The sun peeking over the tall grasslands, it's rays of light giving the atmosphere a warm feeling. A small orphanage stood near a river.
Son Kuro walked with a smile, his hat hanging over his neck with it's ropes. He walked over to the gates leading inside the building.
Jumping over the gate and landing inside the compound as he yelled. "Old man Shuuu!!!!"
Like a rooster in the morning, he alerted everybody, making everyone wake up.
Groans and murmur filled the air as kids walked out into the corridor, rubbing their eyes and yawning.
Their eyes landed on Son Kuro who swung a bag, his smirk plastered on his face.
"Hey, it's Son Kuro!!!" One of the kids screamed in excitement, before they all snapped from their half-baked sleepiness, rushing towards the boy.
Son sweat dropped immediately, as the swarm of children rushed forward, hitting him with enough force to knock him over.
"What's up guys?"
"Nothing much, it's been boring without you around big bro Kuro!"
"Yeah, we had to pickup cotton in our spare time and clean farm equipment, it sucks!" A boy pouted.
"You know... That's like why we get fed and all... By doing not so fun things." An older girl about Son's age said.
"Eh? Really? That sucks even more!"
Son chuckled, before asking, "I'd love to chat more, but where's the old man?"
The kids went quiet, scratching their heads and picking their nose, before Son turned to the older girl, "so uh, Wenhe, seems like he's not around...?"
The girl named Wenhe sighed, "c'mon, follow me." She said with a small smile.
Son walking behind her, but one of the kids called out, "you're gonna be back soon so we could play skipping stones right!?"
"Yeah, I will." Son replied chuckling between his words.
--...---
As soon as they get to the backyard, Son was greeted by an earthy smell, the river had blossoming flowers floating on it's waters, willow tree blowing gently with wind, a large expansion of grass stretched wide into a hill.
Son Kuro scratched his head, wondering how he managed to stay outside the orphanage for this long when a peaceful place like this existed.
Zoom!
A large rock flew passed Wenhe, aiming for Son's head. "Whoa!!"
Son leaned his back all the way in just the nick of time, the stone clashing with the wall behind them.
"You took a bit too far this time young man, a week? Causing havoc? You're wanted by the towns counsel, I'll have you know that that's not an honor I appreciate!!"
A man with a long grey beard and a well kept straw hat scolded Son. He whipped his robe, a fluttering breeze blowing Son at the face.
"The town's counsel...? That's rough..."
"Don't act like that towards me boy." A tick mark appears on his head, pointing his finger at Son.
"Okay, sorry, I was busy-"
"Destruction of the Xia Market square?"
Son swallows nervously, "well..."
"Busy stealing crops that farmers worked hard to grow, busy participating in the earth underground championship?" The old man Shuu rubbed his beard.
Son at this point went pale, "Okay, fine!! Kinda..."
"And...?"
"I apologize for my behavior and my absence..." Son poked his lips.
"Good." The old man said with satisfaction.
"He's just going to do those things again~" Wenhe teased.
Old man Shuu rubbed his temples, an exhausting groan coming from him, "I've been busy trying to fix some of the rooms in this building. Costs and maintenance won't pay itself... So Son, please don't add to my fatigue."
Son gave a salute, before a mischievous smirk appears on his lips, sliding suddenly in front of the old man.
"Here!!!"
The old man looked down at Son's hands, a bag of silver in display, he looked up at Son and then at the coins.
He furrowed his brows as he said, "I won't be accepting that."
Son smirked disappeared slowly as he registered his words, "wha-what, whyyy!"
"I don't know about where you got them from but I can tell ya it's either stolen or they're stolen."
"I didn't steal these ones, I worked hard to win this...! At least some moderate effort...?" Son Kuro rubbed his chin.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, really! Think of it like uhh... A earth bending champion wins money and donates it to those who need it more than they do."
The man sighed, "ahh, fine."
---...---
The market's atmosphere brimmed with raw energy. Pricing, bargains and of course cheating.
A woman just sold of some seafood parts, crabs to be specific, as she was given her price, the huge smile plastered on her face came crumbling as her eyes landed on a hat wearing figure.
"Oh my goodness, he's here again..."
"Is that... Mom! That thieving kid is here again!"
"Get out!!"
Many traders expressed themselves, the boy with the straw hat keeping his grin under his hat that casts a shadow over his face.
"Hey, y'all should chill, I'm not stealing anything today~" he mocked.
"Then I assumed you're here to pay, ain't ya little punk?!" An old man said with disdain, his eyes popping out it's socket. "This chicken ain't gotta pay itself!"
"Then why don't you come get it?" The boy sneered, but suddenly, a large fry pan came flying at him.
"Whoa!" It flew past him as he dodged.
"You're not welcome here!" Another old hag cut into the exchange.
"Ahhh, screw this..." He muttered, "I've got better things to do."
The ground opens up beneath him, swallows him in an instant.
In the deeper part of the Gaoling market, an old shack stood in it's shaking glory. Inside, one could see various artifacts that cost a fortune, an old man who sat in a meditation pose felt the ground shaking, he opened one of his ey
The ground opens up, Son Kuro flying out of the hole, a big grin on his face.
"Evening Gramps, ain't it been a long time!?" Son said loudly.
The old man in question picked his ears with an annoyed expression, his brows furrowed.
"Shut up kid... I'm trying to meditate here!"
Kuro rubbed his chin asking, "Perhaps the amount of cash you're gonna sell off that old artifact in the black market, greedy old man."
"What can I say, everyone's greedy in their own way."
"Not me though..." Kuro held his hands up, surveying the shelf holding precious items.
"You made it here earlier than usual, I take it you're ready for the operation?"
"Hold on old man, let me land first before any other requests... But yeah, we doing it tonight~" Son sneered.
The old man turned to face Kuro,a puff of herbal weed's smoke clouding his mouth, "You know how it is... In and out."
"I got this, no need to worry yourself." Son said as he slipped into an all black outfit, his straw hat still in place.
The old man puffed out smoke pointing at Son's eyes.
"Those orbs are beautiful artifacts themselves, y'know?"
"Hey, hey, heyy... Watch it old man, we may be accomplices but looking at my eyes that way is off limits!" Kuro warned.
Stomping on the ground for it to swallow him up as it did earlier.