[ There was a lot that happened during the war that Gojyo wasn't aware of. There was a lot that happened before the war, too, and even further back, in the country everyone else comes from. There's a lot here - it's not just a nightmare about dead friends and violent enemies. But whatever secrets this dream is telling about Sakura's mind, they're her secrets, and none of his business.
His voice is gentle when he speaks... and for once, there's no tones of flirtation. ]
[ And it occurs to Gojyo suddenly that this might be the way it went down. He doesn't know. He has no clue what happened to Sakura, or Naruto, or Kakashi (beyond the kidnapping and fake beheading), or that other guy, Sasuke. He has absolutely no way of knowing if Sakura's healing chi somehow backfired and fried her friends. He doesn't know. ]
Just a dream, honey. It's not real. Turn it off an' get back to bed. You look beat.
[It's real enough for Sakura that all she'd get done by going back to bed is staring at the ceiling, turning this over and over on her head like a broken record.]
I don't think I can sleep.
[Really, sleeping is laughingly optimistic. She might've laughed if she could.]
[ He stares into the Hitomi like he can look inside Sakura's head this way. Come on, it was just a bad dream. Right? Sakura's stronger than this... what's the magic phrase to get her to remember that? ]
Pretty girls shouldn't have to deal with nightmares alone. Prove you're okay, an' I'll leave you be.
[ Oh no, no no no, wait, what if this isn't Sakura? ]
...Look, there's weird shit goin' on, okay? Yukari's gone nice, an' that Pain guy, he's all Mr Sunshine, an' even the guy with th'bombs is mopin' around. It's not you. It's th'gods, they're fuckin' with you. Okay? Don't listen to 'em.
[Did Kakashi die in the war? She doesn't know. She never got farther than Sasori; died before she could find her comrades. Some medical ninja she was. She was supposed to be the one who lived so that she could heal other people, as if that would absolve her of what she'd done. (It wouldn't but that was her duty, anyway.)]
His voice is gentle when he speaks... and for once, there's no tones of flirtation. ]
Hey. Sakura. ...Your Hitomi's on.
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[There's no anything in Sakura's tone. No indignation, no fire, nothing. The nightmare gutted everything else.]
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Just a dream, honey. It's not real. Turn it off an' get back to bed. You look beat.
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I don't think I can sleep.
[Really, sleeping is laughingly optimistic. She might've laughed if she could.]
But thanks.
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What's that? You want some company? I'm flattered. You know all you've gotta do is ask.
[ React, dammit. This isn't like you. ]
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[Even her rejection is flat. She's still not biting. It was a bad dream, Gojyo.]
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[ Just magically transport himself from the middle of the desert. What? It could happen. ]
Anything to get out of this desert. You wouldn't believe what it's doing to my hair.
[ Huh? Huh? Campy queen act, always a crowd pleaser, right? C'mon, react! ]
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[Ah, something there, but probably not the prickly annoyance he was expecting.
She doesn't want to see anyone. She can't bear to. If anyone came to her right now she thinks she'd just lose it.]
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Then give me a good reason why I shouldn't.
[ He stares into the Hitomi like he can look inside Sakura's head this way. Come on, it was just a bad dream. Right? Sakura's stronger than this... what's the magic phrase to get her to remember that? ]
Pretty girls shouldn't have to deal with nightmares alone. Prove you're okay, an' I'll leave you be.
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You're all the way out in Wind Country.
[Maybe he'll forget that traveling works funny here...]
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Let me worry about th'distance. Try again.
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Gojyo, please don't.
[Practically begging.]
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[ Oh no, no no no, wait, what if this isn't Sakura? ]
...Look, there's weird shit goin' on, okay? Yukari's gone nice, an' that Pain guy, he's all Mr Sunshine, an' even the guy with th'bombs is mopin' around. It's not you. It's th'gods, they're fuckin' with you. Okay? Don't listen to 'em.
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It's not the gods. That was all me.
[Quieter.]
It was me.
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[ It's the same deadpan disbelieving tone he would use if she'd just admitted to being the secret head of Akatsuki. ]
Is that what you're tellin' me?
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[Did Kakashi die in the war? She doesn't know. She never got farther than Sasori; died before she could find her comrades. Some medical ninja she was. She was supposed to be the one who lived so that she could heal other people, as if that would absolve her of what she'd done. (It wouldn't but that was her duty, anyway.)]
I don't know... maybe.
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