Forty-third and final Lotus

[spandexisyouth]

[The writing is much slower than normal. He's taking his time.]I do not know that there is anything more to say on the topic of me. I am Maito Gai, the Green Beast of Konoha, teacher of Lee, Neji, and Tenten, Eternal Rival to Kakashi, summoner of Ninkame, shinobi of Konohagakure. What you have seen and met is me. I teach and I train and I fight.

Comments

[man_genius]

Eternal rival? Is that what the kids are calling it these days.

You think we can visit? For realsies?

[spandexisyouth]

For about two decades we have challenged each other in a Rivalry that was more than friendly but not [pentaps] physical, not the way that it is here. It was physical at times in spars! But not like here. And so I am glad for here and the change.

For realsies! I knew that we would find a way for those to go home who wished to and those to stay who wished to! I know that we will see each other again!

[grab_my_bells]

What Gai's trying to say is that for about two decades he's manhandled me and called this foreplay 'challenges.'

[spandexisyouth]

WHAT? THAT IS NOT I MEAN OKAY YES THERE WAS HANDLING BUT IT WAS NOT LIKE THAT!

[grab_my_bells]

I seem to recall plenty of groping now that I have my memories back. Every chance you could get, your hands were all over me.

It's a wonder you made it here with a unicorn to lose.

[spandexisyouth]

Then maybe you should have thought about it before we got here and we could have had something there ^sooner. But the sparring and things were not like that so we did not so it was not like that at all!

[[ooc: The comment goes up at first whole, and then Gai hastily scratches out 'there' and adds 'sooner'. Even though he needs to somehow let the Spamily know to say good bye, he doesn't want to out Bell this openly.]]

[grab_my_bells]

[Kakashi edits that comment further to say "Then maybe you should have thought done something about it before we got here"]

I'm always late. You know this, Gai.

And maybe it always has been like that, underneath the underneath. But neither ofno one looked there.

[spandexisyouth]

There was too much on top that was important, that could have been disrupted if we looked underneath the underneath. And so I did not.

I regret that.

[grab_my_bells]

It's fine, Gai. It worked for us. It was a good twenty years.

[spandexisyouth]

It is not fine. I have lived my life without regrets except for this.

I love you, Kakashi. And I have loved you for years. I do not know when it began, but it began long before the Tree brought us here. My reasons for not saying before are the same, but at least while we are still here we have this.

[grab_my_bells]

[Gai... T_T Kakashi doesn't know what to say to all of that, so he settles for being 'realistic'.]

We can't stay here forever, though.

[spandexisyouth]

I know.

I will not keep you from your duty.

But for as long as you are willing, I will treasure the time, be it a few hours or days.

[grab_my_bells]

Gai [The pen rests here, unsure what to say next.]

Yeah, we'll make good use of the time we have together.

threadjack! GUESS WHO HAS BEEN READING ALL OF THIS

[awokentospring]

Yes! You should!

And I still say you should probably rest here a while longer. Before just jumping ahead. There is no need to rush!

NAUGHTY PUPPY

[grab_my_bells]

There was a time you didn't like me. I'm not sure which version of you scares me more.

Lee, what do you know about what's to come...?

/gives you the cute puppy eyes

[awokentospring]

When I didn't like you I thought you were sleeping with my father and perhaps had questionable intentions. I know better now.

I. I know a few things. Our team just returned to the village but it had already been under attack for quite some time. Hinata-san was in critical condition....