onerous | IC Inbox

[...

...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...

...

...May your youth be at full power!!

[And there are more and more messages left over the next few days, one every few hours, sounding increasingly exasperated and hurt.

Please be alright, Yuri. Please.]

[Oh jesus. She hadn't realized how many time had actually passed until she checked the time stamps of the messages. She feels bad, but at the same time she can't really regret it. The sense of accomplishment, of knowing she helped-- she can't say she's sorry she did it.

The dying part had been unexpected, at least, but she's trying not to think about it too much.

(She really misses that turtle blanket though, how cute was that??)

Anyway, when Yuri responds she's clearly sitting in a hospital bed. What does she even say in the wake of all of this?}

...Hi, Lee. Um, I'm back.

[NAILED IT.]

[Lee would have loved the turtle blanket so damn much tbh...

Lee answers back practically a split-second later. He looks like he's been missing sleep, but his features are lit up now that he's heard Yuri's voice.]

Yuri!! [He whimpers as tears stockpile in his eyes.] Y-you are back! I worried so much... but I am so happy to hear from you! Are - are you well?! [Lee's part is pounding, and he doesn't know what happened - not even acknowledging the most obvious possibility - but he only knows that he wants to be near her again, so badly. To be there for her, whatever may have happened.]

[It's really a shame they can't keep the blanket. The true tragedy of the interlude aftermath.

She smiles a little bit, because Lee being so, well, Lee, and loud and it's comforting.

Are you well?

There are a lot of things she's willing to tell Lee. She trusts him above all others; this isn't a matter of could,/i> she tell him, but should. He's already worried enough and she doesn't want to add to it.

Of course, if others have come back before Yuri, it wouldn't be hard to put it all together.

Her fingers twist in the sheets and she sighs] I'll... be fine. I'm okay now-- better than okay, really, I... [Her words are a jumble and she shakes her head, tries again.] I'm just tired. [Which is a little weird since she's been...kinda like sleeping the past three days, but maybe being dead is just more draining than plain ol' sleeping.]

I'm sorry I disappeared. A lot of things happened. I, uh... I should be able to leave the hospital soon. There's nothing really wrong with me, so they can't keep me...

[The truest tragedy of them all...

Lee may not have spoken to many of the returnees, and even if he has, he's in full denial of the most obvious possibility of what could have happened to Yuri. Rather, her words make a warm hope rise in his heart, and he smiles with a sigh of relief.]

Nothing is wrong with you? I am happy to hear that! [But it sounds like she has been through a lot...] It is alright. I- I admit that I was worried, but I would not hold that against her. [She either couldn't contact him or had her reasons. He will accept that, because of how much he trusts Yuri.]

So you will be leaving the hospital soon? Ah... Well, I can be there very shortly. [After a pause, he nervously adds.] If- if... you would like someone to, ah... w-walk you home.

Yeah, no lasting damage or anything.

[She looks around the room a moment and stands up from the bed, her body still feeling stiff and heavy]

I'd like that. [She feels like she should be saying or doing more, but everything still feels a little off, like she's walking through a dream. Yuri shakes her head quickly and takes a deep breath, looking back at Lee.] I'll be waiting.

Lee-- ...Thanks. I'm sorry I made you worry, but... I'm glad you care so much. [Enough to blow up her device with messages]

[He gives a soft nod.]

How could I not? You... [He has a lot of feelings, but he doesn't quite know how to put them into words.] You're Yuri!

[He beams at her as he approaches the nearest window and opens it.]

I will be there soon! I am trying to set a new record!

[He shuts off the feed mid-jumping out the window.

Then he'll proceed to run along walls to the hospital, where he'll keep on checking windows until he finds Yuri's room.]

[You're Yuri. She huffs a small laugh and gets up as he leaves. What did her life become where watching a guy jump out a window to race here in like 5 seconds was normal now?

She opens her window and waits, stepping back when she spots him and raises a hand in greeting.]

Do you ever use a door? Or is this a ninja thing? Did Konoha not have regular doors? [She tries to keep her voice light, watching him fondly.]

[Rock Lee is soon there, peeking his through the window with a bright smile as he makes his way into the room. There's a light fluster in response to her comment.]

A-ah, Konoha does indeed have doors! I used them sometimes, but isn't this a much more efficient and speedy way to enter a place?

[Then he pauses as he enters the room and just looks at her, taking in her presence. It feels like they've been separated for a lifetime, so he looks at her with shining eyes.]

It's... different, that's for sure. [That isn't what he asked, Yuri?? But she shakes her head, amused] It is quicker than taking the stairs, I guess.

[He stares at her and she stares back for a moment, letting him see that she's here and alive and whole. Her fingers twist together uncertainly before she holds out her hand for him to take.]

...Come on. I need to let them know I'm leaving. You can tell me what I missed these last couple days.

[For a second, he ponders the point she brings up.]

Ah, stairs would be a better workout...

[But not even training can distract him from Yuri for long. As she continues speaking, he glances attentively towards her. And then her hands is held out towards him... Not even Lee can mistake that gesture. With his own calloused hand, he reaches back to shyly hold onto that hand. Even though they were practically cuddling not too long ago, his cheeks still redden slightly, and he nods.]

Yes! Let us go. I- I will be glad to recount for you! [Even though most of it from his perspective was him turning the colony upside down looking for Yuri, Neji, Lili and possibly others.] And I will gladly listen to anything you have to say.

[He doesn't want to push her into recounting her experience, because it sounds like it might have been rough and tiring in some way. But he'll leave the door open for it.

And he starts to walk with her out of the hospital room.]

[She swings their hands a little as they walk; a bit childish maybe, but it was a distraction from what she wasn't sure how to recount. Of course he'd listen, he always would, but it was worrisome too. Would he have worse nightmares now? Or would it be okay if only because he wasn't there to actually see it?

She's not entirely sure what there was to tell, either. It's not like she managed to find much out that was actually useful, and that was what made her most bitter.]

I... Don't really know how to explain it. [She begins slowly, trying to figure out where to start.] I woke up in a cell in some abandoned prison it looked like, with a couple other people. We managed to get out and explore a little--there were a lot of ghosts. [She remembers that clearly, and she drops her voice low to keep others from overhearing.] I tried talking with them, but they couldn't remember much. They hate CERES and they said we couldn't leave... And something about 'N44235.'

I... made a promise to help them move on if they helped us and answered our questions. So I did, with this other girl's help. I think we were able to help them all pass on. But... something didn't like that, so it... Me and the girl... [Died. She goes quiet, swallowing hard, and her hand squeezes his]

[Ah, the swinging is a nice and gentle motion. And fun. Lee supports this and lightly swings his arm as well.

But as she goes on, Lee's concern grows. And with her last words, Lee is brought to a full stop, though his hands is still holding onto hers firmly.

It's a lot harder for him to deny the most likely possibility now, and his heart feels like it's breaking apart as he envisions it.

Lee looks at her with teary eyes and can barely breath out a hurt whisper.]

Y- Yuri... No...

[Yuri walks a few steps before she realizes he's stopped, and she turns to face him. Instantly she wishes she hadn't bothered to go that far, that she'd stopped her explanation a few sentences back; the guilt is a crushing blow.]

Lee, I--... [What does she say here?] It's alright. [It's really not.] I mean... I'm fine now. It's no one's fault, and I don't... It was quick. And painless. I didn't even know what happened until I woke up here.

[She's grasping at straws here, not sure what to say or do that might comfort him or make this easier. She's not sure saying it was painless and quick is even helpful in the slightest.

After a moment Yuri drops her gaze to their hands and then the floor.] ...I helped put all those souls to rest. I can't regret what I did when it helped so many.

[The smile has faded from his face; he's horrified. He wishes with all of his heart that he could have been there, that he could have done something. He could have saved her...

He almost voices that, but he's stopped by her words. After what she's been through, she's still so... so calm, so nice. She's trying to comfort him more than anything. It was quick, it was painless, and... and she had helped so many people. It's just like the way that he would only resort to his forbidden techniques to save many precious people... or like Gai-Sensei, who burned up his body to the brink of death trying to save the entire world from Madara.

"In front of a man who made an important decision… feeling sadness or pity would be an insult to him!"

Lee can't summon words immediately, however. Instead, he chokes back a sob before he throws his arms around her and pulls her into a tight hug.]

It... it sounds like you did splendidly, Yuri! These tears of mine... th-they are becoming tears of pride!

Oof! [Yuri grunts in surprise, though she's not sure why it caught her off guard. Really, shouldn't she have seen that coming? After a moment of shock she slowly hugs him back, wondering just who is in need of comforting here.

Oh well. Even if she's not confident in hr ability to comfort people, it's better than trying to listen to their attempts at comforting her; maybe helping others was, in a way, the best way for her to be comforted.]

Everything's okay, Lee. I'm here now. [Besides:] I still can't cry, so... It's alright if you do. You can cry for me, whether it's because you're proud or because you're sad. It's alright.

...This helps me too. [The hug, she means.] Thank you.

[He embraces her warmly for a moment, and he sniffles with a nod.]

I... I am glad if it helps! And... and I am so glad that you are here and alright! [Unlike death back home... this wasn't the end. There was still another chance of life, and Lee's all too glad to see this firsthand evidence that Yuri is still here and still breathing.] ...I do not think that I can imagine life without you anymore, Yuri. I do not want to!

And, and I am glad... to be able to cry every tear for you, whether it is out of sadness and joy. I will carry any burden for you... Yuri!

[He slowly pulls back and smiles fondly at her.]

[I do not think that I can imagine life without you anymore, Yuri. Her breath catches in surprise and she feels her face turning red] Ah-- ["Do you mean that?" She wants to ask, but this doesn't seem like the right time. Instead she nods in both acceptance and possibly agreement?? and tucks the words into her heart.

She looks at him, quietly assessing him, before smiling slowly back. There's a moment of hesitation before she steps forward and cups the side of Lee's face with on hand, leaning up on tiptoe (he's like 4 inches taller why) to press a kiss to his cheek.]

Thank you, Lee. [Yuri says it softly, filling the simple words with all the gratitude she had for him, not just for this moment but-- everything, really. Her hand drops so she can take his hand again, and she tilts her head down the hall again in a silent question of if he's ready to go now.]

[His eyes progressively widen as her hands smoothly cup his cheeks. What is going on? What is happening? Perhaps she is planning to headbutt him. That makes sense - more sense than the other possibility which is making his heart race!

But no, instead it is her lips after all which rise and kiss his cheek. As if pumped full of life, both his cheeks quickly become much rosier, and he feels a wave of affectionate contentment and warmth wash over him.

And leaving him like a lovestruck deer in the headlights... the stark opposite of the way in which he was stunned just moments ago.]

...

...A-ah. [After a moment, he finally manages to words. And smiles.] You are... you are very welcome, Yuri.

[Lee gives her hand a gentle squeeze. With a soft nod, he manages to start moving forward, with a spring in his step and more energy in the swinging of his hands.

He can feel it. His heart is beating! It's singing a happy song! This is it - this is youth!! Gai-Sensei, are you proud?!]

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