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icyhandsWho: Yuki Haku and Fukaimori Koji
Warnings: Teenage brats fighting, crossdressing.
When: September 16th, 2012
~
There wasn’t time for anything anymore.
Not usually anyway. Between night time assassinations and missions and finding more jobs, and day time work--illegally in a bar for ninja and other powerful, humanoid creatures. They appreciated a girl who could look pretty and hold her own. Age didn’t really matter, so long as he dressed up well. Pretty makeup, clothing that was nice but not night clothing (he didn’t have the chest to do that) and so on.
Work, get two meals free, haggle for good weapons or whatever he needed at a decent price, kill people all night (or whatever, the missions he took weren’t always so bad, he just felt dirty) and maybe five hours to himself. For sleep. He used the time just after missions to clean up--not that hard, with his bloodline and a bottle of all-purpose soap. He didn’t consider himself so vain when he used his bloodline to get the knots out of his hair before braiding it and tying it. Less time than a brush, yes!
But now, Haku had a little more time to himself. He was booked for missions for the next month--every other day, because they were the heavier, chakra wasting sort--and the bar was open only in the morning, today.
Haku went to his efficiency straight after work, fell asleep for three hours, woke up, and literally couldn’t decide what to do with himself.
But this was a huge city. Haku washed the makeup off his face, put on a knee-length skirt and sneakers with a blouse that pretended he had hips, and left.
The zoo was where he ended up. Thankfully, he looked old enough so no one questioned him, and he could buy a ticket easily enough. He was even tall enough to pass as a girl his age--here, the boys got taller, faster.
Now, time to stare at animals and miss Airi. Haku went off, glad for the small crowd.
Koji didn’t like crowds, but here, he and Chiisai could be together. She lounged on the end of her leash, and Koji stood watchfully by as children scratched her. Most parents were too concerned to let children pet the big cat, but Koji assured them Chiisai was special. She had been raised in captivity--hand raised, as was gentle.
::Gentle?:: Chiisai yawned hugely and Koji leaned down to scratch her ruff.
::As a kitten.:: Koji replied, just to hear her chuckle at him as she accepted a rough pat from a younger child.
Koji, still unsure about his English, waved his hands to shoo the kids away.
“Kitty needs a break!” Koji demanded. A few kids looked disappointed. Some complained. Koji ignored them and lead Chiisai to a less populated area.
Haku was reading a plaque about a type of tree when he caught sight of a large animal out of the corner of his eye. Turning, he was ready to scramble away, thinking it was a dog. He didn’t like dogs much, since he’d been attacked on the streets. It wasn’t, though.
Just a puma on a leash. Haku couldn’t help staring, and he took a startled step back.
Chiisai, as soon as she saw the girl take a step back, trotted towrds her with curious intent. Koji, looking the other way, got yanked alone.
“Hey, hey! Where...” Koji stopped and realized Chiisai was bearing down with intent on a girl. “Pssssht.” ::Don’t scare people!::
Rather than running and screaming, Haku kept still and eyed the cat, flicking chakra into his hand. He could either freeze it or throw a senbon and then swarm up a tree until someone caught it.
Not good to make a scene when you didn’t have much of an identity. Haku wasn’t going to fool himself into pretending he wasn’t scared, but he thought he could survive if he didn’t display it.
Worst to worst, he killed the cat with a senbon to the eye and ran with chakra. Haku’s breath caught as it came within jumping distance. It had a leash. Calm. The air around his hand was barely chilly.
Chiisai paused for a moment as she smelled chakra, then walked up to Haku and stuck her head under his skirt.
::HA! Was right. Is boy.:: Chiisai snickered and Koji stared horrified.
“Bad cat!” Koji managed, trying to drag her back. She didn’t budge. So what if it was a guy in a skirt? Koji felt his face begin to heat.
Haku half jumped back and looked up at the trainer with wide eyes, but when he wasn’t mauled, he pulled his skirt down and nudged the cat with a knee, deciding that if he was this close and it hadn’t attacked him, it wouldn’t.
“No,” It had been a long time since he’d used Japanese daily, and his wasn’t flawless, but he could still be understood. “I’m okay. Cat’s...just curious?” He gave his hand a small flick, then put it down, back of it presented to the cat. No biting! It was almost like a huge kitten, except he’d never owned one.
Koji stared at Haku, dumbstruck to hear the familiar words. Sure, Haku’s accent was pretty terrible, and he didn’t have the flow of a natural speaker, but his Japanese was better than Koji’s! So much better, actually.
Koji bowed. “I’m sorry, she’s just curious, yes.” Koji suddenly beamed, feeling a sudden, very odd kinship for someone who spoke his language. Chiisai politely sniffed the boy’s hand, poking it with her cold nose and then putting her head under his hand.
::Smells like metal and poisons.:: Chiisai murmured to Koji. She opened her mouth and sniffed up Haku’s sleeve.
Haku was looking at the cat, carefully curling his fingers into the fur behind her ear, but when he glanced up to answer the trainer, Koji was smiling. It was a sort of grin he hadn’t seen in a long time, and Haku smiled back.
Oh, he’d bowed. Haku blushed and waved it away with his free hand. “That’s normal for cats, no?” It was nice to practice the language.
“Mah, but she’s more pushy than most cats. She has no manners.” Koji smiled at the cat, besotted despite her warning. Chiisai kept poking at Haku’s sleeve with her nose.
“Ah, I’m Koji. The bad cat is Chiisai,” Koji couldn’t stop grinning. Its felt so good to not have to think about talking!
Haku gave a soft laugh in reply. “I’m Haku,” He said as he put his hand into the fur. Not as soft as Airi, but Airi was a bunny. “You’re not bad! Tell Koji-san that you just want to find something interesting under my sleeve.” He grinned at Koji a little. Hah! He hadn’t been eaten by a mountain lion!
Chiisai looked back at Koji. ::Ninja bitch.:: Chiisai snorted, but purred and rubbed against Haku like any house cat would, rumbling twice as loudly as any little cat.
::Don’t let him know.:: “She wants treats.” Koji wondered if, possibly, this kid could be looking for him. They might send someone Koji wouldn’t naturally suspect after him. Koji’s smile only faltered a little.
“Do you want to help me feed her?” Koji asked, tipping his head to the side.
Haku stumbled slightly with the pressure of that cat, caught himself on a foot, and blinked at Koji. Paused, then nodded, a little surprised. “Okay...” That was a lapse into English, but Koji got the point with his nod. All he could hope for was that he wouldn’t lose his finger.
“I hope you’re not squeamish.” Koji flashed a grin, then walked by the taller boy towards the big cats exhibits. “Come on, this way.” Chiisai trailed behind, watching Haku with a cat’s disinterest.
Haku thought about the silent assassinations he was so good at. “Not very, no.” He glanced at Chiisai, then followed Koji a step behind him, to let him lead.
…Oh, the smell of many cats in one place. Haku wrinkled his nose.
Koji stopped at a “employees only” door and pulled out some keys. He handed the leash back to Chiisai, who took in gingerly in her mouth and sat down. “I’ll be right back.” Kojied ducked inside the door. Koji looked up at Haku.
She bared her teeth in a friendly grimace.
Haku waved his fingers after Koji, and looked down at Chiisai. “Hi.” Her ears weren’t flat, so that meant good things, right? “If Koji-san trusts you enough to not terrorize the crowd, then you’re hardly going to attack me...” Good cat, good cat. “What do you eat, anyway?” Beef? Mice? Rabbits?
Chiisai stared at Haku, then lay down, butt in the air, and stretched, yawning hugely and flexing her claws.
Haku blinked at her, then settled against the wall to wait for Koji. Now he wanted to yawn... Instead, he glanced up at the sky. The look of a city, blegh. Travelling with Zabuza had given him an appreciation for clean skies.
As Koji opened the door pulled a large cooler behind him, Chiisai pounced for Haku’s feet, eyes wide and delighted.
::FEET!!!!:: The shout made Koji stagger.
With the sudden movement--Haku wasn’t that bad of a ninja not to notice it--he reacted rather than thinking. Nothing else mattered but getting out alive. Haku jumped and swarmed up the wall, not stopping until he was perched on a light fixture above, senbon drawn on his palm.
Bad cat.
Koji kicked the door closed and stared at Haku. Time to play dumb. Koji let his jaw hang open and stared as Chiisai joined him, eyes almost luminous.
::Made it run!::
::Yes you did.:: Koji blinked. “How did you do that?”
Time to play the startled victim! Haku made the ice senbon disperse, then clung the fixture with both hands. “I--it, Chiisai pounced, and, and--” Swallow, adjust skirt because he was probably flashing Koji. “A-a-adrenaline? I did gymna-nastics for years, and then...” He wasn’t very scared, or worried that he would reveal anything. It was ten feet up--plausible if Koji thought he missed some of it, or saw his movements wrong.
Koji and Chiisai exchanged glances. They knew what they had seen. After a moments truly silent debate, Chiisai looked up at Haku, then screamed. With that distraction, Koji jumped up onto the wall, trying to knock Haku back towards Chiisai.
Haku couldn’t help a slight startle at the scream, which threw him off slightly.
Not enough. Haku twisted his chakra and sent senbon in Koji’s direction, not aimed to kill, as he sprang back. He had to trust that the wall would be there, and he wouldn’t--
Haku’s foot hit the wall awkwardly, and he fell. The cat was going to kill him oh no no no......
As Haku hit the ground, Chiisai pounced. She lunged for his throat, teeth snapping inches from him as Koji jumped down, flaring chakra to destroy any video evidence of the act. Should tehy kill him?
Koji didn’t think so.
Haku did what came naturally. He spat a senbon at Chiisai, angle skewed as he flinched to defend himself. He saw blood as the senbon entered--they weren’t killing weapons, it didn’t crunch through her skull-- and he braced his arms in front of him, over his face and neck.
Pain flashed through the bond. Koji faltered, and the warning snap Chiisai had intended closed on the edge of Haku’s arm before she yanked back, hissing and growling. Koji feel on Haku seconds later, trying to get his hands.
Despite the pain, Haku was writhing away the moment he could, trying to escape. When he felt Koji on top of him, trying to catch his hands, he kicked. Up.
Koji got kicked in the face. Haku’s foot came out of nowhere and smashed into his face. Koji yowled like a cat and fell back, unbalanced by the blow. Koji rolled back, kicking out at Haku’s head. Chiisai pounced again, this time at Haku’s legs to keep him from standing up and running.
There wasn’t enough time to process between the two actions. Haku rolled forward slightly, clutching at his head, and then there was a cat on his legs. Rather than fighting again, he just waited, hands clutching the back of his head and elbows in front.
Ninja and their attack first rule were so much fun.
Koji grabbed Haku’s hands. Chiisai simply lay down, putting her head on Haku’s stomach. Koji held on as tightly as possible, hands buzzing with chakra. And waited. Koji’s nose was bleeding. Chiisai’s head was bleeding.
Haku didn’t quite relax, but with the lack of stabbing, he decided that it was okay to speak. “Can we stop attacking each other, please?”
“You stabbed my cat,” Koji hissed. Chiisai started purring, still dripping blood. Koji stared at her. She’d cut off their bond to keep him from feeling her pain, this cutting off their speech. Slowly, Koji’s hold loosened.
“If you make a threatening move, we will kill you,” Koji snapped, glaring at Haku as his hands tightened again on the boy’s wrists.
“Self defense, Koji-san,” Haku said, and decided that fighting over who started it would be pointless. “The senbon is ice, it’ll melt.” Reinforced with his chakra, which is why it didn’t break. Haku eyed Chiisai for a moment, before looking up, past Koji.
Great. Now that he didn’t have Zabuza’s cynicism to counteract, he was turning into a pessimist. Haku frowned slightly.
Chiisai kept purring. Koji finally released Haku’s hand and stood up to walk back to his cooler, growling under his breathing. Chiisai stared at Haku and purred.
Haku lifted himself up onto his elbows and blinked back at the cat. Glanced at Koji and wondered if they were going to crush him to death. “I didn’t want to frighten you, but I thought Chiisai-san was going to kill me.” Probably not appropriate to call a cat like that, but he could blame it on a rusty handle of the language.
“If she were going to kill you, then you’d be dead,” Koji scoffed. “Hey, come eat.”Slowly, Chiisai stood up and made sure to drip blood on Haku. As much blood as possible before she turned and walked to Koji. Koji sat on the cooler and gently touched her head. She in turned licked the blood off his bruised face.
“Ow...” Cat tongues were rough.
Haku shook his head, and then looked at the blood in dismay. Swallowed, and suddenly felt like crying. He didn’t have many clothes, and these were pretty much ruined. He could get away without a shirt in public, but the skirt wouldn’t help with that, and there was blood on it too. He would take the roofs, but it would be hard to not be seen during the day. If he waited long enough, though, he might be able to pass it off as something else.
Haku sat up, then stood carefully. Eyed Koji, then glanced down the alley. No luck.
:: Now he’s covered in blood.:: Chiisai purred and koji decided that as long as he kept the puncture wound clean, it would heal up fine. He’d watch it to make sure it didn’t get infected, but she’d be okay. Koji kissed the top of Chiisai’s head. He opened the cooler to let her pick what meat she wanted and stood up, regarding Haku carefully.
He looked panicked.
Koji scoffed, folding his hands threw a few signs. His bruises and Chiisai’s blood vanished. “Are you stupid or incompetent?” Koji wasn’t going to attack, but he wasn’t going to be all nice with this one who had hurt his cat.
“Neither.” Just a bad hand with genjutsu, and genjutsu didn’t solve the fact that his clothes were ruined. Haku glanced up to the roof; if he stayed low, no one would notice him.
Zabuza had always focused on turning him into a tool to help himself. That meant training to kill, to be complementary to Zabuza. Senbon, his bloodline, being fast, some minor healing to speed things up, but his master had never been much of a healer. His training was always focused on Zabuza, supporting him. When it became obvious that Haku would not take to the easily, Zabuza focused on other things. He had the genjutsu that he needed to fight, and that was it.
Running a hand through his now-disheveled, bloody hair, Haku turned away to hide the stricken look. Time to go. He could hold a henge, but it would only hold for so long. “Goodbye, Koji-san,” Haku murmured, and made half-seals to henge into a cleaner version of himself with different clothing.
Then he turned away and made to leave.Layers were beyond his level.
::Made it sad, stupid.:: Chiisai chuffed.
::You’re the one who bit him and jumped him first,:: Koji reminded the cat, though she relayed the spike of fear or anxiety she’d smelled from the boy. Koji shifted nervously.
::I’m just a cat.:: Chiisai gave Koji her most innocent stare. ::What if it’s a TRaditional and it tells people about us?::
The thought was like being doused with ice water. Koji turned and stepped. “Hey...” Oh gods, he was leaving. “Hey!” Koji grabbed for Haku’s arm, Chiisai chuckling in the back of his head.
Haku twisted automatically and nearly impaled Koji’s hand with a poison senbon, but then kept it from puncturing. “Please let me go.” The metal was pressed against Koji’s wrist. Haku eyed him carefully.
“You can’t just walk around the zoo bloody, what if you bump into something? Look...” Koji didn’t let go. “I’ve got my street clothes in my locker and the shirt’s too big for me so it should fit you...” Peace offering. Chiisai approved. They could track Koji’s scent after Haku left and figure out where she stayed.
Haku hesitated, then took the needle away from Koji’s hand. “...Alright,” Haku murmured. He could do that. Trust Koji not to kill him. There was probably a motive, but maybe Haku would be able to defend himself. If he set up his ice mirrors, he would be safe. He tugged his hand back, a hint to let go, but made no move to run.
“Good. Stay.” Koji made a motion with his hands, as if that might keep Haku still, then went darting off to get the clothes. Chisai, gnawing on a leg of lamb, stared at Haku and licked her bloody lips.
This time, Haku didn’t look away from the lion. It could probably understand something, considering how it acted with Koji. Instead, he hugged himself and stared at it. “I guess you wouldn’t let me heal you.”
Chiisai stopped and picked up her head, ear pricked as she looked at the boy now.
Haku paused, then held his hands at her standing level. He twisted them into signs, before bringing gently pulsating, green chakra to his palms. He didn’t step closer, though, leery of prodding her into attack.
Chiisai slowly stood and paced forward a few steps. She let her mouth open a fraction and sniffed in Haku’s directions, givin a gentle chuffe before she walked forward and this time stopped close enough for Haku to touch her. Blood, escaping the genjutsu, dripped off of her skull.
Haku gently cupped his hands around the wound. The senbon had slid in a ways and left damage, more than it should have. He repaired from the point of most damage, knitting split skin together. He couldn't repair any damage to the actual skull, but he didn't think there was much. So he gently stopped the bleeding, and soothed away any stinging.
Because of the way the senbon had entered, there was nothing much to scar. The skin was a little harder to repair than the internal things, but it didn't matter. Finishing, Haku dropped his hands and took a step back, smiling at the cat. "Done, Chiisai-san."
After the healing was done, Chiisai turned her head and sniffed. She walked up and rubbed into Haku’s leg, giving a short purr before she moved back to her food.
Haku smiled at her, then settled back against the wall, snapping the henge as he did so. No point in wasting chakra.
Chiisai settled down to gnaw on her bone. ::All better.::
Far away, Koji stumbled. ::All better?:: He wasn’t getting any pain from Chiisai. Well, a slight ache, but that was easy enough to ignore. Less pain than he was in, obviously.
::Naked mole healed me.:: Chiisai relayed, pleased with herself and how things were going. Koji scowled at the cat’s smugness, but hurried back, rounding the corner moments later to see Chiisai happily chomping on her food and Haku waiting.
Koji scowled fiercely, and stalked forward, thrusting the baggy sweatshirt at Haku.
“Take it.” Koji hated having to apologize.
Haku blinked at Koji as he approached like a mad cat, a strange contradiction to Chiisai, and took the sweater. The blood was dry, and went down his front; it wouldn’t stain the sweater, and if he pulled the skirt high enough, he would be fine. Look odd, but fine.
“Thank you,” Haku murmured, glancing down as he adjusted the skirt over the blouse and his nonexistent hips. With the sweater, he looked a bit silly, but who cared?
Koji glared.
::Make nice.:: Chiisai demanded, gnawing on her bone.
Instead Koji hissed like a mad cat. Chiisai pressed disapproval on him. Koji hunched his shoulders and continued to glare at Haku.
Haku tried not to stare at Koji like he was mad. “...Um...would you like me to heal your... bruises? Chiisai allowed me to heal her scratches.” The uncertainty fell away as he went on. He could at least do that, no? He had always tried to heal when he could, with Zabuza. Why not now? Koji could scream and send him away, and that would be the end of that.
“No.” Koji almost snarled. Chiisai growled as well, and Koji flinched at the rebuke. His glare didn’t lessen, but he bowed. “Thank you.” The words sounded like they might kill him, but they managed to make it past his lips. Koji straightened and whirled away from Haku, stalking away.
As he passed Chiisai, she batted at him. Koji jumped and hissed at her. She hissed back and made a threatening move at him. Koji snarled and scowled. Shooting Haku a sullen look and going to thump himself down on the cooler, arm crossed.
Haku nodded, and eyed the exchange. Stood up straight, before speaking. “Koji-san, we’re all ninja. In the course of living, for us, injuries happen. No one is dead, and--” He had no precious person anymore. Haku snapped his mouth shut. “We’ll leave without animosity.” He bowed back to Koji, fairly low but unpracticed.
Koji glared. “What the hell do you want?” Why hadn’t he left? Why was he lecturing Koji?
Haku smiled. “Nothing.”
Then he turned around and walked into the crowds.
Warnings: Teenage brats fighting, crossdressing.
When: September 16th, 2012
~
There wasn’t time for anything anymore.
Not usually anyway. Between night time assassinations and missions and finding more jobs, and day time work--illegally in a bar for ninja and other powerful, humanoid creatures. They appreciated a girl who could look pretty and hold her own. Age didn’t really matter, so long as he dressed up well. Pretty makeup, clothing that was nice but not night clothing (he didn’t have the chest to do that) and so on.
Work, get two meals free, haggle for good weapons or whatever he needed at a decent price, kill people all night (or whatever, the missions he took weren’t always so bad, he just felt dirty) and maybe five hours to himself. For sleep. He used the time just after missions to clean up--not that hard, with his bloodline and a bottle of all-purpose soap. He didn’t consider himself so vain when he used his bloodline to get the knots out of his hair before braiding it and tying it. Less time than a brush, yes!
But now, Haku had a little more time to himself. He was booked for missions for the next month--every other day, because they were the heavier, chakra wasting sort--and the bar was open only in the morning, today.
Haku went to his efficiency straight after work, fell asleep for three hours, woke up, and literally couldn’t decide what to do with himself.
But this was a huge city. Haku washed the makeup off his face, put on a knee-length skirt and sneakers with a blouse that pretended he had hips, and left.
The zoo was where he ended up. Thankfully, he looked old enough so no one questioned him, and he could buy a ticket easily enough. He was even tall enough to pass as a girl his age--here, the boys got taller, faster.
Now, time to stare at animals and miss Airi. Haku went off, glad for the small crowd.
Koji didn’t like crowds, but here, he and Chiisai could be together. She lounged on the end of her leash, and Koji stood watchfully by as children scratched her. Most parents were too concerned to let children pet the big cat, but Koji assured them Chiisai was special. She had been raised in captivity--hand raised, as was gentle.
::Gentle?:: Chiisai yawned hugely and Koji leaned down to scratch her ruff.
::As a kitten.:: Koji replied, just to hear her chuckle at him as she accepted a rough pat from a younger child.
Koji, still unsure about his English, waved his hands to shoo the kids away.
“Kitty needs a break!” Koji demanded. A few kids looked disappointed. Some complained. Koji ignored them and lead Chiisai to a less populated area.
Haku was reading a plaque about a type of tree when he caught sight of a large animal out of the corner of his eye. Turning, he was ready to scramble away, thinking it was a dog. He didn’t like dogs much, since he’d been attacked on the streets. It wasn’t, though.
Just a puma on a leash. Haku couldn’t help staring, and he took a startled step back.
Chiisai, as soon as she saw the girl take a step back, trotted towrds her with curious intent. Koji, looking the other way, got yanked alone.
“Hey, hey! Where...” Koji stopped and realized Chiisai was bearing down with intent on a girl. “Pssssht.” ::Don’t scare people!::
Rather than running and screaming, Haku kept still and eyed the cat, flicking chakra into his hand. He could either freeze it or throw a senbon and then swarm up a tree until someone caught it.
Not good to make a scene when you didn’t have much of an identity. Haku wasn’t going to fool himself into pretending he wasn’t scared, but he thought he could survive if he didn’t display it.
Worst to worst, he killed the cat with a senbon to the eye and ran with chakra. Haku’s breath caught as it came within jumping distance. It had a leash. Calm. The air around his hand was barely chilly.
Chiisai paused for a moment as she smelled chakra, then walked up to Haku and stuck her head under his skirt.
::HA! Was right. Is boy.:: Chiisai snickered and Koji stared horrified.
“Bad cat!” Koji managed, trying to drag her back. She didn’t budge. So what if it was a guy in a skirt? Koji felt his face begin to heat.
Haku half jumped back and looked up at the trainer with wide eyes, but when he wasn’t mauled, he pulled his skirt down and nudged the cat with a knee, deciding that if he was this close and it hadn’t attacked him, it wouldn’t.
“No,” It had been a long time since he’d used Japanese daily, and his wasn’t flawless, but he could still be understood. “I’m okay. Cat’s...just curious?” He gave his hand a small flick, then put it down, back of it presented to the cat. No biting! It was almost like a huge kitten, except he’d never owned one.
Koji stared at Haku, dumbstruck to hear the familiar words. Sure, Haku’s accent was pretty terrible, and he didn’t have the flow of a natural speaker, but his Japanese was better than Koji’s! So much better, actually.
Koji bowed. “I’m sorry, she’s just curious, yes.” Koji suddenly beamed, feeling a sudden, very odd kinship for someone who spoke his language. Chiisai politely sniffed the boy’s hand, poking it with her cold nose and then putting her head under his hand.
::Smells like metal and poisons.:: Chiisai murmured to Koji. She opened her mouth and sniffed up Haku’s sleeve.
Haku was looking at the cat, carefully curling his fingers into the fur behind her ear, but when he glanced up to answer the trainer, Koji was smiling. It was a sort of grin he hadn’t seen in a long time, and Haku smiled back.
Oh, he’d bowed. Haku blushed and waved it away with his free hand. “That’s normal for cats, no?” It was nice to practice the language.
“Mah, but she’s more pushy than most cats. She has no manners.” Koji smiled at the cat, besotted despite her warning. Chiisai kept poking at Haku’s sleeve with her nose.
“Ah, I’m Koji. The bad cat is Chiisai,” Koji couldn’t stop grinning. Its felt so good to not have to think about talking!
Haku gave a soft laugh in reply. “I’m Haku,” He said as he put his hand into the fur. Not as soft as Airi, but Airi was a bunny. “You’re not bad! Tell Koji-san that you just want to find something interesting under my sleeve.” He grinned at Koji a little. Hah! He hadn’t been eaten by a mountain lion!
Chiisai looked back at Koji. ::Ninja bitch.:: Chiisai snorted, but purred and rubbed against Haku like any house cat would, rumbling twice as loudly as any little cat.
::Don’t let him know.:: “She wants treats.” Koji wondered if, possibly, this kid could be looking for him. They might send someone Koji wouldn’t naturally suspect after him. Koji’s smile only faltered a little.
“Do you want to help me feed her?” Koji asked, tipping his head to the side.
Haku stumbled slightly with the pressure of that cat, caught himself on a foot, and blinked at Koji. Paused, then nodded, a little surprised. “Okay...” That was a lapse into English, but Koji got the point with his nod. All he could hope for was that he wouldn’t lose his finger.
“I hope you’re not squeamish.” Koji flashed a grin, then walked by the taller boy towards the big cats exhibits. “Come on, this way.” Chiisai trailed behind, watching Haku with a cat’s disinterest.
Haku thought about the silent assassinations he was so good at. “Not very, no.” He glanced at Chiisai, then followed Koji a step behind him, to let him lead.
…Oh, the smell of many cats in one place. Haku wrinkled his nose.
Koji stopped at a “employees only” door and pulled out some keys. He handed the leash back to Chiisai, who took in gingerly in her mouth and sat down. “I’ll be right back.” Kojied ducked inside the door. Koji looked up at Haku.
She bared her teeth in a friendly grimace.
Haku waved his fingers after Koji, and looked down at Chiisai. “Hi.” Her ears weren’t flat, so that meant good things, right? “If Koji-san trusts you enough to not terrorize the crowd, then you’re hardly going to attack me...” Good cat, good cat. “What do you eat, anyway?” Beef? Mice? Rabbits?
Chiisai stared at Haku, then lay down, butt in the air, and stretched, yawning hugely and flexing her claws.
Haku blinked at her, then settled against the wall to wait for Koji. Now he wanted to yawn... Instead, he glanced up at the sky. The look of a city, blegh. Travelling with Zabuza had given him an appreciation for clean skies.
As Koji opened the door pulled a large cooler behind him, Chiisai pounced for Haku’s feet, eyes wide and delighted.
::FEET!!!!:: The shout made Koji stagger.
With the sudden movement--Haku wasn’t that bad of a ninja not to notice it--he reacted rather than thinking. Nothing else mattered but getting out alive. Haku jumped and swarmed up the wall, not stopping until he was perched on a light fixture above, senbon drawn on his palm.
Bad cat.
Koji kicked the door closed and stared at Haku. Time to play dumb. Koji let his jaw hang open and stared as Chiisai joined him, eyes almost luminous.
::Made it run!::
::Yes you did.:: Koji blinked. “How did you do that?”
Time to play the startled victim! Haku made the ice senbon disperse, then clung the fixture with both hands. “I--it, Chiisai pounced, and, and--” Swallow, adjust skirt because he was probably flashing Koji. “A-a-adrenaline? I did gymna-nastics for years, and then...” He wasn’t very scared, or worried that he would reveal anything. It was ten feet up--plausible if Koji thought he missed some of it, or saw his movements wrong.
Koji and Chiisai exchanged glances. They knew what they had seen. After a moments truly silent debate, Chiisai looked up at Haku, then screamed. With that distraction, Koji jumped up onto the wall, trying to knock Haku back towards Chiisai.
Haku couldn’t help a slight startle at the scream, which threw him off slightly.
Not enough. Haku twisted his chakra and sent senbon in Koji’s direction, not aimed to kill, as he sprang back. He had to trust that the wall would be there, and he wouldn’t--
Haku’s foot hit the wall awkwardly, and he fell. The cat was going to kill him oh no no no......
As Haku hit the ground, Chiisai pounced. She lunged for his throat, teeth snapping inches from him as Koji jumped down, flaring chakra to destroy any video evidence of the act. Should tehy kill him?
Koji didn’t think so.
Haku did what came naturally. He spat a senbon at Chiisai, angle skewed as he flinched to defend himself. He saw blood as the senbon entered--they weren’t killing weapons, it didn’t crunch through her skull-- and he braced his arms in front of him, over his face and neck.
Pain flashed through the bond. Koji faltered, and the warning snap Chiisai had intended closed on the edge of Haku’s arm before she yanked back, hissing and growling. Koji feel on Haku seconds later, trying to get his hands.
Despite the pain, Haku was writhing away the moment he could, trying to escape. When he felt Koji on top of him, trying to catch his hands, he kicked. Up.
Koji got kicked in the face. Haku’s foot came out of nowhere and smashed into his face. Koji yowled like a cat and fell back, unbalanced by the blow. Koji rolled back, kicking out at Haku’s head. Chiisai pounced again, this time at Haku’s legs to keep him from standing up and running.
There wasn’t enough time to process between the two actions. Haku rolled forward slightly, clutching at his head, and then there was a cat on his legs. Rather than fighting again, he just waited, hands clutching the back of his head and elbows in front.
Ninja and their attack first rule were so much fun.
Koji grabbed Haku’s hands. Chiisai simply lay down, putting her head on Haku’s stomach. Koji held on as tightly as possible, hands buzzing with chakra. And waited. Koji’s nose was bleeding. Chiisai’s head was bleeding.
Haku didn’t quite relax, but with the lack of stabbing, he decided that it was okay to speak. “Can we stop attacking each other, please?”
“You stabbed my cat,” Koji hissed. Chiisai started purring, still dripping blood. Koji stared at her. She’d cut off their bond to keep him from feeling her pain, this cutting off their speech. Slowly, Koji’s hold loosened.
“If you make a threatening move, we will kill you,” Koji snapped, glaring at Haku as his hands tightened again on the boy’s wrists.
“Self defense, Koji-san,” Haku said, and decided that fighting over who started it would be pointless. “The senbon is ice, it’ll melt.” Reinforced with his chakra, which is why it didn’t break. Haku eyed Chiisai for a moment, before looking up, past Koji.
Great. Now that he didn’t have Zabuza’s cynicism to counteract, he was turning into a pessimist. Haku frowned slightly.
Chiisai kept purring. Koji finally released Haku’s hand and stood up to walk back to his cooler, growling under his breathing. Chiisai stared at Haku and purred.
Haku lifted himself up onto his elbows and blinked back at the cat. Glanced at Koji and wondered if they were going to crush him to death. “I didn’t want to frighten you, but I thought Chiisai-san was going to kill me.” Probably not appropriate to call a cat like that, but he could blame it on a rusty handle of the language.
“If she were going to kill you, then you’d be dead,” Koji scoffed. “Hey, come eat.”Slowly, Chiisai stood up and made sure to drip blood on Haku. As much blood as possible before she turned and walked to Koji. Koji sat on the cooler and gently touched her head. She in turned licked the blood off his bruised face.
“Ow...” Cat tongues were rough.
Haku shook his head, and then looked at the blood in dismay. Swallowed, and suddenly felt like crying. He didn’t have many clothes, and these were pretty much ruined. He could get away without a shirt in public, but the skirt wouldn’t help with that, and there was blood on it too. He would take the roofs, but it would be hard to not be seen during the day. If he waited long enough, though, he might be able to pass it off as something else.
Haku sat up, then stood carefully. Eyed Koji, then glanced down the alley. No luck.
:: Now he’s covered in blood.:: Chiisai purred and koji decided that as long as he kept the puncture wound clean, it would heal up fine. He’d watch it to make sure it didn’t get infected, but she’d be okay. Koji kissed the top of Chiisai’s head. He opened the cooler to let her pick what meat she wanted and stood up, regarding Haku carefully.
He looked panicked.
Koji scoffed, folding his hands threw a few signs. His bruises and Chiisai’s blood vanished. “Are you stupid or incompetent?” Koji wasn’t going to attack, but he wasn’t going to be all nice with this one who had hurt his cat.
“Neither.” Just a bad hand with genjutsu, and genjutsu didn’t solve the fact that his clothes were ruined. Haku glanced up to the roof; if he stayed low, no one would notice him.
Zabuza had always focused on turning him into a tool to help himself. That meant training to kill, to be complementary to Zabuza. Senbon, his bloodline, being fast, some minor healing to speed things up, but his master had never been much of a healer. His training was always focused on Zabuza, supporting him. When it became obvious that Haku would not take to the easily, Zabuza focused on other things. He had the genjutsu that he needed to fight, and that was it.
Running a hand through his now-disheveled, bloody hair, Haku turned away to hide the stricken look. Time to go. He could hold a henge, but it would only hold for so long. “Goodbye, Koji-san,” Haku murmured, and made half-seals to henge into a cleaner version of himself with different clothing.
Then he turned away and made to leave.
::Made it sad, stupid.:: Chiisai chuffed.
::You’re the one who bit him and jumped him first,:: Koji reminded the cat, though she relayed the spike of fear or anxiety she’d smelled from the boy. Koji shifted nervously.
::I’m just a cat.:: Chiisai gave Koji her most innocent stare. ::What if it’s a TRaditional and it tells people about us?::
The thought was like being doused with ice water. Koji turned and stepped. “Hey...” Oh gods, he was leaving. “Hey!” Koji grabbed for Haku’s arm, Chiisai chuckling in the back of his head.
Haku twisted automatically and nearly impaled Koji’s hand with a poison senbon, but then kept it from puncturing. “Please let me go.” The metal was pressed against Koji’s wrist. Haku eyed him carefully.
“You can’t just walk around the zoo bloody, what if you bump into something? Look...” Koji didn’t let go. “I’ve got my street clothes in my locker and the shirt’s too big for me so it should fit you...” Peace offering. Chiisai approved. They could track Koji’s scent after Haku left and figure out where she stayed.
Haku hesitated, then took the needle away from Koji’s hand. “...Alright,” Haku murmured. He could do that. Trust Koji not to kill him. There was probably a motive, but maybe Haku would be able to defend himself. If he set up his ice mirrors, he would be safe. He tugged his hand back, a hint to let go, but made no move to run.
“Good. Stay.” Koji made a motion with his hands, as if that might keep Haku still, then went darting off to get the clothes. Chisai, gnawing on a leg of lamb, stared at Haku and licked her bloody lips.
This time, Haku didn’t look away from the lion. It could probably understand something, considering how it acted with Koji. Instead, he hugged himself and stared at it. “I guess you wouldn’t let me heal you.”
Chiisai stopped and picked up her head, ear pricked as she looked at the boy now.
Haku paused, then held his hands at her standing level. He twisted them into signs, before bringing gently pulsating, green chakra to his palms. He didn’t step closer, though, leery of prodding her into attack.
Chiisai slowly stood and paced forward a few steps. She let her mouth open a fraction and sniffed in Haku’s directions, givin a gentle chuffe before she walked forward and this time stopped close enough for Haku to touch her. Blood, escaping the genjutsu, dripped off of her skull.
Haku gently cupped his hands around the wound. The senbon had slid in a ways and left damage, more than it should have. He repaired from the point of most damage, knitting split skin together. He couldn't repair any damage to the actual skull, but he didn't think there was much. So he gently stopped the bleeding, and soothed away any stinging.
Because of the way the senbon had entered, there was nothing much to scar. The skin was a little harder to repair than the internal things, but it didn't matter. Finishing, Haku dropped his hands and took a step back, smiling at the cat. "Done, Chiisai-san."
After the healing was done, Chiisai turned her head and sniffed. She walked up and rubbed into Haku’s leg, giving a short purr before she moved back to her food.
Haku smiled at her, then settled back against the wall, snapping the henge as he did so. No point in wasting chakra.
Chiisai settled down to gnaw on her bone. ::All better.::
Far away, Koji stumbled. ::All better?:: He wasn’t getting any pain from Chiisai. Well, a slight ache, but that was easy enough to ignore. Less pain than he was in, obviously.
::Naked mole healed me.:: Chiisai relayed, pleased with herself and how things were going. Koji scowled at the cat’s smugness, but hurried back, rounding the corner moments later to see Chiisai happily chomping on her food and Haku waiting.
Koji scowled fiercely, and stalked forward, thrusting the baggy sweatshirt at Haku.
“Take it.” Koji hated having to apologize.
Haku blinked at Koji as he approached like a mad cat, a strange contradiction to Chiisai, and took the sweater. The blood was dry, and went down his front; it wouldn’t stain the sweater, and if he pulled the skirt high enough, he would be fine. Look odd, but fine.
“Thank you,” Haku murmured, glancing down as he adjusted the skirt over the blouse and his nonexistent hips. With the sweater, he looked a bit silly, but who cared?
Koji glared.
::Make nice.:: Chiisai demanded, gnawing on her bone.
Instead Koji hissed like a mad cat. Chiisai pressed disapproval on him. Koji hunched his shoulders and continued to glare at Haku.
Haku tried not to stare at Koji like he was mad. “...Um...would you like me to heal your... bruises? Chiisai allowed me to heal her scratches.” The uncertainty fell away as he went on. He could at least do that, no? He had always tried to heal when he could, with Zabuza. Why not now? Koji could scream and send him away, and that would be the end of that.
“No.” Koji almost snarled. Chiisai growled as well, and Koji flinched at the rebuke. His glare didn’t lessen, but he bowed. “Thank you.” The words sounded like they might kill him, but they managed to make it past his lips. Koji straightened and whirled away from Haku, stalking away.
As he passed Chiisai, she batted at him. Koji jumped and hissed at her. She hissed back and made a threatening move at him. Koji snarled and scowled. Shooting Haku a sullen look and going to thump himself down on the cooler, arm crossed.
Haku nodded, and eyed the exchange. Stood up straight, before speaking. “Koji-san, we’re all ninja. In the course of living, for us, injuries happen. No one is dead, and--” He had no precious person anymore. Haku snapped his mouth shut. “We’ll leave without animosity.” He bowed back to Koji, fairly low but unpracticed.
Koji glared. “What the hell do you want?” Why hadn’t he left? Why was he lecturing Koji?
Haku smiled. “Nothing.”
Then he turned around and walked into the crowds.
