Arrival

[medicalpunch]

Characters: Sakura and YOU! And at one point Sasuke
Setting: Various places in the tower, as listed.
Format: Starting with action, but will match your preference.
Summary: Sakura's first explorations in the tower.
Warnings: None to start, will update as appropriate.


[Floor 5: Security Center]

[Staring through the cameras at the various ruined worlds is nearly gut-wrenching, but Sakura steels herself against the emotional onslaught, studying each one, trying to divine some sort of order or secret behind them. She can't believe it's real -- although she knows that her own world was facing devastation in her last memories of it, it still doesn't seem real to her that this many worlds have found their end. (It doesn't help that the entire concept of there being this many worlds is a little difficult.)]

[But she's studying them nonetheless, her expression stony and determined.]

[Floor 2: Infirmary]

[It's natural that this floor has caught her interest, and she's giving it a particularly thorough examination. If this is all the medical facilities she's got to work with, then she'd better be clear on what she can do.]

[The stock of medicines is beyond disappointing -- small and basic things, here, as well as a couple extremely specialized formulas she quietly imagines to be ones required by specific residents -- but nothing that she considers truly needful, and no facilities for formulating her own, at least not here. She'll have to see if anywhere else in the Tower is more profitable than this. But she knows the treatment area, at least, and she's reasonably certain it will accommodate any work she needs to do.]

[Cafeteria]

[She's been given the obligatory bowl of oatmeal, and is regarding it with an expression of distrust. Not that oatmeal is necessarily an objectionable meal -- she's not exactly been enjoying gourmet since leaving Konoha to join up with the Joint Shinobi Army -- but the simple fact that she has been told she must eat it before partaking of anything else has her wary. What exactly does this oatmeal hold that it's so obligatory?]

[She stirs it around a little with her spoon, then takes a tiny bite, holding it on her tongue and trying to sort through the tastes, trying to use chakra to work through it as though it were a poison, searching for what makes it special.]

[Floor 28: Lab]

[Sakura is moving through the lab with a frown on her face; not working on anything, not yet, just investigating, figuring out what she'll have to work with in the future. Wherever she is, she's stuck now, and she'll have to make the best of it -- and she's already figured out that in a place like this, her skills will probably be extremely useful. So she needs to know where she can formulate antidotes -- and quite possibly poisons as well. She's investigated the infirmary already, and while it's decent, it won't do for formulating the more complex antidotes she's expecting to need.]

[This is the last place she'd want to work on them in, with poor instructions, no labels on some of the materials in stock, and no idea how much of the equipment works. However, she'll do her best with what she has.]

[Sasuke's room]

[Exploring the dormitories found her the door with Sasuke's name on it, sending her blood running cold. Sasuke, here? There are certain assumptions that she feels almost driven to make; while she doesn't act immediately, within a day or two of her arrival, she finds the room unoccupied and slips into it, tamping down her chakra as best she can and concealing herself.]

[Waiting.]

[He has to come back, this is where he sleeps, and when he does, she will do what she failed to before. Naruto's not here now to suffer the consequences of her attempt. It will just be the two of them.]

[She'll do it this time. She'll kill him. She'll end this destructive tension that's been tearing the remnants of their team apart for years. For Naruto, for Kakashi, for herself... she'll do this.]

Comments

Cafeteria (Might as well. They ARE roomates after all)

[true_noir]

[She isn't entirely alone in eating oatmeal, though the person seated not far from her seems willing to put the spoon to the mouth and chew thoughtfully while she regarded the room with distant, watchful eyes. The purple haired girl's body was wedged into a corner, covered in the shroud of a heavy green cloak she had collected from her locker. Her eyes paused one too many times on Sakura as she studied the room with curiosity.

However, if it was any consolation, she did not appear to be dying from the stuff...]

Works for me!

[medicalpunch]

[Being a good ninja comes (usually) with pretty good instincts too, and Sakura's got 'em. So as the mysterious figure in the cloak looks at her a little too often, over and over, the back of her neck prickles and she looks up from the oatmeal, her gaze moving to the watcher.]

[There's different ways she could handle it -- and she decides to just be direct about it. She rises, leaving her food where it is, and moves over to confront the girl.]

Hello?

[true_noir]

[Her lips quivered at the edge of a smile when the ninja drew near. The voice triggered a faint memory, and she chuckled a little. Putting her spoon in her oatmeal, she gestured back to Sakura's bowl and proceeded to take another bite from hers.

The reply came after a chuckle.]

I would eat it, if it's your first bowl. I don't think it's something to mistrust Sakura.

[She wagered this was not the Sakura she had known on Atia, but she enjoyed having people at a disadvantage.]

[medicalpunch]

[Now that's an unnerving thing to hear. Her own name, from a stranger's lips...]

I'm sorry, do I know you?

[Someone else with the oatmeal - although she doesn't know that it's necessarily the sign of a newcomer, or whether it's available ongoing to those who find it palatable.]

[true_noir]

No, I think not.

[She smiled enigmatically, taking another bite of oatmeal as she looked at Sakura more carefully up close. The expressions were different. This one was very nervous and definitely did not seem to recognize her.

But it could be fun to tease.]

You will become accustomed to oddities like this in time.

Floor 5 | Here's another roomie!

[hegantha]

[ Sakura may see a tall blond woman also looking through the cameras, but there's a big difference in their reaction. She keeps the same smile on as she looks into all of the different cameras. It's almost like Amberley has seen this too many times to care, or maybe the smile is just a defense mechanism?

Her expression falters a bit when she catches her eye on Sakura. That pink hair is kind of worrying, reminding Amberley of the Chaos worshippers, but then again a Chaos follower would never look so upset at destruction. So perhaps it was just a strange choice of hair color?

Either way, Amberley walks over and tries to reassure the girl. ]

You okay? If you're getting dizzy, you better take a seat.

Woo roomie! \o/

[medicalpunch]

I'm fine.

[The words are rote, automatic. She is the furthest thing from fine, but admitting that is hardly in her game plan for the moment.]

Do you believe any of this, [she waves a hand at the cameras] is real?

awww yeah

[hegantha]

[ Amberley really isn't fooled, but she isn't going to drag it out. If she says she's fine, then she's fine. ]

Yes, in fact I do. [ Amberley sounds a bit solemn at that, but she cheers herself up right away. ] But, it was kind of unavoidable for my world! Only the Emperor knows if it's truly real, though. Doubt is healthy, in my opinion.

[medicalpunch]

The Emperor?

[She's not sure how she feels about this woman's positivity. The prospect of her home's total destruction has her feeling dizzy, displaced, disbelieving.]

[hegantha]

[ Amberley can't relate. Her own universe has been dying, or more accurately, killing itself off for tens of thousands of years. ]

I guess that proves we're not from the same world after all. [ Unless Sakura's bluffing, which Amberley doesn't seem to think so. ] When I say Emperor, I mean the Emperor of the human race.

Cafeteria

[snowdriftassassin]

[Maybe she missed her, or maybe she was too busy with her delicious bowl of oatmeal. But there was someone else in the cafeteria with Sakura. The troll woman had been keeping to herself at first, eating a nice smelling haunch of meat along with some vegetables over at her table.

However, after a bit, she smiled over and nodded.]

It ain't too bad really, and hey, once ya be done wit it, ya can eat anythin' else ya want. Jus' gotta get dat down first mon.

Cafeteria

[medicalpunch]

[Sakura has certainly seen some odd-looking people in her time, but nothing like this troll - still, though, she's got enough self-control not to stare openly.]

[She does nod her appreciation of the reassurance, though.]

It seems a questionable thing for them to insist on, but if it isn't dangerous...

[snowdriftassassin]

[Xue'Kol chuckles and shakes her head.]

Well I haven't died from it yet mon, so no. I wouldn't be sayin' it's dangerous. Ya jus' can't eat anyting else unless ya be eatin' dat.

Or, well, more like ya can't keep anyting down unless ya eat da oatmeal first.

I still got some meat haunches if ya be fancying one after ya down dat gruel mon. Some veggies too.

[Xue didn't mind sharing, while she was a rogue, she had grown up around hunters, scoundrels and pirates and hunting to fill a group was always part of their ventures. Helping out folk in the tower have a nicer day was always nice.]

[medicalpunch]

[Well, that has the medic in her interested. What is it about the oatmeal -- or should that be, about the food here? -- that results in that effect?]

Any food here, from whatever source, isn't digestible without having eaten the oatmeal? Or is it only food from here? [The question is accompanied with a wave toward the rest of the cafeteria.]

[snowdriftassassin]

[Xue looked up in thought for a few moments before looking back at the girl and shrugging.]

From what I be gatherin', it be any food mon. I ain't no researcher but I be hearin' dat it isn't a pleasant experience when ya try ta be doin' odawise.

Cafeteria

[wolfbat_captain]

[He'd just come down for a drink or a small snack, and wasn't really expecting to see a girl with such bright hair sitting there. Ah, she was having the oatmeal. He smirked to himself and smoothly slid into the seat across from her. Maybe she could be another lady friend.]

Enjoying your mandatory meal?

Cafeteria

[medicalpunch]

[She looks up at this newcomer, a little unsure, but not any more guarded than she'd be with any other stranger in this circumstance.]

Not particularly. It's a strange thing to require.

Re: Cafeteria

[wolfbat_captain]

Yeah, it's only one bowl, though. Then you can eat... whatever you want.

[There is something scandalous about the last part of his sentence, but he's half-joking. Even he wouldn't be that forward.]

I take it you're new, then?

[medicalpunch]

[She's friends with too many perverts to miss that implication; it earns him a flat look. Whoever he is, he looks too old to be hitting on her, that's for sure!]

[But she can't deny that she's new, at least.]

I am, yes. As of this morning.

[wolfbat_captain]

[He figures that as long as they're legal, they're fair game! She looks perfectly legal. Right?]

Ah. Where are you from?

[He doesn't particularly care about her home life, but is slightly curious about the other worlds people are from. Maybe this girl had other legal friends here.]

Prose okay? I'm going to be difficult as usual

[stirs_the_leaves]

He's tired when he returns. Emotionally. This place, this tower. Itachi.

Weary might even be the right word. Whatever. He's back at his room now, away from monsters. He's going to sleep.

Except when he puts his hand on the doorknob, something doesn't feel right.

He pauses. Lifts his left hand to settle on the carved hilt of his family katana, tugs just enough to pull the blade free of its catch. He's on high alert as he turns the knob, eases the door open, Sharingan flicking around the room.

Prose is beautiful, I am super-okay with it <3

[medicalpunch]

He's there; she can see him, from her concealment, and it's a rush of so many sickening feelings, so much turmoil, that she almost chokes on her intentions, almost spills out to just run to him and reach out. Sasuke, her teammate, her brother in arms -- once.

He's... different, though. She can see it, see that he has changed from the last time, from her last attempt. What those changes are, she doesn't give herself time to examine. As soon as she has a clear shot at him, she needs to move.

The door opens far enough, and in a flash, she pours chakra into her muscles, a boost to send her across the open space in a heartbeat, weapons gleaming. Poison didn't work before, but this time, there are no distractions, no hostages, no one else to be damaged by it. Just the two of them, and it's the end of the day -- he should be tired. Unready.

[stirs_the_leaves]

Sasuke is tired, and that's the only reason he isn't moving before she is. He sees her chakra surge - sees it and it's familiar and that almost shakes him, but he can see the way it moves and he doesn't have time for sentimentality.

He jumps back into the hallway, giving himself a little more space, whipping his katana around to block her strikes. "Sakura...!"

Painful thoughts flicker across his mind, painful what-ifs. Itachi told him. Itachi told him what he, Sasuke, was like in the world Itachi came from. What world is this Sakura from?

[medicalpunch]

The kunai clangs off the katana with a note that's almost musical in its clarity, but Sakura doesn't let herself hear it. She can't -- nor can she let herself hear that note of surprise, of pain, in Sasuke's voice. If she lets anything intrude, she'll lose her nerve entirely, lose all the determination that she pulled together for this.

"This is for Konoha!" she grits out, slashing again, lower. He has a sword, she only has a knife -- but she's a medic, and he isn't. She can keep herself going in a fight. Long enough -- just long enough. It has to be.

"For Naruto... for Kakashi... and for me!" She has to get through. A nick, just a nick, that's all it will take. Again, again, quick small movements, quick precise movements, around his guard, with all of her fresh energy and the chakra flowing into her muscles.

A scratch. A scratch was all it would take.

[stirs_the_leaves]

That's more affirmation than he needs. More than he ever wanted to hear and gods, he didn't want to believe it. Didn't want to believe Itachi's words, didn't want to think any part of him could ever push everything so far aside, but here's his proof. Here's his proof, and it comes in the form of one of his teammates trying to kill him. He can almost smell the killing intent.

And she's good. She's good, and she's fast, and she has better chakra control than he does - she's always had better chakra control than he does - and he's spent his on the frivolities of the Tower.

He keeps his blade moving, just blocking, just dodging away, no strikes, never a strike (he's not sure he could hurt her if he had to) and fuck, doesn't she see that? "I don't want to hurt you!"

He can't spare breath for more than that, though, can't tell her everything it would probably take to slow her down and dammit, why did she have to find his room like this before he even knew she was here?

She's good, is why. She's good, and as he arches away and dips a hand for his kunai pouch - just something else to block with, not to hurt her, never to hurt her - her blade glides up his katana and he can't turn it in time, feels metal parting through the bandages he keeps wrapped around his left forearm, parting through his skin. Feels a sting, a heavy thick sting and his eyes widen.

Poison.

He jumps back, just back, far as he can, three jumps back down the hall while he can still move.

"Look at what I'm wearing!" he yells, hoping she'll actually do so before she catches him. Shakes his head. It's too late now if he doesn't get her attention; if he keeps blocking he'll just move the poison faster through his veins -

He drops the sword. Drops the kunai he'd snagged. Turns his left shoulder toward her and yanks his sleeve up, baring the unmistakeable ANBU tattoo of Konoha. "I'm not the Sasuke you know!" And fuck, how much it hurts him to say that.