Maito Gai

I wrote something on a bit of spare parchment and stuck it in the journal. Can anybody read it? Hmm, this worked last time there was something wrong with the journals....



Why aren't these things fixed already?? It's a TRAVESTY when a person's expectation of privacy is suddenly removed by a malfunctioning magical item. WHO WILL BITE THE BULLET AND TACKLE THIS PROBLEM HEAD-ON?????

I'm going flying with Honey!!! And if you don't see me after that, I'm probably studying. I need to get a LOT of studying done. Positively LOADS of it. SERIOUSLY. With BELLS on. YOSH!!!!!



[[Can people read random pieces of paper that have been stuck in the journals? YOU DECIDE. Feel free to see Gai going about his very surreptitious business, but if you try to follow him, you will probably get spotted.]]

*staggers into the Hufflepuff common room with his arms full of books and parchments*

NEWTS exams are imminent. Their proximity is inescapable now. Professor McGonagall gave us a long speech about them today. *clenches fist* But I'm going to ACE them -- I simply MUST, if I want to be considered for the Auror program.


[[Private; 20% hackable if you really try]]

What's the matter with Tatsuki!? Nobody's personality simply changes like that overnight. And I CANNOT BELIEVE that someone dared to prank Sir Integra. She's as incredible as ever, but younger than ME now, which is ABSURD. And she doesn't remember any of us, which is terribly heartbreaking depressing. All of her classes have been cancelled. She's going to go spare when she finds out. How could such an outrage have taken place!?

[[/private]]


*catches a glimpse of his reflection in one of the windows*

Wait -- what the...!?


[[Due to a Transfiguration accident, Gai is now several inches shorter than usual. But yes, I'm BACK! Mostly, anyhow.]]

I think there's homework due today.....

*brave face*

I had a FANTASTIC time last night. Does anybody know when this hair thing is supposed to go away?


( Private, unhackable )


*kicks his trunk, which, after last night's dancing, is the last straw for his sore ankle*

Aaaargh!!!!

*limps down to the hospital wing*

..Whatever's been going on in this place while I was away, I don't want to know about it. I've got to catch up before Monday's classes. Anyone want to go over Arithmancy with me?

Gad, my leg is killing me. And it's the same one the Shrieker snagged in Professor Riddick's practical.... if there was ever a bad time to take on the Hogwarts stair system....

LEE-KUN! *strikes a triumphant pose* Now that you have been RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL WING, why don't we meet up after lunch and go over your physical therapy requirements and anything else that might be on your mind? I'll be in the Great Hall.


Oh, and while I've got my journal out..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OBITO!!!!!


[[Gai got back early, but will be limping for a few days as a result of a small mishap overseas.]]

As of today, I am all caught up with my homework. Best of all, I FINISHED MY ESSAY FOR PROFESSOR MARIK!!!!! Twenty feet and six inches! How she's going to grade all of them, I have no idea.

It feels good to get back to my dorm, after all those nights in the hospital wing. But what feels better is knowing how fast Lee's recovering. I still see him several times a day, but I know he's lonely down there, even with Honey and Meru. Everyone, go down and visit them!!!!

And I got a new Exploding Snap deck. Who wants to play???


[[Private]]

This masquerade thing will just about wipe out my earnings from that last assignment. I wonder if Hokage the Third can find me a quick weekend job.....

[[/private]]


[[Gai has falcon-ordered a panther mask and a men's formal kimono for the ball. The kimono is impressed with alternating green leaf clusters, black-on-black jaguar marks, and a dappled pattern resembling tree-filtered sunlight. Since he didn't pick it out in person, it will be surprisingly tasteful.]]

*staggers into the corridor, shaking off snow*

What a great workout! Thanks for the sparring match, Honey -- your speed and agility are impressive!

Heh... between sparring with Honey, Sir Integra's new training format, and yesterday's truly EPIC snowball fight, I've done more physical combat than paper homework this week -- and most of it outside! There are so many strong children here. *pats the castle wall* My alma mater is indeed a place of marvels! And so many different styles of combat! I wonder if anyone would be interested in a weekly martial arts club?

Anyhow, I'd better head up to my dorm and get changed before my icy clothes start dripping all over the place....

Wait a minute.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COMMON ROOM!?

[[Between Haruko looking for her guitar and Osaka looking for Gregory, the Hufflepuff common room currently looks like a tornado has gone through it.]]

*staggers into the school library*

Owwww... what a workout. My whole body is sore. Sgt Johnson's first class was more vigorous than ever, and then there was Sir Integra's training dummy simulation -- bracketed by two full taijutsu workouts, because this morning's one ran overtime! It's almost a relief to have nothing else but paper homework for the rest of the night.

Now where was that SAS Self-Defense Handbook...?


[Private, mood hackable]

I don't blame Sir Integra for being angry. It makes me sick knowing that some of my younger colleagues -- nay, comrades -- indulge in illicit, self-destructive behavior. Hasn't this world seen enough sorrow!? These are supposed to be the best years of their lives. It's bad enough when adults choose to ruin their minds and bodies, but when the youths who represent the shining future of our kind don't even give themselves the chance to gain their full potential... I, I.... *wipes away tears*

They're lucky it's not me that's taking them to task.

*dives furiously into research*

A last-minute mission delayed my departure, so I could not accompany my PRECIOUS PROTOGE on his FIRST JOURNEY ABROAD. I'm glad now that he doesn't know I'm coming. Accomplishing the trip by himself will improve his concentration and confidence, and get him off to a good start for his first year at Hogwarts. What will he say when he finds out I've been studying there for three years!? Our community's rule of secrecy, as important as it's been with all the politics going around these days, has some definite drawbacks. But I started late, just as he's doing, and he has a good work ethic and a wizarding family to back him up. Now that his talent is developing, there's no way he can fail!

England is likely to be cold and damp. I'll barely have time to get to Platform 9-3/4 after my mission. Even I cannot Apparate that far from here. (Someday I will, though. That's a promise!!) Hokage the Third, our beloved chief wizard, prepared a Portkey to get me to England. In a few days I'll be standing outside the gates of the castle itself. THIS WILL BE THE YEAR OF A LIFETIME!!!!!!

I hope Lee settles in all right. Will he find a youthful rival to hone his spirits during his time of education? And which House will he end up in? Could it be mine?? But no -- I'm certain that such a proud spirit could only be Sorted into Gryffindor.

Must think of some new challenges to spring on my own eternal rival. He may be a genius with talent beyond his years, but as of our last competition, we're almost even!!!! Since he didn't have a mission, he'll probably get to the train before I do. That's another point to him.... well, I'll win it back inside of a week, or else I'll do TWICE the usual amount of Potions homework! Either way, I come out ahead!!