Welcome to Gaia! ::

Chouhan grinned impishly even at the sight of impending doom. He hicced once as he wavered slightly from his perch. Damn, special fun was over and he hadn't even started taking notes yet.

"My dear friend, it's only ever a bad time with you on days that end with 'Y' and 'bi'* so what does it matter what time I picked? By the way, if you would be so kind as to get that training staff of mine out of your a** and back to me some day soon, I'd be very grateful." He remarked, waving at Hageshii nonchalantly before looking "up" at Nayami and blowing her a drunk kiss. "Until next time, Nayami-sama!" He crowed gleefully before bursting into a puff of smoke. Three Aces and two eights fluttered to the ground in place of the gambler. Though, the sake jug had been real so it dropped and smashed on the ground just outside Nayami's shower.

The real Chouhan had returned to the village, expecting Hageshii to be hunting for him very soon. He sighed as he shook his hand like there was still sake. "I hope that clone got to give Nayami-sama that marination. I'm sure someone will be more than happy to 'help' a body that smells so sweetly of sake." He grumbled, kicking his foot along the dirt. Now to wait on Hagehshii to show up and try to break something.

((*=For anyone that didn't know already, all the days of the week in Japanese end with "-Youbi", hence Chouhan's remark. Heh, if you're gonna go huntin, go to the village since that's where he is now. Happy trails! wink ))

Leina watched as she walked behind the two. Slightly relieved that she wouldnt have to be completely taking care of Ishu she looked up past them to notice they were nearing the home. Noticing Rei was there in front of the door she slightly tilted an eyebrow upward.

He looked mad or irritated about something. Sighing she knew what was wrong. Hageshii was in there. Though she met the man once from a distance, she knew how he was, especially how others spoke that he was almighty, that he could not be surpassed. He was the Kage's right hand man, and he had the privilige to do anything.

Well, she didnt buy much of what was said about him, but she did know he was different. He was ranked the same as her, but he was older than her, by four years, not a big difference, but he was still older than her. Slightly sighing at the fact she would have to put on her ANBU mask on to get into the Kage's home, she began untying it from her side.

It was a black mask, with two slits for her eyes and two smaller holes for her to breath. It had silver, purple, red, and blue markings on it and it ressembled a wolf. The marks under the eyes being silver with more silver marks on the side, then purple on top on the eyed slits, and the lips being a light-red. And blue markings following the silver as well.

Walking up to Ishu and Kumi in a brisk pace with the mask in hand ready to be placed on her face, she looked at them nodding and pointing to a bench on the side, a few feet from the home. "You can sit over there if you want to Kumi; Ishu, while I speak with the Kage as well as with another shinobi who is with her" she placed her mask on, her voice lightly muffled yet still audible she nodded. "Dont worry. The Kage will surely accept you into the village. I'll be back" she began walking to the household entrance passing Rei and knocked on the door, rather loudly so anyone could hear from the inside.

Still sensing Ishu's disappointment, my smile vanishes as I I pull him once again to me, hugging him tightly. Closing my eyes tightly, I feel as if I failed the child, making my heart hang heavy even as Yitnoru's mental growls echo into my head. Without letting him go, I drop my voice to a whisper again.

"I'm sorry, Ishu. I wish I could help you find who you are...I wish I could answer your questions and take your sadness and pain away..." My voice fading out as my thoughts get clouded with visions of my own adopted parents telling me almost the same words, I slowly start to let him go as Leina's words hit me.

"Will you sit with me, Ishu?" Letting him go slowly, I nod as Leina passes and start to take to my feet again, struggling slightly to get to the bench. Sitting down, I lay my staffed weapon against the wall beside me, always keeping a mental note of how fast I can grab it if need be. Then, pondering Ishu's question, I finally speak again.

"To answer your question, I don't need to talk to Yitnoru that way. It's just...easier. It is like me looking into your eyes when we talk. I can look into his eyes, and he can look into mine...It's not scary at all, I assure you." Yeah, you say that now well I'm the one who still wouldn't mind munching on his flesh...

Shut up, Yitnoru. I swear to God, if I could, you'd be banished by now...

Sighing Leina turned to Rei taking her mask off. "No need...They left....To the village, though they'll come back" she muttered a bit angrily and looked to where Ishu and Kumi were sitting. Looking back at Rei she lightly nodded. "I hope Nayami-sama is alright....I havent seen her since that day in the Grotto...." she wasnt feeling guilty, she actually trusted her Kage to be alright, it just felt akward to her, that one of her shinobi didnt know how she was, physically.

Sighing and looking at the sky she muttered a few things in an inaudible language and then looked at Rei. "Well...I better go tell the two they'll have to wait a while until Nayami-sama comes back from her small stroll in the village" she said looking at the bench once again where Kumi and Ishu were sitting.

Sensing Ishu's feelings, I stare at the building intensely, his words lost for the moment. Closing my eyes, I sniff the air gently, sensing nothing out of the ordinary but picking up the light traces of alcohol. Opening my eyes again, slowly, I look at Ishu's disappointed body posture, making me want to embrace him again but fighting the urge. Looking at Leina, as if for guidence, a sudden thought raises in my head as I think for anyway possible to cheer my companion.

"Leina, if the Kage is not in...may I take Ishu just outside of the village? We will only be gone a few minutes. I think...I want to show him something." My muscles, slowly returning back to place, I touch my throat lightly at the silver collar adorning it, hidden behind the high collar of my violet shirt.

Standing, as if ready to listen to either a yes or no, I strap my naginata to my back again, wrapping it carefully around the long scarf wrapped about my body. Then, with a strange, almost evil smirk, I lock my eyes with Ishu's. Ignoring any pain still in my body, I reach a hand toward Ishu openly, hoping he will accept it once more.

"I bet I can make you smile." Trying to push all the worry about where the Kage maybe, I hold my strange grin, hoping to either interest him or making him laugh. Okay, so acceptance might take a bit longer. No sense it worrying, right?

"I shall show you why I talk to Yitnoru as I do...and why, despite him being a annoyance, we are together...that is...if you wish."

He knew she had gone... he hadn't the slightest idea why, but he had. Still everybody seemed to think it normal...or at least not worth the effort of questioning him. Everything seemed to be going along just fine anyway, Leina even had an explaination for where the Kage had gone. Who was he to fight the current that everybody was creating. Besides Kumi seemed almost eager to show him something.

She smiled and seemed to be standing and moving a bit better. Maybe he should have let her rest sooner. Well, it was far too late to be thinking about what he should have done. He took one of the black cards from her and held it in his hand, looking at it intently. It intrigued him a bit...it was almost as if the people around respected Leina and the decisions she made. For some reason, that just felt foriegn and strange to him.

Sliding the card into his waist band, he took Kumi's hand. "Where are we going?" Almost like a ton of bricks, he snatched his hand away.

"HEY!"

His voice was carried an air of authority and accusation, "We aren't going anywhere!" he told Kumi. It wasn't up for much argument based on how he said it, even though he was ten. Smiling suddenly, "At least not until we get you something to eat."

Taking the card quietly, I slip it in my thin bag that is hidden under my scarf around my waist. Smiling, I nod and start to walk off till Ishu redraws his hand, puzzling me for a moment till he speaks again. Sighing, his words make my stomach growl, I fight with how to deal with Ishu in my mind.

"Can we get something on the way or find something out there? I mean...I don't wanna and you can't make me." Crossing my arms across my chest, my mind flashes back to when I was Ishu's age and arguing with Sunia to not wanting to go inside for dinner. Luckily, Ishu is much smaller then she is and can't possibly pick me up to drag me.

"It won't be around much longer. It only comes out in the day around this time...they usually hunt at night. I want to show you it." Smiling, I hope to peek his interest more in what I speak of instead of food.

I want food, darn it! Let's eat then you can show off!

Happiness comes before hunger. After we show him, we can go. Turning to walk down the hill again, I move very slyly and slowly to allow Ishu to catch up if he wants.