~♥FORTY-FOUR♥~

[generalflirt]

[Action]

[Shikamaru was on the mission until a few days ago and it rattled him, he could tell. Green's relative showed up recently, but before that they'd been doing a bunch of training... which pushed back his normal training, personal fitness, and ninja stuff with Shikamaru. Gold was gone. He was still trying as he could to avoid Sakura, probably because he still wasn't entirely sure where he stood with her or with ... other parties.

Life was complicated, basically, and he found himself again longing to return to the comparative simplicity of Ikeburkuro. Or maybe just his own ignorance at the time. He thought then that he'd experienced the darkness, and while he didn't want to make light of what happened to Saki or how much the betrayal from Izaya still stung... when it came down to it, he had no idea how dark things could get. None at all. Or so he thought now.

Also, his zappyness had faded from the kidnapping, but Linda's electricity still isn't back up to par. Actually, it's still floundering around... well, frankly, lower than it was when she was born. She was born with a lot of potential, and while she can now pull off the careful stuff they've trained with (Magnet Rise, Flash, etc) she can't even pull off a proper thundershock. He knows she's been looking at the thunderstone in his room more and more, but he can't help but think that would compound the problem. A problem he's been trying until now to keep under wraps as much as possible, for her pride and because of his fear Green'll take her from him over it.

So what was he doing?

Well, him and his Pikachu are getting some exercise. It's not particularly icy today, so they do it outside, running around town and leaping up trashcans and walls to roofs, swinging off lamp posts, and in Linda's case floating some. Basically, parkour/free running as much as is possible in an almost-rural town like this. It's making him miss the urban environment even more, but it does feel nice to show off a little with the stamina and strength which now backs up the balance he's always had. Sure, the both of them mess up now and again, but more often than not (sometimes with some chakra help) they pull off some crazy leaping stunts. What's more, as the day drags on of them doing this, he and his mouse get progressively more in sync as the joy of showing off and doing crazy stuff overrides both of their degrees of shame.

So run into them doing that all over, but mostly centered around the plaza.

That night, he settles in for a meal at Seventh Heaven. He should go home or hang out at the Convenience Store, but he decides he'd rather eat out right now. So him and Linda go in to eat there. He also pulls out his journal and considers something...]

[Written]

So, is anyone planning things for White Day? [Not that he's expecting it, but. There, he's reaching out more]

Comments

action;

[generalflirt]

[And he's jerked back to land on his ass! ...Laughing a little, despite himself. Wow, he did not see that coming earlier today, almost as much as Ino having a sex life.]

action;

[endgames]

[Shikamaru rolls his eyes, hands back in his pockets with a sigh.]

Let's go for closer spaced buildings, at least.

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[generalflirt]

Miiight be a good idea, yeah.

[And he whistles for Linda to leap/float on over. She's a little curious and was half-over anyway out of concern, so she's there in a relative flash]

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[endgames]

[There's some over that way that should do fine. Are they lived in?? OH WELL, he doesn't care too much right now. Logically, ninja roof-hopping would have pissed off many in the past two years anyways.]

action;

[generalflirt]

[Sweet, let's do it. HE does it not quite as gracefully, but he manages it]

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[endgames]

You're getting better at that.

[It'd be more praiseworthy if not for the mood, but even in light of past events Shikamaru has to take note of Masaomi's progress.]

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[generalflirt]

Riku-kun can pull it off better.

[He says this with a little shrug, tossing the ball in his hand]

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[endgames]

[UGH.]

Can you knock it off?

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[generalflirt]

What? That guy is fast. Did you see him in Vaskoth?

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[endgames]

You keep bringing it up...

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[generalflirt]

Which, that he's quick, or that he's sturdy too?!

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[endgames]

Throw me the baseball. I need something to chuck at your head.

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[generalflirt]

Pass! Linda, catch! [And he tosses it over at her. She leaps and catches, rolling with it as well]

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[endgames]

Wuss.

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[generalflirt]

[Whatever man. Eye roll!! More catch from a short distance here. Sort of a mock keepaway even if Shikamaru isn't playing]

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[endgames]

[He's content to let that go on for a bit, at least until it seems he has an opportunity to catch them unawares. He picks at his ear... and then it's an attempt to catch the ball mid-air with a hand made of shadow.]

action;

[generalflirt]

[WHAT A DOUCHE. And when it stops, Linda and Masaomi both react at once-! They leap as one to try to snag it]

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[endgames]

[How are your mid-air dodging skills because that may be an unfortunate collision when the shadow throws the ball to Shikamaru and retreats back along the ground.]

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[generalflirt]

[They-! Collide! Though Masaomi pulls her into a hug-grab thing and they twirl in mid-air a moment before touching down]

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[endgames]

[Oh nice recovery. Shikamaru smirks and tosses the ball up and catches it a couple times while waiting now.]

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[generalflirt]

[And then dislodge, get on their feet, and point dramatically at Shikamaru at the same time!]

Hey, don't be a jerk!

[Pii piiii!]

action;

[endgames]

What do you expect when you keep tossing the ball away from someone like that? You reap what you sow, man.

[Toss, toss.]

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[generalflirt]

That ball is ours, don't you look into it like that!

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[endgames]

[Yawn.]

Don't make it so troublesome. Here. [Tossing it back now, in an easy underhanded throw.]

action;

[generalflirt]

[And he catches it, pouting. Come on, you won't even play along? Lame]