generalflirt | ~♥FIFTY-EIGHT♥~

[ Voice ]

Mmm. I wonder. Call it conjecture on my part, but what happens to a body when you stab out it's heart?

[ This world... but those are some broad assumptions on his part. About more than one thing. ]

[ Action ]

[ But as for the main part of what Masaomi Kida is doing today, he's hanging out by the fountain, standing on the edge of it with arms wide. Weakness. Weakness is what might destroy them, huh? He wonders if that's individual, or if that's the weakness of a people. He wonders what weakness actually means. Despite this, he's not with Linda for once, and there's a smile on his face. It doesn't meet his eyes, but he's hawking around for anyone in the square, particularly people he knows. And he's holding in his hands two... playing cards?

And when he spies someone, he'll have to bound up to them and ask: ]

Hello! Hello~! Let's play a little game, huuuh?

[ Because he's older now. Because it's the end, and because what else is there left for him to loose. He'll play a game which has him terrified. ]

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I forced you into the game, so you ask first. It's only fair.

[ Even if the world isn't that fair to begin with. But he says it with a bright smile (as for the ace, it's actually been slipped into a pocket which is on his polo shirt. The breast pocket- he did it when it was over his heart before he even clapped. ]

I don't feel forced at all! I agreed with all of my willpower... but I will accept this regardless!

Then, my first truth I will ask for is this: Masaomi-kun... Have you ever slipped and fell on your back?!

[ He has to think about that, rocking on his heels a little ] Well, not on my back.

[ He hums, and then he taps against his breast pocket... ] But how about this one for my first, Lee-kun: How many times have you been to the brink of death.

[ He's starting strong there. He's trying to give himself courage to face the more serious questions he might get himself. Lee might be too sporting for it, but it will come. So he's going to make sure no one is comfortable.

Weakness... ]

Mm... [He frowns as he thinks it over, remembering all of his defeats over the years and one that stood out above it all.]

I cannot say that I definitely feel that I have been on the 'brink' of death in the past, but at home, the closest would be the time when Gaara-kun defeated me. He... he broke half of my body, and I was unconscious for a long time. Perhaps... the surgery I went through afterwards could count as well. Even though it succeeded in letting me fight again, it was an operation that came with a high risk of death.

And yet, through it all... you never felt that you might fall? Did you have a strong sense of certainty, or can you just not face that possibility...

[ He's cheating a little in asking more, isn't he...? Oh well, if Lee doesn't call him on it, he'll give a more complete answer to whatever Lee asks next

[Rock Lee's certainly willing to go on. He's not even sure of what kind of hard-hitting question to use on his side.]

Actually... at one point, I did feel that. Before I accepted the surgery... I felt so many doubts. I wondered if my dream of becoming a splendid ninja had finally come to an end. If I should... give up.

But people like Gai-Sensei and Sakura-san helped me and inspired me. From them, I found the strength I needed to accept Tsunade-sama's offer and undergo the surgery.

[ ... That he might not be able to become a splendid ninja. In a very real sense, Lee is saying that he was risking his life against the life that he wanted for himself. Against a dream. Masaomi wonders if he would have that same courage, even if he was supposed by loyal friends and a loyal teacher.

He doubts it. But that's not something he can fairly say, is it? He puts his hands into his pockets and leans his upper body back ]

That's a heavy thing to carry with you, Lee-kun, to have been tested so.

[ but he motions now, holding out one hand. He should ask his ]

[Rock Lee nods firmly. He's mostly been standing still, just with some light wobbling. It was a dark time for him, but it's one he can look back on as something he's overcome.

His eyes glance towards Masaomi's hand as he processes the question.]

Ah... It is my turn. [He tries to think. What could he ask that would be a big hard-hitting question? He usually tries to avoid even thinking of such things. But... that is the purpose of this challenge...]

Masaomi-kun, have... [He stammers as he tries to think of something. Remembering the story he just told, how he kept himself from turning away from his dream... ah. There's a thought.] ...Have you ever turned your back on something you believe in? [It sputters out quickly, without his usual flair. He looks determined for a moment, but then frowns as if already feeling remorseful about even going that far.]

[ ... Well, isn't that a question. Masaomi's posture shifts, and he seems to deflate while going rigid at the same time, resulting in him being stiff is a board, but also with his shoulders sagged a little bit forward. Has he ever turned his back on something he believed in?

In the future, he'll betray Mikado. Here, he's made some choices and gone back on them. But a lot of them were mistakes... As for things like that. ]

Mmmhm. Faced with tragedy, I tried to convince myself that I didn't love someone anymore... because my "love" was too weak.

[ Give him a minute, he should say more ]

[It looks like he did strike at the heart - and Lee definitely feels guilty already. But Masaomi's opening up, so Lee feels he has to let him finish. He stands still and gives a soft nod, waiting for him to go on.

Tragedy? A 'weak' love? It sounds very heavy.]

[ ... Hah.

His lips eventually turn up and - ] Her name's Saki. We met... I guess it's seven years ago now, from my perspective. But I failed her in a bad way, and she got injured.

[ ... ] I'm being vague, hold on.

[ and now he inhales, and slaps a hand over his eyes, so that he can't see Lee. Dramatically ]

[Such a long time... Of course, when the thinks about it, it's been about as long since he first met most of his fellow Konoha ninjas such as Sakura. But this story seems to be of a very different nature.

Lee puts on his most patient look and nods.]

O-of course, take your time.

[ And so, with his eyes covered... He begins again ]

When I was young, I always figured that with a strong enough feeling, you could do anything. Love is a leveler, right? Like that sort of thing you see in movies where heroes are able to conquer everything and get the girl - and with all the fights I got in during those days for stupid reasons, just for the worship of violence, I sort of figured that oooh, sure. If the tie came, I could get there. And that's what I promised myself when I fell for someone for real - when I fell for... Saki. Not that she was in direct danger, mind. I mean, she just has a somewhat creepy guardian, the real danger, the danger I didn't recognize...

That was from me.

[ He swallows, and. ]

So when she was kidnapped by my enemies, this bastard named Izumii, I figured - I'll be the one to save her. I have to be the one to save her, because that's the strength of it, I could utilize all of my power because I had love at my back, and I raced with my heart being the only thing going faster than my legs, the whole way there. And I got all the way to the entrance of the building, but as soon as I got there... wouldn't you know! My legs stopped working.

I was afraid.

What would they do to me? What would happen to Saki? What if I failed? Why was I hesitating?

But still, I did.

And in the end, someone else saved her.

[ And now, finally, he lowers his hand, but he hangs his head. Even years and years later, it still hurts, it still makes his chest seize up with the idea of how weak he is. Of how abominable he as a human being truly has been ]

So I decided... that I'd just abandon it. ... No, that's putting it too lightly. Trying hard to believe in that ideology still, I convinced myself that the failing was that our feelings weren't sufficient. So I dumped her, and I went on from there, hoping against what I knew would never happen that I could find a love greater than that, someone who, next time, I would not fail.

~♥FIFTY-EIGHT♥~

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