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

[voice]

[derpivity]

Would you care to elaborate on these foolishness, though?

[His smile turns a tad sheepish.]

It doesn't feel as if I was gone for weeks.

[Then again, when he doesn't remember even going back, he doesn't have a time table to speak of.]

[voice]

[windandrain]

I wouldn't mind. Though...some of it is a bit of a headache. Would you mind meeting me in person? It's a situation that was somewhat divisive and I want to be kept out of it.

[voice]

[derpivity]

Mm, I see. Not at all.

[He's already back settling in so meeting Saori later wouldn't be much.]

Do you have a place in mind?

[voice]

[windandrain]

How about the tea house?

[Easiest that way.]

[voice]

[derpivity]

Sounds like a good place.

[He looks around, traveling his eyes around his newly-found stuff.]

Please give me a few minutes to prepare. I'll be in the tea house after fifteen minutes, sharp.

Voice-Action

[windandrain]

Of course, I'll be there.

[And of course, she is waiting for him when he does arrive. She lives around the corner, and was already heading there anyway.]

Action

[derpivity]

[Of course, Minato's usually never late to meetings as he's quick on his feet. While he didn't exactly place a seal somewhere in the tea house itself, he did mark a tree near it so he arrives just in time.

When he does spot Saori, he greets her with a smile.]

Saori-san.

[windandrain]

[She waves a hand to him as he walks in, gesturing to the seat across from her. There's already a small pot of steaming water, a cup, and a container of green tea leaves waiting for him too. She was prepared.]

Hello Minato. Thank you for coming. I just feel more comfortable talking these things in person.

[derpivity]

[He notices her preparedness that his smile widens a tad. Taking the seat across from her, Minato nods.]

Don't worry, I feel the same way. The network isn't a safe avenue for some things. I understand.

[windandrain]

[Shaking her head, she starts to prepare tea for him. She did call the meeting, after all, so that's the correct etiquette.]

It's also just not the proper place for a real conversation. I'd rather see the face of whoever I'm talking to.

[And once his tea is steeping, she folds her hands in her lap and nods.]

Right, so. Foolishness. What was the last shift you really remember here?

[derpivity]

[He nods. She has a point. Real conversations should be done face to face, after all. Once she's done preparing his tea, Minato takes a quick sip mulling over her question before setting it down.]

I remember people getting shrunk, having amnesia and some other twist of events. [He remembers seeing some vanishing, almost as if they had gained abilities similar to his Hiraishin.] These peculiar things happened a month or two after mistletoes around town caused various trouble.

I suppose those can be considered as a Shift even if there had been numerous.

[windandrain]

[That sounds like the one shortly after Valentine's, which makes sense. Not so long ago, really.]

Then you've only missed a few things. The first thing I should warn you about is that there's one going on now. It's sporadic but it appears time is a little out of sync periodically. You'll take a bite of food and it'll have spoiled. Or make tea and it's suddenly cold. Or household items just seem to grow primitive. My electric kettle at home, for instance, is now a regular cast-iron kettle.

[She frowns thoughtfully, though she can't complain too much. It's mildly inconvenient.]

Nothing serious, just Malnosso meddling, but worth sharing.

[derpivity]

That's some... rather inconvenient meddling.

[He gives a lopsided smile. Of all things, Malnosso, of all things. Did they suddenly run out of things to do around here? Then again, Minato won't complain if this is the only thing happening right now. At least, no one's seriously getting hurt.]

I'll keep note of that. Anything else I should be aware about?

[windandrain]

[Saori returns the smile with a relaxed one of her own, rolling her fingers along the side of her teacup. Yes, inconvenient, but not life threatening.]

Oh there's always something else, you know. The next bit of trouble is a bit stranger. Not long ago a knowledge spirit that takes the form of a giant owl came and decided to take over the library.

[And what a mess that'd been.]

The residents did not approve, and Loki stole the books out of the library. Unfortunately, the spirit objected and there was a fight.

[derpivity]

A knowledge spirit?

[He blinks. That's something you don't hear everyday. Then again, that's common hear in Luceti.]

Why would this spirit take over the library? [This is an important question since he frequents that library.] And how did that fight end? Was someone seriously injured?

[windandrain]

Wan Shi Tong, He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things.

[Not terribly unlike her own title, the Daughter of Wind and Rain.]

He did so because that's his role in his world. He is the caretaker of a library there, and he's grown distrustful of humans who have misused the knowledge he keeps. That's the why, at least. I'm not sure why he did it here though, except maybe out of habit.

[She takes a deep breath and sighs. This is burdensome, and she does not like it one bit, but all she has is a thought. And a knowledge of Loki's general actions in the past.]

I do not know how the fight ended, specifically. I know that Wan Shi Tong is missing part of his memory, and seems much more friendly now, so I have a suspicion as to the results, but nothing more than speculation.

[derpivity]

[Minato gets the connection between what this Wan Shi Tong does back in its home to the reason why it would take over the library here. Saori's right, probably out of habit.

So now, he's more curious about the fight.]

Would you mind sharing this speculation, though?

[windandrain]

Only if you take it with a grain of salt and don't base any opinions or decisions on hearsay. I'm not a gossip.

[Because that could get back to her and she's not into backtalk without proof.]

[derpivity]

Trust me, Saori-san, I don't base my opinions and decisions on hearsay. I believe in facts.

[He just wants to hear what she has to say about this. It's always a good trait for a leader to listen to everyone's opinions, after all.]

[windandrain]

I believe that Loki killed the owl. The loss of the spirit's memory and his disappearance for a time points to that being the case.

[She can't prove it. And Loki is a liar anyway.]

[derpivity]

[He frowns. That's a bold speculation, though if he thinks about it, it makes sense.

Seizing his teacup, Minato takes another sip before continuing.]

I see. That would easily explain it.

[And until proven otherwise, Minato will take note of this.]

Where is the spirit residing now? Do you have any idea?

[windandrain]

[She nods, taking her own cup up for a sip. She knows it's only speculation, but the more she thinks on it the more she believes she's right.

It just fits too perfectly, given the spirit's perfect memory, and the fact that he'd forgotten their encounter.]

At the moment, I believe he's in the Battle Dome, using one of the simulation rooms. Or possibly the barracks. The trouble is that someone...I believe Loki again...has created a magical barrier to keep him out. The books are back, and his pet is able to bring him things to read, but the barrier is still present.

[And she does not approve.]

[derpivity]

I refuse to see the purpose of a barrier if the spirit doesn't have any intention of causing harm.

[It seems a little too over the top now. Yes, he tried to take over the library but everything's okay now. No need to keep it out.]

[windandrain]

As do I. There's more than one, too. One is magic, one is some manner of machine.

[And she doesn't have a clue on the source of the technological one. In any event, it's a little too far.]

[derpivity]

It seems to me this Loki is adamant in keeping him at bay for a reason I can't comprehend. Perhaps he intends to enslave the spirit?

[Which is definitely wrong.]