[Thread] Or inflame and make you stall?

[lazyish]

Who: Shikamaru, Yosuke, Itachi, and Kazama.
Where: Elysium, Itachi's beautiful home.
When: After the April Fools' event.
Summary: Shika's coming over to assess Itachi's character. Itachi does some assessing of his own.
Rating: PG-13 for mild violence and swearing?
Other: NINJAS.

Comments

[lazyish]

Shikamaru waited, not too long in general but still too long for someone to answer the door. The familiar sound of Yosuke's creaky bike made him turn around and raise a brow. What the heck was Yosuke doing out of the house? Of course he answered that question himself, gaze dropping to the take-out bags. "Are those... tacos?" he asked, a little incredulously. Not that there was anything wrong with tacos, but it seemed so bizarre to be going to someone's giant mansion and finding that dinner was going to be fast food.

Well, whatever. Shikamaru wasn't picky about food. He shrugged and followed Yosuke in, taking in their surroundings. Less out of admiration than practicality. Mostly he was figuring out the best escape route. Which might have seemed paranoid to some, but that kind of preparation would have spared him from getting thrown out a window once.

Doors opened in response to Yosuke's announcement. The first to emerge was a man that Shikamaru didn't recognize immediately but he was polite enough. The second was Itachi himself, who Shikamaru recognized without any effort from all the newspaper clippings and files he'd gone over. Somehow he was more terrifying in person. Maybe it had to do with those really creepy red eyes.

But Shikamaru was composed. He only stared for a second before bowing in respect. "Nara Shikamaru," he introduced himself with a lot more formality than usual. This, to avoid offending anyone and getting killed over it. It came out sounding a little cold. "Nice to meet you."

[waitingfora]

"Ah, senpai!" Yosuke hadn't meant to sound as surprised as he had about the appearance of Kazama. It was more the idea that he had no idea that the other was even in the estate. But that would teach him to pay a little more attention to who was where. Nodding in return, he was going to leave it just as that when he realized he probably should actually introduce Shika and Kazama to one another. Wondered if he should say that both of them had a lot in common with one another. Though, that might come out weird.

He stood posed to actually begin the introductions (even had his hand set out to gesture between the two), when Itachi emerged from his room. Straightening his posture automatically, he choked a bit on his words. The silence was actually killing him, but either way, it seemed like the man was not against the choice of food that Yosuke chose for dinner. That reminded him of just how much food he actually had. Oh man, do I have enough for everyone? I thought that it would just be Shika, Uchiha-sama, and me. Peeking into the bag, he was starting to count this all out -- wondering if he should give up some of his portions for Kazama; finally deciding that he would.

Yosuke did look up when Itachi asked for Shika's name -- and remembered that Kazama had yet to be introduced. "Oh, right. Shika, you haven't met my senpai yet, huh?" Finally finishing the gesture to him, he hoped that this would get some of the awkwardness out of the air. Too many pauses if one would ask him. But it might be that he was just really talkative. "This is Kazama. And, Kazama ... well, I guess you already heard Shika's name. So. No need for that, right?"

"Oh. I hope tacos are okay." He inwardly flailed as he was looking for some verbal or visual confirmation that this actually was a good choice. Wondering why he was worried so much on this when there was a lot else that he could be worried about in the coming conversation. "I didn't really know what everyone liked and this seemed fairly safe. And mildly healthy. It has some lettuce, right?

[sagittariinae]

'Shikamaru Nara.' Right. Remembered now -- police chief's son. Kazama wasn't one to slack off on his research, and while he didn't quite know everything about the police's workings, he at least knew the faces of a few prominent members and their associates. It tended to help if he knew who to be wary around and who to be careful of. Which raised the question of whether Yosuke had brought Shikamaru here for some purpose, or if they really were just friends.

Either way, he offered a bland sort of nod in greeting. "Nice to meet you," was the low murmur as he glanced over this new figure. Kid sounded a bit cold and a bit stiff -- perhaps because of the setting? Or maybe he knew something. None of this thought process showed, of course, as his expression remained fixed in its impassive blank.

Still, he did give Itachi a small, meaningful look -- half questioning, half warning, almost. Asking, perhaps, if there was anything he should be mindful. (A flashing thought -- he did have his firearms here, but not on him at the moment. Perhaps it was better that they were kept away for now.)

Either way, he idly ran a hand through his hair, glancing back to Yosuke and the flailing hand gesture. No doubt Yosuke hadn't seen him here, which probably meant that he'd only bought food for himself. Didn't matter much. A small shrug, as he leaned against the wall, wondering if he should leave or if it was better to stay and watch for anything that he should be wary of.

[pogromanate]

Itachi’s thoughts were somewhat akin to Kazama’s. Shikamaru was not only the police chief’s adopted son, but one of the last (if not the last) remaining kin of his shinobi clan - the one who specialized in shadows and things that related to them as such. There was no doubt in his mind, however, that Shikamaru was truly Yosuke’s friend -- but he had no concern for that, the teenager’s expression held a constant scowl and Itachi just gazed along the newest teen, his eyes travelling down the line of untrained charka within Shikamaru.

With a soft nod towards Shikamaru, Itachi tilted his head to Kazama, the glance was obvious and one was returned -- but unlike the warning, it was one of reassurance. He rubbed the back of his neck idly and took the bag from Yosuke. Tacos were not his ideal food, and Kazama was welcome enough to have his share. After all, there was no need to eat when one was immortal.

As he settled the bags on the kitchen counter, lips parted to withdraw a slight inhale, arms folded against his chest as he leaned against the kitchen counter -- red hues flickered towards Shikamaru briefly, contemplating on what choice to take. Either to test the teenager’s current abilities, or to play ignorant to Shikamaru’s qualities of being a shinobi.

Yet, the former decision seemed to tip over the balance of his thoughts, a arm lazily reached out, bordering Yosuke off from impulsive thoughts that were not of his business. Slender fingers went into the pocket of his pants, and within a blink of a eye, fingers were drawn back and the small metal objects were released -- two separate lines with perfect accuracy to basically pierce Shikamaru’s skull.

[lazyish]

Yosuke's senpai? Oh, right. The reason Yosuke was here in the first place, because Itachi was his senpai. What a weird string of connections. It seemed funny that someone like Kazama had taken a liking to Yosuke. Just from looking at them, Shikamaru understood why Itachi and Kazama would get along, but Yosuke was so... so Yosuke.

This was probably the part where he was supposed to smile, but that was rare enough coming from Shikamaru. He nodded to Kazama and replied, "Nice to meet you too." That was the best anyone was getting out of him. Frigid and awkward.

While Yosuke and Itachi were dealing with the food, Shikamaru hung off to the side and waited. The atmosphere was uncomfortable but he'd started to drop his guard a little. Everyone was cordial enough and the attention was off him, right? Until something... he didn't even know what, maybe a sound or just the breeze of movement, made him lift his head again. He didn't think, didn't really see what was coming at him. There were two of them. In a lightning-fast reflex, he twisted out of the way of one, then caught the second, flipped it around, and sent it flying right back in the direction it came from.

[waitingfora]

Man, everyone's so quiet. Rubbing his forehead, he was wondering if anyone else felt that this was just a little oppressive. Letting out a sigh, shortly after Itachi took the bag of food from him, he began to try to fill up the silence with idle chatter. "Wow. This is kind of sad, huh? Four guys and not one of us know how to cook." He paused, laughing awkwardly as he messed his hair up a little by scratching the back of his head. "Though, I guess it could be worse. We could be eating someone's experimental meals." Smiling at each one of them in turn, he was hoping to get a smile from them. Might help lighten some of them (read: all) up. He was starting to think they were going to start to kill each other if things didn't ease up soon.

Just as he finished this idle thought, he blinked at the arm that was holding him back. He had been coming to start to take the plates out to get food and was about to ask if Itachi wanted to handle all that before he wasn't even sure what happened! Didn't catch the movement of the man's other hand, but did hear something collide with the wall. Yosuke turned to see what that was before Kazama knocked whatever was thrown back away.

He stood where he was for a long time, staring at what had impaled on the wall; what had been knocked away, in something close to fear. The fear died away to anger as he made elaborate sweeping of his arm - aimed to point a finger at Itachi's face. Who really cared if this guy was some mob boss and Kazama's senpai? Didn't he just attack Shika? Not that he actually caught everything that happened, but -

Pointing at him then sweeping his arm around to the other two, he yelped. "Just what the HELL was that about!?"

[sagittariinae]

Kazama had good reactions -- but only going by the standards of the average person. Because in this situation, he barely managed to realize what was happening, acting only on instinct at the sight of the blurs of steel in the air. Was aware of that Itachi had moved first -- why? -- and that Yosuke's friend had reacted equally quickly -- must have meant that the kid was also more than just some regular kid -- and that he'd moved automatically at the sight of the projectile streaking back towards Itachi.

It was almost an unconscious gesture, when he'd stepped before Itachi and Yosuke to knock the blade off its path, instantly drawing the combat knife he had at his belt and striking it away with the brief shriek of steel on steel.

The impact rang through his hand, making his nerves spark, and he stood with the knife held ready, glance flickering uneasily from Itachi to Shikamaru and back again. Almost like he was waiting for orders -- a signal -- a command, something that would give an indication of what to do next. A brief glance back at Yosuke -- at least he was safe, before he half-way lowered his knife. Ultimately, his wary stare fixed back on Itachi, asking, silently -- what now?

[pogromanate]

Even before the returning kunai had been struck by Kazama, slender fingers were entwined and started to form a quick seal before stopping in mid-movement. He exhaled deeply. The elimination of shinobi was a constant thought on his mind - too use to slaughter, and too use to being wry of others that had the same abilities such as himself. As far as Itachi knew, the culture of the shinobi was a deteriorating area, lost and gone and hardly existent.

"My apologises." He muttered, words uncaring and apathetic - totally disinterested in the other’s condition, the flows of charka that appeared before him was dying down and wavered uncontrollably. How could Itachi explain such a impulsive and irrational conflict? This was not like the same affair as Sasuke.

Yosuke’s outburst and the overdramatic gestures of appendages made the Uchiha sigh with disdain, and went completely ignored, "But why are you here, Nara." The words were spoken in the same tone as before, yet more firm, "No...your charka level is too low." He said more to himself, not even taking in the information that Shikamaru could have just been another teenager who had relations with Yosuke.

[lazyish]

Shikamaru was probably more stunned by what he had just done than the fact that Itachi had attacked him in the first place. After he threw the kunai back, he froze in place, immediately regretting it. Because he was probably about to get shot or stabbed or something. But he couldn't help marveling at his reaction, either. He looked at his hands as if they belonged to someone else, then slowly raised them into the air in surrender. "I... uh..." He wanted to react like Yosuke was, because seriously, what the hell? But he was already in deep trouble. "I'm sorry?" he offered weakly.

He glanced slowly over his shoulder, at the kunai that had almost killed him. Now lodged in the wall. If he needed to, could he grab that and fight? But he didn't know how to fight! So he kept his hands above his head and returned his gaze to Itachi.

Wait, what'd he just say? About chakra? Shikamaru flicked an almost wounded glance to Yosuke, wondering if he'd been betrayed but-- no, he hadn't mentioned chakra to Yosuke, had he? "I was just... invited. To dinner. Please don't kill me. I totally didn't mean to throw that back." That sounded completely lame, but it was true.

[waitingfora]

No one was going to answer them, were they? He had no idea what had just happened -- just that something sharp had been thrown and the sound of metal when Kazama blocked what had been thrown back. By Shika? Yosuke didn't even know that Shika could do something like that. He wondered if he felt a little offended that he wasn't told about this, but he decided on being more upset that he was just being ignored and that nothing was being answered. His arm remained in the air before it lowered down to his side. Shoulders hunched slightly in annoyance. Wondering if he should just lose his temper on Itachi for whatever he started. Because, he was the one to start it, right? Still, at least the man apologized for it. Even if Yosuke was feeling like saying, 'Sorry doesn't cut it!'

Shika had said that he was sorry, too, but Yosuke wasn't sure what he should say about that. And the fact that he was apologizing to Itachi. His fingers drummed against his leg, feeling suddenly very nervous and on edge. Not sure if he should get in between them -- but wasn't that like taking sides. What sides were there even to take? He didn't even get what the man's problem was with his friend. Other than the fact that he could do whatever it was that he just did. His mouth opened to yell something along the lines of, 'I don't get any of this!' but halted to mutter a confused parroting instead.

"Charka?" He blinked a few times. What the hell was that? Yosuke noticed the expression that Shika had given him, which made him lower his head and wave his hands about automatically; not sure what was going on, but he sure as hell wasn't part of it. He jerked backward slightly on the comment of killing the other and wondered if that really was how things were going to go down. Honestly, he couldn't tell! He couldn't read anyone with their blank expressions and tones. "No one's killing anyone! I won't allow it!" Okay, that was really retarded to say, because what could he do, but he meant it all the same!

[pogromanate]

Once again, the Itachi’s thoughts wavered. He ignored the words - the motions and the sudden tense atmosphere that enclosed around the room, only for Itachi to lean back carelessly and cup his head. Red hues flicked towards Kazama, and he reached out to place a hand on the other’s shoulder, to dismiss any sort of command that would have been spoken - if there was one at all. With his hand on Kazama’s shoulder, he used the kitchen counter as leverage and pushed himself from it.

"...Hn. I’m not going to kill you." Itachi said to Shikamaru with nothing but utter calmness in his tone. There was no need for unless violence and besides, it would be a annoyance if a murder was committed in his own estate - and so he had no desire to indicate any sot of murderous intention with the teenager.

Then, his attention was drawn to possibly the largest annoyance in the estate - and that was Yosuke. Scarlet optics swiveled at Yosuke, and his loud outburst just made the Uchiha run a hand through his hair out of mind irritation. "Hanamura, your outbursts are an annoyance, keep them to yourself." He breathed coldly before his demeanor wavered back to perfect indifferent. The offer of the meal was rejected as he made his way back down the hall, and to resume his former activities.

[lazyish]

Shikamaru visibly winced at Yosuke's outburst. Even if he lived here, Shikamaru doubted that Yosuke had any power whatsoever to prevent or allow anything that might happen. And to try to do so would just... get him in a whole lot of trouble. Shikamaru turned a pleading look to him. Don't interfere. Because if Yosuke was hurt for his sake, it'd feel a hell of a lot worse than whatever Itachi intended to do to him. Yeah, sure, they were partners and everything, but Yosuke couldn't just go leaping into danger when he didn't understand the situation fully!

--But Itachi was leaving. Almost like he was disappointed by Shikamaru, like he hadn't passed some test. But what the hell else was Itachi expecting? Shikamaru had already somehow countered that attack without even thinking. Had he honestly been expecting more violence? Did he think Shikamaru was sent here, and was that his way of provoking?

Or...

"Hey, wait!" Shikamaru called out, ducking out of the room after Itachi. "How do you know my chakra's low? Too low for what? Listen, you owe me some kind of explanation after doing something like that!"

[pogromanate]

Itachi was already half-way down the hall before he half-glanced behind his shoulder at the calling. He turned to Shikamaru, figure wavered and expression uncaring with half-narrowed eye-lids. And so, Shikamaru knew nothing about his origins? Of the Nara massacre that could have been equal to the Uchiha, and so the teenager did not receive training. It was in Itachi’s mind that he would leave Shikamaru ignorant about the clans and what not. But the inquiry about charka and jutsu and whatever else was basic for a shinobi, Itachi had no qualms with indulging the teenager’s curiosity.

With his arms lazily folded over his chest and red eyes gazing outwards of the hallway to the two lone figures of Yosuke and Kazama, Itachi turned as he started to speak to Shikamaru, expecting the teen to follow him “How much training have you received if you don’t know that much?” His steps started to lead Itachi to the large courtyard that was usually used as a training ground, despite its extravagant appearance.

"Do you even know what charka is, Nara?" He muttered firmly as he stepped off the patio and onto the grass, he turned to face Shikamaru one more time.

[lazyish]

Shikamaru screeched to a halt as soon as Itachi turned to look at him. Maybe it'd been a bad idea to go chasing after the yakuza boss who'd just attacked him, but he couldn't leave this alone. Not something important like that, about how his powers worked. But it seemed that Itachi wasn't angry with him anyway, and when he started walking again, Shikamaru of course followed him.

That question. Déjà vu... "I've... kinda just been training myself," he replied. "From books. You're the first person who's said anything about it. I mean, how did you even notice? If Yosuke didn't tell you about me, how'd you know?" Just from asking, he was admitting to a lot. He wouldn't have done that much while martial law was in place, but now it seemed safer to talk about this even with a stranger. Anyway, it was useless to deny it. Somehow Itachi had noticed from sight alone.

Now they were in a courtyard. Shikamaru glanced back, wondering if Yosuke would follow, but it was probably better if he didn't. Safer. He returned his gaze to Itachi, his expression serious. "I've read a whole bunch of theories by a whole lot of kooks," he answered. "But the truth is, I don't know. I don't know anything about chakra or even what it is I really do with it."

[pogromanate]

So it must’ve curiosity that made Shikamaru question himself and his abilities. But truly, Itachi was not about to commit himself to training someone that should have known the basics (and even more) of jutsu and charka when they were at the start of adolescence. Perhaps the reason that Itachi had not dismissed the teenager out of uncaring interest was probably because abilities such as his own was long gone within the city.

Itachi did not answer Shikamaru’s question about how the charka was noticed by simple sigh, considering that Itachi had no interest in discussing his own kekkei genkai nor how one was to acquire it. Instead he explained with a monotone voice as his movements were languid the basics on charka and jutsu - and their combined relation with the shinobi arts as well as their work of assassins or otherwise.

"And your primary abilities happen to be that of shadow techniques, correct?" He muttered as an afterthought as red hues gazed along Shikamaru briefly. The question Itachi asked himself sounded much more bored than it should have been. How Itachi knew of Shikamaru’s abilities was simply that he himself was a shinobi, and other techniques were to be studied as teenagers and children. "Or have you not been able to accomplish as much, either?"

[lazyish]

Shikamaru listened intently to everything Itachi had to say. It was more than he'd been able to piece together in months of research, much more. And no wonder. Apparently these were secret arts. It was probably incredible that he'd figured out as much as he did on his own. Then again, his dreams had helped. Even the dream last night... Now that he thought of it, that dream conversation had been about a shinobi mission.

"Yeah, shadow techniques," Shikamaru murmured, his gaze dropping to his feet. His kekkei genkai... The power of his bloodline. "I thought it might have to do with my parents-- my real parents, I mean-- but I didn't imagine anything like this. Does that mean they were shinobi?" That would explain the way they'd been killed... But according to all of their records, they'd been simple pharmacists leading completely ordinary lives. Still, with that kind of thing in his past, Shikamaru suddenly understood why he was having these dreams. It must have been locked in his subconscious somewhere all along.

"I can use them a little," he went on. "I mean, I can move my shadow, but I'm not good at it. I don't know what to do with it. And since my ribs are broken, I get tired really easy."