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. And I hug. And you are all welcome to visit. If there is anything anyone else would like to know, you may ask, but I cannot think of what else to say.

I am going home, but I will see many of you again, for I will visit here, and the worlds that have an invitation.

It has been my honor to work with those I have, and to meet those I have. I will not forget any of you.

Comments

[grab-my-bells.livejournal.com]

[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.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

[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.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

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....

Nooo, not the puppy eyes!

[grab-my-bells.livejournal.com]

Instead I'm just sleeping with your sensei. I still have questionable intentions.


[Written quickly.] Do you know if she survives?

THE MOST DEWEY AND SAD PUPPY EYES IMAGINABLE!

[awokentospring.livejournal.com]

My most revered sensei who is like a father to me! But your intentions are not questionable. Not at all.

I do not. I just. I remember turning away, and then I see a frog lying on the ground. It is obviously dead but I want to believe it will be okay, so I just tell everyone he is injured, and when I look back up...

I don't remember past that. I am sorry.

/IS SO WEAK TO THE PUPPY EYES

[grab-my-bells.livejournal.com]

Yes, they are. What sort of pervert would I be without questionable intentions?

Thank you, Lee.

Does this mean I get double points for striking a critical blow?

[awokentospring.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you are losing your touch? I am fairly certain there is actual emotion between yourself and Gai-sensei.

I am sorry I cannot be more informative. We had really only just arrived back from being out on a mission. We had no idea we would be coming home to find Konoha half-destroyed, or else we might have pushed ourselves harder and made it home on time to really help.

... No. We can just call it SUPER EFFECTIVE and leave it at that... >.>

[grab-my-bells.livejournal.com]

You've been listening to Genius too long.


It's fine, Lee. Your team will be there to support Hinata, which is more than enough.

|D I like that idea too~

[awokentospring.livejournal.com]

And you are being silly and denying things again.


... Yes. I suppose that is true. Naruto-kun was there as well, so we would probably manage to find a medic with all of us working together.

What, a stealthy miniGai?

[spandexisyouth]

Oh, Lee.

A little rest would be good, I think.

Stealthy.... LIKE A NINJA 8D

[awokentospring.livejournal.com]

Yes! Kakashi-sensei should really just stay here and rest for a while. That would be for the best, I think.

[spandexisyouth]

...I had not realized you were from that same time. I should have asked.

[awokentospring.livejournal.com]

It is not a pleasant time to speak about, Sensei.

[spandexisyouth]

Do you [There's a long, long pause in the writing, as Gai considers even not asking. But he can't hide from it.]

Can you confirm or deny the what was already suspected?

[awokentospring.livejournal.com]

I am sorry, Gai-sensei. I was not actively trying to sense Kakashi-sensei's chakra signature or else I might have an answer for you but.

I am sorry.

[spandexisyouth]

I understand.

[awokentospring.livejournal.com]

... Gai-sensei? Maybe. Maybe you could push us to move faster on the way home. Maybe we could get there quickly and still have time to help out more!

You are from before this, right?

[spandexisyouth]

Every moment is a thing to be treasured, and you are someone to be treasured.