Hello Readers,
Sorry yet again for the incredibly long wait. I had intended to have this chapter completed sooner but alas things just didn't work out that way. Seems like I'm either crazy busy with no time to write or I actually manage to have some time to write but inspiration has completely left me. This chapter is quite a bit longer but there's not much happening in it I'm afraid, just some minor plot building and pointless fluff.
Dinner had gone surprisingly well, and my kitchen hadn't been completely destroyed nor had the entire apartment building been burned down as a result. Although in retrospect even being partially worried about such an extreme outcome had been incredibly paranoid on my part. Being resurrected, super-powered ninja from an alternate universe aside, I had never been given any indication that such an outcome was even remotely plausible. Probably doesn't make much sense for them to blow up their own kitchens all the time. The rather foreign looking dishes that my three house guests had ended up making had actually been pretty good, though I was somewhat amazed that they had been able to cook all that with what they had found in my kitchen. I couldn't remember the last time I had done the grocery shopping.
Not only had they taken care of dinner but they insisted on taking care of the clean up afterwards as well. I had argued half-heartedly that I could help but had been content to leave them to it once Sakumo gently ushered me out of the kitchen. After a long day of work and an exhausting shopping trip I had been more than willing to let someone else take care of the domestic chores for an evening.
With all of the excitement of a long day finally coming to an end I found myself using whatever energy I had left to fret over what an absolute nightmare work was going to be in the morning.
Needless to say sleep did not come easily.
All too quickly morning arrived and I once again found myself pulling into the employee parking-lot at the Medical Lab ready to start another work day. A foreboding sense of dread weighed heavily upon me as I made my way towards the building. Thanks to Minato's unexpected appearance in the parking-lot the other day Pam would no doubt be relentlessly hounding me for details on my relationship with the blond man.
Having a good inclination on how Pam's mind worked it was a pretty safe bet that she was already assuming that Minato and I were romantically involved in some way. It was the same assumption she made about any man she saw me with. I groaned in frustration silently cursing my blond house guest for inadvertently putting me in this situation. Damn it all Minato! Why couldn't you have shown up five minutes later? If he had only shown up a few minutes later, if he had to show up in the parking-lot at all, Pam would have left without ever having seen him.
Normally I was able to ignore my co-worker's incessant badgering, content to let her believe whatever the hell she wanted. Typically the person she was absolutely positive I was dating was just someone I happened to be talking to at a party, or restaurant, or bus stop so there was very little chance that I would ever have to face them again. However, with Minato unless things changed and they either went back to their world or moved out I was going to have to face him on a pretty regular basis, a fact that made Pam's assumptions all the more awkward to deal with.
Luckily the lab was quite busy and being scheduled to work in the specimen preparation area, which was isolated from the rest of the laboratory, granted me a temporary reprieve from the inevitable barrage of questioning that was surely to come.
Unfortunately, as I predicted my luck couldn't hold out forever and as the lab started closing down for the evening and everyone began heading to their lockers to collect their things Pam immediately pounced on me.
"So…how long have you and blondie been dating?" She questioned with a large grin, pulling her jacket and purse out of her locker.
Biting back a groan I resisted the urge to smack my forehead against the lockers and proceeded to retrieve my own coat and purse. "We're not dating," I responded dryly.
Despite what her wild imagination was suggesting there was absolutely nothing going on between Minato and myself. He was just someone who had unexpectedly shown up in my apartment one day. We were acquaintances at best, friends at a stretch but certainly nothing more than that. However, judging from her confused slightly sour-looking expression I could tell that Pam wasn't going to give up so easily.
Briefly I had been tempted to simply lie and say that Minato was gay, regardless of what his sexual preferences actually were, but had ultimately decided against it. I wouldn't appreciate someone lying about my orientation and potentially having to explain why my co-worker was trying to set Minato up with a bunch of random men would have been a whole new realm of awkward.
"What the hell do you mean you're not dating him? That was one seriously gorgeous hunk of man-meat." She practically shrieked in surprise.
From the tone of her voice you'd think that I had just told her that Alexander Skarsgard had shown up at my apartment with flowers and all I did was rudely slam the door in his face.
Although realistically if such an unlikely thing were to happen I wasn't entirely certain I wouldn't actually slam the door shut in a complete mind-blowing panic. I don't think the sudden appearance of sexy actors is something my analytical mind is equipped to handle. However, since it seemed more likely that I would randomly be declared Queen of the Universe I wasn't too worried about Swedish actors randomly showing up on my proverbial doorstep.
"You're at least screwing him right?" She added brazenly as we proceeded with our customary walk through the parking-lot.
"Pam!"
"What? How could you not want a piece of that? Hell I'd do him," Pam stated shamelessly.
Arching an eyebrow I pierced my co-worker and current bane of my existence with a glare, silently trying to remind her that Mark, her husband, might not appreciate her making such statements regarding men. Not that I was actually worried about her really cheating on her husband. She loved Mark, but she was definitely not shy about voicing when she found someone attractive.
"You do remember that you're a married woman right?" I inquired teasingly.
"Hey I'm married not dead," She scoffed playfully with a shrug. "So c'mon what's really going on between you two? I swear I won't tell anyone."
Even if there was so much as a ghostly hint of a relationship between my blond-haired house guest and myself, which there most certainly was not, Pam would be the last person I would confide in. She was a great co-worker and a fun person to be around but she kept secrets about as effectively as a spaghetti strainer could hold water.
"Nothing is going on," I explained for what felt like the hundredth time. "He's just a friend. That's it. End of story."
Perhaps the term friend wasn't entirely true yet, but I certainly wasn't about to tell Pam that. What would I tell her anyway? That Minato is a resurrected ninja from an alternate dimension with magical super powers that randomly appeared in my apartment one day along with two others? Even saying all that in my head still sounded crazy. Then again perhaps Pam would drop this whole you must date the blond hottie kick she was on if she thought Minato was completely bonkers.
That seemed unlikely though. Pam was nothing if not persistent when she had an idea about something. I could only hope that she would eventually lose interest in Minato and move on to whoever my next 'perfect match' happened to be.
"So what's wrong with him?" Pam questioned seriously.
I was a little taken aback by the abruptness of her question and could only stare at her uncomprehendingly for a couple of seconds before understanding finally clicked in. Of course Pam wouldn't be able to accept that there was absolutely nothing going on between Minato and myself without there being some sort of deal breaking reason for it.
"Does he have mommy issues? A string of psychotic ex-girlfriends? Does he kick puppies? What?" She inquired in a rapidly fired string of questions.
I honestly had no idea about any of that. Though admittedly the idea of Minato kicking poor innocent little puppies was rather hard to picture. A lot of that stuff sounded extremely personal and wasn't something that could easily be brought up in casual conversation, particularly with someone who you barely knew. I myself wasn't keen on discussing past relationships, for obvious reasons, so it wasn't a topic I was eager to bring up, and someone's sexual preference was their personal business.
"There's nothing wrong with him," I partially lied as truthfully I really had no idea one way or the other.
"Then why in the hell are you not at least fucking his brains out?"
Where's an aneurysm when you need one? The last thing I needed was to think of Minato in any type of sexual context. I was just starting to get used to my magical-ninja house guests and the rather provocative imagery Pam was conjuring in my head wasn't helping. I'd never be able to look at Minato again without feeling incredibly embarrassed and uncomfortable at this rate.
In response I simply raised my shouldered in a brief shrug. What else could I say? She clearly wasn't going to be content with any answer I gave her.
"I'm supposed to be getting my hair done so I better get going," I explained suddenly changing the topic, desperate to put an end to this current conversation.
Pausing by her car Pam stared at me for a moment as though contemplating whether or not to let the topic of Minato go for the time being. "You're lucky Mark and I have dinner plans this evening, otherwise I'd follow you to the salon until you finally started coughing up some real answers," Pam stated semi-jokingly.
Thank fucking Christ for that. Dealing with Pam, though often migraine inducing in these circumstances was one thing. Dealing with a tag team of both Pam and Adam was an absolutely terrifying prospect.
"Well you and Mark have fun," I replied, offering Pam a small wave over my shoulder as I continued on my way through the parking-lot. The air was a bit chilly but I decided it would probably be easiest to walk to the salon rather than trying to fight to find parking. It wasn't that far for the lab anyway.
"Hey we should have you and your friend," she loudly called stretching out the word friend for longer than was necessary, "over for dinner sometime."
Like that was going to happen. The less contact Minato, or any of my house guests, had with this woman the better. I certainly wasn't going to give Pam the opportunity to corner the poor blond and harass him for details on why we weren't dating. For all I knew the man would wind up being brutally honest with his answers despite how completely implausible and utterly bizarre the truth actually was, and I certainly didn't need to give people a reason to think that I or the people I associated with were completely bat crap crazy.
Offering another noncommittal wave to signal that I had at least heard her I continued on my way towards the salon. Pam was like a dog with a bone when it came to any sort of gossip about my potential love life, or lack thereof, so I would no doubt be facing more pestering from her tomorrow. At least for the moment I could focus on getting to the salon on time. I was immensely curious to learn just what Adam had planned.
"You're serious?" I questioned suspiciously as I stared at my reflection in the large mirror in front of me. I wasn't sure what I had been expecting Adam to suggest, but it certainly hadn't been this. I swiveled myself around in the stylist's chair to get a better look at Adam just in case I'd somehow misheard his reflection.
"Of course I'm serious honey. I'll put in some layers, maybe give you a side-swept bang…trust me when it's all finished you'll look amazing," he stated confidently.
"But…blond?" I inquired hesitantly.
Although I normally trusted Adam's opinions when it came to hair I wasn't at all certain about this latest idea of his. The cut sounded fine, I had no problems there. It was the drastic change in hair colour that I wasn't sure about. Not that I hadn't thought about changing my hair colour before. However, being a redhead I was naturally quiet pale. Wouldn't lighter hair just end up making me look tired and washed out? Though I suppose Adam wouldn't have suggested it if I was going to end up looking completely horrible.
"Yes," he laughed good-naturedly as he combed his fingers through my hair. "I think it'll be a nice change for you, and weren't you talking about wanting something different?"
"Okay yes," I admitted, "but impersonating an albino isn't quite what I had in mind."
"Don't be ridiculous honey," Adam chided, "I'll pick a shade that'll work best with your skin tone. Trust me you won't look anything like an albino."
Though I still wasn't entirely sure about this plan perhaps it was time to try a more dramatic change. I was already quite open to experimenting with different cuts; why not expand into experimenting with different hair colours as well? Besides if Adam's assumptions proved to be incorrect, which was rare, I could always get him to fix it. It might take a day or two to reschedule another appointment but I seriously doubted that Adam was just going to leave me stuck with unflattering hair if this idea of his didn't work out the way he envisioned.
"Alright," I said with a resigned sigh, "let's do it."
A Cheshire-cat grin appeared on the man's face that was reflected in the large mirror as he immediately began to work.
As the hours of bleaching, washing, toning, conditioning, cutting and styling went by a sudden sense of panic washed over me that had nothing to do with my hair. With everything that had happened last night I had completely forgotten to tell Jiraiya, Minato and Sakumo that I would be returning home from work later than usual. I would have called if any of them had cellphones, but none of them did and I had foolishly instructed them not to answer the landline at the apartment. A decision I was momentarily regretting. What possible reaction was my being unexpectedly late going to cause? As my panic began to rise at the thought of a number of completely outrageous possibilities I had to silently remind myself that I was likely overreacting.
They were grown men for Christ sakes. Sure they were from a different world, a concept I was still having trouble getting my head around, with different cultural norms but that didn't mean that they were entirely incapable of functioning on their own here. Despite what must be a pretty drastic change in their daily routine the three magical-ninja in my apartment were adapting rather quickly to their new environment. Though they clearly had abilities that modern science couldn't explain, self-teleportation being one of them, they obviously knew enough not to carelessly display their abilities in public. Making my worried thoughts of them somehow flying through the city with their ninja magic firing off unexplainable balls of energy in search of me seem utterly absurd.
As was typical I was likely getting myself all worked up over nothing. For all I knew my three ninja house guests wouldn't even notice my delayed return to the apartment.
"Alright, what do you think?" Adam inquired snapping me back to the present.
I blinked a few times at my reflection, momentarily unsure if the person staring back was actually me, as my hand slowly reached up to experimentally touch the newly lightened strands. I was surprised to find how soft and silky they were despite the amount of abuse I had just put my hair through. It was a pretty radical change but the results were actually quiet flattering. Thanks to the cutting and styling my hair now hung in loose, bouncy, curls, which in of itself was quite the change from my normal straight look, and the lighter colour made my green eyes seem incredibly bright. I certainly did not look like I was washed out or that I was trying to impersonate an albino. There was a slight porcelain doll-like quality but nothing that was completely terrible.
"Fine, you were right," I admitted. "It looks fabulous. Thank you."
"Of course I was right," he responded smugly. "And you're welcome honey."
Removing the black cape, now soiled with bits of hair and various other products, he carefully brushed the loose hairs off my face and shoulders before leaving to fetch my coat and purse. Returning shortly he kindly held out my coat allowing me to get my arms in the sleeves before handing me my purse.
"So when are we doing brunch again honey?" he questioned cheerfully as he walked me to the cash register. "I'm free this Sunday."
Since becoming good friends Adam usually gave me a pretty good deal on any services I got at his salon, but he didn't work for free and I certainly wouldn't have expected him to.
"Hmm…I can probably do Sunday," I replied thoughtfully.
I was still a little leery about having any personal, social interactions with Jiraiya, Minato and Sakumo in my apartment but I knew I was just being overly paranoid. I couldn't put my social life on hold, minimal though it may be, indefinitely until my ninja house guests were able to leave. Besides they could obviously already function for several hours without me what were a few more hours on the weekend?
"Is that cute friend of yours still staying with you?" Adam innocently asked.
Biting back a growl I had to resist the urge not the slam my forehead into my palm in annoyance. I was so fucking tired about being asked about Minato. I had nothing against the man, in fact I rather liked him in a completely platonic way, but at this point I was ready to start beating him over the head with one of my heavy biology textbooks for having the annoying habit of randomly appearing wherever I happen to be.
"Yeah, along with a couple other friends," I answered stupidly.
Why the hell did I just tell Adam that I have more than one person staying with me? It was bad enough that he and Pam already knew about Minato. It was too late to take it back now though. With any luck the knowledge of multiple house-guests would make the idea of a romantic relationship with the blond ninja seem less likely.
"You sly girl you," he teased playfully until I fired an angry glare in his direction. "You know platonic or not Richard is still going to freak when he finds out."
An unpleasant shiver ran up my spine at the mention of my ex-boyfriend's name. I hated how the mere utterance of him could still make me feel nervous, like he was somehow going to spring forth from out of nowhere and break my heart all over again. In our brief conversation, when I had foolishly answered my cell instead of letting it go to voicemail, he had pleaded for me to give him another chance but there was no way in hell that was ever happening. Lingering feeling aside I wasn't that much of an idiot.
"I hardly see how it's any of his business," I answered icily.
We were broken up. As far as I was concerned anything I did or didn't do was none of his concern.
"You're right it is none of his business," Adam agreed. He smiled at me reassuringly before a look of apprehension suddenly began to cloud his features. "You know he's been asking about you right?"
I felt my stomach drop to my knees. "What?"
"He stopped by here the other day asking how you were doing and if you still came here. He seemed really interested in knowing if we were still friends," he answered unable to completely hide the disgust in his voice.
Adam had never been a fan of Richard and after learning that he was a cheater he liked him even less.
"What did you tell him" I prodded worriedly.
"That I don't give out information on customers any more than I do my personal life," he truthfully replied.
A feeling of relief began to wash over me. It was strange that Richard would suddenly be showing up at places he knew I frequented asking about me, giving further evidence to my theory that things weren't working out with Cheryl, but at least I didn't have to worry that Adam was going to tell him anything. I wasn't so sure about Pam though; however access to the lab required a security card so I doubted he would be showing up there any time soon.
"Thank you," I sighed.
"Don't mention it, and you can thank me Sunday," Adam said with a grin, "Don't forget you're buying this time."
As I drove home, after having made a quick stop at the grocery store, I found myself having to force all thoughts of Richard from my head several times. Though I obviously wanted nothing more to do with the man I couldn't deny my curiosity over what he might be up to. Why go to the effort to visit places that I was known to frequent like a borderline stalker? What could he possibly be trying to accomplish? If he was looking for a potential ally to convince me to take him back he was going to be sorely disappointed. Anyone that I considered a friend would string me up by my ankles if I so much as entertained the thought of getting back together with Richard, and they'd be right to do it.
Once a cheater…always a cheater.
Quickly suppressing my current train of thought before I found myself dwelling on my ex any further I began to momentarily wonder what my ninja house guests had been up to in my absence. Had Jiraiya been successful in contacting his toad friends? He hadn't mentioned anything yesterday. Were they able to learn anything more on what could have brought them here, or how they might get home? A small hint of a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. If anyone had told me a couple of weeks ago that I would be housing several men with magical super powers who apparently had talking toads for friends I would have told them that they were beyond crazy.
After what felt like an uncharacteristically long drive, the delicious scent of roast chicken wafting from the back seat no doubt being the primary culprit, my apartment building finally came into view. Unsure on how hungry my guests might be I purchased two chickens while at the store, deciding it was better to have more food than not enough. If it turned out to be too much leftovers could easily be used to make sandwiches tomorrow. I wasn't even going to consider making soup with whatever remained, if such a thing could even be done. Pam, surprisingly, was one of those people who had the uncanny ability to make delicious soup out of just about anything. I however was not so gifted. Whenever I tried to make chicken soup the end result resembled something that looked like used dishwater…and tasted about the same.
Despite my lingering fears and reservations I didn't feel it necessary to subject my unusual house guests to any form of intentional culinary torture while they were trapped in this world.
Fetching the grocery bags out of the backseat I began the well-practiced journey through the underground parking-lot towards the elevator. My legs moved automatically as thoughts of magical-ninja and other impossible things bounced around in my head like flies smacking against a window unable to find the way out. Reanimated ninja from an alternate world? How had my life become so bizarre? I couldn't recall asking for my life to become more interesting. Even if I had this certainly wouldn't have been what I had in mind. Though I suppose I should count myself lucky. Despite the unintentional headaches they cause, Minato in particular, they were all exceptionally kind and polite. Well…mostly. There were times when I wanted to slap that smug grin off Jiraiya's face for one of his many tauntingly perverted comments. All things considered however, things certainly could have been…worse.
An involuntary shiver ran up my spine at that very idea.
Pushing such dark thoughts aside, before they could sour my mood entirely, I stepped off the elevator. Listening as the shiny, metallic doors smoothly slide shut once again I quickly walked the short distance down the hallway towards my awaiting apartment.
Stepping inside I was greeted by nothing but the dull soft glow of the hall light and….complete silence. That was odd. Though I had not forbid them from leaving the apartment, not that I could in any way enforce such a thing if I wanted to, they were usually home when I returned. After such a short time it felt very strange to be coming home to a dark apartment that felt so empty. Had they gone out into the city? Instantly I had to suppress the nervousness that began to bubble within my blood, harshly reminding myself that these were grown men. If they chose to explore the city who was I to stop them? They'd have to learn how to navigate the city without me sooner or later, particularly if their stay in this world turned out to be a long term thing.
Guilt once again squeezed my heart. I still didn't know if they were better off returning to their own world, where nothing but the afterlife waited for them, or remaining here in a land that wasn't their own.
What choice would I have made? I honestly didn't know.
Before my budding melancholy mood could blossom any further a large hand fell upon my shoulder, strong fingers briefly digging into the tender flesh in warning. I leapt in surprised; the masculine hand firmly holding me in place, as a small shriek of surprise burbled passed my lips before I could stop it. Confused I turned my head to look behind me and nearly wanted to vomit in fear at what I saw.
Sakumo stood behind me, his face holding all the warmth and emotion of a stone. If I held any doubts whether these men were capable of killing they immediately fled, like blood rushing from a fatal wound. I could feel the colour drain from my face as bile rose in the back of my throat.
"What business do you have here?" Sakumo questioned sternly, his voice cold and serious.
What business? Panic swam through my blood like fire, fear kept my voice a prisoner and all I could do was stare wide-eyed and disbelieving into the startlingly unfamiliar face of my silver-haired house guest. His once warm, friendly eyes now completely frigid and devoid of any emotion, raked over me suspiciously as his grip on my shoulder briefly tightened.
"I'll not ask again," he stated warningly.
Confusion battled with fear and fear was rapidly gaining ground. What was going on? What had changed to cause Sakumo to become so…terrifying? Change. The bloody fucking hair! With the drastic change in hair colour he couldn't tell that it was me in the dim lighting. As frightening as Sakumo currently was I couldn't really blame him. I had trouble recognizing myself in the mirror at the salon….and it's my face!
"Sakumo….it's…it's….me….Sarah," I choked out, desperately trying to ignore the frantic thumping of my heart. Unfortunately fear made the words come out as nothing more than a strangled whisper. Please God let him recognize me…
Turning me by the shoulders to face him he held me in his cold gaze, his eyes stared at me searchingly before recognition finally ignited within their ebony depths. Features that were once dispassionate and grim slowly began to show signs of the friendliness and warmth they normally held.
"Sarah?" Sakumo questioned uncertainly, his gravelly voice returning to its soothing baritone. A look of shame momentarily tarnished his handsome features before he schooled them back into a look of calm indifference.
Swallowing back the fear that wanted to spill from my eyes in a flood of frightened tears I reached up and awkwardly patted his hand. Inwardly I hoped that the gesture would somehow aid in his recognition of me, or at the very least prove that I wasn't a threat. Although he had done nothing to physically harm me in any way merely seeing him so cold, so ready to kill if necessary had chilled me right down to my very marrow.
"Yeah it's me," I replied, my voice shaking only slightly.
With my initial wave of fear slowly receding embarrassment began to warm my cheeks. Was it really so easy to turn me into a simpering little girl who was on the verge of tears? I thought I had grown out of that. Granted Sakumo's dispassionate glare could make anyone's blood run cold.
Quietly studying me, his dark eyes scanning for any sign of deception, he cautiously reached out and gently lifted a lock of my newly lightened hair. He kept his movements slow and deliberate as though I were a skittish horse that would start bucking and thrashing wildly if suddenly startled. I couldn't say that he was completely wrong in that assessment. He stared at the lock of hair curiously for a moment before letting the silky stands slip through his fingers.
"Your hair was not this colour before," he half stated half questioned.
"Uhh…no it wasn't I just had it changed this evening," I said taking my temporarily forgotten grocery bags into the kitchen.
I needed to occupy myself with something…anything...so I wouldn't have to think about how frightening Sakumo had been or how easily I had been reduced to nothing more than a scared little rabbit. A single cold glare and I had practically been ready to start groveling for my life. What the hell did you expect? I silently berated myself. From what I understood Sakumo had trained as a ninja for well over two decades, he had recently come from a world ravaged by war…if he decided to become serious you could be certain it was going to be bloody terrifying.
Flicking on the kitchen light I busied myself with the task of putting all my purchased items in their proper homes. Although dinner would probably be eaten shortly I placed the chickens in the fridge for the time being. I myself actually preferred cold chicken but if they didn't…well that's what a microwave was for I suppose.
"Where is everyone," I inquired closing the refrigerator door.
"We become concerned when you did not return. Since they are more familiar with this village Jiraiya and Minato have gone out to look for you," he stated matter-of-factly.
Crap. And here I thought my late return would go unnoticed.
"Yeah sorry about that, I should have mentioned that I was going to be later than usual last night. I would have called but none of you have phones."
Even if they did have cellphones I doubt their providers covered reception in a completely different dimension. Imagine the roaming charges for that one… You'd probably have to take out a bank loan and offer up your first-born child just to cover the cost of an 8 second conversation.
He nodded briefly in understanding, though I wasn't entirely certain he actually knew what a phone was. "You could try a messenger bird next time," he suggested.
Judging from his expression he was completely serious.
"What like a messenger pigeon or something…?" I stated questioningly.
Was that still even a thing anymore? Where messenger pigeons and homing pigeons the same thing? There were probably a few enthusiasts around who still trained the birds as a hobby but I doubt that they were used much.
So birds were still widely used to convey messages where they were from huh? Interesting. The more fragments of information I learned about their world seemed to paint an ever increasingly bizarre picture. A distinct lack of technology, abundance of ninja with improbable magical powers, talking animals, some sort of tailed demon things…
"I suppose….though typically hawks are used," he patiently replied.
They used hawks? Damn…that is fucking epic. I want a messenger hawk. Unfortunately the landlord probably wouldn't be too thrilled if I had such an animal in the building. Lousy no pet rules…
"Ninja hounds could also be used," he continued, "or toads, slugs…depends on what you're able to summon."
Summon? I could guess that ninja hounds probably weren't your average run of the mill canines then. Unfortunate, because I could sort of picture Sakumo with a pair of loyal Irish wolfhounds. And who in their right mind willingly summons a slug of all things? Aside from being completely disgusting wouldn't something that couldn't be killed with a salt shaker be more practical?
The more I thought about it the more I realized that the rather odd topic of summoning had already come up on several occasions already. Minato had asked if the metallic beasts, otherwise known as cars, were a summons of some kind back when he and Jiraiya had first arrived. And didn't Jiraiya talking with his toad friends have something to do with summoning as well? I was beginning to suspect that perhaps summoning was not universal and not everyone had the ability to summon the same thing. So what exactly was a summons? Was it like a warlock's ability to control demons? Was it like a witch's familiar? Or was it something else entirely?
"Well as you can see," I began sweeping my arms around to indicate the entire apartment, "no hawks, and I'm quite certain I lack the ability to consciously summon anything."
Not unless you counted my uncanny ability to attract complete strangers that seemed to be compelled to tell me their entire life stories, which I was pretty sure didn't actually count as a summons according to their rules. What little I understood of them anyway. Besides that was more of a random coincidence than any sort of conscious ability on my part.
"I often forget just how strange and defenseless your world is," Sakumo sighed.
Defenseless? What? How did lacking the ability to call forth talking frogs or magical slugs have anything to do with our ability to defend ourselves? Okay granted I was a pretty piss poor example in the whole defending one's self or country department, but it wasn't like we were completely vulnerable just because we didn't have ninja magic. For fuck sakes it's not like we're all bumbling around like fragile sheep just because we can't fire lightening from our fingertips.
"If you say so," I replied impassively.
There was no point in arguing. Sakumo clearly saw this world as unguarded and poorly defended, compared to the strange world he had recently left behind, and I doubted that I could convince him otherwise. Not without a degree in psychology and access to some pretty substantial medication. As I stared unseeing at the cupboards, silently reminding myself that despite my mild irritation the silver-hair man had obviously meant no offense, I began to pounder on how long it might be before Jiraiya and Minato returned. Hopefully not too long. Despite the logical necessity of having to accept that my house guests would need to travel the city on their own eventually I wasn't exactly bursting at the seams with joy at the idea of them being unchaperoned in the city for an extended period. My brain may have been thinking logically but that didn't stop my stomach from churning with worry at the prospect of them being alone in an unfamiliar world.
That's the thing with being overly cautious and arguably paranoid…logic and emotion just never seemed to quite line up.
How were they going to get back into the building anyway? Any other time I had been with them when returning to the apartment so the fact that I was the only one with keys to get in and out of the building had never been an issue. Would they know how to use the buzzer? Should I head down to the lobby to wait for them?
Sakumo's gently placed hand on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts as though I'd be struck with a live electrical wire. I couldn't control the brief startled jerking of my muscles as I looked up at him with shamefully wide eyes. Apparently I wasn't over this evening's earlier incident as much as I thought I was.
An apologetic sadness swirled within his dark eyes as the corners of his mouth tugged downwards in a thoughtful frown. He stared at me silently for several painful seconds before lifting his hand off my shoulder, allowing the arm to hang loosely at his side.
"You're still afraid of me," he stated grievously, the sadness in his gravelly baritone unmistakable.
"Well sorry…but when I came home you looked like you were going to force feed me my own liver so forgive me for being a little jumpy," I explained a touch more snappishly than I had intended.
Misplaced anger is fear's close cousin.
Sakumo's eyes momentarily widened in surprised. Although whether that was from my words or their tone I wasn't sure. Crossing his arms over his chest the silver-haired man released a tired sigh, looking down at me with dark knowledgeable eyes, like a father about to tell their over active youngster that the monsters under the bed weren't real for the fiftieth time.
"I said I would not harm you and I keep my word. Even if I had made no such promise there is certainly no reason for me to hurt you in such a grotesque, sadistic manner," he calmly explained, obviously offended by my implied forced self-cannibalism. "I apologise if you found me unsettling earlier. You're altered appearance lead me to believe that your arrival was unexpected and potentially unwelcome."
He had me there. Not that I exactly blamed him for any anything. If I had been the one who had recently arrived from some war-torn alternate universe would I have acted any differently? I would just have to count my blessings that he didn't have an automatic 'shoot first and ask questions later' policy. Think of the unfortunate mess that could have created…
"What would you have done if I had been an intruder?" I quietly questioned before I could prevent the words from coming out of my mouth.
I wouldn't deny being somewhat morbidly curious but I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to know. Did I honestly want to hear what method he would have used to end my life had he been more aggressive in his apparent self-appointed duty to protect the apartment? Unfortunately the question had already been asked so there was no going back now. Preparing myself for any number of possible answers, not all of which were pleasant, I remained silent and patiently waited for his response.
"I would have merely restrained you. Had you chosen to use force I would have responded in kind," Sakumo answered honestly.
That was…surprisingly reasonable, not at all what I had been expecting.
"You wouldn't have just…killed me?" I inquired unable to completely mask my surprise.
"I do not know where you have acquired your knowledge on ninja but you are obviously misinformed. We do not kill recklessly and I am certainly not in the habit of ending the life of a single unarmed female without just cause," he lectured sternly.
Feeling a bit like a poorly performing student being lectured by the headmaster I gave a solemn nod in response. He did have a valid point. It was wrong to assume that being a magical-ninja went hand in hand with being a thoughtless killing machine, no matter what the situation was. At least I didn't have to worry so much about anyone who was unfortunate enough to be on potentially unfriendly terms with Sakumo, or either of the other, ending up on the six o'clock news.
"How long have Jiraiya and Minato been gone?" I inquired quickly changing the subject as I went about my routine of hanging up my coat and putting my things away.
Calmly following me into the living room, where I had finally turned on some lights, he paused in thought before turning his dark eyes back towards me. "About an hour…perhaps two," he answered smoothly.
Briefly I wondered why Sakumo had been sitting alone in the dark while the others had been gone. I knew they came from a world that was completely different to this one but I wasn't about to insult his intelligence by assuming he couldn't figure out something as simple as flicking a light switch. Heck for all I knew they could conjure light themselves and had no need for electricity. Perhaps he had been using the time to get a nap in or do whatever it is ninja's did in their down time. Scotchgard all their work clothes perhaps?
"Maybe I should head down to the lobby to wait for them," I hesitantly suggested lightly chewing my lower lip in thought.
Sakumo arch a single silver eyebrow at me in silent amusement. His expression was that of a father humoring a child who had just said something profoundly stupid. I couldn't understand his amusement. They were going to need to get back into the building somehow. Thanks to Jiraiya's impromptu lesson on ninja methods of travel I understood that they had the impossible ability to run at speeds far beyond any athlete of this world but surely even that had its limits. They couldn't just leap up seven stories and stroll in threw the window…could they?
As if on cue there was the rather unexpected sound of a window being slid open from the outside. After a brief moment Jiraiya calmly eased himself through, followed closely by Minato, as casually as if the window had been the front door. It took me a moment to figuratively pick my jaw up off the floor so I could at least offer them some semblance of a friendly greeting upon their return. Honestly I really shouldn't be so surprised by all the inconceivable things their capable of by now.
A momentary look of confusion clouded Jiraiya's features, his dark eyes scanning over me, before a wide characteristic grin spread across his face.
"See I told you she was fine," he stated lazily. "Should have insisted on that bet…"
"Bet? What bet?" I questioned suspiciously, not at all certain how indignant I should be feeling.
"Not important. These two," he started jerking a thumb in the direction of Minato and Sakumo, "were worried something might have happened to ya, but I figured you were probably just out doing whatever it is young women like yourself do in a place like this."
Was what women did here really all that different from what the women did in their world? They must get their hair cut and styled from time to time, or does the vigorous ninja training that seems to be such a central part of their lives leave no time for such frivolous things?
"Glad you weren't worried, but why bother searching for me then?" I asked offhandedly. Not that I was at all concerned over why Jiraiya had or had not decided to go out looking for me.
He gave a brief unconcerned shrug of his large shoulders before finally responding. "What can I say I was out numbered….besides I could have been wrong. Glad to see I wasn't. Liking the new look by the way," he finished with an exaggerated wink.
I returned his wink with a piercing glare of my own but there was little fire behind it. Jiraiya just wouldn't be Jiraiya without his mildly pervy nature.
"Was there a reason the colour of your hair needed to be changed?" Minato innocently inquired. The expression on his face was a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
There were times when I found Minato to be the most baffling of my guests. Most of the time he had this calm dignity about him that just radiated confidence, but every once in a while he would say or do something that would give the impression that he was absolutely oblivious when he came to anything that had to do with women. However, the guy looked like he could be in magazines so I seriously doubted he was struggling at all in the romance department regardless of how clueless he could be on matters.
Thinking of my blond house guest's imaginary love life reignited all the frustration and annoyance I had suffered through today, thanks to Pam's relentless hounding, all because said blond had to show up at the Medical Lab parking-lot without warning. Swallowing back a snarl I temporarily shot Minato an embittered glare while simultaneously trying to fight back the embarrassing blush that was threatening to spread across my cheeks. Damn you Pam! Despite all my adamant protesting that there was nothing going on between us Minato was still a strikingly handsome man after all.
Catching my momentary glower my blond house guest looked at me quizzically his head slightly cocked to one side as he silently studied me, no doubt trying to find some visible cause for my seemingly unwarranted anger. Obviously finding nothing he was about to open his mouth to ask something before I instinctively held up a hand to silence him.
It had already been another long day and I really didn't want to get into any lengthy discussions on how my friend and co-worker has the absurd idea that the two of us should be fucking like rabbits.
"Jiraiya?" I called seeking the white-haired man's attention.
"Hmm," he mumbled turning his dark eyes towards me to signal that I indeed had what I desired.
A large grin was still plastered on his face and a look of barely controlled mirth practically spilled from his eyes. I had no idea what the cause of this most recent bout of amusement might have been, though such things weren't completely unexpected. Jiraiya could consistently be relied upon to find amusement in just about anything.
"Have you had any luck with contacting your toad friends, or is there's anything to those few items we found earlier?" I questioned warily, pointing a finger at the old shoebox that now sat on the reorganized bookshelf lonely and forgotten.
He released a boisterous laugh, which seemed to echo throughout the apartment, while he nervously scratched the back of his head. "Haven't had much luck with that I'm afraid," he responded shaking his head. "I was only able to establish a partial contact for a few seconds before the connection snapped."
So it was possible to create some form of contact with their world, or at least whatever Smurf world Candy Land these summon things resided in, even if only for a short while.
"You will try again?" I asked hopefully.
Although I couldn't claim to understand what establishing such contact would ultimately accomplish it seemed like such a waste to abandon that particular avenue after what could potentially be classified as only one partial failure.
"Of course," he lazily replied teasingly ruffling my hair with is large hand, "but not on an empty stomach."
"Well we'd best have dinner then," I calmly stated easily swatting his hand away. "That chicken and salad isn't going to eat itself."
As always thank you for reading, and thank you for the wonderful comments. I am absolutely thrilled to hear that readers are enjoying the story thus far. Unfortunately a long delay between chapters seems to be a consistent pattern with me and I can't foresee that changing any time in the near future. Darn real life obligations and whatnot. I'm not sure when I'll be back but barring some major catastrophe I will be back eventually.
Until next time...