002nd saving smile [voice]

[selfdoubt]

[The journals will be graced by a familiar, soft voice that was quiet for a while.]

I... see that I am back in this place once more. [The voice sounds resigned yet concealed by an otherwise neutral tone. Hinata's really not too happy to be back.] I suppose that the others are still here, then?

[There's a pause as she begins recalling her memories. It takes some time since these memories are still a bit hazy.] Kiba-kun, Shikamaru-kun...? Tenten-san, Sakura-san...

[She trails off because the next name she's going to say is being held back by this lump in her throat.]

... Naruto-kun? Are all of you still here? [Before she waits for a response, Hinata is already on the move.] I- I will be heading back to my apartment. I will see you all, then. Please be well.

[And the voice transmission cuts.]

Comments

[keepitcanine]

[Well, this is weird. His eyes narrow.]

...Fine.

[WHAT TO DO.

Shit. What was he even—]

I was going to say—[And he cracks a bit of a smile anyway.]—you'll never guess who showed up.

[selfdoubt]

[Curious, Hinata blinks. She really has no idea who this person might be.]

May I know who?

1/2

[keepitcanine]

Wouldn't be half as fun if I just told you.

[A laugh.]

C'mon. Guess.

[keepitcanine]

Though, uh, the guy always smelled like a certain shade of red back home, if you were to ask me.

[selfdoubt]

[Apparent shock immediately graced Hinata's features upon realizing who Kiba meant.]

You- You don't say it's--?

[keepitcanine]

Bingo.

[selfdoubt]

I can't believe this place will also... [She trails off in obvious disbelief. It takes some time before she speaks again.] ... When did he arrive?

[keepitcanine]

Yeah, weird, huh? But Itachi's here, too, isn't he? I'm pretty sure he's dead as far as, you know, walking Uchiha corpses go.

But Asuma-sensei arrived not long after you and Shino left. Hell if I can recall the date, but it was after you guys found your way home.

Kinda makes me wish Kurenai-sensei was here. For a little while. I know this place sucks, but I can think of a few things that suck worse.

[selfdoubt]

Asuma-sensei, too? [Okay, so she knows that this place can bring dead people back to life, but to actually bring him back?] I... agree. This place is indeed strange. But I also agree that with Asuma-sensei here, I wish Kurenai-sensei is here as well.

[She knows just how much he means to her and having her say words she couldn't before he died would be nice.] I'm sure she would want to see him again. [If only for a little while. Even in this place. Seeing him again is seeing him again.]

[keepitcanine]

Haha, yeah. Give him a chance to suggest a terrible name for their kid, that kind of thing.

[A beat.]

Damn, I think I'm starting to sound like a wuss. Probably should have let Ino or Shikamaru tell you. Act surprised for them or something.

[selfdoubt]

[Oh, Kiba. Your way with words always puts a smile on Hinata's face, even just a little one.]

I- I think you don't sound like one. And if you do, it's just because you care for them. [That's not a bad thing.] In any case, I will. I'm sure, one way or another, Shikamaru-kun or Ino-san will mention that to me.

1/2

[keepitcanine]

Or maybe it's because of smell of the cigarettes I get to wake up to every morning going to my head.

[keepitcanine]

But whatever.

[He wants some of his testosterone back.]

Speaking of, your room's still here. Exactly how you left it.

[Including all the romance-love books or whatever the hell those things were.]

[selfdoubt]

[She can't help but give a short giggle at that first statement. You and your wisecracks, teammate. The smile on her face after that remains, though.]

I see. I suppose that's nice. [Still unaware of those romance books btw.] I will stop by yours before I head to mine, though. I want to greet you personally, Kiba-kun.

[keepitcanine]

Sweet!

[Nevermind that his room's a mess and Akamaru's shedding like a cat.]

You'll have to fill me in on what's going on back home, if there's actually anything going on.

[He blinks. And his face suddenly darkens somewhat, a slight scowl tugging at his actual smile.]

And vice versa.

[selfdoubt]

[She can sense that scowl as her smile wanes. There's nothing to really tell him since only a few days passed back home and then she's back here again. That, and Hinata can tell that Kiba's further into the future than her.]

I will. [A solemn nod.] You can count on that.

[keepitcanine]

[He nods briefly, opens his mouth to say something, then stops. It's not often that Kiba actively considers things before he says them, but this time he does, though he quickly reaches the same conclusion he usually follows in the first place: screw it.]

While you're headin' back here, you should probably know someone else from our world showed up a little while you were gone.

[Because fuck it if he'll let her walk around blind for even an hour while an idiot like him is around; though Kiba doubts he'll do anything, unless the retard wants some kunai personally shoved up his ass. And hell if he'll filter this either. The idiot knows they know he's here. So screw it. Like he's scared of him anyway.]

Remember how I have this list of assholes with really punchable faces? [Like Sasuke.] Well, one of them showed up. The "one-eyed" retard guy.

[The one that's responsible for the Kiba-sized crater in the forest back home. Tobi or Madara or whatever he calls himself—Kiba really doesn't give a damn.]

[selfdoubt]

[Having Asuma-sensei brought back to life is one thing, but having a member of the Akatsuki is another matter entirely. If her shock at realizing one of their dead teachers is here was palpable, this one took the cake.]

You- You mean that member of the--[She pauses, trying to be careful at saying the organization's name.] --Akatsuki?

[Upon mentioning that word, Hinata looks around her surroundings, making sure she's not being followed. Her grip on her journal tightens a bit.]

[keepitcanine]

Yeah.

Not that I think he has the balls to stir up shit right now, but just keep an eye out, all right?

[selfdoubt]

[She nods, still surveying the area around her.]

I will. Please don't worry. You take care too, Kiba-kun.

[keepitcanine]

Got Akamaru guarding my back and a couple of nuts on our floor. Pretty sure I'm set for any possible retard invasion.

[selfdoubt]

I'm very glad to hear that, then. I will be there shortly. [A certain, wide smile.] I have missed Akamaru-kun as well.

1/2

[keepitcanine]

[And Akamaru responds right on cue with a long, happy whine rumbling its way out of its throat.]

He says that he missed you, too.

[The rest pretty much goes unsaid.]

/3

[keepitcanine]

[He debates for a second, before responding again.]

And, look, I'm sorry you got dragged back here. I know this place and the experiments that they do here are a bunch of crap, but I—we'll—find a way out this time. And we'll all go home together or something and everything will be back to the way it's supposed to be, all right?

So don't let this place get you down too much. Ain't worth it.

/done

[keepitcanine]

[He pauses again as something else starts to dawn on him. This is his much delayed "a-ha" moment.]

And, hey, if I need to kick someone's ass for you because they're a genuine idiot, who happens to be dumber than stupid besides, you just have to ask, because I will.