Welcome to Gaia! ::

Near the village's edge sits a small single family home appearing quite desserted but in passable repair. There is a well maintained rock garden out back admidst the over grown yard and next to a make-shift training feild that sports a nice aray of dummies, targets and obstacles. A single old sakura tree at the edge of the property stands vigil over two small head stones, laid flat into the earth and marked only with the villages wing crest.
The house it's self seems barely lived in. Atsuma's room is at the back of little house next to the kitchen, and across from the unoccupied and closed off master bed-room. He however has been sleeping in the loft room on the second level rather than his own room. Another small room, once a storage spaceIs now occupied by Shinji who is rooming with Atsuma currently. It has been repainted and finished, and containds Shinji'a belongings.
There is a cramped little living room off the kitchen, and a porch that circles the entire house. Only the kitchen, bathroom, and Atuma's own small room look as if any one has stepped foot in them in the past year...
The whole effect was a little unnerving, like the kinda place kids avoid for fear of ghosts or other such restless spirits.

Atsuma jolted up right, his pale skin glistening with a cold sweat and his breathing ragged. He swallowed and his throat was raw as if he had been screaming, but what ever night mare had woken him had sense fled out of reach of his questing mind.
He must have dozed off. The loft was a dusky grey with night fall, and the first traces of moon light had begun to creep through the window. Atsuma sucked in a few more calming breaths, before climbing to his feet.
He needed to cool down, he was shaking and empty as the house was, there was no mommy or daddy to run to. He would have to calm himself without the comfort of a gaurdian.
He found his way slowly to the kitchen and out into the yard, taking in the cool air with a sense of reliefe. He sat for a time, than began a kata, trying to clear his mind of whatever demons had wriggled their way into his dreams.

Atsuma finishes a last series of motions, modeled after the edd and flow of an oceans current, moving gently into the ending salutation of the water form his grandmother had taught him. His breathing had returned to normal and his skin now longer shown with the pasty hue it had when he had startled awake some time before.
He had a visitor, which he slowly turned to face, shifting his eyes over the familiar form of his teacher. "Akimoto Sensei?" He asked, obviously slightly confused by her presense...

Atsuma gave a small frown but answer politely. "Fine." That was the usual answer, the same no matter how he felt at the time. it was just good manners.
"You usually out this late?" The boy asked with a vague gesture to the rising moon and the first stars.

Atsuma blinked once, wondering what had brought on that question. Maybe she thought it odd for him to be out practicing in the dark. "No." He lied, than changed the subject. "Hey, how's class going?" He meant sense he had left of course. It had only been a few days.

Atsuma gives a small smile, though in the dark it was probably wasted. "Slow is not always a bad thing." He noted, shifting his weight as his muscles began to cool again.
He glanced back towards his home, recalling that it was polite to invite people in... offer tea or something. But no, he didn't like company and he had never learned how to play host. "well, good luck with your students. I think I'm gonna hit the sack."

Atsuma watched her go, then turned and went back inside. He didn't sleep right away when he reached the loft but rather mediated for nearly an hour before slipping off towards a dreamless slumber.

Atsuma was up early despite his late night and more than alittle surprised to find groceries that he hadn't bought int he kitchen. He tensed but felt no one else in the house and was soon realizing what must have happened.

His intial anger at himself for allowing an intruder to pass through his home without even waking soon faded to embaressment and finally a sort of gratitude. Akimoto-sensei hadn't needed to do that, though he had to confess he never had much food around...

He left the house after storing the stuff in cabinets, heading for aki's place.