No Boundaries Chapter 5

No Boundaries

Chapter 5: Confrontation

“I still think you were foolish in goading those enemy ninja into attacking you, Zenith,” said Kabuto as he treats Zenith's wounds.
Zenith hisses in pain when Kabuto applies a cleaning solution to the cut on his cheek. “How else was I supposed to get them out of hiding? Wait for them to attack Sasha and I?”  He grabs Kabuto's wrist to stop him from applying more cleaning solution to the wound. Zenith tightens his grip on Kabuto's wrist. “I'm not the type to let the enemy attack first.”
Kabuto could tell that by looking in Zenith's eyes, that he was telling the truth. “Yet you still managed to get hurt. I do remember telling you not to get reckless, now didn't I?”
Zenith smirks and lets go of Kabuto's wrist. “I told you once before that I'm not reckless.” He leaves the room and heads downstairs.
Kabuto shakes his head. “You're just stubborn. Ever since you were a kid you've been stubborn.”
Zenith heads downstairs to the living room. Blue was asleep in the chair and Ishten was coiled up on the couch. Zenith sits down at the end of the couch and pushes Ishten over a bit. “Have you ever thought of becoming completely human, Ishten?” asks Zenith.
Ishten looks up at Zenith. “Yet you still ask me that question. Unless we can find someone who can alter whatever jutsu or experiment that Orochimaru has done to me, my chances at being human are null and void,” said Ishten. He shakes his head. “Plus girls don't like the fact I'm half snake.”
“Half viper technically. Still trying to figure out what species though.” Zenith leans back against the couch. “I will figure out a way for you to be human again, Ishten.” He closes his eyes. Fatigue was beginning to set in. “Is Lil doing ok?” asks Zenith with a yawn.
“She's doing well. Been thinking of getting her a cat though.”
“I think it would be best for you to get a kitten since a cat would be scared off by the sight of you without that cloak on.”
“You do have a point though,” said Ishten.
“But I think getting Lil a kitten would be a good idea.”
“You think so?” Ishten yawns and laughs. “That's contagious you know,” said Ishten still laughing.
“Yes I know but it can't be helped,” said Zenith. He looks over at Ishten who was half asleep, with one eye open. Zenith smiles softly. “Seems like yesterday when I first met you, Ishten. You came to one of the Elites outposts seeking our help. You had Lil with you who was a year old at the time.”
“Do you remember how I had found Lil?” asks Ishten.
“If I remember correctly, you found her village in ruins with a few survivors. Her mother was one of them, right?”
“Yes that is correct....Her mother asked me to take her away from their war torn village....but....” Ishten had fallen asleep before he finished telling about his and Lil's story.
It wasn't long before Zenith was asleep as well. It was about three o'clock in the morning when Zenith wakes up with a start. It was raining outside and thunder could be heard high in the sky. He rubs the sleep from his eyes. He was a bit disorientated as to where he was. It takes him a few seconds to realize where he was. He looks around and his eyes focus on the sleeping form of Ishten. He chuckles to himself. “Now this is a first. I used Ishten as a pillow....” Zenith heads to the bathroom and looks in the mirror. There was a tale-tail imprint of scales on his face. He touches the scale imprints. “Should fade after a while.” He leaves the bathroom and heads into the kitchen, his stomach growling. As he heads over to the fridge, he hears a slight scratching sound coming from the door that led to the patio deck outside. Zenith looks over to the door and then looks towards the nearest kitchen drawer. “Can never be too cautious,” said Zenith to himself. He opens the drawer and pulls out a chef's knife. As Zenith walks over to the door, the scratching sound gets a little more desperate. He tilts his head to the side as he tries to figure out what would make such a frantic scratching sound. “Rather odd...can't be an enemy ninja.” He opens the door and hears a chortle followed by a squeaky meow. Zenith looks down and was surprised to see a tabby kitten sitting at his feet, soaking wet from the rain.
“You poor thing. Was it you scratching at the door?” asks Zenith as he picks up the kitten. “Soaking wet from the rain. You could catch a cold.” He holds the kitten close to his chest, feeling it shiver from the cold.
Back in the living room, Ishten was beginning to stir. He could hear Zenith talking to someone. “Hey Zeni...” He stretches and yawns.  “Who are you talking to?” He hears Zenith walk up behind him and was surprised to see Zenith set a now fluffy dry kitten on his chest. “Keep her occupied for a bit while I fix her something to eat.” Ishten hears Zenith walk back into the kitchen. He rubs the sleep from his eyes and looks down at the kitten who was purring loudly now. He twitches a bit for he could feel the vibrations from the kittens purring in his chest. The kitten meows at Ishten and curls up on his chest, looking at him. “Where did you get this kitten, Zenith?” asks Ishten.
“She was scratching outside the door that leads to the patio deck,” said Zenith. He walks out of the kitchen with some tuna. “This will do for now until one of us can go to the shop to get some kitten chow.”
“What do you mean by 'Until one of us?'” asks Ishten.
“Considering the fact that sake was served at the festival at least you and Blue are hung over from drinking sake,” said Zenith.
Ishten gives Zenith a confused look. “I feel fine right now.”
“Define 'feeling fine',” said Zenith in a stern voice. He holds his hand in front of Ishten and snaps his fingers.
Ishten flinches from the noise. “You do have point then. But what about Kabuto? Can't you have him go get some kitten chow?”
Zenith looks towards the stairway. “I'll take care of it myself in the morning. Right now all the shops are closed.” Zenith yawns and sets the plate of tuna on the floor. The kitten jumps down from Ishten's arms and greedily eats the tuna. “I'm heading upstairs to sleep in my own bed.”
“Hey what about me?! What about my own bed to sleep in?!” complains Ishten.
“The kitten needs someone to keep an eye on her. Besides I think it would be best if you spend time with her.”
“I know what you mean but...” Ishten yelps in pain and lifts his tail off the floor to find the kitten had sunk her claws and teeth into his tail, purring loudly. “Its hard to forget how sharp a kitten's claws and teeth are,” mumbles Ishten.
Zenith heads upstairs and hears another yelp of pain from Ishten. He heads into his room and lays down on the bed. But it was an hour before he fell asleep.
Meanwhile Ishten was busy keeping the kitten entertained. He had his tail tucked under the rug. He twitches his tail a bit, making the rug move a bit. The kitten attacks the rug. “I have a feeling that Lil will like you,” said Ishten. He reaches over and picks up the kitten and sets her down on his chest. He scratches the kitten behind her ear, making her flop down on her side onto Ishten's chest. She purrs loudly as Ishten continues to gently scratch her.
“But as I see it, it would be a challenge to keep you hidden from Lil as I try to have her guess what gift I had brought her,” said Ishten. He scratches down to the kitten's belly and was rewarded with the kitten biting and kicking his hand with her hind feet. “Two can play that game,” said Ishten with a laugh as he proceeds to tickle the kitten's belly. “Tickle the kitty's belly, tickle the kitty's belly,” said Ishten. He laughs. After about five minutes of baby talk and such nonsense of playfully picking on the kitten, Ishten watches as the kitten decides to finally settle down and curl up on his chest. “Wonder what events will unfold now that Nia or should I say Zenith is stuck as a guy now.” Ishten yawns and watches as the kitten falls asleep. “Only time will tell...” said Ishten as he finally falls back asleep.