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verdant_lotus in soul_logs

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Mar 21, 2011 20:08

Characters: Maito Gai and Rock Lee, then Maito Gai and Hatake Kakashi.
Location: The park
Rating: PG-13 for Awkwardness
Time: October 30th, after training
Description: Armed with confusing advice and well-meaning intentions, Lee corners his teacher. Then there's the fallout.
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hatake kakashi, rock lee, maito gai

Comments 58

spandexisyouth March 22 2011, 03:45:48 UTC

Gai toweled off some of the sweat, smiling at Lee. He enjoyed teaching the beginners, but at the end of the day they didn't really push him. Especially not the way someone who knew his abilities and tactics could ( ... )

verdant_lotus March 22 2011, 03:50:59 UTC

Lee smiled brightly in response to the praise. It was good to have confirmation that his continued training was paying off, especially when fighting in Death City was so different from what he'd been accustomed to.

"We train together every day," Lee confirmed. "And Neji and I spar."

He paused for a second at the mention of Kakashi, expression shifting slightly as he remembered his last conversation with Gai about his teacher's Meister... and the awkwardness that had followed. "I will be certain to ask him."

spandexisyouth March 22 2011, 04:24:53 UTC

"That is good to hear! I must see if Neji will spar with me." A bit of a conspiritorial smile now, "when he has forgiven me for the message looking for friends. I do not regret it; it has shown me what sort of an impact he has had on the city. And your conversation with him was very good, too. There is much that goes on here for all of us."

Gai raised an eyebrow at the little change in Lee's expression. It wasn't much, but... Was Lee still bothered by the teasing from Kakashi? He didn't know what else to say to comfort his student over that. Maybe just being encouraging would work. "He is not all tease. He is a highly regarded ninja for many reasons. The teasing is just one aspect of him, and you do not have to feel uncomfortable around him. My Rival is very capable."

verdant_lotus March 22 2011, 04:33:42 UTC

"You might get a better spar if you ask now," Lee said. Given Neji's temper- even if he said no at first, it would surely be a good fight once he gave in.

He hesitated, though, at Gai's reassurances. "It is not that, Gai-sensei," Lee said. Even if maybe it had been that and still was, a bit- Lee wasn't comfortable with the idea still. But the way Gai had reacted bothered him far more. "Gai-sensei? May I ask you something?"

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spandexisyouth March 23 2011, 03:44:58 UTC

While he'd intended to head straight home, Gai realized that maybe running into Kakashi was not the best thing to do right away. It was too likely to backfire if he didn't have control over his emotions yet.

Everything needed to be distilled down to basics. Basics were simple and easy to handle. Kakashi knew. Kakashi didn't seem interested. But Kakashi also hadn't seemed upset. Tired, for which Gai couldn't blame him, but not insulted or angry. What did that mean? It could mean that Kakashi was just saying things to make Lee content enough to stop on the topic, but the conversation didn't feel like that.

So. Suppose Kakashi wasn't upset, and planned to talk to Gai. Suppose also by too treasured he'd meant... No, that really sounded like he'd been trying to stop Lee there. But at least Gai was treasured.

The worth comment stood out. Kakashi didn't think he was worthy of Gai. Obviously that wasn't correct, but how did he make that clear? Was that the barrier? ...Why was Gai even thinking of what was in the way? He knew it wouldn't ( ... )

grab_my_bells March 23 2011, 05:54:57 UTC

In retrospect, maybe he should have seen this coming. No one could stick around for so long without wanting something out of it. The cynical-side of Kakashi just thought Gai wanted him for his skill as a ninja, as a rival, which Kakashi could give in exchange for something like friendship.

Love or lust or whatever this was Lee was talking about Gai feeling was a bit more of an intangible thing to give than Kakashi's ninja skill-set. It was something Kakashi wasn't even sure how to give anymore, if he still possessed the capacity to give that sort of thing at all. He had slept with plenty of people, and if he thought Gai would be content with just his body that would have been fine, but Kakashi had never loved anyone in the way Gai loved him.

He just didn't want things to get weird. Gai was someone, one of few people and the only person here, who Kakashi had to keep the wall up with less. Which was saying something. And which was why Kakashi hadn't yet figured out what to say to Gai after Kakashi's own talk with Lee. Things ( ... )

spandexisyouth March 23 2011, 06:48:16 UTC

Gai slipped into the apartment at 12:01. Technically it was afternoon. He was bad at waiting, but he'd said afternoon, and he had to hold to that, because he didn't want to rush Kakashi.

At first he wasn't sure if Kakashi had seen the flowers or even come home. That alone made him worry because he didn't know where Kakashi might be. Maybe Kakashi really had run at the sight, and Gai had gone overboard. But it wouldn't be the first time Gai had gone over the top. He had a habit of doing that. Then he saw that the book was gone ( ... )

grab_my_bells March 23 2011, 07:48:08 UTC

Kakashi had tried to doze off after hearing Gai come and go. Maybe he should have said something in person. Or said something more on the note. Maybe Gai was going to take back the 'always rivals' thing and find a new Meister. Somehow, Kakashi always messed things up ( ... )

Thread 37