018 -- [Action]

[endgames]

[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.

Comments

[endgames]

[.....]

Yo. [So much for that. Might as well not half-ass it. He eyes the can Itachi is holding before looking back to the dry cat food.] Got problems with Liver and Chicken?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[His answer comes very matter-of-factly.]

I was hoping to find a vegetarian alternative.

[endgames]

Why? Not getting anything from your garden?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[The corners of Itachi's lips turn up slightly.]

You can't make cat food out of just anything.

[endgames]

Guess we're here for the same reasons, then.

[Though the kitten tucked into his arm is mercifully sleeping this time, at least.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

It appears so.

Were there a good many kittens distributed recently?

[endgames]

Must've been. Chouji told me there were some people giving a bunch of them away. That's where he got his.

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

I see.

Is that his you're looking out for, then?

1/2

[endgames]

Yeah. [Permanently.]

[endgames]

Who'd you get yours from?

[Can't have gotten it for himself, if he was asking where so many of them came from.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

A certain pirate believed I was in need of a companion.

[endgames]

Ahhh. Should've guessed.

[Either him or Sasuke, but it's hard to imagine the latter in the habit of giving out kittens... even with the change in his and his brother's relationship.

There's a smile that could be wider. He wonders if Law has talked to Itachi yet about what he knows, and what he's told. He'd have asked himself, but with Bepo gone as of yesterday, it didn't seem like a good time.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

That familiar with him, are you?

[He sets down the can and picks up another. This one seems to be slightly more promising.]

[endgames]

We play shogi, sometimes.

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Hn. Now I wonder if I shouldn't be jealous.

[endgames]

He'd probably take you up on a game, if you asked.

[It'd get his mind off Bepo for a little while, at least. This is of course assuming Itachi meant Law, and not him.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[Wrong assumption.]

I believe you and I are still due a game or so.

[endgames]

[It doesn't even occur to him until he says it - other things on his mind. Hell, he came down the aisle for cat food and has pretty much just been staring at an open space on the shelf.

He turns to look at Itachi again before looking back at the cat food. Not answering just yet, but contemplative.

...he thinks he misjudged Itachi's words, the last time they spoke.]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

...Should you desire a different partner, anyway.

[He decides on a can at last, then picks up a couple extra and moves to head to another aisle.]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru watches him before picking up a bag of dry cat food, shifting the kitten to his other arm so he doesn't squish him, before turning to speak before Itachi is out of sight.]

You play better now than when you were seven, right?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[He stops briefly, the faintest of smiles on his lips.]

Somewhat.

[endgames]

How troublesome. We'll need a better place to put that to the test.

[You can't come to his apartment for obvious reasons. And he's not going anywhere near Sasuke, thanks. 8|]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

I'm sure we can find one.

7th Heaven may be able to spare a table now and then, inside or out.

[endgames]

That works for now.

[They might have to pick other places when his friends show up.]

...wanna shoot for a game next week, then?

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

I will leave my schedule wide open.

[Not that it isn't usually anyway.]