#shadowkage

     It’s been a few weeks of just the two of them now. Jugo got dropped off awhile back... or rather, he left them awhile back, satisfied enough with some random spot in the woods that he just decided he was going to plant roots there. Or something. Suigetsu still isn’t entirely sure on the logic of that one, but he knows enough to know when something is none of his business. 

     Now it’s just Sasuke and him. It’s been nice. He’s not sure if that’s the right word for it, but it’s the one he’s going to use, because without Karin or Jugo there to shift the dynamic of the group, Suigetsu is finding out he really does enjoy Sasuke’s company. Not quite Karin level of enjoyment, though. But maybe he can see what sparked her hyperfixation. 

She’s pretty sure that was a poorly aimed cheek kiss, but it’s a poorly aimed cheek kiss in front of his friends. Karin doesn’t know how to respond to that and settles for praying that her face doesn’t turn the color of her hair. 

He closes the worn aged fairytale book and he sighs, the Shin children don’t seem to like this book as much as the other children as they seem to be distracted or just not paying attention. 

“Perhaps so, the fairytale books that I have at the orphanage are quite outdated and not really sympathetic to these children in this modern age. Perhaps around this week I should take the children to the bookstore for them to pick out which books do they want to add to story time. Maybe a book series like that popular “wizard boy” books or the one with the children with mysterious powers in a special orphanage that I heard the children talk about the other day?”   An idea struck his head, he... actually would like to buy that book to read one day as it might sympathize with the different Shins. 

“It gets shit done,” Suigetsu agrees. 

He won’t claim to understand what has Uchiha Sasuke of all people opening up to him, but that’s probably none of his business anyway. If the guy wants to talk he can talk. Suigetsu isn’t going to go run his mouth. 

“Sadness is a harder emotional to channel anyway.” He’s not normally so blunt when it comes to this aspect of himself. “At least when you’re angry, you actually want to do something. Sadness just...” 

She’s heard about this one. Orochimaru’s preferences weren’t well kept secrets, least of all to the people who worked closely with him. 

The snake had a type. This one? He hit every bullet point. Até could just imagine the look on Orochi’s face when he found him.

Now she wonders if they’re fucking. She’s always sort of wondered that when she dropped off his new toys. Not that she cared and not that it changed a damn thing, but she’d like to know. Just to satisfy her curiosity. Especially with this one. He looks so displeased with her being here, like he owns the place, like this is somewhere he’s decided she doesn’t belong. 

She’s never really met one of his little projects with an attitude like that. 

And that tone. He’s not happy with her presence here, and of course that makes her even happier to be so. She might even stick around awhile longer. Inquire loudly as to the kind of product Orochimaru would like next.

“Nothing the boss doesn’t approve of.” She smiles, and motions for one of the men behind her to take their prize to the next room over. “You’re new, though. I would have remembered a face like yours.”

She wasn’t one to keep her head down. Never had been. They’d have to break her back before she bowed her head. And that was the problem, wasn’t it? More and more there were people out there that seemed to think that was an acceptable solution. They had the backing of powerful, racist men, and with rhetoric that justified their hate they felt they could get away with anything.

Sasuke had been on her mind then. Mostly a curiosity. A passing wonder. But he’d been there. When she’d go home and let the news play as she made dinner, she’d always end up thinking of him when the police came out to suppress the riots.

She had a bad feeling the moment the news broke. She’s never been a suspicious person - mostly she’s just a bit too practical for that, for better or for worse - but it all fit too perfectly with concerns she had already been humoring

She knew. He was just a small speck in the masses when they played the footage of him getting pulled into the crowd, but she knew. There was a heavy feeling when the crowd rushed him. She watched him struggle, felt a rush the moment he almost escaped, and a sinking fear when he was dragged back in. 

Temari flipped the stove off and reached for her phone. She could be wrong. It could have been someone else on TV, getting beat within an inch of their life.

Sasuke, 

It’s been awhile. I’ve been watching the news and thought I should check up on you. How are you doing? There’s talk here of shutting down public transport for the demonstration here next week, apparently it was effective in your city a few weeks back.

Temari stared at the screen, hesitant. 

I know it’s unusual, but something on the news just now made me think of you. I’d like to know if you’re OK. We can get coffee next time I’m in town visiting my brother. 

Hope you’re well,