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]

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!]

[believeit]

[It certainly is!]

[Now that particular conversation has settled, he shuffles a bit in his seat and studies the drink in his hand.]

Hey wanna swap? I want to try yours...

[medicalpunch]

Sure, have a taste! [She passes her drink to him.] I want to try yours too. Wonder where they're from....

[believeit]

I dunno! They taste better than sake anyway.

[That kinda taste disgusting, how can Tsunade drink it all the time? As he swaps the two drinks, his eyes go wide with realization.]

...Better now show these to Tsunade baa-chan if she ever shows up, especially if it's free.

[medicalpunch]

[Sakura groans at that.]

Oh god, surrounding Shishou with free alcohol? She'd never be sober again.

[Give her a moment...]

... We ought to have a plan. In case she shows up, how do we keep the alcohol away from her? For everyone's sake...

[believeit]

Maybe we can collect all the alcohol and hide it. Or like-- burn it, you know?

[medicalpunch]

I don't know, we might burn down the entire enclosure that way... alcohol fires spread easily, and there's a lot of it here....

[believeit]

...Yeah I don't wanna get into trouble for burning down the village and taking her sake.

[Hmm what else could they do. He thinks on it some more as he takes a another drink, then suddenly the bottle is slammed down as he turns to her.]

I got it! Kakashi-sensei can do his thing! Y'know.. the sharingan thing when he can make stuff disappear! [PERFECT PLAN RIGHT Y/N]

[medicalpunch]

That's one way to take care of it! And whoever winds up being a guest of Kakashi-sensei's next can spend a little time enjoying themselves on the bounty, I guess.

[Which edges around the awful topic of the war, Obito, other things... but she can push those thoughts away without too terribly much difficulty, insulated by the drinking she's already been doing.]

<- told ya

[believeit]

Haha, yeah I guess they could!

[And likewise, it suddenly reminds him of the war, and Obito. His lips pout against the bottle top, let's just not go there right now.]

I'm gonna go get another drink! You want something?

cuuuute, do I get to respond in kind? :>

[medicalpunch]

Sure, surprise me!

[She's feeling relaxed and daring right now -- enough to trust her next level of inebriation to Naruto's judgment.]

Make it something good, huh?

yesss ♥

[believeit]

You got it!

[It's several minutes before he returns but once he does, he's holding two tall glasses with a pink-looking drink in it.]

That guy over there said we should try this! It's uh.. strawberry, yeah!

♥!

[medicalpunch]

[She eyes the drinks and laughs.]

He gave you drinks the color of my hair! [Close enough, anyway. And she likes strawberry, so it's all good.]

♥♥♥

[believeit]

Huh? Oh, I guess he did. Hah! [He had just asked for 'something she would like' so... makes sense.]

..It's not bad! Kinda tastes like fruit pudding, all mashed up and cold.

[Tastes really nice actually... evident as he begins to gulp it down.]

[medicalpunch]

It does! [She giggles.] Hey, it's full of fruit, that means it's good for you, right? [It's such bullshit. But sometimes a little immaturity is nice.]

[believeit]

Yeah, exactly! It's gotta be good for us. [Nod nod.]

[Another sip and he sets the drink down, leaning back in his seat as wondering about something before he sits up again, turning to face her and leaning in.]

Hey Sakura-chan. Do you like it in this place?

[medicalpunch]

Like it? [That question deserves deep thought, and she sips her drink while she turns it over.]

I... I don't know. I mean, it's nicer than being in a battlefield at home, and we don't have to worry about getting hurt or killed on missions, but at the same time... home is where we belong, you know? So I guess I don't dislike it here but I don't want to stay forever, either.

[believeit]

[He listens intently to her answer, though he looks away and leans back before he replies.]

Yeah, that's what I think too. We've gotta go home, everyone's counting on us. Though... it's kinda nice being here for a bit, y'know?

[medicalpunch]

Yeah... in a way, it really is. It's... [She pauses, turning over exactly what she wants to say, and then quietly reaches out to rest a hand on his shoulder, suddenly wanting a bit of physical connection.] It's a respite from everything going on at home.

And you get your family...