Hi all. I was bored at work one day so I started writing on a tiny piece of reciept. A coworker came over and looked over my shoulder and laughed at me writing so small. Even if she could read it, I don't think she would understand it. I mean... I don't understand it all that much. Anyway. It's just some NejiandLee things that came out of me one day. Enjoi.
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I Should Know You
"Neji," Lee said quietly, like a whisper in the dark, silent sitting room. "I just don't feel right."
Lee didn't have to say it. Neji could tell his friend wasn't himself as of late. Lee seemed lethargic and just all together sad. It could be attributed to few things. Sakura's absence was one factor.
She'd been the main focus of Lee's thoughts since they'd first met and now she was a rare sight. Off being trained, Neji supposed, by the Godaime, who'd taken the fair maiden under her wing.
The next culprit was their now elusive team leader, Gai. With a new war boiling under the surface of a few antsy shinobi villages, the elite of Konoha were away more often than not. Which meant Gai donning his long-forsaken Anbu gear and heading off on mission for weeks at a time. Without Gai as a source of encouragement and energy, and Sakura absent as Lee's object to fixate on, Lee was deflating rapidly.
It made Neji vaguely sad that he himself had no particular impact on Lee's mental state. He hadn't the confidence to challenge Lee's feelings so he resolved to be the one to lend an ear. Be the good, solid, understanding friend for once. Ease his way into Lee's immediate circle of loved ones.
"It looks like you don't feel right."
"Is it that obvious? I don't know what's wrong." Lee moaned, dropping his eyes with his brow furrowed in worry. "I've never felt like this before. Usually if I start slipping, something comes along and- and breathes life back into me or something." His inkling of enthusiasm soon faded. "But this time it's not going away."
Lee's eyes begged for something Neji knew he couldn't provide. Silence permeated the room. Neji had brought Lee to his home in an attempt to show some friendship and possibly to improve his mood. But now that he was there Neji didn't know what to do with him.
"Something's missing, right? It looks like I'm missing something, doesn't it?"
Yes, Neji thought. You're missing two things. Through the chain of Gai to Lee to Sakura ran a current of love and adoration that without the source and the destination, the current stalled in Lee and ran dry. Lee hadn't the love Gai gave and hadn't the outlet Sakura provided.
Since Neji couldn't possibly assume either of those roles he resolved to simply affirm his friendship with the boy.
"Lee... you know... Gai and Sakura aren't the only ones who care about you. You can find what you're missing from them in others." Neji said, almost uncharacteristically timid.
"Gai and Sakura?" Lee repeated. "No, they can't be what's missing. It's more than that."
"I know. It's because they love you. And they're very special to you. But you can't let yourself get like this just because they're away. They still love you. And... just so you know... you have friends that are still here, okay?"
Lee fell silent for a moment while Neji tried to read him with those perceptive eyes of his. Lee shifted on the pillow he was sitting on and absorbed Neji's soliloquy.
"Neji, I'm sorry." He said at last. "I didn't mean that- ...I know you're my friend. You don't have to tell me that." He smiled, finally. "Thanks, though. You're right, I shouldn't be like this. I feel strange but I shouldn't burden you with it."
"Nonsense. I should expect you to listen as well should I ever feel the need to complain about something." The boy displayed a rare but sincere (and small) smile.
Lee smiled too. "We shouldn't just sit around then. Let's go out and have fun, hm?"
"Well, y'know... We don't have to."
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Usually you're the antisocial." Lee chuckled. "Okay. Let's just stay here."
So the two adolescents sat in comfortable silence for a time, just breathing and occasionally studying the ceiling. Eventually, Lee broke the silence.
"Neji, do you love someone?"
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Fear not, it continues. Some other time.
