019 [Action/Written]

[deathsdoctor]

[He knew it would happen one day for one of them. That was the inevitability of Luceti romance. Braced for it. Lived each day like it was the last for them. Law had the grace of knowing that there was more down the line for him, but Itachi had the permanence of death waiting for him. The likelihood of coming back in a New Feather cycle a little older, a little wiser, or even at all with memories intact…

This was it, and when time was up, it was up.

And one day the end came, and a deep sense of sudden nothingness tearing him from sleep. To a bed empty save for him, and a room stripped of everything of Itachi’s (not that he had much).

And this is how it ends…]

[The next few hours are mechanical – the Supernova operating like a clockwork man. Get dressed, eat food, make breakfast for Konan, feed the cats, pet the cats (Amaya is crying, Sumire is agitated – they refuse to be consoled), take stock. Nothing remains and Law feels nothing. Nothing but a pounding sense of pressure building inside, and he keeps choking as he breathes and he doesn’t know why.

We both knew it would be this way. This is how it is back home. One moment together, the next apart. There is no guarantee in any life.

Laundry is next, and Law strips their… his bed of the sheets to wash them. It needs to be done, they had… and he suddenly squeezes shut his eyes because they are burning and he gasps and tries to breathe, air coming out his lungs in a whine. He can smell him. Itachi’s scent lingers in the air, palpable, and each breath tears at the air more as he stuffs the fabric into the wicker basket he brought up.

While he does so, something glittering falls to the floor and hits his foot. A silver chain with three metal rings - Itachi’s necklace. Law can’t recall him ever taking it off. He stares, and bends slowly to pick it up.

The pressure is unimaginable – building, building, building – but he can’t stop staring at it.

Until his hand clenches around it, rings cutting into his palm, as it all breaks loose inside as he staggers drunkenly back and wraps himself in his power to take himself away. To the mountains.

… the destruction begins soon after.]

[The water has gotten cold. All traces of dirt and his blood sluiced down the drain. Leaving Law alone in the shower with his grief and the knowledge of the unforgivable tantrum he just threw.

Itachi would not approve. Law is not five. He is a grown man and they both knew the consequences of what they were getting into. It was weak. He’s grown so weak.

The ninja’s necklace is still in his hands – has been through all of it. Slowly he puts it on and leans back against the shower wall, and tries to pretend that the only water running down his face is that from the shower head. Finally he murmurs to the dead man no longer present. Attempts to smile for him.]

No regrets.

[In the end… no regrets.]

[Finally, Law opens his journal. This… is the part he’s been holding off on. It’s difficult enough dealing alone. He just wants to run off to the sea… but for a variety of reasons, he can’t. He writes:]

For those who knew him, Uchiha Itachi has been sent home.

Comments

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

[Shit. Shit. Shit. This really is the Malnosso idea of cleaning house, isn't it?]

Where are you now?

[Voice]

[deathsdoctor]

Home.

[Action]

[voidseeing]

[Gai doesn't waste time with empty words of sympathy or attempts to get Law to look on the bright side. As someone who has lived a life steeped in various sorts of tragedy, he knows quite well that those things are useless, said more out of a desire to make the speaker feel better than anything else by allowing them to believe that they've somehow done something useful.

No, sometimes what you need most is action and the ability to work your emotions out on your own, which is why there will be a knock on the door about twenty minutes after Law makes his announcement.]

[Action] Okay if Konan tags in at some time?

[deathsdoctor]

[And Law opens it. He's wearing clean clothers - jeans and an old yellow and black hoodie that's seen better days, and a new piece of jewelry along with the customary gold hoops. A necklace with three metal rings.

He's also got some scrapes and cuts along his arms and hands. He doesn't smell like alcohol yet. The presence of Konan is keeping him from diving into the liquor cabinet, not to mention the nagging feeling of weakness - his weakness - that scolds him for wanting to use it as a crutch to get over this first hurdle of grief.

The pirate is a man silently grieving... wavering between numbness, misery, sorrow, and bottled fury. He blinks once as he sees just who is on his doorstep.]

Gai...

[Written]

[niceguypose]

[Lee knows little about Itachi - so, so little - beyond what everyone back home knew of him; of the horrific crime he performed in his youth, of the threat he seemingly posed to the ninja world. He had been caught off guard by how Itachi had seemed here. They only spoke once, but that along with Shikamaru's lack of action had convinced him that he would have to trust Itachi's lack of a threat in this world.

But now he was gone. Being sent home for Itachi... that meant death. If Itachi truly was able to live a peaceful existence here, then Lee felt some pity for him, despite the atrocities he's committed. Either way, he knows that Itachi's friend who communicates this lesson should be assumed to be an innocent party. Lee should assume no ill will or malice. He taps a pen to his chin several times before deciding on a response to write back.]

I see.

Thank you for communicating this message.

[Written]

[deathsdoctor]

[Oh. Here comes the first one. One of the ignorant ones. Wonder if they're going to throw a party.

They're not kind thoughts running through Law's head as his mood turns ugly. Damn secret. They didn't know, and it's only because of Itachi's wishes and Shikamaru himself (his face in his kitchen long ago), and that he can't let it slip because he knows the consequences of revealing this secret. And that he regrets revealing it before, after learning in bits and pieces of how much hurt that caused, despite the good in it. He had promised to do what he could to Itachi if any Konoha nin came under their roof, and he swallows his bile even as the injustice of it all strikes him again and again.]

You're welcome.

[That's it. All he's going to write. Or he might snap the pen in his grip because fuck, he can barely stand this.]

[Written]

[asobouyo]

[It takes Elicia a moment to read it, but eventually:]


I'm really really sorry uncal Law.


Don't be alon&e.


It's hardor for a heart to heal alone.

[She didn't forget, what you told her, when she was covered in mud and crying for her missing father. She'd never forget, undoubtedly.]

[Written] 1/2

[deathsdoctor]

[He did say that. About Maes.

His brother. Experiment or not.







Also dead.



Why were most of the people he got close to dead?]

[Written]

[deathsdoctor]

... could you tell Miss Winry and Mister Ed, I'm coming over tomorrow?

[Written/Private]

[goldenglasses]

For what it's worth. I'm sorry. [Vash doesn't know just how close he was to Itachi, but he knows the pain of losing any friend. Seems like there's a lot of that going around lately.]

If you need an ear or company, I'll be around. [Mostly the bar, where he's spent most nights since he lost his own family. He also doesn't expect Law to take him up on it, he just offers as it's the only thing he has to offer. That and sometimes it's nice to hang out with someone you're not exactly close to.]

[Written/Private/Action]

[deathsdoctor]

Okay. I'll think about it.

[That's it. It should say it all.

... three days later, Law shows up at the bar. He's taking you up on that.

After all, you owe him that drink.]

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

[Luke freezes as he reads those words, knowing what the man meant to Law. He'd not known the ninja well, but he was fond enough of Itachi to feel affected by the loss. Stretching out with the Force, he attempts to locate him, just in case. And sure enough, nothing. A definite loss indeed.

The Jedi knows loss well, especially here, but he cannot imagine what Law's feeling now. He doesn't want to even think about it. So instead he focuses on saying something. Anything.]

Law.

[A pause, accompanied by the rustle of things and the familiar clink of bottles.]

If you don't mind company, I can come by.

[Voice] Okay if Konan tags in later?

[deathsdoctor]

[It's probably better that he has company if there's going to be drinking (he can hear the clink of bottles). So far he has been restraining himself due to Konan's presence in the house. Not to mention the nagging feeling that it's weak, he's using the alcohol as a crutch, even as he desperately, desperately wants to indulge.

He also doesn't have to leave the couch. Which is good, as it is where he'll be sleeping tonight (probably for a lot of nights). That bed... has too many memories made in it.]

...

...

Sure. I... we'd appreciate it.

voice

[floralogy]

[For one who knows what is between him and Itachi, Ino empathizes. So much so because this is probably the very thing she's scared of happening with her and Riku. That, and she knows from experience that Itachi isn't that much of a bad guy. She still has her doubts - and she fears they will never be silenced until she goes home - but for what its worth, she values the comrade that he became and the comrade that he was in this place. When she speaks, her voice is solemn with concealed sadness laced around its edges.]

Thanks for the information, Law. [A beat, a brief hesitation on her part if she should say her next words.] And I'm sorry.

voice

[deathsdoctor]

[Mood already ugly from Lee's message (though through no fault of the ninja's own), Law's face twists as he stares away from the camera as the second shinobi chimes in. Then he starts at the tone, as his mood begins to swing again.

Why?

Does she know? Has Shikamaru told her? Does she at least suspect? Not that Itachi and him were together; neither of them had denied it in these last months or had even bothered keeping it a secret. The other thing. The Secret.

Good.

He can have some satisfaction in that. It's a mild balm, but it's a balm. That some ninja are actually looking underneath the underneath and at least questioning what they know.

Then he covers his face in one hand, because even if it's a balm, it doesn't make it any better or hurt any less in its sheer injustice to everyone.]

Thank you.

[Choked slightly. He hates that he's let slip that much weakness. But it is appreciated.]

written

[redjacketthief]

[It was unexpected.

Lupin had to reread the words just to be certain that he hadn't made a mistake, but the brief announcement remained. Though he hadn't known Itachi well, he appreciated the man's quiet presence...and he knew what he meant to Law.

He didn't waste space on words that would be uttered over and over again. His reply was just as brief.]

There's whiskey at the club if you want some. Or do you want delivery?

written; also okay if Konan tags in later?

[deathsdoctor]

Delivery. I can't leave tonight.

[He's not leaving the child tonight. And if there's going to be drinking, better do it in stumbling distance of the couch.

He won't be sleeping in that bed tonight.]

[Voice]

[toujoursfluer]

I'm sorry, Death-san.

[Though she never knew Itachi, she knew they were together and she feels...somewhat fortunate that she at least has a chance of meeting Marco again...for all that they won't remember]

[Voice]

[deathsdoctor]

...

[Law starts at her voice. He didn't expect any of the Strawhats to be offering their sympathies. Least of all her.

He doesn't know what to say. Words are struggling to line themselves up in his head. Finally he crooks a smile, for he is a man of smiles, and it's thoroughly miserable.]

... thank you... [When you can say nothing else, say this....]

[Written]

[fleurdesel]

Take a few days, however many you need. We can mind the clinic in the interim.

[When in doubt she falls back to professional courtesy, though she can't help but offer a short sentence a moment later.]

You've my most sincere condolences.

[Written]

[deathsdoctor]

Thank you. I'll let you know when I'm coming back.

[He glances in the direction of the sea and decides to take Konan and the cats there... at least for a day.

Go home. Or at least as close to home as he can get to home...

And then he glances to the side. Elicia's words. What he said so long ago.]

... maybe sometime we can have lunch?

[generalflirt]

[He has no idea how to react to this, honestly. Maybe he'll think of it someday, but after how he clumsily handled Gold's vanishing, and how clumsy he feels he handles any of these things, he doesn't even try here. Law is someone he respects, someone he values... and someone he's not sure he even knows how to handle at the moment. Because if he's writing it, obviously there was something there which he wasn't entirely aware of, and it's someone he's not entirely aware what to think of.

So he just feels bad and decides to go on as normal. He'll say something nice next time he sees the man. Or go along with someone Shikamaru does, maybe]

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

[This announcement causes Richard's own heart to tighten painfully in his chest, bringing back memories of his own experience two years ago. Having someone you love return home to another world (even if they no longer loved you) is one of the singularly most heart-wrenching things he's ever felt; because of this, he can only imagine what Law must be going through right now.]

I'm sorry.

[It's not much, but it's all he can offer.]

[Voice]

[deathsdoctor]

[It's all most can offer. They can't bring him back. It's all in the hands of fate if he ever returns and even remembers.

And he's dead there. Dead. Nothing ahead and the only thing to hope for is that he has peace.

... that's Luceti romance. Inevitably star crossed. Worth the pain? Perhaps. It was to him. No regrets.]

... thanks. [Because what can he say in return?]

[endgames]

[...you know the last time Itachi left, Shikamaru was even less sure what to think of it then. There was something odd about him, to be certain; he learned that playing shogi with him, seeing the Itachi that was a boy and not a wanted man.

But an enemy's an enemy, so he went looking just to be safe. In case he was faking a disappearance.

It's odd thinking about that now.

Rather than say anything, he takes it upon himself to show up at Law's front door.]

[deathsdoctor]

[The door creaks open and Law peers out; the hand (and arm attached) scraped and cut, as is the other one hanging by his side. His clothes are clean (he must have changed); simple jeans and a yellow and black hoodie. Notably, he does not smell of alcohol.

He does have Itachi's necklace around his neck.

He blinks, although the expression isn't too terribly startled. Instead it is pained misery, shifting undercurrents of numbness and sorrow flashing through his eyes as the emotions ebb and flow.]

Shikamaru.