The deal was struck.
We shook hands on becoming temporary roommates.
Might as well. We keep appearing in each other's homes and already generally used to each other. And if I appeared here - seemingly indefinitely so far - I could probably hopefully go back the same way too.
His name was Kakashi, and mine Maera.
-
He cleared out his room for me and Fruit to stay in. He didn't want that - when he gestured to Fruit - perfuming the whole house.
I don't know where and how he cleared out his room - unless he had nothing to actually clear out - but I decided to not question things after the bloody bathroom and everything else.
We decided I would help make meals and continue what I usually did at home. So I would clean up the damn leaves, make tea, and occasionally desserts.
Some things seemed to have randomly transferred with me. The fridge was filled with my shoppings, my toiletries were still in the bathroom, and my pile of discarded clothes were left in the corner of his room.
Convenient. Too convenient.
He speculated it was because we crossed paths and spent time the most in the bathroom and bedroom.
I wished my windowed living room would have come too, because it was now replaced with a shoddy single wide window. But Kakashi seems to not spend time in his living room at all. So I had to settle for his sparse and small area that smelled like dog.
"Do you sit for dogs?"
"No I have 8 of my own"
"Where are they?"
He didn't respond, when he got his shoes on he yeeted himself right out the window.
I was too shocked to respond or take a look to check on him. Seemed natural enough for him so he's probably okay..
–
I was instructed to stay home bound for awhile. He said he had to work things out in his world for me to stay more comfortably in it.
He later gave me a stack of documents and told me if anyone asked - change topics. And if anyone really asked - he owes somebody so I'm staying over until things workout.
He was looking bent out and exhausted afterwards so I decided to not ask him more. I did whip up a cup of tea with maple syrup for him, which he accepted with a nod of thanks.
–
"So.. what do you do for work?"
"Uh.. " he looked off towards the window longingly. He also kept looking around everywhere but at her.
"I don't know what it's like where your from, but here we have Shinobi for hire.."
I nodded my head, remembering the tales of another country back home.
"And this village.. is full of many different families of Shinobi.."
I kept nodding my head while my mind wondered.
"We have missions given by a leader called the Hokage. We protect people.. do errands for the locals..-"
"Do shows or events?" I cut in.
"Um.. no. We also are hired to.. ehhh.. kill people"
I nodded my head and whipped over to face him, "oh yeah?"
"Yes" he nodded, watching my face carefully.
Maybe we should have talked about this before becoming roommates in this thug ass village. But I didn't have much choice in walking into this weird place, but you know what?
She took pictures of dead bodies, pieces of them, cut open living bodies, weddings..
She decided she would see his work as.. the other team of who she worked for.. in a way.
He cleared his throat as he saw her listing off, "so. What do you do for work?"
"Oh! Um.. not kill people. But I take pictures of them"
He stared at her.
She stared back.
"I mean. Like.. we don't kill people where I'm from. I don't kill people to take pictures of them- I'm hired by what we have instead of Shinobi called police, and doctors or hospitals, agencies, venues, really whoever contacts me. To come and take pictures"
He nodded his head, "you don't have your camera do you..?"
"I do! But don't worry, I don't take pictures without consent. And I don't really have a way to print them out anyways. I don't even know if our technology matches up"
He seemed to faintly relax head, his fingers were tapping against the cup held in both hands.
He nodded his head and set the cup down.
He clapped his hands together and stood up, "okay. So you can go around town now, just keep your documents on you and try not to talk to anybody for now. I gotta go meet some kids so I'll see you around dinner" his eye smiled and he swiveled towards the window.
He stopped when Fruit crossed his path and meowed up at him.
"Right. You." he turned on his heel and exited through the door this time.
I glared from behind the closed door, "meet some kids. He better not be a creep"
--
Next day I decided to venture outside. Taking a quick dip outside the front door had me back tracking for a pair of jeans to cut up into some shorts.
Outside had me reeling.
It was nice to still be living in a "cityscape". But it reminded me of the trip I had to Brazil. It was a bit ghetto but the people walking around seemed normal enough to her standards, if a bit old fashioned.
I took a look around the apartment exterior and made a rough sketch in my notebook. I pulled out the map Kakashi had tucked in my ID booklet and unfolded it and marked the streets as I traveled around.
I stopped by a stall, bought a basket and asked for directions towards a pet goods shop.
After securing Fruit a heaping stash of canned cat food and dried duck goodies, I hobbled off to a convenience store and popped my head in,
"Are we still having a full moon tonight?"
The kid at the counter looked up, an eyebrow quirked at me but he still checked the calendar behind him "uh.. yes."
"Nice, thank you" I nodded my head and continued inside. I looked around for a couple sodas and was surprised to find some recognizable labels.
"Eyo?" I turned the bottle around and checked out the whole label. Maybe the veil between our worlds was a more common occurrence than I initially thought.
The only difference I could find was that it was branded 'made in fire country'.
Two sodas, a bag of matcha, cheese, and some crackers were the cherry on top of a loaded basket. The weight caused the basket to creak under my fingers, but I could still see around it and the weight was nothing new for me. I've carried much heavier equipment.
On the last stretch home, the sky was orange and the cicadas were sounding off.
I was just starting to break a sweat when my basket was yoinked from me. My hand immediately went for my sandal, but I spotted the white hair and put my heel back down.
"I about gave you the chancla boy"
"You seem like you needed help"
"I could have punched you in the throat you know"
"I'd like to see you try"
I yawned at him instead and followed along beside him.
"I appreciate the help"
"Yep"
--
Back home we assumed our awkward middle aged loner positions in the living room. Fruit was eating in the kitchen, giving us the background sound of happy cat noms.
"So. Do you believe in anything? Like observe any religions or traditions?"
"Only when it's convenient really. The locals hold the occasional festival"
I almost didn't want to ask him since he seemed so tired, but if we can get on more friendly terms maybe we can get pass this whole awkward stage and live more comfortably,
"Wanna watch the moon with me?"
He was either thinking about it our counting his spoons.
But he gave a silent nod, "sure"
--
"Arent I kid enough for you?"
Kakashi snorted, "Yes. But these ones I'm required to spend time with"
"Are these your kids or.."
He dry coughed and slid the living room window open, "no- I'm like their mentor"
"So your a groomer?"
He glared back at me but I still expected an answer, my hand was itching for my sandals by the door.
"No. I'm their mentor until they are professional Shinobi"
"Okay okay. Just had to make sure you weren't creeping on some kids. Your not a pervert right?" -cough GROOMER cough hACK-
I think I saw a wrinkle in that glare this time.
I flapped my hand at him, "I'm sorry for needling. I'm just curious. When do I meet my nieflings?"
"Nieflings?"
"You know. Nieces or nephews"
"I don't know. Let's talk later"
"Stay safe" I called out after him, closing the window. I watched as he parkour the rooftops.
I looked down at my ankle buddy, "lets go stalk him- I mean look around town"
Fruit ran for his sling. He was ready to leave this den of dank dog.
--
The scheme to run in Kakashi's general direction was extremely short-lived.
Me and Fruit decided to peruse the land once again, me nodding my head to kind passers-by, and Fruit even got some head scratchies from a kid that was painting a fence with a couple others.
I tried to find the path that leads to the stairs climbing up the monument. But there were some serious looking buildings that she felt nervous to approach. She decided to write a note to ask Kakashi how to get there. A hike in a new world sounded nice.
She had Fruit help pick out some things from a home goods store before heading back.
–
"No" The grumpy man stared at her and her two big shopping bags of fluff goodness.
"Yes. Its depressing and it stinks in here"
"I will allow the pillows. No incense"
"Fine, I will accept that. But i'm putting a cover on the couch"
He nodded at the green microplush covers she swung around.
"But one candle"
"No"
"My room"
"I have a sensitive nose"
"But it smells like baked bread!"
He stared up at the ceiling, he pulled off his headband causing his puffy hair to flop.
"Fine. But window stays open while its burning and only while I'm gone"
"Yes! Thank you thank you"
He flipped a page in his book and giggled.
She tried to peek at the cover, "What are you reading?"
He continued reading undisturbed.
"Is it porn?" she had a knowing smirk.
He gave her a look. How dare I get between him and his porn. To be fair I would have thrown my shoe by now.
"Wanna share"
He squinted, "No"
I huffed, "Well can you tell me where you got it?"
"Yes"
She turned away at his lack of further response and threw some pillows on the coach, one bounced off his head and to the floor. He swiped it and propped his arm up with it.
He flipped another page, "I'll mark it on your map"
A small smile creeped up my face, it was the first genuine one in awhile,
"Sweet, thanks."
--
Next morning when she opened her map, she spotted the red bold pen with capitalized 'PORN' written on one of the shops.
"NICE"
--