[center][color=9966cc][h2]Sai[/h2][/color]
[b]The Dirt Town Orphanage; Late Evening[/b][/center]
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The responses to his questions were about as good as he could expect. Things looked grim but he wasn't one to just sit down and take it. He could bluff the confidence that he would do fine on his own but doubt had creeped in the recesses of his mind. Sai would be damned if he had to resort to petty stealing and being homeless in order to survive, that wasn't really living. No matter how well he got along with everyone, personal emotions had to be set aside so that they could pull this shipwreck back together. Mind you, they were knee deep in water and had no method of bailing themselves out, Old Man Fritz had made sure of that. 

Senna pointed this out quickly, not everyone would be willing to cooperate. So it goes, he was sure not everyone would stick around, which is understandable. Staying together required putting faith in each other and those who led, a hard task indeed. 

[b]"But stick together? Pfft, we have a better chance of actually raising the dead with those wails back there. I don't intend to stick around long - you guys know I'm not exactly a team player. We'll just make ourselves a bigger target if we bunch up like that. I don't fancy waking up to some other gangs knife in my neck. I did fine on my own before, so I'll do just that."[/b]

Sai wasn't surprised to hear her say that, Senna was about as independent a 15 year old could be. He could understand where she was coming from, though he wasn't so sure he could do the same. Yes, he had the skills necessary, but he respected this place too much to leave. He didn't want to disrespect Old Man Fritz's final request, even though he was dead and could do nothing about the future. Fritz had done so much for all of them, it felt like the least Sai could do was honor his wishes. And what about all the little kids? They couldn't defend themselves, how could he just leave them to Mary and hope for the best? 

Sai was relieved when she asked if he had any ideas to offer, looking up at him with a smile, curiosity, and maybe a little hope? He opened his mouth to offer his ideas when Ansgar interjected, Sai just smiled slightly and wistfully dwelled on the fact that this was the most he had ever heard the boy speak at one time.

Ansgar presented some good thoughts, though somber in nature, brutally honest. Exactly what he needed right now, lies or sugar coating would help no one. 

[b][color=9966cc]"You're completely right, this won't be easy in the slightest... but hear me out."[/color][/b] Sai took a breath to center himself, once again nervously combing his hair with humble fingers. Tufts of his dark hair began sticking up in odd directions, not that he cared.

[b][color=9966cc]"I don't know about you guys, but if everyone just abandons this place, the little ones are as good as dead. Mary, no matter how determined she is, won't have a chance at protecting those kids. I just - I can't walk out on people when I know we have the skills to keep this place going. It'll be rough, obviously, but I'd rather go to tough times with the people I grew up with, then struggle all alone. Ansgar you talked about either Senna or I leading but... Why not both of us? Who said only one person has to lead? If the majority works together, and I know some won't, we can keep this place going. But I think moving would be too difficult, we'd probably end up losing a little bugger or two... [/color][/b]

Sai paused a moment, noticing more people leave Fritz's room, a few leaving the temple immediately, probably never coming back too. He noticed Thames was one of them, and he sent a silent thanks to the Gods, he had always seen that kid as stuck up. Pulling his thoughts back together he continued.

[b][color=9966cc]"We might as well give it a shot, and if things go bad we can all just split. Not like we have much to lose... The only hard part is going to be convincing those little fuckers."[/color][/b] Sai offered them both a genuine smile, relaxed nature once again back in place. Thinking always calmed himself down, it was good to have goals to strive towards.