Nochi = Kakashi
Utsu = Sasuke
Pia = Naruto
Tori = Sakura
Kakashi, or Nochi, as he was being called, was chopping up food. He was fairly good at cooking and ended up helping out. Pia and Utsu were washing dishes and waiting tables.
Tori was helping Sen with cleaning up the aftermath of dirty spirits.
Meanwhile Haku and Zen sat on the balcony on a roof, overwatching the bathhouse. Kikoenai was out and about in the streets, making sure team 7 was doing alright.
"So, brother. You're thinking of sticking to this form?" Haku asked for the 3rd time since seeing Zen, sounding very dissapointed.
"I know I shouldn't be choosing my spirit form based on other spirits. But she is a force to be reckoned with. A fleeting bird with the strength of a mountain." Zen stared down at the road below and his eye caught Kiko wandering the street, unaware of the old river spirit watching her.
"Nothing good will come of your affections. You would be wasting your power to decide on your form, for another." Haku warned. Zen nodded, a weak smile on his lips.
"She has the power to destroy me. I may be older, wiser, and stronger; but she will ruin me."
"But you barely know her." Haku argued.
"What of Chihiro?" Zen retorted back and Haku opened his mouth to argue back but couldn't find anything to say.
"Chihiro is human, I changed my form to make her feel more comfortable but I cannot--" Haku stopped himself and rested his head on the wooden railing of the balcony.
"Oh younger brother..." Zen ruffled Haku's hair a little and Haku swatted Zen's hand away. "Look at you, fussing over a human girl. The easiest thing and easiest way to solve your problems would be to k̰i̱͚͠l̫̰l̴͖͖̱ ̖h̪̻͎̠̰e̺̬͟r͉̭̗."
Haku took a quick step away from his older sibling. "How dare you suggest such a thing."
"It's pitiful. You love this human so why not kill her and keep her as a wife forever." Zen said smiling a little, peeling his eyes off Kikoenai to look at Haku.
"You still haven't changed. I'd hoped that after you were bathed in blood from all the wars in your land that you would be back to normal but-"
"There is no war in Konohagakure anymore. Only peace. Yet they train children to become shonobi. And here's my chance. I've become strong enough to gain a form that humans can see. I will use it and fufill my need, perhaps even find Arcadia on the way." Zen grinned and Haku looked very dissapointed.
"What would Zeniiba think of you?"
"She would think I'm doing better than how I used to. And be glad that I take care to wash myself instead of enjoying the murky depths of blood in my river."
"Then what of the one you like? Is she okay with the blood you will shed?" Haku asked.
"Kiko, my darling. What do you think of humans?" Zen called down to her from the roof, letting power surge through his voice; letting the words flutter down to her. She looked up at Zen and grinned.
"I'd love for them to die." She responded, the words returning up to the brothers. Haku looked shocked.
"What has become of you? You're a river spirit and her a mountain. You should not be malicious like this." Haku spoke, gripping the arms of Zen.
Zen leaned down a little to meet Haku's smaller figure. "I would suppose it's a culture thing." Zen said and leaped off the balcony, turning into his dragon before lowering down to Kikoenai and wrapping her up in his coils.
Zen transformed back into his spirit form and held the blushing Kiko. "My dear, will you stay with me, forever?" Zen asked.
"W-what are you talking about?! Y-you sound like you're asking me to marry you!" Kikoenai said; her face blushing even more so.
"And if I am?" Zen said, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"Y-you idiot!" She smacked his shoulder and squirmed out of his hold. "You're totally joking around with me!! You're gross old man!" She ran off and Zen grinned as she went.
Nochi had watched the ordeal as Pia and Utsu were in the back. Nochi was confused. Zen was certainly more open around that other spirit; but Zen looked about Nochi's age in that spiritual form and he (Nochi) didn't know how to feel about that.
"Master Zen?" Nochi called. Zen looked to Nochi and tilted their head a little.
"Yes Nochi?" Zen sounded monotone.
"How old are you?"
"379 years old." Nochi felt his eyes pop out of his head in shock.
"No way."
"...Mind your manners Nochi. I may be using a half human body in the Shonobi World; but I am a high spirit."
Nochi didn't say anything and resumed chopping his vegtables. Zen smiled a little and walked off in the direction that Kikoenai left.
- - - -
"So Tori, what part of Japan are you from?" Sen asked as they scrubbed one of the large baths. Tori pushed her pink hair back and began.
"Well my family is from Konohagakure, and--"
"Konohaga-what?" Sen said in confusion.
"A hidden ninja village." Tori responded.
"Ninjas? Like the whosh attack kill everyone with swords and throwing stars?" Sen asked looking shocked.
"Yeah but-"
"And they wear all black and have these headbands on them with ribbons flowing in the wind?"
"Kinda but-"
"And they ride on clouds and kill Empire Leaders?"
"Oi!! Let me talk!" Tori growled and Sen grew quiet in shock. "...Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell so loud." Tori appoligized but Sen just kept scrubbing.
"I'm listening." Sen said, scrubbing off the grime.
"We are ninjas and most of us do small missions like helping around the vilage. A lot of us are young and haven't killed anyone and don't want to... But we know it will happen one day of we stay a ninja." Tori said mumbling the last part to herself.
"So I guess you're not from my world." Sen said absentmindedly.
"I guess you're not from my world either." Tori responded and gave Sen a weak grin.
"So why are you even here?" Sen asked.
"Well my sensei said we had to follow Zen to make sure he wasn't a spy. So here we are." Tori said.
"Oh. Well it's a long story but I'm basically working until Haku can figure a way to help me get my parents back so I can leave."
"Wow. I want to help you leave and find your parents too." Tori said, determination clear in her eyes.
"...Are you sure Master Zen wouldn't mind? I heard he can be very scary." Sen mumbled, squatting down to take a quick break. Tori stood up.
"Nah Zen isn't that scary." Tori retorted simply, waving off the idea.
"Is that so?" A soft beautiful voice spoke; it was Kikoenai. "Sweet naieve human. You trust such a strong being that can destroy you in a heartbeat?" She paused and smiled distantly. Her soft pink lips easing into a thin line. "I would suppose I'm being a hypocrite in that sense too." She laughed emotionlessly; causing a shiver to go down the other two girls' spines.
"Do you like Zen?" Asked Tori.
"...Very much." Kikoenai answered, twirling a strand of her straight brown hair. Her eyes black and uninviting; but looking sort of kind in that moment.
"Hey Sen, I got you and your friend some rice." Rin said popping up behind Kikoenai. Rin then noticed the elegant spirit she was near. "Oh! Mountain Spirit, so nice to see you. Its been quite a while."
"Ah yes it has. How have you been doing in saving up that money?" Kiko asked, turning to face Rin.
Rin blushed. "Not going too well, but I'm trying." Kikoenai nodded and looked to Tori.
"I will check up on you later after Master Zen decides what to do." Kikoenai explained and turned around swiftly, walking out of the bathing room.
"Holy sh- - did she say Zen?" Rin asked in shock, looking to Tori. "You work for Zen?" Tori unsurely nodded. "I heard he's scarrier than vengance spirits when he's angry. That he moved mountains with his river, and that he bathes in blood."
Tori let out some air in a laugh. "Ha! As if. Zen is just... I mean... I thought he was our age... Huh..." Tori shrugged. "I guess I don't know..."
"Anyways I'll clean while you two eat then we'll get back to work." Rin said.
"Yes ma'am!" Tori and Sen called
~ ~ ~
Okay so like.. It may have been a year or two since I've updated but here you go. I'm. Sometimes I feel it and sometimes I don't. You can't force these types of things.
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