yourhatred | seven crows (朱) voice

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seven crows (朱) voice

[Forward-dated to tomorrow (the 30th)]

[The calm facade is easy to slip into after years of conditioning himself. Perhaps too easy. He hasn't slept or eaten much in the past few days, though he'll have to force himself to do both soon enough despite the influence of the hallucinations. The only outward signs that he might be having difficulty, however, are a little darkness around his eyes and the rare bit of clumsiness on his part one would never see normally.

But his thoughts are a jumbled mess. This becomes apparent the moment he opens his mouth. Despite this, he still manages to throw up a couple strong filters. Perhaps it's a cry for help of sorts.]

[filtered to Katara]

Katara-san... Do you know who I am? Have you left your window open?

[filtered FROM Sasuke]

There are dead crows on my windowsill. I think they were trying to get in.

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[The door to the apartment will be unlocked. Despite the fact that Shikamaru said he didn't want any tea, Itachi has heated up a kettle of water regardless.

...Though that's all he's done. The actual tea part has been left out, and the cup he's sipping from every so often as he paces in the living room contains nothing but hot water.]

[He'll admit - one of the reasons why he came was to see if Itachi had actually stuck to the same apartment. The floor's shared kitchen certainly seems to imply that he has.

Shikamaru toes open the door and frowns at the pacing.] Glad I didn't take you up on the tea offer.

[Itachi freezes in place at the voice, as if he hadn't been expecting company after all. Shikamaru is familiar, but his eyes flash red as he allows the Sharingan to take over in order to get a brief look at his visitor. The color fades almost as soon as it appears, and he sets his cup down on a stand beside the sofa.]

My information on you was inaccurate. You have a mask now.

...That's also an unfortunate habit. But it was an unfortunate loss.

[He tenses, but it's not because of the Sharingan. His back straightens, and he ignores that last remark.

Shikamaru counts to five before raising the mask a little more - every few minutes he can feel it try to slip back down on its own.]

It wasn't exactly something I picked for myself. If I could take the damn thing off, I would.

The mask has become you? I hear that's a common occurrence lately, but I can't seem to find mine.

[He hasn't been stuck in a costume this whole time, but he would have greatly preferred it. Even the most ridiculous thing.]

Not everyone's been lucky enough to get one. [Said somewhat sarcastically... though it was kinda hilarious to see Shino in a clown costume.] Could make your own, but you're really not missing out on much.

Self-imposed masks are less honest but easier to bear. [The pacing has caused him to feel unsteady. He takes a seat before it becomes too noticeable.]

...I'm surprised that you came, even as I expected it.

[He shrugs.] Turns out I didn't have anything better to do.

Chouji-san was in the fog. Did it stain much?

Chouji's fine.

[He just nods at this, silent for a few moments. One would think blindness would stop something like hallucinations, but no. His mind just fills in the darkness with false images.]

I should... I've forgotten it. The mission briefing.

...mission briefing?

Yes... Can you remind me? Maybe then the details will come back.

[What would I know about a mission of yours? Idly, he wonders if Akatsuki handles their 'missions' the same way Konoha does...]

[He tugs at the sleeve of his costume.] You've already completed it.

I... [He frowns, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.] Did I?

I apologize. My memory is never this bad. [He reaches for his cup again.] ...Did you want tea?

[He grunts and leans back against a wall.]

...Nah. I'm good.

I would offer you something to eat, but I'm afraid there's maggots.

They come with the crows?

Crawled from the bodies. All the bodies.

Aa. Should really take care of those, don't you think?

They move on their own, away from my hands, and their blood rushes upward. They're never the same, they're always the same.

...

Shikamaru-san... I would like to ask for your help.

[He was about to point out the oxymoron there, but he pauses at that request. Tilts his head suspiciously.] With what?

I need you to... have your shadows cover it all.

seven crows (朱) voice

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