Waiting Game

Chapter 19

"Say, Haku..." I began, twirling my chopsticks in between my fingers as I swallowed a ramen noodle. "You have a bingo book, correct?"

Haku nodded, looking up only barely from his own bowl of ramen.

"May I see it...?" I asked, forcing myself to stop fiddling with my chopsticks. "During Zabuza-san's first fight with Kakashi-Sensei, I heard that they were both in the bingo book, and got curious."

"Ah, of course," Haku smiled, pausing his eating in favor of rummaging around in some of his kimono's hidden pockets. Once he found the little book, he held it up and out to me. I gingerly picked it up, flipping the pages to find Kakashi curiously. However, I still noticed Haku's look of curiosity; I should have been unconscious or at least dead by the time the two Shinobi had even gotten to that part of their fight. I ignored it for now, mentally preparing to tell Haku about everything later; it was only fair, I felt, that he would be made aware of what happened during that mission.

Then, I flipped past a page with the word "Haruno" on it. I paused, and went back to it.

Haruno Tsubaki, Age 12.

A single, pale eyebrow rose in curiosity.

"Tsu-chan, what is it?" Haku asked, leaning over my shoulder just to widen his eyes. "You're in it?"

I didn't answer as I read on, face blank as my eyes moved across the page.

Designation: Frostbite, Shi, Shiro

Affiliation: Konohagakure

My nose scrunched up at the information that associated me with the Hidden Leaf. Haku peered at the lack of data.

"You must have been a recent addition," he noted. I recognized his expression as one that had just been introduced to something new; that new thing was my addition in the bingo book. "I did only update my bingo book the day we got here."

"I... see," I murmured, standing up from the stool at the ramen stand. I handed Haku the book before spinning on my heel and walking off. "I'll see you soon, Haku..."

"Wait, Tsu-chan," he said. "I'd like to challenge you to a spar."

Silence rode in on the challenge's heels, and my back was still facing Haku.

10% says that he just wants a rematch. 45% says that he truly wishes to have a friendly, uninterrupted spar. 45% also says that there is an alterior motive, or alternative intention for this match.

In my head, a coin materialized. I flipped it.

Calculating the force and speed at which I flipped the coin, the draft in the ramen shop, and gravity, I determined that I should indeed accept the match.

I slowly nodded, saying, "Meet me at Training Grounds 7 in an hour."

An imaginary coin was left on the wooden floor of the ramen shop, still on heads.

Arriving at the clearing that was the same in the one where Kakashi's bell test occurred, I sat and began meditating.

5 out of 20... 6... 7...

Haku should arrive in approximately thirty minutes; that gives me more than enough time to meditate. My eyes were closed peacefully, only slipping open when I heard footsteps; ethereal in nature, but still footsteps.

Through the thin veil of white eyelashes, I saw the worn fabric that made up the Shinigami's yukata. Fully opening my eyes, I saw that everything was dark. Not because of the hour, but because of the presence of the death god.

"The boy... he is afraid," the Shinigami said. "And yet he trusts you to not frighten him.

"What an odd combination," the god noted in an almost bored manner. I closed my eyes before standing at the feet of the gigantic being.