#futuremonkeyjump

Mikoto had the grace to look embarrassed.

“Oh dear-- I’m sorry. I was just a little distracted. Please, carry on. How much will all of these books be?”

Winter had arrived, and just like it ought to be at his previous home, Pendulum City was a vision with delicate details of powder white.

For snow had fallen upon the metropolitan city, and Itachi daresay that it was a condition that agreed with Pendulum- especially once the shadow of night makes an appearance. With the combination of the city’s bright lights, high-rise buildings and snow, the environment created would make quite a picture.

But apparently, there existed one other that managed to so effectively draw his attention away from the effects of the season’s embrace. A cheerful shop that boasted warmth and light-hearted colours.

Pausing, Itachi’s breath chilled in the air, the Uchiha momentarily contemplating, hesitating before he finally turned, his gloved hands tucked quietly in his black coat pockets.

Just behind the frosted display window sat a variety of soft toys and mannequins dressed in clothing designed for toddlers and infants. ... And further behind stood a section dedicated solely to the latter. Small t-shirts, pacifiers and strollers... Itachi blinked.

Kanae didn’t know what to do. What did one do when in her situation? Cry? Yell? Become violent from rage? Her whole being in what felt like; in a blink of an eye, was gone. How could someone be okay with taking a part of a person? Perhaps Pandora sought to see their reaction to losing a part of themselves...

If that were the case then Pandora would get no such joy. Not from herself at the very least. If there was ever a time to keep her cool it would be now. Becoming enraged (no matter how much rage she felt) would not be getting her powers back, her identity back.

And so she puttered her was through the city, trying to find any kind of clue as to what was going on. With her eyes reaming, she did not witness the human being that she had ran into. Shoulder checking the yound woman caused her to drop her belongings. “Oh dear!” She exclaimed as she rushed to help the other woman. “I am terribly sorry! I must have been further in the clouds than I thought.”

Send a [TEXT] that was meant for my muse but they weren’t supposed to receive.

[Text] I only saw a glimpse of you as a baby. You have grown up so beautifully. You look like your mum!

Keigo stared at the baby. The baby, ruby eyed and mop-topped, stared back. They’d been like this for a solid five minutes now. His bag - sloppily packed - was on his lap, and he was trying to, somehow, figure out what to do with it.

“So, do you have a like, note?” he asked it finally, earning a gurgling smile. Cocking his head, he realized it wasn’t a smile - the baby was gassy, and he wrinkled his nose. “Nice one, I guess,” he said, and almost jumped when he heard the front door open.

Squawking, he dived for the baby, fumbling a bit but managing to scoop it - her? him? he had to check later - up. Clutching the baby to his chest, he looked around for a weapon and seeing nothing. Finally, he settled for just standing on the far side of the coffee table.

Asuma didn’t even bother speaking to the group in front of him, just formed a very familiar seal, letting smoke and leaves whip around him.