Showdown - Chap 55

Zera yawned as he walked the streets of Konoha. He had just finished delivering a package to Misa, the Hokage's daughter.

He was now scouting thearea for a good place to eat.

"Ayari! Kizami! Kokami!" A young woman with sleek black hair and piercing green eyes was running through the crowd, clearly chasing after someone.

Zera blinked at the yelling. "Huh...?"

"Ayari! Kizami! Koka--!" The woman wasn't paying attention and accidentally bumped into Zera.

Zera blinked as he looked down. "You okay?"

Jade nodded as she slowly got back to her feet. "Yeah...Sorry about that..."

"It’s alright... need help with something?"

She shook her head. "No, it's okay." She smiled as she got up but fell right back down. "Ow..." She winced. "I think I twisted my ankle..."

"That's not good. Should I carry you home?"

"Could you help me get to my siblings? They headed to the diner right up the road..." She pointed in the direction.

"Oh, sure." He picked her up easily.

“Wow...you're so strong..." She blinked. "What's your name?" She asked.

"Zera. Zera Shinobu."

She smiled. "I'm Jade Kasai."

"Oh you're a Kasai, huh?" He chuckled as he was carrying her towards the diner.

Jade nodded. "Mhm...Have you heard about us?" She asked him casually.

"Yes." He smiled. "Lots."

"Really?" Jade laughed softly. "Like what?"

“My mother is Zahara." He sighed.

"Zahara...?" Jade tilted her head.

"Maybe someone else knows her..."

Jade shrugged. "My father is Denji and my mother is Aineko...if that helps."

"Oh... they may not know her..."

“It's a big clan...Sometimes I don't know the people in my own clan." She shrugged.

He chuckled.

Jade tilted her head. "What?"

"Nothing.”

She nodded as they continued walking. Once they got to the diner, Jade pointed out her siblings. "Over there!" She smiled.

"...they have ears... and tails..."

Jade nodded, smiling. "We're nekos." She said.

"Jade!" Kokami smiled wide once she saw her sister. "There you are!"

"We were worried!" Kizami called.

"They were." Ayari smirked.

Jade smiled. "I'm okay...I bumped into him, but he helped me get here." She breathed as Kizami helped her into the booth.

Kokami smiled at Zera, her ears twitching slightly. "Thank you for helping our sister."

"Of course..." he blinked.

"Would you like to have lunch with us? We haven't ordered yet." Kokami smiled as her tail swished lightly.

He blushed as he took a good look at her. "Um... if I can pet you." He blurted before covering his mouth.

Kokami blinked, her ears standing up at that. Usually, her ears blended well with her curly sandy blonde hair. "You...want to pet me?"

Jade laughed softly from the booth. "Wouldn't be the first person~" She sang.

He blushed. "I... I..."

"Is she the only one you want to pet?" Ayari asked.

"Well, I do have the better hair." Kokami nodded, placing her hands on her hips.

Ayari rolled her eyes.

"I-I'll just g-go..."

Kokami shook her head. "No~ Don't~"She took his hand. "You can pet me. Besides, we want to thank you for helping our sister."

"I..." he blushed deeper as he felt her soft skin against his hand.

Kokami blushed a bit. Whenever anyone pet her, she was very sensitive, especially around her ears.

He hesitantly moved his Hand to her head as he pet behind her ears.

Kokami's eyes fluttered as her ears twitched happily. Her tail swished as she was trying not to tap her foot.

"Feel good?" Ayari smirked.

"Is... this turning her on?" Zera squeaked.

Jade giggled. "It's her weak point~"

Kokami pulled her head away and blushed. "I-Is not..."

Zera cleared his throat. "See you around...”

"No! Wait!" Kokami grabbed his hand. "Please stay." She smiled. "You said we could treat you to food."

"Um..." he cleared his throat.

"It's fine~" Kokami smiled.

"Yeah, she's not in heat~" Jade teased, sticking her sandpaper tongue out at her sister. She was the only were-neko, which meant she looked human but could transform into a cat.

"H-heat...?" He squeaked.

Kizami gripped his arm and yanked him down. "Stay."

Kokami sat down next to Zera and smiled. "Order anything you want~ It's on us~"

"A-are you sure?"

She nodded. "Of course~ Eat up!" She laughed.

He smiled. "Alright then."

"So...I'm Kokami Kasai and these are my other siblings. Kizami and Ayari." She gestured to them.

"Zera Shinobu." He nodded.

"Never heard of you." Kizami chuckled.

"Well... I'm actually a Katorabe..." he mumbled.

"Oh! I know them!" Kokami said excitedly.

He nodded. "Most do..."

Kokami smiled. "We're part Katorabe...somewhere." She laughed softly.

"Oh... really?" He blinked.

"Yeah, our mother and father both have Katorabe in them." Kizami nodded.

"Mhm~ But our eyes don't change." Kokami made a face.

Jade nodded. "Our blood is too diluted to have the same effects as you would."

“I see..." he nodded. His eyes kept lingering on Kokami. She was the prettiest there.

Kokami looked to him. "What is it?"

"N-nothing!"

"Well, Zera, where are you from?" Kokami asked him.

"Kumogakure. I had to deliver a package. Thats why I'm here."

“Wow! That's pretty far away." Kokami smiled. "Was it difficult to get here?" She asked.

“Not at all."

"I've always wanted to see Kumo~" Kokami sighed.

“Really?" He blinked.

Kokami nodded. "Mhm~ I hear you guys have amazing mountains~"

"We do." He smiled.

Kokami sighed softly, happily. "I've always wanted to run in those mountains~"

"Well, you should come sometime." Zera nodded.

"Sure!" She agreed excitedly.

"Calm down there, Kokami." Kizami sighed. "Dad won't just let you go somewhere..."

Kokami pouted. "Yeah...that's the problem...He's too protective..."

"Aren't you old enough to decide things?" Zera blinked.

"That depends..." Ayari smirked.

"We're always going to be too young in our father's eyes." Jade sighed softly.

"Yes, well that's because we grew up so fast." Ayari nodded.

"But that's natural for us!" Kokami protested.

"I know..." She rolled her eyes.

Jade sighed. "Just forget about it, Kokami...Dad will never let you go alone."

"I could take her..." Zera breathed.

“Father wouldn't allow it." Jade stated.

"Just suggesting..." Zera shrugged.

"Enough of this. I want to know why this boy smells so good~" Ayari smirked as she leaned forward slightly.

"Eh...?" Zera blushed.

Kokami blushed. "You smelled it too...?"

Jade nodded. "We can all smell it."

"What... do I smell like...?" He blinked.

"Strawberries." Kokami smiled. "And sandalwood."

"Really...?" He blinked.

"It's unusual...but refreshing." She nodded.

“Huh..."

Ayari smirked. "Yes, that's it."

Jade chuckled softly. "So unusual...especially if you say you're from Kumo."

“Well... I did just travel..." He mumbled.

"Girls, back off of the guy. His scent doesn't matter." Kizami stated

"Of course it does~ He smells so good~" Kokami smiled.

Zera squeaked as he got out of the booth to stand. "I-I think I will g-go now..."

"Great job." Kizami smirked.

"Wait...I'm sorry..." Kokami's ears went back as she frowned. "We didn't mean to scare you away..."

"To be honest, I'm tired anyway... going to ah... find a hotel..."

"Kokami, take him to the compound." Ayari said.

Kokami nodded as she got up. "That's a great idea! You can stay with us." She smiled, her tail wagging happily.

"I... couldn't intrude..." He mumbled.

"Nonsense~ We have plenty of rooms~" Kokami took his hand.

He squeaked as she pulled him out.

"See you at home." Kizami called after them.

Jade chuckled softly. "It's puppy love~"

Zera was blushing as he and Kokami walked out of the village towards the Compound. He had never been to the Kasai home before, but his eyes kept drawing to the gorgeous woman... cat... thing... at his side.

"So...um... I-I... can pet you...?" He asked. He hadn't really gotten to pet her like he wanted before

Kokami chuckled and nodded. "Sure...I don't mind."

He reached to her head and pet her hair before moving to scratch behind her ears. He had never seen a neko before.

Kokami shuddered against his scratching. She was often called a neko because she had animal ears and her tail, but she was actually wolf. She could even transform into a giant sandy wolf. "Mm~" Her tail swished happily.

He smiled at her. "Remarkable... what else about you is animal-like besides ears, tail and good sense of smell?"

Kokami smiled. "All my senses are enhanced...and I can transform."

"Into what...?" He blinked.

"A wolf." She smiled.

"Like... an actual wolf?" He blinked.

She nodded. "Mhm~ So can Kizami, my Dad, Aunty, Uncle, and Pop Pop~" She smiled. "We're a whole pack~"

"Wow." He nodded. "And... so are both your parents like you?"

"My Dad's a werewolf, so he looks like a regular person...My Mom is a neko, so she has cat ears and a tail." Kokami explained.

"Wow... so... can you only be with other people like you then?" He asked blushing. He was being too forward for his own good. His father really had rubbed off on him.

Kokami blushed. "I'm not sure...but if a werewolf was able to be with a neko...I'm sure if I was to be with a normal person, it wouldn't be bad." She laughed softly.

"R-Right..." He looked ahead. "W-Well... I'm sure... you'll find someone who makes you really happy... and pets you day and night..."

Kokami giggled. "I wouldn't mind being petted all day and night~"

"I bet..." He mumbled, his face still deep red.

"Is this your first time seeing a neko?" Kokami smiled at him.

He nodded. "You're... just beautiful..." He mumbled.

Kokami blushed. "I am...?"

"You don't see it?" He asked.

Kokami touched her ears. "Not really..."

"That's a shame..."

"I've been made fun of..." She mumbled.

"Don't listen to them... seriously." He smiled.

She looked to him. "Really?"

He smiled and nodded.

Kokami blushed and touched her ears again. "Thank you..."

He smiled. "So are we almost to your compound?"

Kokami nodded. "Just a bit further~" She smiled at him.

"Oh good. Is there somewhere I can lie down? I am tired..."

Kokami blinked. "Sure...There's actually a really pretty meadow just a bit off the path here~" She pointed in the direction of the meadow.

"Oh, I meant in your home... but grass works too, I guess..."

Kokami giggled. "The grass is really comfy~" She took his arm as she pulled him towards the meadow.

He blushed as he followed.

Kokami pulled him along and when they got to the open meadow, she let go to roll around in the wildflowers.

He blushed as he watched her.

Kokami loved rolling around in the wildflowers. She giggled softly before flopping onto her back and sighing happily.

He smiled at her as his eyes turned a brighter pink.

Kokami looked at him and smiled. "Come join~ The flowers are nice~" She giggled.

"Okay..." he breathed as he laid down. His natural pink eyes just kept getting brighter.

She smiled at him. "You know...You have really pretty eyes."

“I-I do?"

She nodded. "Mhm~"

"Thanks..."

"You're welcome~" She giggled as she looked up at the sky.

"So... I just need a night... I'll be leaving tomorrow.,

She frowned. "You don't want to sight see?"

"Well... what is there to see?"

"Plenty of things~" She smiled as she sat up.

"Like...?"

"The Hokage monuments~"

"Oh... alright..."

"And...there are plenty of shops and restaurants around here too." Kokami smiled. "We're known for some good food around here~ I can give you the local treatment~" She giggled.

"Well, I guess I can stick around a few days then." He smiled.

"Yay!" Kokami clapped her hands together. "I can show you everything!"

He smiled at her. "Can... we go to your home first so I can take a nap?'

She nodded, smiling. "Sure!" She got up and brushed herself off, though there were still loose wildflowers in her hair. "Let's go~"

"Wait..." He reached up to pluck the flowers out of her hair. He smiled as he took one pink one to put behind her ear. 'There. Now we can go."

She blushed a bit but didn't stop smiling. Her tail swished happily as she took his hand and led him back to her house.

After they reached the compound and Zera laid down, Kokami had bumped into her uncle, Kazuki.

"Hey, brat." He blinked as he looked down at her. "What are you doing?"

"I met a new friend today~" Kokami smiled as her tail swayed happily. "I'm going to ask Mom and Dad if he can stay here while he sight sees." She told him.

He nodded. "I can smell him on you. He's a Katorabe."

"Yeah!" Kokami smiled, nodding. "He has really pretty pink eyes."

"That so?" He smirked at her. "Have you imprinted on anyone yet?"

Kokami blushed and shook her head. "No...I don't even know what that is..." She mumbled.

“You'll know when it happens..." His gaze seemed to go through her now as he thought about Denji.

Kokami shrugged. "Anyways...if you see my Dad or Mom, could you let them know I wanna ask them something?"

"Sure..." He nodded as he watched her run off.