[closed]

[scratchitti]

Who: Neku Sakuraba, Nagi Naoe, various confused pokemon
Where: Somewhere outside Cerulean City
When: Backdated to Psych Up
Summary: Neku is feeling a little weird...
Rating: PG
Log:

[Traveling had fallen into a familiar routine, but today things were already off. For one thing, Neku was up at the break of dawn.

Cooking eggs. At like, 5 am. And humming]

Comments

[scratchitti]

[He looks upwards at the still slightly visible stars]

I dunno... I'm having fun, traveling like this. But I don't wanna keep going if you're not having fun.

[unkinder]

[Nagi watches Neku out of the corner of his eye over Isogu's head, who is content with cleaning Nagi's plate while he's not paying attention.]

...I didn't say that.

[scratchitti]

[Neku looks down, staring at Nagi.

And slowly his eyes shine, and he starts grinning, before leaning over to bump shoulders with Nagi, half squishing Isogu but probably not bothering the Raichu, considering it puts Neku's plate in range and snickering]

Ha! I knew it!

[unkinder]

[The noise that Nagi makes when Neku bumps shoulders with him is completely involuntary, and right away Isogu is scooting forward to scoop more eggs off of Neku's plate, putting them both closer at the same time.]

What? K...knew what?

[scratchitti]

That you were having fun.

[unkinder]

Mmh...

[Nagi looks away again, down at his mostly empty plate, even though he barely ate any of it himself.]

It's more interesting having someone else watching your battles, anyway. That's all.

[scratchitti]

You know, it's okay to admit to that kinda thing. I mean, who'd gonna say anything? Isogu? Koda?

[He knows you're still 'listening' in there Missy]

[unkinder]

[Shhh she isn't heeere.

At that, Nagi turns away just a bit further, his brows furrowing.]

It's just...strange. I guess.

[scratchitti]

...I know.

[And even the unnatrual happiness can't undo past sadness, and it's clear in his voice]

[unkinder]

[There's another pause as the fire crackles softly in front of them. When Nagi speaks up again, it's a bit quieter.]

...am I really your best friend?

[scratchitti]

...yeah. I mean, I have my Partners back home, and I... miss them a lot. We went through something together I don't think anyone not there could understand.

But, we've been through a lot too. I really like being around you- and trust me, for a long time just being AROUND people hurt more then anything else. So I guess that says something.

[unkinder]

[Nagi wants so badly to stop Neku there and tell him that being his friend will do nothing but hurt him in the end, but he ends up stopping himself. He's different now than he was when he first arrived so long ago. That much is a fact, whether he wants to admit it to himself or not.

Instead, Nagi just continues to look into the fire, trying to think of something else to say.]

I guess the strange part...is not knowing what a best friend is really like.

[scratchitti]

Well, does it matter? I mean, what it's *supposed* to be like?

[unkinder]

[Instead of answering, Nagi answers Neku's question with one of his own.]

What do you think they're supposed to be like?

[scratchitti]

...I honestly don't know? I've really only had the one before...

[Even with the effect alerting his behaviors his face twists slightly with grief]

[unkinder]

[Why is he expecting Neku to give him a clear answer about this? It's not like there is one, even for people who believe in things like that.

He didn't use to, but now...]

That's more than I've had. I suppose you have...more authority on what makes a friend than I do.

[Meaning...maybe he should just stop questioning why Neku wants to be his friend at all, and just accept the fact that he is.]