*grumbles* Didn't realize I was running out of crayons... I'd better Transfigure a few more. It's all good practice, anyway. *rubs hands gleefully* At least Dr. Kurosaki's Pepper-Up Potion took care of my hay-fever.... so I can face the day with CLEAR-HEADED ZEAL!!!


Ordinary black robes are far too pedestrian for the BRIGHT PROMISE OF THIS GLORIOUS SEASON.

Sakura, you really should reconsider. Pink DOES go well with green.


[[In honor of springtime, Gai will be casting Orchideous at random points around the school, as well as surreptitiously Transfiguring suits of armor into youthfully cute pastel versions of their former selves. Due to lack of time between activities, he will attend class wearing his usual training outfit (green jumpsuit and orange legwarmers), along with a yellow and black Hufflepuff tie, under a newly Transfigured set of bright pink robes. There's also pink paint in his hair. JARETH, THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT. XDDDD

Edit: Thanks to Kurosaki, now there's smoke pouring out of his ears as well. If anyone wants to rib Gai's fashion sense, this is definitely the time.]]

*can be seen at odd hours all around the castle -- reading, talking to teachers, doing homework, but always, almost coincidentally, in the vicinity of Rock Lee*


[[Private, unhackable, parchment wrinkled from his grip]]

Dumbledore's finally taking an interest -- thank heaven! He's meeting Lee tomorrow. After that... well, this whole business may come to a close sooner than anyone expects.

Between myself, Temari, and Sakura whenever she's not hung-over -- what's with that!?, we've got Lee's schedule pretty well covered, escorting him between classes and making sure there are enough people in the vicinity to discourage an attack. I'm just nervous about History of Magic. One of us will have to miss a class to sit with him during that period. It's not as though Professor Binns could do anything about a disruption in his classroom....

I have to think of this as an assignment. Just another mission, standing guard and protecting someone from harm. How frightening it is that this should happen at a school, where young lives are supposed to be nurtured and protected!! Where was this Gaara for the two years he was missing -- what happened to make him the cold creature he is now? Who would dare to kidnap a child and raise such terrible demons in his heart?

[[/private]]


[[Filtered to Temari]]

Temari, I've got to ask you -- please don't let Lee try to talk to you about your brother. We'll work everything out after Gaara is found, but right now I don't want him thinking about this... this so-called bond they seem to have. Did you know his sleeping pattern went haywire at approximately the same time Gaara came to Hogwarts!? Did yours, by any chance? Did anyone's, other than Lee's?

Tell him... I don't know. Don't tell him your full name, anyway. If he recognized it... if Gaara is really his friend from all those years ago, I don't know if Lee will be able to understand how much he's changed.

[[/filtered]]

*stares at everyone's journals* Normally I'm all for youthful hijinks, but WHAT THE BLAZES?????


[[Filtered to the Headmaster]]

(A formal request for a weekend's leave, and permission to arrange transportation to Seoul.)

[[/filtered]]


[[Private, 25% hackable]]

I got a weekend job! In Seoul! And they promised to get me back before classes start Monday! HAH! I knew it would all come together somehow!

It's going to be tough, though; I've only just gotten back in the loop after Lee's injury. A weekend without time to do homework is going make things hard. BUT I WILL FACE ADVERSITY WITH FIERCE DETERMINATION -- AND I WILL TRIUMPH, OR ELSE I'LL RUN UP AND DOWN ALL THE STAIRCASES IN THE CASTLE FIVE TIMES BEFORE LUNCHTIME ON MONDAY! SO THERE!!!!

..What will I tell Lee? *frets*

[[/private]]


[[Gai's putting himself through school by working for a security agency based in Konoha. I.e. I won't be online until Monday. XD]]

There's nothing like an after-class mug of thick hot chocolate in the Great Hall. It's amazing how a few good classes and a semi-decent night's sleep can put things back in perspective. Speaking of which -- Lee, how was your outing?? Inquiring minds want to know!

Counselor Yukari, can I drop in at your office tomorrow and talk about my post-grad options?


[Filtered to seventh-years]

Only a few more months... can you believe it? I can't wait to test for the Auror program. Who else has post-graduation plans?

[/filter]


OI, KAKASHI! Care for a game of noughts and crosses? If I don't win back those two points, I'll.... wait, I said that already.

It feels wonderful to be back in my old common room. The place is even yellower than I remembered! And what a busy day I've had -- talked to most of my teachers and gotten a massive list of assignments to make up. (Relashio, Evanesco, Incarcerous.... what was that fourth spell I had to practice for Sir Integra?) And there's a new sixth-year in my House -- Oruha, a wonderfully gentle free spirit and an excellent singer! She and her friends have apparently taken my Lee-kun under their wing. Such joyful news!

I wonder where Eiji and the others are? Everyone must be out of class by now. The third day of school is so relaxing. I've found all my classrooms, even the ones that MOVED while I was away, and the aches and pains of my assignment are starting to fade, and there are busy, industrious students all over the place.

But....

I MISSED THE KITTENS! *bawls*


[[Gai's collapsed in an armchair in his common room, soaking in the Hufflepuff ambience before going upstairs to unpack. I figure if he's been at Hogwarts for four years he should know most of his House by now, at least by sight, unless they've been away like black_songbird. Who else is in his House?

If you still want to run into Gai on his first day back, try the previous post!]]