Nightshift 24: M1-M10 Hallway
Recluse was glad that the Head Doctor didn't waste his time tonight. He held the pepper spray he had acquired last night in his left hand, sharpening steel in his right. He moved purposefully down the dark corridor, keeping silent
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He looked around, waiting to see if perhaps he would find the others. Yes, he would wait for a bit, but if the others did not appear, then he would set off to the File Rooms by himself. It was a risky idea, but for some reason, Lee did not exactly find it frightening. On the other hand, there was not much that terrified Lee. No, he was a man of action. Usually.
Lee took a breath, and began to relax all the muscles in his body so that he would be able to move more fluidly. He had been very tense since the start of the Night Shift, and that would be problematic. There had to be a proper amount of relaxation and tension to fight properly. Too much tension could lead to broken bones and sore muscles...too much relaxation would lead to carelessness. Flexible but firm...that was what was needed, as far as Lee was concerned.
So he stretched more in this hallway, waiting for a familiar face. Anybody who saw him might be confused into thinking he was a contortionist. Certainly a body wasn't supposed to bend that way...or backwards to the point the body looks like it will break...or to bend legs and arms to wrap around the body like a pretzel...
But all that was on Lee's mind as he stretched was how to protect his friends.
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As soon as Naruto exited the room, he was surprised to look back and see that he came out of room M5. It took him a few seconds to remember that his room had been switched right before his injuries put him out of commission for those days. So he could be roomed with this Kadaj kid, apparently.
Shit, he thought, taking off on a somewhat unnecessary run considering how close he was to M2 after all, of course my bat is in someone else's room now.
"Shit!" Naruto cursed aloud when the realization hit him and then skidded to an unceremonious halt when he almost ran into somebody-- his face lit up with an excited smirk when he realized who it was.
"Hey!" He called to Lee and straightened properly. It looked like the other Konoha-nin had been in the middle of some stretching practices, he noted as he fumbled to turn on his flashlight. "You made it here quick. Looks like we're the first ones."
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"I'm so glad I found you guys..." Her success was raising her confidence a bit. Really! That wasn't hard at all!
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He gave both Usagi and Naruto his infamous sparkling grin. "It is good to see that both of you are well, and unharmed this cursed night. How many people are supposed to be at this meeting this evening, Naruto-kun?"
As he spoke, Lee continued his stretches, feeling more invigorated than before.
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"Besides us, Zabuza and Haku are supposed to show up, and also Sakura-chan and Iruka-sensei. I think that's it, but it's kind of a big group. Kind of risky."
He placed his arms behind his head casually, pondering strategy techniques that he had been taught over the years. "Think we should split off into team formations when they get here?"
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So there was supposed to be seven of them tonight. Usagi liked the idea of a big group, she was used to fighting as a team of at least six and sometimes ten! But that didn't seem to be the plan tonight.
"Why is a larger group risky?"
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Lee looked at the floor for a minute, realizing how separated he felt here. True, he was with those from Konoha, but it felt as if he were unbalanced without his close teammates. It was an odd sensation really, to feel upset that your team was broken, but to be happy that the others were not there. It was as if there was an emotional whirlwind, moving in circles to confuse him.
"You need not worry, Usagi-san. We shall protect you with our utmost power."
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When he looked up again he saw the determined look Lee was giving him. After a few seconds of surprise, he did his best to mirror it, adding a lopsided grin. "Yeah, well, if we can all get out of here, that is."
"And we will," he added as a fiery afterthought. Naruto was antsy for action now, but also remembered and thought of Sasuke most likely trapped in Solitary Confinement still. Overnight, the nurse had said. He wondered if he could resist sharing that information with Sakura when she showed up.
"Usagi-chan is in good hands," he agreed with Lee with another grin. "Those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash."
Unfortunately, repeating Kakashi-sensei's manta only redirected his thoughts back to Sasuke. Shit. But how could he abandon this group? That would be just as bad as anything. Naruto shifted his weight where he stood, uncertain. "Sakura-chan and I think Haku have some chakra use, but Zabuza cautioned us about some side-effects of using those. Lee, your taijutsu abilities are probably the most valuable asset we have. Usagi-chan, I haven't forgotten about your crystal. If we don't find it in the File Rooms we'll keep searching."
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Usagi blinked at Naruto's statement about teammates. "That sounds harsh," she said. Even friends were prone to losing their way, and she couldn't find it in her heart to hate them for it. Of course saying that was always easier than practicing it when the situation arose...
"When do you think the others will show?" It felt like there was a lot to do and she was beginning to get anxious.
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Lee hoped as well that soon the others would join them. Time was fleeing as they waited. Still, patience was important in such a delicate situation.
"They shall be here soon! I am certain of it!"
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As if on cue, the faint shine of a flashlight appeared at the end of the hallway, followed by a relieved, albeit hushed, greeting.
"Naruto! Lee!" Sakura sighed, glad that they hadn't decided to leave her behind for the night. She and Relena had made good time, and it wasn't like Naruto would leave her behind. But where were Zabuza and Haku? And who was the other girl standing with them.
Green eyes narrowed as she recognized the girl from the cafeteria that Naruto had been chatting up so happily earlier in the day. Sakura could hardly help that she associated pretty, blond girls with rivalry, but she couldn't figure out exactly why she could feel her temper flaring already. It was Naruto, and yet...
"I see you're making friends," she continued, a bit snippily as she gave the blond girl a once-over. Probably couldn't hold her own in combat anyway. "This is my roommate, Relena. It's her first night, so I thought it would be okay if she came along." No doubt it would be with the group present. Zabuza might have an objection, but it wasn't like Sakura really cared about his opinion anyway. "Relena, this is Naruto, Lee, and... I'm sorry, I don't know your name." Naruto and Lee could handle introductions.
Apparently, even her thoughts were deciding to be as difficult as possible. Without waiting to be introduced, Sakura's mouth ran ahead of her.
"Is Gaara coming?"
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She waited until the introductions were made before speaking up. "It's a pleasure to meet you two, and it's nice to see you again, Usagi," she said, though she didn't know why Sakura was snippy with the other blond girl. Usagi was just friendly with people and didn't seem to be the type to attack others without provocation.
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It was no sooner that Lee expressed his confidence that a flashlight beamed on them. Sakura made it! Naruto felt relief wash over him, smiling easily. "Sakura-chan!" He greeted in return, but didn't recognize the other person with her.
There was a shift in Sakura's demeanor as soon as she drew closer, which confused Naruto momentarily. He blinked, unsure about the tone with which she addressed Usagi, glancing between them once. Had they met before? Not gotten along? He nodded as she went on, still confused but acknowledged Relena by lifting a hand in greeting. "Yeah, nice to meet you."
So Relena did, but Sakura didn't know Usagi? Then what was with the attitude?
Before he speak again, Sakura had to say the thing she knew would make his brain short-circuit. Naruto made an unhappy, unintelligible noise and frowned very visibly while crossing his arms over his chest. "No, not that I know of," he answered and looked off to the side grumpily. "I haven't seen him since before lunch. Have you?"
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"You must be Sakura..." Usagi stopped herself from adding 'Naruto's girlfriend'. So she was the center of the love triangle! Well, she's pretty enough, Usagi thought, but the pink hair reminded her of Chibiusa. In fact Sakura's demeanor reminded Usagi of Chibiusa when they first met. The once-over glance was not appreciated either. This girl was sizing her up like competition! The senshi would just have to prove her worth, super-powered or not.
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Well, Sasuke was able to woo a woman by just looking at her. The beautiful always had all the luck. If only he had caught that final leaf so many years ago, maybe he would have actually had a chance. Yet he could never regret his actions that day...
He mentally kicked himself into action, putting a huge smile on his face and moving a bit closer to Relena and giving her a bow. "It is a great pleasure to meet you, Relena-san. Please excuse the members of this party. It appears that they are having a misunderstanding on the importance of friendship and love that is necessary to fight properly. Without their youthful joys, we shall surely fall to the evil that is this hospital."
Lee turned to the other three, and the smile never disappeared. "Please, my friends. I do not understand entirely what is wrong, but it is of the utmost importance that we not let trivial things get in the way." Each word was said from his heart. These were his friends. Nothing would change that. Nothing.
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Sakura crossed her arms over her chest, switching off her flashlight now that they'd found the group and had more than enough light. Seeing that Zabuza and Haku were not yet present, nor was Iruka-sensei, she assumed she could get in a few, more choice barbs that would probably land Gaara in a world of hurt at some point.
Casualties of war.
However, as soon as Sakura opened her mouth to reply that, no, she hadn't seen Gaara but had wanted to thank him and tell him she was pressing the flower he'd given her in her journal, Rock Lee decided to pipe up about the trials of friendship and love of all things, making her promptly shut it as her eyes went wide, and a pink flush spread across her cheeks.
A pink flush of rage. Certainly not from actual embarrassment. Of course not!
"Honestly, Lee!" Sakura tried to snap, though it came out a forced. She even shifted her hands to rest indignantly on her hips. "As if enough people don't already think I'm his girlfriend now!" And the blush stained her cheeks an even deeper shade of crimson. Dammit! Sakura turned her head to the side, tilting it up and away from Naruto and the group.
"Just where the hell is that big oaf Zabuza, anyway?"
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