niteo_logs | Things are not what they appear to be

Characters: Juugo, open
When: March 24th, apparently.
Where: The ground floor of the apartments
Rating: Possible violence and swearing.
Summary: In which an arrival goes rather more smoothly than first imagined.

The halls didn't feel empty.

They looked it, but Juugo could feel the low, quiet hum of life in the footsteps and the near-imperceptible sound of voices in distant rooms. None close enough to merit action yet; he was much better served keeping calm and working out a plan of action. Even as he turned to continue down the corridor with slow, measured steps, he was forced to admit that his current such plan amounted to 'wait for Karin to track you down'. Assuming that whatever had sent him here hadn't likewise scattered the rest of the team. Assuming the others weren't injured or incapacitated, or even dead. He doubted the last option, simply for the reason that no one with the ability to kill someone like Sasuke or Suigetsu would need to resort to teleportation to get rid of him, Juugo.

Of course, none of them really knew what Madara was capable of, except for Sasuke-- probably. It was still an option. And until then, he would just have to stay quiet and watchful. The corridor ahead was just as empty as the last one; at least, it was until he noticed one of the doors ajar and immediately froze in place.

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"We were going to set off for your old village in three days," he said, as agreement. "You said we were using him- using Akatsuki."

The simple mention of Konoha caught his attention. They were heading to Konoha? To kill Danzou and the elders, it seemed like. Even though he knew that it could be several more years before he was finally able to return home - lacking memories of where he currently was, it seemed - killing those three was his current goal. It didn't matter that he was currently remotely happy, having been able to live with Itachi for as long as he has.

There was something that flared briefly in Sasuke's eyes. His hatred. He had buried it deep, having no need for it here, but...

"Going to Konoha to kill Danzou and the Elders." His voice had gotten firmer, slightly, more cool and collected than it had been moments ago. It held a slight hardness to it as well, with the flare of hatred bursting. "How fortunate of your Sasuke. I almost envy him."

"You are Sasuke," Juugo corrected, his calm restored. Believing otherwise would only inconvenience the both of them, at best. "Our Sasuke. Even if you're in two places, that doesn't change."

"Right." Terminology was something he could honestly care less about. He gave a small huff before gesturing back toward the stairwell leading up to the other apartments, "Apparently, everyone that arrives here lives within the same building. Most people have been told their room number or have discovered it by finding their name written in dried blood on the door.

I assume you haven't gone further than this floor, correct?"

He shook his head again, "Not yet."

It hadn't seemed like a good idea to go further than he'd had to, and after that explanation, Juugo was glad he hadn't. Finding your name written in blood on a door wasn't something that made you feel welcome, even when you were someone like him. "I didn't know we'd be staying."

"Since no one knows how we arrived here, we don't know how to leave. We're pretty much stuck." He gave a casual shrug, "It's not that bad or all that different from living a shinobi's life."

Juugo had to agree with that. It didn't sound bad at all. In fact, barring the lack of wildlife, the situation seemed perfect. His only problem would have been the frustration of Sasuke's goals, but if the other boy had accepted that, then who was Juugo to call attention back to it?

He shifted his balance and took a step past Sasuke, before he had to turn back to confirm, "I have a room here too?"

Sasuke gave a simple nod, "Of course." He watched Juugo for a moment, wondering if that's what he had in mind.

"Are you wanting to search for it? I will have to warn you, though, that the room will have debris from its previous owner and reek of death. Do you think you can handle that?"

"If I have to," Juugo said, though only after a moment's hesitation. "Where do you live?"

"I live on the third floor in room 303." Sasuke made a move to head back up the stairs, "Do you want to start looking?"

Juugo nodded, and moved out of Sasuke's way so he could take the lead. The faster they found his room, the faster he could sort through everything somewhere - presumably - safe and out of the way.

"Hn." Sasuke took the lead and started through the first hallway of doors. So far, the rooms on the first floor remained unoccupied. It was time to move on up the stairs, then, and continue looking. And looking, and looking...

Until they hit the ninth floor, and there it was finally. Juugo's room, complete with his name written on it in dried blood.

Content to follow and concentrate on remembering his way back, Juugo also carefully noted the location and appearance of Sasuke's door when they passed it. So uneventful was the search that he almost walked past the door bearing his name, Sasuke stopping in front of him his only clue. Then he actually looked at the door, and brushed his hand over the bloody lettering with a slight frown.

Well, he had been warned, and it wasn't particularly distressing. He shot Sasuke a questioning look before unlatching the door and tugging it open.

Sasuke watched, internally pleased that he didn't have to calm him down just yet. He stood outside the door, watching as his teammate entered his room to observe. He just hoped there weren't any bones in the room like there had been in his.

When the room turned out to be entirely empty, Juugo let out the breath he'd been holding and took the few steps necessary to place him in the centre of the space. The air was stale and musty, and the walls and floor coated in grime, but those just made the room feel familiar rather than forbidding. It was a relief that other than the door, there was no blood to be seen.

He crossed to the window to open it almost without thinking; it had become a habit on the road even if no animals would know to find him here. With any luck, he'd be able to keep himself in check, and the glass would stay in good condition.

Well, that was another thing to be thankful for. He watched Juugo for a couple more minutes before walking forward a little and leaning against the door frame casually.

Things are not what they appear to be

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