[Voice]

[heavenly_earth]

[His voice is quiet- if a little strained. It's like he's trying a little too hard to sound entirely casual]

Lee hasn't returned from his training yet. If anyone comes across him, please contact me. Thank you.

Comments

[sauceytomato]

How long as he been gone?

[heavenly_earth]

A little over twelve hours so far.

[sauceytomato]

[But it's Lee, Neji. Insane training hours etc etc.]

...Couldn't hurt to wait a couple days before you start to freak out, could it?

[heavenly_earth]

[He's not freaking out Sasuke. .....Okay maybe a little. His words are a little tighter now]

He's aware enough to inform either myself or Gai-sensei if he'll be gone for a longer period of time than expected.

[hyuugahime]

Neji-niisan ...

[And here they have it, the perfect mirror situation. Because give her half an hour and she'll have looked, and she'll know for sure.]

... W-Where are you ?

[heavenly_earth]

[It's cruel and he's upset because he woke up alone and cold and that never happens. But of course, his tone is placid and neutral even if he knows it's a mask Hinata can surely detect the hairline fractures in]

I'm cleaning up breakfast currently. [Only three plates, handling a fourth with indecisive hands]

[Offline]

[hyuugahime]

[She comes into the kitchen, hesitant and yet strangely determined, because they both need someone to hold onto rigt now, even if it is metaphorical. And she and Neji are family, in spite of their conflicted history, and through all of this, she cares very much for him.

She takes a few steps in, then holds out her hands to take the plate from him.

He won't break down; It's not how he does things. But he came to comfort her when she lost someone dear. He reached out, however awkwardly. And she cannot just stand and do nothing after that.]

[Offline]

[heavenly_earth]

[He's apprehensive as he feels her move into the room, turning to see her hands, a quiet understanding in her expression. Reluctantly, he hands the dish over, supposing that saving a plate aside is ridiculous and too hopeful after all.

He sighs and turns back to the counter, sweeping a wet cloth across it for the sake of doing something other than standing there and thinking about how much he suddenly missed Lee's enthusiastic greetings in the morning.

The sadness is there in the slower, tired movements and reflective depths of white eyes]

I knew it would happen at some point.