reassures | SIRENSPULL

[Nill lives in a boarding house; everything there is shared, the kitchen and the like, but Nill has probably told Ino just where it is that she lives int he boarding house and how to find her in the past.

Right now, staring at her door, Nill sort of wishes she hadn't. Even after Yosuke's visit, Nill found herself having a lot of trouble doing much without Shika here. Just the knowledge that she'd still been there, that she could find him or call him if she needed him, had been enough to get here through a lot over the past two years. He'd been the one whose mind she first read, who helped her the most when she couldn't control it. He'd been her best friend for such a long time that imagining life without him was difficult and empty.

After a few moments, she takes a deep breath, and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. Then she reaches to open the door.

She doesn't smile. She's not really at a point where smiling is something she can manage yet. But she peers at Ino, and tilts her head a little bit.

...it probably looks like she hasn't slept in a few days.]

[ The lack of a smile disturbs her slightly, as does her appearance. Nothing a few light brushes of cover up and blush couldn't cover-- but that was the woman in her that refused to be kept down by something that happened all the time. Death - or a disappearance, in this case - was unavoidable. Nobody lived forever. ]

Nill... may I come in?

[Nill's lips thin into a straight line. A disappearance? Was that really all Ino thought this was? She thought Shika would let himself disappear?

Honestly, Nill hopes he is dead. That would be the kindest thing that could happen. But she takes a step back, and wanders further into her room, leaving the door open for Ino to come in. It's just a bedroom with a connected bathroom; Nill doesn't have a bed, just a huge pile of pillows and blankets. The darkness shutters are closed even though it's daytime, and the plants at her window have only just started to look a little wilted, as if they haven't been watered in several days. But over all, the room looks very girly, and Nill wanders over to a nightstand to grab a ribbon and pull her hair back and up so that it isn't in the way.]

[ Ino makes her way immediately to the plants at the window, slow and taking stock of Nill's room. It's a nice room. Her fingers travel over the slightly wilted plants. She hates seeing plants like this, not at their full potential. She felt the same way about people as well.

She turns over to face Nill, a thin smile on her lips. ]

I like your room.

Thank you.

[She doesn't look over at Ino right away though, instead fixing her hair so it will all stay up. She reaches for another ribbon to help hold it in place.]

...I usually take better care of them than that.

I'm sure you do. [ She gives Nill a quick smile over her shoulder. Too bad chakra couldn't heal plants the way it could people. Love and care was what made them bloom and healed them, not an immune system. ]

I can get you some new ones, if you'd like.

No. It's fine.

[Nill glances over at her, and though she inclines her head slightly, she doesn't smile.]

They'll be fine.

Nill... [ She doesn't like this non-smiling Nill. She relaxes her hands at her side and places a hand on her hip delicately, not leaning into it but just keeping it there.

She's at a loss for words, really. ]

[She can tell, but there's nothing really that Nill can say either, after a moment, she takes a seat in her pile of pillows, because she's not sure what else to really do.]

...I was with Shika for four years. He meant a lot to me.

You meant a lot to him as well.

[ Ino knows how he makes friends- if he doesn't like them, he doesn't surround himself with them. The fact that they were together for years means that Nill was something special to Shikamaru. ]

I know I did.

[Nill knew Shika well-- well enough to know without a question that she was loved as far as he was concerned.

She doesn't know any other way to explain to Ino why this was hitting her so hard.]

[ It was normal, part of the grieving process. She gives Nill another small smile, smoothing down her skirt. ]

Just so you know, I'll be heading down to the Memorial on his birthday next month. You're welcome to join me.

[She shakes her head. For as much good as the Memorial did, Shika rarely went there. It was a nice gesture, but the memorial was just a stone with his name on it.]

I'd rather watch clouds.

That's even better.

[ Though she couldn't leave flowers on a cloud. ]

[Heh. She's pretty sure Shika would approve, anyway.]

You could leave them somewhere with a good view. He'd probably like that.

He'd tell me I was being too sentimental.

[ She acts annoyed by it, but she knows he would. He knew how important flowers were to her, even if he didn't care much for them himself. ]

He wouldn't mind, though.

[Everyone was sort of sentimental, as far as Nill could tell. That had never bothered Shika, even if he'd sometimes act like it did.]

[ She giggles. ]

No, he wouldn't. But he'd sure act like it. For all his bitching about how women are so troublesome, he isn't so easy-going himself.

He tried to be.

[It's just that the universe wasn't the sort of place that allowed for people to really be easy-going.

It's impossible for Nill to look on the lighter side of things right now though; after a pause she lets out a quiet sigh.]

I'm sorry, Ino-- I don't think I'll make good company for you today.

[ Ino's smile falters for a moment, then she nods. ]

I understand, Nill.

Call me if you need anything, alright?

I will.

[She won't, but Ino doesn't need to know that.]

Thank you.

Of course. See you around.

[ And she walks off into the youthful sunset... ]

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