sunshineverse | the apology, pt 2.

Where: Somewhere in the village where 'random fucking buildings' are popping up. Pinnku's words, not mine.
When: Nov. 3rd of last year
Notes: Gai goes to apologize to Yamato and hopefully this results in friendship. If not, the world is screwed and maybe Gai's in the doghouse. I'm not really sure, but we shall hope friendship is the result. =D

Obito had been spoken to. As had Kakashi, in his own way, even if it had been more comfort than apology. And Neji. That left Yamato, and Gai, who was finally getting his feet back under him after the upheaval, was not going to waste any more time allowing cowardice to win out over What Must Be Done.

He was going to apologize, both because Obito wanted him to and because Gai's pride was not worth losing the people who mattered most. This had been one of the most humbling sets of days in a long time; he had put his foot in his mouth quite spectacularly, even though he believed in the righteousness of his goals at the time. Gai's perspective had been changed--maybe not exactly how Obito or Neji or Yamato would have wanted it to, but it had changed enough that he was here now, apologizing for what he had said in an emotional upset and impulsiveness, prepared to vow never to do interfere like that again, even if that meant breaking a promise to Kakashi to chase him.

Finding Yamato was easier than Gai anticipated, considering he did not know where the man's apartment was. Apparently Yamato's punishment had been construction, because Gai found him at the base of a newly refurbished storefront on the outskirts of the tea district. He stopped beside the building, watching him finish his work before approaching.

"Yamato-san? I was wondering if we might talk for a moment. Privately, perhaps? Or ...wherever you prefer."

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Yamato glanced up at the voice, unlacing his fingers and dashing at the sweat across his brow despite the winter chill in the air.

"Gai-san! Oh, uh, of course. Let me just finish up here.."

He caught up the greatly diminished stack of repair requests he'd been working through and held the uppermost out to the shop keeper to sign. Once acquired, he tucked the bundle under his arm and gestured for Gai to follow him, walking alongside the green glad Jounin.

"There's a tea shop just down here that we can go to. What can I do for you anyhow?"

If he was honest, Yamato had expected very little contact with Gai, given how their previous interactions had turned out, so he was curious now as to what the other man wanted to talk about.

"You do not have to do anything except, perhaps, listen...if you want to. I came to apologize to you." Gai glanced over at the younger man as they walked to the tea shop. He had meant for this to go a little more formally, but maybe, after the rather formal apology to Neji, a more straightforward, less structured, approach would be better. He didn't know Yamato well, though. It was difficult to anticipate what, if anything, would happen during this endeavor, or what would be the best way to discuss this. "I realize I was insulting, I realize I should not have said what I did, nor acted so rashly."

Although he would encourage optimism in anyone else--if anyone else was in his position--Gai did not hold out a great deal of hope for himself or this going well. He would put in his best effort, and Yamato's polite demeanor was encouraging unto itself, but he expected the best he could hope for would be listened to.

He stopped in front of the tea shop and held the door open for Yamato. "You do not have to forgive me of anything. I probably do not deserve it. But you did not deserve my ire and so I am sorry."

If he was honest, Yamato didn't exactly know what to do with such an apology. Kakashi had said to give each other some breathing room and then approach Gai himself, so the other shinobi making the first move had thrown him for somewhat of a loop.

He had never been one for grudges and Yamato wasn't about to hold one now, not when it was clearly difficult for Gai to admit to transgressions on his part, especially when those missteps had been made in Kakashi's defense - in that they were remarkably similar - and so he fell back on a middle ground.

"Thank you, Gai-san.. I'm well aware that neither of us were fully in the right or wrong, so I would like to apologize also.. I haven't been exactly been going great lengths to assure you of my judgement recently, after all."

Yamato offered a sheepish smile and stepped into the tea house, taking a seat along the back row and signalling the server to take their order.

"Thank you. I am sure your judgement is sound enough," he said, following Yamato into the tea house and taking the seat across from him. He ordered a simple green tea before returning his attention to Yamato. "As much as any of ours. You wanted to help Kakashi. I understand. And Obito obviously puts a great deal of trust in you; he said so himself. He holds you in very high regard." And that was not flattery. Obito had said it, and Gai was begrudgingly coming to terms with it.

"I will learn to trust better with time. But I can assure you that I will not interfere in your missions or time with Kakashi again. Or with Neji."

Well, that was mostly true. If he saw something that desperately bothered him, he would go to Obito. But that would at least not be Gai meddling again. And he doubted (hoped) it would not come to that.

He nodded along, attention focused even as he nodded to the server with his own order.

"Well I certainly wont be over stepping my own mark.." He considered for a moment, mulling over the words before offering Gai an earnest look. "I hope this has not called into question my ability to act as a captain and mentor to Neji."

It was still his primary concern after all. No matter what the other thought of him in regards to Obito and Kakashi he could deal with, but he wasn't about to endanger Neji's career or training.

the apology, pt 2.

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//failingly wanders back into this thread

Did you want to amnesty this? o.o