twenty-six crows (朱) action/voice - slightly forward dated to wednesday morning

[yourhatred]

[Itachi wakes with a sharp intake of breath, lungs (new or unused for some time?) greedily taking in air with or without his consent. His pulse is heavy in his ears, the air flowing chill across warm skin. They were the bright, crisp sensations of life that everyone took for granted, and he would have done the same if not for the fact that it was just moments before, or at least what felt like moments before, that he hadn't been alive at all.

He'd been experiencing some semblance of life, certainly, but it had been a pale imitation, his soul tethered to the stolen body of another wrapped up in his physical appearance like so much paper mache. But here, this was truly living again, and for just the briefest of moments the ninja allowed himself to wonder if all of that hadn't been some sort of strange dream.

But then he awakens further, and as he does so it becomes apparent that only one eye is functioning at all. The left eye sees nothing, sight completely taken from it - the price he'd paid to stop their enemy. Not a dream, then. He'd been returned to experience the ressurection technique only to be brought back to Luceti in the end.

He recognizes the feel of this forest. The trees. The sore wings pressed between his back and the ground only cement this realization. And then there's another thought, one that snaps him immediately out of his confused daze.

He doesn't know how long he's been gone.

The ninja rises to his feet unsteadily. He feels heavier, freed and confined all at once, but he'll readjust. His journal is nearby, and he's quick to retrieve it, but he leaves no message at first. He has no way of knowing who's still around, and if Law isn't...

If Law isn't... then he isn't certain a locked post to him won't become unlocked for all to see.

He just wants to be cautious.

So he makes his way slowly towards his home, hoping it still is his home, and that it hasn't been months, even years, in Luceti's time since he was there before.


It's only after he's been at home for some time and has gotten caught up on what little there is to catch up on that he'll make a public message:]

This is Uchiha Itachi. For anyone this may concern, my disappearance was not a permanent one.

((ooc: Feel free to run across him on his way home as well.))

Comments

[deathsdoctor]

[And guess who greets you even before you even get in the house or past the edge of the woods that melts into woods.

Two cats. One black. One grey. Both dashing up.

... they aren't supposed to be out. But Sumire has a way of getting out despite Law's best measures and it appears she's taught Amaya her tricks.]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi stops, not wanting to accidentally step on or trip over the cats as they wind around his ankles.

Once the initial surprise wears off, he bends down to pick one up with each arm. They're both still around, at least. This is somewhat promising. And they're in good health, meaning they're being cared for still.]

[deathsdoctor]

[They snuggle in, attempting to show their affection.

As for the two story house in front of Itachi, nothing's changed. The greenhouse is there, filled with whatever plants Itachi placed their before his disappearance. The garden plot remains - soil made ready for spring and planting. The house itself needs painting - it's weathered much in the time the men have lived there.

But it is quiet. ... so quiet. Did the pirate run off to sea? Unlikely, due to the cats' presence. Law would have taken them with him. Or is the pirate drowning himself in work, as he's wont to. Or at the bar.

... or merely asleep and not risen yet to greet the man in the yard.]

[yourhatred]

[One eye spins bright red with the Sharingan as he takes in as much as he can. It can't have been that long at all, and he's glad for it.

He lets himself inside, cats first - they scamper ahead of him with their greetings completed, hardly making any noise himself. No, it hasn't been long. Very little has changed. Relief washes over him, but he's not at ease yet. The most important matter has yet to be verified.

The ninja climbs the steps slowly. The closer he gets to the top, the more certain he is that Law is there. He isn't surprised to find him on the bed when he at last makes his way in. It's almost as if he hadn't left at all, which he might have considered to be the case had enough things not been out of place for him to know otherwise.

He has no desire to wake the pirate. Not yet. And he's tired. Everything is just too much in this body right now, so he's perfectly content just to crawl up beside his partner for the moment, the red fading from his eye so there's as little to startle Law with as possible.]

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[Lee was on one of his regular jogs across random parts of Luceti when he came across the sight that made him come to a quick and silent halt: Itachi, just as he was waking up. Lee quickly did a backflip to a nearby tree, hoping he was not noticed. But with a ninja as skilled and observant as Itachi, he knows his chances may not be high.

Lee remains cautious; even with the assurances that he's received that Itachi poses no threat in Luceti, he's not sure if that's still in effect. After all, what if it was being in Luceti that made Itachi docile, and he does not remember? He still knows it would be foolish to try to start a fight. So Lee tries to just observe for the moment, while on guard.]

[Action]

[yourhatred]

[For the first few moments after Itachi stands, he remains leaning against the nearest tree until he can regain his bearings. Apart from his sight, all his senses feel too sharp. Everything is bright and noisy despite the fact that being undead, as it were, hadn't dampened any of that at all.

But he's nothing if not cautious. As Lee watches, a crow alights on a branch near him, eyes a bright red, and it lets out a loud caw that has the ninja immediately alert.]

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[Lee's eyes dart towards the crow as it caws - and he quickly leaps down from the tree. There's no more need to hide now that Itachi's on to him. He looks forward, with enough sense to focus on Itachi's feet, not looking him in the eyes. He's not sure what to do - he could retreat or try to call for others. But first perhaps he should see if there are truly hostile intentions... as dangerous as it may be. He does remain in a fighting stance, just in case.]

Itachi.

[Action]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi turns toward him. His eyes are both dark again, as he's still not the sort of person to casually display his weaknesses. Lee may technically be an ally, but it is a one-sided alliance from the perspective of many still.

He's met this one before, seen him around but spoken to him little. Lee. The energetic one.

A simple nod is his only response to the greeting.]

[Voice]

[endgames]

[He feels sick.]

Third time's the charm, huh?

[Voice]

[yourhatred]

I would hope so.

[He doesn't like the idea of this happening often.]

It appears this place doesn't really want to be rid of me.

[Voice]

[endgames]

There's hitting the nail on the head...

If it makes you feel better, it wasn't a long while. But if you remember anything as you obviously do, you've probably taken care of enough things to hear that from someone else.

[Voice]

[yourhatred]

Under a week. Yes.

I apologize for any... difficulties, my disappearance might have caused.

aaaaction? idk idk i hope this works /flails around

[maplemimicry]

[In the week or so since arriving, Kaede's been exploring the village a bit, getting her bearings. She's been pretty good about sticking to the rules her dad laid out for her, though--no wandering after dark, stay within the village limits--and she just so happens to be on the outskirts when she catches a flicker of motion out of the corner of her eye and turns toward it. Did that guy just stumble?

...It's probably nothing. Her dad trips over his own two feet all the time.

...But she doesn't leave just yet, instead staying where she is to watch him a moment longer.

Must be those Hero genes she inherited from Kotetsu.]

action!

[yourhatred]

[A ninja never stumbles. Their feet are always exactly where they intend them to be.

Though perhaps not always at the right time.

What Itachi lacks with his own eyesight at the moment he makes up for in other ways. A crow caws somewhere over the girl's shoulder, and Itachi stops for just a moment to turn his head slightly in her direction.]

action! urghh 15 icons /flop

[maplemimicry]

[The guy seems to be okay--like she'd first thought, it had probably been nothing at all. Maybe an errant branch he hadn't seen or something. She should just go...

Kaede startles as the crow caws, a "meep" escaping her as her head jerks toward the sound.

...Oh. It was just a bird. Pfft. She relaxes, turning back to the way she was facing before, and--

! That guy is looking at her, now. Is she busted for staring before lskdfskd oh gosh.]

U-um! Hi!

action

[yourhatred]

[Just a girl. Not one he knows, but most likely not a threat. Though Itachi doesn't write anyone off completely on their first meeting.

As she realizes she's been seen (though in his case it's not so much 'seen' as acknowledged), Itachi nods his head in greeting. He's not a threat to her at the moment either.]

Good morning.

[Voice]

[faithfulflame]

[Well, she'd only met the man once. But their talk had left an impression on her. It felt proper to greet him, at least.]

Welcome back, Itachi-san.

[And she's not sure if she means it or not.]

[Voice]

[yourhatred]

Thank you. Miss Rei, wasn't it?

I'm sorry I didn't have the opportunity to visit the shrine before I vanished.

[Voice]

[faithfulflame]

It was.

I certainly cannot fault you for that. [She sounds somewhat amused.] Were you away long, from your perspective?

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

[After seeing the mess losing the man made of Law, Luke breathes a sigh of relief to himself. Itachi meant something to his friend, and Luke was fond of him too. All things considered, and as selfish as it seemed, he was glad to hear that voice again, even if only for Law's sake.]

Welcome back. You are unharmed, I trust?

[Voice]

[yourhatred]

[Another familiar voice. It will always be strange to have acquaintances like this reply. He isn't used to being this open.]

Thank you. I was not tampered with much by our captors. [Aside from the removal in the first place. The loss of sight in one eye was his own doing.]

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

Good.

[Genuine relief there.]

How long was it, for you? And...are your memories intact?

[origami_ninja]

[Konan is still in her child form and she's been staying with Law in Itachi's absence. Amaya and Sumire were given plenty of attention, and she did her best to be helpful to Law and give him space when needed. It only seemed right, given that he continued to let her stay even after Itachi was gone.

When Itachi is finally home again, Konan is waiting with some freshly brewed tea and an origami flower that she's made as a present.]

Welcome back!

[yourhatred]

[Itachi has borrowed one of Law's shirts until he goes to retrieve his own. When he steps out of the room later that day, he's surprised to find Konan waiting for him - though the surprise is due more to her age than her presence. Apparently this particular issue has yet to be resolved.]

...Thank you.

[origami_ninja]

I helped Law take good care of Amaya and Sumire while you were away.

[She was even on her own for a day without it being a problem.]