action + voice || the severed threads

[fervidity]

[If Kushina didn't have enough reasons to hate the Malnosso before, she certainly did NOW. Now it’s personal.

As if it wasn't before.

Still, she hopes more than anything that Naruto is still around. With hardly any more chakra to speak of, she can’t really sense him like Vegeta had taught her either. It would be the second time she didn't get to say goodbye -- for either of them. At least she knows she can get through it and there’s always a chance he could come back. There’s always that.

He might not recognize her though. In fact, would anyone? Kushina’s most distinguishing feature has always been her long, straight, red hair. Sure, it was still plenty straight. It was definitely just as red as ever too.

But now the ends fell just above her shoulders. She had managed to save the mass of hair that had been sheared off when she hadn't been paying attention. It’s clutched in her hand. That’s the problem with long hair, Kushina laments. As much as she loved it (and Minato and Naruto did) it definitely got in the way when she was fighting. The consequence was this:

Short hair. Also dirty, smelly clothes and dirty, smelly body. She was considerably more worried about getting home to Naruto however. Bathing and wondering what anybody would think of her new haircut could come later.

Too bad she’s lost. Her eyes turn upwards to glare at the sky.]

I could really use Saori’s cloud now.

[And so she continued through the forest, kicking sticks and rocks and grumbling the whole way.]

[On the other hand, Minato isn’t lost. Or at least, not as lost as he initially thought he will be. Unceremoniously dumped within the dense forest of Luceti wearing only this pair of pajama bottoms, Minato thought he’d get lost but he supposes patrolling these forests before disappearing (he prefers the term ‘disappeared’ than actually having gone home since he’s not supposed to exist there) actually paid off.

He remembers this forest fairly well that he doesn't waste time navigating it to get home.

Home.

Funny when he thinks about it. He actually went back home but he doesn't remember anything. This realization, this fact, leaves a stinging sensation within him. Konoha isn't home now because what good is a home when he’s not even alive in it? Right now, Luceti’s their home because here, he and Kushina get to spend time with Naruto, be with him, like they originally planned. And he terribly missed them, missed this little miracle they were given, and he’s reminded that you don’t have a home until you just miss it.

His mind begins to work. How long has he been gone? They must have been incredibly worried! Did Kakashi look after them? Is he still here? Are the others still here? Who remains? What’s currently going on in the village?

He moves in haste.

But even before he activates his Hiraishin to teleport to his nearest seal (which is probably somewhere in the village outskirts), he senses warm, familiar chakra that he can never, ever forget.

Minato immediately stops and looks around, the wind brushing through his golden locks and naked skin bringing in an all too familiar scent with it.

It smells like home.]

Kushina?

--

[Later, a voice post pops up from Kushina. She sounds agitated so she gets right to the point.]

Is there a shampoo or pill around here that makes your hair grow faster?

[sounds of Minato blubbering in the background

to which Kushina responds with a flustered:]

It’ll grow back, ya know!

[MINATO’S NEAR SOBBING… only not.]

But, Kushina…

It’s not the end of the world, Minato!

Still, your hair… [Pauses as he wipes his tears clears his throat.] I suppose I’m just not used to it being this short? [Sheepish smile but Kushina definitely knows it’s because he adores her long hair sobs.]

I’m not used to it either… [A pause where she reaches up to run her fingers through the strands like she used to but it’s just. NOT. THERE. and her fingers grasp at air.

Ah, yeah. That’ll take some getting used to.]

Um, you can have this?

[She’s holding out all the hair that had gotten cut off with an awkward smile.

Which Minato accepts with a sad, albeit still sheepish, smile.]

Thank you. [He looks down at them. DEFINITE SADNESS IN THOSE EYES ABUBU.] I guess…?

[Silence for a long minute where the two of them just look at Kushina’s beautiful, long locks of hair in his hand.]

... I wonder if someone can make a wig out of it.

[Again, silence follows that suggestion with Minato just slowly looking up at Kushina with wide, blue eyes which clearly asks the question, “You’re not serious, are you?”]

Comments

action for hubby

[fervidity]

[Saori's cloud or Minato would work. Minato is vastly preferable though.

She doesn't even think about how he'll react to her short hair, she's just so relieved and happy to know he's in Luceti too. That he's near.

She turns to the voice and starts towards it, picking up the pace.]

Minato!

ACTION FOREVS 1/2

[derpivity]

[Hearing the familiar voice calling his name makes Minato smile wide. He turns to voice and begins to follow it.]

Kushina! Wait just a second, I'll be right--

[derpivity]

[Of course, it doesn't take long for Minato to notice the length of Kushina's hair even from afar especially when he's so used to knowing it's her just by seeing those beautiful long strands.

That are now gone.]

--What- What happened to your... hair?

[He slowly stops in his tracks, mortified by how short Kushina's hair is now. It didn't even register to him that he's slightly undressed right now and might look inappropriate in public.]

[voice]

[windandrain]

Your hair was cut?

[...is...that all...?]

Re: [voice]

[fervidity]

[YEP]

Y-Yeah. It's a bit shorter now.

[a lot

shorter]

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

Ku- Kushina! [It's been so long, he was afraid she might have gone home.]

I- I think your hair's still really pretty. You'd even be pretty with no hair, to... if you ever want to try being a monk!

Re: [Voice]

[fervidity]

[Aw.]

Thank you, Aang. You would look much better than me with no hair though.

[Minato might faint if she was bald]

[Video]

[niceguypose]

Ah...!

[His mouth is open for a moment, as if he's ready to speak, but then he just starts weeping.]

[Video]

[derpivity]

[While some of the responses were deliberately directed to Kushina, this one wasn't... which makes him curious.

Is Lee making this expression because he just saw them reunited or is he also sad by the fact that Kushina's hair is now this short?]

Lee, are you alright?

Re: [Video]

[fervidity]

[OH GOSH]

Lee too?!

IT'S JUST HAIR, YA KNOW!

[Video]

[misterbrief]

[H-h-h-hi it's been a few months so THIS ISN'T AWKWARD EVERYTHING'S FINE NOW AHEM]

[The video pops up, showing him with bandages around his forehead still and gauze on his face, still recovering from his fight from earlier in the week. He sort of stares back and blinks and finally says very matter-of-factly about her hair-]

Leave it just the way it is.

[Video]

[derpivity]

[How can someone even suggest such a thing??? Minato blinks at Vegeta's words.]

Excuse me?

[His wife looks more beautiful with it long tyvm.]

Re: [Video]

[fervidity]

[NOPE NOT AWKWARD AT ALL

The sight of him in bandages (and reminder of how nice he had been to her and how they got along a few months ago) has worry prick its way through her along with makes her cheeks heat up. She doesn't WANT TO TALK to him but she's concerned so-]

What happened to you?

[THEY BOTH GOT BANGED UP]

Video

[that_is_asecret]

It certainly is possible to make something to grow it back.

[Humans seemed obsessed about this sort of thing often enough]

Re: Video

[fervidity]

What, really?

How do I make it? Can you?

[video]

[relictusdeus]

A wig, is it?

[He leans deeper into his seat, absently tapping a long, sharp-nailed finger against his cheek as he remembers the sort of wigs Effie had worn. Being familiar with forging all manners of headgear, though, it doesn't seem to him that a wig would give him too much trouble. Some practice and experimentation might be in order, however.]

That could be arranged.

Re: [video]

[fervidity]

[Kushina hadn't asked it with any expectation that someone could make a wig out of it. The fact that it's addressed and that it's possible intrigues her enough that she considers...

Would it make Minato happy?]

You can do it?

[Voice]

[endgames]

You're both back now?

[One's more of a surprise than the other.]

[Voice]

[fervidity]

With a few changes.

[it's bad enough she left Naruto alone now she's coming back with short hair]

Naruto wasn't too much trouble, was he?

[Voice]

[derpivity]

It... appears so, Shikamaru.

[Lopsided smile goes here. To know this place took them separately at the same time and bring them back at the same time feels strange. Then again, he knows how to count his blessings.]

How have you been? I do hope Naruto wasn't too troublesome?

video;

[supportively]

Ah— you're back. [mikoto looks surprised for a moment but that soon fades as she just smiles]

It's good to see you both again.

video;

[derpivity]

Ah, Mikoto.

[He greets their friend with a pleasant smile. Well, at least, Mikoto didn't leave her sons all alone.]

It's good to see you too. Have you been doing well?

video;

[fervidity]

[Like them, this is Mikoto's only shot at a second life. So she's definitely glad to see her too.]

Mikoto!

Sorry we left.

[ Voice ]

[generalflirt]

Whaaat?! You want to hide your brilliant new look, Kushina-san?! Say it isn't so!

[ He's being irreverent on purpose. He wasn't ignorant of the departure of Minato (and he's bade with no real incident, he's not sure if you'd call that luck or not...) of them, but it's got to be easier than asking how Kushina was mangled by a kidnapping ]

[ Voice ]

[fervidity]

[Masaomi being irreverent ISN'T NEW.

She's sort of glad (and irritated, definitely irritated) that her hair is the cause of so much attention. Good and bad. Been there, done that with the hair thing.]

What? I'm not hiding it.

[Not on purpose.]

[video] 1/??

[believeit]

[IS THAT....]

[video] 2/??

[believeit]

[IT IS...]