niceguypose | Seventh Gate [Action/Video] (dated to the 23rd)

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Seventh Gate [Action/Video] (dated to the 23rd)

[Action]

[It has been far too long since Lee last saw Izumo Kamiki, during the Valentines experiment. It bothers him - after what he's been through with Rapunzel and Sakura, he has to see how things are with her. He's beginning to suspect she may be avoiding him, but he cannot let this continue forever. In such a situation, particularly for one who possesses ninja skillz, there are a number of reasonable options available. He could try to figure out where she resides and try to visit her there. Or he could simply try using a filtered message over the journals.

Lee chooses none of those options. Instead, he scours the library, every book he can find, in order to assemble an impressive mound of every book he can find that qualifies as a romance novel. Now he's absolutely certain that she must actually enjoy these books so it's only a matter of time. And to increase the chances? He clips out many pictures of baby foxes to form a trail leading to the pile of books. And so Lee hides behind the nearest bookshelf and peers through a gap between books in hopes that she will eventually come along in search of one of the novels. It is a plan completely lacking flaws.

Otherwise, he can be found at other points of the day jogging around various areas of Luceti or at the Battle Dome setting up a simulation with random enemies.]

[Video]

[He takes to the journals at some point. With Kankuro recently arrived in Luceti, one primary thought on Lee's mi-]

Sakura-san, we should spar sometime soon!

[Okay, aside from that. One primary thought on Lee's mind has been the chance that Gaara could also appear in this place at any time. And clearly, the first thing on his mind would be an all-out rematch with Lee. So he decides to poll the people on their ideas.]

Also, other people of Luceti! I would like to pose a hypothetical challenge to you. Say you had to fight a man who could control sand itself! How do you think you would defeat him in the fairest way possible? For an extra challenge, you can restrain yourself from utilizing any special abilities!

[ooc: There should be an ooc post going up soon but just a heads up: Lee should be getting sent home for a canon update on Monday, and he'll return after the draft. It should also be noted that he may be very depressed for a time afterwards, so this post may be kind of the last hoorah of a joyful Lee for the time being.]

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Great, I'll see you there!

[And he'll indeed find here there early in the afternoon, doing some stretching out and humming to herself. She's looking forward to getting a good workout against a fellow ninja.]

Edited 2013-03-26 00:21 (UTC)

[And Lee jogs over with a bright smile. Now that the patch of weirdness seemed to be behind them, he could just enjoy having a good time with Sakura.]

Sakura-san! Good afternoon!

[He hops atop a nearby tree stump and practices some punches and kicks against the air.]

Good afternoon!

[She gives him a grin, and then a half-teasing suspicious look.]

So what's this about you plotting a rematch before the Kazekage's even here, hm?

[He rubs at his hair nervously.]

Ah - I simply thought that it was never too early to prepare! Especially with Kankuro-kun's arrival being so recent. And I also wondered how others would fare against him...

[At least Lee is predictable.]

If he does, I don't imagine anyone's going to be able to stop you from challenging him. Just don't make too much work for me, okay?

[And she means work on either him or Gaara. With the chakra-limiting effect of the barrier, Gaara would be under a handicap that Lee won't share.]

And I wouldn't, personally. [She knows better than to think she'd get close enough to use any medical-turned-attack jutsu against him, and her speed's too low otherwise.]

[He gives a salute.]

Of course not, Sakura-san! I have grown much since back then. [And he hasn't considered that particular advantage yet.] I will exhibit utmost care.

[And he approaches her with a smile.]

But... Oh, you are giving up the possibility so soon?

Well, I don't imagine I'm nearly in his class as far as straight combat goes. So no, it's not on my agenda.

[She grins, though, breaking out of the speculation.]

Now you, on the other hand, I'm willing to try myself against. [Since Lee wouldn't use the Gates against her.] Shall we?

Very well. [He smirks, empowered by what he'll take as flattery, and he assumes a fighting stance.] Let us begin!

[He decides to wait for her to make the first strike, but he's ready to counter.]

[It's definitely a compliment; one thing she's never not respected about Lee is his strength and capability.

She pauses a moment, assessing him, and sees his clear intention for her to make the first strike -- so she does, a rush forward with a carefully-controlled trickle of chakra to her muscles, speeding her up just a bit. Exploratory.]

[And the match begins - exciting. With his right hand, he tries to thrust her punch to the side. And his other hand is ready to jab at her midsection if successful.]

[Defense is weaker for her than offense; she focuses herself on blocking his hit, not just absorbing it and healing or breaking off her attack to avoid it. This is about training, after all -- pushing herself in the areas she's weak.

Her punch is deflected, though, and once she blocks, she pulls back again, circling him cautiously.]

An excellent start, Sakura-san.

[He smirks - this is very fun - and he moves to match her circling for the moment.]

I am about to attack you!

[And then he dashes forward to aim a blow at her shoulder.]

[She grins brightly at the compliment. Coming from a hand-to-hand specialist, she'll take it!]

Thanks for the warning!

[And she moves to block him, once again focusing on her active defense.

The training she's been doing on her own is showing; without boosting herself with chakra, she's faster and stronger than she was before, even if only by a little.]

You are most welcome!

[He really just can't help himself. He grins as she is able to block his punch. And he goes into a small chain of punches and kicks to test at this defense. Nothing too excessive in either strength or speed. It's a spar, after all, so it's partly just to assess her skills.]

[Her skills assess pretty decently; after all, even if she's not physically the strongest, she's still the Hokage's student, and Tsunade's no slouch when it comes to passing on her skills.

A couple quick exchanges, and she breaks off to circle him, looking for the easiest avenue of attack.]

Wow, the battle dome really hasn't been all it's cracked up to be... [She's getting a lot more out of this spar!]

Well, Sakura-san, in the end any training that occurs in such a dome is second to the sensation of two youths clashing with their own fists! This is true education...

[Lee should never be hired by the academic world.

He gets back into his fighting stance and this time mostly follows her with her eyes, almost daring her to find an opening.]

[He would take the education world by storm! That is, in the same way that a tornado takes a trailer park.]

I guess you haven't had to use the Battle Dome, though, have you? [Since he's got his team here to spar with. His team that she's been quietly avoiding.]

[There, she thinks she sees an opening! She darts forward, trying for a quick strike.]

I have, many times during my workouts. It is at least useful for preparing to deal with bizarre and unfamiliar foe-

[An opening?! It does manage to take Lee off guard - he leans away from the blow as it makes contact to try to minimize the damage, but it's still some type of blow, and he then tries to chop at that hand with an excited grin.]

But this! This would be a true workout! And perhaps later, we can have a truest workout! After all, when was the last time you had a full team exercise?

A full team exercise? Not for a long time, not with the way things have been. [When was the last time her whole team was even together for all that long?]

[She takes the hit -- ow, that stung, but it's not more than expected for a spar. But wait, is he suggesting... Urg. She tries not to visibly cringe.]

I wouldn't want to get in the way of you sparring with your team, Lee...

Eh? But Sakura-san, it would not get in the way of anything. It could make for a refreshing change of pace in fact! It is useful to be able to coordinate with others outside one's team, and I am sure that you can benefit from it as well! [After all, Neji said she hasn't talked to him so far. What could be the problem?]

[No. No no no. She can't even stand to look Neji in the eye, knowing that she was right fucking there and couldn't do a thing and let him die. There's no way in hell she could deal with sparring against him, with striking at him, with those images floating right behind her eyes.]

I...

[She bites her lip, then shakes her head. There's no way she's going to be able to completely shut down the idea here and now without making Lee suspicious. But if she agrees, even in theory, Lee will make it happen.]

Maybe... maybe some other time.

[There is definitely something very unusual about the way she reacts.]

I... I see. There is no rush, after all! [He pauses for a moment before adding, trying to stay cheery.] But I am sure that Neji would be pleased to catch up with you!

[Oh, I'm sure he would. I can get him all caught up on the war.

It makes her feel a little sick to think of it. How do you tell someone you just watched them die?

She doesn't have anything substantial she can say in answer to that -- but her tight, pinched expression at the topic speaks volumes that she'd rather keep to herself.]

I... maybe. Sometime. But he's been pretty busy, hasn't he?

[Yes, busy, because somehow she hasn't seen him. Ignore the part where she's been trying as hard as she can not to. And it's an extra- thin prevarication, since she knows Neji and Lee live together, that Lee will know Neji's habits well.]

[Something is definitely up with the way she's talking, and Lee can't grip why.]

Only sometimes. But he will always find time for another Konoha ninja, Sakura-san. After all, we are a united front! Would something be... [He hesitantly hovers a fuzzy eyebrow.] wrong with that?

[She really doesn't want to lie to Lee. But at the same time, she really doesn't want to tell him the truth, either. Doesn't want to admit to something that she feels is a failure on her personal part, as much as or more than the simple fortunes of war or a result of Neji's own decision in the heat of the moment. She's the medic; she should be keeping them alive.]

I said sometime. [Her voice comes out sharper than she intends, and she darts at Lee again, another attempt to keep him off the subject. This time, it's not a quick strike-and-retreat, she keeps up a sustained flow of attempted hits, falling back on her usual pattern of evading or just absorbing blows in order to get her own strikes in.]

[video -> action?]

[action]

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