025 -- [Action || Voice]

[endgames]

[When Shikamaru heads down to Asuma's apartment Monday morning, he finds it empty of everything but Kurenai's things and a silver lighter standing on the table. It's wrong, but he doesn't give in to the false hope.

Of course it would stay. Even though Shikamaru gave it back to him, the lighter stopped being Asuma's the moment he picked it off his dying body.

Kurenai must've stepped out before it happened. She's a ninja, and not so senseless to have left the door wide open and run off in her grief. And so he waits for her, and tries to find his words.

After he leaves Kurenai, he has to tell Ino. Team 8 he'll find in person too - he has a request for them on top of this. It's been too long since they've heard a stir from their enemies.]

[It's well past midnight before an announcement comes, after he's made this post and spent a few hours going over the discussions there. When people are either busy with the information he gave them, or asleep.

He smokes a cigarette on his way back to his apartment in the night air, putting it out before he steps into the building, his posture falsely relaxed until he steps into his own room.]

Sarutobi Asuma is gone. [There's a pause and- no, he doesn't think it was mentioned.] Also, Haruno Sakura returned to her world a few weeks ago, for anyone who knew her.

Funnily enough, I haven't seen that masked Akatsuki guy in a while either...

[Too many people to filter that too. It's vague enough, but anyone who needs to know should get what he means. It would have been better news if he'd known before.

He'll answer journal comments in the morning.]

Comments

[endgames]

[...not what he was expecting, but he should have. It will be all over his journal in the morning. Just like it was when he walked through the streets, the day of Asuma's funeral.

Kenta appears from behind the bean bag, rubbing against it. He stretches a hand out to pet him.]

It's not like I never expected it.

[generalflirt]

I've no doubt you've planned every variable.

[But you're an idiot too sometimes, right? He smiles a bit to himself, a tasteless and not correct smile. Not really]

I've no doubt you'll be prepared for the day I vanish, or Katara, or Naruto-kun, maybe even Ino-chan.

[endgames]

[It's only by force that he doesn't freeze up. Just because he has doesn't mean he likes to think about it.]

If you're going to get at something, just do it.

[generalflirt]

Why, are you tired?

[You're not, there's no way you are, at least not in a conventional sense]

[endgames]

I've lost interest in games.

[generalflirt]

If this were a game it's not a terribly fun one.

[endgames]

That much is true.

[generalflirt]

After all, if it was fun, I guess that means Asuma-san "won" it, given he left the board. Or lost, perhaps?

[endgames]

[There's a cool feeling blooming in his gut.]

'Climbing silver' is the term you're looking for.

[generalflirt]

It's good to know the world's that ordered.

[endgames]

[It's not. And he's regretting he put his shogi board in the closet instead of tossing it out the window before he came out here.]

[generalflirt]

Ah. [There, it isn't. Of course it isn't]

Will you be okay?

[endgames]

There's not many other options. I can't stay sad forever.

[generalflirt]

Wow, that just sounded like me.

[endgames]

Think so?

[generalflirt]

Completely, which is why I know it's an awful answer.

[And he laughs at this, actually]

[endgames]

Heh. [He shakes his head.] I'm locked into it, regardless.

[generalflirt]

Not really. You've barely been sad to begin with.

[endgames]

[He thinks otherwise, having sobbed all over Asu- Kurenai's bathroom floor before she got back, not that anyone else knows that. But go ahead, enlighten him.]

[generalflirt]

I could be wrong. [He doesn't think he is] But I expect you'll be more guilty than sad.

[endgames]

[That's hitting the nail right on the head, and a little too close to home.

Asking how he came to that conclusion betrays him. Keeping silent does too. Thinking of that reminds him that if he wants to pass himself off as all right, it's better to just to lay things bare, if it means getting him to drop it.]

It's many things, those two included.

1/2

[generalflirt]

[Bro did you hear yourself in that hospital room when he told you Temari died?? ignore that we're still threading it he keeps his gaze fixated a moment...]

[generalflirt]

[Touching the bracelet again, he inhales] ...You know, when it comes to the "Scarves" of sorts I assembled in Luceti, I'm still the general.

[endgames]

[Oh good, he's only scraped the surface then.]

So what. You'll order me to be sad?

[generalflirt]

No, I can't accomplish that. But it means that you are my responsibility.

[A beat. And the then focuses a hard gaze on Shikamaru] So I'm gong to "order" complete honesty. You're obviously not "alright," but are you even "okay" at this moment?