"Using 'I don't care' as an excuse, always running away

[usedswift]

Who: Tenten (usedswift) and Yumi (notchinese)
Where: Seafoam Islands
When: June 21 (Friday)
Summary: Tenten's got some questions about who Yumi really is. And who she's after.
Rating: PG for potential badass lady violence
Log:

[It takes a while to get to Seafoam from the Lake of Rage. How was she supposed to know that Yumi wouldn't appear in the last place she'd left her? By the time Tenten comes swooping in, the late afternoon sun is shimmering off the wings of her Skarmory. She flies over the islands once, twice, circling to make sure she can find the other girl, before zeroing in and landing just a few meters away on the beach. She's got her forehead protector on for once, because after the chaos last week, and with her Pokémon getting stronger? She's less than willing to hide.]

It's been a long time, huh?

Comments

[notchinese]

[Yumi wasn't really doing much when Tenten arrived on the beach, just watching a certain Deino and Clefairy playing on the sand nearby. Usually she'd treat friends and even acquaintences with a smile and a wave but after that short confrontation on the gear a week ago, the Japanese girl didn't really know how to react to Tenten's arrival. There was a part of her who wanted to run away and hide but Yumi had more pride than that.]

[If Tenten wanted a talk, then she's getting a talk.]

About time you showed up. I was getting kind of lonely here.

[usedswift]

My bad. Was pretty dumb to think you'd be in the same place I left you last time, huh?

[It's still hard to believe that this girl is the same one who'd used some kind of lightning technique on her and Sasuke...]

So why'd you do it? Best friend?

[notchinese]

[There's that word again; best friend. It probably wouldn't bother this girl so much if Tenten didn't say it in that kind of tone. But unlike her ex-friends, Tenten hasn't done anything to hurt her....at least not yet.]

[Still, it was enough to irritate Yumi a bit.]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[usedswift]

Then explain to me how someone who looks almost exactly like you, talks like you, knows stuff about me only you do decided to attack Sasuke and I, huh?

[She's obviously angry, but underneath it, she's still... hurt. Really hurt, and the time between when it happened and getting in touch with her hasn't helped.]

[notchinese]

I ...I...what?!

[That took her by surprise. The only possible answer she had to that explanation was that it was probably XANA's doing but there are two things wrong with that answer: 1.) She'd have to explain about XANA and Lyoko, which is something she'd been avoid doing and 2.) Sending any clones from her world shouldn't be possible, right? It can't happened, right?]

I wasn't like...drugged or anything, was I? Or drunk?

[usedswift]

You had a tattoo.

[She points to the center of her own forehead, where the stylized Leaf symbol is on her forehead protector.]

Right there. And you seemed totally aware of what you were doing, so I don't think so. Why, do you usually go around drunk and drugged to reveal how you were just using people to try and hurt them later?

[notchinese]

A tat....too?

[Aaaaaand there goes her chance at a normal life. It was fun while it lasted.]

I don't do any of that stuff, especially the "playing with people's emotions part". I'm not that kind of person, I thought you knew that.

[usedswift]

I thought I knew that, too.

But who else would know about me and Sasuke? And no offense, but I don't think Shino or Obito are the type to transform into you to try to get his attention.

[notchinese]

Get his attention?

...wait, are you saying I was trying to hit on him too?!

[usedswift]

Looked like you were gonna kiss him if I didn't throw a knife.

[She crosses her arms over her chest and scowls. That comment about not being good enough for him? Yeah, that stung.]

So explain that.

[notchinese]

No offense but he's not my type. I wouldn't try to kiss him even if you paid me to.

[Which was kind of a lie considering you know how mopey and grumpy Ulrich could get compared to Sasuke...]

And plus, there's someone for me back home, remember?

[usedswift]

I know what I saw. And it's not just me, Sasuke remembers it, too.

[Not all of it, thankfully. Last thing she needs is Sasuke wondering what it'd actually be like to kiss Yumi.]

That guy of yours back home? That's part of why I threw the knife, to try to snap you out of whatever was going on, but you seemed pretty aware already.

[notchinese]

What?

[So there was another witness? This wasn't looking good on Yumi's part, considering how she had no evidence to back her up compared to Tenten.]

...Tenten, are you sure that Yumi was actually me? Not like some evil clone or something?

[usedswift]

That's the thing, though. If it was an evil clone -- [and she really, really wants it to be] -- how did she know about me and Sasuke? They'd have to have been here and talked to me for that.

[notchinese]

Sometimes just by the way a person reacts is all they need to mess with you.

[It didn't matter if they were a computer program or a human being, Yumi knows it was very possible.]

[usedswift]

Then why go after Sasuke in the first place?

[notchinese]

I don't think Sasuke was her specific target. Just anyone who happened to know me. Friends, acquaintances, enemies... anyone.

[usedswift]

You say that like you know who I'm talking about specifically.

Maybe it wasn't you, but then who was it? When she knew all that stuff... makes it hard to take you at your word.

[notchinese]

[Yumi let out a frustrated groan.]

Look, you claimed she had a tattoo on her forehead right? [She points to her own forehead.] Do you see one on me now?

[usedswift]

She didn't have one at first either, it just appeared!

[notchinese]

What do you mean "just appeared"? Tattoos just don't appear and disappear!

[usedswift]

That one did! Her eyes, too. Explain that.

[notchinese]

...

[As much as Yumi wanted to explain about the marks and everything else Tenten was talking about, she couldn't find the courage to do so. Instead, Yumi stayed quiet, being conflicted with what to say next.]

[usedswift]

Explain it.

[Tenten's reaching about the end of her patience, closing the distance and grabbing the other girl by the collar. Feng hisses warningly behind her in response to that, wings spreading -- he doesn't like anyone that close to his trainer.]

That's why I came all the way here, because I trusted you to be able to explain what happened. So do it.

[notchinese]

[Yumi didn't fight back but she still was saying nothing, still conflicted over what to say. Break her friend's oath yet again or throw away her friendship with Tenten? She's already told Shino some bits but that was during a distressing moment. Is right now a good moment to explain too?]

I...can't. I mean, I don't know!