Room 504, Tuesday Evening

[intraspective]

After work Ino had stopped by the weapons locker and inspected her things there. Satisfied that everything there was in good working order, she’d wandered back to her room, showered and wound up in her pajamas before sprawling out on her bed with that book on American History.

Because, seriously, she had to get some reading done, right? Right. She was just going to put her head down and close her eyes for a few moments first though. She wasn’t sleeping, geez. Honest.

[For one, please.]

Comments

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

Right.

He clenched his jaw and glanced at the closet. "I wouldn't have asked if I realised what they were." Not that it still didn't sting that well, she cared more about a shirt than having him not walk around naked.

[intraspective]

There was nothing wrong with being naked. Geez.

"You could've asked me to get you clothing from your room," she said, eyes blinking open. "And who told you what they were?"

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

"No one," he shrugged. "They're male shirts. Why else would you be so pissed about them?"

[intraspective]

She shrugged slowly. "They're Kabuto's shirts," Ino offered, not looking at him. "First boyfriend--he disappeared into thin air a few weeks after grad. The snake's his too, originally." And the laptop.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

He nodded and anything he could possibly think to say seemed awkward and inappropriate. Except that he was realising just how present the guy was. "Fandom thing or did he just leave?" he asked finally, not sure that was the right question either. Not sure if he wanted to know.

[intraspective]

"It wasn't intentional," she said. "He sent last summer saying he hadn't planned it, the leaving, and he'd be back."

And he... wasn't.

"Just found all his stuff still in his room and everything."

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

He was avoiding looking at her now as he frowned at a plant instead while he tried to fit things into place. "So you kept them in case he comes back?"

[intraspective]

"I don't know," she admitted, "I don't even know what I'd do if he did come back. If that makes sense? But they're all I've still got of him, so..."

Ino studied her blanketed feet. "I wouldn't have cared so much, I think, if he'd left normally. He had been planning to go home after the summer anyway, so it would've ended... but then he just disappeared."

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

Ichigo wanted to make a comment about people just leaving without another word, but then he realised that there were situations where he would do the same. If he was needed or if...

He squared his shoulders. "You got worried," he concluded and he finally moved off the spot he'd seemed to be rooted to the ground, taking a step in the direction of the windows.

[intraspective]

"I cried," she said, very quietly. "I hate crying, and I did anyway. Then I was so mad at him, but it was okay 'cause I thought he'd come back and I could yell at him and it'd be okay and then he never did..."

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

It was still awkward and annoying that the confession made it hard for him to continue to just be grumpy. He still wasn't sure if he really wanted to hear about this because it was so obvious she wanted over this and he wasn't sure what that meant. As if this entire thing wasn't confusing enough.

He stood for a moment longer, wavering as his feet didn't quite know which was to go. It wasn't like he was jealous. That was ridiculous. It was...

He didn't know and as if that admission was enough, he went to sit down on the edge of her bed.

[intraspective]

She rested her head against her knees, one hand cautiously reaching out to try and snag his shirt.

Just to touch.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

He felt the slight tug at his shirt, but didn't move or show any indication that he had felt it. Not until he finally spoke up. "You can't steal this one too."

[intraspective]

She didn't look up, but smiled slightly against her knees. "Don't need to," Ino said. "Already got one."

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

He sniffed derisively. "I know," he grumbled as he shifted a little bit closer to her.

[intraspective]

Her fingers tightened in the fabric of the shirt. "Sorry."

But he so wasn't getting it back.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

Ichigo snorted and glanced at her. "You so are not," he accused.

[intraspective]

She peeked through her hair at him. "Maybe a bit."

A wee little bit.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

He eyed her back, an eyebrow arched. "Very, very deep down?" he guessed.

[intraspective]

"Somewhere, maybe," she conceded.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

"Under the bed?" he asked, suppressing a grin.

[intraspective]

"Maybe buried out in my garden," she mused, relaxing slightly, though she was still all curled in on herself.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

"You've been using it as compost, haven't you? That explains where those plants are growing so much," he reasoned, mostly talking out of his ass now.

[intraspective]

She was glancing at him a lot more now. "Have you even seen my plants?"

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

"No," he said slowly, trying to keep a straight face. "Your point?"