[Instead of returning to the house, Itachi is in the hospital, monitoring the room that Sakura was brought to the night before. He knows the child has been attached to monitors and IVs giving her fluids.

Itachi does not like hospitals.

He stands and leaves the room. He won't go far, but he need not remain by her side at all times either.]

{OOC: He'll be in the hospital for the rest of the day. He also has Sakura's communicator in his possession if anyone is looking for her. So if you want your character to find out Sakura's in the hospital, this is probably the best time?}

[Deidara has been living on his own. However, he knows the dangers of being left alone in his current state. Walking is difficult, and he can feel his chakra being drained a second time when there isn't much left to give.

He makes it within sight of the hospital, but collapses before he reaches the door.]

((ooc: Had to figure this out somehow. ^^;))

[Sasuke had not returned home today. Itachi had not known he had left, but his brother does not answer to him and Itachi does not expect him to inform him of his every move.

But he cannot feel his charka anywhere nearby.

Something--instinct--tells Itachi there is more to this. Sasuke's behavior recently goes against him disappearing on his own.]

Sasuke. Dinner has grown cold. If you did not wish join us, a simple note would have sufficed.

[voice]
I just thought it would be wise to make a public announcement about this, in case anyone hasn't overheard. If you or someone you know are suffering symptoms of exhaustion or intense depression, please speak up. There appears to be something of an epidemic going around, and it's important to know who's affected and what they're going through. This also applies if you've seen anything unusual late at night.

It could be related to last night's attack, so be careful, and I'd advise everyone to stay indoors at night. Especially if you live near the shelter. [...or if he knows you]


[voice/private to Tear]
...I know this isn't a good time -- I'll understand if you'd rather cancel our previous arrangement. But if you're still willing to teach me to read your language, I'm still willing to learn...? [light-hearted; he won't take it badly if she's busy]



( ...and action! )

[The sudden drain on Deidara's chakra had been incredibly unexpected, and there was no excuse for the overwhelming tiredness he now felt. He's out this morning, sitting in the park in a meditative position in an attempt to try and pull what remains of his reserves together in an environment better suited to his element (not that he could draw on outside energy, but it helps him focus).

His efforts don't seem to be helping, and the blond frowns deeply to himself as he remains sitting. Were new restrictions being imposed on him? He hadn't even blown anything up yet.]

[In his mocking cheerful tone.] Oh look, someone gave me a basket of goodies. How quaint. [Less cheerful.] Now that I have a bag of salty nuts I don't miss my freedom at all.

[Yeap. Sounds pretty cranky on his end. Be warned!]

Remind me not to go out with psychos again...

[Josak is in the bar, and he's already ordered a piture of beer, but hasn't started drinking it. He's just waiting for everyone else to arrive.]

{OOC: There will be two threads for this log, the "arrival" thread so anyone who shows up and wants to chitcat can, and the "game" thread. Each separate suggestion for "Never Have I" will be posted directly to the thread so that everyone can respond to them, NOT to each other. The winner of the game will be whoever ends up drinking the least or is still standing after everyone else is passed out drunk.

If you don't know the game, it's usually called "I have never." Participants make suggestions of things they've never done starting the statements with "I've never" (although Josak's version they say "Never have I") and any who actually HAS done that has to take a long drink from their glass.}

[Deidara is standing out in the rain somewhere in sector 5, just chuckling a little. His hands are held palms upward, the mouths open and catching the artificial rain on their tongues.]

Hello. Testing. Testing. One. Two. Three. Is this thing on? [Yes, he knows it's on, but this is what a human would say, isn't it?]

I seem to be all human-shaped. How dismal. And why is one leg so much heavier than the other? [Peers down.]

Oh, look. A ball and chain.

I guess I'm not the only one who likes to play dress up. [In a sing-song voice] Oh, warden, I think you forgot my striped pajamas. Or should it be an orange jumpsuit? Which do you think would work better with my complexion?

Now, who wants to be a dear and bake a cake with a chisel in it for me?

I really hate storms. [A sigh.] And it seemed like it was going to be such a nice day. Oh well. I doubt that there will be any loss of power, but make sure you have your flashlights just in case. And... and... other provisions. Anyway, hope everyone stays safe~

[And that people have enough sense to heed Acumen's other warnings and she really REALLY REALLY hopes it won't be as bad as predicted. Akane hates things that have the potential to be spooky. -_-;;]

[Private to Al]

Hey, Al~! I'm finished with my morning work out. Did you still want to meet so that you can show me your alchemy? [As usual, she sounds chipper and excited.]

[Itachi is avoiding people, particularly Sasuke. He doesn't want to deal with the possible loss of control over himself that can be caused by the man-made poison being leaked throughout the prison.

And so he is in the library. As he aged, he has read less, even more so once his vision began to decline. But he has found the visual translator on the communicator...and wondered if it would also read and translate books. Such a simple pastime would provide him an easy hour or two.

More's the pity that the library did not seem to carry scrolls on jutsu, but he should still be there for a while.]

[Filtered to Sebastian]

I didn't find anything I liked. You're rebuilding the mansion in sector 5. You're also going to clean up some of the area -- I won't live in that sort of filth. Until then we're going to stay in the shelter but you're required to start immediately.

[/Filtered]

[With a sigh he looks out over the park area. It's a pity there's no room to build considering it's a lot prettier there than it is in the sector he's chosen. With a little work it'll be suitable -- then again... maybe with a lot of work. Sebastian will work slowly under these sorts of conditions but it can't be helped. He's homesick even though not much time has passed.]

I hope you all enjoyed the cake and tea Sebastian provided. He'll be doing it more often in the future; so, if you have any specific things you like let me know. I'll have him make it for you.

[Don't confuse his kindness for true kindness. It's all to gather information. Luring people with cake has never failed him before. He's still feeling sad despite all this -- so much to do back home and yet...

He knows he's sullied his family name without anyone's help. It's painful to think about what he's done.]

((THERE WILL BE A LOT OF NOISE UPCOMING THIS POST IF YOU LIVE IN SECTOR FOUR. Lulz. Check the ooc comm for my tl;dr in a bit for more information! :D ))

[Itachi is tired of his brother treating him like he's made of glass. Sasuke's awkward, overly possessive and careful behavior can be endearing, but in many ways it goes against all the years of independence and self-reliance that Itachi has lived through.

He'll have to remind Sasuke which of them is the older brother...and why Itachi is considered an S-Class rogue ninja.

But to do that he must first put his brother into a position he cannot ignore. So he purposefully uses the open, public channel on the network to make his move.]

It seems we still have one requirement left to fulfill, little brother.

And never once have we truly sparred against one another. [soft snort] Let us amend this in Sector 6.

I look forward to seeing progress.

{OOC: Itachi is taunting Sasuke, who will give in...because he's Sasuke. You can respond to the voice post, and if you want to say your character watches the fight, then go ahead, but no interfering with it. Potential for property damage has been minimalized with this being in Sector 6's open fields.}

[Deidara can be found on his hands and knees in the park. The bandages have finally been removed from his hands, but there seem to have been new ones added in a couple random locations. He asked for it, though.

He can currently be seen digging into the ground with a small hand shovel. Unwanted dirt is set to one side, while choice scoops are being placed into a sack on the other side.

It might not be the best time of day to be doing this, but he figured if he did it after dark it would appear far less innocent.]

[Muttered] Damn machine, un.

[Okay, enough of this date auction hullabaloo, it was time for something a little more fun. They hadn't played this game in a looooong time, so it was way overdue!]

It's time for a game!

[Both Hikaru and Kaoru put on a hat, evil grins upon their faces~. They moved in unison. They spoke in unison. They put on their whole routine, hoping that everyone would pay attention to them and play their little game.]

Join us, one and all, and play the Which is Hikaru gaaaame~!!


[ooc: All spoken text is bolded to indicate that they are both speaking in unison. For those of you who are not familiar with their "routine," I will provide two clips for you. the first. the second. HAVE FUN. 8D]

[It had been bothering him for hours, but he'd managed to ignore it with a few extra pills--ones Sasuke does not know he carries. Having his Sharingan activated for so long--and so often in the recent days--must have aggravated his symptoms more than he expected. Usually the pills are enough.

He and Sasuke are walking back to their residence in silence, and he can feel the burning sensation like the heavy tickle of a flame in his chest. It's not one he can ignore or push back. He opens his mouth to breathe in--

And coughs. And coughs. He can't stop.

He brings his hand to his mouth, but it's too late, there's blood on his lips and in his palm and Itachi reaches out to prop himself against whatever might be there--a building, a lamp post, anything--still coughing.]

{OOC: For anyone who may be a bit confused: Itachi has a terminal illness. It has many symptoms resembling tuberculosis, but the exact illness is never stated in the manga.}

Whichever one of you thought it would be amusing to sign me up for the date auction... it wasn't.

[Pearl's sitting on the floor in the library, surrounded by children's picture books...which she is ignoring in favor of flipping through a large red dictionary, eyebrows knit in concentration.]

[she asked Mystic Maya what a penis was earlier, only to receive a very flustered response that...really didn't tell her anything at all. so instead of asking about any of the other words she'd heard recently, she decided to look them up herself.]

[...but in her case, that's easier said than done.]

[there's a notecard on the floor next to her that reads as follows: pinuz, veg va vujyna, breztz, ni nyp nepals]

...I should have asked that nice man how those words are spelled...

[[backdated to earlier in the afternoon...and I'm a terrible person, sob.]]

[Deidara is feeling a good deal better after having slept, and the wounds he had when he arrived have been bandaged. Unfortunately for him, he's still restrained. He's been led by bots (that didn't respond well to being kicked repeatedly, apparently) to breakfast.]

[muttering at the bots as he prods one with a foot again] Who made you, un? The design's hideous, but I've never seen anything like it.

[The food smells good and the ninja is starving, so for now he's fine with just digging in and holding off on other plans - such as how to get the restraints removed.]