Things are not what they appear to be

[tipthebalance.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[hebi]

"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?"

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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.

[hebi]

"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.

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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.

[hebi]

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.

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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.

[hebi]

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.