Protect the Heir

[Kazimaru]

Once again Jin had been up long before dawn had arrived. This was due in part to his life as a member of the Iwagakure ANBU. Even if he had become the leader of his own squad he was still the one to do most of the work, and it was really cutting into his normal life, or lack there of anyway.

"Being an ANBU is a pain," he says as he makes his way into the small shower of his apartment, having just recently moved out of the family home so that he could have some privacy. "But, my father is finally proud of me, and it is what everyone expects of me. Someone with my skills has to find some use for them I suppose...but, still."

His thoughts were then interrupted by a messenger hawk landing on his windowsill, announcing his presence with a sharp 'kaw.'

"Another mission, already?" Jin wonders aloud, walking back across the room and taking the small scroll attached to the bird's leg. "Let's see here...Yamamoto Jin, I request that you look over the young Yuki Aia-chan....events forced her to flee her home...she seeks shelter in Iwagakure...told she had family here but does not...signed by the Tsuchikage himself. Well, I guess I can't refuse...at least this isn't an ANBU mission. How much trouble could one girl be?"

Quickly he replies to the request and sends the messenger hawk on its way once more. After watching it disappear on the horizon Jin shifts his view to look down from his apartment at the village.

Iwagakure is settled within the mountains of the Land of Earth. Most of the buildings are like towers, made of stone and earth, and the higher your tower stands the wealthier you are. The Tsuchikage, of course, has the largest home, which is also his office, located near the center of the village, rising high above the rest. Jin is slightly closer to the ground, despite the wealth he accumulates by completing his missions.

The streets below are wide and bustling with activity at this early hour. From his room he can see the local restaurant, where the regional specialty, Rock Rice Cakes, are being prepared, and attracting the locals for breakfast.

"That seems like a good spot to begin. I'll meet this Aia-chan at the eastern gate and take her there for breakfast." Jin thinks, as he quickly moves to prepare himself for her arrival.

[Aiyoku]

It's a warm sunny day as Aia arrives at the gate to the city. Letting out a sigh of relief she walks through them and glances around cheerily. Wearing the same clothes she wore to the funeral of her parents, her black sleeveless kimono. Her hair flies loose and free as she walks along.

"now where to go..." she says to herself, she still has a few coins left, and weighs her options. Never having had to worry about food or shelter, she doesnt think about such things, she just kind of expects them, and so far, they pretty much have just fallen into place for her.

[Kazimaru]

"Aia?" Jin asks, walking up to a blonde girl wearing a black kimono. The description he had been given of her was very vague, but most of the people who actually lived in the village had dark features, usually brown eyes, black or brown hair, and their skin was always tanned to some degree. "My name is Jin, I was asked to show you around by lord Tsuchikage."

As he speaks he gives her a small, polite bow, partly just to cover himself in case she were not the right girl. Normally he was rather good at picking out the right people, thanks to his training, but on this occasion he wanted to make sure before he revealed too much.

[Aiyoku]

Aia stops as a man approaches her.
"Aia?" he says as he offers her a small bow.
"My name is Jin, I was asked to show you around by lord Tsuchikage."

"um hello, I am Aia... who's Lord Tsuchikage and how does he know I'm here?"she asks a bit confused.

A small pick and blue butterfly takes this moment to pass between them, fluttering in that haphazard way they do, this draws her complete attention away as she watches it. In the land of Snow, rarely does one see such things.

"ohh... pretty..." she says absently starting to follow it.

[Kazimaru]

Really? I have to look after her... Jin thinks to himself as he walks after the girl, "Aia-chan, please, follow me. We need to make arrangements for you before you go wandering around the village."

When he sees that she is simply mesmerized by the seemingly common butterfly, he gets an idea. Reaching into one of his dust pouches he takes out a handful of the material and focuses his chakra into it. In just a few seconds the loose dust compresses and takes form, and when he opens his hand a gray butterfly sits on his palm. With a bit more chakra he changes the color with the Transform Technique and it looks just the like real thing.

"Let's get here moving in the right direction." With that whispered to the butterfly, it takes off, flying before Aia in an attempt to lead her towards the restaurant.

[Aiyoku]

The butterfly she was watching began to flutter far up into the sky.

"oh..." she says slightly downtrodden. Turning around, mouth open to continue their conversation she spots seemingly, the same butterfly.
"there you are!" Aia exclaims as she lunges after it, catching it in her hands.
"....?" Opening her hands she finds nothing but dust.

"i killed it!" she turns around, with dirty palms to Jin. she brushes her hands together getting the dirt off of them.

"anyways.... so um, why are you here again?"

[Kazimaru]

Shaking his head a little Jin holds out his hand and says, "Gather." All the dust that Aiyoku has remaining on her hands, and that which she brushed off onto the ground float up, gather in his hand, and he puts it back in his pouch.

"Please, just come with me." he says, taking her gently by the hand and leading her into the restaurant. Once inside the owner greets them and gives them one of the best tables in the house. "Now, as I was saying before...the Tsuchikage, the leader of this village, has asked that I watch over you while you're here. As for how he knew you were coming, there's no telling. He has probably had someone watching you since you arrived in the Land of Earth."

Jin still had no idea why this girl was supposed to be so important. All he had understood of the message was that she was supposed to be a wealthy heiress. Maybe her father owns Tsuchikage-sama some money? But...wasn't there something about her parents being dead now? he wonders silently to himself as they place their order.

[Aiyoku]

Aia furrows her brows as they walk.

"why would he want to watch me... wait... ew!" she says jerking her hand from Jin.
"you guys are not nice!' she says assessing him quickly.

"i dont know what you guys are up to, but i'm just here to try and make a life! now that... my parents are gone..." she says quietly, glancing down a moment.
Her parents were all she really had, being their only daughter she was doted upon and cherished. Now she is out in the world alone, a bit confused but trying to mae the best.

Her stomach takes this moment to growl. She blushes and glances up At Jin.

[Kazimaru]

Jin frowns when Aia jerks her hand away, but says nothing, just listening and watching her. After she has her say, and her stomach growls, he gives her a small smile.

"We've been watching over you, maybe that's a better way to say it. There is a chance that whoever took your parents away might attack you," he tried to choose his words carefully, he'd never been good with women. "Come on, let's start by getting something to eat, then we can talk this over, alright?"

With that, rather than take her hand again, he simply opens the door of the restaurant open for her and sighs a little as the smell of delicious, hot food hits him, reminding him yet again that he was out all night on his mission and has yet to rest or eat anything since the small lunch he had eaten the day before.

"The Tsuchikage has given me a good allowance to keep you happy, so have whatever you like, okay?"

[Aiyoku]

Aia's mouth waters as the delicous scents hit her.

"oh.... ohaky..." she says dazedly as they go to a table and take a seat. Her empty stomach growls and groans in protest, making her blush and laught a little.

"traveling really makes you hungry." she says brushing back a bit of her hair from her face. she offers him a small smile and looks around.

"so um, you work for... Tsuchikage?"

[Kazimaru]

"The Tsuchikage, yes. Every shinobi village is lead by a Kage, or shadow. Ours is the Earth Shadow," Jin explains, smiling a little in return, "And yes, traveling has that affect on everyone. "I have just returned to the village this morning actually."

Soon their drinks arrive, along with a small bowl of thin soup for the both of them while they wait for their meals to arrive. Looking around he notices that a few people are giving them odd looks, some of them because Jin hasn't been seen with a girl, and some because he simply hasn't been seen out like this in years.

[Aiyoku]

Aia devours her soup when it arrives, not noticing at first that they are being watched. She drinks her drink and lets out a soft sigh, feeling a little better alreeady.

"you just got back? they must be keeping you on your toes then, to give you a babysitting job right when you return." she smiles a little at him.
"but really, i can manage on my own, i was trained in minjustu! And uh, those other things too."

Glancing around she now realizes they are being watched.
"um... why are they... looking at us?"
(i meant minjustu, not a misspell)

[Kazimaru]

"I suppose that's one way of looking at it, however, I prefer to think of it as our leader trusts my skill enough to task me with such things." Jin says before sipping his tea. when she asks about the looks he laughs a little.

"Like you said, I am kept very busy, and so the other villagers rarely see me around anymore, and especially not with a woman who looks so out of place," he says, gesturing to her hair, "Not many people from this village are so fair."

Just then the food arrives. He gives the waiter a smile as their plates are set before them, then thanks him.

[Aiyoku]

Aia looks thoughtful for a second.

"i had noticed so many with darker hair and complexions... in the land of Snow most have lighter hair." she eyes the food before digging in, hungrily, but with manners.

I wonder who this tsuchikage guy is, and what he wants with me... Aia thinks to herself as she eats. for a moment, thoughts of life to come and life past breezes through her mind. she pauses while eating and sits there a moment, staring at her food.

[Kazimaru]

They sit and eat, taking their time. Just as promised, when they eventually finish their meal Jin takes out his own money to pay for it. It doesn't matter if the Tsuchikage reimburses him or not, after all the A and S-Rank missions he's gone on he's actually one of the richest shinobi around, though you wouldn't know it.

As they leave he pauses at the door and looks up at the sky to see what time it is, then looks around to see how busy the streets are.

"Would you like to look around for a bit, or find a room first?" he asks, "It's still fairly early, but the shops in the market should be open by now, if you'd like to check them out before taking a nap."

He smiles a little, sure that's about all she'd want to do, but making sure before he picks a direction for them to go in.