<<it was dawn and xantrex stood outside the hideout leaning on his sword, still weak from the battle. he stood there silently, looking around at the scenery surrounding the hideout. out of everyone, he was the only one who refused to rest, so naturally, he was exhausted and the only thing really stopping him from falling was his sword. he heard the door open behind him>> do you think this battle was staged only to prove that fighting between shinobi and the akatsuki is useless? <<he asked, not knowing whose voice he would hear in response. he loathed the fact that he had to wonder this and wanted some kind of answer, taking no comfort in the fact that there probably wasn't one>> there has to be a solid answer..... <<he thought silently>>

"it depends on how you thinck about it" Eve said wallking out with a 7 year old behind her "what battle?" the child asked confused. Eve gave a laugh "later i will tell you" she looked at xantrex and said "really you could have seen it important or not" she looked at the child who now gave a confusing but satisfide look with a little impations.

<<xantrex sighs and thinks>> of course....she doesn't have a solid answer either...... i see.<<he said sounding slightly aggrivated>> who's the kid? <<he asked, not looking back, but still leaning on his sword.>>

Eve smiles "this is nami, and she wants to get home but i never let her" nami crosses her arms and begins to pout. "she never listens"

<<xantrex casts a sideways glance at Eve>> what relation is she to you? or do you just watch over her?

"well... she is really my dauter" the child looked up and said "he looks tired" Eve looked over and sighed "nami you can go play if you want"

<<xantrex looked back in front of him and it seemed he was now leaning more on his sword than before>> it's fine. she is right though. i just can't stop wondering what that battle proved. there has to be some kind of solid answer, there always is. <<he sighs>>

eve thoght for a second "to me it was a waist of time" she looked down at the child and she looked up "just a waist of time" she said again softly

<<xantrex remained silent for a few moments before saying>> i think it showed that the fighting was a waste of time.... casualties on both sides with no result......it was completely and utterly pointless.... <<he looked down and then yawned and glanced at nami before looking away again>> if she's going to be here, she should get used to hearing that kind of talk anyways...... <<he thought as he sat down rather quickly and laid his sword down in front of him. there was no way he could continue to stand up without collapsing. he put his hand on his right shoulder, the sudden movement when he sat had reopened a rather deep wound on his shoulder>>

nami look at him and said "what happened" eve just looked alittle curius too the child uncrossed her arms and stared at the wound how could he have done that very quistinable she looked down at her knee which was badly scared and she let out a sigh she then sat next to him

<<xantrex looks at nami>> it's nothing. it's just from the battle me and your mom were just talking about, that's all. <<xantrex ripped one of his sleeves off that was under his cloak and tied it tight around the wound. he looked away from nami and eve and said>> i got it from that crazy kid who was shooting off arrows at random people after Jutsumaster and saruka died. at the time i was a bit preoccupied with a couple of the ninja from the other villages. <<he covered his arm with his cloak after remembering that the sleeveless one was scarred too. he looked at nami>> how old are you?

nami proudly looked up "im going to be 8 tomorrow but today im 7" eve smiled "yep she is going to have party if you want you can come, its a taco party" she said looking at nami afterword

<<xantrex gave a light smile>> thanks, i might just take you up on that offer. <xantrex shifted his shoulder in discomfort. he looked at nami>> so nami, what kind of things do you like? <<he asked, then thought>> i'm getting kind of fond of these two......

nami thoght a while "animals!" she then said "i have like 10 pets" eve corrected her "we oly have 5 at the house but 12 here" "so what" nami said "i dont care" kids what will you do she thogh rolling her eyes

<<xantrex laughed a little>> animals, huh? alright then. <<he looked off to the side, then back at nami>> would you mind going to play for a bit? i want to talk to your mom.

"ok then"nami says walking to a small tree and climbing it trying to work her skills "so what is it" eve asked siting down she just then thoght of the word glum is glum weird she thoght in her head waiting for him to anser

<<xantrex looked in front of him, though he had a look in his eyes that would make people think he was seeing more than just trees>> why did you come to the akatsuki? <<he asked, curiosity showing in his voice>>

"one word: suri he convinced me and i made many good friends" she looked like she had a wierd thoght in her mine and she did glum, glum, what is it even i know what it means but... glum

i see. <<he looked at eve>> something's bothering you, what is it?

"have you ever thogh of the word glum, i mean like have you ever used it or thoght how wierd it is. is it even wierd?" she was very quistuning what the heck is glum!?!?!? thoghts just took over her mind and she let out a small sigh

<<xantrex looked at Eve, smiled and then laughed>> yes, i have used it before. i still use it on occasion, but not as much now. it is a wierd word, i suppose. <<he smiled and looked back in front of him, forgetting how tired he was for that moment>>

"i use it all the time when someones down i ask them 'why so glum' sometimes they have no idea what im saying its funny" she looked over at nami who had made it to the top of the tree "yes!" nami said trying to climb down but at the last branch she fell and burst out laughing. Eve laughed to seeing the clumsyness of her dauter "what will i do with her" eve said smileing

<<xantrex smiled and yawned, his eyes flickering for a moment, and suddenly he remembered how tired he was. he shrugged and stood up and leaned on his sword again>> sorry, but if i don't stand now, i'd end up falling asleep.

"why arent you sleeping enogh" she asked standing up "i can pour some cold water on your face to wake you up alittle or a lot!" she then laughed as nami climbed the tree again and tryed to catch a squirle

<<xantrex looked at her and sighed>> i don't know, i suppose i get a little paranoid after battles like that. some people tend to take it upon themselves to carry out assassination attempts even after these types of battles are over. <<a memory flashed in his mind and he looked away from eve and nami>>