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

[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]

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