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[monkeyjump]

[ The first thing Sasuke managed to do when he found his feet again was to drag himself to the nearest place that looked even remotely familiar. That happened to be the forest, which looked so comforting to him with its dark tree-trunks and swaying leaves. It had taken much of his energy just to make it that far, fair kimono dotted with blood and his right arm cradled against his chest.

It took the rest of his energy to escape from the very place he had fought so hard to get. Never had he met animals such as those in his life, ones that turned on him with blank eyes and attacked him with no provocation.

The small man collapsed on the edge of the wood, sinking into an exhausted pile of silk and limbs. ]

Comments

[monkeyjump]

[ Sasuke does not touch him long, retracting the hand as a spasm of pain goes through him. He takes a deep, shuddering breath, trying to keep from being dizzy.

Right. He needed... more information.

And possibly bandages. ]

... only the positions are sort of reversed in the icon but whatever.

[fools_journey]

[ Minato does not miss that spasm and shudder. ]

... Do you remember what house you woke up in? I'll help you back there. We can get you bandaged up.

[ And perhaps once this strange other boy was settled, Minato could run out and get him a healing potion...

But he offers his hand again. ]

[monkeyjump]

I... did not recognize it.

[ But he shakily raises his good arm to point. ]

It was in that direction.

[fools_journey]

[ Minato turns his head to follow the arm. ]

Ah. ... I live around there, as well. Let me take you back to my house for now. I have bandages and things already there. We'll find your house again later, once you've rested.

[ He's pretty sure Minako and Teddie won't mind if he brings someone home for a bit. ]

[monkeyjump]

[ Should he trust this stranger?

Another perhaps important question: did he have a choice?

Sasuke realizes there is not much he is going to be able to do if he has no help. He took a deep breath and started trying to get to his feet on his own. ]

[fools_journey]

[ Minato watches Sasuke struggle for a few moments before silently moving forward to help him up. He won't force the help on Sasuke, but he will put himself into a position where Sasuke can easily lean on him or use him for a boost up. ]

[monkeyjump]

[ Sasuke tries to avoid having to use him, but there is only so much he can do by himself in his position. He has to reach out and use the other boy for balance. ]

[fools_journey]

[ A movement Minato doesn't mind at all. That's why he's there. But once Sasuke is using him for balance, Minato puts an arm out around Sasuke's shoulders to help balance and support him. ]

It shouldn't be too far.

[monkeyjump]

[ The touch makes Sasuke uncomfortable, but there is nothing for it; he needs it.

So all he does is nod, letting the boy lead him wherever. ]

[fools_journey]

[ Good thing Minato doesn't feel the need to fill silence with words, then. So in silence they head back to Minato's home, wherein Minato leads Sasuke to his own room and the bathroom connected to it, because cleaning up should happen. Also, ever since a certain incident with bears and injuries, Minato has taken to keeping spare bandages and potions there. ]

[monkeyjump]

[ The surroundings are all strange to Sasuke, making him tense. Even this house is set-up in ways much different than those he knows.

He all but collapses on the floor when they get there, unable to hold himself up longer. ]

OWLICON .... c:

[fools_journey]

[ Minato makes sure he doesn't just fall, at least, and tries to direct him towards the bath/shower. ]

Can you take off your clothes? We should clean your wounds.

C:

[monkeyjump]

[ It is not the easiest for him to do, but Sasuke is used to pain. He slowly starts to peel the fabric from him, wincing only where it sticks to open wounds.

He will have scars from this, but they will not be the first, nor the last. ]

[fools_journey]

[ Minato does his best to give Sasuke at least a little privacy, as he gets out bandages, a healing potion and also fishes out a clean sponge for cleaning the wounds. He fills the sink with warm water while waiting. ]

[monkeyjump]

[ Sasuke looks up when he has gotten as much off as he can, silently watching the other boy. ]

[fools_journey]

[ MINATO SILENTLY WATCHES BACK WHAT NOW.

He hands over the damp sponge, though he's ready to help if Sasuke can't manage on his own. But somehow he gets the feeling this other boy would prefer to do as much on his own as possible. ]

Here -- once you're clean, I'll help with the bandages. And there's a potion you can drink that'll speed up the healing considerably.

[monkeyjump]

[ STARE OFF!!

Sasuke is grateful for that, at least. Minato is quite right that he would prefer to do things himself. He begins to clean himself, quiet except for the question: ]

Potion?

[fools_journey]

[ WHO CAN GO LONGEST WITHOUT BLINKING? ]

Um... a sort of medicine, though magical.

[monkeyjump]

[ DARE YOU CHALLENGE A NINJA? ]

... much magic here, there is.

[fools_journey]

[ OH HE DARES. HIS COURAGE IS BADASS AFTER ALL. ]

... yeah. There is. This place takes away any sort of magical powers of people it brings in, though.

[monkeyjump]

[ SEE IF YOU CAN TAKE A SANADA BRAVE!!!

Takes away any sort of magical powers...

Was that why the animals in the forest attacked him? Had all his friends in the forest, all the beasts furred and feathered he had known throughout his life, had they only been attracted to him because of some magical power that had now been taken away? Would he be unable to make such friendships now that he was only Sarutobi Sasuke, without this unseen ability drawing them? ]

... oh.

[fools_journey]

[ HEY HE TOOK ON DEATH. HE CAN TOTALLY TAKE ON SASUKE

Minato watches Sasuke's expression and wonders what must have been taken away from him, for it to fall like that. ]

That's not the only odd thing about this place, however. You -- already seem to have encountered them, but the creatures in the forest are unusually vicious. And if you go too deep into the forest, you'll reach a castle where the rulers apparently live.

[monkeyjump]

[ THEN LET'S GO

Sasuke's head lifts again, suddenly intent. ]

The animals act that way to all who encounter them?

[fools_journey]

[ A little surprised by this sudden shift, Minato blinks and then nods slowly. ]

Yeah.

[monkeyjump]

[ Then there is a chance, perhaps, that that was all it was, whatever magic drove them to protect the forest.

Not some failure on his part. ]

... I see.

[ He looked at the door, suddenly struggling with the desire to get up and find an animal that was not in the forest. ]