endgames | 025 -- [Action || Voice]

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It is sad. [He won't lie about that.] Because you always miss a good friend, right? But sometimes you know you get to see them again, or that they're needed back home to do something important. I want to look forward to those things.

So Shikumaru-kun is selfless enough to want those things more than being with his friends now..

That's.. admirable, isn't it?

[Her literalness is a double-edged sword, isn't it?]

It's living. Sometimes you gotta be logical.

I agree with being logical. [ She often seems like a robot or something, after all.. ] But.. I think being happy is important too.

I know I'd like to be happy, after all..

[...]

...well what makes you happy?

I like.. books. [ she settles on that with a nod, it's the first thing that comes to mind. ]

So reading books makes me happy. But lately I've learned that being with friends makes me really, really happy.. and being with Ikki-kun makes me very happy as well.

Friends are good for that. And it sounds like you have more than one - so you have more than one way to be happy, between your friends and your books.

Yes. I'm.. really, really glad for it. Luceti gave me the chance to be happy with friends, so I like it here..

After all, Shikamaru-kun and I are friends too, right?

...Yeah. We can be friends too, I guess.

[ Apparently it makes her happy - her voice seems to perk up a little, at least. ]

I'm glad. Being friends with Shikamaru-kun.. it sounds so nice.

[He knows she means that as a compliment- er. Well, it's Kotomi. Rather, it probably truly does sound that way to her.

But his self-worth has been circling the toilet for a week now. He's failed as a friend: failed Temari, failed everyone who was counting on him by making them worry. Failed Katara too, by not knowing the words to say to her.

"Nice" may not be the word for it right now, but he'll strive for it. He doesn't want to fail any of his comrades again.]

[Which means picking his angst up off the damn floor before someone trips on it. 8|]

Speaking of friends though... Did you have anyone to help you out when things were so crazy a week or so ago?

[ THAT COMPLIMENT WAS TOTALLY GENUINE, OKAY. Then again, Kotomi might say the same about 90% of the people, but even so she does truly mean it.. but fortunately (?) Kotomi is easily distracted, so the question makes her think again. ]

.. Ah, I was with Fuuko-chan and Nagisa-chan at home, and.. we got a hole in the house. But everything ended up okay..

[The power of redirecting conversation!]

The hole gone yet? I know repairs were on the fritz...

Yes, someone came over to fix it. [ and now it's time for Kotomi's Weirdness Episode We Lost Count: ] I was afraid bullies might come in through the hole, but Fuuko-chan said that she would defeat them if they would try with the power of Starfish Heat.

[...Starfish Heat.

.
.
.

Oh right, what room does he have to question things. He has friends who consider turning into naked women to be a deadly attack.]

And did any bullies come through?

No, they didn't. I bet they must have all stayed away because of the amazing power of Starfish Heat.

[ and despite her blank tone, she almost sounds.. well, enthusiastic about it. ]

[Shocking territory!] Oh? Is it really so incredible like that?

The Starfish Heat can fight any bully at all. I'm sure it's what will save Luceti in the end.. [ from what? who knows. ]

Aa. I feel reassured to know we have something so powerful as that to protect us.

[/drily. But hey, if it gives her peace of mind. 8|a]

025 -- [Action || Voice]

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[ voice ] Meanwhile I laugh that there's like three Ikki's in Luceti now

[ voice ] LMFAO YES.. it's so funny, the ikkis are multiplying all over

[ voice ] They're gonna beat out the history of Jacks!

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