(no subject)

[screw_fate]

Mun, I know you're upset, but please try to contain yourself.

I made my choices. This was not something I was forced into. I acted of my own free will, as I saw best. Don't you dare take that away from me.

Would I have preferred that the result were better? Of course. But the alternatives in that moment were only worse.

Do me the courtesy of respecting my decision. Only a fool would think the life of a ninja was a safe one, and I am pleased that my death served a valuable purpose. That is all.

You still have me in a game, and you don't need to canon-update me to remember how I met my end. You can comfortably ignore it as far as I'm concerned. All I ask is that you stop these needless histrionics.

Comments

[selfdoubt]

It- Neji-niisan, I... [She feels guilty that he had to protect her who in turn tried to protect Naruto. If only she was stronger... If only...]

I am so sorry...

[screw_fate]

[Giant doomspikes to the back really don't care how strong you are. Case in point. 8|]

Don't be. There was nothing you could have done differently, Hinata-sama.

[selfdoubt]

[Shush, she's allowed to feel guilty as hell. 8(

See? She's now crying again.]

B- But, I... I could have... [Could have what?] You didn't have to... [Die.]

[screw_fate]

I had to do exactly what I did. We're all fighting to protect him, and my mission is to protect you as well. To act differently would have represented a failure on my part.

There was nothing you could have done differently that would have changed the result.

[selfdoubt]

S- Still...

[She sobs, taking a breath.]

Neji-niisan...

[She wants to say something more but instead, her tears overwhelmed her words.]

[screw_fate]

[Well that wasn't really his goal. 8|

So he reaches out to give her shoulder a gentle squeeze, trying to comfort her.]

[selfdoubt]

[She tries to compose herself but the tears keep on falling. At least, she's able to find words after a while.]

Mundane-san and I are hoping something good will- will happen and...

[niceguypose]

Neji...

Why?

[bunsofsteel]

Neji, for a genius, you can be so -- so stupid!

[screw_fate]

As is mine. And as am I.

It isn't as though I wanted things to end as they did.

[He hasn't let go - and maybe he needs the contact too.]

[screw_fate]

Because the alternatives were worse, Lee. At least I spared either Hinata-sama or Naruto that fate.

[screw_fate]

I did what I had to. None of us live forever.

[bunsofsteel]

I wasn't even there! This isn't how I expected-- I should have been there to protect you!

[niceguypose]

I... I understand that. I would not want either of them to suffer such a fate. But that does not mean I will accept this.

Neji! Your youth!

[last_wolf]

That's rough, man.

[screw_fate]

What would you have done had you been there, Tenten? The only way to protect another was to disregard one's own safety.

[Y'know. Like he did.]

[bunsofsteel]

Push you out of the way, of course! You're the Hyuuga genius; Konoha needs you way more than someone like me! Stupid!

[She's not about to start crying in front of him, so here, she'll grab his shoulders and shake him roughly instead. Moron!]

[screw_fate]

[As dry as always] Is full of holes, Lee. It seems to be something of a trend for me.

[It could be worse, Kidoumaru could have taken him out. 8| Which by all rights should have happened.]

[screw_fate]

And then Hinata-sama would have died. I protected her, Tenten. As is my duty.

[But he won't resist the shaking; if it makes her feel even a little better, then he'll let her shake him all she wants.]

[screw_fate]

It is. I can't say I'm precisely pleased with my lot, all acceptance aside.

[bunsofsteel]

I could have... I don't know, jumped and knocked you out of the way and taken the spikes myself, just... not you, you're not supposed to--

[And then her voice cracks.]

You realize this leaves me on a team with just Lee and Gai, right? Who's gonna be my sanity now?

[niceguypose]

[He can only give a slight, soft chuckle between his sobs.]

But... but we had so much ahead of ourselves! How am I supposed to defeat you, Neji? How can I surpass such a hero?

[last_wolf]

[He wants to ask why you didn't just tackle them out of the way, but it seems rude at this point.]

I'm sure you'll get a plaque or something in your name. Maybe some tasteful tribute art.

[screw_fate]

[His voice is a little too sharp when he answers that.]

No, Tenten. That isn't an option.

[Because her taking those spikes for him... would be even worse than Hinata being their target, if he's honest with himself.]

You'll manage. You're strong enough to resist them.

[screw_fate]

By being a bigger hero, and living to tell about it, that's how. I expect no less of you, Lee.