Two Leaf Fires (MadaNaru)

To Know: Hero's Lament

"Naruto-kun." The serious toned voice was obscured by whom spoke it, though he could not bid surprise; the memorial service had only just ended. All around were walking away with either high held heads in a rather corrupted depiction of determination and false bravery. Others were slouched low and speaking only to their loved ones beside or the ground as it listened without judgement. There were mixes of the two, attempts made then failed, tears wiped and a lift of the chin, to fall quickly, a showcasement of inner strength waning fast only for tears to flow and a quake of the limbs for grief beginning. The man in front of him was under the last category though he was standing without bowed posture at present.Gazing upon him with a mixed express that could not be defined properly- though with the grieving of the moment, Naruto knew he had no true wish to- because within all the eyes around, he could only see inside them a reflection of blame; whether that was in truth or merely the cruel vision he saw himself in reckoning. Lee's himself did appear torn, perhaps in withholding his own wish to cast emotion, perhaps for not knowing how to express it; and wasn't such a thing a worse effect of war's bitter touch? Lee, not showcasing his true emotions.

Naruto forced himself to remain still and not contemplate the thought, it would dive him further down into whatever spiral he had begun for himself. "I cannot blame you for this. I cannot." The blond could not find the tears within to cry for the statement, his mind could not fathom the words- their impact for unto his ears he heard only falsity; not from the taijutsu expert before him, it was false because his head only spoke it was untrue. A comforting lie, because in fact, in all logic, it was him who was to blame. Perhaps that was why his body shook instead, and his eyes found only the colour of black on his former comrade's mofuku to stare at. Knowing how wrong it appeared, yet had nothing to say for it. There were many persons he had no want to meet during or after, and Lee was high upon that list. Facing the man after what had occurred just recently, clenched at him, bit vile words into his mind so corrupted to think them as a shinobi was shamed. Hearing console from one whom had lost so tragically because of him was hardly bearable, it punched hard.

"You cannot either Naruto-kun." Lee was simply too nice a person, and the Uzumaki did not believe his words, it was kindness that flowed. There could be no candour. His eyes were not gazing at the man, only the bleak black on his person, he did not notice when it came close- he did not feel the warm press of a hand on his shoulder for a moment neither. Yet whence he did, for all his experience as a shinobi, for all his knowledge of reflexes and perception; the hand on his shoulder jolted him fast. It was not on his mind to scream for the contact, he did, he screamed out- perhaps only briefly, but it still did occur. It occurred as he slapped the hand off fast and fell onto the ground, painful with the dirt digging and scraping at his legs and rear just outside his too thin, cheap bought, mofuku. Such dark midnight irises only managing to stare up at the other for fear, recognition plain, but it was not his friend he saw. His clothes were black- obscure, his eyes were black, his hair was black- ruffled, disorginized, and not quite right, but too similar. It blurred evermore as his head became fuzzed, his chest rising and falling too quickly for any shinobi to not comprehend the reason.

"Naruto-kun!" The shout was fogged by the ring in his hearing, but he knew it occurred as the other man dropped infront of him, panicked gaze more clear then anything else in his vision. He choked on his own saliva and clasped his eyes shut against the worry he saw within coal irises, that which he did not want to see. "You must-" The vague voice was rapid, uncertain and mumbling to itself hurried questions. "-please, please calm down Naruto-kun, please- I know- I know-" rushed out in a scare. Then, Naruto found himself incased in a gentle warmth, so carefully placed, an embrace where each touch was light. It shocked him enough for his breath to return to him, body quaking, and eyes blurred for lack of oxygen. Understanding did not come as easily; he was being held, Lee was hugging him as if he were about to break for touch. This is what he knew, though it was wrong to his mind, he took the offer- for once, and pleaded for forgiveness as he clutched fast onto the man. The muscles prominent underneath the layers of fabric, shifting as he held tighter, just as Naruto did. Scared for a sudden retaliation, but wanton for the comfort, he could not bid himself to losen his grip. Every limb, everything that he was, trembled, and he could not get his body to corporate.