[Sakura hadn't been sleeping well. Sasori's dream wakes her up and, afterward, keeps her up. She watches silently.
You did not grow up in Suna. Konoha is simply different.She knows that. She knows that a childhood in places like Suna and Kiri was not the same as the childhood she'd enjoyed. She also knows that a childhood in wartime was not the same as a childhood in times of peace. She'd been lucky on both those counts
( ... )
[Sasori's head is somewhat clearer by the time that he reaches the door to his home. He still is fearful of what he will face in the morning when Sakura awakes, but perhaps spending time repairing his puppets will help him to focus and find a way to ease the tension between them.
He is surprised to find her in the living area once he enters, and trepidation builds within him. He had not been expecting to have to confront her just yet, so he is somewhat unprepared to face her.
He studies her for a moment, and is relieved to see she at least appears more subdued than he feared. His voice is soft when he finally forces himself to speak.]
I thought you would be asleep. I hope you did not wait for me.
[She glances up at him as he comes in, and her eyes do not leave him.
Sakura is still angry. If Sasori was hoping for this to blow over, then he'll be disappointed. But she is calmer, and more ready to have a rational conversation than she had been hours ago.
If he was hoping to put off this conversation any longer, he will also be disappointed.]
I couldn't sleep.
[She stands, but doesn't approach him. She crosses her arms and clutches her upper arms in her hands. It is less a gesture of irritation and more a defense mechanism. A way to hide. To keep herself contained.]
[Of course, she would still be angry. It couldn't be that easy, Sasori knows.
He approaches, but does so only to sit. He's tired, and looks it, although he still will never allow himself to be intimidated, and therefore does not shy away from meeting her gaze, although there is only weariness and not hostility in his eyes. His voice is still soft.]
Yes, I think you're correct.
Very well. I am here, and I am listening, so say what you wish to say.
Your teammate was a fine kunoichi.... I think she would have made an excellent Chuunin.
Your fight wasn't bad at all either, actually. [Kisame smiles a little; this scene is so normal and familiar to him, it doesn't ring any alarm bells or upset him at all. This is what the villages are supposed to do for training and testing, right? Konoha is the only place he knows of that is so soft with their students.]
And did it well, too. Both of you. [Kisame smirks right back, obviously approving; he knows that ache well enough, and knows Sasori is strong enough to have moved beyond it.] I bet that coward didn't even land a single scratch on your puppets.
[Sasori had allowed himself to be hit, to provide the opening he'd needed to end that fight quickly. It was a bit reckless, but effective. He is far more cautious now.]
[Backdated to the Evening of August 25th]incisiveAugust 31 2009, 16:36:10 UTC
[ Duty.
It always seems to come back to that, doesn't it?
Duty is the word that makes great wrongs acceptable in the eyes of a society. Under the cover of duty, in the name of "the greater good", good people do bad things; good people do good things; good people do things without observing the difference because it is that -- their "duty" -- and it is normal. This, for Sasori, for shinobi, was normal, is normal, for all the good it will do them...
Valeria exhales and releases a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Some minutes pass before she activates the response feed. ]
Hisako... that's a pretty name.
[ There's a short pause as she contemplates her words, what it is she means to say. She nods. ]
[Backdated to the Evening of August 25th]eternalscorpionAugust 31 2009, 17:26:00 UTC
[Remembering...
Perhaps that is the one great benefit to this intrusive device that exposes far too much of his inner self to others, that the memories seen in dreams can be recorded, and shared.
So that others will remember, and not just himself.
He smiles then, the smile that he had never shown his teammate.]
[Backdated to the Evening of August 25th]incisiveAugust 31 2009, 19:08:52 UTC
[ Valeria pauses for a moment, somewhat taken aback at the sight of Sasori's smile. She likes smiles, always has, and his is a nice one, one she thinks he should show more often. Perhaps she'll tell him some day, but for now, she's content to offer him one of her own and a sincere: ]
Comments 37
You did not grow up in Suna. Konoha is simply different.She knows that. She knows that a childhood in places like Suna and Kiri was not the same as the childhood she'd enjoyed. She also knows that a childhood in wartime was not the same as a childhood in times of peace. She'd been lucky on both those counts ( ... )
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He is surprised to find her in the living area once he enters, and trepidation builds within him. He had not been expecting to have to confront her just yet, so he is somewhat unprepared to face her.
He studies her for a moment, and is relieved to see she at least appears more subdued than he feared. His voice is soft when he finally forces himself to speak.]
I thought you would be asleep. I hope you did not wait for me.
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Sakura is still angry. If Sasori was hoping for this to blow over, then he'll be disappointed. But she is calmer, and more ready to have a rational conversation than she had been hours ago.
If he was hoping to put off this conversation any longer, he will also be disappointed.]
I couldn't sleep.
[She stands, but doesn't approach him. She crosses her arms and clutches her upper arms in her hands. It is less a gesture of irritation and more a defense mechanism. A way to hide. To keep herself contained.]
We need to talk.
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He approaches, but does so only to sit. He's tired, and looks it, although he still will never allow himself to be intimidated, and therefore does not shy away from meeting her gaze, although there is only weariness and not hostility in his eyes. His voice is still soft.]
Yes, I think you're correct.
Very well. I am here, and I am listening, so say what you wish to say.
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Your fight wasn't bad at all either, actually. [Kisame smiles a little; this scene is so normal and familiar to him, it doesn't ring any alarm bells or upset him at all. This is what the villages are supposed to do for training and testing, right? Konoha is the only place he knows of that is so soft with their students.]
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Yes, she was the most capable of those who served as my teammates before I left Suna.
As for my fight...
[A ghost of a smirk appears on his face.]
I did my duty.
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[Sasori had allowed himself to be hit, to provide the opening he'd needed to end that fight quickly. It was a bit reckless, but effective. He is far more cautious now.]
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Fuck, you were just kids!
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[It is a simple statement of fact. Sasori grew up within this system, after all, and sees it as perfectly normal and without need of justification.]
My first battle was two weeks after this, if I remember correctly.
Konoha is...
[Soft is the word that naturally comes to mind.]
...different than the other shinobi villages.
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[He smiles, a little, and there is some sadness there, but it's faded to a dull ache over the years.]
She was a strong kunoichi. I'm proud of her.
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[He's used to seeing such things; people die during exams all the time. So really, what's there to say about it?]
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Indeed. Pathetic, for giving up so easily.
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[He shrugs.]
It's only to be expected, really. I was simply above their level.
[He was, after all, a genius that the Third Kazegake had seen fit to monitor personally.]
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It always seems to come back to that, doesn't it?
Duty is the word that makes great wrongs acceptable in the eyes of a society. Under the cover of duty, in the name of "the greater good", good people do bad things; good people do good things; good people do things without observing the difference because it is that -- their "duty" -- and it is normal. This, for Sasori, for shinobi, was normal, is normal, for all the good it will do them...
Valeria exhales and releases a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Some minutes pass before she activates the response feed. ]
Hisako... that's a pretty name.
[ There's a short pause as she contemplates her words, what it is she means to say. She nods. ]
I'll remember her, Sasori. Her smile, too.
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Perhaps that is the one great benefit to this intrusive device that exposes far too much of his inner self to others, that the memories seen in dreams can be recorded, and shared.
So that others will remember, and not just himself.
He smiles then, the smile that he had never shown his teammate.]
Thank you.
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You're welcome!
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