(Mostly) Harmless [Chiriku, Ibiki]
[takes place immediately after Small Comfort]
Chiriku's faint smile said more than she could, and she only nodded in reply and silently watched Rin depart. She sat down again, slowly and feeling old. This time she covered her face with both hands, fingertips pressing hard against her skin. She would tell Kakami what Rin said when she found the gray-haired jounin, but for now, she simply wanted to sit and let some of the hard knot of emotion loosen. Not completely, oh no; that was reserved for when she was safely ensconced within the privacy of the shrine. But just enough to dull the edge.
Time moved strangely after that. Her body registered the ticking away of at least an hour, but her mind only actually perceived snippets here and there, making it feel like only mere moments had stepped by.
When her ears finally registered someone was addressing her, she lifted her head slowly, blinking stupidly a few times at the tall, scarred woman wearing a leather trenchcoat despite the summer heat. Well, actually, she noticed the paper cup of water being offered to her, before she saw the body attached to the gloved hand holding the cup.
Two seconds more and her brain finally snapped to attention. She accepted the cup with a murmured Thank you and forced herself to sip the cold liquid instead of gulping it down.
Chiriku's faint smile said more than she could, and she only nodded in reply and silently watched Rin depart. She sat down again, slowly and feeling old. This time she covered her face with both hands, fingertips pressing hard against her skin. She would tell Kakami what Rin said when she found the gray-haired jounin, but for now, she simply wanted to sit and let some of the hard knot of emotion loosen. Not completely, oh no; that was reserved for when she was safely ensconced within the privacy of the shrine. But just enough to dull the edge.
Time moved strangely after that. Her body registered the ticking away of at least an hour, but her mind only actually perceived snippets here and there, making it feel like only mere moments had stepped by.
When her ears finally registered someone was addressing her, she lifted her head slowly, blinking stupidly a few times at the tall, scarred woman wearing a leather trenchcoat despite the summer heat. Well, actually, she noticed the paper cup of water being offered to her, before she saw the body attached to the gloved hand holding the cup.
Two seconds more and her brain finally snapped to attention. She accepted the cup with a murmured Thank you and forced herself to sip the cold liquid instead of gulping it down.