Eighth Gate: The Gate of Death [Action]

[niceguypose]

[A bushy-browed ninja in New Feather pants is lost in the tunnels, at the time when the draftees return home. Rock Lee hasn't quite processed that he's back in Luceti, yet - or rather, his memories are jumbled somewhat. In a sense, he thinks he's still on or near the battlefield he was on at home. And a loss is still weighing heavy on his heart.

He alters between a state of panic and attempts to focus. He tries to hide where he can when people approach, and he may attempt to either tackle them or survey them to see if they are friend or foe.

Eventually he does leave the tunnels when he realizes he is in Luceti. Some of his normal exuberance is drained as he makes his round of the stores in order to recollect his things. And unless he's intercepted in the meantime, he eventually steels himself to head towards Community House 1. He has to see his roommate again - he has to see Neji again.]

Comments

The post we've all been waiting for :D

[screw_fate]

[Neji's actually at home today; he's finally gotten over another bout of insomnia, and he's in the apartment living room, just doing some basic cleaning. After this, he needs to go do some training, but with Lee's absence, it feels a little odd. He wants someone for a really bracing hand-to-hand session, something where he can just let loose, but there really aren't many people for him to do that with.

But for the time being, just a bit of spring cleaning, airing things out, being a bit domestic.]

[niceguypose]

[He had oriented himself, gathered his belongings, donned his tights and flak jacket again.

There was only one piece of business to tend to: the most difficult part. He had to head back to where he lived. Where he and Neji lived. Everyone he'd met along the way had been a reminder. That Neji's here right now, not dead in his arms. Neji's alive and breathing, and as long as he's here he always will be.

But only as long as he's here.

Lee stands outside the door for several minutes, wincing his eyes and trying to summon the energy, the courage to get through the door and see what was on the other side. His beloved friend. Finally, he he focused on that thought. That he wanted to see his beloved rival again.

There were several heavy knocks on the door in rapid succession, followed by the door being kicked open.]

[screw_fate]

[A knock on the door? Neji frowns and looks up, but the door is kicked open before he rises to answer it.

So there it is. There they are. Lee, with a strange, dark look on his face, and Neji, dressed in plain, grubby clothes, with his hair tied back to stay out of the way, forehead wrapped as always to hide his seal.

He stands, wondering at the expression, but not yet attaching any meaning to it. Let Lee tell him what it's about.]

Welcome back. You might have given me more than three seconds to open the door, you know.

[And that's how you say 'Hey, I maybe perhaps missed you a little, teammate," in Neji-ese.]

[niceguypose]

[Lee doesn't catch all of those words. He's too busy transfixed, staring with wide eyes. There he is - a living, breathing, Neji, just as he remembered him.

He could see why Sakura avoided this. Seeing Neji again... It causes so many emotions to seize within him. Shock and horror at seeing the dead alive. Intense relief and joy at feeling his friend again. The lingering grief and guilt from having seen him die in the first place. And he can't control it, try as he might. He can stop his body from collapsing in shock, but that's all he can do.

Lee stares with glistening eyes, and he lots out a shallow, strangled breath as he looks at Neji there. No words are found just yet.]

[screw_fate]

[Okay, Lee is generally a model of bizarre behavior, but he's also got set ways of being bizarre that Neji has long since grown accustomed to.

This? This is new. Lee staring at him like that, silent, as though...

As though he's seen a ghost? Neji can't entirely be sure.

So he walks over, planting himself in front of Lee with his arms crossed.]

Is something the matter?

[The words are a little sharp. Lee is behaving oddly and he doesn't like it.]

[ex_tessen852]

[Suki had just finished her shift at the tea shop and was ready to head back home when she noticed the new person. At first she paid him no mind, but then she realized that he was still wearing his New Feather's outfit. It wasn't that time already, was it?]

Excuse me? Did you need some help? [Might as well help the new person.]

[niceguypose]

[Lee jumped for a moment at the second approach - turning to face her in a fighting pose. By now he'd figured out he was back in Luceti, but it was still hard to get himself out of the mindset of being on the battlefield.

After a moment, he softened his stance somewhat sheepishly.]

Ah- I'm sorry. But that is alright. Currently, I don't need any help.

[ex_tessen852]

[The fact he was so eager to fight surprised her. But she didn't get into a defensive position. She wanted to be friendly.]

Are you sure? [Because it looked like he did.] Do you know where you are?

[niceguypose]

Yes! I am in Luceti, correct?

[ex_tessen852]

You are. Are you not a New Feather?

[Action] Intercept'd.

[bymystrings]

[Kankuro had been out, stubbornly searching on his own for his puppets. No luck that day either though.

He sees Lee as he's heading back to the Community house as well, that bowl cut always familiar. The presence of the New Feather pants was interesting, but Kankuro shrugged it off. Kankuro speeds up to catch up with Lee.]

Hey, Lee.

[Of course, as he gets closer he notices the lack of Lee's usual energy and wonders at it.]

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[Rock Lee did a back-flip before turning to face Kankuro.

Kankuro...

Was he even on the battlefield? Could he have even know?]

Ah... Kankuo-kun. [He un-tenses himself for a light bow.] Good day...

[Action]

[bymystrings]

[Whoa dude. Kankuro blinks at Lee's unexpected move. He was moving like someone who had just been in a serious fight.

He holds up his hands, showing he's not armed or going for any hidden weapons.]

Yeah, it's me. [Kankuro frowns at Lee.] What's got you jumpy?

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[He tried to manage a sheepish grin, but it faded fast as he surveyed Kankuro.]

I have just recently returned from home. [He said very stiffly. The memories were already rushing through his head.]

[Action]

[bymystrings]

[Oh.

That's a thing? Kankuro looks surprised.]

...Wait what? You were home? And now you're back?

[Well, okay then. Chalking this up to Luceti being weird.

Lee's stiffness doesn't go unnoticed by Kankuro. He feels a sliver of concern for the Leaf nin, normally so boisterous.]

...Bad news? [Kankuro's voice is soft. They were at war back home, it probably was.]

[endgames]

[It's weird that it's over, just like that. He supposes it would be the same, in a normal war. The adults from home who'd lived through the Third War made it sound like it, come to think of it, in the rare snippets he'd heard as a child.

It's still odd.

He tells anyone who might have been with him in the tunnels that he'll meet up with them later, then goes ahead before anyone can argue with him much otherwise. Fresh air would be good.]

[niceguypose]

[And Lee is in a state of confusion. It feels like just moments ago he was out there, feeling the raw power of the Kyuubi's chakra, his leg cutting through the body of Madara Uchiha himself.

There tunnels... They were familiar in some way, but in another sense were not. It was hard for him to sort out his memories. He was still on the battlefield somewhere, right? But then what was Luceti... and why could he no longer feel the Kyuubi chakra?

But a familiar face eventually appeared. Lee quickly ran over to him. It's refreshing - Shikamaru looks not so different than he did on the battlefield. He's not sure why he almost expected him to look older.]

Shikamaru-kun! There you are.

[endgames]

[Shikamaru blinks, wondering if something happened.]

Lee. What are you doing here?

[It clicks suddenly then, somewhere in the memories he recovered of Luceti before the draft. Wasn't he gone?]

[niceguypose]

I was hoping that you could explain that. I... Where are we in relation to the battlefield. The last I remember... [He closes his eyes in concentration and knocks on his head with his fists.] I was right there, in the fray. But the chakra... I do not feel it, Shikamaru-kun!

[endgames]

[Shikamaru puts a hand on his shoulder, forearm between Lee's arm to stop the motion to his head. A subtle notion to quit that.]

We're in the tunnels. Here in Luceti. [Do you remember? Shikamaru was incredibly disoriented going from the battlefield to the Malnosso's fortress in the sky, memories of home clashing with those of the two years he lived away from it. He can sympathize with this.] They have an effect that suppresses our abilities. Remember?

action;

[degleamed]

[ Rapunzel doesn't notice him. She keeps to herself as she shuffles along with the return draftees, arms crossed tightly in front of her. She feels cold. Cold and alone. She always preferred company, but she wanted nothing more than to go home and be by herself just then.

She isn't crying. Anymore, at least. Her cheeks are sticky and wet. ]

action;

[niceguypose]

[Lee scours around for every familiar face, trying to sort out exactly where he is. Everything's so fuzzy, he's sure he's still on the battlefield - that everyone around him could be in danger from the Ten-Tails and its assholes of masters.

So when he sees a familiar face, he runs towards it without question. He doesn't even think to realize that it's face that he never knew at home. Or that there is notably something very different about her hair. Or to remember the promise that he couldn't keep.

Lee's just so determined to protect others from the potential dangers of the battlefield, that he's leaping at her in order to tackle her safely onto the ground.]

Rapunzel-san! Get down!

action;

[degleamed]

[ At the sound of his voice, her heart gives an involuntary lurch. She doesn't stop to think, instead doing as he says and ducking down - after all, it wasn't the first time she had heard those words in the past few days, and it had saved her life and few times. She had to listen -

Lee.

She glances at him, bewildered, from her ducked position on the floor.

Was it...really him? Was she dreaming? ]

action;

[niceguypose]

[He spent a moment crouched over her, in just his New Feather pants, as if ready to absorb any incoming attack. But nothing comes.

He rises and searches around him.]

Ah... There is still no sign of the enemy. I am sorry for worrying you. [And he looks back at her, concerned, and he offers a hand to help her up.] Are you alright?

[Something seems off. Very, very different...]

action;

[degleamed]

[ She...she can’t believe it.

It’s him. It’s really him.

He didn’t go home. But why...why was he here? Confusion overwhelms her as she sucks in her bottom lip. She freezes, before speaking quietly. ]

...Rockly?