Kumogakure, the village located in the clouds -- It had been years since Jishin had seen her home, and yet it seemed like not even a day had passed since her leave, the village still drew breath as it had done years prior. Keeping her head down Jishin moved throughout the crowds of villagers, passing familiar landmarks with but a slight glance. A faint smile pressed itself against the vagrant's lips, she was home again. For a moment she thought of what her former friends might say if they saw her after such a prolonged absence, how she would explain that she left many years ago and why, but for the moment such a thought did not matter.

What mattered now was moving back into the compound, greeting her clansmen, and shaking her tattered traveling robes. In a way it was a sad fact for her, that her grand pilgrimage was over, that her clothes were beaten, that her being had returned to where she once resided; but, her happiness certainly outweighed the more pessimistic thoughts that resided in her mind, for she was back in the embraceful arms of her home, of Kumogakure.

Minutes passed as she remained in thought, her feet continued to march back toward her home compound, back to her estranged family, to the Dakuchairudo. Soon she found herself back at the home-gate of her clan, standing in silence she waited for a member to approach the gate and allow her entrance into her home once again. Her azure eyes scanned through the bars of the gate looking to see any differences in her former home, there seemed to be none; however, she did spy another member of the clan coming to open the gate. Of course she couldn't help but allow a quaint smile to cross her face, the man was the first of her kind she had seen in the past years, he was a sight for sore eyes to say the least. In fact it hit her at that moment, seeing an otherwise completely unremarkable man, a man of her clan, that made her truly realize that she was back, back home. For a moment the young woman had to stifle tears.

The man gave a solemn bow and a quick 'Welcome back, sister' before he returned to his other duties, leaving Jishin to find her way back to her room within the compound, a room which she had only slept in a handful of times having only gained such a privilege after achieving Jounin rank. Beforehand she slept in the communal room with all the other low ranking Shinobi. So, slowly she made her way back, passing by familiar faces who all seemed to mimic the man at the front gate, while she was sure they were all elated to see her back it was like her people to restrain their emotions while in view of others. She in return gave each of them a nod of aknowledgement as she found her way back.

Pressing her hand against the door to her room, Jishin allowed a quick sigh, she could rest her head in her own bed, wash the accumulated grime from her being, and contemplate what she would say to those she once knew, when she found them again that is. Her room seemed to be in the order she had left it. A full sized bed sat against the wall opposite of the door draped in white sheets and holding a single pillow, the northern wall held a small spruce desk with a lamp sitting atop it, along with the copy of the Shi No Tenrei she had left years before. She couldn't help but blink as she walked toward the desk, faintly carressing the book with the tip of her fingers, searching for a hint of dust, which there was none to be found. Someone had been maintaining her room. Nan... She thought of pressing the hand that had touched the book against her heart. Nan was her foster-mother of sorts, the woman who had raised her as her biological parents were born to the opposite side of the clan. Moving away from the desk she walked toward the southern side of the room which held another door, which lead to her full bathroom. It was time to cleanse the months worth of accumulated dirt and grime which covered the young woman from head to toe.

Entering the room she quickly removed the tattered garments which she had from years long since past, quickly making her way to a warm shower. The water swirling 'round her feet and down the drain quickly turned from clear to a murky brown, a testament to her travels. Looking down Jishin stared at her calloused palms, turning them over to admire her body art, her tattoos. A moment passed as she admired each of her pieces before she couldn't help but wonder at what her friends would think, she certainly appeared different than she once was. A new outward appearance to match the new inward one. In those fleeting moments she couldn't help but think of Nagare, her love from many years ago, she wondered if he still felt as she did. She wondered if he had saved himself as she did, would he even remember her?

... She couldn't manage to stifle her tears this time as they rolled down her cheeks, light sobs escaping from her lips.

Soon after she finished her shower, moving back into the main area of her room finding a woman in her late fifties sitting on her bed, holding what appeared to be ceremonial garbs against her lap, "Nan!" Jishin expounded looking over the older woman whose almond eyes stared back at her with a small grin "Hello my little Orchid, I just heard you'd made it back to us." the older woman spoke happily, clearly having missed her 'little Orchid'. "I'd taken the liberty of disposing of your traveling gear and obtaining something more suitable, our garbs." Nan stated holding out the clothes which Jishin quickly took in hand, moving back into the bathroom to try on, surprised that Nan had gotten her new clothes.

Moving back into the main room Jishin immediately expressed her gratitude, "They're great, thank you Nan." the older woman simply nodded standing from her seat on the bed "It's good you remember what you come from." the woman stated plainly, looking as though something was on her mind. Puzzled, Jishin inquired about the look "Are you alright? It's almost as if you're not happy to see me." Jishin's caretaker exhaled deeply as she began to make her way toward the exit of the room, her hand pressed upon the knob looking toward the door the wise old woman spoke once again, "I heard your tears, my dear Orchid. And as your caretaker I can guess what they were shed for, and just know this: people have changed since your leave. Keep that in mind." and with that the old woman left.


((OOC: Just a bit of exposition. Shaking the dust off my writing.))