Chapter 20 Valentine's Day I
Monday back on the job, Flores was starting to have a crush on Zabuza and his "dreamy go- get-'em gruffness" as she put it. Valentine's Day was Friday, so she decided to test the waters at the scout hangout Dirty Birdy's bar. "So do you have any plans for Valentine's Day?" Flores asked.
"That day never had much meaning." Zabuza replied.
"So there was never a Mrs. Momochi or another sweet peach?" Derrick asked much to Zabuza's annoyance, he didn't know his last name meant peach soil.
"No time, I had ambitions and few places I wasn't a wanted man." He replied downing sake like a pro. Willow thought wanted man meant he was attractive, her neighbors only saw him from a distance and talked plenty. "I'm not interested in a relationship anyway." The words were quite a blow to Flores. Joran was as usual quietly observing and patted Flores on the shoulder.
Meanwhile Haku Nikki and Gaia were returning from a mission dressed in old west attire. Gaia a dusty pink cowgirl, Nikki a black and red saloon waitress and Haku as a beige farmer, they were finished stopping the curses brought on by a dimension's god stone rush. "You two have nothing to do this Valentine's Day?!" Gaia asked in shock, it was grim thinking her favorite holiday could be easily ignored, she even moved movie night to spend the day with her new girlfriend.
"Why mess with my streak?" Nikki asked, snapping to change her clothes back to black leggings cardigan and tee with a red spatter that said "You Mad?" and matching red striped arm warmers.
"Why is Valentine's Day so precious to you Gaia?" Haku asked. It had to be is she defended it so much, finding strength in it.
"Because love is one of the most powerful things ever! And makes you more powerful and braver than anything ever!" Gaia exclaimed.
"I see, I've always believed that the love that made things precious gives you strength too." Haku replied thinking of his scars the chidori left behind. The lighting burns or Lichtenberg figures were mostly on his upper body, but the ones that feathered to his arm and head faded. He also sometimes got pains in his arms and chest. Being in the same team didn't mean caring yet Gaia and Nikki did, which made him feel awful. Did Zabuza ever go through this with him?
"I could set up dates today!" Gaia exclaimed reaching for her communicator.
"Nope, y'all need me I'll be on a spell stuff run." Nikki said operating the teleporter.
"I think Nikki needed help, who knows maybe we'll change our minds." Haku replied not wanting to see who he'd end up with, there were stories of her "mismatches". He went in the teleporter and the blue light with Nikki asking "What ingredients do you need?"
"Ones to help heal lightening injuries. Like yours" she said, making Haku gasp he thought he was careful. His white shirt, khakis and vest were thick and shouldn't have given him away.
"How did you know?" Haku asked.
"Gaia was the same way. We're worried about you." Haku was unsure how to feel. Zabuza was the only one who mattered, but bit by bit he and his world grew, and mind raced.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make either of you worry." Haku learned that light humor wouldn't help from the last time she worried about him in the ice palace.
"We worry because we care, no need to apologize." She smiled, or at least tried, they were always so small and faint. The plants outside were unearthly and beautiful, organized by environment instead of origin like the earth shrine, some even moved.
"Where are we?" He said as they exited.
"The green palace, leading source of magic plants in united dimensions. IMPS supports organizations and people that're registered."
"What does IMPS stand for?" He asked noting a large sign above iron gates.
"Interdimensional Magic Practitioner Society." She replied. Nikki was able to become a witch and garnered support for them. Haku wondered if other mythical alignments like Gaia becoming a fairy would give additional support. If so would Zabuza become a demon? And what about him, he fought to maintain his humanity in spite of being thought of as a monster for so long. But what did being human mean when those closest to him Zabuza, his mother, Nikki, Gaia and to an extent his father were all freaks and monsters to others?