Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Hey bro, don't write them all off just yet. This guy might be a complete failure, but I don't think he represents the whole. Rumor is that a new academy student just graduated, and he's looking pretty hopeful. I shouldn't even have to mention Sayuri." Kyu shrugged, "Before your went overboard with your sushi, I think you were about to start telling me what we were going to do with this twi-"

Kyu stopped, he sensed someone who didn't belong nearby. Someone entered that he didn't recognize. He made a casual entrance into the room, as if he belonged in the place. With a nerdy, middle finger glasses-push, he introduced himself as Sai's cousin, he spouted out some other stuff about ninja Era's or something. It was all Greek to Kyu, he'd never heard anything about a world reformation, but he was curious nonetheless.

Sai apparently didn't care about the 'new Era' thing. As far as he was concerned, new eras came as often as new generations. Fair logic, Kyu thought. Kyu fell back into the chair as Sai taunted his cousin. Talk of cooking up "hot dogs" was reminiscent to the times he and Hibiki had back after the Frost mission. As cold as that mission was, the dark humor surrounding Hibiki's fox Kuro brought a nostalgic smile to Kyuzaku's face. As serious and scary as it was at the time, he could find the humor in it all nowadays.

Kyu was introduced to the cousin, and he made a cool, one-way wave, and flashed a grin. Coolly, he said, "Yo"

It hadn't even been a seconds notice after the boy had spoke that Sai's head flicked up in time to notice him going for a second peace of HIS, Sai's - no one else's - food. With his palm flat against the couch, he lifted his entire body's weight and twisted it so in an act of pure aerobic ability, the young Orasakai had managed to flip himself off the couch and to his feet... his free hand quickly grabbing and ripping back Musica's hair to prevent him from getting a second bite. "And who said you could have any of that?" The man questioned, his knee raising to his chest as he leaned foreword and let it rocket back out into the missing-nin's chest cavity with ferocious force. "The nerve..."

Kyu eyed Musica when he began to stuff his face with the specially made sushi rolls. Much to Kyu's chagrin, Musica didn't seem to appreciate the high-quality fish that they were made from. Kyu's teeth began to grind, and his muscles tensed. Not only was he just gulping it down, he was doing so without appreciating the pristine flavor of S.S. Sushi. He would have jumped up, and smashed the missing-nin's face in, but Sai got to him first. His approach was easily more violent than Kyu's would have been, so, for now, he was happy.

Kyu slouched back into his seat. Sai's cousin began to rattle on about some boring a** stuff. His speech was weird and inward... as if he was talking to himself more than anyone in the room.

Kyu got up again, growing weary of introductions. Time was money, and every second they just sat around doing nothing was cash not going into his pocket. Not only that, but every second he sat around, he wasn't getting any stronger.

He walked over to where the missing-nin had been kneed to the ground. The sharky chuunin's fingers weaved into the missing-nin's hair, and yanked him hard off of the ground, no doubt causing him a ton of pain. He set the kid down so that he'd land on his knees, but didn't let go of the boy's scalp, "Enough dicking around. Let's get down to business already. What the hell are we doing with this kid, Sai."

With an exasperated sigh, Sai fell back to his spot on the couch, his eye flicking to look at Kanryuu unsavory before returning back to Musica. For a moment he drummed his fingers along the arm of the couch as he thought about the question, just what was he going to do with the twerp. Musica had been one of the few that traveled with him during his time as Saikoro, but when he remembered the boy, he was much less annoying and loud... he was quickly becoming more of a headache then he was actually worth.

"Hn... His mouth is outrunning his use..." Sai noted coldly, a smirk crossing his face as a thought crossed his mind. Either the boy would finally shut up or he would soon regret not doing so. "So, I no longer have any use for him. Put his mouth to real use, gouge out his eyes and remove his teeth. Chop off all his fingers and permanently disrupt his chakra paths. Take him to the barbarians and let them do as they will with him, I'm sure they'll fully appreciate his mouth there, along the rest of him." He instructed, not a hint of it being a joke in his tone or icy glare. And if Musica didn't learn his place, he would find that Sai's orders were all that waited for him.

"Oh? No witty comeback?" Sai teased, his brow raised as he waited for the inevitable to come, for the one sly comment that would be enough to him over the edge and simply knock the child into the earth. But when it wouldn't come, he simply shrugged and looked back to the group, "Alright. Well, there are a few things on the agenda. First and foremost.... it's none of your damn business." Sai said simply towards Kanryuu and Musica before continuing on, "We will get s**t done later. In the meantime, a little birdie told me that the almighty have decided to put me to use?" The man said, hinting towards the fact that he already knew of the mission that Kyu was given that was meant to bring Sai along with and keep him busy.

"As if that's needed to be said.." Sai said gruffly as he took the scroll from Kyu's hands and motioned himself towards his couch, ignoring the two others that were in the room. Pulling the chest onto his lap he placed the scrolls on to the table before continuing to move the chest to the side of the table so he would be free to spread the scrolls open for his eyes to inspect the maps. "Well this certainly seems like more then mildly suspicious mission for us to be going on. Since when did the country enjoy the idea of me being around explosives again, are they trying to start a war with Lightning..." For a long while after he stood quiet, his fingers trailing over the maps as he pondered various ways they would be able to travel through the country in the least conspicuous way. He could not lie, despite the fact that he felt as though the country was up to something unfathomable, he was finding himself enjoying the idea of the mission to an exceptionally large degree.

It wouldn't be the easiest thing to pull off, destroying two locations and getting away unnoticed but it certainly did poise a challenge that he was willing to take on. Not to mention the alternative was getting into a fight... it certainly had been a long time since he had truly put his combat skills to the test and the idea of battle was itching at his mind rabidly. Without looking towards the people that were in the vicinity, he lazily waved towards the door, "Alright, everyone get out. I have some preparations to take care of for this mission, I will meet you on the outskirts of the village Kyu.... as for you Musica, we will be in contact. Not like you'll be going to far, I'm sure security will find you a place to stay until my return." A chuckle pressed pass his lips as a wolfish grin spread along them slyly.

Once everyone had removed themselves from his housing, Sai let out a heavy sigh of relief. It was always a pain when there was too many people in his compound, the noise and lack of space was just too annoying for him to endure for any amount of time. But now that everyone had finally left the premises, he was able to stretch out and relax... his eyes still curiously on the maps before him. "A blatant attack on Lightning Country... If we're caught it could cause a war, but then again... it would be an convenient way of killing me off by saying I was going renegade again. However if it was success and we're not caught, it would only serve as the perfect preparations for a war. Why else would they allow such a mission to be passed around this country.... 'Good boy' Kyu wouldn't be able to get his hands on it unless they wanted him too, otherwise it'd break his guise..." The man pondered to himself before finally shrugging it off with another sigh, his head quickly bending over the maps so he could get back to doing his homework for the mission.


It wouldn't be much longer that Sai would be done gathering all the information he needed to plan out their attack on the mines. All he would need now was the supplies to carry out the mission..

“Aw man, and I was hoping to stay a little longer,” Musica whined as two guards, complete with blue hats and silver shields, hoisted him up by his elbows. The door shut quietly behind them and the Freaky-Fish Guy. Musica craned his neck to give Kyu once last grin before he was hauled in the opposite direction, further into the compound. The walk was silent, aside from the rattling of chains and thudding steps on the wooden floor. “So what d'you guys do for fun around here?” Musica asked cheerfully, nearly breaking his neck to look at the men. Neither of them answered, their stony faces cold and neutral. The red head let out a theatrical sigh and shook his head. “You two must get /all/ of the ladies.” The young ninja took a quick look at the corridor. Spotless, as if no-one even lived in the entire compound. “Throw any awesome parties lately?” Again, no answer, and Musica scoffed and rolled his eyes as they rounded a corner. Like ninety percent of the rest of the building, this corridor was lined with black wooden doors, and was empty, aside from a face that Musica found familiar, standing by one of the doors. Giraldi was a tall, wizened older man man and wore a blue suit that was tailored to fit his muscular frame. One of his eyes was shut with one of the various scars on his face, and his snowy silver hair was cut close in a military fashion. The older man smiled a little and nodded to the guards as they escorted Musica up to him. “Thank you, gentlemen.” He said calmly, clasping a hand on Musica's shoulder. “That will be all.” The two guards blinked, their nuetral expressions quickly becoming puzzled. “S-sir we have orders-”

“That are being changed.” Giraldi's voice cut across the man as easily as a knife through hot butter, his tone cracking like a whip, his one eyed glare harder than steel. Musica had to bite his tongue to suppress a giggle as he saw the bigger men flinch. There was a moment of awkward silence as Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb tried to comprehend the sudden change. Musica could almost see the steam escaping their ears. Soon enough, they released their iron grip on the young man's elbows and traded him off to Giraldi. “That will be all, gentlemen.” He repeated, giving them a slow nod of approval. The gesture reminded Musica of a pet owner giving a dog a treat. The security men bowed their heads and, in one crisp motion, turned on their heels and walked back the way they came. Giraldi sighed and shook his head. “It's sad when people can't think for themselves.” He said quietly, rummaging through his pockets. Musica craned his head around to watch the two men walk away, each step perfectly timed the same unheard rhythm. “Says the Chief Blade of my father's army.” Musica responded as he slowly turned back around. Giraldi chuckled and removed a silver key from his suit pocket and inserted it into a hole on one of the manacles on Musica's wrists. “Everyone has their orders.” There was a quiet click as the tumblers in the lock opened, immediately followed by the manacle on that wrist falling off. Musica rotated his hand around, popping the joints in his wrist, before wiping the blood from his arm as Giraldi repeated the process with the other wrist. “Which explains why you're in Mist today, and not back home.” The accursed manacles fell to the wooden floor with a dull clang and the older man instantly handed Musica the key.


“First, your father sends his regards and congratulates you for managing not to get you or your brother killed.” The Blade started as Musica bent to remove the shackles on his ankles. Musica grinned and looked up only to cheerfully say “Tell him he can go to hell.” He stepped out of the shackles and unceremoniously kicked both sets against the wall. Giraldi chuckled and continued as Musica gave them metal bands a contemptuous glare. “Also, you have a mission to go on.” The red head blinked and whipped his head to face Giraldi. “From Underground? All ready?” Underground was a small village under the earth that Musica had been residing and training since the last Exams, and was led by his father. 'Residing' and 'being held captive' could be used interchangeably, now that Musica thought a little bit more on it. “Can't that b*****d wait for me to at least get some rest?” Giraldi laughed, the lines around his good eye creasing, as he pulled out a thick folder from his suit. “It's from the Mizukage, actually.” The old man's smiled widened as Musica's face fell into total shock 'What a twist!' Rodah chimed cheerfully.

Musica snatched the folder out of Giraldi's hands and started to rapidly scan the pages. “This. . . . is the mission that Sai and that Freaky Fish Guy are going on.” The young ninja snapped the folder shut without thinking, surprise driving his reflex. “I thought I was missing-nin. Why am I getting missions?” “It was mentioned that you had gone missing during the exams.” Giraldi explained, crossing his arms behind him and meet Musica's eyes with his one. “Mist was told to be on the look out for you, in case you came back.” “By you.” Musica stated as he re-opened the folder and read the contents, slowly this time.. “You're the only person that actually knows me that has enough standing in Mist for them to actually listen.” “Actually, I had nothing to do with it. It was Sai, if you can believe it.” Musica would have been less shocked if Giraldi had just pulled out a birth certificate and told the young man that he was a girl. Musica just stood there, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to find words, tried to make sense of it all. He didn't even notice as the folder fell from his fingers, landing onto the floor in an explosion of dead trees. The Mist ninja, as he assumed he still was, crouched down to pick up the papers and replace them into the folder, but stopped with one sheet caught his eye.

“It says I'm not to engage,” Musica said quietly, scanning the sheet. “Just observe and report. This is a stealth mission.” His eyes shot back up to Giraldi, who smiled faintly. “I might have recommended you for that kind of mission, yes.” The old Blade opened the door that they stood next to at the same moment he grabbed a stunned Musica by the shoulder. “Now go get ready, you have a long trip ahead of you!” Before the young ninja could even protest, the bed room door shut behind him. He immediately noticed the, no, /his/ traveling bag laying on the bed and, judging by the random lumps, it was already packed. Musica let out a tired sigh and went to go take a shower, reminding himself that there was no rest for the wicked. It didn't help.

Musica didn't even know how exhausted he was until he got in the shower. The moment that the steaming water hit against his skin, weariness hit him like a ton of bricks., bringing every ache and pain to his notice. The hot water loosened up the young man's muscles, relieving him of tension he didn't even know was there. “Alright, we get it,” Rodah scoffed. “You can wax poetic about being tired.” Musica closed his eyes and entered his mind, a process that had become as easy as sleeping over time. Rodah stood with his arms crossed over his chest and a relaxed, uncaring posture. His green eyes rolled behind his dark violet hair as he saw Musica come in. "You know, you're going to need to leave for this,” the red head stated calmly. “No, I don't think so,” his brother yawned, stretching his arms over his head. “I'm comfortable here, and rather like it.” “That's bullshit,” Musica growled, baring his teeth. “You always complain about it.” Rodah winked playfully as a smirk spread across his face. “As the tides change, as do I.” Musica let out an agitated breath of air and turned to the side, arms crossed over his chest and glaring out into the blackness. “You act like you have a choice in the matter. I'm in control.” Musica's brother let out a barking laughter, and shrugged. “Then why did you bother telling me then, Sherlock?” “I was hoping on the chance you wouldn't argue, for once.”
“Don't hold your breath,” Rodah scoffed as Musica turned off the water. “Then we'd both die.” The young man stepped from the shower and wrapped his waist with a towel, steam rolling along the floor. Musica wiped fog from the mirror and examined himself in it. He had grown more muscular over the year. Not to the extremes of a Taijutsu specialist, but enough for decent speed, which was what he preferred anyway. Scars lined themselves across his torso, and his treble clef tattoo was on the forearm opposite of the one the bass clef was on. His red hair was still shaggy, but much longer than it used to be. Musica tugged gently on one of the locks, his expression contemplative for a moment, before he stopped and walked out of the bathroom. There was work that needed to be done.

An hour later, Musica stood on the roof of a random building, sea wind blowing his hair, which was now cut shorter and tied back. He closed his eyes took in a slow inhale through his nose, breathing in the salty smell, closing his eyes. Musica made a small effort of will and reached down into his chakra, thankful that those damn shackles were off. The Mist shinobi exhaled and exerted a small effort to move his chakra to his eyes, opening them as a slight pressure formed on his temples. A small dot of light sparked on the top and went down his eyes in a curving line, as if being created by a welding torch. When the spark hit the bottom of his eyes, it expanded to cover the entirety of his eye briefly. The spark disappeared, revealing Musica's eyes, as each resembled the black and white symbol of balance, Yin-Yang. “Heikougan,” He muttered, making a focusing hand seal with his right hand. Both eyes started to turn, slowly at first. But they quick gained momentum and rapidly became a swirl of black and white. The air around Musica thrummed with the pressure of building chakras he focused. “Split.”

Wind rushed from Musica's body in all directions as black and white chakra spiraled around him like a mist. The energies dispersed and a black form shot from the young man and hit the stone roof, it's momentum making it skid a few feet from Musica. The Heikougan slowly stopped spinning as Musica turned, only stopping when he was facing the form. “Owwwww, couldn't you have made that more gentle?” Rodah slowly rose to his feet, rubbing his back, one closed in pain. “Don't hold your breath,” Musica drawled sarcastically, taking his brother in. Rodah was nearly identical to Musica, except for the green eyes and violet hair. He wore blue jeans and a leather jacket with a fur collar over a violet shirt. “You know what to do.” Rodah closed his eyes stuck his tongue out at his brother, opening them to show that they had already activated into the Heikougan, before he jumped to the next building. Without missing a beat, Musica jumped in the opposite direction, into a small alley. The shinobi pulled the hood of his cloak up as he walked out onto the street, the whites of his Heikougan giving an eerie glow.