Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Boy In The Closet ❯ Friends? ( Chapter 15 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]


Lee walks with his head down from the bus stop to his house, the events of today swirl through his mind as well as the pain in his back and side from where Kiba shoved him into the lockers on his way out before punching him in the gut barking that he needs to stay away from his table at lunch and that he should also consider walking to school in the morning so they don't have to see him waiting at the bus stop. But at least he got to ride home today because Kiba is going out for a sports team. Lee doesn't understand why the fiesty male hates him so much, Naruto is trying to be friends, he invited him to sit at his table even though he was sure he was just trying to get on Sasuke's nerves for whatever reason, but he did invite his self over for dinner and a sleepover so maybe during that time they can become actual friends. The front door of the Hatake home opened before the sullen boy even turned up to the paved path to it. Knowing his fathers weren't home he hurried into the house shoving the door closed as quickly as he could.

"Gaara! What are you doing?" He asked the ghost child upon seeing the tiny smirk on his face at his appearance.

Stating the obvious, he says. "I was opening the door for you."

"B- but you shouldn't do things like that, what if someone saw you?" He slips his feet from his sneakers then slides them into a pair of slippers.

"Who would see me?" He looks over his shoulder to the kitchen. "No one is here but me all day. I saw you coming from the window." He starts to explain.

"But I could have had someone with me."

Gaara nearly scoffed hearing that. "Like who?"

"Naruto. He's sleeping over tonight."

"Why?" His somewhat happy expression is gone now.

"Because he's gonna be my friend." He said stating a bit of the obvious himself. Walking into the kitchen he grabs a cup from the cabinet. He's always thirsty after school.

Gaara followed him, a frown on his face, he takes a seat at the table. "Since when?"

"Since this morning; he asked me at the bus stop. I think maybe Sasuke talked to him," pouring his drink he gulps it down then pours another glass, returning the drink to the fridge he grabs a stick of celery as an after thought. "So he's decided to be nice to me. Its gonna be great! This is what I've always wanted," he started to ramble almost missing the shorter males words.

"....I thought I was your friend." He sounds completely put out and hurt.

"You are my friend, my best friend remember?"

Gaara is silent a moment then he asks. "Then why do you need Naruto?"

Taking a seat at the table, he answers him. "Because we're different friends than Naruto and myself could be." Standing, he leaves the kitchen and heads for his bedroom.

Following he asks. "....What does that mean?"

"Gaara," he looks over his shoulder at him. "You see, I can't talk about my friendship with you without everyone thinking I'm crazy. To everyone, you're not real like you are to me."

Growling, Gaara froze in his steps down the upstairs hallway.

"No, not like that!" Waving his celery, he chews his bottom lip in thought. "What I mean is, my parents put me in school therapy because they hear me talking to you.... I don't want my Dad's thinking I'm crazy or something."

The red head seemed to be in deep thought as he was quiet for an actual ten minutes while Lee had a drink and snack, he then set the glass on his side dresser. Changing from his school clothes, he searches for an old shirt to wear but he can't find it where he usually leaves them since his room mate took it upon himself to clean up his closet. Gaara watched Lee's shirtless back with intense fascination the way his muscles move. Looking down he spots a red swell from where he must have gotten hurt. Standing he walks over and touches the boys back.

Lee can feel the cool touch from the boy, he smiles because it feels kind of like an ice pack. Locating his shirt he slips it on then walks through the boy to lay on his bed. With no homework today he had to decide on what to do with this free time until his brothers and fathers get back. Gaara walked over to the bed and climbed on snuggling down at Lee's side. The taller male chuckled to his self then closed his eyes.

"How did you get the bruise?" Asks Gaara after a while.

Lee sighed. "Kiba shoved me into a locker, that's all. I just wish he would be nicer to me."

"Why?"

"Because I could really like Kiba, he's fun and I've seen him be nice to his friends so why not me."

"You don't have to be liked by everyone."

"Oh but you do!" He opens his eyes sitting up to look down at the boy beside him. "Gaara, being liked by your peers lets you define yourself as a person, your faults and triumphs.... didn't you want friends?"

"If they didn't like me than so what, I don't like them either." He sits up as well. "It never mattered to me what anyone thought," there's a distance to his words. "I can decide who I am on my own, you should do the same. It's up to you to be you not everyone's image of you, Lee."

"And who are you?"

"I'm unloved and unwanted." He closes his eyes. "I'm nothing."

Frowning Lee lays back down holding the child. Gaara may be 15 but he acts like he's six, still spoiled by toys but pouts because he wants friends instead of possessions. It's adorible in a way. Lee smiled and whispered. "Taisetsu to dai-suki."

Gaara stared blankly at the ceiling before he turned his head and looked Lee right in his onyx colored eyes. "Do you... really think I'm precious?"

"I do."

"Do you really like me... a lot?"

"I do."

Leaning up towards the taller males lips Gaara plants a kiss on them. Wide eyed, Lee wonders if he should kiss back it sucks because its his first kiss but.... he can't feel anything but the cool air that drifts about the young ghost.

"Gaara.... we can't.... because," he can't finish his words when seeing the hurt look on the boys face.

"So you're saying that you want someone you can hold onto, someone you can touch like your friends and lover."

"Not at all, I just don't think it would be right for us to..... since we can't really."

"Your brothers, your fathers, everyone is in love but you and me." Getting up he climbs on top of Lee pressing his self down onto him. "If you're done with my friendship then I'll have you in another way."

Feeling his heart race, he audibly swallows. "I do want you as a friend, always- we don't have to be lovers."

"Don't you like me?"

"I do, I like you a lot." He answered in all honesty.

"Than why not love me." He pressed his lips to Lee's for another unfelt kiss.

He's serious. Thinks the raven haired male. Gaara likes him a little more than friends- emotions he's always wondered about, but on the other hand it wouldn't work out, Gaara's.... well, he's not like everyone else. He isn't alive!

"Gaara stop.... We can't."

Gaara glared at his friend then stepped from the bed. "Just wait." Sinking through the floor he vanished within the blink of an eye. Lee wondered where the boy went, what he planned to do when he went there. But at the same time he felt a deep blush creeping up on his face. Gaara likes him... he likes likes him. He couldn't help but smile at that. No ones ever liked him. No one.

Can I love a ghost? It'll certainly give me something to talk about in therapy. Young boy has major sexual frustration because he can't touch his boyfriend. Lee had to laugh at that. Him having sex, that's a hot one.

"Lee?"

Turning his head at the sound of his name he cocks a brow. "Neji?"

The older male sauntered into the bedroom kicking the door closed after himself. Walking over to the bed he shoved the teen back onto his back then climbed on top of him. Mortified, Lee shoves his brother away. Has he lost his mind!?

"What are you doing?"

"I thought it would be easier this way, for us to touch." Whispered his brother.

Something about him seemed off, for one Neji never spoke to Lee unless it was absolutely necessary and two the way he's smiling is too familiar as he's gotten used to the barely their gesture his new best friend offers him. But it couldn't be? It can't be?!

"Gaara?" He questions, squinting at his brother as if he can see the ghost within the boys body.

Neji pressed Lee to the bed again. "Neji came home a few minutes ago," Gaara says kissing the male on the jaw. "That's when I got my idea to possess him, this way we can touch like you and Naruto, be close like your fathers."

"But in Neji's body!?" He shoved at him again, though, he can't deny how good it feels when Gaara moves his hips. He never realized how hypersensative his body was until someone touched him this way. What am I thinking, this isn't Gaara its Neji. My brother! He sighs a bit when he feels the warmth of his brothers tongue touch his neck.

"Would you prefer Sasuke? Maybe I should jump into Naruto for you?"

Squeezing his lips tightly shut, he can't help but relax into the kiss that Gaara is forcing onto him. Opening his mouth, he holds his head up from the bed asking for more, Gaara forced the kiss as hard as he could but it was useless. His body began to shake until he moved away.

"It's not working!" He growled.

Lee begged to differ, it was working great. Wrong but great.

"I can't... I can't feel anything this way. It still feels like nothing!!" Fuming, he looks down at Lee. "Its your fault I feel this way at all, you're fault that I have someone but can do nothing about it." Wrapping his hands around the boys neck he pulled him from the bed, slamming him into the wall. Neji grinned sadistically at him, grip tightening until Lee turned blue. The boy writhed in his brothers hold unaware of how strong the quiet male actually is. "I thought being dead meant no more pain, but then you come along and...."

Lee grabbed at Neji's hands, coughing to catch his breath. "I'm so-..." He broke into a fit of coughs.

"Stop saying that to me!!" Gaara dropped him backing away holding his head in pain.

Lee catching his breath, watched the boy freaking out. "...Gaara." He holds his dry tight throat. "What is it?"

"I remember.... those words."

"...What words? Gaara, are you alright? What's wrong?"

"Leeeee!" His dad called like he were singing.

Lee turned his head at the sound. But Gaara was scared from his brothers body at the sudden intrussion of another person in the house. The red head staggered a bit before he vanished into thin air. Neji was in no better shape, holding his head looking like he were about to throw up. Moving over to his brother, he holds onto his back giving it a rub.

"Are you ok?"

"I'd be better if I knew what I was doing up here." Replies the moody one of the three brothers.

"Don't you remember," he thinks up a quick lie. "You got a headache and came up to ask me if I knew where the asprin was."

Neji didn't remember that but he figured he must have since his head hurts so badly.

"Lee!" His father shouted impatiently.

"I'm coming!" He called back before standing up and hurrying out the room. Wondering what his father could want so badly, he is startled when his hand comes up catching what seems to be a baseball.

"Aha! Look at those sharp reflexes." He snaps his fingers to his chin as he muses. "He'll be perfect for that."

"Perfect for what?" Asks the confused child returning the ball to Gai.

"For the baseball team at school. Wouldn't you like to join?" He holds the boy by the shoulder kneeling down a bit. "To watch my boy on a team sport, participating with other boys making friends."

"Where did this come from?" Asks Lee to Kakashi who's looking through the male.

"He wants you to stop talking to the chairs."

With a listless sigh, he rolls his eyes. "Otousan, I'm not talking to the chairs. I'm just... going through something, its not serious though."

"Is it us?"

"No." He shakes his head feeling tears from his past creeping up on him. Brushing them off, he backs away from the hold. "Seriously, I'm fine. I might join the team though." He says just to perk his dad's spirits.

"Great!" He springs into a stand, sadness completely gone from his voice. "Let's get ready to go."

"Where?" Sasuke holds his mouth in pain after speaking.

"We're going out for dinner." Explains Kakashi reaching over to look at the place his son is holding. Sasuke was acting like this when he came into the shop today, he wanted to check it then but Sasuke wouldn't let him near him he just said he wanted a ride home.

"I think I broke a tooth." He says to his father.

"GOOD AFTERNOOON!!!" Calls Naruto in english from somewhere in the living room, hoping it grabbed everyone's attention. Kid clearly doesn't believe in knocking. He walks into the kitchen, slippers on his feet. "So when do we eat?"

.....................

Dinner was pleasant; Naruto did most of the conversating with Gai who was in top form that night because the little blond child seemed to be treating his Lee with the kindness and respect he deserves. Little did he know the boy only cared at all because he is avoiding Sasuke, who is completely fine with it because his mouth hurts so bad he doesn't feel like talking anyway and the few times he did he never once wanted it to be with Naruto. Neji spoke off and on with Kakashi and talked to Sasuke about this and that. Lee was just as flamboyant as Gai talking loudly about any little thing that came to mind glad for the laughs from Gai and Naruto at his jokes. Kakashi ate quietly until Neji spoke to him.

With all this time to relax and think, Sasuke decided he was going to observe his father who never seemed to show his face at least he's never once seen it. He asked Lee about it but he didn't seem to get it and Neji isn't around enough to have caught the man in the facial buff so what is he hiding? The Hatake's went to Hina a delicious all you can eat buffet of fish and sushi dishes, octopus and squid. Sushi is the kind of thing, thinks the bluenet, that you can't just shove in as quickly as you can. So when Kakashi picked up a hunk with his chopsticks, Neji chose that exact time to say-....

"I'm sleeping with Shikamaru."

That made everyone stare. What possessed him to say that just so openly they didn't know but Sasuke looked back at Kakashi cursing seeing that the man was in full swing of chewing the roll of fish and rice.

Thanks a lot Nej'. He crossed his arms with a pout hearing Kakashi say that he was full. Grunting when Naruto bumped his chair on the way up from the table for what had to be his ninth plate of food, he knew this was gonna be a bad night.

"This is great!" The blond says when coming back to the table taking a seat between Sasuke and Lee. "My Grandpa never takes me out to eat anywhere like this, we usually have take out or he gets me a burger while he visits a seedy club and I wait in the car."

Gai laughed at the boys use of words but was a bit disgruntled at the idea of a young boy sitting in a car waiting around for his gaurdian to come out of some sleazy place. "How long has this been going on Neji?"

".....It hasn't happened yet. I'm just telling you because I plan to."

"Oh. Well.... always use protection." He offered a bit of advice. Neji was always the strange one to Gai, he never wanted to work out or do silly things he at least had a good run with Sasuke until the boy said he's too old to be doing childish things like that, he could guess that that came from his attraction to the fireball Naruto. Kids are always trying to look cool in the eyes of others. He just hoped Sasuke wasn't having sex, the boy is only fourteen! Neji's old enough to know responsibility and as for Lee no one is good enough for his Lee.

It was around six o'clock when Naruto finally finished filling his gut. Thank god they chose an all you can eat place because the price to feed this child seemed costly anywhere else. Lee and Naruto sang songs from the radio on the way home making everyone wish they were deaf since the singers are blessed with being oblivious to their own non-singing ways. The boys took quick showers then watched a movie in the living room since Lee doesn't have a t.v. then they turned in for the night- sort of.....

"AHA HAA HAA! Man Lee you sure are funny!!" He called out as loudly as he could.

Lee who is sitting indian style and cross armed on his bed frowns at the blue eyed noise demon. "Naruto, I haven't said anything to you since the movie."

"Whaat!?" He laughed again.

Covering his ears he says. "Can't we talk or something, I don't think Sasuke cares that you're here."

Glowering at the black haired child, he pouts. "Fine. What do you wanna taaalk about?" He mocks.

Smiling, he grabs Kuma as he thinks of something to say. This is exciting a chance to make Naruto his friend, kids should fight with Sasuke more often. "Let's see.... What's it like having to live with just your grandfather?" He frowns a bit. "I don't have any parents either, I've never met them or anything- how 'bout you?"

Naruto was too busy eying Kuma to notice what the boy said, pointing a finger he says. "Gross, you know this kid Gaara used to carry around a stale bear just like this one- what are you penpals or something, you trade sleep toys."

"Huh?" Looking down at the bear he laughs then sets him down. "I hadn't even noticed I picked him up." He scratches the back of his head. "So about your grandfather?"

"SNORING! Can't you talk about something better than my perverted grandpa or some musty old bear."

"Like what?"

"Like how to make Sasuke love me."

"Why doesn't he love you?" Asks Lee.

"Because of his brother or something stupid like that."

"Who? Neji?"

"Not Neji,"

"Me?!" He asks cutting him off.

Growling he snaps. "No bobblehead! Itachi"

A loud bang called both boys attention to the closet. Lee's eyes widened with fright. Gaara must be back from wherever he went. That means.....

"What was that?" Asks the child getting up from his fold out futton. Reaching for the knob, he's shocked when Lee grabs his hand away from it. "Heey! You can't touch me!"

Letting him go he holds up a hand for him to keep his voice down since it was getting late. "I know I'm sorry, but you can't go in there."

"Why not? Are you hiding nerd stuff in there and think you're really gonna make some kind of breakthrough with it." He turned back around on his bed giving Lee the long side eye.

"No, nothing like that. Its just a mess in there, something may have fallen."

Rolling his eyes he lays back on his bed facing the window so not to look at the ugly boy looking down at him. Laying down as well, Lee looks down at the child.

"Naruto, please be my friend.... It would mean a lot to me."

The boy mouthed the older kids words making googly eyes in mock.

"I grew up without friends you know..... At the orphanage my only friends were the adults and sometimes I felt like they were fed up with playing with me." His eyes teared. "I would watch the other kids playing their games and," with a shrug he says. "I would put myself in there with them but thinking about it and doing it just isn't the same..... I thought when I get adopted this will change because I'm gonna make friends- it didn't turn out that way, everyone hates the way I look I guess. Kind of like you and Kiba-..."

"Is this gonna be a story?" Interrupts the boy. "Listen, its great that you wanna be friends and maybe someday someone will feel almost desperate enough to consider you and when they do then you can hang on for dear life because you're waisting your time with me- you and me are like an icy slope and a climber. I'm the slope and you're the climber and you've got bottle caps on your fingers- good night."

That did it. Gaara slammed his fist into the wall so hard it made a popping sound.

"There's that noise again? Do you have a dog or something?"

"No, its really nothing- honest. So what was this thing you were talking about with Sasuke?" Deciding on that as the topic since Naruto was clearly only trying to make his brother jealous.

"Its like everytime we get really close he shoves me away because he thinks he's gonna end up like his brother or something."

Nodding, Lee says. "Its understandable, most people don't wanna end up doing as bad influences have done."

"But he's not his brother is what I'm saying."

"Maybe he can't decipher the non-ressemblences on his own.... A lot of the time with brothers the younger one tends to mimic which ever sibling they think reminds them most of their self, at least until they can identify theirself on their own. Sasuke might not be there yet." Thinking about what he just said reminded him of what Gaara said, maybe he is wrong to try to be molded into what everyone else wants.

Sitting up, Naruto turned to the boy with a big happy grin. "You may be right Gejimayo, thanks!" Throwing his arms around the boy he's shoved away by a hard push.

Confused, Lee looks down at Gaara's hands reclining through his torso. When did he?

"Heh heh, I got'cha. Don't touch you like you can't touch me. You've got guts alien face, I'll give you that." Standing, he smooths his clothes out. "I'm gonna go pee." Dashing off out of the door, he closed it on his way out.

"He's not coming back." Says the raven haired male. Laying back on his bed he looks at Gaara who is glaring at him until his face softens.

"I didn't mean what I did before when I tried to hurt you."

"Don't worry about it, you were going through something- I could tell. Are you feeling better now?"

Gaara nods, then looks at the bedroom door. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Let guys like Naruto be a jerk to you?" Looking at Lee he continues. "You have so much strength and fighting knowledge, I can tell because of all those weapons you have on the wall and I've seen you working out with them when you first moved in here. So why not beat them up."

"I'm not a fighter Gaara, I tried to be that person once- twice actually but my fathers were so disappointed in me. I don't want to upset them, because...." He trailed off.

"They might send you back."

"Yeah."

"I don't think they would, they love you even I can see that." He looks at Lee's hands taking one into his own. "I wanna help you, that's what friends and lovers do they help each other."

"Again with that," laughs the taller male. "There's no swaying you is there."

"No." He answered simply. "I wanna beat them up for you."

"Who?"

"This Kiba and Naruto, just bring them here."

Lee laughed out loud to that. "No, Gaara that's crazy. You can't beat them up."

"Why not, they feel they have a right to beat you up and call you names."

"They're just immature, they'll grow out of it." He shrugs. "Its not like I have to be around them."

Gaara seemed not to wanna hear that, so instead he relaxed his self a bit more. "You sleep, I'll make sure Naruto doesn't pick on you if he comes back."

"Don't hurt him." Warns Lee before laying down.

"I won't."

Smiling he hugs the boy. "Thank you. Good night boyfriend."

"Boyfriend." He brushes the boys bangs from his forehead then plants a kiss there.

Naruto can think again if he thinks that door will be opened. Getting out of the bed Gaara turned the lock. Sometimes his range isn't so great but he can touch nearly everything in the house effortlessly. He learned how to possess people on a weekend when everyone was gone and only he and Kakashi were left in the house. The man was reading a news paper, relaxed, completely unaware when he jumped in. He just can't seem to make a clean break from them without feeling dizzy. Crawling back into bed he kissed his boyfriend one last time then closed his eyes for another sleepless night.

Up the hall, Naruto crept into Sasuke's bedroom right into bed with him. Snuggling up close to the boy, he kisses him on the cheek then whispers,

"Sorry." Before going to sleep.