[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

[16autumnroad]

Chouji can't tell Ino the truth, but he won't lie to her. He thinks as quickly as he can to come up with an answer that is completely honest but avoids giving anything away. "Your dad and Shikamaru's were in charge of communications and strategy for the army as a whole, so they stayed at headquarters relaying information and orders." They were perfectly suited to the task, so this shouldn't come as a surprise to Ino. She can feel proud of them, though, knowing that their roles were crucial not just within the village but to all of the five nations.

Chouji closes his eyes for a moment, refusing to cry. Shikaku and Inoichi were like uncles to him, and Chouji has grief of his own to manage. He'll carry his teammates' grief as well until he figures out how to pass that on to them. He wishes that responsibility didn't fall to him.

"My dad was in the same division of the army as us; they kept Team Ten together. Our battle was... hard." He wavers for a moment before deciding, "I'll tell you about it if you really want me to, but not until you get here." With Asuma in Luceti, it won't hurt Ino quite as badly as it would otherwise to hear about their fight.

And maybe if she knows some of it, that awful secret will be easier to bear until it's time to tell her. Chouji feels selfish for even thinking that last part. He won't take back the offer, though.

[floralogy]

It didn't surprise her. In fact, the smile she wields is so pleasant that it can only be possible due to ignorance of what is transpiring back home. To know that her Dad as well as her teammates' fathers are doing what they're best at makes her proud. "Figures." There's a soft chuckle on her end as she hops onto another branch.

"I know he'll be overworking himself again. The last time I saw him I told him to rest." The nostalgia she felt at that memory dissipates her giggles into a wistful smile. A year and a half of not seeing his face or hearing his voice or asking him what's for dinner. She was thankful that Chouji was previously, though briefly, here in Luceti, but her Dad?

Shaking her head, Ino wills away her worries. He'll be fine. He always had been and always will be. He's a formidable ninja. He's her Dad and she's her father's daughter; his strength had always been hers.

She's his blooming cosmos and that alone should speak volumes.

"Okay, fine. I think I'm already pretty near." She paces. "You better have more good stories to tell me, Chouji."

[16autumnroad]

Chouji lowers the journal for a moment as soon as he hears Ino laugh. If any images are getting through, he doesn't want her to see him wince. What she says next only makes matters worse. Inoichi is resting now, but it's not a good thing. He shuts his eyes briefly.

"We're in the middle of a battle. Don't say anything more."

Shikamaru's words echo in his mind. The battle wasn't over yet when Chouji left, and it's still not time for any of them to process this. He swallows and makes sure he sounds cheerful when he replies. There's a smile on his face by the time he tilts the journal back up. "Good! I'll see you soon then, Ino. Should I do anything to help you find me?"

He sighs, adding more quietly, "There are some stories, I just don't know how many of them you'd consider good." It's a war, after all.

Because he won't let their reunion be a sad one, Chouji grins again as he continues, "I'll gladly tell you all about how well you fought, though." He can take refuge in compliments for a minute or two. Ino may be beautiful, but Chouji sometimes thinks she doesn't get enough praise for her competence rather than her looks. During their recent battles, still too fresh in his memory, Ino was the steady one, and Chouji isn't sure how he would have managed without her.

[floralogy]

"No, it's fine. In my stay here, I think I already know the forest well even if I don't explore it that much." A little chuckle comes from her end because that should give away how long she has been here. It's both funny and disturbing at the same time.

Her laugh just turned a little boastful once that compliment slips from his mouth. It's true - for how much praise she gets for being beautiful, it's not often she gets praised as much for her competent ninja skills. Oh, she knows Chouji's just saying this because he's her teammate but Ino also knows how sincere he can get so she takes the compliment as it is.

"Oh, really? I can't wait because I know there are a lot of these stories." It proves as a good distraction for someone so full of herself. Hopping onto another branch, she figures it'll take some more time before she arrives. Maybe she took a wrong turn somewhere? So much for knowing these forests.

[16autumnroad]

"You've been here a long time, then?" He knows already from his conversations with Sakura that some people had been here a very long time. Years, in Shikamaru's case, but what about Ino's?

Chouji laughs, so relieved to hear Ino being her usual self that he can't hold any of the boasting against her. "Of course there are, Ino. You did really well."

Because Shikamaru asked for and received a more complete description of Chouji's location, he managed to beat Ino there. Chouji was surprised when their teammate wanted to head back to the village first upon Ino's arrival, but had no objections to being left in Ino's hands. He knows she won't let him go anywhere until he's healed anyway, so he just nods and waves as Shikamaru heads back to take care of things in the village.

"It's good to see you, Ino," he says, though it isn't necessary considering the smile on his face. Really, having his teammates here makes the whole thing tolerable.

[floralogy]

"Roughly a year and a half." She gives her teammate a sheepish smile. "Shikamaru was ahead for about a year before I came along. You were still here when I arrived." It was a pleasant memory filled with nostalgia and epic team reunions. But now, it's happening again and she wonders if this will be constant.

When Shikamaru separately contacted her a while ago through a brief text message, Ino immediately complies. She had always respected her teammates close friendship and she'd gladly give way if necessary. Good to know they already met - they have a lot to catch up on. So many things already transpired on their end.

"Good to know. Save that for when we meet in person." Which won't be too long because she can already sense Chouji's familiar chakra signature. She can't be too far behind and it's only a matter of time before someone catches sight of the other.

[16autumnroad]

"I don't remember any of that," he tells Ino, "But I'm glad I was here for you when you arrived." Like she is now, on her way to him.

"I will. See you soon." Chouji senses her before he sees her too, neither of them bothering to try and mask their signatures. He readjusts his direction of movement to line up with hers, his smile widening to a grin as soon as she comes into view.

Chouji and Shikamaru didn't hug, but for Ino, considering how long she's been here without him, it doesn't seem like a bad idea. She's always been the most demonstrative member of the team. He opens his arms slightly in a silent offer. It's as much for him as for her. Chouji can't comfort her for a loss Ino doesn't even know about, but a part of him is trying to.

[floralogy]

It's still a little far off when Ino spots Chouji's form and the way he extends his arms in an invitation she knows very well. Hopping down from one of the trees, Ino has a wide smile on her face. Communicating with him through the journals is one thing but to actually see him, his physique getting bigger and bigger in her line of vision as she approaches him, is a different matter entirely.

So much so that there aren't any room for words as she captures him in an embrace. It's been a year and a half since and his long absence should be evident by the way her fingers tighten their grip on him. There's a part of her that almost gave up the idea of ever seeing him again, whether here or back home, for how long it has been. Good thing she never lets that part win.

For now, Ino lets her actions speak louder than her words.

[16autumnroad]

Team Ten has never been big on hugs. Today is definitely occasion for an exception, though. He wraps his arms around her immediately with a firm squeeze of reassurance. It helps him as much as it does her. She may have missed him, but Chouji has been floundering. Ino is something solid to hold onto both literally and figuratively during a day when everything has shifted in ways he could never expect.

Ino's actions are louder than words could be. Her actions have been speaking a lot lately, and they only say good things.

When Chouji finally speaks, his voice is soft and sincere. "Sorry I kept you waiting."

[floralogy]

The reason why Team Ten has never been big on hugs is because their lazy teammate is too cool for sappy feelings. Regardless, Ino basks on the sensation of holding Chouji. It feels almost surreal but his solid form reminds her that everything is truly happening and that the reunion she had always wanted is right before her eyes.

At his words, Ino shakes her head even when it's still resting on his shoulder. "You don't have to apologize. We don't have any control of this world." Which is the absolute truth. She can never fault Chouji for not being here sooner than this because she knows if he has a choice, he'd rather be with them here.

The hug should extend for further seconds because if Chouji will not pull away, Ino doesn't want to be the one to initiate it either.

[16autumnroad]

Chouji doesn't let go either. He doesn't want to. If he keeps holding on, maybe Chouji won't have to think about what was happening before he got here. He can just focus on how happy Ino is right now and allow that to drown everything else out. His teammates' presence has been enough to keep the worst of his memories of the war away. Except one.

Even so, Ino's emotion is contagious, and a little of it sinks into him too. When he finally does back away a little, he leaves one arm where it is. The bandaged left hand is free now, at least, but he refuses to break contact entirely yet.

He grins at her, nodding to concede the point. "I suppose." Then he offers Ino his free hand. "Is this the part where you heal me while I tell you stories?"

Chouji does sober a little bit at the idea of talking about the war, but his gaze on Ino is full of pride and appreciation. Chouji won't tell her everything, not without seriously considering whether he ought to tell her the worst at all. Ino has shown none of Shikamaru's hesitance with regard to learning about the future, though, and he certainly won't reaveal any less than he told their other teammate.