Strength

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Gai oriented to the world little by little. First, the colors sharpened into shapes, then into objects and finally, they all worked together to make a fully formed scene for his eyes to take in and enjoy. It was Gai's village. He'd always loved it during the summer; it was always so full of youth and vigor then - more than usual, anyway.

"Hey, are you giving up?" An all too familiar voice demanded.

Turning his head, Gai saw Kakashi poised in the middle of a push up. Feeling his own limbs, Gai felt the strain all over his body; from fingers to toes. His toes! He could feel his toes for the first time in years! Oh what a happy day - he barely smothered the impulse to smile before realization pulled him away from the present. That stranger! He'd done this! He'd given Gai one more day with one of the few things he truly missed - his youth and strength!

Shoulders shaking with joyous laughter, Gai flopped himself over and declared; "No my rival! I've thought of something much better than what we are doing now!"

Cocking his head, the unaware Kakashi asked wearily, "What's that?"

"Let us race around the village a thousand times! No! No! A thousand and one times!" He shouted as he bounced up on his working feet.

Raising and eyebrow, his fellow jonin said flatly, "That will take us all day."

"Are you afraid you'll fail, my rival?"

Kakashi's lone eyebrow twitched. "Of course not," he scoffed. "I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting yourself into, is all.."

"Oh I know," Gai grinned before he took off running.

Kakashi sputtered something like a curse behind him and hurried to catch up as Gai lost himself in the sense of freedom and adrenaline that was pumping through his body as he ran at the fastest speeds he's ever known.

Being the type of guy he was, he'd say he was going as faster than the wind itself.

If he were to say this out loud, his rival would certainly disagree with him. Not that Gai really minded, he'd laugh it off and know that the far too logical and man who raced him knew little about the finesse of wind speeds and the speeds of the human body.

They ran all day. They ran and ran and ran until Gai's throat was raw and his lugs burning for exertion. Neither dared to stop, though, they were both too stubborn and some of their fellow jonin and a couple chunin were watching from all points of the village - waiting to see who fell on their faces first.

Would it be Gai? Or would it be Kakashi?

Gai got the sense they were betting on him; not that he blamed them or anything. Even in this body - one that was probably in its epitome condition, Gai felt out of practice. Haggard.

Breathing hard and face numb as the sky began to bleed to pinks and oranges, he was sure he was going to fall when he heard Kakashi lose his footing. Closing his eyes, he grinned a tired and victorious smile and never saw the world fade away and back to the one he'd come from.

When he opened his eyes, he was on his home's porch.

Looking around, he wondered where that stranger had gone. He wanted to thank him for giving back his mobility - even if it was only for a day. Gai had missed being so strong, so youthful. It'd been nice to experience it again.

Opening his mouth, he readied to call out, but little more than a hoarse sound came out of his overworked throat. Touching it, the ex-ninja smiled. Maybe a little of that exhaustion had followed him back home? That was...nice actually.

Turning the wheels of his chair, Gai headed inside. It was late, after all.

Have anything to say? How do you feel about Gai's chapter? Does it make sense to you all?

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