thirty crows (朱) action/video (time shift catch-all)

[yourhatred]

September 22nd - closed to Law

[Itachi leaves his bedroom as usual, but exits it at death's door.

The time shift, catching him moments before he would conclude a fight with his brother, moments before the time he was brought from into Luceti in the first place, dumps a bleeding, wreck of a man out the other side of the doorway. The ninja staggers, a bloody arm that had been held out in front of him catching onto the opposite wall of the hallway.

So ready. He'd been so ready. What's going on? Literal moments away from dying, prepared to give into the inevitable, Itachi now finds himself having to do his damnedest to keep himself breathing. The orange glow of Susano'o at first barely surrounding him as he arrived, fades away into nothing as he fights against the darkness at the edge of his vision.

Where is Sasuke?

Coughing, his free hand covering his mouth as blood ran through his fingers, the man leaned further against the wall, the last of his adrenaline leaving him.]

September 23rd - OTA

[Late in the day, after a fair amount of rest, Itachi finds his journal and spends a while reading through it. The other entries become too confusing after a while, but he at last tries to make one of his own. After all, it does seem to be a form of communication.]

I'm looking for Uchiha Sasuke.

September 24th - OTA

[After a failed attempt at trying to get up and make his own breakfast, the ninja will eventually escape the house by way of a substitution technique and wander the town. The clothing is slightly ill-fitting, as the Itachi that's been living in Luceti for the past four years is a fair bit healthier than the one walking slowly through it now.

Don't worry. The cough isn't contagious.

He can be found in basically any building around the town center, and eventually sitting wearily at the fountain.]

September 25th

[Officially banned to the house, but still this older self until he wakes up the morning of the 26th.]

Comments

[yourhatred]

[Too much, in other words. Itachi looks a little pained, eyes turning to the red of the Sharingan. (At least Law new something of those if he was going to be given them out of the blue.)

It's too perfect, this scenario here. The only thing missing would be his brother stopping by for lunch with a bright smile on his face.

He starts to stand, though he doesn't know where he'd go, only to have shaky limbs not willing to let him. Slipping back down into the seat, he lets out a sigh.]

... I see.

[deathsdoctor]

[Law sighs watching this. Naturally he wouldn't like it.]

Yeah.

[yourhatred]

I admit I'm more than a little uncomfortable...

Though I can only imagine how you must feel if all of this is true. I'm not blind to that.

[He absently reaches toward the plate, then remembers its empty.]

...Ah. I wouldn't mind... [He makes a weak little gesture at the empty plate.]

[deathsdoctor]

[He's not going to comment to the first part just yet. It is what it is.]

More onigiri or would you like to try something new?

[He has some of the gyoza Itachi always likes him making in the fridge. It'd be easy to fry them up.]

[yourhatred]

... Whatever's easiest on you. I feel as though I've asked too much already.

[Even if this man seems willing to do, and already has done, more than Itachi would normally ask of any person.

And he doesn't know how to deal with that.]

[deathsdoctor]

[And I feel like I've done too little.

But he doesn't say that. Instead he takes Itachi's bowl and fills it with more soup, before removing the gyoza from the fridge to fry.

He'll need dipping sauce with that too.

... and he'll make a couple more onigiri with what's left over.]

Alright.

... and you haven't. [It's so soft it can barely be heard, even by Itachi's sharp ears.

But it's there.]

[yourhatred]

[It's amazing what wonders a little food can do for a depleted chakra supply. The ninja's body is absorbing nutrients like nobody's business. The soup is very much appreciated, something Itachi shows more than he means to.

Though Law's response gives him a moment's pause.

He doesn't even know this man, and he's beginning to really feel bad because of this. What does he do when a relationship exists that he can't even remember? He doesn't even understand how it could have happened in the first place.]

[deathsdoctor]

[It doesn't take long to make the dipping sauce and the remaining onigiri. He plates the steaming hot gyoza alongside the onigiri and takes that plate, along with the saucer with the dipping sauce to the ninja.

There's a faint whisper of a smile.]

You look a million miles away right now, you know.

[yourhatred]

Ah... [He is, though he doesn't want to be. He wants to know what's gone on here - things he should remember but doesn't.

He wants to really understand Law's actions.

The ninja blinks at him, off guard, but not bothered enough that his hunger has diminished.]

... Sorry. I'm sorry.

[For not knowing.

He brings the soup bowl to his mouth, staring into it with a lost expression.]

[deathsdoctor]

[Aaaa.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Not to remember me.

Not to love me.

Don't feel you have to.]

... it's not been easy on you either...

[Quietly. He just wants to touch Itachi in that moment, but he's afraid of him pulling away if he reaches out.

Law feels the draw between them.

The moment feels fragile. Like spun glass.

He wonders if Itachi feels it too.]

[yourhatred]

[He does feel it, and it's... painful.

He shakes his head at that comment, and not because he agrees.]

Those circumstances were beyond your control, and if not for my own stubbornness I'd be better off now too.

[Physically.]

... You're a good person.

[He reaches for a rice ball with his chopsticks.] Your food is good too.

[deathsdoctor]

[... a... good... person...

No. He's not. He's a pirate.

Pirates are not good men.

How could anyone, if they knew, consider him good?]

I've had a lot of practice. [Talking about the food. Maybe not being a good person but trying to be a better one thing.]

... and well, maybe. [Giving Itachi a quiet look, lips pressing together and one brow raising a little.] You're a stubborn one, yeah... you give me a real run for my money in that category. Can't deny it.

... but it's understandable. I'd be acting the same way in your shoes.

[yourhatred]

[Don't even. Itachi has a way with reading people. He might not know the pirate like he should, but...

He smiles just a little at that answer. Though it's hard to say much with the way he's stuffing his face. He hasn't been this hungry and drained since... he can't actually remember when.]

[deathsdoctor]

[... oh fine. He'll just keep returning the favour whenever you decide you don't deserve something because of your own past, then.

Even if Itachi on a feed is nothing like the terrifying spectacle of Law on a feed, the pirate has to smile. It's good to see him enjoying himself, even if it's over something as simple as lunch.

It's part of why Law himself enjoys cooking so much - he gets to see Itachi's reaction to what he makes.]

[yourhatred]

[He finally stops long enough to speak again, giving Law an apologetic look.]

... I'll go back to bed after this.

I've worried you enough.

[deathsdoctor]

[Law's smile just grows softer.]

Alright. [Apology accepted.] I'll have some tea ready when you do get up again.

[yourhatred]

[Itachi nods, finishing up the rest of his meal at a more sedate pace so that it can settle a little before he drags himself up the stairs.

Law's free to assist him when he gets up. He won't complain even if he's sure he can do it himself now.]

[deathsdoctor]

[He'll let Itachi do it on his own. Step in if he has to. But, he does get up himself, picking up some laundry he has folded on a chair near where the combo washer and dryer are located.

(Small house after all. The kitchen does double duty as a laundry room.)

Just so he has an excuse to come up with him... even if he'll be headed to their his room and not Itachi's.]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi wouldn't be quick to admit it, but he's glad for the extra pair of eyes since he still feels a little unsteady.

He makes it to the room okay but sits heavily on the side of the bed, resting there for a few moments. How bothersome.]

[deathsdoctor]

[There's the quiet sounds in the next room of Law putting clothing away. The creak of bed springs as the man sits on the bed, head in hands. Weary.

Long moments pass before the pirate gets up to go back downstairs, passing by Itachi's room and glancing in.

His eyes are red again.

Law can't control the manifestation of the Sharingan perfectly yet. And it shows.]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi won't notice the color of his eyes. He doesn't notice anything on account of having dozed off.

The ninja isn't even laying down. He's still sitting on the edge of the bed, somewhat slumped with his head lowered, still in his clothes. That's as far as he'd gotten, it seems.]

[deathsdoctor]

[... well. That won't do.

(Even if the whole picture is... kinda cute)]

... oi... [Murmured, as he steps into the room.] ... that doesn't look comfortable...

[yourhatred]

[The ninja doesn't respond to that comment, exhausted as he is. He doesn't stir at all, and is still not aware the other man has entered.]

[deathsdoctor]

[Law doesn't make any effort to be stealthy coming in further to wake Itachi up to put him straight to bed.

Part of him wonders if he's actually going to tuck him in, clothes and all, and is a little amused despite everything. It's been such a long time since he's done anything like that.

He comes to a halt in front of Itachi, one hand gently coming to rest on his shoulder.]

... oi...

[yourhatred]

[The ninja's eyes crack open at the touch. One hand grabs for Law's wrist, while the other reaches for a weapon pouch that isn't there. He pauses at that, waking up a bit more fully.

He blinks at the pirate, heart pumping hard. Where is-- oh. He's still sitting here.]