Tales of a Ninja Magician: Of Where We Come From

Yoruma Treatment

Early in the morning, right after finishing the appropriate morning routine, Mana headed out for the Konohagakure hospital. Normally, only visiting the blacksmith was in mind for that day – she needed to know from a professional if the specific miniature gear-work mechanism that she and her father were working on was possible. Even if it was possible it was unlikely that Mana could make it, even with father's guidance. Father was incredibly crafty, he was known for his skill in tinkering acquired over a lifetime. The skill of that magnitude couldn't be picked up in just a couple of years.

After entering the hospital, and some time before, Mana had to deal with people wishing to greet her or talk to her, ask her when the next show would be. By then it had become the girl's normal routine so it wasn't a big deal. Just a minor hindrance, in terms of how long it took compared to the simple idea of it that Mana had. It was supposed to be just a short visit, in and out after a brief talk. After hearing how Hisako was hurt Mana wanted to see her friend by herself.

"Hey... You're Konoha's Sorceress right?" the lady in the medical ninja uniform sitting at the table at the reception smiled, looking excited to see Mana visiting the hospital.

"Ummm... Yeah. I just... I'm not sure if I can even do that but my friend's been brought from Kumogakure, pretty banged up from what I heard, could I see her by any chance?" Mana struggled out to ask this of the lady. Usually, it wasn't like anyone could just waltz in and see people, especially the people who were in really bad condition.

"Oh... Do you speak of the Yoruma girl? Sorry, normally you could do that once her condition is stable but... I'm afraid she just slipped out from the hospital, we've been informed that she checked into the Administration as "in active duty". You'll probably find her at home at this moment, or drinking from the early morning before getting into a fight, as Yoruma are known to do, Sorceress-chan..." the nurse looked really willing to help Mana out, whether it was because of her job description or particular fondness of Mana's craft as a stage magician remained unknown.

A little saddened that this sidequest of hers ended up being prolonged even more Mana left the hospital building. She probably could've gone to see Eiju but... She wasn't sure that she wanted or even could see him. She wasn't angry at him, what she told Kiyomi was true and if the Yamanaka, whom Mana considered a friend, decided to start a silly rebellious relationship with the newly appointed medical ninja she'd support her friend all the way. If that was what would've made her happy.

"Oy, well you're someone I didn't expect to see today!" Eiju's voice made cold sweat run down Mana's neck and down her back.

"Hey..." she greeted him half-heartedly.

"So... You willing to check yourself at last? You know they won't let you out on a mission unless I tell them you've been examined and you've skipped hell knows how many of those examinations already... It's time to decide, whether you want a shot at going back or not?" Eiju popped a pill. Mana looked surprised to see that he was still popping something after his regenerative tissue was removed by using Mana as a living tool for it...

"Didn't the tissue die? What do you still need poison for?" Mana glanced at him slightly but only out of curiosity.

"People sometimes drink even if they're not alcoholics, lovely, you were right – my tissue died but my sickness came back. It's no worry, there's still a couple of years till it'll flip me over..." Eiju laughed out.

"If you want to poison yourself may as well pick up drinking or smoking, bad habits of normal people. For all the slack you can't seem to cut me for my indecisiveness, you can't decide if you want to live or die yourself..." Mana snapped back at him angrily, she turned back to face the young man she used to hate so much. She started to dominate the conversation, she noticed his stance faltering so the magician closed her distance and stood on her toes to somewhat close the distance between her face and his.