deathsdoctor | 023 [Written/Action]

[The earth is soft beneath his fingertips, the flowers of the oleander bush planted next to white heather in the Memory Garden bright pink and fragrant. There’s a crumpled letter in his pocket.

Perona went home this morning. His nakama, found here, now lost, went home. Like so many others from his world. He can easily remember all their names, and they keep springing to the front of his mind until he can think of nothing else.

Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Vivi, Tony Tony Chopper, Nico Robin, Franky, Brook, Bellemere, Nojiko, Portgas D. Ace, Sabo, Marco, Shanks, Dracule Mihawk, Perona, Zeff, Marshall D. Teach, Bon Kurei, Boa Hancock, Kaku, Keimi, Shirahoshi, Smoker, Coby…

Bepo…

He is the last. The last pirate. The last one of the Grand Line. The last one of the sea and storm.

The only one who remembered all their stories. He is now their memory… the last remaining link to everything experienced.

The thought keeps him in the garden until dark. More names going through his mind. Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Mikoto… his brother and mother in law. His family. Gone. Maes Hughes… his brother from the first Luceti Valley. Elicia and Gracia. Lupin. Daisy. Adele…

.. so many names…

Finally his fingers see fit to close around a pen and he slowly writes in the journal.]

Perona has gone home. She left letters and gifts for others. I’ll bring them around soon.

[Writing it makes it all the more final. Itachi will be worried by now and Law should return to him. Or he’s already out looking. The stars in the sky tell him it’s very late indeed.

On the way back, he forces himself to keep running through another set of names. Everyone he has left. He is the last, but he has to remember he is not alone.]

[The morning passes in a blur. He’s not sure of what he does except for bits and pieces. Passing out things, probably. Giving condolences. Tea. He definitely had tea. He visits Mister Leon for Specialist Davis’s Shift detecting glasses and mentions to him that he’s going down to the third level of the tunnels to explore.

Then he hits the Smithy to ask if anyone would like to go with him. After all, the third level looks to be a former mining complex.

It’s a temporary escape and only that. And then he has to start dealing. Start marching forward and face it all head on. Somehow.

Law doesn’t expect to find anything big down there, but who knows. It’s doubtful that Luceti is out of surprises.]

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[For his part, Itachi doesn't say anything. He holds his partner in return, gently rubbing his back with one hand as they stand there - and he'll continue to stand there as long as he needs to.

He's already finally had his breakdown over losses. He can understand how Law feels now. There's no more emotional distancing with him when it comes to the pirate.]

[Itachi's shirt is getting wet. And for once, Law doesn't hold it in. Keep it down so far it can't see the light.

Not after what he said to his husband.

... it's silent, but this time?

He allows himself to weep.

And refuses to feel shame.]

[Finally he looks up.]

... let's go home...

[Itachi knows that it's better for those who've left to be in their own world, but he won't say that. It doesn't need to be said. He understands that it's easy to be selfish and wish they had all remained here together.

A little bit of home helps, here in this place.

He gives Law as much time as he wants, and when he's done he brushes a hand gently through the man's hair.]

The cats have kept the bed warm for you.

Snuck under the covers again have they? We'll have a struggle to get back the bed when we get back.

[A shaky smile as he continues to lean into him. He knows it's better. He knows. Even if it's hard to remember.

Even if right now it hurts.]

Edited 2014-08-20 20:34 (UTC)

Shouldn't be too difficult.

[He tilts his head, nudging Law's up enough to give him a peck at the edge of his mouth.]

I'll put their bowls out for them.

Tuna and rabbit laced with catnip? [Since they had been trying out mixes of various things as the cats got older and their needs evolved. That's the prepared mix in the fridge - one the cats had literally dove for.] That's a heck of a bribe.

It will take a bribe to get them to leave. Though they may return anyway once they see you're back.

[So Law should prepare himself for cuddles from his other housemates also.]

I'm that good of a cushion, am I?

[Actually the cats will sleep on top of them both, but details. It's also somewhat of a callback to Itachi's tease the morning of his own birthday, but honestly that seems like centuries ago right not.

An owl swoops in to catch a meal in the grass behind them as they walk to the house. The lights are on indoors - he can see the warm glow from the windows from up the path.]

And you smell like the sea.

[The ninja keeps an arm wrapped around his husband's waist as they go. It's a reminder that he's not going anywhere as long as he can help it.

Not that this is often of much comfort here.]

So I smell fishy, then. That explains everything.

[Although.

He leans over to take an actual sniff of his husband.]

You smell like forest, you know.

[Maybe it's his bodywash. But no, Itachi always has that scent clinging to him that reminds him of woods.]

[Itachi makes the smallest of startled noises at the sniff, then ruffles the back of Law's hair in return.]

It's hard to take it out of me.

[Is this really a metaphor for his village now? Possibly.]

Edited 2014-09-05 08:56 (UTC)

Mnn.

Suits you too.

[There's a twitch of a smile at the noise and he leans into the hand. Call it the troll in him, but he kinda enjoys when he can get these reactions out of him. Even when he's not trying for them.

Then it dims as they come to their threshold and a leaden sort of exhaustion takes hold. ... he... really could use that lie down. Or a seat on the couch as Itachi evicts the cats from their bed.]

[As it turns out, the cats hardly need to be evicted or bribed. They run downstairs to see the pirate once he's inside. (After all, perhaps he brought them something.) Itachi shoos them away just a little to give Law room.]

There's tea on the stove.

[He set it out before he left. Important things.]

[He is the bringer of scritches. And a cloud of depression.

Well more the later than the former, but he spares a few for them when he isn't in danger of being mobbed any more.]

Something warm sounds good. Thanks.

[His arms curl around himself a little but he isn't cold. Not physically anyway.]

... I'll be just a moment.

[Itachi's hand lingers on his partner's shoulder a moment more before he goes to the kitchen to get the tea.

It won't fix anything, but it will at least warm the stomach.]

Alright.

[He brushes his own fingers against him. Truth is, he doesn't really want to lose sight of his partner right now, but he knows he's being unnecessarily clingy. He's not going to disappear if he heads into the next room.

Probably not, anyway.]

[Itachi is as quick as he can be, returning with the tea soon so that there's little time for Law to worry.

He hands over a cup and returns his hand to his partner's shoulder.]

You should sit for a little bit.

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