51 - voice/action;

[stilldontgotit]

[After two years, Riku thought that maybe things would turn out all right. Most people who disappear leave in a flash. A month, maybe three. When he woke up in the morning, he expected everything to fall back into its usual routine.

There's just one problem: his apartment's half-empty. At first he thought the absence of Ino was because she'd woken up earlier, maybe decided to do some training. She had a test coming up, after all, but as Riku zips through the apartment, he finds all her belongings have gone amiss.

Stunned silence overtakes him. It's about a half hour later that he addresses the journals.]

Ino's gone. I know she had a lot of friends from back home, so... just thought I'd let you know.

[His voice is strangely subdued, soft and weak. For a moment, he thinks about ending it there, but another thought creeps into his mind.]

How do you guys even handle it? I know some of you have gotten married here or plan to, but don't you realize it could end in a heartbeat? Luceti's just so unpredictable. When you're with someone it's bad enough, but to take the next big step in a place this unstable... I swear I'm not trying to bring anyone down. I just don't understand.

[...]

I'll be out by the lake if anyone needs me.

[With that, he snaps his journal shut, venturing out into the woods with his Komory Bat fluttering close behind. His destination is simple: the larger of Luceti's two lakes. Why there? Well, it has everything to do with a raft he's been keeping for the past five years. One of his first accomplishments.

He's had to replace pieces of it more times than he can count, and the sail's a bit tattered now, but anyone in the area may spot him leaning back against the mast and flicking stones into the water.

His bat perches on his shoulder, and he lets out an airy chuckle.]

Hey, relax. I'll sort this out. Just need a little time...

Comments

action

[takesyoubytheheart]

[Mickey has no idea of the measure of this relationship, but this is important to Riku, so this is important to him. And that's why he shows up at the lake, calmly walking up to Riku's side.]

Nice throw.

action

[stilldontgotit]

[It takes a second for Riku to realize he's got company, but the chittering of his Dream Eater rips him out of his daze, and when he looks over his shoulder, he's got a tired sort of smile on his face.]

I should've known you'd find me here. You always had a habit of popping up when I'm at my lowest point.

[And given the circumstances, he's certainly not complaining. Truth is, any company's good company right now, and a friend? Even better.]

action

[takesyoubytheheart]

I've got a lil' Riku antenna in my head. Lets me know whenever yer down.

[He smiles a little, trying to lighten the mood a little. He picks up a pebble, tossing it up and down, and he'll probably skip it across the lake at some point.]

action

[stilldontgotit]

[Heh. That's a funny thought. Throw an antenna on Mickey's head, and he'd almost look like an alien.

While Mickey tosses his pebble up and down, Riku scoops up another stone to fling across the water.]

Well, to tell you the truth, I'm glad you found me, Mickey. Good to know I've still got a couple friends around. Especially after today.

[deathsdoctor]

... it's exactly why we chose to do it. Because Luceti is like that. [Getting married that is.] We found that we'd regret it more if we didn't go through with it, than if we decided to hold off because of this place's whims.

[stilldontgotit]

[Hmm, that's an interesting way to look at it. So they didn't want to deal with regrets, huh?

Riku chuckles. Ah, if only he could look at it that way, but there's a giant roadblock in his path that keeps him from such an outlook.]

But still, doesn't it worry you that one of you could disappear someday? Or worse, disappear and come back as a blank slate without any memory of your experiences.

Not saying you made the wrong choice or anything. Truth is, I think it's brave that you guys went through with it, it's just... this is painful enough. I don't know if I'd be able to take it.

[deathsdoctor]

My husband has disappeared twice on me already. So does it worry me? Yes, yes it does... and I know how painful it will be when we're parted again. And how painful having someone you care about having no idea what you've been through together. [Although he's not talking about Itachi in this case.] But I guess it comes down to this. We could be taken away from or made strangers to each other unexpectedly in a heatbeat no matter where we were.

[There was a girl named Sugar that Law knew (how well... who knows) when he was young. A Devil Fruit user, like himself, with the power to turn people into toys. And once they were turned, all memories of their existance were erased from everyone around them, leaving the toy as the sole person to know of what once was.

They could become strangers through injury or jutsu or so many things...]

... oh, I know. It's not for everyone. It's really not.

[action]

[halfnhalf]

[..... Well.

Teddy's not sure which lake, but that doesn't mean he can't check both. He doesn't know him (okay, he does, what kind of geek doesn't know Riku, holy shit), but that doesn't mean he can't talk to him about this. Especially when he was obviously close to Ino (Ino?).

The larger lake happens to be the one he checks first - by flying, at that. Once he sees him there, though, he decides not to startle him by just flying on in. He lands first, his larger, shifted wings receding into his back as he makes his way to the spot where Riku's sitting. As the stones skip across the water, Teddy gives a faint smile.]

I never got the hang of that. I always threw them too hard.

[action]

[stilldontgotit]

[Huh. Riku does a double take at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. After all, if he was gonna get company out here, he thought it'd be people he knows. Granted, that number's dwindling over time.

Well, who's he to complain? Chuckling, Riku picks up another rock and lazily flings it at the water.]

Well, if it makes you feel better, my first few throws weren't that great. Think it helps that I've cooled down a bit.

[action]

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy keeps his hands in his pockets, otherwise he'd want to go up and grip Riku's shoulder, just to say that he's sorry for the loss. But he's kind of a stranger, and he knows many people don't appreciate touches from people they don't even know. So instead, he stops nearby and looks out at the water.]

Never knew skipping stones was therapeutic. I always went with punching things, but whatever works for people.

[Voice]

[niceguypose]

I... Ino-san! Is she... Could she truly be gone?! [He remembers her being here since he first arrived. To have her gone now, it's jarring.

And knowing what awaits her at home... it's worrying. Ino had yet to experience the war. And her father's fate on top of that.]

Riku-kun! Are you absolutely certain?!

[Voice]

[stilldontgotit]

Lee, we were living together. Checked her room this morning, and everything was gone.

[He blows out a hefty sigh, speaking with a soft, tired tone.]

Believe me, I wish it wasn't this way, but... well, that's Luceti for you. When is anything ever easy?

[Voice]

[niceguypose]

[He remembers Rapunzel. They weren't in a relationship like Riku and Ino, but he loved her dearly and could still vividly remember - no, feel - the pain of losing his dear friend. He knows what Riku feels... It must be proportionate to that, likely even moreso.]

I am sorry to hear this, Riku-kun.

Things are rarely easy, in Luceti, or in youth. That... that is what helps us to be strong.

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

... because it was worth it when you did have them, even if it only lasted for a little while.

[Richter going back home had hurt more than anything else Emil has ever experienced in his life. He won't deny that. Yet at the same time, their relationship had made him happier than he'd ever been before. Even if it meant ending with that pain, he didn't want to give up that joy along with it.]

[Voice]

[stilldontgotit]

You're probably right. It's just...

[Sigh.]

It's just that after two years, I guess I forgot how quick it could all end. No goodbyes, no warning, just an empty room. I know I'll just have to deal, and I've got no plans to spend the rest of my time here sulking. It's just that it hurts, no matter how hard I try to rationalize it.

[And yet, now he knows how others have felt when their love ones vanished. If anything, it puts things into perspective.]

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

I think it's good that it hurts. I mean, it's not good that you feel sad and are missing them, but... the hurt is proof that you really did care about them. The more you love someone, the more it hurts when they're gone, right?

[voice]

[personafalsify]

... Sorry.

[ Yeah, that's about as much as Kohan can really say. After all, there's not much else he can offer. He doesn't want to think on it, to think that Ion could go home just as suddenly on him as Namine ever did.

But he knows it has to hurt. So he can't just not say anything... even to Riku. ]

[voice]

[stilldontgotit]

It's not your fault.

[It's nobody's fault. Not Kohan's, not the Malnosso's, certainly not Ino's. It's just the way things work in Luceti. Get too comfortable, and it's easy to forget, but that possibility always exist.]

...But thanks. I'll be fine after a while.

[voice]

[personafalsify]

[ aaaaaaaaaaawkward silence. gj kohan now what do you say-- ]

How long had she been here for?

[action]

[endgames]

[It's on the way to work that he saw the message, journal cracked open in the elevator for a way to pass the quick ride.

Ino's gone.

His hand had shot out to hit the stop button, before he could even take in the impact of that statement. Stuck between floors, Shikamaru listened quietly to the rest of the journal entry before taking the elevator back up to his floor. Change of plans - he doesn't go into the store today.

Much later into the evening though, but before the sun has set, he does make it out to the lake. He has one hand in his pocket, and there's a large knapsack over his shoulder, contents clinking together with the tinny of glass.]

Fine vessel you got there.

[action]

[stilldontgotit]

[Truth be told, he should have expected Shikamaru sooner or later. After all, he's got a history with Ino as both friend and teammate. If the news was going to hit anyone else, he was the most likely candidate.

By now, Riku's had time to wind down. Mickey's visit and the conversations he shared over the journal eased some of the pain brought from the morning's events. He's skipped his share of rocks, listened to the sounds of the forest, and now he's sitting with his back against the mast, his journal in his lap and his Komory bat dozing on his shoulder.

When he hears Shikamaru's voice, the journal snaps shut, and he looks up, a faint hint of a smirk lining his lips.]

Probably could use a few touch ups, but thanks. This raft's got a bit of a history.

[action]

[endgames]

Yeah?

[He sits down on the shore, unable to get any closer to the raft itself (if it's farther out on the water) much less on it. It'd make him sick, with his Twila allergy.

The day's been unpleasant enough already. The dude already lost his girlfriend; Shikamaru's not going to throw up on his raft. 8|]

[ voice ]

[generalflirt]

Eeeh, are you sure you don't want to bring them down? I think I might, put into your shoes.

[ That's a sympathetic set of words, but it's said in a sort of airy but somber tone. Ino, huh. That hits him a little, but it'll hit both this guy and Shikamaru a lot ]

[ voice ]

[stilldontgotit]

But it wouldn't change anything. The fact is, I'm not the first person here to lose a loved one here, and I'm definitely not gonna be the last.

[His words come out soft, almost tired. Sure, if Riku was a touch more selfish, maybe he would want to bring others down. Make them feel what he's feeling, especially those still in happy, healthy relationships...

But what would it accomplish? Schadenfreude or not, it won't bring Ino back.]

[ voice ]

[generalflirt]

That's pretty rational of you, Riku-san. I need to admire that sort of mindset, don't I?