Do You See What I See?

[lash]

I stood by the empty, broken down gates of Sunagakure no Sato and I peered towards the skyline. The sun had set a few moments ago, offering just a brief glimmer of light to remain in this forsaken desert before I frowned. Although I had returned to find this place nearly deserted, the barest signs of life or aptitude remaining within the walls, I knew that spread throughout the city were surely to be some shinobi who hadn't been wasted, or perhaps there were still some young bloods left within the walls who could be recruited into my Dominion... After all, I knew very well that I would not be able to challenge the entirety of the world by myself. I would need an army within my Dominion, or else it would mean nothing.

But where was I to find such an army? Did I need to go knocking, door to door, to see if there was anyone who was up for the task? I had declared that Sunagakure no Sato was no longer a ninja village, but that did not mean that I did not want to use a shinobi structure when stylizing my armies, and in this day and age, there were very few armies that were as strong as a Shinobi one. Because of that, I decided, I was not going to cast away the original Shinobi titles passed down to use from lore - Genin, Chuunin, Jounin, Sannin, Kazekage - but instead, I was going make them into my own image and structure them towards my own goals.

Although I knew that the situation facing me regarding the lack of an army was a large problem, I also knew that there were other problems to be had, too. The movement of Konohagakure no Sato against Kirigakure no Sato spelled problems for the rest of the world, and nobody seemed to know what had happened. However, based on the time frame, I was willing to bet it had something to do with that giant glowing pillar of light that had suddenly vanished. I needed to know more, however. I simply could not go forward on hunches - I needed solid, undendiable proof, and the only way to get that would be to leave the village for a short while.

There was nobody here that I could trust, and I had effectively abolished the entirety of the old regime, so now might not be the best time to be leaving, and I was aware of that. However, it seemed much more dangerous to allow the outside world to begin to move forward while leaving the Dominion behind. I was very sure that the entirety of my nation would not survive if I did that.

Well, Sunagakure had grown used to silence. I could allow them to experience it again for a short while.

SPOILER: Click to show

What Happened Over There? Part 1.
Rank: "A" Rank
Description: Rumors abound of a scenario occurring within the Land of Rice, regarding a gargantuan pillar and light coming from it that abruptly came to a halt. The mission is to find out what happened and to bring the information back to Sunagakure no Sato. Since this is an operation which takes you through several other sovereign countries, this mission is considered to have potential to be highly dangerous.
Restrictions: Sunagakure Shinobi; up to 1 Squad.
Rewards: 100 EXP; 10000 Ryo.

[Ning Ru]

A solid year had passed since Ru had last seen Suna’s gates. Footsteps dragging through the sand, his eyes peered at the ruins before him behind lightly tinted goggles concealing his eyes from nature’s wrath. The lad had expected things to change during his informal exile however not to this degree. Despite being gone for so long, the state of Suna ought to have been relatively similar when compared to his departure - dismal at best. Last he could recall, the village was relatively thriving (if one could call it that) within this vast expanse of a wasteland. To say that the image before him was a shamble of a shamble was rather impressive (and a bit of an understatement).

Donning a long black coat in preparation of the cold desert nights, he’d continue to stride closer towards the seemingly abandoned gates. By all right, the youth shouldn’t be here in the first place. Last he was told, the next time his face was spotted around these parts he’d no longer have a face. That said, curiosity always got the better of him. It wasn’t as if the penalty had any meaning if they couldn’t catch him in the first place – right?

Though not especially weary at the prospect of guards, what did cause concern however was the lack thereof. Vaguely familiar with the village’s defenses, he’d find the uncanny silence more of a red flag than any footsteps. Were it not for the lighting offered beneath the full moon, he’d have outright turned back before being noticed.

Weighing the potential risks versus the magnitude of his curiosity, he’d eventually decide to venture further in. Still in possession of his head band, perhaps he’d be able to convince any unwanted individuals of his non-suspicious status? Considering the time that had passed, perhaps he’d go unrecognized anyway. A year was an awfully long stretch… to remember a nobody.

[lash]

The sky before me coloured into a deep purple as I watched, the last remnants of a dying light struggling in vain against the darkness. As the purple faded deeper into the shadows, I smiled and shrugged my shoulders, simply biding my time until the moon's rise. Although the giant sky rock slowly began to climb into the stars that were beginning to shine was not completely full, it illuminated the area before my eyes well enough that I could see things almost perfectly within the vast, empty expanses of my arid world.

As such, imagine my surprise as I saw a being moving through the desert, not quite slow enough to be a crawl, in a move that could almost be described as stealthy. My right eyebrow raised in interest as I watched the object come closer, and I reached into my pocket, pulling out my pipe, before packing a small bit of tobacco into place and lighting it with the lick of a lighter. Puffing it gently in order to keep the plant lit, I then took a deep inhale, allowing the smoke to fill my lungs for a few moments, before exhaling it through a mouth newly opened. A smile slid onto my face, and I began to feel a moment's satisfaction.

My first intruder.

Sliding out of the shadows, though I had long since given my position away with the lighting of my pipe, I would position myself in the center of the gate's entrance and I would call out.

"Halt! State your name and purpose!"

[Ning Ru]

“Hmm?” The curious mouse’s eyes widened upon spotting a lit flame beside the gate. Hair rose on the back of his neck as he’d panic ever so briefly before freezing in place. Remaining motionless, the inexperienced youth hoped that he’d go unnoticed. Perhaps if he didn’t do anything, the entity wouldn’t spot him. Eyeing the stranger patiently, he’d eventually realize that his hopes had been foiled. With a new voice calling out to him, he’d quickly realize his folly. That train of thought only applied to a long extinct reptilian species! (T-rex anyone?)

Cursing himself inwardly for his foolishness, he’d quickly scurry behind a nearby rock while contemplating what to do next. Perhaps if the lad stayed out of sight, he’d stay out of mind? No… that was only wishful thinking. Even one as callous as Ru knew better than that. Thinking rather hastily, he’d reassess his situation after briefly gathering a bit more information. Given his penchant for reading the wind (or rather sounds to be more accurate), it was safe to say that this individual was alone. Not sure whether this was an improvement of the situation or a worsening of it (for lack of gate guards was still a bit alarming), he’d shake his head confusedly while remaining unable to come to a decision.

Sleeve enveloped arms pressing against both sides of his head rather worriedly, he’d let out an audible “FUUEEEEEE” before finally choosing a course of action. Arm flapping frantically as it extended from the rock, a single head band branded with Suna’s insignia would hopefully be spotted across the distance before the arm was retracted. Eyes peeking just barely from behind the cover, he’d watch carefully to gauge for a reaction. Theoretically, the unidentified individual wouldn’t attack if they were a friend of the village… right? That said, the possibility of the head band not being close enough for identification had never crossed the mouse’s mind.

[lash]

I waited patiently, somehow finding myself amused as the person wandering towards the Gates all willy and nilly suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Then, survival instinct seemed to have kicked in for the being, who took the words 'fight or flight' to a new meaning, and quickly darted behind a rock before silence once more reigned outside of Sunagakure no Sato's former gates. As the silence stretched onward, my patience began to wear thin, and with one more large puff of my pipe, I'd reach into my pocket and put the pipe out with a stopper I carried on my person while exhaling.

During that time, the being seemed to decide that its best bet for survival was to come out. Actually, I agreed with him on that point - it would not have been prudent to force me to begin chasing the fool around. It was then that I heard the sound, "FUUEEEEE" as the being jumped out from behind the rock, acting almost as if in panic. I found myself... surprised by the antics, but even in the darkness I could see the Sunagakure no Sato headband which glinted, if even only a little bit, under the light of mother who hung suspended in the night.

If the being; no, the boy, as I could easily tell now; thought that the presence of a Sunagakure headband would make me more quick to accept him, he would be wrong. At the sight of someone with the insignia of the former Sunagakure emblazoned upon their clothing, I tensed, mentally preparing myself for battle. My stance would shift, my feet squaring off and my body beginning to crouch as my hand moved towards my Wakizashi. All the while, I kept my eyes upon the boy, looking for any telltale signs of danger, before calling out into the darkness once more.

"Cease your movement and state your purpose, immediately."

[Ning Ru]

Given the man’s movements, one thing became clear to the youth. He was not with the village. Perhaps he belonged to a third party? Between his shift to a more aggressive stance, those rather cold words and the oddity of the scenario itself, it was hard for Ru to really make heads or tails of the situation. Rather than outright fleeing however, he’d pause as the man had requested. Breathe coming to a standstill, he’d ponder over the quality of forethought put into the man’s demands before running short on air a few moments later and finally disobeying. Lungs clinging onto life as he’d exhale wearily while refilling his supplies of oxygen, he’d shrug once before addressing the stranger’s request further.

In hindsight, the lad didn’t really have any purpose for coming here. It was one of those spur of the moment things that wasn’t thought out too well given the severity of his punishment for returning. That said, Ru wasn’t too fond of coming up with a lie. Though a bit strange when compared to a typical teen his age, the youth had an uncannily good grasp on his strengths and weaknesses. Having a poor poker face clearly fell under the latter. All things considered, perhaps he’d benefit more from simply sticking to the truth?

“No real purpose here officer. In fact, I think coming back here was a terrible idea. I’ll go ahead and see myself out now…” A hand waved diligently as several steps were taken back. Though several questions ran rampant through his mind, they’d never see the light of day. In scenarios like these, it was best to ask as few questions as possible and to pretend as if nothing was seen.  Oh wait.  He wasn't supposed to move.  Oh well.  It was a dumb command anyway.

[lash]

I continued to observe the boy's motions, and at my command, the arm which held the Sunagakure no Sato headband simply ceased its motions. I could sense, rather than see, that the boy was mulling over his options about how to proceed here, for I had certainly managed to catch him off guard. If he thought that he would be welcome back to this place as a Sunagakure no Sato shinobi, but then was not, that meant that he had likely been on some sort of mission beforehand, given to him by the former Kazekage... However long ago that had been.

That being said, I knew that this person potentially carried answers to the questions that I sought. As I had said, information was power, and I understood intrinsically that I could not afford to allow this boy to leave without first answering my questions. I didn't want to maim or injure him, however, as I would need him alive and well to answer the questions that I would place before him. I needed, then, to create a scenario where this figure understood me as a figure of authority. Hm.

My hands would place themselves together, moving through a complicated series of gestures most commonly known as 'handseals' within the Shinobi world. Upon completion of the final one, a great bright light would escape from my body, flooding through the area and momentarily white washing everything away. If the boy had been looking at me, he would have been blinded momentarily by the dazzling brilliance of the technique. As luck would have it, though, the boy had turned around and had begun to walk away as he had completed his statement to me. Again, I was not aiming to injure the boy, simply gather his attention.

As the light faded into a mere echo of its former radiance, I would call out once more.

"Move forward no further, or I will be forced to attack. I apologize for startling you; you startled me, too. If you have been out in the world recently, I require information. But first I must ask two questions: What is your name, and to whom do you swear allegiance to?"

It was, after all, a stupid question to ask someone who had just shown a Sunagakure headband to me moments ago, and even if he was someone who had just found or had somehow else claimed the headband, he would be bound to lie about it. I had an actual goal in mind with the question, though. I simply needed to see how he would react.

SPOILER: Click to show

Mekurumeku (Blind Flash)
Rank: C
Range: Close (0m ~ 5m), Mid (5m ~ 10m)
Type: Supplementary
Handseals: 5
Chakra Consumption: Low

A basic yet effective Raiton technique, the user focuses a bit of chakra all over their body, letting the lightning gather and then quickly exploding, effectively providing a blinding light that leaves all within the range blind. Useful for disorientation and quick get-aways.

Note:/b] Blindness will last one post to those who look directly at the light.

[Ning Ru]

“Fue…” A hand raised to shield his eyes from the light, albeit a bit too late. If it weren’t for the tinted goggles already placed atop his face, perhaps the lad would be left in a worse state than currently. That said, with the light now forcefully and fully illuminating the premise, the stranger would come to see a young man, most likely in his teens, donning a strange coat tailored to mimic a teddy bear. The hood itself resembled a stuffed animal’s head (consisting of ears and all), as did the sleeves extend beyond the hands, representing adorably stitched claws. It was an odd sight to say the least.

The boy’s face displayed a look of surprise as the light flashed upon him. Hands trying to shield his face from the light, he’d cringe a bit while contemplating the man’s words. Though a bit more reasonable this time, the man’s demands were still rather stupid in Ru’s mind. Considering how he had been moving backward the entire time, asking him to cease his forward movement was a bit unnecessary. Vision still slightly hindered, he’d attempt to squint at the figure in question in order to obtain an identity.

Though the individual appeared to be older than the lad himself, he didn’t seem all that familiar to Ru. That much was only natural considering the hostilities displayed upon flapping the village’s insignia openly in the desert. Perhaps it’d behoove the youth to disown the village in an attempt to escape aggression? It was only fair considering the village’s treatment towards him.

Upon hearing the man’s questions, his lips pursed momentarily while contemplating his own answer. The stranger was incredibly pushy, even when compared to the Kazekage. Demand, demand, demand, question, question, question – that was all that ever left his mouth! Paw sleeve pressed against his lower face, a gentle hum sounded for two or three seconds before the boy nodded with decisiveness. Though a bit rude, the entity could be reasoned with. A hand pointing vigorously at himself, the lad would decide to come clean and simply cut ties with his former village. Perhaps it’d end more favorably this way. “Ru is Ru! Ru made promises to nobody! They made him take this shiny thing and then started barking orders for some reason as if Ru would listen…” Again his hand began waving the head band before placing both sleeves at his hips. “Who are you?”

Attempting to put on as serious of a face as possible, the entire display would be shattered by a rather loud rumbling sound emitting from the lad’s stomach. “Eh heh…” Those firmly placed paws at his side would collapse the stance he took while wrapping gingerly about his stomach.

[lash]

[OOC: I was tired and misread that last post so dramatically that I didn't even realize you were backing up and not turned away from me. <_<;; Wow.]

As the wave of light filtered away the shadows, revealing the area and all within it to me completely, I laid eyes to the boy in a way that was more than just a gaze upon a silhouette in the evening. I saw the full details of his attire, from the strange teddy bear hood equipped with ears and everything, to the cute sleevies that came down like claws. At the sight of such an attire, I found that all I could do was stare in shock. Lost were the moments of malice that I held. Vanished was the need to pry information from the lips of this creature. The only thoughts that remained in my mind was shock and surprise, as well as an ever-growing layer of disbelief.

Just as quickly as it was summoned, the light which I had brought to the world began to vanish, and the shadows of the world began to slowly claw their way back into reality. I paid the shadows no mind as they continued to spread like a plague, my eyes only watching the apparent Kuma before me as he struggled to, apparently, make a decision. At long last, however, the boy/bear's lips began to purse together and pointed to himself with his right hand. "Ru is Ru! Ru made promises to nobody! They made him take this shinby thing and then started barking orders for some reason as if Ru would listen..." And then, "Who are you?"

Was this child... special? I resisted the urge to shake my head as I thought through the information that I had before me. On one hand, the boy reasoned well and understood intention. On the other, he had a way of speaking that, when coupled with his choice of attire, made him appear to be incredibly childish - a fact that was only more accentuated by the fact that we lived in a world of shinobi, where we are trained to be instruments of death and destruction as is necessary for the sake of success. It was, in fact, that line of thought that brought my questioning to a halt and made me realize that the boy had to be lying.

Nobody, not even the former Sunakage, in all of his failure, would have simply given a boy the headband. He would have had to have been in the Academy, with all of the stakes explained to him, and to have graduated in order to have received that strip of steel. Since the boy had proven the ability to reason to me, I knew that he would have been able to do so with his instructors, or else they would have never given the headband. That either meant that he had been given the headband as an actual Sunagakure no Sato shinobi and had been made properly a Genin, or else he had stolen the headband from someone else.

"Ru, is it?" My voice came through, soft and gentle, as if afraid to spook the boy. "My name is Lash. I am the new ruler of the Sunagakure Dominion, and you are both lying to me and trespassing. Answer tru-" As I got halfway through my sentence, the sound of the boy's stomach growling would cause me to cease, eliciting a large, drown out sigh from me. Why was I even still talking to him? I should just kill him and be done with it. With his level of simple mindedness, I doubted that there would even be any information that he could give me that would be worth the trouble I was putting into this conversation.

Despite that train of thought, I found my hand reaching into my kimono and pulling out a still-wrapped granola bar, which I casually tossed towards the boy, hoping that he'd catch it and eat it.

"So? Tell me truthfully: from where did you truly receive that headband, and where have you been all of this time?"

[Ning Ru]

Oh hey! A granola bar! The snack fell delicately into his paws and was quickly unsheathed from its wrapping as the boy sat down. Taking small nibbles from the stick of nutty goodness, the boy’s eating habit would oddly resemble a chipmunk as he bit rather quickly while pocketing food into his cheeks. “Omnomnomnomnomnomnom... Nomnomnomnomnomnomnom!” Given a few moments, the bar disappeared into oblivion after being stored entirely within the sides of his mouth. Only at this point did his attention return to the man who identified himself as Lash.

Now that Ru thought about it, the name was oddly familiar. Just where had he heard it? As if a light bulb had sparked on somewhere upstairs, his eyes widened with a bit of recognition as he’d quickly gulp down the processed food hidden within his mouth. “Ohhh! Ru remembers you! You’re the waterboy! Rasshu!  Pointy-hat-man told you to leave for some dumb reason.” Standing back up to do an impression of what one could only assume was the kazekage, he’d puff out his chest and pull down on the front of his hood to appear more mysterious while speaking in a falsely deeper voice. “Nobody needs a useless release like Suiton! I don’t care if you’re one of the strongest our village has! Water is stupid! Even if I need to drink it every day!”

Turning to look back at Lash, he’d crack a grin while laughing to himself. It was clear the boy found amusement from his own impressions. “Like that, right?” Rather satisfied with himself, he’d giggle a bit more before finally addressing this self-proclaimed leader’s query. Originally he was simply going to ignore the request. Why? Because the man had accused him of lying despite Ru not technically speaking falsely. The snack however was a deal breaker. How could someone be a bad person after sharing their food without the boy even asking for it? Clearly there was something redeemable in the man, regardless of the fact that he was a silly, power-mongering, demanding excuse of a human being!

Still a bit unsure on how to start, he’d repeat a similar line while mulling over the approach. “Ru told you. They made him take it! Fuuueee.” Given enough time, a paw smacked directly into the other as an idea came to the boy. “Ru will show you!” Without warning, a small handful of seals formed. What came next could be descried as unusual at best. The shadows about his feet suddenly came to life with a vitality that could be said to surpass some of the more miserable beings from society. In front of the two rested an improvised set created from manipulated darkness. The scene as a whole consisted of a table paired with two chairs and what appeared to be the kazekage once more along with another individual.

Slowly slinking off behind the rock as if to preserve the setting, Ru listened quietly while the scene unfolded.

Pointy-hat-man (PHM): “Sensei, that boy is a failure. How on earth does someone not graduate three consecutive times?!?”

Sensei: “Pointy-hat-man-sama, I just don’t feel comfortable passing him. Something’s wrong with that kid. Don’t get me wrong. He’s great at    hide and seek… and seek and destroy. But only the seeking part. How can I possibly make him a ninja if he can’t hide or kill?”

PHM: “Hmm. I see. Well, we can’t exactly have a defective product running around with our brand plastered all over it. See to it that he’s eligible for a head band… otherwise he’s joining the other failures in the morgue.”

Sensei: “He gets a head band over my dead body! Let’s just terminate him already. He’s a waste of time and life.”

The scene quickly faded to a different scenario as Ru continued to provide narration during the change. “Sensei was a dumb man. Pointy-hat-man even more so. They forgot Ru had good ears… really good ears.” Morphing with great ease, the shadow reconfigured into a bed placed beside a window of an apartment complex. There appeared to be a resting figure as well as one lurking just outside the glass. What occurred next was a bit unclear given the limitations of shadow play. From what one could discern, the shadow cast by what could only be assumed to be Ru, had gone through the window and been manipulated to open the locked frame. From there, several neigh invisible tendrils crept from his shadow in order to simultaneously restrain and suffocate the sensei to death. After confirming the lack of a pulse, the boy had apparently entered the home and searched for a head band while standing atop the corpse.

From there, the scene faded into nothing as the shadows rejoined the boy’s projected silhouette. “Happy now? After that, Pointy-hat-man laughed and said Ru could keep it. He wouldn’t let Ru stay though. Ru forgot why. Probably another dumb reason.” It was clear that Ru was a bit irritated after reenacting this scene for the man. Perhaps it was a more unpleasant moment he preferred not revisiting.

[lash]

As the boy set to task, eating at the granola bar with the speed and efficiency of a voracious animal, I could only watch with awe. I heard the words "omnomnomnomnom" repeated over and over as his teeth chipped away at the food, shoveling into... the sides of his mouth? I could only guess, but as his cheeks began to puff outwards a little bit, I began to question everything about this unlikely scenario. Man meets boy, man threatens boy, boy ignores threats, man feeds boy, boy is a chipmunk? I was about to shake my head from the ludicrous nature of what was going on, but before I could, the boy had finished snacking, and glancing back towards me, his eyes began to widen as if some sudden revelation had hit him.

“Ohhh! Ru remembers you! You’re the waterboy! Rasshu! Pointy-hat-man told you to leave for some dumb reason.” As the boy said the words and moved into action, beginning a game of charades that was him imitating the former Kazekage, a feeling of shock plunged through my body. As the boy imitated the scenario that had ended with my essential exile, I found my eyebrows raising and my mouth all but hanging open. If this boy knew the story, that meant that he had to have been in Sunagakure no Sato when the event happened. There was no other explanation.

Just as I was about to pull myself together and begin to ask some more questions, the boy, Ru, said that he would show me how he had come across his headband. Curious, I stopped myself from acting any further and allowed the scene to play out. The boy would perform a series of handseals, gathering his chakra before unleashing them upon the shadows that were, quite literally, all around him. The shadows began to stand up from the ground and take shape, becoming something akin to what I could only call shadow puppets. I listened to the entirety of his story before finally deciding that the words were true. He had been a Sunagakure no Sato shinobi before, but he was not particularly fond of the old administration.

"Well, Ru, apparently you still haven't quite gotten the hang of hiding yet, have you?" As I spoke, I began to laugh, and my entire posture would change. Moving away from the standard defensive posture that I had taken, my body would relax as the tension eased from the muscles. "I only have a few more questions. I realize I've been asking a lot, but bare with me.

"You've been out in the world recently, aye? Did you see the giant pillar of light that came from the Southeast? And do you know anything about it?"

[Ning Ru]

His cheeks puffed indignantly upon hearing the first comment regarding his innate lack of proficiency in regard to hiding. Arms folding somewhat defensively across his torso, he’d shake his head while wistfully rejecting such an idea despite both of them knowing it to be true. The boy’s demeanor eventually changed however upon being further questioned.

Head tilting to the side as an initial reaction, a paw bonked against it while he hummed quietly in thought. There was a pillar to the north east… was that what the man wanted? Probably not. After all, this individual was rather specific and quite aware of what he wanted given their previous conversation (even if some of the demands from earlier didn’t make sense). It’d also be stupid if the leader of whatever dominion didn’t understand cardinal directions, right?

Baffled on how to respond, he’d eventually just shrug before redirecting the man called Lash into the proper direction. Perhaps if he spun it around to be the man’s own idea he’d be more willing to go along with it. “Hmm… no pillars southeast. Ru saw one to the northeast. Very big, very shiny, but very far. So he didn’t look. Ru thinks it might be near Ta no Kuni? Maybe Kaminari no Kuni?”  While speaking, his arms pointed in the referred to direction, spinning about once rather forcefully to reorient himself into the proper direction before halting to flail his limbs up and down as an indicator.

[lash]

As I laughed, Ru's body language shifted subtly, becoming more defensive as he crossed his arms around his torso and shaking his head in obvious defiance towards the statement. The boy twisted his head a little to the right before his pawed hand bonked against it, obviously deep in thought, while he began to hum. After the brief moment of consideration, the boy shrugged to himself before beginning to speak of the pillar. I listened intently, with a serious expression on my face, as he gave me details to which I found myself nodding.

"Northeast, southeast, it's all the same, hm," I said with a dismissive gesture. "I can concur with you, however, that it may have, in fact, been that distant. So, tell me, Ru... What made you wander back towards Sunagakure no Sato? It was clear that you had been mistreated before. What were you hoping had changed since then?" My words were soft and gentle, making my intentions of at least temporary peace known to the boy. In the end, it would be his answer that would determine whether or not I decided to ask him to go on an adventure with me.

[Ning Ru]

The man asked a strange question. He wanted to know what Ru had expected to change in the village since he had returned. The answer was rather simple really. Nothing. Why would it make sense to expect anything to change within the village if the boy hadn’t done anything to cause it? It’d be like wanting a broken swing to fix itself just by returning the next day without ever doing a thing. With this in mind, a strange face plastered itself upon the youth as he looked skeptically at the man before him. “Fuue. Nothing? No one does anything, why would it change?” He’d state this in a questionable manner as if probing the green haired man for a correct answer. “Ru felt like visiting, so he did. He does all the time. Pointy-hat-man never notices.”

Quickly losing interest in the conversation, he’d turn back around to peer in the direction the pillar of light had once radiated from. It was then that an idea had come across Ru’s mind. Considering the man had fed him once, the lingering thought of a free second meal quickly flooded the kid’s mind. Tugging gently on the stranger’s sleeve, he’d point northeast while getting a feel for this new character he had met. “Wanna go to the light? Ru wants to look anyway.”

[lash]

I listened to Ru's speech explaining the changes he expected to see, and the answer was simple: none. It was such a simple answer, but it somehow struck an intrinsic chord in my soul, and I found myself nodding my head towards his explanation. There was something that was obviously different about Ru, but that didn't mean that he didn't have the head for logic. In fact, it would appear to be quite the opposite, and I was sure that people who had attempted to take advantage of the appearing simple-mindedness of the boy had met similar fates to the one that his first sensei had. Cataloging this information inside of my mind, I intended to ensure that I did not similarly mistake Ru's eccentric nature for stupidity.

As these thoughts moved through my head, the boy would turn his body away from me, facing the Northeast where the huge pillar of light had once come from. I glanced in that direction, too, wondering where it had gone, and what had happened there. Too many unanswered questions, and in this world, those answers could get me killed. I needed to garner the information, and had no other way to do it but to go for the information myself. I had no trust in the individuals of this city yet, few that there were who had answered my call, and until I could trust them, that meant I would be forced to act on my own.

This decision ensconced within the recesses of my mind, I was about to open my mouth and ask for Ru to leave the premises and to not return. However, the boy surprised me, reaching me somehow when I was lost in thought and tugging onto my sleeve. I glanced down at the boy, about to be angry at the intrusion of my personal space, before the boy pointed into the direction I was apt to be headed and asked if I wanted to accompany him towards where the light had come from. I hesitated a moment, caught off guard by the boy's request, and somehow I found myself nodding before I could help myself.

Well, if I was going to test out the boy to see if he'd be of any use to me, this would be the best time to do it. "Aye, Ru. Let's go check it out." Without waiting for a response, I'd quickly tug my sleeve out of his grasp and proceed forward, to the Northeast, through the forgotten and temporarily chilled sands of Kaze no Kuni's deserts.