[OPEN] Body Snatchers

[openedthebasket]

Curious, these pieces of paper. He was reluctant to touch them, but they appeared harmless enough, even as he surveyed them with his Byakugan. Perhaps a child had been overly excited for Tanabata?

In spite of his own foreboding, he bent to pick up an ivory-white one, turning it over between his fingers. Strange...

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[perfectcosmos]

There was no hiding her mirth. "Front pocket." She moved over and fished it out for him, moving to open it herself. "You're not taking this well at all are you?"

[openedthebasket]

"For you, being in another's body is a familiar feeling. For me, it is not."

Another scowl as he felt his own fingers against a much softer body than he was used to, teeth gritting in further annoyance. "And please stop making such expressions with my face."

[perfectcosmos]

"I will if you will~."

Then she slipped inside, waiting for him to follow.

[openedthebasket]

Unlikely. Neji just shook his head and followed, giving the shop a careful glance as he did so. "Do you have any theories on how to switch back?"

[perfectcosmos]

"The best I got is the theory that the papers had to do with it, but releasing the paper didn't drop the jutsu so... I have no idea right now."

She locked the door after him and headed for the stairs to set about making some tea. "So you might as well get comfortable gorgeous, you might be that way a while."

[openedthebasket]

He just grunted unhappily in response, the sound so odd in his higher, undeniably-feminine voice. A little awkwardly, he stayed there in the middle of the kitchen, moving to tuck his hands in his sleeves -- only to recall that he didn't have his familiar wide sleeves. A little awkwardly useless, he just stood there in the middle of the store.

"Shall I wait for you here, then?"

[perfectcosmos]

She turned around and came right back down the stairs. "The idea was for you to follow me upstairs actually."

She leaned in, catching his wrist and tugging. "Come on."

[openedthebasket]

He stumbled a bit, trying to adjust his weight with the difference in force behind the tug, and huffed through his nose. "I am capable of walking, as off-balance as your form is," he pointed out mildly, though he didn't try to yank his hand back -- he'd fall if he tried, he knew that.

[perfectcosmos]

"I'll have you know I'm perfectly balanced. You're just having adjustment issues." She laughed softly and smiled. "Come on."

[openedthebasket]

"I suppose I should thank you for not wishing to go outside at this moment. I'm certain everyone would be rather baffled by my sudden change in attitude." That dry tone? That's the closest he's gotten to actual humor or a smile for almost two weeks.

[perfectcosmos]

"There, you see? People would probably think you were drunk." She tugged him gently up the stairs, tossing the keys onto the table by the upstairs door. "I was on my way to lunch, so food first."

[openedthebasket]

He continued to follow up the stairs, only trying to worm his hand free once they were safely at the top. "I assure you, I have no intentions of ever being drunk, so that is an image you will have to imagine for yourself."

He paused and glanced around. "If you would permit, I would be pleased to prepare you something, if you'll be tell me what you have and what you would wish to have."

[perfectcosmos]

She leaned in with a small smile and tapped him in the chest over the sternum. "I don't know if you have eaten recently, but that body there is hungry."

[openedthebasket]

He stared, momentarily caught staring at the sudden closeness of his own face. Strange, beyond strange.

"I have not eaten since early morning, no," he agreed, looking around again and making his way toward the kitchen. "My offer still stands, however."

[perfectcosmos]

She brushed her fingers over his shoulder and then dropped her hand. "Make something you usually like, I want to see what they taste like for you."

[openedthebasket]

He grunted again and glanced to her appraisingly. "If you have soba noodles and fish, I would prepare something of that nature. Herring would be preferable, but any kind of saltwater fish would do."

A pause.

"Or freshwater fish, if nothing else."

[perfectcosmos]

"I have all of those things." She moved around him, brushing along him lightly as she got this or that, neatly setting everything on the counter. "There you go."

[openedthebasket]

"Thank you." He waved a far-too-delicate hand for her to take a seat as he moved about the kitchen, boiling the noodles, preparing a light sauce... it was strangely calming; though the difficulty of maneuvering in her body was certainly a challenge, it was nothing insurmountable.

[perfectcosmos]

She laughed softly and complied, for the moment.

When he got closer to finished she got up and got down dishes. "You make that look elegant even while fighting with my sense of balance."

[openedthebasket]

"If I do, it is only because it is your body that I am currently using," he observed quietly. Making a meal for someone... he hadn't done that since Naruto...

The thought that his own normally so carefully controlled emotions might be more visible on her own face than on his own didn't quite register as his lips firmed into a thin line, then took the offered dishes with a nod of thanks, spooning the noodles and a healthy serving of broth over them before adding the baked fish and the sauce overtop. "Please, enjoy."

[perfectcosmos]

She knew her upset and sad face when she saw it! Before he could sit down, she circled around and pulled him into a tight hug. "You can say that, but it's just because it's you inside handsome."

[openedthebasket]

He had just set the bowls down when she grabbed him, the feeling of what must be his own arms pressing him tightly against her... it was odd. Soft, the softness on his end rather than what he was accustomed to, but...

Hands somewhat awkwardly at his sides, he blinked up to his own face, trying to decide if he wanted to frown. "What is this for?"

[perfectcosmos]

She kissed him on the nose and released him. "You looked like you needed a hug~! This looks delicious."

[openedthebasket]

A strangled, disbelieving sound at the kiss to his nose, the feeling so light that it took him several long, confused minutes to determine what it even was.

He closed his eyes against another flash of pain, then took his seat, trying to ignore it. "Something like this... is my favorite meal," he answered instead, determinedly looking to it as he picked up his chopsticks. "It is simple to make, yet nutritious."

[perfectcosmos]

She gave him a warm smile. "Then it should taste delicious on your sense of taste, right Neji-kun?"

She practically purred the words as she picked up the chopsticks, picking up the first bite.