Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ He Didn't Mind ❯ Roundabout ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

By: Resoan

Part II

Another beautiful day shined in Konohagakure, a disgruntled ninja being slowly awaken by the annoyingly bright rays of sunshine.

“Ugh,” he moaned, slowly sitting up in his bed, the blankets falling to his waist. He blinked slowly, taking the light in only in phases. “Morning already? I must have overslept…,” he said, jumping out of bed and throwing his usual green jumpsuit on.

His usual happy behavior had somewhat deteriorated over the past few weeks; he was not able to follow Gaara back to Sunagakure. He had all but gotten on his hands and knees and begged Tsunade to go, but she had denied his request regretfully.

He opened his door, yawning widely, as he began towards the training grounds.

“You're late, Lee,” Gai-sensei said, eyeing him.

“I'm sorry, Gai-sensei, but I must have overslept. I have not been having the best of luck falling asleep lately,” Lee explained, a bit depressed.

“I see. But that does not excuse you from your training! Now, let's begin!,” Gai replied, still wondering why his student was having problems falling asleep.

Hours later, the sun was setting; Lee remained at the training grounds, practicing his kunai and shuriken throws for accuracy. He was panting heavily as another presence entered the grounds.

“Don't you think you've practiced enough, Lee?,” Tenten's concerned voice asked thoughtfully. “Come on. Let's go get something to eat! You must be starved!,” she continued, a smile on her face.

“You do not understand, Tenten. I must continue practicing so I am able to become stronger!,” Lee replied with staunch determination.

Her face fell as she replied, “Are you okay, Lee? Is it because Gaara's gone?,” she questioned lightly.

At that moment, Lee's hand punched directly through the wooden practice post.

“I do not know what you mean, Tenten-san,” Lee replied again, a hint of sadness in his voice.

“Okay, well, Lee, if you ever need someone to talk to, know I'm here, okay?,” she asked, a sincere smile on her lips.

“Of course, Tenten-san,” Lee replied with his lips upturned.

Tenten left, a bit miffed, but determined to be there for Lee if he needed it.

The moon was not visible, seeing as it was the night of the new moon. Lee had finally stopped training long enough to gaze up at the night sky.

“When will I see you again, Gaara-kun?,” he questioned bitter sweetly. He sighed fully; “I do not understand anything anymore,” he continued, gazing back down to the small creek on the outskirts of the village hidden in the leaves.

He got back up, and walked gloomily back towards his home for another restless night of no sleep.

(POV Shift)

The Kazekage of Sunagakure looked anxiously around his cluttered office, hoping for some sort of respite from the over-encompassing mountains of paperwork that needed finishing.

He sighed as his older sister came in to check up on his work.

“Temari, how many times must I tell you to knock before entering my office?,” Gaara asked icily.

“Relax, Gaara. I only came to see how you were,” she said easily, taking a seat on the only seat not covered with papers.

“You know, Gaara, I think you must really miss him,” Temari said, picking up a paper and examining it meticulously.

Gaara eyed her warily; “What do you mean by that?,” he asked, sitting back in his chair, an indiscernible look in his eyes.

She rolled her eyes; “You miss Bushy Brows, Gaara. That's why you're in such a foul mood all the time,” she replied, a knowing smile on her face.

Blushing slightly, Gaara replied, “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Oh please, Gaara. I saw you kiss him in Konoha, don't try to tell me you don't miss him,” she replied with a smirk.

“Maybe you should schedule a vacation…?,” Temari's voice trailed off.

“No,” Gaara said firmly. “I need to get work done here,” he replied, picking up more papers and scanning them for information.

“Oh come on Gaara. We all want to go back,” Temari said, looking at her nails.

“Why do you want to go back?,” Gaara asked fiercely.

“Oh you know, just some relations I left unfinished,” she replied vaguely.

“Oh, right; you never got anywhere with Shikamaru, did you?,” Gaara asked with a smirk.

“Gaara!,” Temari exclaimed, a bright blush on her face.

“You are welcome to go back to Konoha, Temari,” Gaara said, his face buried in a document of obvious importance.

“But Gaara, I thought you wanted to see Lee,” she said, a sort of sadness hidden in her sisterly voice.

“My village needs me, Temari; I can't leave every time I feel nostalgic for my love life,” he replied bitterly.

“I hadn't known your loyalties lied with a village that only fears you, instead of with your heart and lover back in Konoha,” Temari replied icily, as she exited the room with a slam.

Gaara was slightly taken aback; No one before had dared speak to him in such a manner and had yet lived. But, Temari had made a relevant point: Gaara cared more for the people who feared him than those who loved him. True, Gaara had not known the concept of love for very long, but he was trying to show his village that he was changed; however, most people were too obstinate and hard-hearted to believe he had truly and actually changed for the better. They still lived in fear of the Shukaku, the demon that the Akatsuki had extracted from him a while back.

Gaara placed his head in his hands, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples gently. Why did the world still hate him, even though the demon that had once threatened them was rid from his body? He didn't understand….he didn't understand many things.

He didn't understand why he had allowed Rock Lee to live in the first place, when he had had the perfect opportunity to kill him after the Chunin preliminaries. He didn't understand why he had protected Rock Lee from the foe Kimimaru, putting his thought of Shinobis and Ninja duty aside. He didn't understand why such a wonderful person had fallen in love with him, a supposed monster and evil person. He didn't understand why he could never form coherent sentences around said boy. He didn't understand why his lips got dry and he was unable to speak when he saw him. He didn't understand why his pulse accelerated or why he began to sweat when a mere thought of him entered its way into his mind. He didn't understand any of these things, and frankly, he didn't care to understand.

The only thing that mattered to him, was that he had Lee, and he would never let him go. Never. He knew that not everyone experienced what he was experiencing now, and he was grateful for it always. He yearned to return to Konoha, to see his Beloved again, but his duties to his village outweighed his selfish desires. If only he had known the effect of his choice, and how it made Lee feel in the process.

(POV Shift)

Many days later, Lee awoke to the sound of rain pitter-pattering lightly on his windowpane, symbolizing not only the drought of the village, but also his internal despair. His eyes were duller than they normally were; his face was not in its normal happy-go-lucky state, and people began to wonder if the young man were okay.

Lee trudged slowly out of the door, not paying any attention to where he was going yet again.

“Lee!,” a familiar voice yelled. He looked up suddenly.

“What do you want?,” Lee asked, not really in the talkative mood.

“I wanted to talk with you, Lee; please, let's get something to eat,” Temari asked, gesturing for him to follow her.

He sighed hesitantly, but reluctantly acquiesced, following her to a nearby restaurant so they could talk in out of the rain.

They both ordered coffee, sitting in an awkward silence before two warm glasses of the substance was set in front of them.

“What did you wish to talk about, Temari-sama?,” Lee asked, pouring some sugar into his coffee before picking it up and taking a large gulp.

“Lee, this isn't easy for me to talk about, but Gaara is really busy with his Kazekage business down in Sunagakure….and I don't know when you two will be able to see each other. I say this only because I don't want to see Gaara hurt, and also I don't want you to be hurt either,” Temari explained.

She took a sip of her black coffee, cringing a bit from the bitterness, before resuming her talk.

“I know you're probably wondering why I would care if you're in pain or not, seeing as I tried to destroy the relationship with you and Gaara before it even started. I…I wanted to apologize for that. I'm sorry I did that, Lee. When Kankuro and I found out about what you did, we didn't know what to think. We figured it was only a prank, and that's why we did what we did. But, now we both see that what we did not only hurt you immensely, but also hurt Gaara. And you need to understand that although sometimes we were afraid of Shukaku, we loved our brother. We would die for him. I hope you can forgive us, Lee,” Temari concluded, taking a breath and then a short gulp of coffee, cringing a bit afterwards.

Lee was looking at her, his eyes full of some indiscernible emotion.

Temari sat anxiously in her chair, almost unable to bear the silence and awkwardness of the current situation.

“I forgive you,” Lee said after a minute, smiling and looking Temari in the eyes. Temari smiled back, relieved that the awkwardness had finally passed.

“Where is Gaara-kun, Temari?,” Lee asked, curious as to the whereabouts of the cute Kazekage.

“Gaara was unable to come with myself and Kankuro to Konoha; he sends his regards, however,” Temari said, as though she had rehearsed it many times already.

Lee's face deflated instantly; “Does he not wish to see me anymore, Temari-san?,” Lee asked sadly.

“No no. Nothing like that, Lee. Gaara just has many duties that he is responsible for, and he could not just up and leave whenever he wishes to. He wants to though, I could tell,” Temari informed him, a sly grin on her face.

The door to the restaurant opened and closed, the small toll bell ringing as Rock Lee exited swiftly.

“I'm sorry, Lee,” Temari said, a true frown on her face.

(POV Shift)

“Lee? Where are you headed in such a hurry?,” Shikamaru asked, a nonchalant on his face.

“I am going to the training grounds…..,” Lee replied, trailing off without finishing his sentence.

“Hmph. What a drag,” Shikamaru commented, continuing to walk along the main path of Konoha.

“Shikamaru?,” Temari asked, just coming out of the restaurant.

“Oh, Temari. Tsunade told me you and Kankuro were here in Konoha,” Shikamaru stated, his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah…so, what are you doing, Shikamaru?,” Temari replied, one of her hands resting on the back of her head.

“Eh, Tsunade gave me the day off, so I was just going to go to the field and watch the clouds for a while,” Shikamaru replied lazily.

“Wow. That sounds productive,” Temari replied with a smirk.

“No one asked you, Temari,” Shikamaru shot back, a semi-grin on his face.

“Come on,” Temari instructed, grabbing Shikamaru by the arm and dragging him to an unknown place.

(POV Shift)

Rock Lee continued towards the training facilities, deep in thought and barely lifting his gaze from the ground.

“Lee?,” a voice asked.

“Hm?,” Lee responded, looking up.

“Lee? Are you all right?,” the concerned voice of Gai-sensei filled his ears.

Lee smiled widely; “I am perfectly fine, Gai-sensei!,” Lee replied, hoping that he wouldn't have to explain his errant behavior.

Gai's eyebrows shot in the air; “Do you really think I'm that gullible, Lee-kun?,” Gai asked softly.

Lee sighed; “I am sorry, Gai-sensei,” he apologized.

Gai sighed wistfully; “It's Gaara again, isn't it?,” Gai asked knowingly.

Lee didn't verbally respond, but he dropped his head and slowly nodded.

Gai gently grasped Lee's shoulder; “Don't worry, Lee. I'm sure you'll see him soon!,” Gai-sensei said with a bright smile.

“Hm…I guess you are right, Gai-sensei!,” Lee responded with a smile, then turning around and running in another direction.

“Lee!,” Gai called, “The power of youth is strong in him all right.”

Lee continued running until he was at the gates of the city, fully determined to leave Konoha and see Gaara if it were the last thing he ever did, and knowing Tsunade, it would be.

He was ready to walk out the gate when an angry voice yelled for him.

“Lee!!! What the HELL do you think you're doing?!,” the Hokage's voice rang.

“Eheh, I was going to see Gaara, Lady Tsunade,” Lee explained, a hand resting on the back of his head.

“I don't believe I gave you permission to do that, now did I, Lee?,” Tsunade asked, a hand on her hip.

“But, Tsunade…I have to see him!,” Lee pleaded, nearly dropping to his knees.

She sighed knowingly, an air of nostalgia undulating. “Fine. But only on one condition,” Tsunade acquiesced.

Lee brightened, a wide smile reaching both eyes.

“What's the condition?,” Lee asked curiously.

(POV Shift)

Gaara sighed for what seemed like the fiftieth time that evening; it didn't matter how many papers he read or how many treaties he enacted, the pile simply never receded.

He put a hand to his eyes, the light being too much to handle from the setting sun.

“I wish I could take a break…,” Gaara sighed heavily, wishing for only one person.

A knock sounded on his door; “Come in,” Gaara said, annoyed and tired.

“Sir, your sister and brother have finally returned from Konoha,” the sand Shinobi informed him, saluting while making the statement.

“Thank you. You are dismissed,” Gaara said, gesturing for him to leave the way he came.

After Gaara was sure he was alone, he sighed yet again.

“I want to see you……Lee,” Gaara finished breathily.

“Good, because I wanted to see you too, Gaara-kun!,” a happy voice said with a grin.

Gaara's eyes widened considerably; “Lee?,” he asked, looking up into those black eyes he hadn't seen in nearly a month.

“Of course me! Who else would you expect?,” Lee asked, tilting his head to one side.

Gaara half-smiled, then moved to get up from the chair he had been in most of the day.

Before Gaara knew what was going on, he was pinned against the wall, with no hope of escape; a happy Lee smiled coyly in his face.

“Hey,” Lee whispered, sending shivers down Gaara's spine as a small blush crept its way onto the redhead's face.

Gaara tried to speak, but that damnable nervousness rendered his speech abilities useless at this very interesting moment in time. He opened his mouth, only to shut it a few times.

Lee chuckled; “Well, here we are,” Lee said with anticipation.

Before things could progress further, impeccable timing had its way with the two lovers. A knock resounded on the door, causing Gaara to glare at the said piece of wood.

“What do you want?,” Gaara snarled, not happy about being interrupted.

“May I come in, Kazekage-sama?,” a voice asked nervously.

Lee and Gaara separated, however unhappily, as the sand Shinobi came into the room, Temari and Kankuro at his heels.

Gaara's eyes narrowed; “What is so important?,” he asked expectantly.

“Gaara, we found one of the patrolling Shinobis dead along the northern border. His death was not ordinary; we are still investigating the cause of death and possible killers,” Temari said.

“You sound like you already know who did it, Temari,” Gaara said perceptively.

Temari gulped almost audibly; “Well, I do have a hunch,” she said.

“Oh, and would you mind sharing that with the rest of us?,” Gaara asked, thoroughly annoyed and somewhat concerned.

“Well, I think…,” Temari was cut off as another cry of alarm made its way into the Kazekage's office.

“What now?,” Kankuro asked, bewildered.

“Lord Kazekage! We're being attacked!,” the entering Shinobi exclaimed, a worrisome look on his countenance.