough nut to break...but he was worth it. She smiled and cleaned up their baby girl, who then messed herself up again.

Ushio sat down and started planning her next move. Love could be harder than shogi.

"Ne, Keiji-kun, do you prefer bunnies, foxes or kittens?"