[OPEN]

[awokentospring]

Who: Rock Lee and anyone who wants to visit him!
When: April 9th (backdated)
Where: Konohagakure Hospital
Notes: After getting heavily injured during a mission a few days before, Lee is finally awake and allowed visitors. He's feeling a little down, mostly because it was his fault things wound up this way.

His chest was wrapped with bandages but the worst of his injuries were hidden under his hospital gown. However, that didn't mean Rock Lee was unaware of his blunder. He had pushed himself too far and this was the result.

Rubbing his forehead, Lee slowly eased himself back against the raised bed. Neji and Tenten were safe, mostly fine. Alive. That was what mattered. It really mattered. And it did! But...

Lee closed his eyes, feeling resigned. He had failed, and that mattered too, to Lee if not to anyone else. He was going to need to fix that.

Comments

[noboatbigenough]

“That’s forgivable. I was trapped in the body of your teammate at the time, after all. Hoshigaki Kisame of Kirigakure. Now you’ll know me if we meet again, eh?”

Kisame looked Lee over again, taking in the way he moved in addition to the signs of medical care. It had definitely been more serious than many injuries, but Lee had survived, and that said quite a bit about the younger ninja.

“Shame about this. I was going to see if you wanted a spar, since I’m visiting. We’ll have to do it another time if you’re interested.”

[awokentospring]

Lee tensed, suddenly feeling precariously vulnerable in front of this imposing man. When the truth came out Lee was unsure if he should feel comforted or not. They hadn't spent much time together during the incident and he felt retroactively protective over his teammate. It seemed... indecent now.

Lee nodded and cleared his throat. "Hoshigaki Kisame-san. I am called Rock Lee."

Hearing he had a contender for a spar, the second offer he had gotten since getting into the hospital, Lee wondered if that was really all Kisame wanted. "Ah, yes, a spar would be invigorating after I am released but for now the fight will be too one-sided."

And Tenten would kill him if he even tried to indulge just yet.

[noboatbigenough]

“Send a missive when you’re back to one-hundred percent then, Lee-kun. If things are still peaceful, I’ll be happy to work on sparring to improve both of our skills together. It’s the least I can do after what happened, eh?”

Kisame means the bodyswitch, because he knows he could have handled things a little more diplomatically if he’d had the inclination. Things had turned out fine, with nobody going to T&I, but if it had been a stressful situation for him, is surely would have been for anybody else.

[awokentospring]

Lee blinked, still rather unbelieving. But this was really happening. He knew because there was a throbbing in his shoulder and chest around his wound, the pain letting him know this was no genjutsu or dream.

"Then... then I shall! It sounds like you will be a great challenge and I am always willing to push myself!" In fact, Kisame looks pretty intimidating, but Lee was the student of Maito Gai. Surely he wouldn't be the easiest target either.

[noboatbigenough]

"That's the kind of response that a strong ninja makes! I look forward to seeing your strength in action. Heal fast, Lee-kun."

There really wasn't further reason to say, so Kisame nodded politely and made to leave. If Lee decided to stop him to talk more, Kisame wouldn't object, but he wouldn't push his presence on a recuperating ninja.

[awokentospring]

Lee nodded, determined to do just that. He could not let a potential sparring partner down. That would be rude.

"Certainly, Kisame-san. I look forward to it as well!" Then Lee executed the best half-bow he could towards Kisame's retreating back. It wasn't the most comfortable position but he felt it to be a necessary gesture of politeness.