The Hotsprings

[Marika]

Icy Marika lead the ninja through another high wall called "Inner Circle" made of iron, the same as the first wall they passed into the capital, the same height as well. She asks Haru to open the brochure again, there was a section explaining what part of a city this was. "Behind these walls lays the main part of the city. When one enters this part for the first time, they would be amazed at the improvement from the first part of the city. The houses in this section are styled according to ancient Japanese buildings with several floors, not just one like in the Iron Circle. Only the rich and middle class citizens are allowed to live in this part and the main transportation would be sledges pushed by large packs of dogs. In this part of the village, is located everything one could imagine, entertainment, parks, government buildings and many more." They have arrived at a large traditional japanese looking bath house building, right next to it stood the sign "Icicles" it was a name of this hot spring. They were unique however, the area surrounding it looked like under heavy winter, especially with the ice sculptures and icicles. "Alright, we can stay here today, let's check out the rooms." and she entered the locale. They would be greeted by a lovely elderly lady. They were shown two small rooms connected together with a large door. "Dinner will be ready at 7 pm." the lady announced as she was leaving. The rooms were really traditional style japanese, there was a fuuton inside each room with a few chairs and a table, nothing that fancy. Marika has chosen this slightly less populated spot which was also cheaper than the main Icy Hot Springs.

(Enter)

[Harukiyo 強, 癒]

//Enter//

After entering by the Inner Circle, Harukiyo and his friend Marika-chan finally arrived at the Hotsprings, their main goal of Haru's travel. Marika once told him about that place and invited him, that was what made Haru like Marika enough to accept the invitation. She seemed so kind and friendly. However, they were there. ''Finally.'' — He mumbled to himself, opening the brochure and reading it soon as he realizes that this is the place they were looking for. Upon entering Harukiyo is given a room and a date for dinner.

''So, what's up with the name? Y'said /Hot/ springs, but the name sounds like cold, heh.'' — He chuckles, pressing his eyelids like usual. ''I wanna check it out anyways, Marika-chan. Shall we?'' He stands by the door of his room. The place surely amused Haru, the walls had japenese art all over, and every furniture piece was incredibly well maintained, clean and detailed pieces of art as well. The teenager shinobi who was born and raised in Amegakure, with endless rain and grayness and had never left his village, is experiencing one of the most unusual moments of his life.

[Marika]

Icy Illusion ''So, what's up with the name? Y'said /Hot/ springs, but the name sounds like cold, heh.'' the shinobi wondered, of course he would be confused as icy hotsprings were pretty much unique. He will find out soon enough, the baths were separate though. She fetched a towel from the suitcase and walked into the girls bathroom. All rooms were the same setup however, there were many lockers positioned on the side of a wall, Marika left her clothes inside one of them. She entered the baths, not many people were in, only two elderly women who were talking to each other "Evening" she greeted out of respect. The area around the bath would be very cold, in the minus celsius, it was definitely cold. Icy floor was slippery and strong wind added the chills. She quickly entered the steaming water, at first it was a feeling of getting frozen stiff as ice and then all of a sudden it was warm. When looking around the steamy water became frozen ice, of course it was just an illusion, illusion of the place. What will Haru think of this? she thought, after a while she was done yet the ladies were still talking. "Excuse me, nice meeting you." and out she was. She would wait outside for the ninja, all these traditional baths gave milk after one gets outside, of course the milk would be freezing.

[Harukiyo 強, 癒]

Haru enters the male bathroom, and, for his surprise the floor was slippery as he was stepping on ice. Haru had a towel wrapped around his waistline, which he stripped before entering the water.
That scene turns out to be comic, Harukiyo acted like a hick.

He steps into the water and frowns soon as his toe touches the freezing water, somehow the water seemed to be freezing his foot, but then it simply began to warm it more and more. He widens both eyes, looking around amused with that special water. ''Ha...HAHA!'' — He's like baby who just learned to speak, he can't hold his laugh and his loudness. He jumps into the water, which splashes against everyone's face in a three meters distance between Haru. He remains with his knees bent down, letting the water cover all of his body, and he waits untill the freezing feeling passes and the water starts to warm him up. ''It's... How come this water is icy then... THEN IT'S HOT! HAHAHA!'' — Yes, everyone was very sure that Harukiyo was experimenting the Icy Hotsprings for the first time. ''ICY -- HOTsprings! Icy, Hot! Hahaha, got it?!'' — Unfortunately for Haru, he notices everyone is staring dead in the eye at him. He was shouting and splashing water everywhere when everyone was just trying to relax. ''Back setter!'' — One of them shouted at the poor Amegakure blonde shinobi.

He took off from the bathroom very saddened. Haru kept his head down, took the milk he was given and didn't even look at anything else but the floor. He notices Marika's feet and simply says: ''The water...'' — He kept staring at the ground, how pitiful. — ''IT'S COLD, THEN IT GETS HOT, IS IT NINJUTSU? DAMN! I THOUGHT YOU HAD TAKEN ME TO A COLD WATER BATH HOUSE BUT THIS IS SIMPLY AMAZING MARIKA-CHAN, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!'' — He started acting like a kid once again, shouting as he throws his hands to the air in anxiety and happiness, hugging Marika forcefully as he thanks her. Finally Marika would know who was shouting /that/ loud, so loud she could even hear it on her bath.

[Marika]

Extravagant Hag The youth were definitely too loud, the old hag of a doctor, doctor Choko a former Leaf ANBU was enjoying her bath with another lady when she heard the excited and loud voice of an idiot who looked like he just learnt how to speak. Too agitated she excused herself and went ahead after Marika to get her things, bathing was a relaxing time and here was someone shouting about. Graaah! she clenched her fists after getting dressed in her colorful outfit, when someone looked at her they would think she was very extravagantly insane and a huge clown. The woman was slightly taller than Marika but also had blond hair. She drank the milk, the best milk in the Land of Fire by far boosted by so many vitamins one could think of and the hotsprings effects added to the cake that it was. Unfortunately for Haru the feet he thought was Marika's were the doctors ''IT'S COLD, THEN IT GETS HOT, IS IT NINJUTSU? DAMN! I THOUGHT YOU HAD TAKEN ME TO A COLD WATER BATH HOUSE BUT THIS IS SIMPLY AMAZING MARIKA-CHAN, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!' she was too surprised that the milk bottle she was holding got spilled, on top of it the young man, more of an idiot whose voice she recognized as the person shouting earlier was hugging her. With the speed such as Haru has never seen before she pushed him off with force adding a fast kick to the abdomen, funny enough he was positioned towards the bathroom door. This saved him from hitting the walls and smashing them to bits, instead the man flew through the locker room right back into bath landing with a splash in the water. Many people were angry at the shinobi after demanding he leaves immediately. Marika was just outside drinking her milk when this was happening she was a mere observer, however her jaws were wide open the same as everyone else who was observing. Doctor Choko frowned and left the premises without a look back.

[Harukiyo 強, 癒]

Harukiyo mixed Marika with some other blonde and got his ass kicked.

Afterwards, after they leave the place, Haru claims that he needs to go, unfortunately, because he was enjoying their travel. ''It's been more than a month now Marika-chan, I need to head back to --'' He whispers. — ''Amegakure. Problem is, I don't know the way back from here. What do I do, Marika-chan?''

With Marika's help or not, after the proper conversation about the end of Haru's travel, he proceeds on leaving the Mo Village.

//Exit//

[Marika]

danger? It seemed like Haru got the taste of something new in many ways. He was however urging to go back since it was important to get home early. Marika has been told shinobi have to keep their appointment and it has already been long. Since he didn't know how to get back home from here she would accompany him

(Exit)