Kunai the 9th: Video, action for Olivine (if you're in the house)

[itsjustdust]

[He was sitting on the roof, having had some issues getting up there due to interfering pokemon, but he'd managed, and he was holding the gear so pretty much all he saw behind him was open sky.]

So. No one gets sent a pokemon that's as powerful as it can get without special training unless they've vanished. I checked, and they did, indeed vanish. So this makes two people who vanished this month and another one I've been unable to contact.

[He gave hie eyes a quick scrub, then yanked his goggles back into place, his forehead mark currently just a strop of the cloth. No need to totally give up caution.]

I want everyone to know that this month was pretty crappy, and I really don't approve. Just so we're clear.

Comments

[itsjustdust]

See, the other one? I knew she had something to go back to, so I could hold to that idea, you know? She wouldn't say what, and I know she never told me her real name, but she had something. Him though? Yeah.

[He tucked his gear away and pulled his knees to his chest.]

How horrible is it that I have the thought that I don't want that to happen to me as a basis for being upset for him?

[beforethedarkness]

You want to live. That's normal.

[Without hesitating he shifts a little closer to Obito, close enough for the other to feel that he's there.]

... He might come back. There are people here who have left and come back before, remembering everything from before they left.

[itsjustdust]

[He stared out at the trees for a moment, then turned his head to look at Sasuke.]

Being here isn't cheating? I died but... here I am. Wanting to shouldn't get to be a deciding factor, should it?

[beforethedarkness]

Whether it's cheating or not, you're here.

[itsjustdust]

That I am. Has it even really been making a difference? [Watching you in sideways fashion here Sasuke.]

[beforethedarkness]

... I can't tell you if you have or not. That's something you have to figure out yourself.

[itsjustdust]

[He snorted, then laughed, pressing his face against his knees in the process.] What kind of fake mysterious answer is that Sasuke?

[beforethedarkness]

It's not fake.

[Sigh.]

... I don't know how to answer that.

[itsjustdust]

Then just answer for yourself. Has my being here made any difference to you?

[beforethedarkness]

. . .

I didn't have family before coming here.

[itsjustdust]

You've mentioned. [He looked away from him at that, chin on his knees.]

I did.

[beforethedarkness]

[A sigh leaves him before he just sort of leans on Obito a little then, looking away from him when he continues.]

You still do. Even if it's not the same family as before.

[itsjustdust]

[There was a second of stillness, then he shifted so he could put his arm around him.]

I'll take that.

[beforethedarkness]

[For once he doesn't stiffen, leaning into the hug and humming. He's not sure if it's helping or not but... He's not sure of what else he can do then, either.]

[itsjustdust]

[He leaned into him in turn, relaxing.]

Thanks.

[beforethedarkness]

... You don't have to thank me.

[itsjustdust]

But I did. You're not the only one off balance by the shift in family, okay?

[He stared at his toes, drooping a bit.]

[beforethedarkness]

... Yeah.

[Nodding and nudging Obito a little at that.]

[itsjustdust]

[He peeked sideways, then gave him a lopsided smile.]

Not used to anyone really listening to me either so. Yeah.

[beforethedarkness]

[He has a feeling he knows what Obito means by this. It gets a sigh out of him and he glances down at the roof a bit more.]

... It's hard to believe it when someone praises me. Like I'm never good enough until I can surpass him. Until I can, I'm not good enough, and unless I can do it I never will be.

[itsjustdust]

It doesn't work like that. It just... can't work like that. You know, if I'd been on any other team, I probably would have been considered the best? But... I wasn't. I was placed with Kakashi.

I tried anyway. [He looked away, shoulders slumping.] I managed to protect him all of... twice, ever. Then I died. After having my Sharingan one whole day.

You have no idea how much flack not getting it sooner got me Sasuke, it was rough. It's why I picked up the goggles you know. So some of the meaner cousins wouldn't pull tricks on me and get me stuck in some genjutsu because I couldn't catch it immediately. And then the team too...

There's always someone out there you feel like you're not good enough for, or you have to pass, and when you catch the first one, you'll just be chasing the next one.

[beforethedarkness]

I don't care about anyone else. He's the one I have to catch, no matter what.

[Or so he says, although Naruto being that much stronger than him... More than bothers him just a little bit, to say the last. Not that he's been too open about that.]

... If they were still around, I probably would have gotten the same treatment. I didn't get mine until I was 12.

[itsjustdust]

13, didn't graduate early, bottom marks of any Uchiha kid from my generation, even though I was the youngest in my batch of Uchiha kids, didn't matter. I had to work up to the older ones. Then, I got put on a team with Kakashi...

Most people considered me a rousing failure. It's nice, actually being noticed for what I've earned and can do for once. [He rubbed at his eyes, pulling his goggles off to do so.]

Even if I'm making a hash of it.

[beforethedarkness]

[He doesn't say anything straight away, letting Obito rub at his eyes and refusing to comment on it before he speaks again.]

I know how you feel, Obito. Even if I was at the top of my class, it was never enough - even when they were still alive.

[itsjustdust]

[He looked over at him.] Then there we go, I guess. I help you get stronger, you help me get stronger, and we'll be the best team, yeah? I might not be able to go back with you if or when it happens but... that's not here.