[week 33, day 2 | accidental voice]

[aimlessronin]

[Sasuke opens his eyes. The rain has stopped. He had thought the hollow patter of drops on the rocks-on his skin, in the scattered puddles of blood-would be the last sounds he ever heard. And yet, tragically, his eyes are open and he finds himself staring at nothing. Blurs. He blinks rapidly. Leaves. Sky. Blue.
Other senses awaken. Birdsong and the

Comments

[Reaction -> Action ] 1/2

[ura_no_ura]

((OOC: Soundtrack))

[ It had only been a matter of time.

Kakashi should've known, should've expected. Should've been prepared that one day he would wake and find Sasuke close enough to grab. Or kill. He had been so busy trying to figure out the limits of this world, to seek out its boundaries and dissolve the walls that hold them in and keep them trapped in this place, that he had let time pass him by, the ticking of hours seguing into days and weeks in the blink of a single uncovered eye. And here now, Sasuke's voice lances through the silence of dawn like a stab of lightning straight through the heart.

(Don't act like I'm still your student... I've been dying to kill you... Kakashi.)He was too late then, but he won't be late now

[Action throughout]

[ura_no_ura]

[ When he finally arrives, it is without warning. Without releasing the hold on his chakra, which would potentially give Sasuke enough foresight to run. For the chase to begin once more.

Kakashi emerges from the treeline about forty feet away, directly before Sasuke, and releases the hold he has over his chakra. Allowing the familiar feel of Sasuke's to slide in like the tide, reading the ripples that shake through its surface. He doesn't know if Sasuke will want him dead. Doesn't know if he'll need to fight his student again, in this beautiful place of growing things and so much beauty it can take away a person's breath. ]

Sasuke.

[ He says, his voice soft, eye steady as it takes in the sight of his former student. If you listen closely, there's a tremor of something just under those syllables. Something tired. Something raw. ]

[Action throughout]

[aimlessronin]

[ Sasuke's lying in the grass, eyes not closed but wide open, staring up into the blue, blue sky that is far more tranquil and calm than it has any right to be. Branches wave, clouds pass. Sunlight filters down through the leaves. It plays across his chest, warming his skin, but he feels nothing (everything). His mind is full to the brim with emptiness. Full and overflowing, and he doesn't see the sky or the branches of the tree or the clouds. He sees black fire and blood-drenched rock. He smells ash and smoke and copper

[ura_no_ura]

[ There is no killing intent

[Video]

[pinknomnom]

[ Suddenly, in the midst of this, a tiny girl with a bright smile and bright pink hair pops onto the screen waving. ]

Yohoooooooo!!! [Wave wave wave. ] Silly, you're not dead! You're in Kannagara!

Re: [Video]

[aimlessronin]

[The hitomi tumbles into the grass, vibrant screen face-up. Her face looks up at him, all bouncing pink and flailing arms. Too much energy. Too much. Life.]

Kanna...gara...? [He mumbles it, licks his lip. His eyes aren't quite focused.]

[Video]

[pinknomnom]

Yup! Kannagara! It's another world!

[Video]

[aimlessronin]

[Dark eyes narrow on that.]

Am I in... [He scans the clearing and it's nothing but trees and grass, flowers, pastoral and temperate.] ...Fire country or...?

[He drops his head, ignoring the pink hair for no good reason but the familiar sense of annoyance.]

[sketchy_nin]

[Sai knew that voice, a small inkling of disdain threading through him. He worries for Naruto now, having the other black haired young man in Kannagara could prove some explosive catalyst. He with held judgement on many things and people but since coming to know Naruto as a person, Sai couldn't help the slight irritation he felt toward Sasuke at the emotional rollercoaster he'd placed upon Naruto's shoulders. None of this shower on Sai's face, a perfect mask in place before he'll appear on Sasuke's screen with a hollow stare and a fake smile on his lips.]

Sasuke-kun, interesting that you of all people would show up here next. Welcome to Kannagara, luckily you aren't dead.

[aimlessronin]

[Pale face, dark eyes and hair. They could have been brothers, perhaps...brothers...You're not paying attention, little brother.]

Do I know you?

[He does, of course--inkblot animals and interrupted sleep and fated meetings--but he'd tried to inject some of that famous hatred into his voice, he really had. Only it had receded, and the peace of this place smoothes it over and it comes off sounding far too genuine for his tastes.]

[sketchy_nin]

You should, of course you seem like you've hit your head so it might not be surprising that you do not.

I am Sai, your... replacement for lack of a better term on team 7.

[He let that sit a beat, before continuing.]

What is the last thing you can recall before waking up in Himorogi?

[Sai's curious, Naruto is not from the same time stream that himself, Kakashi, and Iruka are from. So it is possible that Sasuke might not remember him for he might not have ever met him if the timing wasn't right.]

[ Video | Private to Sai]

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi looks like he's moving through the forest when the video comes on. ]

Sai. I would advise that you measure your words and interaction with Sasuke. I am en route to him right now and about fifteen klicks away.

[ He pauses here, the wind whistling past him, along with the rustle of leaves and the thump thump of his feet. ]

Also, it is incorrect to say you are a replacement. You are a part of our team, but you are not anyone's replacement.

Text

[4_thecuriousone]

Are you dead?

What happened to make you think that you would be dead?

Text

[aimlessronin]

[ Not just video, but written messages, as well? This hitomi is versatile. In the right hands, it could be a powerful tool...a weapon...it could...it...hn...it doesn't matter. ]

Perhaps I'm dreaming instead.

[ If so, it would explain why he's chosen to speak when spoken to, to stoop to the level of those who come curiosity-seeking. ]

Text

[4_thecuriousone]

I don't think you're dreaming.

I'd be dreaming too, but I'm not dreaming. So you can't be dreaming.

[It's perfectly sound logic! What are you talking about?]

Re: Text

[aimlessronin]

[ He blinks at the words, trying to sort out the logic of that with mixed thoughts of subconscious awareness and suspended disbelief. ]

Right.

[ Not really. ]

[voice]

[sternitfortem]

You're not dead.

[ It's funny, the number of people who arrive in Kannagara thinking they're dead. Like the gods seem to keep pulling in people who regularly get into situations where it's logical to think, upon waking up in almost-paradise, that one might be dead.

Actually, come to think of it, it's really not funny at all. ]

Or - you're probably not dead. You're not in the afterlife, anyway, if that's what you really meant.

[Video]

[pinknomnom]

I don't like him, Juupyon! He's real mean! He called me useless!

[Video]

[sternitfortem]

Did he?

[ How could anyone call an adorable tiny pink girl "useless?" D: ]

Maybe he's having a really rough time.

[Video]

[pinknomnom]

[ Oh.

Yachiru hadn't thought about that, but. ]

That's still a lousy reason to be mean to people, ne.