Fantasy Last Minute Invitation

[Parrot Parfait]

After I stretching my arms up into the air, I take my whistling pot, fill it with water, and place it on the stove to heat up. This past year was rather wild for the main me, so it's a good time to unwind by talking with a random stranger. I begin tidying up the room, and as I do, my door makes the connection to my next guest's world... Wing-it-Gal

Spoiler: Current Appearance

Spoiler: Current Location

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

Kira opened the door and stepped through with wide eyed wonder. Her vibrant blue eyes were curiously looking around until she noticed she was not alone in this room. She tilted her head to the side, her chestnut brown hair tilting with her in her high ponytail with curtain bangs framing her delicate face.

She wore a light blue sundress with a matching bow in her hair. A small, dark blue bag was slung across her shoulders to hold her things.

"Oh! Um hello there." She said with a friendly smile and wave despite her confusion. "My name is Kira Kitsune. I think I must have gotten lost, I'm very sorry to disturb you." She apologized with a deep bow.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

As I tidy up the last part of my room, I hear a soft click of a door before a young lady enters my room. After I turn my head towards her, I greet her, saying, "Nice to meet you, Kitsune, and it's of no trouble. I just finished up with doing my chores, and I could use just a bit of company." I give her a warm smile. Not too long after, the teapot begins whistling. "Ah, let me pour out the tea. You can come in and take a seat if you'd like." From the cupboards, I begin taking out a tea pot, some Assam tea leaves, and some cups before preparing everything as I wait for my guest to enter.

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

Kira timidly walks further into the room and takes off her shoes to be polite before going over to the grey seat and sitting down. "I'm glad I'm not troubling you." She said as she waited for her tea, which she was happy for because it tended to keep her calm.

"Where... am I, exactly?" She asked as she looked around. "I've never seen a place in Konoha quite like this." She explained.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

"Ah, this is just my apartment," I explain, "I will admit that I have some strange tastes compared to the locals around here. Though, to be fair, I moved in couple a days ago after getting the necessary permissions to settle down in Konoha." I place the two cups down in front of Kira, the green cups clinking as they touch the table. As I get the brewing teapot, I ask, "You one of the locals here? I hadn't much time to go around town since I was busy setting everything up." I gently lay the warm teapot onto the table as I listen to Kira's answer.

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

"Oh!" Kira said, accepting the answer immediately with a friendly smile. "Okay well, welcome to your new home then!" She said happily.

Kira looked at the green teacup then back at her host. "Mmhm, I am one of the many medics in this village. So if you ever need help you can count on me, okay? Maybe later I can buy you some ramen as a welcome present." She said, unaware of how long this new person would be here for. "What's your name by the way?" She asked curiously.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

"Ah, my name is Jin-Ho," I respond as I grab a box of shortbread cookies from one of the cupboards. "I'm a scholar of sorts. My work requires me to travel around a lot, but sometimes, I settle down a bit like this to get some R&R." As I place the cookies onto a plate, I continue, "I've met some pretty interesting people in my travels. Though, I'm not really supposed to talk about it unless the circumstances are just right." I set the plate down onto the table and pour out the tea into both cups.

"From what I've heard about medical ninjas, they have it a bit hard if I'm not mistaken. Dealing with both life and death, life as a doctor and death as a ninja, can put a bit of a toll on one's mind, or at least, that's how I see it. Is being a medical ninja really like that?"

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

Kira nodded upon hearing the name, repeating it quietly to herself to commit it to memory. She looked quite interested in hearing the stranger speak, thinking to herself that they sounded so fascinating. Kira eyed the cookies once they were placed down, loving sweets, but her polite nature kept her from taking any. "I see! What a wonderful line of work."

Then she hummed thoughtfully, thinking of how to best answer the question.

"Yes, we don't always see the best parts of life, it's true. I have gifts beyond an average medic, so it is rare that I lose a patient but... when I do, it hurts. Some of the patients I've lost were people very close to me. These days though, I am more medic than ninja. I try to stay close to the village and serve as a doctor as much as I can. Granted, I do take some missions from time to time when I have to, but I don't prefer it. Not since..." Kira's bright blue eyes lost their shine and fell distant, cloudy, off to a place she didn't want to be.

It wasn't usual that she opened up so quickly to others and when she finally caught herself she perked up with a big smile and a wave, as if nothing had happened.

"But I see a lot of happy things too you know? Babies being born, people getting better. It isn't all bad. I'm sorry for making things gloomy, I don't want you to think life is unhappy here." She said quickly, feeling guilty for speaking honestly in answering the question.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

I nodded in silence as she spoke about her life, but when I noticed that the shine in her eyes had faded, I felt a bit pained that I'd struck a sensitive issue with her. Since I felt that it'd be wise not to press further, I smiled in response, "It's no issue. I'm the one who should apologized since I was the one who brought up the topic. I've never really seen anyone... well... die, the aftermath. I guess I got a bit too curious with that last question." I scratch my head a bit. "On a different note," I say to change the subject, "what's the current news around Konoha? I didn't really have time to pick up one of the papers with the packing and stuff."

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

"It's no trouble at all, I can understand that. I am quite interested in your job as well." She said with a smile to assure him that everything was alright.

"Death is a natural course of life. I don't mind talking about it, it just tends to make people sad when I do and that's the last thing I want." She explained, then hummed thoughtfully when he'd changed the topic, tapping her finger to her chin.

"Let's see... Oh! Lord Fourth, he is expecting a baby! That is exciting on its own, but I'm also happy because Kakashi is being tasked to watch over the safety of the baby and its mother. He really could use something happy to see for a change." She said positively, then suddenly looked nervous. "I'm... not sure if I was supposed to tell you that." She said with a funny smile. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

 

[Parrot Parfait]

"Don't worry about it," I hold up my hand, "I won't tell anyone, and even if I wanted to, they'd probably forget what I've said anyways. Though, I do find it interesting that I've so happened to arrive during this time..." I stroke my chin in wonder. "Be careful about wild animals when the baby is born. Advice from a traveler, it never hurts to take extra precautions." I grab one of the shortbread cookies and my tea to begin snacking. After taking a bite and a sip, I ask, "Ah, just wondering, are you the one who's going to be in charge with delivering the baby?"

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

"I am relieved to hear that." Kira says, grateful that she hasn't made a terrible mistake. "Okay, I will be mindful of that." She says, thankful for the advice. Once she see's that he has started snacking, she takes it as permission to do so as well before she answers the question.

"That's right. I've been the mother's personal physician during this time as well. She is very happy and healthy, you'll be glad to hear." Kira says with a smile. "Kakashi has been taking his work very seriously as well so I'm hopeful that everything will work out smoothly."

 

[Parrot Parfait]

I nod in agreement with what she stated and give a soft smile. "Ah, a bit of a more impersonal and political topic, I've never truly understood why the villages are fighting each other. As a kind of "in-the-background" person, I've visited most of the villages. I can kinda understand the cultures of each village, but I haven't really gotten why exactly the villages are fighting. You're kinda the first person I've asked, but why do you think there's so much fighting?"

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

"Hmm..." Kira mused thoughtfully.

"Well, I wouldn't say we are at odds with any one village at the moment, well, that I know of, but... there is a lot of distrust between all of the villages, it's true. Perhaps it is ambition, or maybe the sins of the past make it hard to move on in the present. There is a lot that I don't know about too. Some things that only ANBU and our Hokage might know and also... likely many secrets that even the current Hokage and ANBU don't know also. I would say that I am very trusted and relied upon in my village but I know there are things they keep from me, from everyone really. I can sense it. Being a part of a ninja world means that many things are done in shadows and whether or not we actually know what kinds of things are done we know they can be done. It also doesn't help that our entire economy is dependent on war. Ninja work is one of the highest paying occupations one can have, not to mention the merchants who make money supplying them."

 

[Parrot Parfait]

"That's a bit rough, but I guess it is what it is," I muse a bit, "Doesn't sound much different from where I come from. The government from where I come from tends to keep lots of secrets, even though it tries to maintain of facade of 'transparency.' Though, I know they can't help it since all the other countries are watching along with its own people. In this world, I guess it's often do and be blamed or do not and be blamed. I do believe that peace can eventually be achieved, and I think you'll be able may be able to see it in your lifetime... at least amongst the villages." I take another sip of my tea before remembering something. "So... I've been meaning to ask but... could you demonstrate to me some basic ninjutsu? I've seen a few examples in the other villages, but I wanted to see how the style varies in the leaf village. I'm aware that some ninjutsu is often confidential, so I usually only ask for the basic kind."

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

Kira listened to him explain about his world with great care and thought. She wondered to herself where he might come from then, that it sounded so different than here, but she decided not to get into it.

"I am sorry to hear that things aren't too much different in your world either." She said with regret. "But I hope you're right about me living to see peace. I would really like that." She smiled gently. "I hope that you will see peace as well, in your world."

Then he brought the topic to jutsu, and Kira was excited to demonstrate for him.

"Ninjutsu? Oh, sure! Here's one." Kira said, before making a specific "plus sign" with her hands. "Shadow Clone Jutsu." She said, then suddenly a clone of herself appeared and gave him a friendly wave. "This one very common here."

 

[Parrot Parfait]

"Fascinating," I mutter as I take a closer look, "As of yet, I've only really been shown elemental justsu, so this is pretty much my first time seeing the shadow clone technique. Is it fine if I hold the clone's hand?" My eyes turn to the real Kira, sparkling with imagination and curiosity.

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

The real Kira nodded to give her permission. "Anything that my clone experiences, I will too once it returns to me. This can be both a good and bad thing depending on the circumstances, so please be gentle." Kira explained in case he was unaware.

The clone of her looked from her true self to the man before her and extended her hand towards him with a friendly smile.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

"Duly noted," I affirm before gently holding the clones hand. Upon touch, the clone's hand felt fully real, all with warmth and a pulse. I then turn over the hand over and over, examining for any defects or other indications, to which there were none. Then, as part of the final analysis, I close my eyes. Using my room's sensory powers, I sense that it's indeed a clone with oddly realistic flesh and blood. However, what was more odd was that it also felt a bit like an extension of Kira's body, similar to an arm or an eye... except more complicated. Any further subtleties were lost upon me. I reopen my eyes before letting go of the clone's hand.

"That was certainly an interesting experience. I'm not sure how the technique works, but somehow you're creating an extra extension of yourself, like creating more legs or ears, except the clone is far more sophisticated. I garner from what you said about the whole experience thing and that, you might be able to connect your senses to the clone. Not sure if that'd work let alone how it'd work, but it's an interesting thought I had."

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

The clone tilted her head curiously as the traveler analyzed her diligently. The real Kira considered his theory, looking quite analytical herself now.

"Despite the somewhat taboo nature of experimentation of jutsu in my village, I have dabbled in it from time to time. I have tried extending the reach of my clone, but she still disappears after a few miles, sometimes even less if I'm low on chakra. From what I gather, the way she responds is almost like an echo of my soul rather than having another copy of my soul. Another thing to note, is that currently, my attacks would only be at half power and so would hers. The more clones one makes, the less power each one has, which appears to mean to me that she now has half of my chakra. Although... it would take an incredible amount of chakra to create more than three clones I'd imagine."

Kira took a sip of her tea then ate another cookie. "I hope I'm not boring you with this talk. I just thought I might help your curiosity, it's part of your work to learn about new things I imagine?"

 

[Parrot Parfait]

I nod concurrently. "It's interesting to hear about how people interpret and utilize their own powers in their daily lives. I like the "echo of the soul" theory that you brought up. Makes the technique a little bit less of an existential crisis," I chuckle a bit at my own terrible joke. "I can also imagine that you've used this technique to get groceries while you're off doing something else, right?"

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

Kira laughs softly at his joke then had a guilty smile. "I maaay have utilized the ability for mundane tasks from time to time, yes. But I try not to do it too often. After all, the experiences just end up coming back to me later anyway."

The clone Kira looked around the room curiously before the real Kira sent her off in a puff of smoke. Poof!

"Oh! Do you like reading books?" She asked with a sudden thought.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

"Haha!" I chuckle a bit, "I may look like the type to read, but I actually don't read too much traditional literature. I do like graphic novels and manga, however. They're the perfect blend between visuals and story to tickle the imagination. As for my work, I prefer obtaining information through field work as opposed to reading things. I guess I can be described more of a field scholar as opposed to a book scholar. Ah, I also do write from time to time for fun."

 

[Wing-it-Gal]

"Oh how interesting! Manga and graphic novels, hm!" She hummed with intrigue and excitement. "I haven't tried looking for those here but I hope we have them. I am usually so busy that I barely have time to grab the newest romance novel and head home after work." She explained.

"That sounds very fun though, seeing new things and meeting new people in person. Most of my experiences of that sort are in fiction these days or, well, I do have my own adventures you could say but they are all work related now. Not many of my own... I guess until today!" She said, realizing that it had been a long time since she'd been spoken to as Kira Kitsune and not as simply a "medical-nin".

"What do you write about? Do you have anything I can read when I get home?" She asked hopefully.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

"Ah," I say a bit surprised, blushing a bit, "it's nothing much, really. Just some fiction and stuff, and nothing that's worthy for the store shelves. Though, maybe in the future, I'd like to publish something, maybe about a tea shop or the like. From where I come from, some people like to read about the ordinary lives of other people in calm, quiet settings. It's actually rather soothing and helps with destressing." I take another sip of the black tea, and take another bite of the shortbread cookie. After finishing, I continue, "I was actually very stressed over these past few weeks. I had a lot of work to do with studying and finishing up projects and all that. Then I had to move out of where I was living after getting everything finished. Though, now that everything's settled, I can relax a bit before beginning my work again. I really appreciate talking with you like this and all."