Chapter 18 Family and Friends
"Nikkia? Gaia? Why are you two in the dark?" Haku didn't want to get too close, everything and everyone was suspicious here. Nikkia looked behind Haku and gave Gaia a thumbs up.
"To make sure you aren't a fake. Nikki said you're good." Gaia said. So that was a possibility. Now time to see if he was right or had to find yet another magical door.
"Haku is this the first time you've seen us, or anyone who looks like us?" Nikkia asked. Both walked out of the darkened room with a smaller map letting the lantern disappear.
"No, two people who looked just like you found me in a hall like this. There were these people without skin trying to pull me in the vents, however strangely my rescuers did not seem completely like you." Haku hoped this made sense. From the looks on Gaia and Nikkia's faces he actually did. His relief was as strong as the smell of apple pie. Heat mixed with the smell of apples and baked desserts. Their perfumes had not faded and unlike the previous pairs their clothes did not seem like a second layer of skin.
"Looks like you met the Morfema" Gaia said. There was that name again. He was about to ask but Nikkia must have read his face again.
"Order of the Cage's personal shape shifters. They can change their bodies, but not their smell, shadows, form in hot or cold temperatures and deep wounds. " Nikkia explained as she counted their vulnerabilities on her decorative gloved hand.
"That's why you had the lantern and perfumes." Haku realized.
"Yup we're geniuses. Now let's find a way out of here I've got class in the morning." Gaia said leading the way. They decided to make the trek to the door Haku entered to investigate since their entrance was locked.
Haku decided to try asking this Nikkia about their plans to see if her answer was as opposite and comforting as the rest of this reunion. It was a straight hallway so Gaia couldn't lead them another way, even if she didn't bother to ask Haku which paths he took. He leaned closer to Nikkia and quietly asked "Nikkia-Chan did we agree to something before we got here?"
Nikkia leaned, moving her puffy black mane with the red streaks pinned with matching flowers closer to Haku opposite hand on her hip. "Well Haku-kun, we agreed to meet where we had tea with Zabuza. I'm still holding you to your promise to use the door." She smiled and pointed at him. Their answers made him relax a little. The gaps from his last reunion were filled and he could try to make sense of his third shot at life with Zabuza and his new employers. Suddenly, within earshot of his entrance, a scream ripped from his past jolted him from his thoughts again.
The three ran to the door and the sight made Haku's blood run cold. Where the imposters stood were an Asian man and woman covered in blood. While the woman with her hair tied back had one wound in her chest and deep cuts on her arm, the slightly taller man with a tear stained face had many wounds almost as if he was skewered from many haphazard angles. Both were wearing almost matching yukatas and pants for people used to colder climates. Haku staggered backwards wide eyed and shaken to the core. Gaia was frightened and tried shutting the door, but it was held by the skewered man. In agonizing gurgles both called to Haku, smiling. Nikkia turned and held both of Haku's arms gently "Haku it's just the Morfema."
"Don't listen to h-h-h-eeeeer Myyyyy Darrrrlliiiing!" The woman gurgled.
"It's just a trick." Nikkia continued.
"WE cAn bE ToGthEr" the couple said.
We can find another way out." Nikkia said trying to turn Haku.
"I'm SoOoOrRrrYYyy" in a severely damaged said the man using the hand above his head to tap the glass like space in front of the door.
"Yeah can we be quick too, they're are giving me the creeps." Gaia said. Turning her head. She gained more bravado and turned back to stick her tongue out to the couple. Haku not knowing what to do nodded and started walking swiftly in a cold sweat. Gaia's new boldness led her to taking the lead again. The three decided to plan in the waiting room.