teachingpeace | 3 Jutsu: [Action]

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3 Jutsu: [Action]

[Action: Incredibly early in the morning.]

[It was still dark outside and Nagato already knew he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. That dream had been... He'd woken up like this more than once since his memories had been interfered with, it's true, but he hadn't remembered why.

He hadn't remembered the dreams. Now, he was somewhat mortified, very confused, and extremely concerned if this was some kind of revenge from his Sensei from beyond the grave. Given the man's later works and his philosophies where women were concerned he wouldn't exactly be surprised but...

But that still didn't make it any less strange, or embarrassing, or confusing, given that he'd never had dreams like this in his life.

Though, to be fair, he hadn't exactly been healthy enough for that to be the case. Not that he realized that this, more than a determined ghost of Jiraiya, was the cause of his disturbance.

No, instead he just dressed, and went hunting outside for somewhere to train to try to get his mind off of it, and to try to... calm his nerves.]

[Action: Later that morning, before noon.]

[Getting his mind off it hadn't worked. No, instead, if anything, he'd picked at his thoughts mercilessly because he'd given himself time to think about it instead of keeping himself occupied with something intellectual.

Not the wisest plan he'd ever had. In the end though, he didn't know what else to do, but he needed to know if this was... incredibly abnormal, and the medics he'd worked with were still back in Ame so...

Clinic.

He'd just... go in there... and apparently stand incredibly awkwardly just inside the doorway trying to decide if he should ask to see someone about... this.

He had no idea why he thought this was a good one.]

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[Reflex has him opening the door before his mind catches up and reminds him about what he'd just woken up from. In all, it led to a genuine smile, a bit of a flush, and him opening the door wider.]

Good morning Konan.

Did I wake you, Nagato?

[His face looks a little flush and she wonders if he had to run to the door. His hair doesn't look wet and she doesn't see any steam that would indicate that he'd just recently showered.]

Ah, no, not at all, I woke up on my own. Um. [He shifted in place and gave her a lopsided smile, glancing away, and hello lacy underthings. Looking back at her face now and the blush is a bit deeper.

Today was not fair.]

Come in then.

Are you feeling well? Your face is flushed.

[It's something she worries about. His health may be better than it has been for some time, but that doesn't mean his health is perfect.

She carries the basket with her. She'll put them away in her own apartment shortly.]

I... I'm fine truly just... woke up suddenly. [He ended the words on a lame note, but he had no idea what to tell her. He couldn't very well jump straight to the topic, and wasn't even sure he wanted to.]

[And yet he'd just told her that she hadn't woken him. Something is going on. That flush is a stark contrast with his fair skin.

She reaches up to put her hand against his forehead, placing her other hand on her own forehead for comparison. Perhaps she's fussing a bit, but she doesn't want him to reassure her that he's fine when he's actually not well. She knows the extent that he'll push himself when not kept in check.]

Hmm...your temperature is fine, at least.

[If anything, that made the flush worse, embarrassment taking a different source.] I'm nearly certain I'm not sick Konan.

...sorry. I worry, even when it's not necessary.

[Especially now. She already lost Nagato once. She recognizes that he's highly capable, but she also knows he pushes himself and ignores his health if he feels something is more important.]

Do you have any plans for the day?

[He opened his mouth, then closed it, shaking his head on a sheepish laugh.]

No, no plans, I was just going to practice, clear my mind.

Shall I join you? I can program a scenario into the Battle Dome.

[She can keep an eye on him just in case, but if he really is flushed from just waking up... A thought occurs to her. Maybe he had some sort of embarrassing dream, like finding himself in only his underwear in a room full of people. Perhaps it's just some latent stresses or something of that nature.

In which case some time in the Battle Dome may do him some good.]

I- Of course. I haven't actually used that as of yet.

[He shifted on his feet and lifted his hands in a bit of a flutter, like he couldn't decide what to do with himself. It's not something he'd done for a while.]

I should probably eat something as well.

That would be best. I should probably put away my laundry before we go, too.

[She's not self-conscious about it, but she does prefer not to be a slob and leave chores undone.]

Shall I meet you in half an hour, then?

[He nodded at once and shifted on his feet.]

I'll meet you there.

[Konan leaves the room with her laundry, unaware that it's been an unintentional cause of embarrassment. She puts away her clothing, folding and hanging it neatly, and even has a small snack before they head out.

Half an hour later, she's waiting for Nagato in the hallway.]

[That was so much better she had no idea, and he gave her a quick look over, more composed, when he looked at her face again.]

Done?

[Hm. Well, his features look much closer to normal. Maybe it was some sort of dream that caused his cheeks to flush that way, or maybe he'd woken up in such a way that all the blood rushed to his cheeks.]

Yes. I had something to eat, too.

Shall we then?

[He hadn't eaten, but he would later, so he wasn't worried about that, instead studying her, thoughtful and considering. Had he noticed she was lovely before? Yes.

But somehow he'd never really paid attention to it. It had just been part of his terrible habit of surrounding himself with things and people that were interesting to look at. It hadn't been a personal sort of interest.

And now, he couldn't get it out of his head.

That was entirely not fair.]

[Konan can't help but notice the way he's looking at her. Perhaps she's just imagining things and there's some leftover bias from the memories of their former life. Part of her wants some of that old physical affection they had like that. Another part feels like it would be a betrayal to Yahiko's memory, even knowing that he'd want them to live on and be happy.

She settles simply for offering her hand out for Nagato to take.]

Let's go.

[He took her hand without any hesitation, perfectly willing to have her lead him. But... she'd noticed him noticing, he was sure of it.

Somehow, he wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse about the whole thing.]

Gladly. Have you used this training area often?

[There's some comfort in this simple touch. It's something that could be a gesture between people romantically involved or between two people who are simply very close friends. Because regardless of whatever complications there might be at the moment, they're still extremely close.]

Reasonably often. Sometimes I practice in the forest or the mountains instead, but the Battle Dome has the advantage of being able to program in just about any sort of foe and terrain.

[There's one particular foe she programs in with about the same frequency that she programs in the Third Party's cultists, this time factoring in reality warping potential. If he shows up here, she can't afford to fail.]

[He relaxed when she relaxed, putting the thoughts out of his mind to focus on her words.]

Do you have any particular favorites? We both know I've been getting used to training as my own body again.

It's always a good idea to study the movements of the Third Party cultists. They're the ones most likely to kill the people in this enclosure. The Malnosso may treat everyone as experiments, but it's the Third Party who is openly hostile.

[She'd mention the other option, but...that would entail telling him that she'd died. She's not ready to tell anyone yet.]

[He looked sideways at her, thoughtful.] Those were the ones during the altered memory situation?

Yes.

[She nods.]

The ones who attacked people later on.

[He looked more serious then, seriously turning over what he'd said in his mind.]

If they're a persistent threat then it's one that I clearly must handle in my training soon.

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And then I stared at your icon for two minutes straight. I blame Nagato.