I made my way back to my house with the gallons of paint in hand. The house already looked better. The door was now refurbished, and I noticed the windows from the first floor were clean.

I stepped in and smiled. The inside was now clean and the boys were sitting on the couch. To the side, Takashi stood with a tea kettle on a tray.

"Milady, they were waiting for your return so I made them tea." Takashi's hurried explanation came. I smirked. For a compelled boy, he sure is useful and smart. Good boy.

"Good. Here's the paint, I suggest using your clones to help you finish faster. This is the last thing you need to do." I glanced out the window. "And you better hurry because I sense a bad storm coming." they all nodded obediently and scurried outside to start painting the exterior first.

Takashi poured me a cup of tea, which I took and sipped on it.

"Takashi, go to the market quickly and get enough food for everyone to last us about a week. I will prepare a feast for dinner." I smiled and he nodded. "Take the carriage so you can go faster." I added. Wouldn't want him getting caught in the storm. I could tell a blizzard was coming. But I wasn't sure how bad.

I hope that Naruto boy would be okay. I would check on him tomorrow.

I went into the kitchen and took out six sets of dinner plates and bowls, setting them around my extravagant table. I found a candle, and lit it with ease before setting it as a centerpiece on the table.

I also got the silverware out along with wine glasses I found in one of the cabinets. I set them up nicely and in a well fashioned manner.

I smiled to myself when I remembered before I left I stored a bottle of some of my finest red wine down in my cellar and went down there. Of course, after all of the years I've been gone from here, I should have expected a few cobwebs. But I didn't expect running into on as soon as I opened the cellar door. I yelped and swatted the web away merciless.

I finally found my wine in a back shelf and returned to the kitchen to pour everyone a glass.

Takashi came in with Gai, each carrying bags of food. I pointed to the counter and they piled the bags on there.

"Are you cooking for us?!" Gai exclaimed. I nodded.

"As a thank you, I will serve you all a feast." his eyes shined excitedly before bowing his head down.

"Thank you! We are almost done with outside. Soon we will be painting the inside." he reported. I smiled.

"Thank you. All you guys have to paint on the inside is the empty rooms upstairs and the main bathroom." he nodded and walked off, followed by a door shutting. I rolled my eyes before turning to Takashi, who was unpacking the food.

"Milady, is there something specific you want me to do?" he prompted.

"Yes actually. Please make fires in the fireplaces and make sure all of the windows are shut. Prepare for the storm outside and get the horses in the stables secured." I ordered and he walked off without replying.

I prepared dinner in silence, with nothing whatsoever on my mind. By the time I finished a fruit bowl, the boys came inside, saying something about it started to pour down snow. They went upstairs to continue painting.

I finished cooking when they all came into the kitchen.

"Woah! Is this all for us??" Jiraiya sounded astonished. Asuma patted his stomach.

"Awesome. I'm famished." Kakashi gave me a thankful smile. As for Gai, his mouth was watering and staring at all of the food in delight.

"Alright, no sense standing around while the food gets cold. Dig in!" I smiled at all of them then went to my back door.

I opened it and stepped outside. I was undercover, but somehow snow still managed to hit me. I frowned. There were about two feet of snow and it was still coming down hard. I went back in and dusted the snow off of me, retreating back to the table.

"It seems we've been snowed in." I announced as I sat in my seat. Gai's jaw dropped.

"But we were just out there it seems like! How did it snow that much?" he wondered.

"Well, it is December. And in the newspapers they said to expect some huge storm..." Kakashi trailed off. I noted how his plate was empty and his mask was untouched. I couldn't help but to raise an eyebrow at that.

"It looks like we will have to stay here until we can leave!" Jiraiya decided, sending me a wink. I rolled my eyes at him uninterested.

"I suppose you guys do have to stay. You'll freeze to death out there." I reasoned and shifted some food on my plate.

I could eat it, but I didn't really want to.

Takashi stayed his quiet self while eating in peace. Asuma seemed to do the same, chatting with Kakashi every once in awhile. As for the others, they were way too interested in me.

"So why did you move back?" Kakashi asked curiously.

"Because one of my own kind came to my old village, forcing me to leave."

"What do you mean, 'your own kind'?" Jiraiya quizzed. I grew an irritated mark.

"Didn't I tell you people earlier that I was death? Another Reaper is what." I replied. Everyone seemed to freeze, excluding Takashi.

"You're... A Reaper?" Jiraiya and Kakashi repeated slowly. I nodded.

"Don't worry. You all have a long time before you die. Much longer than the Hokages even." I promised with a closed eye smile.

Gai frowned.

"When??" he asked perplexed. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"I can't tell you until you're within a day of your death."

They all let out disappointed breaths, making me chuckle.

"It's not so bad not knowing your death date. I know mine, and that is my ultimate fear. Knowing when you die is much more scarier than not knowing." I said wisely. They seemed to think that over before nodding and going back to their food.

"I suppose so," Kakashi murmured. "But why is a Reaper like yourself doing normal human things like hosting a dinner?" I gave him a small smile.

"Because Kakashi, I wish I was a human."

The conversations died down then and we all lapsed into a comfortable silence. Takashi finished first and cleaned up his mess along with the mess I made while cooking.

I peered out the window and shuddered. You can see a snow line at the bottom of the window.

"Nobody can go outside unless you're prepared to clean where snow falls inside." I instructed. A chorus of 'okay's' came from everyone.

I got up and went upstairs, planning out the sleeping situations. There were only four furnished rooms including my own and like Hell was I letting one of them sleep with me. They were going to have to split up in pairs and give Takashi his own space, seeing that I wasn't planning on letting him go anytime soon. He was just too useful.

I went in my own room to see it was dusted and the bed was freshly made, probably done by Takashi.

I opened my pajama suitcase and furrowed my brows. Somewhere in here should be some pajama sweats big enough for the boys. I dug around and found six pairs of dark gray sweats that were super stretchy. Even Jiraiya should fit in a pair.

I took five pairs and Put them in each room, along with towels, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

I was glad I kept this house practically furnished.

I went downstairs after changing into a short silk black nightgown with white and red lace on the edges. The sleeves were three quarters of the war down my arms and very loose. I also slipped on a pair of furry black slippers

I found everyone sitting in on the couches while Takashi was cleaning the kitchen.

"I set some pajamas and hygiene necessities on your beds. You will have to share two rooms; the ones on the left of the stairs at the end of the hall." I explained. They looked up at me and turned bright red. I looked down at myself before back at them with an expressionless gaze.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Teale." Kakashi bowed his head down. I glowered at the formality.

"Call me Teale or you're sleeping with the horses." I threatened with an even look. He visibly cringed at the thought.

"Alright... Teale." he agreed hesitantly. I gave him a victorious smile.

"Okay, you guys need to be in your bedrooms by midnight. Even I need my sleep. Go to Takashi if you have any problem or desires." I glanced at Takashi, who had finished the kitchen and was not standing by. "Hear that? Do as they ask." he silently nodded his head.

"Are you going to bed?" Asuma asked and I shrugged.

"I was thinking about making a cake before bed, but I will be retiring for the night soon." I told him and went to the kitchen.

"Dinner was the best I've ever had, by the way!" Gai called out to me. I looked back over my shoulder with a smile smirk resting on my lips.

"Just a perk of being a Reaper." was my reply.

I got out all of the ingredients to make a cake from scratch and quickly whipped everything together. I hummed quietly to myself a tune from something I've heard a few months ago from a group of people I saw perform live.

They called themselves Manchester Orchestra... An interesting group they were. Too bad the singer was the soul I was waiting on to give up three hours after the perfect performance from suicide. That man had the most peace filled voice.

I finished my cake and while waiting for it to cool, I tidied up some places Takashi missed, like wiping down the glass on the cabinets and putting the wine bottle in it's rightful place in the freezing cold cellar.

I watched my cake deep in thought, glancing outside momentarily. The snow was now halfway up the same window I looked at earlier. I estimated about five and a half feet of snow.

How was I going to check on the blonde child? How was I going to make sure he's okay in these conditions, that he had enough food and warmth?

I would have to find a way. I could torch myself a path. That could also get rid of the boys. But I really didn't mind them being here. It was better that being alone like I usually was. It made me feel much more human.

Who was I kidding, I wanted them off my porch as soon as possible.