[OPEN] Riku no Sato? Away we go?

[your_destiny]

Today felt like a magnificent day.

No, really, when ever had he started thinking like this? He felt so much lighter since that day, even with the knowledge of the future being as ludicrous as it was. He had, after all, another knowledge to counterbalance it.
After breakfast was an affair that was taken care of -oh, and he would need to buy bread once he got back home- he washed the plate and teacup he used and left them to dry before putting on his boots, coat and giving a light snicker as he wound and then tied his scarf, a few memories drifting by him.

And so, he went out of the now-still appartment, taking out the frowning dragon keychain and looking at it fondly for just a half-second before locking the door, pocketing the key and... nearly geting some sort of breacelet dropped on his head.

There was a blink as the trinket was kept from hitting the ground, a practiced hand swiftly picking it up in mid-air as he glanced up... and then his eyes widened in shock. So many birds, so many vivid colors. He couldn't help but stare, briefly mesmerized by the scene.
Then, there was the missive with the bracelet, which he unfloded to read... and the white eyes narrowed.

It was quite enticing, but also.... quite suspicious. The Hokage should already be aware of this, but in case he was not, and because he wished advice on what to do, there was nothing better but to ask him his advice, if he had any orders.
He picked up one more of the similar notes along with a seashell on his way to where Tenten had pointed him to the Hokage's dwelling.

((OOC: yea, anyone can meet him otw there~ flee!!))

Comments

[your_destiny]

He had been doing all there had to do while healing: sleeping when she came in. The sound did wake him, since he hardly got any visitors, and those white eyes opened. He sounded somewhat groggy but as lucid as ever. "Ah, Tenten. Good day." The way he greeted her? You'd think he's chilling at home, figuratively and literally.

[ministeelbuns]

"Don't good-day me," she warned, coming in close as a frown curved her lips. A quick glance to make sure Sakura wasn't watching, then she ducked down to press a soft kiss to his lips. In direct contrast to the softness, she grabbed his shoulder and shook him a little. "What happened?!"

[your_destiny]

"How else am I supposed to greet anyone that comes by?" he blinked confusedly. "As for what happened, well.. it was all my fault really." he sighed heavily, and reminded himself that such a thing strained his lungs as he felt a tinge of pain. "I said and did things I that were out of boundaries." he raised a hand so he could run afinger across her jawline. "Sorry for worrying you."

[ministeelbuns]

"But it's me, Neji-sama," she murmured with a small smile, grabbing a nearby chair and dragging it over to sit near his head. The smile didn't last, though, fading back into concern. "So tell me what happened."

[your_destiny]

"Yes.. it's you. The appropriate greeting would be 'good day, my wings~' I believe." he gave a smile as well, and then let out a sigh -not so deep- as she asked him to recount the events that led him here. "I assure you, it... has been dealt with. I went very much out of my boundaries, and proper retribution was brought."

[ministeelbuns]

She flushed, laughing a little and shaking her head at the strange term of endearment. "I don't know, I can't fly all the time, you know."

She shifted the chair a little closer, taking one of the strands of his hair between her fingers and giving him a more serious look. "You can't really expect me to just sit here and go 'oh yeah, okay, you're lying in what's basically a hospital bed, no big deal."

[your_destiny]

"You may not be able to fly all the time, but you did give me the wings of freedom to soar with." he gave a light chuckle.

There was a pause, and he figured there was no way he was getting out of this. "Fine, fine... I briefly found myself in a situation of dominance against a main family member and... somewhat lost myself briefly in my misconceptions and hatred..." he gave another heavy sigh, gulping back a cough. Strained thata agin!
"The end result, however... was that I was made to realize how narrow-minded I was, and even heard a main family member speak against those above her... which did somewhat shift my views."

This however did not explain why he was like this... and so... "You do recall, if our worlds had the same basic events, how I fought against Hinata-sama in the preliminary matches? ...well... we are.. even now."

[ministeelbuns]

"Neji..." Sometimes he could be so sweet, in his own pretentious way. She kept her fingers in his hair, rubbing it gently between her fingers as her expression grew more concerned, then angry, edging close to infuriated.

"Hinata did what?!" she snarled, fingers unconsciously tightening in his hair. "She did this to you? How're you just going to lay here and take it, Neji?"

[your_destiny]

"Tenten.." he put a hand on her arm and closed it. "...it has been resolved. This has been.. enough. Please..." he shifted, looking into her eyes. "Please?"

[ministeelbuns]

Her face screwed up, not certain she understood, but that look on his face...? She relaxed slowly, ducking her head and just pressing her forehead to his shoulder. "Are you sure...? I mean, after everything...?"

[your_destiny]

"Yes... after everything." he murmured, sliding a hand in her hair, a thumb brushing against the back of an ear. "It has gone on... for long enough. I have said something that had made me feel... lower than dirt, and yet, she... forgave it." and it was enough for him not to mind his current condition. "A body can heal, Tenten... but sometimes, not the soul."

[ministeelbuns]

She shivered at the touch to her ear and lifted her head to meet his eyes. "I'm... I'm really glad, Neji. Really glad."

A hand moved to just lightly rest over his heart, lips curving into a sad smile. "It'll be okay, I think."

[your_destiny]

"Hinata-sama forgave me... but I have yet to fogive myself for falling so low." he looked over to her hand and mirrored her smile. "..but... I know it can heal, because I am not alone. I will not allow myself to do any such thing, ever again."

[ministeelbuns]

"So... what does this mean for all this head-family branch-family stuff...?"

[your_destiny]

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter here, I believe, and... should we go back to--" no wait, scratch that thought.

He didn't want to go back.

"...it is nothing I will see with my own eyes perhaps, but she... Hinata-sama... intends for a better future."

[ministeelbuns]

"Go back to... what?" She looked to him, tilting her head with more than a little concern. Go back to being just teammates? Go back to their own worlds...? Her fingers tightened on him reflexively. "What're you talking about...?"

[your_destiny]

"I don't want... to go back to my world..." his world not only had a future all laid out for him, it was also apart from hers...

[ministeelbuns]

She looked at him a moment, then buried her face in his shoulder. "Me, either..."

[your_destiny]

"I've met.... Naruto's mother, and as much as I understand how heroic actions happen when you wish to give your life for someone, I.. I just..." he shuddered. "I understand the concept, and how I could, if I must, but... it hurts to think I will leave... I... it scares me." he disliked thinking about the future he heard, because eh could never, ever accept it.

Here was freedom.. here... was Tenten.

[ministeelbuns]

Neji, admitting he was scared of something? She tightened her grip on him as if that alone could ensure that he would never disappear on her, go back...

"Then you won't," she murmured without lifting her face from his shoulder, clutching tightly at him. "Don't... don't even think about that, okay?"

[your_destiny]

"...I... did not wish to think about it either..." his voice was shaky, and he had to take a deep breath, and regretted it again. Darn lungs. "I wish with all my soul to stay here... by your side." he wished to defy fate, together with her.

[ministeelbuns]

She could only nod in agreement, holding onto him and swallowing hard, biting back tears at the thought. Going back would mean... going without him, and it just wouldn't be the same.

"How long before you recover...?" she asked once she trusted her voice not to shake, though she didn't lift her head.

[your_destiny]

"..hm.." he jolted his brain back to the now, and what did amtter. "I... believe Sakura-san stated I would need a check in the morning tomorrow to make sure everything is in the process of healing, and then.. well, no solids for a week I believe she mentionned." he grimaced. "...Hinata-sama... most likely had it worse..." he did recall her, at the finals... "I know she could have did much worse, if she wished..."

[ministeelbuns]

"Probably something other than tea then, huh...?" she murmured quietly, keeping her fingers in his hair. "Plain water would probably be better..."

Mixed feelings on Hinata though, really. She ignored it for now in favor of focusing on his health.

[your_destiny]

"I know technically the body only needs water to survive, but... there -are- other options, such as broth or--" he blinked and the frowned. "What ever do you mean by something other than tea? I disagree!"