[Voice / Action : Forest, 3/17] Arrival

[16autumnroad]

Kai! [Sudden absence from the battlefield prompts Chouji's immediate attempt to dispel an illusion.]

Why won't the genjutsu break? It must be too strong. [Not to mention that genjutsu and fine chakra control are not his strongest skills. Pain should also work. It's hardly the preferred method for breaking illusions, but it's more reliable for anyone whose chakra control isn't near perfect. He reaches for a kunai, but none is available. Unarmed and unarmored in a genjutsu that could be used to do pretty much anything to him; somehow that isn't surprising. Chouji is starting to worry though. He crouches down, snatches a jagged rock, and slices open his left palm. Still nothing.

Unwilling to simply sit and wait, he pushes off lightly, leaping into the trees. Chouji conceals himself as well as he can among the branches, only now noticing the journal lying open on the ground below. Shivering from the cold, a twinge of pain between his shoulder blades makes Chouji twitch, wondering if the attack he's been braced for is finally coming. His eyes widen as he looks over his shoulder to see a pair of feathered wings. A little desperate now, Chouji makes one final attempt at breaking free. He stabs his thigh with the rock. Still trapped, he resigns himself to staying here until someone manages to free him, letting the stone fall back to the ground. Chouji keeps watch for any further signs of danger on the off chance the genjutsu's caster slips and gives something away.]

[Chouji can heard over the journal; he will pick it up as soon as he receives an answer. He can also be found in the forest or anywhere in the common areas of town after he eventually makes it there.]

Comments

[video]

[medicalpunch]

Chouji?

[And after Masaomi told her that long ago that Chouji used to be here and wasn't anymore...]

[video]

[16autumnroad]

Hearing his name from the book on the ground, Chouji jumps back down to pick it up. He raises it almost gingerly, examining it to make sure it does not seem likely to explode. That voice was familiar, too. "Sakura? They got you too?" Because her chakra control is a lot better than his.

[video]

[medicalpunch]

Sorry to startle you. These things are pretty weird... [When you're not used to them, or don't remember them. Well, that answers that question.]

Anyway, yes, they did. And it's not a genjutsu, unfortunately. You've been pulled into a different world, for real.

[dangerouswind]

Leafing through the journal, especially during New Feather time, is a habit that Temari is unlikely to ever break. It's not unusual to recognize someone -- usually a friend of a friend somehow, given how many Konoha shinobi have popped into Luceti now and again. But that profile she catches a flash of is familiar and she can't help half-smile that curves one corner of her mouth.

"Oi, Chouji," she calls and hopes that he's still close enough to the journal to hear her.

As for the rest of the conversation, if he does... Well, she'll figure that out.

[16autumnroad]

By this point Chouji has gone back for the journal. He may take perhaps a second longer to pinpoint this voice than Sakura's, but it's just as recognizable. He looks at the book as he says her name. "Temari?"

Chouji was not unhappy to hear from friends and allies, but their presence couldn't be as reassuring as he'd like it to be. Had the genjutsu taken out the majority of the Allied Shinobi Forces? The army would be decimated if too many people were out of action.

"What's going on? The battle--"

[dangerouswind]

She holds up her hand, eyes narrowed as she peers at the tiny picture. Gods, but this is difficult. She's done it a few times before but lip-reading through the journal is headache-inducing at best and nigh impossible at worst. "Slow down and calm down. The battle will wait." Whatever battle he's speaking of, at any rate. She has a feeling it's something she hasn't run into yet. It always is.

When she is certain that she has his attention, she speaks again. "I need you to look at me and enunciate when you speak, you got me?" Once upon a time -- not too long ago even -- she might have muddled through without telling him what she needs from him, but that has caused more trouble than it ever alleviated.

[Voice]

[niceguypose]

"Chouji-kun! Is that your voice?" Lee calls into the journal with an abrupt volume.

[Voice]

[16autumnroad]

Chouji knows the volume and voice right away. He isn't quite as loud as Lee when he answers.

"It's me! What kind of genjutsu is this, Lee?" Why put everyone into a genjutsu, separated from one another, and then allow them communication within the illusion?

Lee would not be the best person to ask about genjutsu, of course, but Chouji will accept any initial impressions his comrades may have. Sakura would be the one most likely to break out of it, but that's not the question he's posing. Lee can share his own experience perfectly well regardless of his lack of genjutsu ability.

He pauses to eye the journal dubiously. "Everbody's talking from a book."

[Voice]

[niceguypose]

"This may be hard to believe, Chouji-kun... but there is no genjutsu into effect. We have truly been drawn into another world, as hard as it is to believe. And these books... They are the primary means of communication here."

[floralogy]

She blinks. She'll know that voice anywhere but it actually takes her a moment or two to even comprehend that she's right in her assumption. It's just been too long since the last time she heard it.

"Chouji?" Ino lets that sink in for a while and when she almost follows that up with something along the lines of staying put so she can come to his aid, she hears some stabbing. "Hey, wait-! This isn't--"

But she's too late. Shaking her head, Ino rises to her feet. "This isn't a genjutsu, Chouji, and I'd appreciate it if you don't harm yourself more before I arrive." Her voice is firm yet void of any anger. The last thing she needs is arriving by his side to see him wounded.

[16autumnroad]

"Ino!" This voice, Chouji could never fail to recognize, not even for an instant. Knowing at least one of his teammates is alright sends a rush of relief through him.

He is surprised by the lack of anger, and Chouji smiles sheepishly as he offers the presumably ineffective reassurance, "It's just two cuts, Ino. I'm fine. I won't do it again." Yes, two cuts, not one. Chouji fully expects a scolding for that, but he knows it'll be even worse if he doesn't admit it immediately. He tried breaking the genjutsu twice, in case the pain wasn't severe enough the first time.

[Voice]

[endgames]

One thing after another tends to be the motto of Luceti. It's been working true to form in the last few weeks certainly, disappointment and questions following each other in an endless cycle. There's people who have shown up here - again - that he should be more happy to see, but it's hard to get over the foreboding words of the General.

"I do not easily forget those that I encounter. Not as you and your unfortunate kind do."

"We haven't met."

"As I said, I do not forget."

How many times have they been here? It's a question that's been on his mind with every new arrival, every face that's come and gone from Luceti. Every one of them until now, when he hears that voice.

"Oi! Chouji!"

In all consideration, he should feel guilty about how happy he feels. This isn't where any of them belong. But it's been a long time since he's seen Chouji, and Shikamaru's already outside and on the move.

[Voice]

[16autumnroad]

"Shikamaru!" The whole situation is bewildering and worrying, and Chouji still doesn't understand enough of what's going on. That doesn't seem to matter quite as much, though, when he hears Shikamaru. His best friend has always been the strongest source of reassurance in Chouji's life. That hasn't changed. Both of his teammates are here, and Team Ten has always been stronger as a unit than they are separately.

Chouji smiles in spite of himself, adding a little guiltily, "Ino's already scolded me, so you don't have to." After all, if Ino can figure out what Chouji did, he highly doubts Shikamaru will fail to reach the same conclusion. "She didn't yell, though."

Action;

[lastsmoke]

Asuma had set out earlier in the day to pick up a few things for his new, incredibly bare apartment. All the stuff he'd managed to accumulate during his last stay had vanished when he had, and so it was as though he were back at square one on the home front. Part of him hoped he would be able to find the few meaningful things he'd collected to commemorate certain events, but so far he wasn't having much luck and had resigned himself to gathering the essentials.

Whenever Chouji finds himself in town, there's a good chance he'll spot Asuma as he walks out of a shop. He's carrying a few bags of miscellaneous goods, double checking to be sure he hadn't forgotten anything. When he looks up he seems somewhat surprised to see Chouji. He should probably be used to people appearing like they did here, but alas.

"Chouji?" The surprise gives way to a smile. Because despite the situation, it was good to see his former student again. "Hey, looks like you're here too, huh?"

Action;

[16autumnroad]

For the second time that day, Chouji hears a voice he never expected to hear again. Sakura told him, but Chouji hardly dared hope it might be true. Asuma's first reappearance, under the influence of the Edo Tensei technique, was a nightmare. This? Seeing Asuma whole and alive? It's the opposite. Too good to be true.

"Asuma-sensei," Chouji says softly, a smile breaking across his face. "I just got here today." The words aren't enough, nowhere near enough, but Chouji says them anyway. "It's so good to see you."

[Action]

[savedtheworld]

Another day, another New Feather. Aang was just leaving the Welcome Center when he saw Chouji walking by - possibly prior to his getting his clothes. Aang himself was bundled a little with a winter jacket and a goofy-looking hoodie-hat, although part of the arrow tattoo on his head was still visible. The guy looked friendly enough, so the teen monk approached him and gave a smile and a wave.

"Hi there! My name's Aang."

[Action]

[16autumnroad]

Everyone who had greeted Chouji so far was already familiar, so the new voice sparked curiosity. Aang would be from a completely different world than his own. Was it anything like the one Chouji knew?

He returned Aang's smile and greeting readily enough, especially once he caught sight of the silly hat. "Hello! I'm Chouji. It's nice to meet you."

Sure enough, Chouji was still in his arrival clothes, about to follow the directions Ino had provided to the clothing store. A tear was visible in the right leg of his pants, bloodstain obvious on a small area of the white fabric around it.

voice

[weaponry]

Chouji, what the hell are you doing? [ She can recognize the sound of slicing eerily well. She's just ...uh, that used to it. She doesn't want Chouji to get injured, especially with a cut and in this weather. ]

Where are you? [ She sighs, realizing how futile that question is. ] I mean, describe your location.

voice

[16autumnroad]

...Tenten? [Chouji is surprised more by the fact that Ino was less angry than Tenten than he is by Tenten's scolding.]

I think it was fairly obvious what I was doing. Just as obviously, it didn't work. [a frustrated sigh] I'm alright, don't worry.

In a forest. Within hearing range of running water north of me.

[precipitous]

Korra was still getting used to Luceti herself, so she was spending plenty of time familiarizing herself with the main plaza in town and the buildings there. Of course, she had her giant polar bear dog, Naga, with her, who was an eye-catching sight herself. Korra was handing strips of jerky meat she had acquired at the grocery store to Naga, not paying too close of attention to where she walked. It was only a matter of time before she stumbled right into Chouji.

"Oh, shoot - sorry about that," she apologized sheepishly.

[16autumnroad]

Chouji was also distracted by his new surroundings. What sort of ninja walks around bumping into people? He hurried to respond to the apology. "No, don't worry about it! It was my fault. I apologize."

In his haste to reassure Korra, he had failed to notice Naga for a moment. Chouji had spent time around Akamaru, so he was no stranger to enormous dogs, but Naga was still impressive. "I'm Chouji. What's your name? And your dog's?" He figured that asking for an introduction to the dog made more sense than most of the other things he'd experienced that day.

[generalflirt]

No doubt, by now, Chouji is back at the apartment. No doubt Shikamaru is there too, and they're settling in. Do doubt a great many things have happened in he last several hours - half a day, really. Masaomi is not there, nor has he been there all day. He's been out all day with Green, with Linda, and with ... other people. Doing other things.

This is not that he's unaware that Chouji is back. He's never off the journal the whole day, he just saw it and then noped on out of wanting to talk to Kataras ex and his best friend's actual best friend. Particularly given the guy no doubt is going to be living with them anyway. Soooo, he simply returns that night, entering the apartment with a little fanfare of forced cheer. That said, to people who don't know him well, it'd probably seem totally genuine.

"Huuuunny, I'm home!!" He called with the air of a 50s TV show husband.

Tag order: Masaomi --> Shikamaru --> Chouji?

[endgames]

Slyly, probably while Chouji was with Ino, Shikamaru sent off a filtered message to Masaomi about Chouji staying with them. He didn't get a response.

He knows Masaomi; knows his friend's insecurities and figured out he was most likely being ignored while Masaomi attempted to deal with whatever he was feeling. It should be annoying, but he's nevertheless tripping over himself to get past the unpacked mess - he's been switching over his stuff, so Chouji can have his old room - when Masaomi actually walks through the door.

"Shoes off, I just mopped in here," he says soon as he gets past the bedroom door, rolling with the joke for now.

video; belatedly.

[breezing]

[ Oh, right - it's that time again, when new people start to speak up. And that word does ping something, although Ikki's admittedly still not completely clear on how all this jutsu nonsense works. ]

Genjutsu? The ninja kind? [ She knows that much, at least. ]

video; but Ikki is worth the wait!

[16autumnroad]

[He stops to look at who's asking for a second, then responds with a smile and a friendly explanation.]

Yes, the ninja kind. Genjutsu are the ones that create illusions. [Which should make it fairly obvious why he initially suspected one, given the unfamiliar location and the wings.]