endgames | 018 -- [Action]

018 -- [Action]

[He wakes up to a mostly empty apartment, every scrap of evidence that his best friend shared it with him removed, save for one small kitten. It’s not the first time, with that exception. Chouji’s disappeared like this before – barely two months ago. But he came back.

And now he’s gone again. Shikamaru isn’t sure what to think about that, mostly because he's considered it all before. He knows what Chouji is going back to, knows it's important, knows it will be all right because eventually, he's going to leave this place too and see him again.

He knows he's going to miss him, even though he shouldn't. But that it's okay to admit that too. So with that thought in mind, Shikamaru ends up sitting on the couch, trying to think about nothing at all. At least until he can get his head clear and straight on his shoulders again. He can't afford to sulk all day.

He still ends up checking on Temari’s apartment, just to make sure evidence that she lives in it are still there. (Though if it weren't, that'd be okay. She has less of home here than he does.) And then he takes a deep breath, and goes to knock on Ino’s door. No public announcement, and he’s not going to hunt down anyone else today. If he runs into any of his and Chouji’s friends, he’ll tell them, but if not… everyone else can wait a day.]

[After talking with Ino, and a few hours spent in or around CH1, Shikamaru heads out to take a walk into town. There’s a black kitten with blue eyes grudgingly carried along with him that’s keeps trying to climb up onto his shoulders, or his head. Empty as he thought their - his - apartment looked, there’s apparently still enough in it for one little kitten to wreak havoc with. So not trusting he could leave him alone, said kitten is getting dragged along for the ride.

He shouldn’t complain too much. Most of the stuff Shikamaru is picking up is for him anyways. Food, litter. He doesn’t think the cat needs much else, but feel free to correct him on that if you see him.

For his last stop of the day, Shikamaru makes a detour into the item shop, browsing through the puzzles and games, and the kitten’s mewing isn’t going to make him leave any faster. He needs something new to play.]

Fine, you don’t like the idea of that one. Don’t see how it matters to you – you’re not the one who’s gonna be playing it.

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[She closes the door behind him when he's already inside. As perceptive as Ino is, she catches the sound briefly before dismissing it. Once the door is successfully closed, she gives him a smile. She's not having this serious mood if she can prevent it.]

These visits are getting very frequent.

[Unfortunately, there's nothing she can do to prevent it. And Shikamaru can't stand to see her try, when he knows what needs to be said.

The look he gives her is a pained one, but he can't focus on her face for long. It shifts to the door, then back again, pain wiped clean.]

Chouji's gone.

[He's not one for subtlety.]

[The simple sentence has her shaking her head.] Oh, come on, Shikamaru. You must be--

[And then she glances at his face. That face can't be kidding. Then, she realizes that this is Shikamaru she's talking to. He can't possibly joke around with these kind of things.] ... kidding.

[She searches his face in an attempt to disprove the reality of his words. Any sign would do.]

[When she found nothing, her blue orbs begin to grow wide. She begins her search again, this time in a frantic pace, as her mind and heart try to cling onto the fact that there's a small chance he might be kidding.]

No...

That can't be true! [She almost yells, unaware that the words just spilled from her lips.]

I wouldn't tell you if it weren't.

[Forced calm. Not because he doesn't want to deal with this, and not because he's expecting her to calm down. He just needs the words to sink in.]

But, I mean we should make sure. I'll go and look again in your apartment. [She's preparing to leave now, almost half shoving him off the door.] You must have missed something.

[Not that she believes he will. She knows Shikamaru is thorough. She knows he wouldn't tell her this unless the facts are all straightened up and accounted for because it'd be troublesome otherwise. But there's no shaking off the little hope in her that this might all just be a misunderstanding.]

[He could point out the obvious - that he lives in that apartment and it's hard to miss an Akimichi or his things, but he knows better than to think that'll be enough for her.

So he doesn't say anything at all. When Ino shoves him, he turns to open the door for her. She'll probably beat him to his own apartment door, which isn't locked. He knew he wasn't going to be in here for long.]

[When she barges in their apartment, Ino quickly searches the whole place. With every corner inspected, her little hope is slowly vanishing. She wasn't even finished looking when the confirmation of his words strikes her like a dull knife.]

He really is gone... [She places one hand on the sofa head for support. She doesn't trust her knees right now.]

[Shikamaru stood by the door, near the sofa, while she searched, watching the kitten trying to scramble after her instead of Ino herself. Her emotions are bringing his back up to the surface, and it's not a comfortable feeling.

It's like that time with Kurenai - no, it isn't actually. It just feels like it. He looks up again when she finally stops moving - finally realizes it - and puts a hand on her shoulder.]

Yeah. [He is.]

[In one desperate move, her eyes searched for her surroundings again before Ino finally looks to the side. When Shikamaru was gone, she knew he will come back. But this time around, there's a big possibility that Chouji won't. There's a big difference in that.]

I just wish we could have said goodbye... [Even if she knows they'll meet him once again, this time in their world. Hopefully in their world. Then again, she already misses him.]

We didn't need to. It's not like it's forever.

[Very firm about that. This place isn't permanent.]

I know that, but still. [It's still sad, no matter how she tells herself they're going to see them again, anyway.]

[...he knows it is. And no matter of "I'm sorry" or "it'll be okay" is going to fix that for her.]

...try not to think about it. I know it sucks, but focusing on the sad parts isn't going to make you feel better.

[Ino looks up and then glances somewhere far off.] I guess Chouji won't like it if we focus on sad parts, too.

Last thing he'd want for us.

[And it's not like he didn't leave them with no memories. ...or a kitten. Who's now trying to pounce on Ino's feet.]

Edited 2011-09-17 08:17 (UTC)

I agree.

[She's silent for a moment before she notices the kitten. Glancing down, she tucks away some of her bangs behind her ears to take a better look at it.]

Well, who do we have here?

Heh. The world's most troublesome cat. [Smiling, smiling. Nothing's wrong here.] Chouji dragged him home about a week ago.

[The kitten is black with blue eyes, and still on the smallish side. Doesn't keep him from being any less energetic.]

It's so cute. [She crouches down so she'll be eye level with it.] What's his name?

Kenta. I like The Cat better, myself.

[She turns to Shikamaru with this face.] Was Chouji the one who named him?

[...nod.]

His cat. [So of course.]

[She snorts.] Then, we should respect its name. [She turns to the cat and pats his head gently.] Whatever it may be.

[Snerk. And the kitten is eating up the attention, of course.]

Chouji used to call you 'that mean, blonde girl' when we first started school. Should I go back to calling you that too?

[Teasing. And reminiscing.]

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1/4

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4/4 DONE

sob, this thread

I know, right? ;3; /clings to Team Asuma

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I demand fluffy things to make this thread a little nicer. 8|

/gives all the fluffy things? 8D;

And all is well with the world again. 8D

Clearly, fluff is the answer to all world problems. /o/

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