"You have reached the automated voice mailbox of--"
"Um. Kozukata Yuri."
"At the tone, please record your message. when you are finished recording, you may hang up, or press 1 for more options. To leave a call back number, press 9."
[ He doesn’t respond, not right away. Instead, he lets the silence stretch on as he appraises her, probably making this far more uncomfortable for Yuri than it really has to be. He could just let his true emotions show on his face for once now that there’s no chance of getting caught, but his habitual poker face settles in his place as he finally comes to a inner decision. ]
[ Decision made, he turns the question back to her without answering it himself, rude. ]
[Who answers a question with a question like that?? Ugh, why does she put up with him. But again it amuses her more than bothers her and she shrugs]
I was. But... [She trails off and sort of. Gestures to her bandages.] I don't really-- I mean... It's hard enough getting around this city when you can see where you're going, you know? [Which is sort of her lame way of saying 'I was but I have no idea how to go about there or where the fuck to go that wouldn't end up with me accidentally walking into traffic or something.']
[Hoo boy. Yuri, you sure you wanna open this can of worms?]
i ended up getting hit in the face with a sword trying to protect someone.
while i was in the armor!
but
uh
yeah. i ended up being blinded for a few days before it was healed. someone close to me had traded their eyesight for mine in order to let me see again.
[What he's not mentioning is the stumbling around, getting arrested, losing his sword (again), and that the one who traded their sight was his own mother.
[ souji picks up on that perfectly, since it's hard not to because her eyes ARE bandaged. But that also tells him that 1) Yuri's not getting a robot escort or a taxi or anything of that sort prepared for her and 2) none of Yuri's acquaintances or friends have promised to come help her home and
3) so that leaves Souji with that job, doesn't it? ]
Alright. [ Souji says, acknowledging her rhetorical question and resigning himself to the task at hand. It could be worse, he supposed? This could be someone he hated. Then again, he would just leave anyone he hated high and dry at the hospital to fend for themselves, so maybe this is worse. in a way. ]
Let's go. I'm not holding your hand, so we'll have to find some other way to navigate.
[ ???? Souji don't just automatically pretend that Yuri knows that he's offering to take her home if he doesn't even say it out loud ]
Alright? [She echoes him, a tad confused and wary.
Her ears turn red and she shoots him a frustrated look (or she would if she could... see... How is she supposed to passive-aggressively show her exasperation and disapproval if she can't actually throw looks around???)] I wouldn't hold your hand anyhow.
[JEEZ.
But it's true she can't really follow him without holding onto something. His sleeve would probably be fine, even if she'd feel like a child doing so. Yuri purses her lips and moves toward him, then stops when she almost trips over herself attempting it.
SHe holds herself very still, embarrassed and aggravated-- she feels helpless and vulnerable and uggghhh. After a moment she just holds her hand out.] Your sleeve. [Before he gets the wrong idea by the gesture] Or something like that. That would work, wouldn't it?
not really? it felt a bit fuzzy, to be honest. that and we were kinda in the middle of things, so it wasn't really on my mind until after everything was said and done
[ at least he gets to see Yuri frustrated and embarrassed!! This makes things much better for him, because he's a jerk who feeds on the helpless embarrassment of teenage girls apparently.
It practically restores his good mood, even. So instead of feeling annoyed and frustrated at the task of escorting Yuri home (and at the scary idea of caring enough about Yuri to want to see her safely home), Souji relishes the chance to tease her... Anyway, he's going to stick out his arm so that his sleeve brushes Yuri's open hand. ]
Just like a kid, huh? [ He sure sounds amused here. ] That works, as long as you don't let go.
[It's been an eventful morning. Neji and Tenten are missing and their cerevices cannot be reached, apparently because they are 'occupied'. Lee has been taking this to mean that they have a new job, but he still feels concerned because of a scream that he heard... and he also has no idea what kind of job it is or where.
But he knows that there's one person he can always count on. And someone who is good at locating that which is lost! So he tries to call Yuri...]
Yuri? Ah... good morning! Are you awake, currently? I apologize a hundred times over if I disturbed your sleep! I hope that you rested peacefully and that you day is kind to you! But... I have a favor to ask of you. I have need of your services! To find Neji and Tenten... please, if you would help me, I would appreciate it beyond words! ...W-well to be fair I already appreciate you beyond words...
[What if he even saying?! Lee doesn't even know, and he stammers to complete the call.]
A-ah, please contact me as soon as you receive this!
...Could all three of them have taken on some odd new occupation that forbids Cerevice usage? Or... is this something else?]
Y-yuri? [He attempts to sound calm, but worry is starting to bleed into his voice.] You may be busy right now. I apologize. You are 'occupied' in some way, apparently. As are Neji and Tenten.
...
...I do not truly understand what is happening. But I will do everything that I can to find you if I need it! Whatever happens... if you stay near Neji and Tenten, I know that they will look after you! And, I will be cheering you on!
[He pauses another moment. He's starting to get a bad feeling about this.]
Please... please, contact me as soon as you receive this message. And take care. I...
[Her expression twitches slightly in aggravation, but her fingers curl tightly around his sleeve anyhow.]
I could always put a leash on you instead, like a seeing-eye dog. [Yuri no don't fall to his level or something. She huffs out a breath and shakes her head]
I won't let go. I'm putting a lot of trust in you to get me home and not just abandon me in the park or something. [She gave his sleeve a little tug, both as a warning (don't get any ideas) and as a 'let's go.']
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