When Kunou opened her eyes, she was in warm bath. The heat seeped deeply into her skin as she submerse herself into the wooden tub. Comfort suffused her very soul as she relished in it all. Her peace was shattered the moment she took even the tiniest inhale of breathe.
It sent every bit of fur on her body to stand on in, disgust welling up within. Stomach churning, gut wrenching, eyed watering. Any and everywhere to describe exactly how badly it stunk. Not even the scents and soaps were enough to overcome the foul stench. It honestly made her want to just cut off her nose and just deal with the looks.
"It's always bad the first time," A soft and maternal voice said, as an older woman walked out from behind a paper section of the wall. Sliding the door open with a soft click as she stepped out. The woman was beautiful, with cute triangular ears poking out from silken locks and slightly glowing golden eyes. She wore a bright yellow kimono that only further accentuated her natural curves, a large window of cleavage out for the world to see. Nine, fluffy tails waved gentle behind her as she sat besides the tub. Completely uncaring of the splashing water that quickly dampened her knees," It does get better."
Kunou only nodded, eyes still watering from the stench. She didn't know how her mother was still fine after all this, her senses had to be much stronger than her own.
"Why aren't you affected?"
She had to ask, maybe there was a trick to it all. Maybe a Ki technique that would allow her to turn off her sense of smell? Or a bubble to isolate the air?
"There's no trick." Yasaka smiled gentle, her gaze loving and proud," Remember, I've went through this before at a much later age than you did. I think I was well over my first century of life when I cleared my lungs. It took me a week of constant scrubbing to get rid of the smell. And I've been there for all my fellow disciples' first. So I've grown use to it."
The two sat in relative silence, with nothing but their soft breathing and splashing water being the only thing that kept them occupied.
"What happened?" Kunou asked," I remember coming early to get some meditation in before Master Yamato started his lessons…"
Horror soon filled her as the implications made itself known, dipping her reddening face under the water she honestly just wanted to die of embarrassment. Like she wanted nothing than to lock herself in her room and throw away the key. Her mother's soft chuckles didn't help the matter.
"Don't worry." She rubbed gentle at the girl's exposed ears," Master Yamato is old and has had many disciples. He will not judge nor condemn you. And neither will your friends. He told them what you were going through to put their worries at ease. How do you feel?"
"Embarrassed…" The girl pouted, burbling the words out through a few bubbles," Exhausted and hungry."
"That is understandable." Yasaka nodded," The process does take a lot out of you, especially expelling it all."
"WHAT?!" She nearly hopped out of the tub in shock, horror only adding to itself," What do you mean 'expelling'?"
"I guess that word is a bit of a misnomer." The girl leaned back in relief," More like….secretion?"
Groaning, the preteen sunk deeper into the steaming water. Her face flushed red in mounting horror.
"Come now." The blonde bombshell consoled," It's not that bad. The impurities were just forced out of your skin through sweat. The heart is probably one of the better organs to clear because after it's done, other than a period of recovery, your day to day life won't really change. Not exactly anyway. For instance, Ri-chan will most likely not being to smell anything for a few weeks while Dai-chan…"
Her face scrunched up with obvious sympathy," I feel the most bad for him. Clearing the stomach is going to be a trying experience. He won't be able to keep anything solid down for awhile and everything will probably taste simply awful."
Just thinking of the large youth not shoveling food in his maw was an impossibility. The teen could eat, so much so that all the pay he got for being her guard went directly into snacks and wine.
"What's next?" She didn't mind taking a break for a bit after that, her body was sore enough as is," After the break of course. And how long will I have to recover for?"
"Master Yamato said that because of the amount of stress that'll be put on your channels because of the increased Ki flow, that you'll need at least 3 weeks to fully acclimate to it all." Suddenly her voice and eyes turned stern as she locked golden gazes with her daughter, daring her to deny her next words. "But I'll say a full month. Not a day less. I don't want to catch a whiff of you pushing yourself in anyway. No heavy exercises. No Youjutsu training whats so ever. And no sparring."
"...Okay." Kunou wanted to argue those harsh restrictions but one look at those steely eyes halted her refusal before it could take form.
"Good." She nodded, a smile blooming across her face once more," But worry not. I've heard you've been slacking lately on your schoolwork, so this time should help remedy that."
Now the girl couldn't even meet her mother's eye, it was true. She had been pushing her classes as a tertiary priority ever since receiving instructions from the immortal. She had thought she had been being subtle when doing so, but it seems nothing could escape her mother's attention.
"Don't look so glum." Yasaka rubbed at her ears," School is important. Having a good education has always been of value no matter the time period."
"I understand…" Despite wanted to argue, Kunou could only bite her tongue. She knew her mother simply wanted the best for her and it wouldn't be right to snap back at her.
"Now that's out of the way…" The older woman smiled mischievously," Let me help you wash up. Master Yamato wanted to speak to you as soon as possible. We shouldn't keep him waiting."
"W-wait!" The girl tried and failed to resist her mother's strong grip," M-mother! I can wash myself! I'm t-too old!"
"Nonsense." Yasaka purred, raising a sponge in one hand and the girl in the other," You'll always be my little girl no matter what age!"