Chapter V - Hot|Springs

People ran on the streets trying to get to their home or at least find a place to get covered as the rain fell from the sky. The normally cloudless sky from Konohagakure was full of grey clouds, from time to time thunder could be heard.

A small boy looked up at the sky sleepily from the window of his house; his eyes half closed as he pets the big reptile's head on his lap. For him, it has been a long time since last time he saw rain, and he couldn't help but feel nostalgic. He always loved the rain, but right now it wasn't happiness what he felt…his mind replaying memories from his past life.

"§What are you thinking about§?" the snake asked as he stared up at Kunie lazily, his tongue flicking out.

Kunie blinked then smiled down to Kira;

"§Just…remembering things§," he said as he closed his eyes, his head touching the glass from the cold window, his breath coming out in white puffs. The snake grumbled before getting his head away from the hand and sliding under the shirt;

"§Too cold§" he hissed unsatisfied before seeming to purr as his scales touched the warm skin under the shirt. The owner of the shirt couldn't help but shudder as those cold scales went into contact with him.

"§You could have warned§" he shakes his head then sighs as he closed once again his eyes. That snake does whatever he wants without caring about what he thinks.

Seriously.

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Aiko hurried toward the door, stepping into the house and sighing in relief as she goes toward a towel and dries herself. When she didn't hear the brat greeting her she frowned then looked around the room, her eyes finally pinpointing the small toddler who was curving against the window with a blanket on him, his eyes closed as he sleeps.

She frowned as she doesn't remember buying such a blanket, but in the end, she pulls it to the back of her mind then walks toward him, her hand reaching to his shoulder and shaking;

"Wake up" she ordered as she shakes one last time, one moan from the boy being her answer. Kunie's eyelashes trembled before sleepy green eyes peeked from between them, he yawned as he sat down, nearly falling back again because of Kira's weight. He stirred before looking up at his mother lazily.

"Don't sleep next to the window" she admonished him as she turned around and walked toward the kitchen, drinking some water then turning tilting her head toward him "We can't afford a medic-nin so it will be problematic if you get sick."

Kunie nodded as he stared down at the blanket curiously, he doesn't remember falling asleep with this strange blanket with bears on it… his eyes sneaked toward Aiko in thought, did the woman gift him one?

He shook his head; it must be a gift or something the won… he doubts she would buy something for him after all. He shrugs then suddenly remembers the reason for Aiko going out in the rain even though she doesn't have work today;

"Did you find someone?" he asked as he jumps to the floor. It has been two months since that day in which he meets Kira, and because his body is always holding Kira as he walks around, he is stronger…now he can run without his weight being problematic, the exception being when he just wakes up from sleep.

Aiko frowned while scratching the back of her head;

"I couldn't find anyone…they were all occupied" she groaned as she sat on the cushion near the table.

Kunie's shoulders slumped down as he hears her…the reason for her going out is because there's a problem with the bathtub…they can't get a bath or shower. Honestly, with the cold, he would rather like a hot shower.

Aiko held her head with her hand as she stares at the wall before rolling her eyes;

"I suppose we don't have another choice" she mutters as she gets up "Brat, we are going out."

"Where are we going?" he asks curiously as he searches for something to protect him from the rain.

"We are going to the hot springs from Konoha" she grumbles out then glares at Kunie "I will take you, but if you don't behave well, you will pay for it. Do you understand me?"

Kunie perks when he hears the words hot springs and nods his head rapidly as his heart beats in excitement, he quickly goes toward his crib then puts his hand under the blanket;

"§Stay under the blanket while I am going out, okay?§." He hisses to the shake under his shirt. The snake didn't answer but slides out from his arms under the blanket; a bulge could be seen. Aiko frowned as she turns at him;

"Why the hell are you hissing?" she asks staring at him strangely before shrugging, thinking it must be a child thing.

Kunie didn't answer as he runs after her, thinking about how the hot springs will look like. He has been wanting to visit one for a long time, but his mother didn't let him as she says they are too expensive.

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After walking for at least thirty minutes, they finally arrived at their destination. Not long ago it stopped raining, and now there are just some clouds. Both Aiko and Kunie are standing beneath the shadowing presence of a Shinto archway, people walking around the two.

Kunie stared curiously up at the wooden arch; he could see some words carved into it. He didn't know any of those letters so slowly; he pulled from Aiko's shirt, who frowned then stared down at him;

"What is written in the archway?" he asked her curiously as he points out with his finger at the words. Some people seemed to find this cute as they suddenly stopped to stare down at Kunie with smiles on their faces. Kunie didn't pay attention to them as he looks up expectantly at Aiko.

Aiko sighed as she saw the people stopping, not understanding why they care about another person's child. After some seconds she finally gave up and answered;

"The words carved into the archway means Konoha's, Hot Springs."

Kunie blinked as he looked back at the words then nodded with a grin. It wasn't original at all but oh well…Can it help him to learn some letters? He really needs to learn how to write and read; he can't be asking people all the time about the meaning of the letters…he just needs to find who will teach him because Aiko is too 'occupied' with her work to take some seconds to teach him.

Aiko stared down at him then finally, took Kunie's hand in her own to make sure he doesn't stop to ask another silly question. She pulls him with her, both of them stepping through the archway and walking up the stone steps.

Suddenly a smell invaded Kunie's senses, and he couldn't help but think that it just states the obvious. His sensitive nose caught the whiff of tub salt herbs wafting through the breeze from the structure. Smiling happily, Kunie glances around the area, awing at its natural beauty and befitting design traits.

The hot-spring was merely blossoming with foliage, which grew in and out of the area as if this place was a part of the natural wilderness itself. Pink cherry trees flower in the breeze, shedding their petals majestically. The winds blew these touches of blossom through bamboo emplacements like a flowing steam, accompanied by shrubs and plant life that was just spewing out scent which Kunie found extraordinarily pleasant to the smell. The building was painted in red with a green roof to suit the surroundings, and every so often, decorative frameworks can be spotted.

"This place is amazing!" he exclaims in awe, hands on his hips as he looks over the place again and again "It looks like a paradise!"

Aiko heard him and rumbled under her breath;

"It may be the paradise, but it's still too pricy."

"Just wait until you see what's inside!" suddenly a voice called out behind them, making both of them jump in surprise. Blinking, Kunie turned around, and immediately came face to face with the blue eyes of Miko. The young woman was wearing a purple tube-top Chinese light and a dark lining tone, with a black purple-neck worn underneath, which was closely followed up by a purple matching skirt, bicycle shorts, and sandals. Her long hair was done up in a braided pony-tail.

The young woman smiled friendly at Kunie before kneeling down to the floor and opening her arms wide. Kunie didn't wait before running toward her;

"Kunie-nee!" he squeaked out happily as he jumped into her arms. Since that night two months ago he hasn't seen her and thought she would never come back to see him again. He cuddled into her arms as she stood up with him in her arms, his legs surrounding her waist.

"Good afternoon to you too, Kunie" she chuckled as she ran a hand through Kunie's hair, frowning when she saw his hair was attached into a small ponytail by a red string, she pulled from it and let his blue hair flown down, having grown those last months and now reaching his shoulders.

"Your hair grew a lot those last months…" she muttered as she pecks onto his head and he giggled which he would deny if asked.

"You…"

Suddenly, both blue and green eyes turned to look at the woman who lies abandoned next to them. Her expression wasn't friendly at all, wearing a scowl as she stares at Miko, her eyes glaring coldly. Kunie could just stare in confusion, not understanding why Aiko was so aggressive with Miko.

"Why are you here?" she demanded to Miko as if she owned the place, who just raised an eyebrow, her face showing she wasn't impressed by Aiko's glare. Miko positioned Kunie in a better position before answering Aiko;

"My home's bathtub stopped working" she then ridiculed Aiko "Though…last time I verified, this place isn't yours so why should I give you reasons?"

Some people started laughing around them, and Kunie couldn't help but blink…when did they appear? Shaking his head at the mystery he stared up at Miko with a smile, ignoring the fuming Aiko near them;

"Our home's bathtub stopped working to…in the end we decided to come to the hot springs!"

Miko hummed in thought then started walking into the building, ignoring Aiko who hadn't another choice than to walk after her. When they entered the building the first thing that greeted them was a room full of people. In the middle of the room, a woman sat in a cushion, welcoming the people entering the building.

"Welcome!" she said warmly with half closed eyes.

Next, to her, there were two open doors, each one having a colored band into blue and red, some words written into it. You didn't need to be a genius to know what those words are saying. Around the room, tables were scattered with people seating and talking to each other, drinking sake or milk.

"It seems that we are not the only ones with problems of water" muttered Miko as she stares around the room full of people.

"Normally there are not so many people?" he asked her, and the woman shook her head, her fangs following her movements and teasing Kunie's nose, who scrunched it.

"Oh"

Well…seems it was a good idea to let Kira sleep in the crib instead of taking him to the hot springs…Kunie's isn't sure people would have been happy to see a foot long snake sliding in the water.

"Joy…" they heard Aiko mutter behind them as she walks toward the elder woman behind the table "One ticket for an adult" she takes out some money from her pouch and lets it on the table, walking sharply into the woman's side. Kunie could just stare wide-eyed at her back as she lets him behind without paying.

"Damn…" he said annoyed as he sent daggers to Aiko's disappearing back "It seems I can't go into the bathtub anymore" he mutters, forgetting that Miko was holding him in her arms.

Miko sighed then approached the old woman with a friendly smile;

"I will be taking a ticket for an adult and a child, Obaa-san" she grins.

The elder woman eyes opened wide as she stares at the boy in Miko's arms, who looked up gratefully at her;

"Oh, since then do you have a child, Miko-chan?" the elder said happily as she cooes at Kunie, who blushes and tries to hide his face on Miko's neck…he isn't a baby!

Miko chuckled without answering, letting some money on the table as she greets the old woman;

"Obaa-san, I will be going" she smiles politely before walking toward the woman's side of the room. She stepped into the room with a confused Kunie, who realized in which side he was going too late, his face burning red;

"M-Miko-nee!" he squeaked out as he struggles, trying to get out of her arms "This is the woman's side!"

His face takes a darker shade as he sees women talking out the clothes and changing. Do not take him wrong, he doesn't feel anything toward their bodies, but he still feels uncomfortable seeing other people bodies, male or female.

Miko smirks as she holds him tighter;

"Oh?" she asks with a cheshire smile "And what if this is the woman's side?"

Kunie scowled up at her as he wiggles in her hold;

"I am a man!"

Those words amuse Miko who moves a hand to her mouth to hold back her laugh before calming herself;

"Correction" she starts as she pokes Kunie's nose "You are a four years old boy, not a man."

Kunie frowns;

"Even then…boy's can't go into the woman's side!" he argues back.

Miko shrugs before forcing Kunie's head toward the side, pointing at a cartel on the wall. In the cartel there was a draw of a small blue figure holding a pink hand;

"Any boy under the age of five can enter the woman's side" she reads out aloud for Kunie whose eyebrows twitch. In the end, he pouted before looking up with pleading eyes;

"Pleaaase, let me go to the men side!" he begged at her with wide, green eyes.

Miko swayed under that gaze but in the end, she hardened her gaze, she is a ninja, for Amaterasu's sake!

"You can choose between the woman's side or not taking a bath at all" she gave him the ultimatum, letting him down on the floor as he looks at her with eyes full of horror.

"You can't be serious…" he stares up at her helplessly, but Miko just looks at him with daring eyes. In the end, he just gave up…he is not going to give up just because of some women!

He trots toward one of the shelves, taking a towel before following after Miko. Both of them quickly strip down from their garments. Kunie puts around his waist the towel as Miko's put her around the chest. Taking out the ticket from before she uses it to open a box, laying both of their clothes into it before closing.

"Well…let's go to the springs!" she grins before walking toward a closed, wooden door. Kunie hurries after her as he tries not to look up at the changing women, his sigh fixed on Miko's feet. Miko opened the wooden door, and heated air explodes into their faces.

When Kunie opens his eyes the first thing he sees is an open-air spring full of women relaxing. He followed after Miko who forced him to clean and finally, they went into the water.

"So warm~" Miko sighed in relief as she sat on the floor, the water reaching her bust, meanwhile Kunie had to work hard not to get under water. He started swimming around before he finally decided to settle down near a rock at the end.

Hehehe

"Huh?" Kunie blinks as he looks around him, trying to find the origin of those weird noises. He frowned but in the end he shrugs, thinking it must be his imagination.

"Kunie" Miko walks toward him with a smile on her face, another woman following her "I want to introduce you a friend."

The woman has long, dark brown hair with three stans framing her face, fair skin, and dark eyes. She was wearing a towel around her bust as she smiles down at him. She sat next to him as Miko took him on her lap, no matter how much he wiggles not letting him go.

In the end, he sighs and stares up at the stranger;

"Hello, my names is Akiyama Kunie" he greets as he tries to bow awkwardly "Nice to meet you."

"Oh?" the woman grinned as she pats his head "This kid is well educated…wish my son was like him" she mutters the last part under her breath before coughing "My name is Nara Yoshino, nice to meet you Kunei-chan"

He smiles up at her before staring down at his hand. Meanwhile, the two women start walking;

"By the way, where is your son?" asks Miko curiously.

"Oh, he is with Shikaku" she answers as she stares at the wall separating men from women "He is now five years old after all…"

Kunie froze when he heard the name Shikaku…and both women saw it but didn't comment about it. Meanwhile, he tried to convince himself that maybe there are two Nara with the nickname Shikaku…right?

"EEEEK" a scream took his attention away, making him jump in surprise, the trio staring toward where the scream came from. Kunie's cheeks blush when he sees the two women playing around "A-Ano…sensei, don't touch them!"

He groans as he hides his face on his tiny hands…this isn't something he wants to see! He finally got away from Miko's hand as she laughed at him, getting his head underwater, so he doesn't need to hear the women playing around. He finally went out the water when he couldn't hold his breath anymore, gasping for air as his head reaches out the water, shaking it like a dog to get the water out.

Drip

Kunie blinks as something fells on his nose, with his fingers he reachs toward his nose and pokes, staring down at it to see a red spot;

"Blood?" he mutters in confusion.

Drip

"Hmm?" Miko stared at him in confusion "Did you get hurt, Kunie-chan?"

Kunie shakes his head then looks up, paling at the sigh that greets him;

"M-MONSTER!" he screams frightened.

The women all around him turn to stare at him in confusion, following his gaze up toward the roof. A seemingly tall man with fair skin was staring down at them with a weird face, blood dripping down his nose. He had a wart on the left side of his nose and waist-length, spiky white hair tied into a ponytail with two shoulder-length bangs framing his face.

"A man?" he mutters unsettled. Kunie heard a splash; when he turned to stare at Miko, she was looking up at the man with a weird face, sending shivers down his back. She cracked her hands against each other, smiling creepily at the man;

"Jiraiya-sama" she greets with a twitching eye.

Some women started screaming;

"PERVERT!"

It seems most of the women are ninja as they jumped onto the roof, running after the man even though they are just wearing towels. Kunie could just stare blankly as Miko ran with them.

"S-scary…" he muttered horrified as screams start resounding through the area. He heard a chuckle and when he turns around Yoshino was smiling at him.

"Well…at least you know to never peep at a woman" she winks at him.

Kunie nods slowly before sitting down and shutting his ears…R.I.P for that man called Jiraya.