Welcome to Gaia! ::

[x] Evidently we were to both be invited in at the same time. And as per usual, the second I stepped through the door, suddenly a flood of other people followed, seeming to spawn out of nowhere in most cases. I sighed deeply, and moved off to the side to wait. Though I was half tempted to leave then and there when I was called out by Kenshin for not being a registered member of the village. To be honest, that was none of his business, and the scowl that formed in my otherwise neutral expression likely told that story. The only person I needed to trust me was the Raika- Arashikage, right.

Though I supposed he was acting kage in their absence. Aah, I should have just waited for their return.

However the temporary leader moved onto the next person, since the office was quickly getting crowded and rowdy. I was amazed the man who was so suspicious of one person he didn't know could stand for all of the other distractions. The person who entered after me received a somewhat out of place scolding, though I suppose they did come in uninvited. Thoroughly embarrassed, the genin left as quickly as he came, or intended to at least. Likewise, one of the other genin, just like me, didn't answer the question directed his way.

I felt the hair on the back of my neck just before a lightning bolt struck the ground between the group of us and the desk Kenshin sat at, blinding my sensitive eyes briefly. The smell of ozone that lingered following was strong enough I could taste it, but evidently it had only been a transportation technique because, once my splotchy vision cleared up, I found the twin Arashikage standing in the room. My presence was ignored in favor of them congratulating the genin there, one of whom was apparently Jeon's son. Meanwhile, I diverted my gaze from Jay as he apparently had no shame when it came to meeting his wife once more in such a busy space.

Their tone became a bit more serious, although the dramatic actions continued, the air of overconfidence wafting from them overpowering the ozone in a way that made me feel ill. Why did everything have to be dramatized? I thought I'd escaped that after Jack, but maybe all shinobi except myself eventually gained the tendency. It wasn't intimidating, or awe-inspiring like most seemed to think. I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall, still debating if I should make my escape or not.

Though I had to admit that Kenshin's reaction was both hilarious and completely out of character. Though the expression of terror on his face once he'd recovered himself stole that amusement away. The flash must have triggered something, and that was no laughing matter. While I couldn't know what he had experienced, I could relate. After all, most nights I couldn't sleep thanks to my memories. And I had the pain of remembering everything.

In the meanwhile, two more genin entered, one of whom was the original boy who'd been before me. It seemed I would be waiting a while yet.

[x] Ah, maybe it wouldn't take as long as I thought it would. Though the moment attention was pointed my way, I regretted being there in the first place. I kept a carefully neutral expression, even with the pang of worry that fluttered through my chest. Why the sudden doubt? It's not like I had any intention of harming anyone. In fact, I thought I'd proved quite the opposite. I couldn't necessarily blame them, though. I wasn't trusting of anyone, and had therefore avoided most contact with everyone. It came from personal experience of no one ever listening to the few words I actually offered, most of which were in warning. I'd lost count of the number of times I'd given a command, only for them to be ignored. So at some point it became better to just avoid people altogether, and just do everything myself. Glancing at Kenshin at his degrading remarks, and the threat he posed if I ignored the twins, I finally responded. "I can't imagine how an insomniac mute is any threat to you," I replied with a small frown, and turned my eyes to the twins.

I sighed heavily then, pinching the bridge of my nose as I pushed off the wall. I didn't move forward, however. I had to cooperate, unfortunately. I couldn't risk losing my memory again. I might as well just have myself offed before that happened. It would be more comforting, since the last time had eventually led to me losing the only family I had. At least I wouldn't be in constant agony from lack of sleep anymore. "In all seriousness, I've denied becoming a member of your village for a few different reasons, the first being the most important: I'm loyal to Kirigakure. Regardless of whether or not it still exist, I would still give my life for my village." I looked down at my metal arm, picking bits of something or another from the joints. "I can take one of your headbands if you want, but that won't change my allegiance. That aside, I was given shelter here by Shiro, before he left, as a mercenary of sorts. I do some less desirable jobs in exchange for food and a roof over my head. Since I can't go back to Kiri, this is where I'm stuck." I glanced back up at the others in the room. "Another reason is because I'm looking for someone. Someone that would be a threat to anyone in his path. I haven't seen a trace of him in the five years since I came here, but the second I do find him, I intend on luring him as far away from here as possible. Which means leaving the village behind."

My answers weren't desirable, and I knew that. If they couldn't handle them, then I supposed this would be the end of my stay in the village. Hopefully, they'd at least allow me to gather my things and leave, rather than doing what Kenshin suggested. When had paranoia grown so high? First Jack, and now this. Last I heard the villages were supposed to be working together to stop some kind of threat, though I'd been out of the loop for a while and maybe that wasn't the case anymore.

I shrugged, and dropped my arms to my side. "I have no reason to lie, and you're welcome to check on that truth if you want. I'm sure there's a jutsu out there somewhere regarding it. I have no interest in damaging your village or its people. In fact, I've nearly given up my life for the village on several occasions, as far back as when I'd just become a jounin nine years ago. Likewise, I follow orders the same as any shinobi of Arashi. But if you'd rather I leave, then I'll move on."

[x] While the twins' words left a bad taste in my mouth, Kenshin's barking flat out pissed me off with his threat. He was like a loyal dog with a lot of bark but wouldn't bite unless his master told him to. Or at least, that's how he seemed. I half hoped he would give in and attack, giving me the justification I needed to leave the village. With all the changes, I'd already been considering it, but now that I had some sort of ray of hope again in this dark world, I needed that extra push to walk away. Especially because it seemed now I would never be trusted. Fine then. I flashed an apathetic glance the police officer's way, but that was the extent of acknowledgment I gave him.

"Loyalty is about more than just a headband." My gaze flicked back to the twins, and then away again as someone else entered. The man who entered appeared to be injured, beaten, but I didn't like the look he gave, or his words, interrupting our conversation in a derogatory manor. While he may not have intended it as such, his words insinuated I was nothing to him. Though I supposed that was nothing new.

The green haired woman from earlier spoke up. I'd almost forgotten she was there. Much kinder than the others in her words, at the very least, but she couldn't understand the position I was in. I knew the Arashikages were only doing what they believed was best for their village, but coming from an outsider's perspective... It wasn't so simple.

"Loyalty is about more than just a headband," I repeated, but continued this time. "It's about your allies, and the comrades you make. No other village ever came to our aid as our village was torn apart and drowned under a league of water. All we had was ourselves, the few of us that survived, to rebuild everything. So I hope you can understand why just picking up someone else's headband isn't easy. Are you saying that if Arashigakure fell, you would just swear yourself to someone else?" I paused briefly, taking a deep breath. They had mentioned building something 'new and better', but I chose against making any sort of remark. I didn't want to bring on that sort of negativity just yet, but it was a slap in the face as far as I was concerned. It discredited all of the effort that was put into our home, all the pain we went through defending it. I subconsciously rubbed my metal arm at the memory of Hashgroth and his tiger companion. "Regardless, I left the village well before the others were forced into exodus. A lot happened that I'm not at liberty to explain, but it's the reason I'm here. I just want a place I can live in relative peace, and if that means I have to find somewhere else to make my home, so be it.

"But that headband means nothing to me."

Take it or leave it. Either I was going to be booted from the village for speaking out of turn, or they would let me stay. If staying meant I would receive no more missions, then I supposed I would settle for refining my crafting skills. None of those options were a particular hindrance, and I made sure to give that air despite my concerns with leaving.

[Are you sure about this?] I felt Saiken's worry bubble inside me. [You'll be vulnerable if you leave.]

What choice do I have? I can't just turn my back on everything we've done. Jack would expect this from me.

__ The real Kenshin, who was leaving the CORE Compound, was unable to sustain his final shadow clone after days of not sleeping and leading the village as the temporary leader. After Shadow finished speaking and before the twins would respond the clone disappeared in a cloud of thin smoke from the original Kenshin's complete exhaustion.