[closed; team gai picnic on family day]

[awokentospring]

Who: Team Gai
Where: Tenten's apartment; a training field
When: February 15, Starting in the morning then through til noon
Notes: A picnic, in three parts; may get a little PG-13 for silliness

1. Pre-picnic shenanigans. Lee and Tenten work on the bento for the picnic.

2. Team picnic! All Team Gai gets together to enjoy delicious bento and share each others' company.

3. After picnic stuff. If any teammates wanna hang out or talk more privately with one another or somesuch.

Comments

Pre-picnic

[awokentospring]

[Cooking, cooking~]

The way to a man's heart is through his...

[tenten_san]

Tugging back her sleeve, Tenten carefully lifted the fish from the batter, checking to make sure both sides were coated just enough to pick up the bits of breadcrumbs in the next mixture. And then it was a simple motion to slip the piece into the oil for a few minutes to let it fry.

Already, her kitchen smelled like a vending stall, the sharp scent of butter and spices wafting through the apartment as the fish bits sizzled in the pan. The first few had been a bit soft by comparison - not exactly crunchy like she wanted - but by the second batch, the oil had finally turned hot enough to give the right amount of crisp to each bite. And after just a few moments, the bit she had dropped in had already turned a beautiful golden brown.

Smiling at the prospects, the kunoichi fished the bit out from the vat and placed it with the rest of the finished batch. "I should be almost done with these, Lee. Then I can help you with the riceballs."

... ribcage?

[awokentospring]

The rice cooker beeped to announce its job well done. Lee was elbow deep in rice it seemed but he was an expert at handing the grain. A little salt in his hand and a little warm water and he was moulding perfect little rice balls for their picnic. They had several furikake flavors to roll them in and Lee expected to pass that task on to Tenten once she finished so he could work on desserts.

"Thank you," he replied, placing finished rice balls down in a line. He frowned as he scooped up more rice. Already it seemed he was running low... "Should we have two or three each, do you think?"

...close enough.

[tenten_san]

The oil sizzled to life, a few specks of oil crackling and popping before it came flying up to dot along her skin. For new cooks, the feeling would have been alarming. Even for those versed in the art of culinary mastery, it was a momentary discomfort among many throughout the process. But for someone well accustomed to the blood, sweat, and tears of training - of the harsh aches that came with a hard-fought mission - it was barely anything at all.

And in this instance, at least, that was a good thing.

Flicking a few stray strands of hair from eyes, the kunoichi glanced at her teammate from over her shoulder, playful grin set into place. "Considering how much you and Gai-sensei can put away, I think we should go with at least three."

[awokentospring]

Lee grinned, wiping his forehead with the back of his arm. "Three each it is then!"

That meant more rice but Lee could get started on that once he had the current rice all rolled up. He could probably get a little more than half done with this... His sight traveled away from his hands for a moment over to their condiment line up. There were several kinds of furikake available; noritamago, shiso fumi, regular tarako (cod roe), and Lee's personal favorite, karashi mentai (spicy mustard and cod roe). It was going to be one hell of a spread but nothing was too much for Team Gai to handle!

They worked in silence for a moment more and then Lee spoke, his voice thoughtful. "I suppose Gai-sensei and Neji will both have plans for later today..."

[tenten_san]

Idly, the kunoichi poked and prodded at the fish bits in the boiling oil, shifting and rearranging things around in the vat to see if she could nudge in one more piece or not. With some luck and effort, she was able to slip in the last bit, smiling in triumph and satisfaction. And quickly went into the process of cleaning up after herself while the last of the batch cooked and sizzled to perfection. The sooner she finished with the after care, the sooner Tenten could help Lee with his part of the bento.

And the sooner they could move on to working on the deserts.

"I would expect no less of Gai-sensei, at least." He was a man with a lot of love to give, after all. And for as far back as she could remember, the boisterous and exuberant man's heart had only belonged to all of two people (their team, aside). It only made sense. "And with Temari in town, I would hope that a genius like Neji would take advantage of the opportunity."

[awokentospring]

Lee nodded, finding her words to be nothing short of true. Lee had never seen Kakashi or Obito as true potential love interests for his sensei, but then again, he hadn't been thinking about his sensei's potential before the day Gai has spoken to him about it. And as for Neji, there was little that would likely keep him away from his special someone.

It made him a little lonely to think about that, but he supposed he just needed to give it more time before he found his own special person. Or persons. That was right. You didn't have to limit yourself if your heart told you to dream big! And hey, maybe someday he and Tenten would have those special people in their lives to make the holiday all the more grand.

Lee finished up the last of his rice and moved to make another half-batch. It would take some time but that would at least give him a moment to chop some veggies.

"... I am glad they could agree to have lunch with us. It has been too long since we have all been together at once."

[tenten_san]

There was a dull ache in her chest at his words, feeling the distance between them even stronger, now, when they were so close to reuniting again. Because it had nearly been a full year since the entire team had been together. Since Neji had been promoted to Jounin and when his duties started taking him away from team practices some time later on. And without him... it was like were a ship sailing without their captain.

For Tenten, at the very least, it had been a difficult few months. Understandable, yes. But hard, all the same, when she would catch herself remembering back on how it used to be. And now to find that Gai and Neji had moved on further without them...

It was a silly train of thought, but it was there all the same.

"It'll be nice to have everyone together, again, yeah." Turning off the stove, she fished out the last of the batch and tossed her apron aside to plop down across the counter from her companion. "So... I am yours to command, now. Where do you want me?"

[awokentospring]

Too many sad thoughts for such a happy time. Lee shook his head and got back into the swing of things.

"Oh, if you would not mind, please roll the rice balls into the furikake. You can choose whatever flavors you want." He expected she would make sure there was plenty of variety. But before she reached for anything Lee stopped and gave a soft 'oh.'

"Actually!" Changing gears, Lee glanced around and spotted the kitchen knives. "Would you prefer to chop some vegetables first? Your hands would not be so messy then."

And they needed to add some veggies to the meal or else they would be missing out on vital vitamins and minerals. Just some cucumber, carrots and celery would do it.

Picnic

[awokentospring]

[Eating, eating~]

[heavenly_earth]

It was sweet in a way, just how many notes appeared on his apartment window in the weeks leading up to this. Almost every day, a new threat written in a familiar hand appeared, stirring a mix of exasperated fondness and bemused guilt. His team loved him, and he hadn't been able to be there for them much at all in the past year. And it really was a year now since he'd been promoted to ANBU. How time passed.

Neji collected them with a mind to present them to Obito should his Hokage attempt to assign him a mission that would take him away from the village on the date indicated. Not that he expected Tenten would forgive him, but he could at least say he'd tried. But it had been his own hope that for once, he'd be able to promise something to his teammates, knowing just how much it meant to all of them.

It was cold, and snow piled up on the edges of the training field, the river frozen over with a thin layer of ice. The storm had been awful and the snow was slow to melt and had a tendency to refreeze, but Neji had brought along an insulated blanket and laid it out over the frosted ground. The afternoon would warm, he was sure, and he settled in to wait for the rest of his team with an eye on the sky above.

[awokentospring]

Lee and Tenten arrived only a few moments later, toting a hefty sack of bento. Everything had been made fresh that morning so their lunch was going to be much more than just store-bought fare. Riceballs of many flavors, chopped veggies, fried fish and to top it off, chocolate dipped fruit. Sure, it was probably all going to be a little much for all of them but it was the time to splurge. A festival only came around once a year, after all.

"Neji! I hope you are hungry! We have prepared a feast!"

[tenten_san]

Smiling at his normal enthusiasm, Tenten stepped out from behind the younger Green Beast, more packages in her arms.

"Well, I wouldn't call it a feast, exactly." Granted, it was a lot of food, but she had done her best to reign in Lee's perchance of overdoing things in grand fashion. But it was hardly a banquet of choices. "But it should last you until evening meals."

Because yes, indeed, it had been quite an ordeal to keep either one of them in line and the amount of food in the bento boxes at a reasonable portion when self-imposed and competitive challenges were the lifeblood of Team Gai. Certainly, they had not managed to endure the entire morning without holding at least one competition of sorts.

"Glad to see you managed to make it, this time, though," she added as an afterthought, cheeky grin in placed even as the cruel sarcasm fell from her lips so easily, "I take it you got my notes, then?"

[heavenly_earth]

Neji smiled as his teammates appeared and hummed his approval, eyeing the packages in their arms with interest. It certainly looked like a lot of food, but between the four of them, he was sure they'd eat most if not all of it. Each of them had their own demanding training regimen, after all.

His smile didn't falter, but it rang false for a long moment. He deserved the guilt that rode in the wake of Tenten's observation, had known all along what his new position would force him to sacrifice for the sake of secrecy. He could only be grateful for whatever time he got with them.

Not to mention he had plans for that evening meal that didn't include them. Not only was he ANBU now, but he had another precious person to allot time for, leaving even less time for his teammates. Sometimes he wondered if he was stretched too thin, had too many obligations to too many people- other times, like now, he strongly suspected that was the case.

It wouldn't stop him from trying.

"They were difficult to miss," he answered with the same fond amusement. "I saved them all, to show to Hokage-sama if he attempted to draft me on a mission. I'm almost disappointed I didn't get the opportunity."

[tenten_san]

It would be presumptuous to think that either Neji or Gai would think to spend an entire day - or evening, even - with their team. Or that they could even spare the time for it, no matter how long it had been since the last time they were all together. After all, both Jounin were in very dedicated and deeply caring relationships. And the former, at the very least, rarely ever had the opportunity to spend time with his thorny desert rose.

There were only so many missions either one could take back and forth between Konoha and Suna within any given timeframe. So on that matter, she could find it in herself to forgive his transgression. Even if Tenten rarely ever let up on her punishment for them.

"You still could, probably," she suggested, "I bet Obito-san would get a kick out of my creative threats, regardless."

sensei is so sorry for the tardiness!

[morningpeacock]

"What creative threats are you proposing against our beloved Hokage now, Tenten?" Gai asked as he came up upon his team's picnic site. He had gotten a little distracted with Hinata and Sasuke, but Gai had made the effort to be punctual! Obito and Kakashi's bad habits were not entirely wearing off on him, surely! Besides, he had brought cupcakes! One for each student, nicely tied up in its own little personal box. The icing was very pink, but he was certain they would enjoy them.

He distributed a cupcake to each of them before taking a seat on the blanket. "You must not forget that he is well trained in and very creative with threats as well! He will not be an easy rival to defeat!"

It was so rare to see all three of them together again lately. So rare and he was so proud of them for arranging it and making it happen, irregardless of their schedules. His adorable children were growing up so fast and so beautifully. Gai sniffled.

BUT SENSEI IS HERE and that is what matters :3

[awokentospring]

Tenten and Neji shared some banter while Lee set about placing their bento boxes safely on the blanket. It probably looked a little ridiculous, setting up a picnic in the middle of the snowy field but it was an inconvenience they were all willing to deal with for today.

Lee grinned brilliantly when their sensei arrived and wanted to just throw his arms around him in a big hug! But he noticed that his sensei also had his own box of goodies and he didn't want to ruin whatever snacks he had so Lee held back, snugging up against his sensei's side once he had the cupcake safely in hand.

"Gai-sensei, I am so glad you could make it to our lunch as well!" Lee didn't have much to say about threats and Obito, as much as he respected their Hokage's skills as a shinobi. He personally would not dream of threatening their Hokage... unless it was posed as a challenge.

The cupcake looked quite delicious that Lee almost didn't want to eat it. But then again, it was made by sensei so it had to be good. "Tenten and I made some sweets too, for you to also take to Hokage-sama and Kakashi-sensei!" But first, they would eat their fill of delicious lunch, cupcakes and chocolate dipped goodies.

Post-picnic

[awokentospring]

[Chatting, chatting~]

[tenten_san]

"Have fun! And enjoy the chocolates~"

With a wave, she saw both Neji and Gai off, wishing them a happy holiday as they left to spend it with their respective significant others. All the while, leaving her and Lee with the last of the clean-up. Not that she minded one bit, or that the younger Green Beast could ever find fault in wanting to end a celebration of love or affection with someone equally as special.

It as just... a lonely feeling, knowing that her sensei and her friend were ending their day with a tender kiss and a warm embrace while she... would simply be going back to an empty home.

[awokentospring]

Lee waved goodbye, nearly screaming himself hoarse as he called out his parting remarks for Neji and their sensei. It had been a wonderful time together and Lee only hoped that meant they would carry these memories with them for the rest of the year.

He set about picking up the boxes and replacing them into the bags they had carried them in. That was what was nice about bento; they were incredibly easy to clean up when you finished with them.

"I would say that was a success," Lee said after a moment, mostly keeping his eyes on his work.

[tenten_san]

Or at least until the next time their team could manage to gather together like that again. Because, after all that time, nothing short of something dire could or should ever keep them separated for that long again. Team Gai was family, after all. And family stayed together.

"It definitely could have been a lot worse." Kneeling down into the snow, the kunoichi made quick work of picking up any remaining trash and chopsticks left over from their little meal. "No impossible eating challenges were issued and no one had to go home with an upset stomach."

[awokentospring]

"I believe the eating contests are something more suited to Gai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei," Lee chuckled. He and Neji preferred more physical pursuits.

The blanket folded up and the bento boxes packed, Lee hefted the blanket over his shoulder and stood. "Did you want me to wash the bento at my place? I do not really have any extra plans for today."

[tenten_san]

True enough. Because, indeed, Team Gai had been subjected to many challenges between the two Jounin. Some, granted, were amazing and a joy to watch first hand. It was always a treat to see the two highly decorated shinobi battle it out in a serious, if not controlled, spar. But more often than not, their matches consisted of minor and routinely silly competitions. Of which the Beautiful Green Beast of Konoha had no qualms against dragging his students into joining the fray.

The kunoichi snerked at the more ridiculous memories and gently shook her head at his inquiry. "No, that's okay, I can do it. I don't really have plans for the rest of the day, either..."

[awokentospring]

That kind of proclamation, not having anything else to do, sounded kind of lonely. Of course, the same could be said for Lee, and it made him feel a little lonely, too.

He looked back down at his bags and then smiled up at her. "Well, I can come with you and help you, then. The dishes should go by a lot faster with two people."

[tenten_san]

Part of her should have expected him to make the offer. Not because of Lee's tendency to give over the top displays of chilvaric deeds, but simply for the level of kindness that he possessed. He was, truly and honestly, a pure and selfless individual. But there was no helping the moment of shock that flitted across her features, all the same, even as her steps faltered and gave a single moment of pause before they resumed their pace.

"Well. I definitely won't say no to that." Because didn't he have his own family to spend the holiday with? "But what about your mom and dad? Don't you wanna spend the rest of the afternoon with them?"