6th Punch

[medicalpunch]

[Video]

[Sakura opens the journal and contemplates it for several moments before she hits 'record.' She's been trying to decide whether to say anything at all, whether she really wants to mark this particular occasion. But it seems like -- well, why not? Maybe it will help whet her determination to return home. Maybe... maybe it'll mean something.

Finally, she keys for the video and clears her throat.]

It's been a year since I came here. A little more now, I guess. I've been thinking about it for a while -- it just feels really odd to think that I've spent a whole year of my life with everything on pause while I'm here. As much as it's nice not to be in the middle of a war zone...

Well. At least I've got friends here. It would be worse if I were alone.

Anyone want to go for some drinks tonight? I think I could use a little something.

[Taking after her mentor, maybe. But for tonight, Sakura can't fault Tsunade's usual escape. There's nothing she can do about being here, no way to forget about what's going on at home -- so she'll try to distract herself as best she can.]

[Action]

[True to words, Sakura heads down to Seventh Heaven as the sun sets, wrapped in a warm coat against the winter, which she sheds as soon as she gets there. Whether or not anyone's coming to join her, she's planning to drink herself into forgetfulness tonight.]

Comments

[medicalpunch]

[It's half the reason she wants him to come. She won't let them win -- and driving a wedge in between teammates counts as them winning.]

Of course! If there's anyone I'd want to be there, it's my team, you know?

[believeit]

Alright, you got it!

What time? I'll definitely be there!

[medicalpunch]

Anytime! I'm heading over in a few, and I think the plan is to just stay until you're ready to go, however long it takes.

[Maybe they can be drunk and watch the sun rise or something. If they last that long.]

[believeit]

Okay. I'll come in about half an hour then. See you there!

[He doesn't really plan on drinking, he saw enough horrors travelling with Jiraiya, so he'll just tell his parents he's going to hang out with friends and wander over there.]

[And sure enough a short while later he shows up, looking around for her.]

[medicalpunch]

See you!

[And when she catches sight of him, she waves happily.]

Naruto! There you are. Here, you want something? [There are a wide array of drinks laid out, both alcoholic and not. From the flush in her cheeks, Sakura's obviously been tending toward the former.]

[believeit]

[He flops down into an empty seat, immediately looking over the collection of drinks, and then back up at Sakura with a skeptical look.]

Oi, how many have you had already? [He's seen Tsunade drunk.....]

[medicalpunch]

Oh, not that many! Most of these aren't mine. [She waggles her own drink at her, a little more than half empty.] This is only my second, so there.

[believeit]

[Hmmmm okay.]

...What's it taste like? [Not that he wants to get drunk but just tasting is fine right?]

[medicalpunch]

Strawberries. It's pretty good! [She surveys the still-unopened bottles for something for Naruto.]

Here, this one seems like your kind of thing. [She shoves a bottle at him with a grin.] Drink up.

[believeit]

What's in it?

[He's already opening it up before he gets an answer though, taking a swig from it.

Seems kinda fruity??]

It's good!

[medicalpunch]

I'm not actually sure! [Yes Sakura, this is good decision making. Totally.] But I think it's supposed to be kind of tropical?

[believeit]

Yeah it tastes like fruit. I guess having a bit can't hurt! Better tasting than sake anyway.

[Oh dear Sakura what have you done. He sits back and relaxes more, drink in hand because it's actually GOOD and if it doesn't taste too much of alcohol it can't have much in it, right?]

So who else did you invite?

[medicalpunch]

Oh, I just left it open! Anyone can come if they want.

[She gives him a grin.]

Maybe we can make some new friends, huh? Or just spend time with old ones.

[believeit]

Both sound good!

[He will quite happily hang out with anyone that shows up, but he is just as happy to sit here with Sakura and spend time with her.]

[medicalpunch]

[She's not making any indication that she wants to get up and move; it's pretty comfy just lounging here with friends close by. Including him.]

You know... I wonder if there's a way to remember what happens here when we go home. There's some things I'm glad I didn't take back with me when I went, but others... [She shrugs a little.] It seems like a shame that we go through so much and then it's just gone.

[believeit]

Sometimes people come back here and still remember, right? Like you did. So there's gotta be a way to go home and remember stuff, y'know?

[Just how though.... he slurps some of the drink as he thinks, but nothing is coming.]

I bet those Malnosso guys would know, but I doubt they're gonna tell us.

[medicalpunch]

Oh, I just bet they do. It's pretty obvious they treat us like their own personal entertainment, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if they know a lot more about things and are just holding out on us.

[She scowls into her drink briefly, then her expression eases into something wistful.]

I wish we could remember... it would be a lot easier on people, I think. To bring the memories from here back home, people they wouldn't have gotten to spend time with otherwise...

[And she glances at Naruto. Witness exhibit A: he gets to spend time with his parents, as a family.]

[believeit]

[He is thinking along the same lines.]

Yeah. There's a lot of things from here I wish I could remember when we go back. Like my parent's, yeah?

[Having a normal family life, it is nothing he is ever going to be able to remember or recreate.]

[medicalpunch]

Yeah. [Hard to think of anything stronger than that. She wishes the same for him -- she wants him to have that connection, that sense of his own history.

She scoots a little closer to him, reaching out a hand to rest on his shoulder, some kind of comfort or comradeship intended in the gesture.]

It's so unfair that they say we can't....

[Maybe there's a way, though. At least to bring the memories home, if nothing else.]

[believeit]

Yeah... But if there's a way, I'll find it. It's not fair otherwise.

[Not just his parents, but people like Neji. Anyone else that is alive here and dead at home. If they are alive here why can't they be alive again in their home world? It doesn't make any sense.]

I'm gonna find a way to bring everyone home with us, ad win that war. Believe it.

[medicalpunch]

If anyone can do it, Naruto, I think you can.

[Maybe she's getting more loosened up than she thought -- enough that she can openly admit this, can show that sometimes, that sunny optimism of his is just downright inspiring, reassuring, something steady for her to lean on.]

I believe in you. Out of everyone... it's going to be you.

[believeit]

[She has his full attention now as he stares at her, kinda dumbstruck as he listens. It's embarrassing in a way, hearing something like that, and a reddish tint creeps up into his cheeks but it also makes him smile, albeit a little awkwardly.]

You mean us, right! Team Seven is totally badass! Hehe.

[medicalpunch]

[She's never gonna refuse to accept something like that, of course -- she's worked too hard to bring herself up to the boys' level.]

That's right! We're all gonna do it. [But him most of all. Cause he's Naruto, and she believes in him. And when she's this tipsy, it's a lot easier to admit.]

[believeit]

Yeah!!

[He holds a hand up to her as the other brings the drink to his mouth. HIGH FIVE??]

[medicalpunch]

[High five? HIGH FIVE!! This is how Team 7 does things!]