video | 002

[ura_no_ura]

[Action | Mid-afternoon]

[ Nothing to see here.

Just a man with silver hair darkened by rust-colored flecks walking through the middle of town from the underground tunnels in fatigues soaked through in some places with blood. He's got a dirty-looking bandage wrapped around his left arm, a slowly spreading red spot eating its way across the gauze surface. He walks like a man who hasn't slept in days -- shoulders slumped, each step weighted. But even despite the apparent exhaustion, he still attempts to make it look more like a lazy stroll than a tired march back to the apartment he'd claimed as his own in Building 1.

Assuming it's even still called Building 1, and his apartment hasn't been taken over by a new resident, anyway. He's been gone for a while, after all.

Two months is a long time to be on a combat mission, but not anything Kakashi isn't used to. Coming back to Luceti after a mission instead of Konoha, though -- that's new.

On the way back to Building 1 Flame Building, Kakashi stops by the Convenience Store for some more bandages, rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, a needle and thread, some pain killers, and a few packages of instant ramen. ]

[ Video | Night ]

[ Kakashi's looking a little better than he did earlier in the day. First aid, food, a hot shower, a fresh change of clothes, and a nice, long nap does wonders. ]

Yo.

[ Have a two-finger wave. ]

I'm back. Did I miss anything exciting?

Comments

[bantambreeze]

Yes, it's me. Hello again, Kakashi. I trust you're not hurt, or otherwise meddled with?

[ura_no_ura]

I'm--

[ That came out a little too fast.

Kakashi was a bit injured when he first returned, but that's more or less taken care of. All this is kind of a major mindfuck, though, but he should've been prepared for that. It is Luceti, after all. He just never expected someone he was acquainted with would suddenly be turned into a child.

He pauses, and takes a breath, adjusting the register of his tone. ]

I'm fine.

[ But then, Kakashi's always fine, isn't he. ]

Are you alright? Why did the Malnosso do this to you? How did this happen?

[bantambreeze]

[She considers what he's said for a moment. Sure, it was a quick answer...and he was clearly not telling the whole truth, but she knows as well as anyone that coming back from a kidnapping is difficult. And it's not always so bad. There was nothing obviously wrong with him, and that was blessing enough.]

Good. That's good to hear. [The young girl's voice comes out a bit older, certainly more mature.]

I'm well enough, all things considered. It's been a few centuries since I was nine, but the body isn't too bad. No pain, anyway. I wish I knew why, other than perhaps to frustrate me. You have no idea how...annoying...it is being unable to reach the tea-shelf.

[She lets out a long sigh.]

And as for the how, probably much the same as you. I was taken by droids in my sleep I believe. I don't remember exactly how it happened. But that's the most likely thing.

[ura_no_ura]

Ah, I see...

[ But the thing is, Kakashi wasn't taken. He went on his own, because he was assigned to a mission. But that isn't exactly information he feels comfortable sharing over the journals or to someone who isn't a fellow shinobi. ]

So, you were taken and when you were returned, you found yourself... much younger. Do you know if it's permanent?

[ Because she certainly sounds mature. ]

[bantambreeze]

[That would make sense. But missions are just missions.]

I don't think it's permanent. Most kidnapping Shifts aren't. I mean, I suppose it could be, but I somehow doubt it. And even if it is, I guess it's only temporary for a few years anyway. I'll grow back up in time. I did it once before, didn't I?

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi makes a noncommittal sound in response, perhaps in agreement, as he lightly cants his head. ]

So I guess your greatest challenge right now is reaching the tea shelf.

[ Is that a hint of a humor in his tone? ]

[bantambreeze]

[There's a childish giggle and she mimics him, canting her head to the right.]

No. It's the urge to act like a child. That's really, really hard to resist.

[Humor? in my Kakashi? It's more common than you think.]

[ura_no_ura]

Ah, but I'm not sure how much of that is actually caused by the Shift, and how much of that is just you.

[ Teasing? Okay, definitely teasing. ]

[bantambreeze]

Oh? You think I'm childish, do you? Who's idea was it to cover books in wrapping paper, hmm?

[Teasing is fine, but Kakashi, Mr. Pot would like to have a word with you about your hue.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Right. That. Kakashi would rather not like to think about that period of time, but he's not entirely unsurprised that Saori would mention it. ]

I assure you, a child would never think of a prank that interesting.

[ Deadpan. ]

[bantambreeze]

Liar.

[She sticks out her tongue.]

Would so.

[ura_no_ura]

Ah-ah~ I don't mean a child with the mind of an adult.

[bantambreeze]

Sure you don't.

[She sniffs at him in mock derision.]

I've seen more clever ones than that. Why, I read a story about a little girl that covered her friend's house with toilet paper. The WHOLE house!

[Okay, so maybe her idea of pranks is a bit dated...]

[ura_no_ura]

Ah, but she didn't gift wrap it nicely for her friend. Throwing toilet paper over a house is easy. Even a cat could do it.

[bantambreeze]

But cats don't have hands to throw things. Now you're just being stupid.

[Her little cheeks puff up.]

[ura_no_ura]

They don't need hands to drag toilet paper everywhere.

[bantambreeze]

But they can't fly to get up on top.

And cats can't climb walls. Now...maybe giant spiders?

[ura_no_ura]

Actually, where I'm from, they can. So can dogs and any other ninja summon.

[bantambreeze]

Ninja cats. That...well I guess it makes about as much sense as ninja necromancers.

[Shrug!]

But my dogs at home can fly.

[Because that's normal, right...?]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi's not that surprised. His dogs can't fly, but they can do a whole lot of other awesome shit. ]

Ah, it's too bad they're not here. I bet they'd get along with my pack.

[ Yeeep the same pack that was living with him and Barnaby. ]

[bantambreeze]

Well, Keiko is. But she's not ready to become an Inugami yet.

[She remembers that pack pretty well. There was that one ugly one...]

She'd probably like them, but she's a strange dog.

[ura_no_ura]

All dogs are a little strange, but how's yours?

[ Strange, Kakashi means. ]

[bantambreeze]

Keiko? Well she's old. And she's fussy. Like an old maid, really. It's cute, though, because she's only ten.

[ura_no_ura]

Ten is a bit old for dogs.