I dedicate this to my partner, without them, this story wouldn't have been written.
Present..…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ
Prologue:
'Because My Friends Are Worth Dying For!'
… ⁐ ̤ᕐᐷ
The echos of the battlefield were drowning out Neji's hushed speech, Naruto was cradling the brunette in his arms. The smell of blood filling his nostrils as the brown haired Shinobi made his final amends.
The noise around them turned to static.
His head spinning, the Hyuuga could feel his mouth moving ceaselessly, eyes blinking erratically to center himself, his own voice sounding like the pressure of cotton slowly spiraling through his ear drums.
Neji continued to take hard shuddering breathes, reducing in speed between every word he spoke. He knew Naruto was replying, feeling the blonde's chest against his arm vibrating with sound.
The pale eyed Shinobi bit his lip, he could no longer control or hear his voice, hand clutching the arm of Naruto's jacket. He could not focus on what his friend was saying over the dull rush of blood in his ears, like a tap filling up a glass. His body uncontrollably trembling, and the last of his chakra softly fading.
Orbs locked on Naruto, determination on the blue eyed ninja's face, yelling something incoherent at the Hyuuga slowly fading in his arms then around to their comrades. Neji flickered his eyes shut, his limbs are becoming heavy.
When he opened them, a rough looking Lee appeared stunned, tears clinging to his lashes as he stares down at his rival in shock. Hinata frightened behind him, both hands covering her mouth in horror. Neji could only behold the scene before him, eyes tracing their figures.
He began to loose grip on his blonde comrade's jacket, noticing he could no longer take in air.
They all have spent many years coming to terms with this moment. Taking a vow to protect their respective villages, there was always a chance one might not make it to their next birthday.
Neji himself coming from a long line of very prestigious and traditional class of Shinobi. They reminded him everyday that it is his duty, and privilege to put his life on the line, not only for his clan but for his village. The day he was born, his fate was in their hands, but he had long made up his mind about that, of course with the help of those closest to him.
He had finally chose his own destiny, like his father before him.
Everything appeared to slow, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips before the lack of air became taxing. Neji gasped, failing to inhale, was left choking on blood, bubbling from his mouth, cascading down his cheeks and neck.
Shimmering light flooded his friends, in a way the Byakugan user has never seen before. The memories of the life he lived flashing before his eyes. Deep fondness and appreciation swept through him, admiring the three in front of him.
Because they were there for him, beginning long ago, after the failed Chunin exams, Neji gain the courage to change in ways he never thought he could.
Pale eyes slightly widen in alarm, his vision was doubling, sluggishly turning shiny florescent colors. Though his eyes remained open on his friends, it became harder to see. Physical and emotional anguish settled in his chest, the warmth of connections he made through the years wasn't enough to keep the cold from flooding in.
No matter how much they had all readied themselves for this. Nothing could prepare Neji for the sudden wave of emotions, realizing, he did not want to die.
He wanted more time.
That intense feeling gutted him and inwardly he cursed, the sting of tears pierced his eyes, unsure if it was his mental state or blood that caused the burning in his throat. It felt like someone had both hands thrust into his chest, using one to hold his lungs with a firm grip and his heart in the other.
Neji felt his heartbeat slow to thuds so heavy, they were pulsing through his entire body, he couldn't move.
His pale eyes became blurred and glassy, unfocused vision fabricating a tunnel. For a moment, Neji felt as if he were flying, before weightlessly falling into darkness.
He could only gaze upon his companions one last time through wet eyes as he fell deeper, carefully scanning every inch of his friends until the edges of his sight turned to soot and burned hot, white, spots into the image like over exposed film.
Neji had never felt such stillness as he descended down. Away from the bright light of his dearest comrades, into inky blackness.
Cascading into the deep, he felt a mass, delicately and silently scooping him up, surrounding his frame.
The warm cloud carried him soothingly below until his back hit a surface, completely engulfing him in an motionless black liquid stretching as far as the eye could see. A substance thicker than water, sticking to everything.
It covered every crevice of his body, seeping into his very pores making him sink deeper before reaching the bottom.
There he laid unmoving, slumped on the ground at the bottom of the darkness where there was no air, no sound and no sight.
It was there Neji finally let his eyes close.
A: (・_・;)
A: Thank You For Your Continued Support
Present: … ⁐ ̤ᕐᐷ
Past: … ⁐ᕐ̤ᐷ
Shogastu: Japanese New Year
Act I:
'Lee's Sonata: When I See You Fighting, It Makes Me Want To Try Harder!'
… ⁐ ̤ᕐᐷ
Lee's ears sensed the quiet of night blanketing Konoha before his brain registered that he was no longer in a slumber. The moon narrowly snuck past the line of the horizon, dimly lit with stars, the still moment before the sun, peaks. A piercing sound that caused a daily haze and confusion oozing through the taijutsu user's skull.
Amongst the restless rumpled sheets, in the center of the bed lay thick blankets, piled onto a breathing mass. A letter from the sand laying neatly next to a pillow, far over the beds edge, inches from falling into the ground.
He received letters from the insomniac at odd hours, after the sand user's work had finished. The effects from hosting Shuukaku, who has long been removed from Gaara's body, left the Shinobi unable to snooze once he hit the wee hours of the night.
Lee encouraged the distraction from the young Kazekage, recently unable to rest comfortably. The black haired Shinobi jokingly wrote Gaara back asking if sleepless nights were contagious.
Gingerly, he sat up from the sleep warmed nest of his bed with a tired yawn. Limbs popping, frozen from lack of movement. Lee rubbed the tiny line of dried dribble from the corner of his mouth with the back of a hand as he unfurled from the blankets.
The black haired ninja just barely noticing the air hitting his uncovered chest.
He sat hunched over, eyes fixed on his hands, the scent of winter he could never ignore. It was sharp, burning his sensitive nose, the cold twinged in his nasal cavity causing Lee to turn his attention to the window.
He never bothered with curtains as he always rose before the sun. Even the few times in his life when Lee had slept in, the warmth was always welcomed. Sitting there, he blinked slowly at the fog caused by the cold, blocking his view of dark skies, readying himself to stand.
He stood sluggishly, left side stiff from the low temperature outside. Only movement showing his reaction to the faint discomfort of his injury from the Chunin exams, was a twitch of his left hand, as his feet padded towards the bathroom to relieve himself. Freezing tile chilled his bare feet as he stepped through the threshold connecting his room to the bathroom.
It wasn't until the sensation of his hands starting to dry did he regain sight.
After thoroughly lathering and rinsing, Lee stood there in a trance, arms dangling at his side, staring blankly at the reflection of himself in the mirror.
A listless haze leaving his eyes as they followed the trails of wet drops on bright green pajama bottoms and cold toes, tiny puddles left on the tile.
Hair fluttered wildly as Lee shook his head and lifted semi damp hands. In a quick flash he slapped both sides of his face, turning a faint pink tint under his palms, fire alight in his pupils looking back at him.
"Yoooosh!" He shouted into the mirror giving himself a blinding trademark Rock Lee smile.
'There's no time for this kind of behavior! It was time to get ready to train before youthfully living my day to the fullest!', He thought to himself. Simultaneously putting one fist clenched on his hip and one high in the air, he took a deep breath—
"I cannot protect those dearest to me if I am not ready to live fully in my youth!" He exclaimed, setting out to fulfill his morning routine with a determined passion.
Rock Lee bounced about his apartment, showering, stretching, preparing breakfast and lunch to take along. Mornings being colder this time a year, the taijutsu master decided to put extra weights on his arms and legs in case the chill in the air was too much to finish all of his run.
Getting ready took just enough time for the sun to breach the walls of Konoha, Lee made his way to walk out the door when his pace slows to a stop.
As if his eyes were trying to avoid it, his gaze sets on a table by the exit of his apartment, gaze lingering on the calendar posted above, the taijutsu master stood a little straighter, back gradually becoming more tense.
The black haired Shinobi had felt he lost track of time and space. He was usually good with dates, staying organized was a part of being a good Shinobi. Committed to writing down important missions, free days and even the birth dates of his dearest comrades.
The anniversary of the war had truly snuck up on them all as they busied themselves with preparing the town.
Of course none of them took a second thought to Naruto's loud protests to any festivities. It was noble of his blonde friend to try and prioritize paying respects to those who had fallen than celebrating his birthday. They had all just finished rebuilding the village and a few relationships, but it didn't matter because the blonde's words truly fell on deaf ears.
Everyone had already come together and decided on a very non- celebratory sleepover surprise at Kakashi and Gai's house. Spending a long day and night would help ease the hardships in their hearts.
Lee remembered spending much of the night excitedly talking with friends, this had been his first sleepover ever.
Though a sharp pang of guilt shot through his heart as he remembered the fun they shared. Sadness, simmered under the surface, distracting him throughout the night, the feeling that something was missing.
That someone was missing.
Dark eyes skimmed the calendar filled with little doodles, grocery lists and mission dates. His dark orbs jump to next week, in a few days was Hinata's birthday.
Another wave of pain hit him as the Shinobi cast his gaze to the table. A beautiful, square, dark brown table with a glossy finish, and a satin white cloth hanging off all sides, a gift from Neji.
There sat a single picture of young Team Gai, taken the day they had all received their Hitai-ate from their Sensei. Framed in wood, little leaves and flowers carved into the top left hand corner as decoration, a gift from Tenten.
Lee took the picture in a steady grasp, bringing it closer for inspection. A saddened exhale left his mouth as he sets the photo down gently, hastily scurrying out into the brisk morning.
'I'm definitely going to have to do some grounding breathing techniques before starting my routine laps.' Lee thought making his way to the edge of Konoha.
...… ⁐ ̤ᕐᐷ
The scene above turned from the ombre of lavender, pink and orange of dawn, to a white greyish blue hue, as clouds steadily bled across the skies, hiding the risen sun. The golden ring shone, a gleaming white hue, flooding the thin veil of clouds, separating earth and space over the Hidden Leaf village.
Lee looked up still panting, puffs of warm air forming, hitting the cold, then dispersing. It smelled of snow, though none in view. The muted composition of colors in the sky reminded him to check his watch.
He ended up doing his full set and then some, the first he finished prematurely. Thinking to himself, 'Maybe I over did it.' Wincing when a dull throb hummed through his left limbs.
Turning on his heel he jogged into the quiet village towards the hospital.
The black haired ninja couldn't help smiling brightly, sending cheerful hellos and smiles to the few bundled up villagers he passed on Konoha's frosty streets.
After the war, the village looked bleak but everyone came together as a team to rebuild the village and each other. They had gotten everything fixed up before winter.
Tsunade, while still Hokage, decided to split the Shinobi part-time into groups. Sending many to help rebuild and others who could lend a spare hand at the hospital. Kakashi, once he became Hokage, decided a few more months and they'd be ready to start the year a new.
In the beginning at the hospital, there were lots of injured. Those who did not have what it takes for medical ninjutsu's, were sent to care for patients and run errands for the people who were healing.
Luckily Shizune and Sakura were good at delegating jobs for everyone's 'special' talents.
Lee didn't mind the odd jobs he was assigned, bringing meals, supplies, running paperwork, entertaining children and seniors alike. He was serving his village.
The Shinobi loved helping out, being useful to the Hidden Leaf and his dear companions. It reminded him to appreciate the warm passions of youth!
His friends had returned to regular life and missions one by one, while Lee, approached the newly appointed Hokage about helping out around Konoha a little longer. It had been 6 months since then, but it was fulfilling and also aided in controlling his wandering mind.
Idle hands, idle thoughts.
The taijutsu user sped up a touch, besides keeping his heart pumping to stay warm, he was eager to start the day. Only pausing when he saw a familiar Kunoichi opening the doors to a shop.
"Tenten-chaan!" Lee bellowed excitedly, jogging to his teammate just as she stepped into the doorway and stopped, buns sticking out of the entrance.
"Lee-kun?" She inquired, sticking her full head out of the entryway, not wanting to step back into the icy air.
Lee ran up behind her putting a chilled hand on her shoulder.
"How are you doing this morning my youthful friend?!" Lee beamed.
Tenten smiled up at him fondly before turning her gaze to the mess she had in front of her. The Kunoichi had decided she wanted to open a weapons shop after the major remodeling of the village had finished. It took her a couple months to gather everything necessary, tables book shelves, the last few boxes of weapons to unpack and finally set up for display.
The only problem was the sheer load of weapons she now has to organize accordingly. Nothing she couldn't handle, just sometimes extremely tedious. Not to mention all the time she spent picking out the best ones from her vast collection.
"Tired from ironing out all the little details in the paperwork for this bad boy but— I'm mostly excited." Tenten sighed, a warm smile spreading on her face looking around her newly acquired shop proudly.
"I should be ready before the Shogastu* festival." Tenten replied.
It took a lot longer than she had anticipated. The Kunoichi pinched the bridge of her nose. A habit stolen from their missing teammate. Lee's heart gave a muffled pang when he saw it.
"I've always admired your youthful passion for weapons Tenten-chan! Your dream is just within your grasp. I believe in you!" Lee countered taking both Tenten's hands in his own.
Holding both the weapon users hands together in front of their faces, Lee's eyes sparkled with liveliness.
Tenten chuckled sheepishly before her warm brown orbs eyeballed Lee's face. Freeing her right hand from his clutches, the Kunoichi palmed his face while her thumb traced under Lee's tired eye.
"Are you sleeping well Lee?" She frowned, dropping honorifics, showing she was serious. Concern laced in her voice.
Lee wasn't ready for her inquiry and it showed as his orbs widen in surprise. The black haired Shinobi jerked his head away from her hand making Tenten's frown deepen, she grips her friends other hand as if she's afraid he'll try to escape.
"Lee-kun..." She starts softly reaching her hand out again.
Lee suddenly feeling suffocated, takes a timid step back before yanking his hand out of Tenten's. Quickly fixing his face into a saucy grin and thrust himself into the signature 'Good Guy' thumbs up pose.
"T-the flames of my youth shall never be extinguished as long as the sweet heat of blood continues to pump through my veins!" Stuttering slightly in the beginning, but finishing strongly.
With a few poses showing off his impressive form to win her over, he ended his tomfoolery with a wink.
Tenten didn't look convinced. She narrowed her eyes and started again sternly, almost pleading.
"Lee-" She was cut off by the black haired Shinobi.
"Sorry Tenten-chan! I must be off to report for duty." Lee insisted backing out the door to escape.
"Wait!" Tenten shouted putting both hands up cautiously.
"Mission or hospital duty?" Words trailing off gently, worried look still fastened on her face.
The Kunoichi could see Lee's mask of 'youth' go up again as he tenses, throwing up a salute.
"Hospital duty! I apologize Tenten, I'm really in a rush. Maybe tomorrow if your free, we can have dinner with Gai-Sensei!" The taijutsu user said as he spun and took off down the street.
He sets off into the streets not turning back to look at the bun haired Kunoichi outside the door to her future shop. Not wanting to see his friend wrapping her arms around herself, watching him in disappointment.
A cold gust of wind blows through the Hidden Leaf village as she morosely watches Lee's back disappear into the distance.
The taijutsu user pushed down his feelings of guilt, he really wasn't in any rush, he has been avoiding Tenten.
Unless the buffer of his friends or Sensei there, he was afraid of the questions the girl had for him since he had taken extra hospital duty. Tenten was very observant, and Lee was very bad at fibbing. Finding it easier to change the subject by directing the attention to others.
Deciding that it would be better if he didn't make anymore stops, as well as interacting with less people, by traveling on roof tops the rest of the way there. He swiftly jumped up, body focused on the task but his mind elsewhere.
… ⁐ ̤ᕐᐷ
Lee's shift ended, he said his goodbyes to Tsunade, Shizune, Sakura and a few others on staff that day. Rolling his left shoulder and stretching his arm as he walked down the hall.
The combination of the cold, training, a kid and his siblings waiting to be discharged, healed from minor injuries, the black haired Shinobi was actually kind of sore.
They wanted to play ninja with, 'The Amazing Rock Lee', his chest filling with pride and his eyes dampen at the memories.
Quieting his steps, he walked down another hallway before stopping infront of a hospital room door.
'I can't wait to tell Neji-kun about my day.' He hummed to himself as he stepped in the room.
Lee carefully slid the door closed, surveying silently. Sheer curtains closed, except for the one directly across from the brown haired Shinobi lying silently on pristine white hospital sheets.
No overhead florescent lighting, just the faint glow from the sun, setting behind greyed clouds. A single stream of light, casting an illuminating glow on the third member of Team Gai's features, growing frailer as the months past in his comatose state.
Surrounding them, every surface in the room was filled to the brim with flowers and plants of all varieties and colors. Their group of friends taking turns replacing any flowers in vases while Lee tended to the gifted plants.
The taijutsu user begins on one side of the room and works his way around, watering flowers and a few herbs. Changing water in vases and removing dead petals and leaves.
'I'm glad I asked Gaara for all those tips on how to maintain the flowers.' Lee thought as he admired a few plants doing well.
He was proud of how well liked his rival was, steadily receiving gifts and flowers from family members and other thankful villagers, continuously showing support as Neji slumbered on.
He gazed down at his companion. If it wasn't for the various machines hooked to his nose, chest, and arms, making low rhythmic beats, his friend would have looked like Sleeping Beauty.
Skin sickly fair, silken hair pulled to the side in a loose braid. He was making a relaxed face the black haired Shinobi had grown used to. Neji looked frozen in time.
Lee had started coming everyday after asking for extra work instead of taking missions. It had been making him extremely anxious to be outside village walls thinking about his most beloved rival waking up alone after the last scene his eyes met was the battlefield. Lee frowned, it didn't seem like the right thing to do.
The air was so still around them, it was unsettling. Only the tiny slow movements of Neji's chest were giving any indication that his friend was alive. Lee let out the breath he didn't remember holding. Pulling a chair closer to the sleeping Shinobi's bed, he settled in.
"Neji, my dear rival, it is joyous to see you again." Lee spoke with kind eyes.
He languidly launched into his day, making various hand gestures as if someone were watching, trying to keep from rubbing his hands nervously. Thoroughly detailing everything from the number of times he brushed his teeth, to the countless sheets and bed pans he changed today.
Pulling on his collar, feeling a bit warm while letting the Hyuuga know that the work him and the others have at the hospital is soon coming to an end, and things are becoming more passionate in the village.
The people coming together to rebuild their precious home, Lee claimed the cold sting of the war should be warmed away with the power of youth by the new year.
When Lee finished talking he sat there, leg starting a slow bounce at the silence. Biting his already too short nails, listening to the murmur of the machines, staring down at his best friend.
It wasn't often he was here alone, and when he did it was to complete a task and leave, but since the village needed less help, more of his friends are out on missions or training diligently.
The longer Lee sat there not speaking, a thin veil of smog shrouded his mind, static progressively becoming louder.
Feeling as if his brain was removed from his body he couldn't stop the film of memories from rolling to the front of his mind. The dark haired Shinobi's hands absentmindedly lifting up to grab the opposite arm, hugging himself.
Lee's eyes were wide and unblinking, the memories of blood, covering his body as he guarded Neji's lifeless form in his arms, scarcely noticing those around trying to console him.
The sounds of waves rushing through his ears. It's as if he was there again, on the battlefield not hearing the wails he was making, repeatedly calling his rivals name.
...… ⁐ ̤ᕐᐷ
It wasn't until sand suddenly unwrapped the pair in front of a few medics, did Lee realize a Gaara clone had his hand, lightly cracking, firmly clasped on his shoulder.
"It's okay Lee, they'll take care of him." He said softly as he whisked us back to his comrades fighting, hand still on his shoulder as Lee kneeled sniffling, staring at his hands, tears streaming down his face.
..… ⁐ ̤ᕐᐷ
Lee didn't know how long he'd been trapped in his thoughts, he hadn't been keeping up with the time, not once looking at his watch.
The black haired Shinobi's eyes gone from staring somewhere far off to never leaving the Hyuuga's unmoving face. He didn't know how long he had been sitting there but when the thought of leaving struck him, he stuck his hand out to tenderly envelope Neji's.
"I'm sorry to leave you in silence for so long my friend..it's just.." Lee bit his lip eyes becoming glossy.
"I'm supposed to be uplifting everyone's spirits but, I—Tenten-chan.." he trailed off.
"It's been hard to be around her..." He stuttered. Thinking of all the opportunities he'd dodged to be alone with his teammate.
"I feel her watching me while I run in cowardice...I know I should talk to her but I don't want to cause her worry.." He stopped again choking on his words, tears forming, his throat restricting.
"H-Hinata-chan's birthday is in few days, we're going to throw a party at Ino-chan's and Sakura- chan's.." Trying to blink away the wetness in his eyes.
"Everyday has been a wonderful experience... We've all gotten so much closer but.. I..you.." Lee gasped meekly as the tears began to fall.
"Neji.." He sobbed softly.
"I can't help thinking... H-how much more fun it would be...with my cherished rival by my side." He finished, lightly weeping into the sleeve of his free wrist while keeping a firm warm grasp on Neji's immobile hand.
"We could've gotten Naruto-kun a much better present if you had been here." Voice shaking trying to smile with a watery gaze locked on his teammates face, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind the Hyuuga's ear.
Sinuses red and swollen, Lee eventually calmed himself, definitely needing to blow his nose before he heads out, wiping the final tear from his sore puffy eyes.
He frowned at the tenderness, planning to stop at the restroom as well. Needing to splash some cold water on his face. The black haired Shinobi didn't want anyone to ask questions. He turned his eyes to Neji to give him his goodbyes. Lee squeezes his teammates hand.
"Neji-kun...I apologize for such displays of weakness..." He frowned before adding.
"I'd hope this time I'd taken off would help me get my head right..." Lee confessed, pressing his free fist into his head.
"When I see you fighting here... it makes me want to work even harder!" He tried to brightly exclaim through the the flush of embarrassment on his face.
"Until tomorrow my dearest rival." He smiled fondly with a new determination, squeezing his hand.
Suddenly freezing when said comatose hand squeezed back. Lee gasped in shock.
"N-Neji-kun?" He squeaked.
Neji's pale, dry lips parted as if to say something, eyes still shut, he took in a short breath. Lee eyes widen. Had it been his imagination or?
As if reading his mind, his rival shakily squeezed Lee's hand once again. The taijutsu user in shock, looked down at their joined hands in awe. Looking up, they locked pupils, the pale eyed Shinobi's face contorted in pain before him.
"Neji-kun let me go get the nur—" Lee started with a panicked tone but was interrupted with Neji's soft watery eyes staring into his.
The Hyuuga took a deep, hard, gasping breath, pale eyes rolling into the back of his head, his hand going lax.
Lee couldn't move, the shock of the scene before him too much for his system.
The taijutsu user didn't even hear the high pitch squeal of the machines alarm, until he was standing stunned in the hallway, Sakura slamming the door in his face.
A: (・–・;)ゞ Sorry if you read this before I fixed a lot of things.
