#shadowkage

[sehnemich]

@shadowkage

     It’s been a few weeks of just the two of them now. Jugo got dropped off awhile back... or rather, he left them awhile back, satisfied enough with some random spot in the woods that he just decided he was going to plant roots there. Or something. Suigetsu still isn’t entirely sure on the logic of that one, but he knows enough to know when something is none of his business. 

     Now it’s just Sasuke and him. It’s been nice. He’s not sure if that’s the right word for it, but it’s the one he’s going to use, because without Karin or Jugo there to shift the dynamic of the group, Suigetsu is finding out he really does enjoy Sasuke’s company. Not quite Karin level of enjoyment, though. But maybe he can see what sparked her hyperfixation. 

     “We’re getting close to the Land of Steam border,” he says. That means they’re close-ish to his own home. “Unless you have any specific plans, we can make a turn to Kirigakure.”

[mita-rashi]

Sasuke gives Anko a big, warm hug cause he loves her and wants her to know that he does.

Ah!! What a cute little thing!! Anko pretends to have no suspicions whatsoever about his sudden burst of affection as she hugs him back, holding him tight in her grip.

“You’re so precious!” That should be his first indicator he might be in trouble. Or that she suspects he is up to trouble. Ever since he actually started being friends with Naruto, Sasuke has upped the Little Shit Meter about 300%.

“You still havin’ dinner with me tonight, brat? Or has your asshole sensei found another way to keep us apart?” 

It’s actually been too long -- almost a month -- since they’ve had time to sit down and talk like they used to. That might be a good thing if it means he’s socializing and spending more time with other people, but Anko misses him. 

Asshole Konoha reaping the reward of all her hard work getting Sasuke out of his shell. She pouts now, making it obvious. 

“I’m gonna cry if he has, you know. I actually got us something fun to make tonight!”

[inumbratte]

“How many did you see?“

“At the least? A few dozen. There might be more hiding in the back, I just can’t see them.” Now it was time to formulate a strategy. The cards were stacked against them like always, and it was going to be tricky. 

“Give me a second.”

[sehnemich-a]

"When did you stop hoping?" He sits next to Suigetsu, their shoulders brushing. "That people can be good, I mean." Obviously, Suigetsu doesn't have to answer, but Sasuke wonders about it. How young are these children when Kiri first breaks something in them?

@shadowkage

“Okay, first off--you need to check that tone of yours.” Suigetsu pulls back from Sasuke, giving the man the kind of look he normally reserves for Karin in one of her more spastic moments. 

Konoha-nin. It amazes him sometimes how Sasuke has gone through so much and still manages to so obviously be one of them. 

“It isn’t a hope thing.” Well, maybe it kind of is, but Suigetsu doesn’t prefer to look at it that way. “It’s a practicality thing. It’s not practical to assume to best in people at every chance. Especially not here, where you’re bound to get farther if you cheat than if you’re honest.”

He shrugs and reaches for his water bottle, eager for the distraction his slurping with bring. He’s so not in the mood for this. 

[thatsneakymedic]

“That child needs a good fairytale.”

He closes the worn aged fairytale book and he sighs, the Shin children don’t seem to like this book as much as the other children as they seem to be distracted or just not paying attention. 

“Perhaps so, the fairytale books that I have at the orphanage are quite outdated and not really sympathetic to these children in this modern age. Perhaps around this week I should take the children to the bookstore for them to pick out which books do they want to add to story time. Maybe a book series like that popular “wizard boy” books or the one with the children with mysterious powers in a special orphanage that I heard the children talk about the other day?”   An idea struck his head, he... actually would like to buy that book to read one day as it might sympathize with the different Shins. 

“As a matter in fact, we’ll all go to the bookstore tomorrow afternoon. There’s going to be another cold front coming this Saturday so it’s best we all get new books before we all have to stay inside the whole day. You’re free to come along to pick a book for Sarada or Sakura to read if you like.” 

[thatsneakymedic]

“I do not care about you one way or the other.”

“Sasuke, can you not do this with me right now? Don’t fuss and just take the pain medication I personally made for you by Lord Orochimaru’s orders. It’ll also help you sleep since you’ve been quite irritable lately, especially in the mornings. Least until your sleep schedule returns and you’re not so sore anymore. If you still intent to not listen to me, you can get whatever stick out of your ass and deal with it.” 

Internally, he’s resisting the urge to backhand the Uchiha for his usual rudeness but least it’s not aimed at Lord Orochimaru this time but still. His right hand slightly twitched at Sasuke’s tone but he rolls it into a fist before relaxing it and he rests his hand against his hip. He was tempted to up the dosage so that the Uchiha can sleep for a longer period of time for him to not deal with him for the most part of the day but alas, Lord Orochimaru needs Sasuke to train get stronger so he’ll have to do what he’s told. He hands over the round light green pills to him in a small see through container.

“Take two at night with a light snack to go with it. You should be fine by the time you’re done with them and let me know if you feel any side effects so that I can *sigh* make you a different batch.”  He huffs as he pushes his glasses upwards with his middle finger as he still holds the container in his hand for Sasuke to take.

[jokaito-aa]

@shadowkage

he puts down the plate with the curry and all on it in front of the others. shido’s campaign was put on the tv, and while outwardly he was wearing his costumer smile, internally he preferred if he could frown. “ ... the elections are nearing, aren’t they? ” it more of a comment of his than a question. “ year passes by quite quick. ”

[jokaito-aa]

💚- A memory that makes them feel guilty

Peer into my muse's memories. selectively accepting.

he stared at what’s in front of him, and suddenly everything’s so big again. he was around six years old, and he received another price for being first place. he at first remembers the smile that he felt on his face, proud with himself as his parents had come to him, ruffling his hair and being oh so happy with it. it wouldn’t last long however, and that is the moment so much had changed in his life.

he heard something being ripped in pieces, and while his parents talked to his aunt and uncle, rentaro himself saw the crushed face of his cousin before the other went behind the stage where no one could see it. being born with similar names out of what started as a joke gone horribly wrong, the kid realizes something, and it broke his heart. all the vanity he felt was exchanged for something heavy, and it had made the young him want to cry.

he looks behind him to see everyone distracted, and then he walks over to his cousin. though all had ended well, rentaro still felt bad at this whole situation. he loves his family dearly, and his cousin renmaru was who he had built the strongest bond with, growing better since that moment. that was the start of rentaro encouraging him, but that doesn’t mean that when he sees the disappointment in his cousin’s eyes when he accidentally did something better than the other, the memory came back to haunt him.