endgames | 032 -- [Voice || Action]

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032 -- [Voice || Action]

[A ninja walks into the bar.

Okay, that's getting ahead of the story. Let's backtrack then. Not too far. Everything he's been through in the past two weeks doesn't need to be said. At least, this isn't the place for it. What's important to mention is that on March 27, Nara Shikamaru left Luceti, gone back to home and to war. He returned on the same day and got thrown into another, and coming back to day-to-day life in this village after has felt almost unreal.

It's been nearly two weeks, but it wasn't until today that any of it definitively sunk in. All of the deaths. Everything they've lost - that he's lost. That the fighting is over, even if the war isn't.

You wouldn't think moving on with your life would be the scariest thing about that.]

[Voice]

Yo. [The greeting comes after he's gotten a grip on himself, so lackadaisical you wouldn't know the difference.] Some of you might've noticed that old pizza place was being remodeled. It's taking longer than I thought, but I've been working on turning it into a convenience store since November. It can probably open soon.

I'm gonna stock it with the basics. Milk, bread... staples like that for when no one wants to walk all the way to the grocery. So what snacks and drinks do you guys want? I'm not going to the trouble of getting things it turns out no one likes. That way, they'll just sit on the shelf to collect grease and dust. That's gross.

[He waves lazily, like he gave up on the motion halfway through, and reaches over to switch the feed.] Lemme know.

[Filtered to Trafalgar Law || Unhackable]

Hey. Got what you asked of me too.

[/end Voice]

[Several hours later... A ninja walks into a bar, and for the first time orders not Mountain Dew, but Genshu sake. A whole bottle.

Convincing himself to drink is more difficult than ordering it, however. Shikamaru sits at the bar for a while, spending more time staring into his cup than lifting it to his mouth. It's not like he's in a rush. He made a point not to tell anyone what he was up to, just that he would be back late and would get dinner on his own. Eventually though, he does get to drinking. It's a lot easier once he's started, and he loosens up. He won't be at the bar long after that, called away on an errand which leads him down toward House 22.

(ooc: threads with Law and Masaomi will be canonically last for this part)

The next day... he has a hangover. And it sucks. 8|

But he has people to talk to. Sakura and Asuma are both on his list, if they're home. Ino is last, and not without Chouji to go with him. Anyone else in the building is welcome to run into him on this day too, of course.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Shikamaru has never been a morning person. Neither has Chouji, for that matter. Even so, noon is a bit later than usual.]

Lunchtime. I just ate, but there's extra. You want some?

[He starts to agree, but then he gets a whiff of it and feels nauseous.]

Ugh... [He coughs into his hand and steps over to the fridge.] Pass, sorry.

[It looks great is the bummer. No wonder dad ate meagerly at breakfast all those times. Just like him, though, he'll end up starting the day with umeboshi. He grabbed a jar of it to put in the fridge before he went out last night.]

Remind me in a little while.

[He caught that look on your face, Shikamaru.]

Are you sick?

[That explanation seems as likely as the other one. Chouji has definitely never seen Shikamaru hungover before.]

Of course.

It's a hangover.

[Just... blunt honesty, is what he decides to go for. He didn't invite Chouji last night because he knew his friend would get why he was doing it, or get a good enough idea to it. Their dads were drinking buddies. Shikaku, in particular, was a drunkard up until his kid made chuunin ~~or so was heavily implied~~.

It was the best way he could think of, to say goodbye.

He's glad, though, that Chouji wasn't woken up when he came back in. Now that it's done with, there's no sense to further the damage. He takes the jar of umeboshi and goes to sit across from his friend, a little somber.]

[He winces, sighs, nods. Chouji does understand, and he doesn't necessarily disagree. These were the one set of his father's footsteps that Shikamaru never wanted to follow, though. Seeing his teammate break that particular resolution is further evidence of just how badly Shikamaru's hurting.

In spite of Shikamaru's feelings on alcohol, the admission doesn't come as much of a surprise to Chouji once it's out in the open. It parallels the cigarettes, after all. Shikamaru borrowed Asuma's favorite vice to say goodbye too.

Chouji's voice is soft, with no hint of recrimination, when he makes his request.]

Try not to repeat it too often, alright?

[He gives a thumbs up, going to suck on the umeboshi for a bit. Someone else may or may not have said something to that effect last night too.

They sit in silence like that for a bit. Not for the first time, Shikamaru thinks of how lucky he is to have a friend like Chouji who can understand when he does stupid stuff like this... who doesn't expect him to be smart all the time, just when it matters. It's in part because of that that Shikamaru will keep to that request. He doesn't want to let his friend - any of his friends - down like that.

The other part is because he enjoyed last night (he was always afraid he would). Somewhere between one cup and the next, he got why his father would do this so much. It was nice, for a little while, to let the images go fuzzy in his mind and out of focus.

The morning ritual's not as great, he thinks on the other hand. Some family traditions are best not passed on. Once in a while, maybe, but he doesn't think he'll make this a regular thing.]

Edited 2013-04-08 06:59 (UTC)

[After another minute or so, he takes the umeboshi out of his mouth.]

I thought about it last night... Today, we should tell Ino.

[Another nod. He's dreaded telling Ino since he arrived. Chouji thought he'd have to do it on his own, that he'd have to tell both of his teammates instead of just one. He isn't sure whether it's better or worse this way. It'll still be awful.

Since the minute Shikamaru found out, Chouji was just waiting until his friend claimed could handle it. He gave up on figuring out the right thing to say weeks ago. There isn't one. Chouji just wants to be there for Ino in whatever way she'll let him.

Chouji would still tell her on his own if he thought that would make it any easier for Shikamaru, but Shikamaru has too much responsibility for his teammates to allow it. He cares more than most people outside their team realize. Chouji knows they have to be together. Their generation's Ino-Shika-Chou.

Selfishly, he's grateful he won't be alone in this.]

I agree. She shouldn't hear it from anyone but us, and someone may let it slip if we wait too long.

[He nods, mutely, and thinks of Lee and Neji.

Before, back when he was also unaware, it wouldn't have been a problem. He's glad, actually, that Sakura didn't tell him anything all this time. But with how many of them know now, and they way people from home always seem to be showing up...

It won't stay secret for long, and if someone beats Team 10 to telling her, he knows he'll never forgive himself.]

I'm gonna take a couple hours to get over this [he motions to himself, and what he's doing] and talk to some people. We'll meet back here at four... and tell her then.

[He's grateful too, undescribably so, that Chouji is also here to help with this. He's not great at comforting... Ino deserves that and then some when this is over, though.]

I'll see you then. Eat something else once you can manage it.

[He has no real plans for the next three or four hours, though he almost wishes he did. In spite of intending to stay in the building all afternoon, Chouji finds that time passes too slowly. He leaves and trains for a couple hours, coming back in time to shower quickly before meeting his teammates.

Chouji isn't late. At quarter of four, he's already back in his chair in the kitchen. For anyone who knows him well, tension is evident in his posture even at a glance, all of his muscles just a little too tight. His attempts to relax, if they were successful in the first place, have worn off too quickly. He takes a deep breath. Inhales, exhales, focusing on it.

During the war Ino was steady, with all the calm and determination that Chouji couldn't manage. She and Shikamaru supported him. Today it's his turn to support his teammates.]

[Shikamaru ducks in a few minutes later, looking better than he did in the morning. He's trying to keep his mind clear for now.]

She should be here soon. I asked her to meet us.

(ooc: feel free to drop Ino in whenever you're ready, Justine)

[She can only guess what her teammates want from her to actually schedule a meet-up like this. It's not like they don't see each other often here on their floor so they can talk so this is a little strange for her. What can this possibly be about?

An array of guesses go through her mind but nothing seems to fit. Or at least, nothing seems to make sense. Could this actually be about Shikamaru returning home and coming back again? -Since that seems like the only thing that's worth talking about lately. It's a good thing she's not busy today that she makes it to the kitchen just in time (even if she's still late, oops). Spotting her two teammates already in the kitchen, Ino tries for a sheepish smile.]

So, am I late for the mission briefing?

Not late. We were a couple minutes early, I think.

[Ino's smile hurts, and Chouji has trouble keeping his face smooth, his breath even. He knows this is the last time he'll see it for awhile. She has to know something's coming; an arranged meeting isn't their style. If she knew how bad it would be, though, Ino couldn't manage even that semblance of positivity.]

Come sit by me, alright?

[There's three seats on that side of the table. Shikamaru can take the seat on the end, and Ino can sit between them. He nods to Ino, to encourage that motion.

Any actual words die in his throat, though. He turns to catch the kitchen door, shutting it quietly. The kitchen doors don't have locks like the apartments, so he jams it for the time being with some tinkering.]

[Their gestures is beginning to really weird Ino out. Yes, the arranged meeting is never their style, that's one. But the way they're acting right now probably takes the cake. She doesn't want to think about anything bad because that's jumping into conclusions that she doesn't need at the moment.

Nodding at Chouji's words and Shikamaru's gesture, Ino goes to sit beside her teammate as she waits for Shikamaru to sit beside her on the other end.

There's just one question going through her head and she's not good at keeping it to herself.]

Okay, can anyone tell me what this is about?

[Chouji glances at Shikamaru only long enough to see what he's doing, nodding approval of the temporary door block. Then he watches Ino. The need for privacy will only set off more alarms for her. Once Shikamaru's in his chair on Ino's other side, Chouji doesn't keep her waiting.]

Ino, when I got here, there was something I didn't tell you about what happened in the war. There were a few things, really. [He pauses to put a hand on Ino's shoulder before continuing.] But one of them especially...

[Chouji breaks off, all the weeks of consideration leaving him no closer to figuring out how to tell her.]

[Which is well enough. Within that pause an opportunity comes to mind suddenly. Before they go on, he knows he has to jump on it.]

Chouji. [His chin lifts slightly, not looking at either of them as he thinks it over. It's not the same... but it's better than what they were thinking of, initially.] Let me start.

[He turns to look over at them both now.]

There were some things said that only Ino and I were privy to.

[She begins to listen and she can tell by the mood around them, before her teammates even started saying anything, that whatever they have to tell her is something of grave importance. Still, she doesn't jump into worse case scenarios not until she heard Chouji speak. There's an obvious thump in her chest, something that suddenly ached, that Ino visibly frowns and inwardly fights back fears that are starting to surface.

Chouji is never one to keep things from her and to hear that there's something he purposefully missed to tell her sent alarm bells ringing.]

Chouji, what do you mean? [Her voice is sharp, firm and laced with subtle worry.] What didn't you tell me? [Then, Shikamaru interrupts and his words are even more confusing.]

Shikamaru...? Things that only you and I are privy to? [She looks from one of her teammates to the other, anxiety showing past her confused facade.] You guys, what's going on? This is starting to scare me. [The ominous words added by her naturally curious attitude compounded by the fact that it's about the war she has yet to live.

The war. A deeper frown, this time, and only one question that summarizes everything she feels.]

What about the war that I need to know?

What? [Chouji leans forward to look past Ino at Shikamaru. Realization hits. He inhales sharply in something resembling relief. Inoichi and Shikaku were talking into everyone's minds. Of course they made sure they said goodbye to their children specifically.

He nods once.]

Would it be better to tell her, or to let Ino into your mind?

[A squeeze to Ino's shoulder is Chouji's apology for talking across her rather than answering her. He knows she hates that.

Her father's last words will mean more if she hears them from him than they ever could when relayed even by one of her teammates. Chouji doesn't need to know what they are to know just how proud Inoichi is of his daughter. And showing her would probably be easier for Shikamaru than getting the words out will be.]

["This is starting to scare me."

Shikamaru's eyes flicker to Ino as Chouji talks, watching her. Wanting to offer something, even if it would be cruel to offer a balm when you're going to be more scalding later.]

I'll show her. [Unblinking, he searches her eyes as if to ask a question. Unsure even though he's made up his mind. Is this okay? Will you let me?] You still want to know what's happening out there, don't you?

Of course.

[Her response was swift yet firm. The way they're acting now, she can't push her worst fears aside anymore that she momentarily hesitates on seeing what she's supposed to see.

Ino wants to know, but she's afraid that what she'll come to know will be her worst case scenarios come to life. There's a saying that ignorance is bliss and somehow she's starting to believe that whoever said that is right. But will it ever be a genuine bliss?

Inwardly taking a deep breath and letting it out in a long drawn-out exhale, Ino braces herself. She wants to know and if the price she has to pay is as steep as her worst fears indicate then she'll deal with it.]

[Even before they scared her, made her expect the worst, Chouji knew Ino wouldn't shy away from finding out. Now? Not knowing would torment her just as much. Her answer was never in doubt.

It's been a long time since Ino needed anyone to catch her or hold her upright when she performs her family jutsu, but Chouji wraps an arm around her anyway. Ino can brace herself physically and emotionally, he knows; he just refuses to let her do it alone today.

Chouji doesn't bother speaking. Instead, he leans closer to Ino briefly, the arm around her allowing him reach out a hand and grip Shikamaru's shoulder for a second too. They're here for Ino right now, of course, but Chouji wants to give Shikamaru one last reminder that he's available to support both of his teammates.]

[He doesn't shift his body right away - message received, Chouji - but when he does it's to turn in his seat so he and Ino are facing each other instead of sitting side-by-side. The motion shifts his shoulder out of reach. It feels solitary, but it focuses him.

More important, Ino can do her thing. He nods to her, knowing Chouji has her back.

Let's begin.]

[It's a good thing she had already braced herself physically and emotionally before this that when she closes her eyes to activate her technique, her heart beat returns to normal.

There's a surge of images, mostly Shikamaru's memories. Academy days, the formation of their team.

"Why am I stuck with two losers?"

"It's troublesome. We should just give her what she wants."

Chuunin exams, missions here and there.

"It really doesn't matter to me if I ever become a chuunin or not, but I guess I shouldn't let myself be beaten by a female, so let's do it."

"I never really liked Sasuke, but all the same, he's a member of Konoha; he's a comrade and I'll put my life on the line to help him, that's the way of our village. I know I usually seem like a pretty lazy guy but not today, because now I'm responsible for your lives too."

"How many times do I have to tell you? The first move is always a feint. It's the most basic thing to land a hit with the second move."

Asuma's death. Akatsuki Invasion.

"See, you and I have different beliefs. I believe in the Will of Fire. That pathetic Lord Jashin or whatever isn't your God any more. I am. The only one bringing down vengeance is me."

"When you have that kid, I'll have to protect it."

Then more memories she doesn't remember possessing until the flashes of images halt on a particular scene. It's strange, as if watching a movie in another person's point of view.

The arid air smells of blood and warfare. It seems like the more the scorching wind blows, the more it stinks of impure blood. She can't be mistaken. She's in the middle of the war. There's so many of them; she can see a hundred ninjas deployed before what seems like a monster of sorts. And then, she hears a voice.

"Ino, you are the cosmos of the Yamanaka family. And we've raised you to be everything that flower stands for."

She turns her head to the side. That's her Dad's voice, she's certain of it. Why is he talking to her like that? His tone, it sounds solemn, the kind one usually uses when--

And that's when she saw herself beside her, crying like tomorrow's never coming. She instantly remembers that she's seeing this situation in Shikamaru's eyes and that even with the great urge to yell questions after questions, no one will hear them. It feels like a dream, but Ino immediately reminds herself that this is a memory.

"A blunt and candid love?" She hears herself speak, her voice broken in a sea of sobs. If she's allowed to shed tears in this memory, she would have already done so because it's starting to dawn on her that this is goodbye.

"It represents more than just that. As a father, what I take pride more than anything else is your feelings towards your friends."

No, she wants to scream, no, this can't be a goodbye. What are you saying? Why are you summarizing your pride as a father? You can't do that! You're not allowed to do that! You're not allowed to tell me these things when I'm not there to hear them personally.

But her voice dies down even before she can actually form the words that no one will hear anyway.

"You've bloomed into quite the flower in front of my eyes."

Such proud words uttered with undeniable pride. It's funny how a compliment like that makes her chest sting like a wound doused with salt rather than fill it with warmth. Even when this is another person's memory, it's Ino's memory now too.

A memory that quickly fades once she returns back to reality.]

Dad...?

[Her form quivering, she reaches for her cheek with one hand, realizing that it's wet with her tears. Just how long has she been crying?]

No...

[Maybe she cried even before it all began.]

[Ino doesn't cry alone. Tears are already streaming down Chouji's face when the jutsu starts. They're well away from the war now, and both of his teammates know. He's followed Shikamaru's orders this long, but now the need for them has passed. Chouji will grieve along with his friends.

When Ino speaks again, Chouji pulls her closer, arm still around her shoulders and hand resting on her head.]

I'm so sorry, Ino. [The discovery that he wasn't wrong, that there really are no right words, isn't a surprise, but it stings anyway.

Over her head, he spares a look for Shikamaru, blinking away enough of the tears that he can see his friend's face clearly. Chouji feels the loss of two men he's always admired. His teammates lost so much more, and Chouji is well aware of it. He's crying just as much for their pain as for what he feels himself.]

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