Welcome to Gaia! ::

Shikamori carefully considered the child's request. "Hn...give me a reason." A pause, and the hunter-nin fixed cool onix eyes on Sakeme. "Give me a reason why I should teach you. Elruda-chiisai-hime is a still child of Konoha despite her current circumstances, she is entitled to inheriting our village's secrets. What she chooses to do with it then, is at her discretion. However...for an outsider..." The Nara's voice trailed off.

"I had agreed to tutor one particular scion of Iwa, because he had taken care of living arrangements for...then, Akane-sama's troope." The Nara held up his right index finger, warningly. "That is the way of the shinobi world. A trade for power is only bargained with something of equal return. Ah yes, Sakeme-chan...rarely you would find few as unconditionally generous...to perhaps even the point of foolishness...as Yuuko-hime or Zephyr-sensei."

"Unless there's a balancing factor, a benefit in return for our own people, the rest shall not make such a gamble. So. What can you offer Konoha?"

Shikamori contemplated the child's answer. "How harsh?" He asked quietly. Memories of his own Genin days with Yokou and Museifu filled his mind... Or to be more exact, the days before the rapidly arriving Chuunin Exams of their first year. Zephyr was holding extra training sessions for the two weaker members of the squad.

Bam!

Shikamori watched, horrified, as Yokou crashed into a tree with a sickening thud. Was she unconscious...? A distance not so far off, Zephyr stood, a cold unreadable expression on his face, fist still in the air. A cough. The Hyuuga princess fought the pain, biting down on her lip, and struggled to her feet. But the blow to her stomach was too much, and she began coughing up blood.

He couldn't watch anymore. "Why did you use Gouwan on her!" Shikamori had demanded of his sensei. But the Senju Sannin only cast a scornful look at the Nara, before directing his displeasure to the Hyuuga princess. "Yokou..." Zephyr had said, ignoring him. "We end here today."

"I can still fight!" She had gotten up again, shakily. Zephyr looked away. "Don't be so arrogant. On the battlefield, that can get you killed." A heavy pause. "And you wish to be a medic-nin? Listen..." His voice trailed off. "You and Shikamori are far from Museifu's level. This extra training is for your own benefit. And...if you honestly wish to be a medic-nin..."

"If you get killed, than who will be there to save your teammates?" Shikamori could only watch, as hurt passed over the Hyuuga princess's face... The words pierced much more and wounded much more than Zephyr's attack would ever do. That b*****d... Shikamori had thought. He didn't understand how much Yokou, how much she earnestly wanted to...

Zephyr spoke again. "Starting from today, I will be attacking you two in earnest. Work together, do all you can to stop me."

And Yokou would get injured many more times until she learned to perfect her Kaiten and her timing. Shikamori had been as of little past helpless to protect her... It was being injured, being healed (by Zephyr)...a continuous cycle. The worst case, she was actually landed in the hospital for internal injuries. Zephyr had proclaimed more than once that because of her field mastery limitations, Yokou was the weakest on the squad.

"Can't be worse than that..." Shikamori muttered, shaking his head. However, he couldn't really blame Zephyr...and over time came to forgive him... The young Sannin had been fresh out of the hunter-nin ranks, and had no clue what to do with a Genin squad. So, he did what he knew best...turn them into perfect little soldiers with complementary skills... However, whenever Yokou was landed at the hospital...

Shikamori ran into Zephyr several times. Each time, the Senju had lied that he had some business to do in the hospital, as he was a medic-nin too. However...each time, at Yokou's bedside...there would be flowers and her favourite foods... So. He did feel sorry for injuring her to some degree... And...it was perhaps even in the end necessary. Zephyr turned a fragile doll into a strong-willed woman...

"Don't worry about Elda-chiisai-hime so much." Said Shikamori, with a smile. "When she truly begins awakening her limit, he will not be able to touch a hair on her head. Until then..." A pause. "...let me ask you, will you really be willing to attack chiisai-hime's sensei, for her sake?"

((Shin's whole bloodlimit is focused on elemental recomposition... O.o So he can learn Suiton techniques but have to 'decompose' Hyouton chakra.))

Shin was spacing out again when a gentle tug on his right sidebang brought him back to reality. Maiyuri in his arms was pointing upwards, at the eerie green light of the Borealis. "Oh. That's the Borealis..." But Maiyuri frowned, shaking her head, and tugged harder. How odd...the child seemed to have realized there was no way else, at least touch and feeling-wise, to get Shin's attention.

"Huh? That's not it...?" Wait a moment...the Borealis should show up annually...Mai would've seen it every year and even though young, would at least remember the previous year's aurora over Iwa...celebrating its annual Winter Festival...

"Oh!" He knew now. I see... And he smiled down at the child. "Arigatou, chiisai-hime...for sharing it with me..."

Taishiroku slowly walked down that dark path toward his house. His right foot was into the darkness of the front porch. Only faint glows within the windows bring any illuminate life to the house. His cold right hand gripped the curvature of the door knob. He pushed the door opened as he turned it open.

He broke through the threshold of the house as his eyes instantly noticed a suitcase opened and filled with various articles of clothing. A dark shadow slowly waddled down the corridor leading to the living room.

An old figure slowly came forth and was revealed to be the owner of the sillouette. Light blue hair rolled down his back and callopsed upon his waist. The man stood no higher than 5'6" and clutched a cane tightly within his left hand. Each digit containing small dark spots that disperse more evenly upon the aging arm. The mans eyes were just as black as his own but yet much more open and warm. The man walked across to Taishiroku and slapped at his shin with the brown cane.

"Hey! I will be leaving to go back for our clan... I have done my favor to you and have helped you to do what you wish to achieve in your life.."

The words came at a shock to Taishiroku. His eyes widened at an incredible rate only to be bested by his frown. His first frown. He stood there not able to move feeling like he should say something to his grandfather but his tongue was becoming heavy and dry within his mouth.

"the house is ours... you do not have to pay rent. You may move into the city if you wish but our clan never really enjoys clustering... So i think it is best if you stay out here.."

He sighed and moved his decrepit form toward the suitcase. His small hand gripped the handle and raised it. It wasn't raised far and seem to hang by his side. He slowly moved out of the doorway and walked down the steps being followed by his grandsons' eyes and ears his words becoming reality that slapped at his heart.

"I love you alot and i will be always in kiri to help you if you need it.. Do not worry about me and do not worry about the future. Follow the teachings of our clan and just allow life to run its course like the calm streams of the oceans water... Just remember, the tiniest ripple in the atlantic can reach the pacific if only it follows the correct currents.."

Soon the old man left his sight and left him hurt. Taishiroku felt his head become heavy and his legs become weak. He fell upon his knees and his head was left to hit the floor. The force of the hit hurt him but it could not be compared to anything within his heart.

Tears soon greeted his face and created small currents of rivers along his face. He stayed quiet. His voice was weak and his throat was tight. His arms stayed at his side. The tears becoming more heavy as time passed on.

So there he layed.. for the course of the night with only the last words of his grandfather echoing in his mind. the tiniest ripple in the atlantic can reach the pacific if only it follows the correct currents.." Slowly the frown dissapeared from his face being replaced by a smile. The smile lasting onto his face as his sadness turned into laughter and his laughter turned into an obsession...

The night sky and his house were filled with the crazed laughter that was only halted for small seconds. This laughter was the holes in his heart becoming filled with a crazed devotion and a mindset becoming altered... The word Cannibalism Echjoing within his mind along with the pictures and faces of his family and clan.

Roy glanced to the woman, he sighed deeply. as she walked off. So conflicted, it was aggravating. In a way, she reminded him far to much of… no, he wouldn’t think of her. Thinking of her never brought about any good feelings. No, he had to keep his mind focused on something else, it was the only way to keep from becoming sad and solumn like this woman was. He groaned a little and looked to the side. He felt so old already for his young age. Without much of a word, he left the orphanage.

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((Sorry for not responding earlier, didn’t see Yokou’s post at the top))

Marcus was smiling as he looked about the place, it was a hubble of activity as the children had been given their presents and were off in their own little worlds. Marcus was pleased with this development. He glanced over to the ‘reindeer’ as they played with the children. Well, correction, only the youngest and Kirin played with the children. Pegasus was being pulled and poked on and Sliphnir… well Sliphnir was just Sliphnir. All 8 footed, demonic eyed dragon horse of him. He sat in the back of the room and sighed deeply as he looked about. The room was starting to calm down and grow a bit quieter as the children grew to love their new toys. He smiled and looked over to the couch where Yokou was sitting… but now she was gone… where’d she…had she…would she…yes… she would.

A deeply crossed look covered his face as he looked to the couch but soon he just took in a breath and moved to the couch himself. Hoping for a Christmas miracle was for kids… maybe he never learned that.

The voice of a child breaks through the darkness of the night. The laughter soon is halted as the source halts and listens.

"Chiisai-hime!"

Slowly, Taishiroku raised his left leg planting his foot flat upon the ground, his foot landing right beside his elbow. He moved opposite leg the same way and arched his neck upward revealing his face to the Borealis' ominous light in the sky. The drapes of dark grey hair flowed from infront of his face forcing the loose water from the hair reserves.

He applied pressure to his feet causing his body to rise, his arms simply dangling in the air as he rose. He stepped slowly out into the night only seeing the traces of his grandfathers steps.

Soon he heard more footsteps coming from the darkenss of the alley and followed the sound. Each step was dragged, his heart to heavy for him to even raise his foot. The tears that was once upon his face have longed dried and dissapeared but the stain still remained.

His eyes now red with thoughts of sorrow and hatred toward his grandfather and clan. He suddently stopped as he noticed the shape of the small child teasing what seemed to be an older man.

"Cannibalism?..."

"Eh?" The child skidded to a halt, swearing she had heard something odd. Pale eyes fixed curiously on the speaker: a boy probably older than she (ref: Elruda's 11). The green fire of the borealis brought her features into full vision: a child around Shinratsu's height, pale doll-like features similar to his, but her eyes...the colour of dragonpearls, tinted green-blue by the light of the borealis. Perhaps she was an Academy Student, but on a second glance...perhaps not...probably a Genin judging from the Amegakure no Sato headband (worn Haruno Sakura style) and her carefree attitude. Byakugan kekkai genkai...a child of Hyuuga.

The little princess trotted closer and tilted her head slightly, observing Tai. From her demeanor, from how though the other was much taller than her...the same proud way she held herself was very much like Shin's, making height a trivial difference. But then she suddenly smiled, a wide blooming grin like the blooming sunshine, and the brief royalty-like manner she held herself lapsed into something more casual. Elruda reached out a hand. "Hi! What'cha doing here all by yourself? There's a grand festival, right?"