[Heavens help him, he sounded as if he was about to rattle off his registration number. And none of what he said mattered- they were not in Konoha and he belonged to it no longer, in the way those in graves didn't belong to an army they'd risen through the ranks of. And no, he can't keep the notion from flooding his head again- and again and again like a violent tide: he was dead. Not only that- he had died.
But for now, the Hyuga straightens and it takes a tremendous effort to stand tall, shoulders and jaw squared with uncomfortable tension and the will to work through it. He notes the other's attire, it just. Didn't register, not yet, not when he's fighting tooth and nail to keep their eyes locked. Freakish, no visible pupil, it'd be nearly impossible to note the damn shadow over them. Nearly impossible. Not entirely.
And no. Neji Hyuga will neither stammer nor falter, so there's a stupid pause between them.
--he can't remember a damned thing. Nothing helpful.]
What I said stands.
[He can't think of anything else.] I will pay to you what I must.
no subject
Hyuga Neji. Jonin, of Konohagakure.
[Heavens help him, he sounded as if he was about to rattle off his registration number. And none of what he said mattered- they were not in Konoha and he belonged to it no longer, in the way those in graves didn't belong to an army they'd risen through the ranks of. And no, he can't keep the notion from flooding his head again- and again and again like a violent tide: he was dead. Not only that- he had died.
But for now, the Hyuga straightens and it takes a tremendous effort to stand tall, shoulders and jaw squared with uncomfortable tension and the will to work through it. He notes the other's attire, it just. Didn't register, not yet, not when he's fighting tooth and nail to keep their eyes locked. Freakish, no visible pupil, it'd be nearly impossible to note the damn shadow over them. Nearly impossible. Not entirely.
And no. Neji Hyuga will neither stammer nor falter, so there's a stupid pause between them.
--he can't remember a damned thing. Nothing helpful.]
What I said stands.
[He can't think of anything else.] I will pay to you what I must.