[ Festival of Flames ]
[ @himahimesun ]
[ Uchiha Fugaku II, Uchiha Mikoto II, Uchiha Reika, Suigin Ryū, Uchiha Itachi, Uzumaki Himawari, Uzumaki Boruto, Uchiha Sarada ]
[ Verse: Divine Light ]
“Remember, be back to the inn by nightfall. I don't want you three out after dark.”
An ink-haired girl rolls her eyes, arms crossed. “We'll be fine, Ma. Can we go now?”
Brow slightly wilted with worry, Ryū nods. “...all right. Stick together, won't you? Festivals are fun, but you can't be too careful.”
“We will!” Reika pipes up before taking after her sister.
Watching them go, it takes the mother a moment to realize her son remained. “...aren't you going with them?”
The teen rests his hands in his pockets. With a shrug of his shoulders, he replies, “I'm not sure Mikoto wants me around.”
A knowing look crosses the light mage's face. “And you think she's eager to take her little sister with her? I wouldn't worry about it, dear – besides, we all know you're the level-headed one. Who's going to keep them out of trouble?”
Fugaku sighs. “...I guess so.”
“Do try to have fun, won't you? After all, this is the celebration of your element! Perhaps you can woo a young lady with some fancy fire work, hm?”
Balking, the boy goes pink in the face. “What?!”
“How do you think your father did it?” Ryū teases as her husband joins them.
“Were you literally hot and bothered?” he teases.
Fugaku's face wrinkles in distaste. “...I'm going to go find the girls.”
Making his way through the crowds, he tries to keep an eye out for Reika's flash of white hair. All around him, fire mages create displays of their magic, drawing bunches of people in their wake. The multitudes of people make him nervous, but he's sure his sisters are buried in there somewhere – playing games or finding food. His senses have yet to find them, however, and eventually he just sits on a bench to rest with a sigh. Nearby, fire mages continue their spectacles.
“Excuse me...is this seat taken?”
Glancing over, Fugaku pauses to see a girl around his younger sister's age, gesturing to the bench. “...uh...”
“My feet are killing me...!” Without waiting for his answer, she drops down beside him, making his shy to one side. “All this walking to try to find my brother, and still no sign of him...he's such a thorn in my side...!”
Blinking silently at the girl's tirade, he pauses as her hair shifts, revealing long ears like his own. “Ah...you're el'ven.”
“Hm?” Looking up, she questions him with ice-blue eyes. “...oh! Yeah, I am. My father's an air mage – Mother is water!” She gives him a small grin. “And I have ice magic!” She pokes his arm, making him yelp at the intense cold. “...I have a big brother who has air like my dad...” Her mouth settles into a small pout. “...he was supposed to lead me around, but he disappeared! Probably off to find that igni girl, Sarada...”
At the name, Fugaku perks up again, still rubbing his arm where she'd frosted him. “...Sarada?”
“She's my cousin. I'm out here looking for my sisters...” He manages a small smile. “...I guess everyone's out here looking for everyone else, huh?”
“Sure seems that way.” Looking around, the girl then jolts. “...oh! I'm Himawari, by the way. My brother's Boruto.”
“I'm Fugaku. My sisters are Mikoto, and Reika. They, uh...took off without me.”
“Siblings, right? So hard to keep track of!”
They both manage a small laugh.
“So...may I ask what element you use?”
“Oh, uh...fire. Like my dad.”
Himawari's eyes light up. “Ooh, fire? Why aren't you practicing like the others?”
A nervous hand scratches at the back of the teen's neck. “Oh, well...I don't really like being the center of attention. That's more Reika's thing. But she and Mikoto are both light mages, like our mother.”
“Light mages...? Wow, those are rare! I'm glad to hear there are more of them.” Stretching her legs out, the girl hums to herself for a moment. “...well, I'm not about to find my brother just sitting here. But I'm still annoyed he wandered off...”
“Well, we could look together. If he's looking for Sarada, she might be with my sisters.”
“That's a good point!” Taking to her feet, she watches Fugaku do the same. “Of course...it's so crowded, we might get separated...”
Blinking, Fugaku does the simple thing and takes the girl's hand. When she looks to him questioningly, he goes pink. “...it's what I do with my sisters. When...they aren't leaving me behind.”
Himawari's cheeks warm to match his own. “...w-well, okay.”
Moving through the crowds, they check the food stalls and game booths, but to no avail. With all of the voices, there's no use calling out. And even when Fugaku climbs a tree, he still can't spot them.
“This is ridiculous,” he mutters, scowling. “Mother told us not to separate...”
“Yeah, mine too. But would Boruto listen?” Himawari sighs. “...should we just try to find our parents, instead?”
“I'm not sure that would be any easier...” Giving their surroundings one last look, the Uchiha squints at a group of children nearby. “...wait a minute...” Pulling Himawari with him, he gets them close enough to see Sarada giving her own little show for enthralled youths gathered around in a circle. Off to one side, leaning against a building, is Mikoto, Reika sitting beside her as they watch.
Jolting as Himawari takes back her hand, he watches her stomp over to a blond boy clapping eagerly when Sarada takes a bow. He yelps as she grabs his ear. “A-ah, hey!”
“I've been looking for you everywhere! Didn't you hear what Mother said?”
Watching her berate him, Fugaku jumps slightly as Reika tugs his sleeve. “Oh...there you are.”
“Trying to find you guys.”
“Not putting on your own little show, huh?” Mikoto teases. “Of course, that's not really your style.” She jerks her head. “Who's the girl?”
“Himawari – she lost her brother. We tried looking together. Apparently, he knows Sarada.”
“Huh...small world. Well, now that we're all together, we should find something to eat.”
“Yeah, I'm starving!” Reika cuts in.
“Should we bring the others?”
“Might as well,” the elder twin replies with a shrug.
Together the six of them spend their coins on festival food, the younger four talking easily as the twins simply walk behind them.
“So if they know Sarada...how come we don't know them?”
“No idea,” Fugaku replies. “I guess we've just never had the chance to cross paths. We hardly even see Sarada and her parents.”
As though on cue, the adults call out from one side. Recognizing his aunt and uncle, Fugaku also can't help but see Himawari and Boruto in the pair beside them.
“We thought we'd find you here,” Ryū teases. “When in doubt, go where the food lies.”
“No, not really – Sarada already did some, anyway.”
“I see you've met Naruto and Hinata's children – good!”
As he nods, Fugaku sees Himawari approach. “It's starting to get dark – won't you do some fire magic? We'll be able to see it better, now!”
“We could do some together,” Itachi offers with a small smile.
After a tick of hesitation, Fugaku agrees. The group give them room, and the pair begin to channel their magic. Flares of fire light up against the night sky, slowly building as Fugaku finds himself having fun. Eventually, he doesn't even notice his father stopping, still performing his own.
“I want to try!” Stepping forward, Himawari raises her hands, cooling water with her air and letting plumes of ice bloom.
“Hey, it's not the ice festival!” Boruto insists, quieting as Sarada elbows him.
Watching Himawari curiously, Fugaku doesn't stop his own, soon grinning as he teases her. A few licks of flame reach out and mix with her ice, hissing and making bursts of steam.
“Hey!” Pursing her lips, she retorts, hands weaving as they have a short duel, their elements twisting and turning around each other. But her stern look soon turns to laughter before the two of them come to a stop.
“A rather unusual combination, but interesting nonetheless,” Ryū notes.
The pair grin at each other, both a bit pink in the cheeks as they glance away.
“Well...there's more yet to see tomorrow,” Itachi offers. “For now, I think we'd all best retire.”
“Aw, but it's just getting good!” Mikoto complains.
“You have all week – we just arrived this morning,” her mother chides. “Trust me – best to rest up tonight, and then be up into the night later on. You'll regret it, otherwise – you'll be tired all week!”
“Your mother knows all about being up late during the fire festival,” Itachi adds, ignoring her incredulous, blushing look to him.
The rest all laugh, saying their goodnights.
“Maybe we'll see each other again tomorrow!” Himawari offers, hands folded behind her back.”
“I hope so,” is the little fire mage's genuine reply. “Goodnight, Himawari.”
Oh gosh this is late =‘D I’m so sorry Ari - I hope you like it nonetheless ;w;
I put them in my fantasy AU since we haven’t done much of that - I thought it would be a nice change of pace! I’ve always written Hinata as a water mage, since I think it fits her pretty well - so water plus air gives Himawari ice! At least, for this drabble, lol
If anything needs changing, just let me know!