Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Photograph ❯ Promise ( Chapter 23 )

Theme #23: candy

 

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“Woohoo!”

 

Lee bounced about with delight, terrifying the messenger that had delivered the package to him. “Sir, can you sign for that?”

 

“Of course, of course!” Still bouncing on the balls of his feet, the great green beast scribbled his signature across the page before skipping back to his desk, package in hand.

 

The messenger backed away from the skipping, grinning jounin slowly and made his escape.

 

`I knew Ten-ten would come through for me. I have become quite accustomed to Sungakure, but there are some things that you just cannot do without forever.' With careful, reverent movements, Lee pulled the strings free and opened the box. There was a note on top from his former teammate.

 

Lee,

 

Hope you enjoy these, and I hope they didn't turn into a complete mess on the trip. The jutsu we put on them should have held out for most of the trip, and the shopkeeper keeps telling me that they'll be just fine. Let me know if it worked! And remember, next time you're out to visit, you are cleaning my gutters.

 

Ten-ten

 

“Yosh! Your gutters will be spotless, Ten-ten!” Tucking the note safely in his desk, Lee pulled out the white box with gold lettering. The cardboard was still slightly cool to the touch. The jutsu must have just dispersed.

 

When he lifted the lid, a sweet smell struck his nose. Tiny, gold foil covered bundles filled the box. It was one of the most beautiful sites the transplanted shinobi had ever seen. `The world famous hard caramel candies from Konoha. Even more heavenly then the Curry of Life!'

 

One piece was selected, unwrapped, and popped into Lee's waiting mouth. His eyes rolled back as the heavenly, creamy taste spread through his mouth. `I will clean Ten-ten's gutters, and then I will put those fancy covers on them so that they never need to be cleaned again, and I will replace any sections that are not perfect!'

 

There was a firm rap on the door, yanking him from his candy induced coma. “Yes?”

 

One of the office aides was staring at him. “The Kazekage is asking for you.”

 

“I will be right there!” Lee tucked his box inside of a drawer where the bright sun could not reach it, and hustled out of the room. Gaara had been busy all day dealing with a security situation. If the rumors were true, it was likely that he was being summoned so that he could be sent on an S-rank mission.

 

With a polite knock, Lee peeked around the corner of the Kazekage's office door. “You wanted to see me?”

 

Gaara nodded, rearranging some papers. The office was empty, aside from the red head. Lee sat in front of the massive desk, on his best behavior. This was not a casual visit to his boyfriend, but an appointment with the Kazekage. “What can I do for you?”

 

“The situation with the raids on the northern villages is out of control. We have sent two teams, and neither has returned. I am making this an S-rank mission. The raiders must be eliminated immediately.”

 

Lee nodded, waiting for the rest of the information.

 

After a pause while he visibly gathered himself together, the Kazekage spoke again. “You have been chosen to lead this mission. Kankuro is also on the team. The rest of the team is made up of ANBU. You know several of them.” A scroll was rolled across the desk and into Lee's waiting hands. His voice became softer. “I cannot go on this mission, and neither can Temari. The raiders are causing unrest, and things are becoming unstable in other regions now. I know I have to stay here . . . I have to send the best we have . . . “

 

Protocol forgotten, Lee suddenly jumped up and moved around the desk, catching Gaara by the shoulders in a hug. “I am a shinobi. This is my way. You are the Kazekage, and you need to be here. You must protect your village. It is okay, Gaara-kun. It was going to happen eventually.”

 

Gaara's voice was muffled by Lee's vest. “That does not mean I have to like this. I tried to find someone else, but Temari was right. You are the best choice. You are the most likely to successfully complete this mission. This is your way. But if something happens, if you disappear . . . “

 

“I am not disappearing.” Lee pulled back enough that he could look Gaara in the eye. “I will come home to you. I am not going to let some raiders keep me away from you.”

 

The Kazekage took a deeper breath. “You will return.”

 

“Yes. I will.” Lee closed his eyes and set his forehead against Gaara's.

 

Lee stayed where he was for a long moment, just holding on to Gaara. He could only imagine what it was doing to him, to send his precious person on an S-rank mission. With a mission this critical, he would probably be leaving in a matter of hours. He needed to pack, contact his students, drop his plants off with Temari so she could water them . . .

 

“What is that?” Gaara pulled back slightly and stared.

 

“What?”

 

With no further warning, Lee was pulled down into a deep kiss. His eyes flew open. They never did things like this in Gaara's office! It was unprofessional, and most definitely not discreet! Not that he was complaining. `Maybe he just needs some comfort.'

 

When Gaara pulled back with a look of concentration, it took Lee a moment to figure out just what had happened. “Hey! Give that back!”

 

“What is this?” Gaara's mouth worked as he rolled the candy around.

 

“Candy!” Lee could not believe that Gaara had just stolen his treat while kissing him. With a smile, he pounced. “Give that back!”

 

“This is what I could smell.” With some help from his sand, Gaara's chair rolled out of the way of the jounin.

 

“Hey!” Lee caught the arm of the escaping chair. “I can get you some of your own, but that one is mine!”

 

“I have never tried a candy like . . . “

 

Gaara was cut off when Lee caught him and kissed him deeply, sweeping through his mouth in pursuit of his stolen candy. There were some tempting brushes, but the candy was elusive. To say nothing about the soft moans coming from the man underneath him being very distracting. Lee slipped into the chair so that he was straddling Gaara's lap and tried again. Strong hands slid around his waist and crushed them together.

 

They were still kissing long after the caramel had dissolved. Lee trailed leisurely kisses across Gaara's throat, making the skin under his lips jump. He pushed the blue and white robes open, giving him more access.

 

“You will come back.”

 

Lee's tongue trailed up and along his boyfriend's jaw line. He paused with his mouth resting against Gaara's ear. “Yes. I will remove this threat for you, and then I will come home.”

 

Gaara let his head fall back, his eyes closed, while Lee worked his magic. Over and over again, he murmured the same words into the pale skin, trying to give comfort while he could. It was a matter of moments before he had to leave. There were probably councilors and shinobi just outside of the door, waiting for their Kazekage to start this critical mission. Each second brought them closer to the moment where he would go on a mission where his life and his team's lives would be on the line. His chest ached, an echo of the misery that the man underneath him must be feeling after making this decision.

 

“I will come back to you. I promise.”