[open, bodyswap with Neji]

[awokentospring]

Who: Rock Lee and EVERYONE
When: March 10-14th
Where: Konoha proper and the surrounding training areas
What: BODYSWAP EVENT! Lee is now Neji


1. Training fields
Discovering himself in Neji's body had set Lee on edge, to say the least. For one, he felt heavy and sluggish. This body didn't move like he was used to and so Lee was determined to get it into shape. Seeking out his leg weights (and slightly more durable clothing) Lee wasted no time hitting the training field to start bulking up again. He put Neji's body through the wringer every morning and evening, unable to help wanting to force himself to the limit.

2. Random places around Konoha
Being that Lee found himself in a shinobi body not limited by his own defects, Lee realized he could attempt to try out some jutsu. At first he wasn't sure what to do, then he realized one of the basics and most useful abilities was the teleportation jutsu. But without practice, Lee was finding himself appearing in areas he didn't quite expect...

[ooc: I may create another starter, still deciding if that's necessary...]

Comments

1

[abluntwind]

Her brother had finally gone back to himself, which meant that Temari was actually able to do something other than try to keep tabs on him. Considering how often he liked to steal away to Konoha, she was choosing to give her youngest sibling more room now that he was himself again. Which meant an uptick in free time, and a mild sense of sudden boredom since her only official business was to babysit.

Instead of sitting another day in her quarters, Temari decides to swing by the training fields. Perhaps she'd find a Konoha shinobi willing to spar to kill some time. What she doesn't expect is to find Neji putting his own body through it's physical paces and then some. Quietly, she lets herself take up a spot against a tree to watch a while, only speaking up when it appears he's taking a break.

"You keep going like that and you'll put yourself in the hospital again." She says pushing away from the tree and crossing over to him on light feet. "Perhaps you'd like more of a challenge?"

[awokentospring]

Lee was drenched in sweat. How did Neji even live with half the hair on his head Lee couldn't even imagine. Of course, he was rather fond of long hair but maybe tomorrow he would consider braiding it like he used to when he was a child rather than just keeping it in the big, thick cascade that Neji seemed so fond of.

Lee had just raised a canteen of cooling water to his lips when he spotted her, and he nearly spit out what he managed to get into his mouth.

"T-temari-san!" He wasn't expecting her to approach him, and the closer she got the more his face burned. Lee glanced away, self-conscious, knowing she wasn't someone he could keep this from for long. "A challenge could... I mean, perhaps today would not be the best?"

[abluntwind]

She frowns, hands resting on her hips as she raises an eyebrow at him. They had long forgone speech so formal. And he was turning down a spar? She reached forward to press her hand to his cheek to check if he was doing something moronic like training with a fever. "Are you feeling alright?"

[awokentospring]

That hand to his cheek nearly made him burst into flames but another part of him tugged into a completely different direction. It was so kind of her to worry about Neji and Lee couldn't help but feel a little sad about it, too. Just another reminder of how far Neji had come in life and how far behind Lee had fallen...

Fighting back against alarming her, Lee took a deep breath and shook his head. "No, I am not alright, though I am not ill if that is what you meant."

Lee glanced to the side. "I am not the man you think I am, Temari-san."

[abluntwind]

And her frown can only deepen. If he wasn't sick, then what was the problem? He tended toward enjoying their spars. But reassured she pulled her hand back and let it fall gently back to her side. But the final statement to come from is the part that makes her feel a little off. Almost like the rug was pulled out from under here.

Something she covers by cocking her head to the side in an almost careless show of how unconcerned she is by that statement. "Okay..." She would be lying if she said she wasn't waiting for him to tell her that he didn't think he was worthy of her because of some ridiculous mission he took in the past. And if he did she was going to knock him upside the head with her fan and leave him there to roast under the winter sun.

[awokentospring]

So far, so good. He was afraid what might happen if he just came out with it but at the very least for now her mood seemed placid. Taking heart in that, Lee steeled himself and faced her head-on.

"Temari-san, I regret to inform you that currently I am not Hyuuga Neji but Rock Lee. Your... Neji is currently playing host to my body at this time."

[abluntwind]

The words flow over her a moment, her mind telling her that this cannot be happening again. It was supposed to be over. Gaara had gone back to normal, that said over to her mind. But here was her boyfriend's body telling her that the mind inhabiting it was not Neji. It takes a moment for her to work her way from annoyed to mildly interested. The name was familiar if nothing else though she couldn't fully place why yet.

"This is awkward," she murmurs before snorting and grinning a little at him, "But you aren't hurling curses and threats so that's a start."

[awokentospring]

If not throwing things, physical or not, at her was considered a good start then Lee felt he had done particularly well. He relaxed visibly and offered her his biggest smile, which... probably didn't look at all natural on Neji's face.

"I am sorry if I troubled you, Temari-san! I was hoping we would not have to weather such an encounter, and Neji did not mention you would visit so I was not fully prepared." He glanced around, but Lee didn't see anyone else around, and he still hadn't gotten Byakugan down so he couldn't use that to check further. "... Is Gaara-san with you?"

[abluntwind]

Considering they'd had to corral Gaara's body in Kuroari to muffle the insults and rude comments Kushina was throwing around, this swap was positively tame. Not that she was going to mention any of that to Lee. She didn't entirely feel it was prudent. If Gaara wanted to tell people on his own later, that was his business. She made it a point not to share what few secrets of his she was allowed to be privy too. It was her way of showing that they were and unit and he could count her and continue to trust her.

"Neji doesn't know I'm here actually, " she admits slowly with a touch of pink rising to her cheeks. She wasn't keeping the visit secret, she'd just had more important things to focus on in her travels to Konoha than sending a scroll to Neji announcing she'd be in town for a few days. "Not that I don't want him to know, I was just too busy to let him know prior to now." She deflates a little and sighs shaking her head. She'd have to catch up with him before she left though since she was thoroughly blocked from doing so at present.

"Gaara's here in a manner of speaking. He's in the village, though I think the plan is to head back to Suna today or tomorrow if you want to speak with him."

[awokentospring]

"Oh." So this was supposed to be a surprise visit? It seemed he had taken the wind out of her sails. Lee flushed, turning his head and reaching up to scratch at the nape of his neck. "Ah, well, that is understandable. We do not always have time, being busy shinobi and all..."

And she even moreso, being the daughter of the Kazekage. Now that Lee thought on it, what did Hyuuga think of Neji being with Temari? Was it seen as acceptable, since she had rank and family status in her village, or was it seen as disobedience, dating someone that his family had not pre-approved for him?

"I may try to seek Gaara-san out, then. I would hate to have him show up to my apartment and find that I was not home if he wished to chat." Not that Gaara was the most talkative person but they were friends. It could happen.

Turning his eyes back to her, Lee hummed and brushed back his long, dark hair. "Temari-san, I do hope that you are taking care of Neji well. He needs someone who can let him be himself."

[abluntwind]

Not so much a surprise as she was taking advantage of being there since she needed to be. Not that she was going to say any of that to his teammate either. "Something like that yes."

At the mention of her youngest brother she smiles tightly. Gaara wasn't quite himself right now. But seeing as Lee wasn't either...well he should understand that easily enough.

"I'm not sure he'll be doing much visiting this trip. He's sort of like you at present." And given that Lee was a friend and Konoha was generally more welcoming to Gaara she saw little reason to protect that fact nearly as fiercely as she did in Suna. People here were far less likely to try and take advantage of him not being one hundred percent himself here.

"I..." Oh boy had that question taken her by surprise. And as she mulls over the sentence again she has to wonder if Lee is trying to warn her off dating Neji. "I like to think I am doing that." And she can't really help how her thoughts travel back to January and his surprise visit to her quarters in Kiri. She shrugs, " He at least seems happy when with me."

[awokentospring]

That explained it. Lee pursed his lips and nodded. "I see. I wish Gaara-san the best of luck returning to normal soon."

Gai-sensei had returned to being Gai-sensei after a time, but it had been awkward knowing it was Iruka walking around in his body. He hoped the experience would not be a distasteful one for his friend. Lee had mixed feelings about his own bodyswap, but altogether it wasn't too much of a hassle.

But he actually managed a smile when he heard the sincerity of Temari's answer regarding Neji. "That is heartening. Neji cannot always afford to be at ease, what with his family being... what they are. It is good to know he is happy when he is with you."

[abluntwind]

She nods her thanks because she hopes he goes back to normal soon herself. It was a little strange to see him in the body of a woman about the age their mother would be now. She still hadn't quite figured out how to act with him in a stranger's body for that matter either. And she wasn't sure if she should act the same as always or not.

His reaction puts her at ease some. "I've started to get that impression." But it's more from his actions than actual conversation. They don't talk about family when together at least not yet. Family snuck in sure it was unavoidable when you had siblings, but they weren't the main topic of a conversation.