♥ 2nd flower picked [audio]

[piggybabe]

Comments

[earthschosen]

You mean people get kidnapped here?

['sup, Ino. It's that Riku guy from before, only he's temporarily tiny and confused.]

1/3

[piggybabe]

Well, aside from dragging us here and--

[piggybabe]

[Blink.]

[piggybabe]

[Blinks again. Give her a moment to remember who you are.]

... Riku, is that you?

[ us and our filter ]

[savethelastchip]

...yeah.

It happens once in a while. [ Not to a lot of people, but it happens. ]

[ us and our filter ]

[piggybabe]

But... for how long? [She can't imagine what they're doing to Shikamaru and-] And is there anything we can do to bring him back?

[ us and our filter ]

[savethelastchip]

[ Shouldn't have been so easy to put out of mind that she's still really new. He'll go ahead and resolve not to forget it anymore while picking around words for a quiet answer. ] It doesn't really work the same way here as it does at home.

I mean- it's the same for not knowing exactly where he is, or when they'll send him back, but... we can't go out and get him back. On this side, you can really only wait. [ No matter how much stronger you get. And it's really frustrating, and then you get used to being frustrated, which is even more frustrating. ]

[ us and our filter ]

[piggybabe]

[Such a winding circle of frustration, this one. :( Ino's quiet for a moment. She figured they have nothing to do - since it seems to be the same way for their whole situation here - but she's not exactly one to just stand around waiting when she can do something.]

I see... [Pause.] I just hope he's doing okay. [Not that she undermines Shikamaru's capabilities as a shinobi, but she still can't help but be worried. Especially with powers greater than their own world out there.]

[soreplaceable]

There doesn't seem to be a pattern to it. Sometimes they're are only gone for a few days, but I've known people who were gone for a few months.

[piggybabe]

A few months? [Apparent shock is apparent.] What do they do to them for that long?

[soreplaceable]

I assume it would very from person to person... a friend of mine was taken for a little over a month once. When she came back, she was only a little tired. So I'm not sure if there's really any connection between how long they're taken and what happens to them.

[piggybabe]

[Such a smart kid. B)]

Do you mean there's a chance that time where they're taken to flows differently than the one here?

[ voice ]

[markofthebrave]

[...Katara spends a ridiculous amount of energy every day trying not to think about her friends who are taken.]

There's no way of telling how long someone will be gone, Ino. Sometimes it's less than a day... sometimes it's a really long time.

[ voice ]

[piggybabe]

[Ino wishes she doesn't spend a ridiculous amount of energy worrying about Shikamaru too, but it can't be helped. :<]

I just wish I can do something, you know?

[ voice ]

[markofthebrave]

[A bit wryly:] Yeah, I really do.

But right now the best thing you can do is prepare yourself to deal with it when he gets back and keep looking out for something to change. One of these days, they'll have to mess up.

[Or someone will find something. She hasn't given up hope yet.]

[ voice ]

[piggybabe]

[Your hope is so contagious, Katara, that it got Ino smiling a bit.]

... You're right. He better comes back alright or I'll have to give those kidnappers a piece of my mind. [Literally and figuratively.]

[That Filter]

[dangerouswind]

Happens once in awhile. Length of time varies. [Short, business-like, and a little flat. Nothing's bothering Temari. Why would you think so?]

[That Filter]

[piggybabe]

[She never thought anything's bothering her. Ever.]

Don't tell me they got you too once before.

[That Filter]

[dangerouswind]

[Good girl.]

Twice. Different both times.

[That Filter]

[piggybabe]

[:D]

How long were those times?