[ Voice ]

[ramenkage]

 [ There is silence for a long, long time--He'd died, on that trip. He should be dead. Yet...here he was, a-ok. Breathing. Alive

The hell... ]

Hey...is everyone who went on that exploration trip okay? I--[ I died. I should be dead. ]--wanted to make sure those skin stealing bastards didn't get their hands on [ sakura ] anyone else, yeah? Just...let me know everything turned out okay. 






Heh...they couldn't keep me down for long, huh? Yeah yeah, I'm too cool to be gone for good. [ He tries to sound boastful. Obnoxious.  Like himself. It sounds forced, though. He's too worried about Sakura and the others.




If they had died...would they come back, too? ]

Comments

1/6

[sthenic]

((She rests quietly across the couch, hugging a pillow under the blanket shed dragged over herself. She hadn't fared well for days now, spending many hours in tears. She hated herself for it, but could she help it...? She'd lost bot of her best friends now, after all...))

[sthenic]

((Even the echo of Naruto's voice didn't help things....))

[sthenic]

((... Wait.))

[sthenic]

((Was that just...))

[sthenic]

[sthenic]

((she stares at her communicator, trying to register what she just heard. The voice continues, and her hand comes out shakily to take the communicator. It sounded like him--was it him? Was this just a trick?

Hesitance precedes response; she turns the frequency on and speaks.))

Naruto...?

1/2

[ramenkage]

[ It's her. She's okay.

He's so relieved. It's like a weight's been taken off his shoulders--She's okay. ]

wait no 2/3 I lied

[ramenkage]

Hey, don't sound so upset. I'm okay.

[ramenkage]

O-Oi but what about you? Are you okay? [ I wasn't there to protect you. ]

[sthenic]

((She sits up, the blanket slipping off her.))

I'm fine; I'm just at the apartment. ((Is this really him?))

[ramenkage]

The apartment? I'll be there in a second, okay?

[ He's already moving there, practically running through the streets until he reaches their room.

He hesitates outside the door, before tossing it open and hurrying inside. ]

Sakura...?

[sthenic]

((Sakura had been standing practically right in front of the door when Naruto barges in. She stiffens; stares. Is this the real life?

Her eyes stare forward and she remembers for an instant how much she had missed him. Her hands are up, pensive to approach him. She wants to reach out and touch him, if only to assure that he was either reality or just an illusion.))

..Is that really you?

[ramenkage]

[ He hesitates a moment in the doorway, staring at her a moment.

Is that really you?

He swallows, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat. It doesn't work, and he just continues to stand there. Her question doesn't get answered, as he can't seem to find any words. Instead, he rushes forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. He had been so worried. ]

You're okay.

[sthenic]

((Dammit. It takes only seconds for Sakura to start crying again, grabbing on tight to Naruto's clothes as she struggles to hold him in her arms. She had wanted to be brave and tough when he showed up; happy and excited maybe. Like Naruto always was when things went bad. Things were bad and he could smile just enough over the communicator to make it seem like it was no-big-thing. To reassure her nothing was wrong.

Maybe it was just how Naruto responded. They finally came face to face and she could see his reactions and expressions. ))

1/4

[ramenkage]

[ He rubs her back lightly, frowning a moment. How he feels doesn't matter right now. What matters is making sure she's okay. That she's comforted. That she's able to smile again.

So he forces a smile, pulling away from her a moment to look at her. ]

Hey, hey, don't cry. I'm alright, see--

[ramenkage]

[ He cuts himself off when he spots the bandage on her ear, and gently he pushes her hair back to look.

His face falls. ]

What...

[ramenkage]

[ She's hurt... ]

[ramenkage]

Sakura, what happened?

[ She's hurt, and he hadn't been able to do a thing to stop it. ]

[sthenic]

O-oh...


((she dries her eyes quickly, trying to look somewhat sane.))

After... you left we got attacked by raiders. A.. number of us didn't make it back.

[ramenkage]

And they did this?

[ He lets the hair fall, looking sad. ]

I should have been there...

[sthenic]

...

No, it's fine. I don't blame you for not being there. Things just.. happened.

[ramenkage]

But I'm supposed to keep you safe.

[sthenic]

...please don't beat yourself up over this, okay..?





I'm just glad you're back...

[ramenkage]

[ What I'm feeling doesn't matter right now. ]

Y-Yeah, 'course! Anything for you.

Just...



you'll be okay, yeah? They didn't hurt you too bad?

[sthenic]

Yea I'm..

((She forces a smile despite watery eyes.)) I can take care of myself, you know that.