medicalpunch | [Luceti] Appointments

[Some time has passed since the end of the Valentines. Since Lee's feelings have... adjusted. And much of this time has been spent gripped by guilt and fear, about how dismissive and outright rude he had been towards Sakura. He knew he had to atone, but he was too afraid to see her.

Even though she lived next door to them, being a ninja comes with many ways to avoid someone when the time calls for it. He'd taken to leaving through the window each day to avoid bumping into her. But this could not last. And on this day, he steeled himself up to confront Sakura.

Early that morning, he stood in the hallway outside her apartment's door, rigid and petrified. After staring it down for a minute, he very quickly made a soft rap on her door. Then he found himself jogging in place for whatever period of time would pass before she opened the door.]

[The knock on her door while she's just getting ready for the day surprises Sakura -- but she's not the kind of person to ignore it just because she's not fully presentable yet. The long, silky bathrobe she found at the item store is perfectly decent in a sheer staying-covered kind of way, and that knock didn't sound like an urgent call for medical aid.

So she goes to the door and opens it... to find Lee there, and a sudden stir of a whole hell of a lot of mixed feelings. She's not obsessed with him the way she was for those few past days, but the memory of his words still smarts, and a part of her is tempted to slam the door in his face and be done with it.]

[But she resists the urge; he looks too nervous and hangdog for her to quite do that to him. But her expression and her tone speak volumes about how pleased she is to see him.]

Lee. Can I help you?

[The change in her appearance alone should be a rebuke to him for his words -- dyed dark hair, and light bangs feathering over her forehead to camoflauge it.]

[He almost cringes as the door opens. Instead, his mouth gapes while his eyes dart around all of the differences from usual. The - the bathrobe. And... hair of a different color... could it be?]

Ah! S-Sakura-san. Good morning! I... I'm... Your hair has transformed!

Yes. It has. Any more 'editorial comments' to make about it?

[But the difference in his behavior is notable, as is the fact that he even stopped by. So she's at least not reacting with a slammed door or a punch. She's willing to talk.]

E-ditorial... [He winces, guessing at once she means.] No! I just... I mean to say-

[And he drops to his knees, bowing as he cries out.]

I AM SO SORRY!

[In the hallway, with her in a bathrobe. Of course he's doing this.

... It's nice to know he's back to normal, at least.]

Have you changed your mind?

[That's the important question. Apologies are great, but does he still think she's hideous?]

[And he looks with sad eyes.]

My whole heart was changed that in that time, Sakura-san. But... It is back now. It really is! I remember how beautiful your hair, every part of your head is. It's... it's just different, now.

[Man, it's that sad puppy face that's killing her. Although the fact that it's Lee making puppy eyes kills the effect a little. No puppy has eyes like that.]

... Of course. Now that I've dyed and cut my hair, you change your mind.

[But she sounds more exasperated than furious. Good start, at least?]

No! You misunderstand. That's... it's coincidental! I don't know why I felt that way... unless - it was the effect of the Valentines! [But Masaomi had only warned him that he would fall in love with random people; how could he hate on as well?] A-and your hair is still quite lovely. It's just... It's not you, Sakura-san.

The effect of the Valentines? [She eyes him for that; yes, she's been warned about the Shifts, and her feelings did undergo a radical change of their own during those days... does that mean that she was just being controlled? That this urge to change herself, to do anything to gain Lee's approval, was just her being toyed with? She'd assumed it was stress, both from the transition to Luceti and because of that stupid bet with Ino...]

Well, it's me until it grows out, at least. [Although she kinda likes the drama of it.]

Yes. I had been warned that the Malnosso do such an experiment for the holiday every year, one which changes one's... feelings. But I did not remember it until after the effect was over, and... and my feelings were back to normal. Checking others' accounts on the journals seems to verify this. Still... That is no excuse for my behavior.

I- I see.

So they were just playing with us, all along.

[She sighs and looks away, turning that over. Truth be told, there's still a bit of lingering effect sticking with her -- and that part of her is terribly tempted to throw everything aside, to tell Lee that bygones can very well be bygones and how about that spar now? But the rest of her is still stung, and even more uncomfortable to know that the feelings are artificial.

Well, at the end of the day, there's at least a beginning of an answer that's pretty easy.]

I accept your apology, Lee. As for the rest of it... I don't know. This isn't easy to deal with.

Yes. [He says quietly, plainly.] That is the way they manipulate us here.

[He's back on his feet now and looks at her uncertainly, shoulders slumped. He knew he was affected. Somehow, it made him like Izumo and be repelled by Sakura. But the way she was acting so nice to him that day, could she have been...? The idea only made him feel worse. He could have ruined his only chance and only proven that he could be as unfair as Sakura was towards him on their first meeting.

And he did not know what to do, with that similar odd, fluttering sensation that he was more aware of now, which he associated with Rapunzel.]

I see. Of course, you should... have all the time that you need to sort out your thoughts. And if you'd like - perhaps I can arrange for you to join a training session with my team!

[He smiles innocently. Maybe a group training will be a more comfortable compromise for the time being.]

Edited 2013-02-27 04:07 (UTC)

With your team?

[With Neji, and the moment she thinks it, she flinches, entirely unaware. Gods, all she can see when she thinks of him is his dying form draped in Naruto's arms, and her too far away, unable to help... not that it would have mattered had she been closer. Healing wounds such as those would have taken all the might of multiple healers, and in a battle, one person could not be afforded such attention.

Not that it makes the guilt any less. The lives of her companions are in her hands, and she's already failed one...

But she doesn't want to let Lee know. So she tries to play it off with a laugh, even if it sounds patently artificial and strained to her ears.]

Haha, well, that won't be necessary, I wouldn't want to get in the way of the three of you!

Maybe... [Deep breath. She doesn't totally know if she wants to do this, but a spar between comrades is a good way to mend bridges...] Maybe the two of us, sometime?

You would not get in the way. It could also be useful to have an extra person present because of how different combinations of ninja teams can be during emergencies.

[It's weird; by this point he could have heard from Neji that Sakura hadn't spoken to him at all, which is just odd. There are very few explanations for why two ninja of Konoha would want to associate with each other, and all of them were unsettling. What if Neji... what if he... What if he had used his Byakugan to peep on Sakura?! And he thought he trusted him...

But the way she brings up the one-on-one sparring again, it helps him to perk up. And he gladly raises his fist.]

Ah... sure, Sakura-san! Whenever you'd like... I would gladly go one-on-one with you!

[Good, the distraction gambit at least appears to be successful; she has no way of knowing if Neji has noticed her avoidance or communicated it to Lee.]

Great! I've been looking for an opportunity to do some strength training -- and I know you're the guy to go to for that! [Positive attention, yes, that's how to get Lee distracted from pursuing questions about her reluctance to interact with his team.

And it's not a lie -- with her chakra reduced further from its already-low levels, she does want to take up some of the slack with building muscle and physical strength.]

I see! And I am flattered by such a consideration. Simply... keep me updated on when you would prefer such an activity to occur!

[He turns and practices some punches and kicks on the air excitedly. Things don't seem to be too bad.]

[She watches him, unsure of just what she's signed herself up for with this. With complicated emotions -- ones she can't even be sure are really hers -- Lee's history of interest in her, and the events of the past week... well. The request for a spar might not have been the best idea.

But damned if she's going to rescind it.]

I will! Some day that I'm not needed at the clinic...

O-of course, Sakura-san! It is wise to wait until thinks settle down for you. I would not wish to rush your decision.

[He tries to give her a friendly smile. He feels that familiar feeling in his heart, and he's sure it was the same before the experiment.

But he finds himself thinking of Rapunzel's laugh, with a similar feeling fo warmth, of satisfaction. It's odd. As if that feeling had always been there. But that can't be right. He swore to protect Sakura years ago, no matter what her feelings were at the time. After all, maybe things were finally changing.

Lee finds himself digging in his heels and blurting out without thinking.]

It is sinful to have more than one person in one's heart, correct? And in such a situation... the proper solution would be to hold onto the original set of feelings for the rest of one's life. Is this right?!

[She's just about to respond to his original comments, something lighthearted and simple... and then he blurts out that new thought.

To hold more than one person in your heart... how can he ask about that? She blinks, knowing that he doesn't mean this, but unable to stop herself from thinking of Sasuke. Of the place he'll always hold for her as her teammate, as the first person to make her heart beat fast, as the first person whose smile she pinned all her hopes on...]

Sinful? I don't think so. There are a lot of people you can hold in your heart, in a lot of different ways.

And if someone drops out... then that's all right, Lee. [Even though those words make her wince, knowing he's talking about her, still twisted up enough to not want to essentially tell him it's okay to forget about her.] Let your heart move as it will, don't try to force it. Your feelings are your feelings.

I... I see. [He looks down at his bandaged hands for a moment in thought.]

You are very wise, Sakura-san. I am sorry that... that things are confusing right now. I will try to follow your advice. And I shall see - what path my heart truly seeks. [Is it really alright to abandon you?]

It doesn't seem like following your heart is something you've ever had trouble doing.

[But her throat is tight when she says it, and there's a part of her that really wants to hide for right now. To get away from him, because there are way too many emotions swirling around in her chest, and she can't deal with them. Not right now.]

I... I'll see you around, Lee.

[And now she's going to be fretting over his question on top of everything else. Does that mean that even though his treatment of her was event-based, the lack of interest is genuine? It's too early in the morning for this.]

Thank you. [He thinks that's a compliment. So he nods. And he takes a moment to look at her - everything that was beautiful about her before is beautiful again. But even with the apology accepted and the possibility of sparring together in the future, he can't help but feel he messed this up. Maybe he would be better off going to Rapunzel first, whom he hasn't hurt. Luceti had many eligible men who could treat her better.]

I shall see you soon as well. And, Sakura-san... [He stops as he turns to leave, to look back towards her with a smile and a thumbs up, before he departs.] I shall be rooting for you to have a good day!

[It's such a normal, such a Lee thing to say, she can't help but smile at it, even though everything inside of her is currently in turmoil.

Letting go of someone your heart no longer clings to... She's tried to do that with Sasuke and failed. Not even able to take her own advice and practice it...]

You too, Lee.

[And now, she really, really needs some coffee. It's the morning for it. Maybe spiked coffee. (And she starts down the path to being the next Tsunade...)]

[Luceti] Appointments

[Action - February 21st]

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