Bustling capital of Zoania!

I quickly pack all the necessary equipment for the mission. What mission? you ask. I have no clue! Let's make haste, I have to meet Jiraiya in a few minutes.

At the exit gate

Phew! I am finally here at the exit gate.

I take a step back and look at a large gate connecting the two large trees. I look around a bit more but I can't seem to find serious-stern-and-quite-cool-Jiraiya. A few minutes of waiting later I realize that am thirty minutes early.

Whatever I guess I'll explore for a bit.

As soon as I started to walk someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.

"Where do you think you are going, we have a mission to complete."

This serious-sounding tone.

"Eek! Jiraiya, you are uh, quiet early," I reply.

"Early? it is only proper to show up 20 minutes in advance kid,"

He came early on purpose unlike me.

"If you time to monologue, you might take that time and get in the carriage. we don't have any time to spare. The capital is quite far away from here." said Jiraiya while staring daggers at me.

"Oi, stop you are not supposed to hear that."

We board a carriage and start traversing the vastly dense forest.

This is kind of awkward.

Jiraiya was sitting right in front of me with his dead-serious look. Starting a conversation would be impossible in this situation.

Help me god, I am terrified.

"Uh, Jirai-" I try and start a conversation.

"What do you want kid!" said Jiraiya with an intense facial expression.

"N-n-nothing!"

Eek, he will surely go bald with all this seriousness.

One very awkward carriage ride later, we reach the capital. Bright and densely populated capital.

Wow, that's a lot of people.

"We have to pick up some things for the mission. The capital is full of shops with useful items," said Jiraiya.

A ball rolls over to Jiraiya's feet. A kid comes running towards the ball but stops as soon as he sees Jiraiya. Jiraiya picks up the ball and gently tosses it towards the kid.

"Thank you, weirdly-dressed old man," said the child with a big smile.

"Weirdly-dressed old man. I thought the cloak looked cool, did I go wrong. Why don't people like it," Jiraiya quickly mumbled to himself with a depressed facial expression.

Oh my! even he has a delicate side to himself.

We make our way to the local shops. Jiraiya stars picking out children's clothing.

"Children's clothing, don't tell me Jiraiya you like-"

"No dumbass, we are going to rescue the kids who were being trafficked. Remember you chopped that bandit in half,"

Oh, that perverted fatso.

As we bought all the Clothing needed, we proceeded to exit the shop. After exiting I notice a huge building, it looked very luxuriously built. 

"That's the home of those filthy merchant pigs. They do normal trading on the surface. But behind the scenes, they contribute up to ninety percent to the black market in Zoania, selling everything from Trafficked humans, weapons, and bloodborne serum."

"Let's we steal from them, in Nobel thief style!" I exclaimed.

"Don't be stupid. the security there is airtight, we are not noble enough to throw our lived away,"

I look at the merchant's building.

His answer is correct, but I can not let people suffer like that. Am I being grossly positive with my unneeded concern? I probably have committed more evil than them, the mark on my forearm is the proof. Am I even deserving to save people? or am I too naïve?

"Quit spacing out kid," said Jiraiya.

"Uh yeah, sorry," 

"Jeez, I don't care what happened in your past. But that should not affect what you should do right now and in the future. Simply denying your past is ignorant, but instead of dwelling on it accept it and move on Ruri,"

"Did you just call me by my name? This is the first time you called me that. You actually care about me, Haai was right,"

"Shut up! No, I don't care. Stupid lizard. Shitty brat," exclaimed Jiraiya while blushing.

A small pause later.

"Hurry up, we don't have time. Back to the carriage," said Jiraiya still slightly flushed

He may look threatening, dress weirdly, be very stern, and has a terrifying stare. But most of all he is a kind person.

We board the carriage and begin another awkward ride. but this time instead of being afraid of him, I was now admiring him as a nice person.