twenty-three crows (朱) video

[yourhatred]

[There is a feminine face in view right now, and those who've run into her already will recognize this as Itachi in his currently female state.

However, something seems to be a little... off with Itachi today. For one thing, she's smiling quite brightly at the viewer, something the ninja never does. The feeling of not-rightness is worsened when she waves a hand in a friendly greeting.]

Excuse me, everyone, but I was wondering if you could tell me if you've seen my youngest son? I haven't heard from him all day and I'm getting a little worried.

His name is Sasuke and he's only seven - dark hair and dark eyes like mine. I'm sure he's just out with his brother somewhere, but you know how a mother frets.




((ooc: Itachi hasn't been affected by anything but the genderswap. However he looks an awful lot like his mother, and it's started to mess with him psychologically.

Replies will come from scarletfemme.))

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[deathsdoctorine]

[Haki user, Itachi. Haki user. She senses it and keeps it brief. It is selfish that she did it at all, but she is a pirate. And they are selfish people.

So she nods and feels helpless and weak because she can sense Itachi's mood.]

Okay. I'll have some tea and food ready when you get up.

[She'll have drunk half the liquor cabinet by that time as well, but there won't be any evidence of it.]

[scarletfemme]

[Itachi nods, the mere fact that he has to do this not sitting right with him. But his head is pounding and he feels so suddenly drained emotionally that he can't think of anything better for him just then.

He stands with Law's help, making his way back inside without saying another word and remaining silent until he's curled among the blankets on his bed.]

[deathsdoctorine]

[And Law is left alone outside. Her longer hair is blowing in her eyes and she blinks away the sudden tears caused by the irritation.

She fixes her yukata, hides her exposure, and then trods inside slowly. Dully. Her first stop is where she keeps the Romulan Ale. The bottle dangles from her fingertips. She looks at it and then pops the cork.

What a pitiful creature you are, Trafalgar, finding comfort at the bottom of a bottle.

She takes a long swing anyway and recorks the bottle. And with that in hand, she walks into the kitchen to cook.]

[scarletfemme]

[Some time later, when Itachi steps out of his room again, he looks completely different. He's bound himself the same way as Law and tied his hair back into the usual low ponytail. He's not wearing his usual blue silk, but the Akatsuki robes he'd stashed away for so long.

He has to look like himself above anything.]

[deathsdoctorine]

Hush, hush... it's coming.

[There's the sound of insistent mewing. It's feeding time for the cats. And bowls being set down.

Now unless Law's drunk to the point of nearly passing out, there's really no way to tell she's been drinking, unless you get close enough to smell the alcohol on her breath. She walks steady, is clear eyed, and startling sober sounding.

And by the time Itachi has hit the third stair down, the sound of a kettle being placed on the stove can be heard. Along with a few whistled strains of a sea shanty.

She is in fact, smiling. Because Trafalgar Law is a man of smiles, even when the last thing she feels like doing is smiling.]

Tea will be ready in a few minutes...

[And then she begins to turn.]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi's steps quicken, and he reaches out to catch Law as she turns.

He just wants to hold her a moment, wordlessly. Just a moment for the sake of comfort, then he has to hold it together for as long as the experiment continues to last.]

[deathsdoctorine]

[Her smile fades into something more real and she catches black fabric and red clouds in her vision before she's pulled in.

The alcohol makes her too numb to be terribly startled, lidocaine for the soul, and then her arms come around him, tight. Maybe a little too tight at first... Law's physical strength even as a woman befits her status as Supernova, but she soon eases but doesn't let go.

Nothing is spoken. Nothing needs to be. She just allows herself to be comforted and the moment to simply be.]

[yourhatred]

[The scent of alcohol doesn't go unnoticed, but it does go unmentioned. Itachi has no room to judge right now.

When he finally breaks away, he walks calmly to a seat at the table and just sits, still not ending the silence.

He can't think of anything else to do.]

[deathsdoctorine]

[She's grateful for that. Law busies herself with making tea, pouring cups, and finishing the light supper of miso, rice, and grilled tofu and vegetables, and then setting the table.

This... is going to be difficult. Moving on. Fixing what can be fixed. She doesn't know ho--- no, she does. At least the first step. End the silence between them. Somehow.

So she breaks it.]

... I've never seen you wear that before.

[yourhatred]

They are the robes of Akatsuki.

[What they stood for now was the worst sort of organization, but they'd served a better purpose once.

They're a connection right now. That's all.]

[deathsdoctorine]

[She nods. Through Toshio she remembers what they meant. Though, perhaps not the same way Itachi. Kiri nin had been especially sensitive to their sight - given the accusations that Akatsuki had been using their village for so long. And the long held suspicions about the Fourth Mizukage.

She had been more literal. She had never seen him don his Akatsuki mantle in reality. But she can guess at why.]

... I remember them. A bit.

[yourhatred]

Ah... From your time in my world? I would imagine so.

[He tucks an arm into the middle fold.]

I have shelved them, for the most part, while here.

[deathsdoctorine]

... yes. Toshio was hunting down one. And he had a couple run ins.

[That it was Kisame is very easy to deduce. As Kiri hunter nin rarely track any but their own.

As for the run ins...

She nods again. Understandable, that.]

[scarletfemme]

[Itachi nods as well. He knows well who this Akatsuki member would have been.]

I have no intent to rejoin the organization, of course.

[deathsdoctorine]

I know.

[Unsaid but meant as well: I know you may have to play that part to hilt if things with Madara turns out to require it.]

[yourhatred]

It is just... a reminder, is all.

[And that's the last he'll say on the matter.]

[deathsdoctorine]

Aa.

[Agreement. It's the last they'll speak of it. At least if nothing warrants a return to the conversation.

And a return to the silence. Though not for too long. The cats, sensing the mood, start to begin to bug them both for attention.

Merciful that.]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi glances down at the cat at his feet. Then, slowly, he bends over to pick her up and lift her into his lap.

...She seems larger in this body. Just the smallest bit.]

[deathsdoctorine]

[The cat at Law's feet doesn't wait for her to pick her up. She jumps right up into her lap, and Law strokes her fondly, scratching behind her ears.]

I remember when they were just tiny kittens. They've gotten big fast.

[yourhatred]

It's a testament to the length of time we've been here.

[His expression remains neutral at this, a little conflicted with the thought.]

[deathsdoctorine]

[Her head bows, and she scratches behind Sumire's ears some more.]

What is it now? Over a year and a half for me... over two for you?

[yourhatred]

[He nods.]

That sounds about right.

[deathsdoctorine]

... [How do you describe one moment of perfectly wretched, aching homesickness?] ... there isn't enough ocean here.

[Sumire stretches and mews. Law instantly knows what she wants and why she can't give it.]

Sorry, Sumire, you can't go out at night. Not while the vampire is prowling.

[yourhatred]

A vampire?

[Itachi doesn't actually seem all that surprised by this news.]

One of the other villagers, I'm assuming.

[deathsdoctorine]

Her name is Drusilla. There was a public warning about her a while back. She's beyond mad.

... there have been a number of animal corpses in the woods. Her doing. [Why she won't let the cats out, beyond the normal dangers of the woods behind the house.] No one killed, yet, but there's been a few wounded.