🍃 | KNIGHT OF PENTACLES.

she were nearby, preparing medicine to help his ache so that lee could rest and give his body time to heal--only a matter of time before he must return to the battlefield. yet, kanae quickly realizes something is amiss, mere moments before lee's words.

and he trusts her, he knows she will always go to grand extents just to keep him safe. it was a little frightening, to be so indebted to someone, as he was to her. however, he breathes alongside her — temperature slowly starting to lower, nausea slowly subsiding.

there was a thick swallow, before he lets go of his last breath — having calmed down enough to think.

"…it's difficult sometimes," he confesses, "may i be vulnerable for a moment, kocho-san?"

"Can't," he replies, tucking his hands in his pockets and shrugging his shoulders with a put-upon sigh. "Odd number. Gotta be an even number for me to join in."

It's almost close enough to the truth.

lee immediately goes off-kilter at the response, "W—WH—WHAT?!"

catching himself before he falls to the ground, there's a straighten up of his spine — correcting his posture and leaning to his cane, "…ahem. i have reached exactly one-thousand. you do not have to join me," a quick nod of affirmation, before he continues on.

"if you are looking for gai-sensei, he is being seen for his latest injury," for a moment, it sounds serious — however, lee soon confesses, "he fractured his finger trying to lift his whole body with it!"

"—quietly?!" ironically, lee's voice seems to boom in response. he had heard him perfectly, and yet instinctively repeats it as loud as he can — ever full of energy and vitality.

however, at the point to the boba place, lee's pace slows — now instead, keeping up with neji.

"will you come with me, neji?" he then asks, at least a little softer than the previous outburst, "if we are to rest — we should rest together!!"

she cannot pretend the boy doesn't wake her interest; HIM -- but different, and yet so very similar. so precious, so special. and yet what must she be to him; other than a mountain of flame, fang and claw. missmatched eyes stare down at the young shinobi, decievingly apathetic, a guise for her earnest. ❝ rock -- hmm? ❞ came the beast's thunderous voice, motherly, and fierce, like a tiger. matatabi knew only of love as violence and power. of destroying all that aimed to hurt her precious children. and wasn't lee -- one of them? somehow -- her eyes avert -- her heart is missleading her.

❝ i'm sorry -- acting like -- i am no one to you, am i not? ❞ she rests her towering head on a trenchant claw, acting as nonchalant as possible. two tails sway lazily back and forth. ❝ but to me you are -- everything. ❞

and what a youthful sight that was before him—! a moment of contemplation and processing of the flames that licked at the air — perhaps to most, she was terrifying; nothing more than a carnivore, that could kill in an instant.

but lee saw beauty in her. and perhaps, the kindness in his heart made him connect with her — trying to see what she saw in him.

but then he thinks about it. it was… different to see someone see such importance in his soul; his very being. it was almost unfitting, to be witness to someone who cared for him so — even without knowing him. there was a melancholic expression that rests, despite his ever-present smile.

the reality was, rock lee was not used to being loved without grand effort. to be seen, to even just exist, without clawing for the bare-minimum recognition.

"i am… nothing too special," he says with a mild shake of his head, not the jinchuuriki she was tied to, "you don't have to try to relate me to maito lee; it's okay.""

gai saw something special in him, more than anyone else. that was enough, he tried to tell himself. and yet, he still ponders on the chuunin exams — where so many eyes fixed on him, as if he were someone truly spectacular.

even if he wasn't. the melancholic expression doesn't leave — nor does it particularly suit him.

Send a 💬 to hear how my muse feels about yours.

Source: a deleted blog

Getting to Know You Sentences

(Sentences for muses to get to know each other better. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"What's your favourite book?"

"This is how you like to have fun?"

"Did you have a happy childhood?"

"How's your cooking?"

"How long have you been here?"

"What do you want more than anything?"

"Do you have a family?"

"Is there anything that doesn't bore you?"

"Is there anything you ever wanted to do but you didn't do because everybody would watch you and question you?"

"What social media are you on?"

"Do you think you're a good man?"

"Is your job always like this?"

"How old are you?"

"Do you live alone?"

"Why are you so afraid to succeed?"

"Which one is your favourite?"

"Have you ever wanted any children?"

"Why do you want to be boring?"

"Was you father big in your life?"

"What were you like as a child?"

"How come you don't care where you're going?"

"How do you like to spend your free time?"

"You have an interesting accent. Where are you from exactly?"

"Can you sing?"

"Do you always talk to yourself?"

"Is that your real name?"

"Do you want a tattoo?"