Maito Gai

*walks into his temporary quarters after a heavy workout and a shower, a towel draped over his neck, glancing out at the bright Tahiti sunlight... he wants missions like these more often, especially when Lee and Tenten get to come along as part of his cover story*

*eyedart left and right, opens a secret panel and checks his journal, which is hidden away along with other proof of his identity*


..Hm, the students will be enjoying the beginning of their much-needed break this week, gathering their strength and TAKING PART IN THE FESTIVITIES OF THEIR YOUTH... I hope the presents I sent have all arrived on--

*double-take*


Wait -- casualties at Hogsmeade? Death Eaters!? WHAT'S GOING ON??


[[Gai's gift-list will be coming up soon when I manage to write it. For now, they are delayed in the owl post. And YOSH, I'm back! Will be posting with the rest of my characters within the next few days.]]

[[Filtered to Wolfwood]]

Hey, Professor Wolfwood Nicholas!! I'm going over to tutor young Makenshi for a few days and help her with her summer homework. Is there a form or something I have to use to clear it with her parents guardian?

..And.... *hesitates, frowns, unsure of whether to ask Wolfwood what he knows about Chrona's home situation*

[[/filtered]]


And the summer wears on -- full of blazing LIFE!! There's a London Quidditch team that needs a coach... a club that needs a bouncer -- hm, no, it's bound to fail; that trampoline isn't strong enough for everyone.... a security operation for the Blackheath fireworks.... a delivery run over the weekend, another mission assignment from the Agency, and part-time Auror training, and.... hahaha, it's unbelievable that one man's existence could be so full and rich. I haven't even been back to my flat for a full day since the break began. At least no one else is renting it this time.... How are the rest of you doing? Is this a MAGNIFICENT summer or what? *SHINY GRIN*

HaHAH!! Out of the field at last, and with the restrictions taken off my journal, so as long as I don't say anything classified..... I'M BACK!!! What an intense, grueling, interminable experience... they said being undercover this mission was going to be stressful, and they were right! But JUSTICE prevailed in the end -- and... *ink drips on the page as he pauses, trying to think of something to say about the mission that isn't classified* ..I really, really need more clean socks....

CONGRATULATIONS, HOGWARTS, on completing your finals!! *SHINY, SHINY GRIN* Another year is almost over, and you've all surpassed your limits and grown amazingly!


NICHOLAS!! I'M BACK!!! >D How did our precious pupils do on the Charms final?

..Too bad there was no time to get THE PROJECT off the ground. I'll have to ask Paul about it later.... he's had time since that probation stopped, whatever it was..... and I never got in touch with Reggie....


( Private )


All right, what's everyone been doing while I was away? Tell me all about it! *scribbled smile-face with a thumbs-up*


[[Strikes unhackable. Gai's right arm will be in a sling for the next few days. This post will ICly be set a few hours after his return to the castle.]]

*finishes writing his thank-yous just as the train pulls up onto the castle grounds*

( Notes to Mikage, Hirako, Vivi, Emilia, Sophie, Rinali, Misa, Ikki, and Hinata )


AHAHAHA, I finally have time to look at my journal! HELLO, HOGWARTS!!!~ *PROUD GREEN POSE* This month has been so busy that I have barely been able to snatch time to write -- but I PASSED MY STEALTH AND TRACKING PRACTICALS and now there's only Piffle and Circumspection before the midwinter term is over!! HEY, EVERYBODY!!! *SHINY GRIN* What have you all been up to lately?

A brief stop in my quarters, and then there will be just time to touch bases with everyone befo--

..but... but wait....

*JAWDROP*

WHO WROTE ON MY DOOR!????


[[Notes are only visible to the people therein addressed. And feel free to have seen the graffiti before Gai gets rid of it!]]

No Portkey available today. But I will not be late while I have a broomstick!! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. ..I saw the train while I was flying north.... what's it doing making a trip at this time of year? Supplies? A new teacher?? Good grief, I hope no one else got hurt....


[[Filtered to Neji]]

This is another new journal, so maybe it will actually work and you will be able to read this.

WHERE ARE YOU??

[[/filtered]]


[[Filtered to TenTen]]

My journal blew up and I did not receive your latest messages. What is going on?

[[/filtered]]


[[SO TOTALLY PRIVATE]]

I should talk to the Counselor. The Ministry has pamphlets about depression, but they are too general to be any use. If it's this bad, I cannot fail him through incomplete understanding. I... as much as I care about him, I cannot do this alone....

This has gone far beyond poor Neji. Ah, my Lee... loss and rejection have ruled his young life. His foster parents, resenting his magical disability. His best friend... disappearing for years, trying to kill him, and then disappearing again after they'd reconciled.... other friends leaving, one by one... perhaps only his youthful spirit sustained him for this long.... confound the Ministry, keeping me back in London after the paperwork was in already.... ..does he think that even I will leave him? These wounds are so deep, so deep....

I can't lose him....

[[/private]]


Only another week, then the winter break and we will -- but...

*swears blackly, then covers the words with a heavy strikeout when he realizes what he's said*

That assignment.... I had forgotten.....


[[Due to ministry work and his all too convenient journal malfunctions, Gai has NO CLUE what has been happening since he left Hogwarts on Wednesday. He will be arriving on the castle grounds as you read this, nearly frozen solid from flying all the way to Scotland in the dead of winter, visibly shaken by Lee's recent signs of major depression, and with his hair significantly shorter in front. Rose, Jen, Cella, Kris, EMAIL MEEEE!~]]

Ys thys thyng wyrkyng? -- WYYT, WHYRY YRY YLL THY VYWYLS?????

*taps with wand, mutters the incantation Ryuzaki taught him*

Tysting, testing.... huh, that was odd. But LO!!! This new journal should solve my communication problems completely! MY FELLOW STUDENTS AND ALUMNI, KONOHA'S PROUD GREEN BEAST IS BACK!!! HOW ARE YOU ALL?? *SHINY GRIN*


[[Private, hackable if you're really good]]

No time to search this week. Who knew there would be an assignment right here in London!? And with the old journal acting up... egad, I must have missed a lot. But I will find something before the autumn leaves fall, or else I shall... I shall.... run ALL THE WAY AROUND LONDON FORTY TIMES BEFORE SPRING!!!!

[[/private]]


[[Yes, ladies and gents, this is for all intents and purposes a slightly foxed brand new journal. Gai picked it up in Diagon Alley because his old one had become unmanageable. But LITTLE DOES HE KNOW that this new one has secrets of its own.... MWAHAHAHAHA!!]]

HOME AT LAST.....


[[Private]]

..well, home in England....

..the place has grown on me in the four years since I arrived here, a frightened zealous young Muggle-born preternaturally thrown into a world of incredible marvels.

It's humbling to know how many places I can belong in......

The urge to belong.... it transcends time, space, and culture. When we were dancing in Durgapur, Lee and I, and even Gaara, melded seamlessly with the dervish spirit of that small town. I wept at Gaara's story. An experience like that is more than enough to cause the deep wounds that he struggled with during this last year. Whatever the case... he will always be at home around US!!!!

*sitting down by the window, gazes out over Diagon Alley*

..That owl... even a few days a week would suffice, they said... but where?

[[/private]]


SAKURA!!! That run you mentioned around the lake? There are probably some amazing lakes up where you are, so BRING IT ON!!!!!


[[Gaara may not have said anything definite; Gai's responding to the emotion. Have been insanely busy the past few days but may be around tomorrow to work out how the mission is going. If it's not over, just say Gai had to go home early and knew he was leaving it in good hands.]]

*parchment is stained, scuffed, and marred with what seem to be talon scratches; the brown impression of some dry desert fern has somehow baked itself between the pages*

A roaring fire, a hearty meal of trail provisions, boon companions at my side and the stars spread like jewels from horizon to horizon... what more fitting end to a long and arduous day?

I'll take the first watch, Lee -- you and the others get some rest. We have an EVEN LONGER DAY TOMORROW!!! *ever-so-shiny grin*

At least those vultures aren't around at night.....


[[Accidentally posted this on the main community at first. *sheepish* Sorry about that.]]

*swaggering down toward the entrance to Diagon Alley* Good news, Lee -- I'm nearly finished here! By this time tomor-- EH!? *hit on the head by a small object -- catches it, grumbling, as it flutters toward the ground* All the more reason to double that awareness training....

Hmmm... a paper airplane..? Why would anyone... but wait, there's something written on it... good grief, could it be a SECRET MESSAGE!??

*carefully unfolds the intricate airplane and sees the following cryptic statement....*



'Playing chess'? I wasn't planning a chess match with anyone, not with this rent problem to attend to though I wouldn't say no to a couple of games this evening.... who sent this, anyway? *looks around, can't see anyone who might have thrown the airplane* Well, that was an odd incident! Somebody having a laugh, I suppos--!???

*another has come out of nowhere, circling his head; he snatches it out of the air*

( OH NO, ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS MISSIVE! )

Wh-WHAT!? Who -- where could this possibly have come from?? *peers frantically about; hands on hips in a belligerent stance* The NERVE of this mysterious stalker!! *PROUD GREEN POSE* If they won't come out here and challenge me to my face, they can throw all the airplanes they want and it won't faze me in the SLIGHTEST!!!!


[[Take THAT, you meme people! XDDDD I may make this into a minor plot point, but feel free to get pelted as well. ^^]]

Ahaha...

AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Mission accomplished!!!!!!

*swaggering down Konoha's main street*

All right!!! Where is everybody? What have I missed? Who wants to meet me at Ichiraku for a LIGHT, HEALTHFUL SUMMER BRUNCH!?


[[Filtered to Lee]]

What times are you training these days???

[[/filtered]]


[[Unless otherwise indicated, Gai will remain in Konoha until the end of the week, at which time he will return to London for the first part of July.]]