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F O R G E T - M E - N O T
From the moment he opens the door, he knows he’s in deep shit.
His wife stands before him, arms crossed and foot tapping, a thunderous scowl on her face. He’s seen that look before. It’s the same expression she wears when she’s on missions, taking lives for the betterment of their village – for their family. Now it is trained on him, and he has to say, he’s a bit uneasy.
“I’ll give you one guess,” Sakura grits out between clenched teeth. “One guess as to why I’m upset with you.”
He thinks about whether he had forgotten to take out the trash or left a mess before meeting Raidou for lunch. He can’t come up with anything, so he starts to think about if he missed something important. Dates filter through his mind, and Genma mentally ticks off the crucial holidays and anniversaries, none bearing any familiarity with today’s date.
Before responding, he hears a commotion in their backyard, a high-pitched screeching that catches his attention for a split second. Genma steps towards their patio door; however, his wife has other plans and side steps in front of him, blocking his view.
“Focus, Genma,” she growls, snapping her finger to draw his attention. “What is today’s date?”
It takes him a moment to respond, “It’s the second of July.”
“The second of July,” Sakura parrots, nodding her head slowly. “And what is so important about the second of July?”
Realization dawns like a punch to the gut – or rather more like a kunai to the chest, and Genma takes a staggering step around his petite wife’s frame and crowds into their kitchen.
He almost presses his face against the window pane, taking in the colorful balloons, the tri-colored bouncy house, and the mass of screaming children running around his backyard. Parents linger by the refreshments table, talking amongst themselves and half-watching the children with amusement in their expressions.
“Oh no,” He whispers.
“Oh yes,” Sakura replies. “How could you forget your son’s birthday?”
“Blame Kakashi,” is his immediate excuse.
Sakura growls, “Try again.”
“I was...um, I was…working?”
“Be careful with your next words, strike three, and you’re out,” Sakura gripes.
Genma smartly chooses not to speak after that. Sakura sighs, shoulders slumping, and Genma thinks that he might have gotten out of being in trouble for a passing moment, but then her ire is back, and her eyes are trained on him.
“Here’s what you’re going to do because I don’t have the time or energy to fight with you. You are going to turn your ass around, you are going to go to the nearest toy store, and you are going to buy Asahi the biggest toy in that store. You will then come back here, present it to him, and make it look like you’ve been around the entire time.”
Genma nods slowly, but his attention is drawn back outside, specifically towards the bouncy house.
“Or,” he starts. “I could go out there, and you know, play with them.”
“You are not going on that bouncy house, even after you get back. Now go.”
“Alright, alright,” he relents and walks towards the front door, but not before bending down and kissing his wife on the cheek. “Love you.”
Sakura’s ire has completed subsided at this point. “I love you too, you insufferable man. Remember, biggest toy.”
“Aye, Aye, captain,” Genma offers her a mock salute before he is out the door, Sakura’s soft giggle trailing behind him.
-o-
Later on, Genma returns with not just one but two of the most giant toys that any children have ever seen. It earns him the title of the ‘Best Dad Ever.’
He also gets to play on the bouncy house.