When a dream won't end. [Solo]

Fitting into a new place was hard. When one moved to a new town or even a new school, you often had difficulty finding your place in the hierarchy of the local social standing of your peers. Fitting in was even more difficult when those around you were almost half your age. The Hoshigakure ninja academy was full of young hopefuls that trained day in and day out to become more like the growing shinobi population of the town. At first, Yuuma felt little concern for his place, as it was only natural to start at the very beginning of one's training. What he did not expect, however, was becoming the "Strange" kid in class so soon. Head and shoulders over the next tallest student, his place in the class was almost comical in size by comparison. Yuuma also quickly learned that he was not the fastest reader, having grown up with a lifestyle that didn't exactly encourage studying. This was the fate of Yuuma Fujiwara. A front row seat, at a desk that was too small, in a class full of people that were much younger, learning the basics of being a shinobi that anyone his age had learned a very long time ago.

To say his patience was tested would perhaps be an understatement.

Thankfully, Yuuma was more or less left alone after class hours had finished. His size proved his advantage in only that none of the other students felt the particular need to try and harass him with the typical hazing that accompanies a new student. One had tried, and a cold stare of the elder found the more sheepish side of the kid, who quickly hurried himself along. Now that cold gaze observed from the wall of the training gym. Half-lidded, void of the brightness that many of these children seemed to have. Still, it was quite helpful to watch, to learn, and not have someone constantly tugging at his sleeve. Today was thrown weapon practice. Or, to Yuuma, the day he felt less bad for not being able to put a knife to a piece of wood. Blue eyes watched as student after a student took their turn, honing their various techniques in the art of the throw. More often then not, the students he observed were, at the very least, able to hit the wooden post, if not exactly the target upon the center. 

Thunk. Another kunai sank into the wooden post. "Perhaps this is a bad idea." Yuuma thought to himself. "This is something people trained most of their lives for." Thunk. "Certainly, I was saved by the shinobi, but does that mean I am to follow in the footsteps of my savior? Am I only wasting my time, trying to learn alongside these kids?" Thunk. The inner thoughts of the young man interrupted only by the periodic sound of a shuriken or a kunai hitting wood. Lifting his hand, he observed his palm and the kunai that hung from one of his digits, before he spun the metal to land in his hand and grasp it. "But...this might be the only way I can find Ida. If I can learn to fight like that..." Standing from the wall, he looked to the now empty training dummy. He wasn't sure when it had happened, but the gym had emptied. A pace of slow steps took him to the throwing line. "If I can learn to fight like that..." He repeated in his mind, his body shifting before his arm lashed forward, tossing the kunai down range to the wooden dummy.

A metal clinking sound momentarily echo'd through the room as the kunai bounced off the wall. The sound of a short sigh was soon to follow.

There was one further disadvantage to being in a new place, and to not be the age of a typical student. It meant having a room with family or friends was not available, and the only thing that allowed him a warm place to sleep with four walls and a roof was a rent check at the first of every month. Unlike his schooling, however, Yuuma quite enjoyed work. Work was simple. Work was easy. You followed the rules, you did your job, don't get yelled at, and you got paid every other week. It was here, in the methodical work environment, that Yuuma allowed himself to free his mind of their usual ailments. Walking along the street, Yuuma would place his eyes on the ground in front of his path and put one foot in front of the other to carry himself towards his next destination. Typically, a set of earphones would rest over his ears, playing the same cassette he had listened to for days on end in order to at least pass the time with a bit of music. But, thankfully for a particular youth, such was not the case today.

The cry of distress would hit Yuuma's ears like a bell, drawing his attention down a side street. There he would see a group of fellow students- three in total- standing in a circle amongst a fourth, who seemed to be knocked to the ground. The scene gave the young man pause as he considered the situation, though soon his eyes would fall back to the road in front of him."This is none of your business." A voice spoke to him inside his head. It was often easy to ignore the plight of others. Besides, what harm could they really do? They were children. It was not his place to discipline someone else's-

"Help me!"

He felt his body turn heavy, almost like he had been petrified. Yuuma struggled against the feeling. "It's not your place. It's not your place." He tried to tell himself, but his body wouldn't listen. "I shouldn't get involved." He tried to reason, but it was no use. He had already turned around and began to make his way down the side street. All he could do was curse himself. The young troublemakers seemed focused on their harassment of their fellow student, grabbing at his pack and kicking his legs and side, though one of them- the one Yuuma guessed was their leader- would soon find themselves picked up by the front of their shirt, and turned to stare into the icy gaze of Yuuma. A sigh, not unlike a growl, was issued forth once contact was made. The two others paused with curious sounds, observing what was going on.

"Hu-wha? I-it's the weirdo!" The one in his grasp shouted, struggling against the older student's grasp, and finding little purchase in the attempt. The others turned, looking as if they were going to move to intervene, but a side glance from Yuuma must have changed their minds because they only stood in place. Looking back to the one in his grasp, Yuuma would eventually put the brat to his feet before giving him a firm shove backward and into the waiting arms of his two companions, causing the trio to stumble and fall onto their behinds. The shadow of their elder student falling over them as he stepped forward.

"Beat it."

The single utterance must have been enough, as the three ruffians scrambled to gather themselves before fleeing, leaving the two alone in the side street. The one left sniffled, a hand holding his leg and side that had been scraped and bruised. Blue eyes looked down over him, unsure of what to do or say further. Deciding it was instead best to leave the now-settled matter alone. Turning, Yuuma quietly made his way back out of the alleyway, quietly thankful he gave himself a little extra time to get to work that day. Behind him, he would here some scuttling, then the sounds of lop-sided foot mark making their way to the end of the alley, but no further. "Th-Thank you, Yuuma!" The voice called after him. For just a moment, the older student stopped, considering turning around to meet the voice that chased him. But what would he say? What could he say? Be more careful? You're welcome? Nah. There was no need for a reply. 

With just a few more minutes worth of quick travel, Yuuma would take another turn down an alleyway, this time between two buildings, coming to stop at steel door that had no handle, just slot for a key to be placed. Painted on the door were big, red letters that read "EMPLOYEE ONLY", beginning to fade with time. Digging through his pack, Yuuma produced an apron that he put on over his clothing and a hairnet that he would place over his head, before standing and staring at the door for a moment. "Guess this isn't a dream that will be ending any time soon." He sighed to himself. This was his new life. Setting the key into the slot, Yuuma would push his way through the doorway and into the backroom, the bustling noise of a busy kitchen briefly spilling out into the alleyway before the door closed behind him, leaving it to be filled only by the silence of twilight once more.

[Exit]

TWC - 1,525

Claims:
+7 Stats
Clone Teq. - [500/500]
Transformation Teq. - [500/500]
Tree Climbing/Surface Walking Teq. - [500/500]

Approved.