"I do not," Tsume tried to bark, but found Kiba had stolen her breath in the flail of limbs and fur as she tried to untangle from Kuromaru. He'd also stolen her ability to have children, she was relatively certain, as Kuromaru shrugged them off and Kiba's knee landed hard in her abdomen.

"With Asuma," Kuromaru continued proudly. "He looks virile, don't you think?"

Tsume was saved a squawk when Hana cut across the babble. "He's not Ryouma!"

"No," Kuromaru replied. "He's Asuma."

Tsume wheezed.

"Kiba, get off your mother." As Tori hauled Kiba away, Yasuo gave her a hand up. Kuromaru squirmed between them all, happy as a lark. Tsume gaped for a moment, trying to get her breath back so she could tell them she did not have a date with Asuma.

"What's 'virile'?" Kiba stage whispered.

Yasuo gave Tsume a death glare before he let her go and turned a bright smile on his son. "I'll tell you later," he whispered back.

"Asuma," Tsume wheezed, "this is Kiba, Hana, Tori, and Yasuo. Everyone, Asuma."

"Are you part of a gang? If you're gonna date my ma and all, you've gotta be really awesome." Kiba grinned broadly.

"We're not--" Tsume began, only to have Tori smile and cut across her words.

"Good to meet you, Asuma-san," she said, giving a truncated bow. "So sorry about the introduction. Someone should find a nurse, make sure you haven't torn something -- Yasuo?"

He nodded once and stepped out of the room.

"They're going to dinner at the Hokage's palace," Kuromaru called out. "Look! There's the invitation!"

Kiba picked it up off the floor, loudly working out each word. Tori took it from him, scanning the contents quickly and then giving Tsume and Asuma each a sharp glance. Her smile was even sharper. "I think it's a great idea. Tsume, it's been forever since you've been out."

"It has not--!"

Tori eyed Asuma again, critically. "I'm her older sister. Just ignore her, it has been forever since she's been out. You're going to RSVP, right? They'll want to know you're bringing a guest."

"But I'm not--"

Tori turned on her. "For goodness' sake, Tsume. It's just a political function. It'll be fun. Get you out of the house. And Asuma doesn't mind if you go, do you, Asuma?" She turned and smiled at him.