Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Photograph ❯ Talk ( Chapter 13 )

Theme 13: Excessive chain

 

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Voices echoed up and down the hallways, adding a sense of bustling activity to what was usually a very quiet residence. Lee smiled as he poked his head around the door, listening to the three genin that he had been tutoring. It was probably Temari's idea to assign them to this particular mission. The trio had gotten rather used to seeing Gaara, and would react in a calm and rational manner if they saw him in his own house. But that did not mean that it was a mission that anyone was jumping up to volunteer for.

 

“How the . . . Ami, can you walk up the wall and get that candle wax? I have no idea how it got up that high.”

 

Considering the state of the residence in the aftermath of Lee's 23rd birthday, Temari had made cleaning up the mess a Class D mission and had brought in a team of genin to deal with it. One of the council members had mumbled something about abuse of power, but Lee had to agree with Temari. This definitely warranted as a ranked mission.

 

“Watch it, Seiji! Don't just drop the kunai after you get them free!”

 

On top of the voices of the rather annoyed genin were the voices of the visitors from Konoha. Naruto was currently in the kitchen, dealing with a rather tricky jutsu that someone had set up. Lee was suspicious of Kankuro, but since the puppet-nin had no recollections of the night, it would just remain a mystery. Shikamaru was briefing Temari on what they knew about the group of ninja they would be chasing down in the living room, ignoring the genin that were climbing around them. Kankuro was still in his room, having only left the bathroom an hour earlier.

 

Shaking himself from his reverie, Lee turned back into his room and continued to pack for the mission. The plan was to leave the next morning to begin the hunt. That gave Naruto and Shikamaru a chance to rest from their run across the desert and a chance to update the Kazekage on what was going on in his territory. Lee dragged out his set of weights that he would be wearing for this mission. He actually owned several sets of weights, but this one was special. This set of weights could double as weapons. The weights were linked together by chain, and could be combined into nunchucks, a staff, or any number of unpleasant gadgets. They had been a present from Gai-sensei. Lee trailed a hand over the heavy metal sections, his gesture almost affectionate. He and these weapons were old friends. As he would before any mission, he started to pull out the weights to inspect them for any damage that would need repair.

 

“Lee.”

 

It was with a certain amount of pride that Lee turned to face Gaara, not at all startled by the sudden appearance. He was just getting used to it, the same way he was getting used to the hot desert wind and the spectacular stars at night. “Hi, Gaara! How has your morning been?”

 

Gaara blinked slowly. “Fine.”

 

Lee grinned broadly. It was taking a while, but Gaara was learning the fine art of small talk!

 

“I do not understand.”

 

The grin tipped and started to slide, despite Lee's best efforts. No good came from Gaara saying that he didn't understand something. “Understand what, Gaara?”

 

“What was different last night?”

 

“Different? I am sorry, but I do not think I am following . . . “ Lee fidgeted with the frighteningly heavy weight the way most people would toy with a pencil.

 

“We kissed last night. It was different. Why?”

 

`Of course. I am never having brownies made by Kankuro again.' Lee took a deep breath to steady his thoughts. “It is just a different way of kissing.”

 

“My body reacted. It wanted something.”

 

The weight slipped from Lee's suddenly numb fingers and slammed into the floor, cracking the worn stone floor. “Oh, I am so sorry. I will take care of that.” Lee scooped the weight back up, turning to his weight set. Only years of practice allowed him to link the weight back into the set and continue inspecting. “And you have never experienced something like that before?”

 

“Never.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Why did my body change?”

 

The smooth inspection faltered again, with Lee barely catching the linked weights before they hit the floor. His voice was a strangled gasp. “Changed?”

 

“Parts became harder. I wanted to touch you, but it was not the same. I wanted something, very strongly, and it involved you. Explain.”

 

The weights dropped from Lee's hands, slamming into the cracked floor and continuing on through the kitchen table before burying themselves in the stone foundation of the building. Unfortunately, since they were all linked, all of the weights continued to pour through the hole and add to the growing crater in the kitchen.

 

“What the hell?” Naruto's voice boomed through the house. “You trying to kill me, bushy brows? I've told you, those things are dangerous!!”

 

There was a group of gasps as the rest of the occupants of the house hurried into the kitchen. The three genin stared at the crater in horror. “We just finished cleaning that floor.”

 

“Umm . . . “ Lee looked down through the hole, seeing the many pairs of eyes staring back up at him. “I'll be right down to get those.”

 

Gaara had his arms crossed. “You have not answered my question.”

 

“I am just going to run downstairs and take care of this. You stay right here, and I will be back.” Lee fled from the room, giving his genin a bit of a fright when he suddenly appeared. His eyes swept the room's occupants before settling on a still slightly green Kankuro. He bounded over and grabbed the man by the arm, tugging him to the side. “Kankuro-san, I have a problem.”

 

“You've got a couple, man.” Kankuro stared at the Konoha shinobi through glazed eyes. “What one are you talking about?”

 

“Gaara just asked . . . “ Lee was having trouble even getting the words out. “Please, Kankuro-san, has anyone had the talk with Gaara?”

 

The hung over shinobi continued to stare. “Huh?”

 

“The talk. You know. Birds and bees and flowers and storks and . . . you know.”

 

Kankuro slowly focused in. “What the hell did he ask you?”

 

“He wanted to know why . . . he was . . . we were . . . “ Lee looked around helplessly, and noticed that he had an audience. Temari and Shikamaru were at one shoulder, and Naruto was at the other. The genin, fortunately, were ignoring them to take turns trying to lift one of the weights. “Oh, my youthful students, I will tend to those! Your energies will be better focused in the living room!”

 

Hideaki gave one last yank before admitting defeat and leading his teammates out of the room.

 

Temari had her hands on her hips, in obvious battle mode, despite the blush dusting her cheeks. “Do I want to know what you two did last night? Wait a minute, was I in the room?”

 

“I know I was.” Kankuro clamped a hand to his mouth.

 

Lee looked frantic. “Please, focus, Gaara is upstairs waiting for an answer, and I do not think I am the one to have this very special conversation with him.”

 

“Why not. You're the one that caused it.”

 

Temari reached over to flick her brother in the forehead. “You're not getting out of it that easily. You're his big brother.”

 

Kankuro went pale, even washing out his green tint. “You've gotta' be kidding. I have to give Gaara of the Desert the talk?”

 

Naruto burst out laughing, doubling over. “Gaara doesn't know? How old is he? He's older then me, right? Oh, man, that means his a virgin, doesn't it? Man, I got that talk in the academy, and I started in with girls when I was . . . “

 

Temari reached over to give Naruto a matching flick. “I don't want to know.”

 

“Oh, but it's a good story! I was . . . “

 

“Keep that up, and you're the one giving the talk to Gaara.”

 

“What talk?”

 

The entire room froze, before slowly turning towards those jade green eyes. Gaara was standing in the door way, annoyed glare already fixed on the group.

 

Temari reached behind her and grabbed Kankuro, dragging him to the front. “Your big brother needs to talk to you.”

 

Gaara gave his rather sickly looking brother a quick glance before turning back to his sister. “Is this about my body's reaction to Lee?”

 

Temari and Lee turned matching shades of crimson while Naruto collapsed in a heap with tears of mirth running down his face. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and went back into the living room.

 

“Kankuro is going to answer any questions you have. Okay, Gaara?” Temari handed Kankuro over and gave Gaara a distracted pat on the head. “I'll be in the living room if he gives you any trouble.”

 

Lee ducked down and started gathering up his weights. He needed to get back to packing, or cleaning his room, or repairing that hole, or anything that got him away from here! He darted out of the room, noticing as he left that the visibly disturbed Kankuro was heading to his room with Gaara.

 

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Lee tucked the last of his supplies away, smiling brightly at a job well done. His packs were tight and organized. They would be easier to carry, while leaving no necessity behind. It had taken years to perfect this art, and he was quite proud of his skill.

 

The door to his room slammed open, revealing a very agitated Kazekage. His eyes were narrowed, glaring at Lee while the sand whipped around him.

 

“That was disturbing, and made absolutely no sense.”

 

Lee stared, his jaw slack. `I am going to kill you, Kankuro.'