NIGHT 62: MAIN HALLWAY, 1-Center

[complicatedliar]

[From here]

Loki headed deeper into the large hallway, skirting past the Sun Room. He walked with quick efficiency, expecting that the mortals would either keep up all right, or at least Lust would be smart enough to say something if she couldn't. There was no reason to linger anywhere.

As they passed the Sun Room, Loki shot a quick look inside, but he didn't see anything moving. It didn't matter, since they weren't going there, but it was curious that the doors were always open.

Comments

[osoreirimasu]

[from here]

Just as Japan made it into the next hall, the Intercom screeched to life and began singing one of England's creepy children's songs. Or, at least, Japan assumed it belonged to England. It was in English and it wasn't as if America had ever had to deal with the plague with posies. Although, on second thought, dealing with plagues with flowers did seem somewhat like America's style. The song devolved into numbers and Japan tried to catch what was said, but he could not. Although he recognized the code as binary - being a nation supported by its technology for so long, how could he not? - he caught on too late and the sequence was broken by then.

And while he wanted to stop and consider what he'd just heard and what ominous foreshadowing it indicated, he really had no time for that. Operation Follow That Ninja was far more important and, at the moment, it was in peril. While he had been listening to the intercom, he hadn't been paying attention to where he was going. He knew the basic path Sasuke was taking and had followed it, but it wasn't until the message ended that he realized the ninja had paused. The boy was waiting for something and Japan was practically right on top of him (by his standards, at least. Sasuke was well within the six foot personal bubble Japan liked to keep), causing the nation to freeze mid-step.

The way Sasuke was listening... Japan wasn't sure which way to move and so he remained silent, one foot hovering above the ground.

[firewhichrefines]

The trailing footsteps paused not long after Sasuke himself did, but no form of address arrived. Sasuke waited a few seconds, just to be certain, but then it was clear: this was nobody that knew him, or at least not well enough to speak first. That, or this was someone -- or something -- who was hoping they had not yet been noticed.

Whatever the case, it boded ill in the middle of the night. Sharingan flashed through his eyes, lighting them a brief deep crimson for just enough time to ascertain that this particular person seemed human --

-- human, but with a most peculiar, strangely teeming chakra. (And in a strange one-footed pose, which also made little sense.) Sasuke's gaze narrowed even as the doujutsu faded from his eyes, and then in a breath he swept around to face the mystery stalker and flashed his sword into threat, the point clearly angled to attack whoever this might be should they provoke it.

"Name yourself."

[osoreirimasu]

Despite his odd position and the very high likelihood that he was about to be shanked through the throat, Japan felt strangely giddy. Giddy was perhaps a weak word, but ecstatic was too strong and fulfilled...wasn't an emotion. At least, he didn't think it was. How he described this sensation, however, wasn't important. What was important was that Uchiha Sasuke had just activated the sharingan right in front of him. There was a dull flare of crimson and then Sasuke wheeled around, bringing his sword up to an offensive position.

If Japan could sparkle, he would have.

He was being accosted by Uchiha Sasuke.

This was so much better than simply following him for the night.

Sasuke was talking to him.

Threatening, was actually the more appropriate term, but Japan hated to let little things like reality interfere with his life. Slowly, carefully, Japan raised his hands, still balanced on one foot. He should have known that sneaking after a ninja was a bad idea, but old habits died hard and his otaku spirit was headstrong and a little fatalistic.

"I didn't mean to startle you," he said quietly, keeping his voice even. "My name is--" Wait. What name to give? Japan had to consider for a moment, until he realized that Sasuke wouldn't know his country name anymore than he would his human name. "--Japan. I mean no harm."

[firewhichrefines]

The response that came was ... unexpected. Sasuke's frown did not lessen in intensity so much as shift timbre from threat to slight confusion, the angle of the line between his brows perhaps changing ever-so-slightly. What the stranger said made no sense, and it was most definitely a stranger: Sasuke couldn't recall the last person he'd spoken to at any length who had been quite so polite, especially during the harried night shift.

Still, it certainly sounded like this was another patient following around for some reason. True that there were creatures in the Institute that could imitate humans, but why would they choose someone with whom Sasuke had no acquaintance at all?

Voice aside, the name that was given was -- somewhat familiar. Sasuke wracked his brains for a second, coming only upon the notion that Aidou had mentioned a very similar-sounding name. But surely that had been a place, not a person, or Sasuke would have attached a more particular tangible description to what the vampire had said?

Trying to remember exactly the significance of that vague familiarity had to take second place to the million-dollar question, however: "If you mean no harm, why were you sneaking around after me?"

Sasuke's sword remained where it was without changing a millimetre; clearly, he expected a concise response.

[osoreirimasu]

It was every fan's dream to hold a conversation with such an iconic character and here Japan was, living the dream. Sure, he was in an awkward position, possibly about to be stabbed if he gave the wrong answer, but what did that matter in comparison to holding a conversation with one of the main characters of Naruto? None at all, of course. He could hardly contain his elation, and though it barely showed through in his expression or demeanor, Japan was definitely happy to be here and most excited about the prospect of further conversation.

"...I wasn't aware I was sneaking," he replied, watching the sword still pointed at his person. It wasn't as threatening as before, but it was certainly still a threat and one he knew he shouldn't take lightly. It was just difficult to be serious about this when the person on the other end of what might very possibly end his life was featured on packages of manjyu and candy wrappers and used to sell McDonald's toys. "But I apologize if my approach caused you any undue discomfort."

Apologies out of the way, Japan wondered if he could put his foot down now or if he should keep it raised. Any movement out of the ordinary could cause unnecessary injury and that was the last thing Japan really wanted. Being threatened by Sasuke was not as cool as being stabbed by Sasuke, even if it would make for stories. "It's dangerous to wander the halls alone and...I was curious where you were going. I had no other plans so I thought...perhaps I could serve as backup?"

[firewhichrefines]

Perhaps sneaking wasn't precisely the word to describe following Sasuke for at least the latest leg of his trip, but what other word was there to cover the action of following without saying anything? Stalking?

It had certainly caused some species of discomfort, though Sasuke wasn't certain if he would have phrased it quite that way -- whoever this Japan was, he was more polite than anyone else Sasuke had spoken to here by far. If anything, he sounded like a recent Academy graduate (and judging by where his voice was coming from, he was about the right height for one). Had he been following Sasuke around in hopes of staying safe or something?

Slowly, Sasuke lowered the point of the sword until it was out of immediate threat, Sharingan flashing in a brief assessment of that odd chakra again. It was nothing he'd seen before -- much like that ridiculous pose.

"... can you fight?" He asked finally. "Is there a reason you are standing like that?"

[osoreirimasu]

The sword finally began to lower and Japan let out a breath of relief. At least his strange habit of trailing after people hadn't resulted in getting him assaulted tonight. That was a point for the board. Slowly, he lowered his hands and was about to put his foot down when Sasuke asked after his skills - and his pose.

Japan flushed red and quickly adjusted his stance, hands at his side, both feet on the ground, shoulders slightly hunched in embarrassment. "...I thought you might stab me," he admitted as he reached behind him to adjust the bag hanging from the strap over one shoulder. "And yes...."

Ah, the Sharingan! Sasuke must have been checking his chakra to assess his skills! That...was so cool. Japan almost forgot he'd been asked a question as he tried to imagine what his chakra would look like - what color would it be? the size? the shape? where was it focused? - until the katana slipped on his shoulder again and he was forced to roll it down to his side, gripping the purple silk covering in one hand.

"Ah, pardon me, yes. I can fight. Although my Constitution forbids aggressive preemptive combat, I am still able to provide back-up and am allowed to engage in acts of self-defense." He paused. "....I am best known as a swordsman, however. Swords have been used in my country for centuries."

[firewhichrefines]

While it was true that Sasuke could very well have stabbed Japan at any point in their conversation thus far, Sasuke was still bemused as to what the man thought standing on one foot was going to accomplish to prevent it. Had he planned to fall backwards and somehow recover into a counterattack? It was hardly a recommendation for fighting skills.

Nor was the apparent difficulty the man was having with whatever he was carrying -- perhaps a sword, as the answer to Sasuke's question suggested -- but what the hell was a 'Constitution'? Sasuke had only ever heard the word used with regard to health (and very long ago at that, indistinct memories of elderly relatives cheerfully congratulating his mother on her second son's apparently excellent constitution).

But if Japan was trying to say that his health limited his combat skills, he certainly wasn't going about it in a coherent way. If Sasuke had had more time on hand, he would have made a point of discovering more cogently what skills this patient had to offer, but as it were ...

"I assume that means you are competent with one," he said finally, deciding not to comment on the fact that one's countrymen's use of swords didn't necessarily relate to one's own competence. If all Konoha-nin shared skills ... Sasuke shuddered somewhat to think of the effect. "You may come with me."