Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Voices ❯ I Talked to You ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Linkin Fantasy 
Gaara can't be sure why he's got Lee on the brain and Lee can't be sure why his heart is flustered now that the red head is awake.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 05.15.2008 | Pages: 5 | Words: 6.9K | Visits: 353 | Status: Completed
Gaara can't be sure why he's got Lee on the brain and Lee can't be sure why his heart is flustered now that the red head is awake.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 05.15.2008 | Pages: 5 | Words: 6.9K | Visits: 353 | Status: Completed
A.N: Thank you to those who left a review, I'd meant to say it before Himiko-san and Reitori but my font was having issues so it didn't go through. So thank you. Enjoy the chapter. Fantasy.
...........
1 week later....
Naruto is going down the stairs in his home at top speed. He's just finished loading his backpack with his school needs after taking a quick shower at 5:50 that morning. Breakfast was a large bowl of peanut butter Captain Crunch, then a quick stop in the bathroom to brush his teeth, humming as he does so. Stopping at the front door he pulls it open greeting the sun with a huge, eye closing, grin. "Monday!" He declared gleefully.
But just as he starts to leap out of the door and take off towards the Nara place he's flying- literally flying; his legs are just winding in mid-air as he tried to continue running. Realizing his toes haven't touched grass yet, he winds his legs even harder with a few grunts and groans like maybe he'd been set in slow motion or something. But after a moment he realized that something was wrong. Naruto ceases his useless running then opens his eyes to see, standing beside him, his father; he's got him by the collar holding him up like a hook and Naruto is a slab of beef in a butcher's window.
Uzumaki Minato inspects his son up and down while keeping a firm grip on the collar of the boys white uniform shirt. "Books?" He asks.
Snickering the blond boy grins with a thumbs up. "Every one." His legs begin their run again, but again he goes nowhere. "What gives! I'm gonna be late for school!"
"Homework?" The man continued to grill his son, hand coming up on his hip.
Again he makes his struggling sounds. "Y-eeee-ssss."
Giving the boy a good whiff, he smiles with a nod. "Yup, took a shower."
"Why you-..." Naruto threatened, taking useless swings at the larger male. "Let go- Whoaa- hoo!!" He's flung like a doll from the front door, hearing it slam behind him; his father's laughter being cut short by this.
The curtain moved at the window. "Bye son." Minato called with a quick wave.
Skittering to his knees more than surprised he didn't rip them. Naruto gets on his haunches brushing the gravel from his pant legs. "That guy..." Mutters the boy. "Everytime... thinks he's so funny." Setting a hand on the plushy thing his face had smacked into, to help him up, Naruto turns his head straight to see what he'd half landed on; he usually hits the grass or the pavement. But not this time.
Naruto looks up to see that the plump child, Chouji, has broken his fall. Chouji grinned triumphantly.
"Good catch right?" He cheers himself.
"Yeah man!! A fat-ass like you makes a great landing pad." He straightens up patting the boy on the back good-naturedly.
Fist balled, Chouji knocks Naruto on his ass with a push hard enough to send him back quite a few steps. That only made Naruto's comment a little more truthful as only someone with big meaty mitts could give such a powerful shove.
"Naruto don't make fun of Chouji." Insist Shikamaru beginning to head towards the sidewalk.
"Yeah, especially after I saved you a piece of my birthday cake." He reminded the boy of a few days ago when he'd brought it over for the energetic blond to eat before they took off for the arcade that day.
"Alright, alright... I'm sorry." Though he sounded like he had a roll of the eyes mixed with it. He stuffs his hands into his pockets, a hunch to his shoulders as he pouts into place beside his best friend and the food bringer.
The three walked in silence for a bit. Each thinking about their own thing, which brought Shikamaru to wonder something.
"Nee, Naruto? Did you buy a gift for Gaara yet? You know he woke up over the weekend- Temari told me, and he'll be released from the hospital maybe after today."
Solemnly he says, "I didn't. I'm no good with gifts for hospitalized people. Gaara especially! That guy's hard to shop for."
"I'll bet." Comments Chouji.
Sad faced, Naruto says quietly. "Imagine, being hit by a car."
"Yeah." Agree the other two boys.
"Then ending up in a coma!" Says Naruto with bewilderment in his tone.
"Yeah." Again the two boys agree.
Chouji looks up at the sky then down at his sandeled feet. "Do you think its karma?"
In a bland tone the Nara boy asks. "For what?"
"For always being so sour- I heard the car that hit him was a pretty sweet ride."
Shikamaru and Naruto bite down their snickers. It really wasn't right to make fun of someone in the hospital.
"You'd better not let Gaara find out you said that." Warns Shikamaru.
"That's how he ended up there in the first place!" Declared Chouji throwing his arms up into the air.
................
At the hospital. A middle-aged nurse is writing briskly on Gaara's chart, smiling sweetly at the young boy every now and then as if to console him that nothing is wrong so far. Gaara's best friend, Aburame Shino, is sitting on the stool beside him watching the woman silently, waiting for her to leave the room so the two can speak comfortably. Since his arrival Shino had to wait twenty minutes in the hall while a nurse gave Gaara a bath and when she was finished- and he was covered, his bedding got changed. She then gave the boy a massage to make sure his muscles weren't stiff. Tsuna Gaara has been in a coma for a week and a half and it showed all over his face and body the extent of how he got there. Because of the accident, Gaara had a broken arm, one cracked rib which was healing nicely as the nurse had told the red head; Gaara's nose hadn't broken but it was banged pretty hard from the impact, he was lucky in that aspect. But he would rather have a broken nose than the weird rings around his eyes caused by the head trauma. Shino wasn't sure if he should tell the boy or not but Gaara had been the one to point it out right when the Aburame boy sat down, saying 'raccoon eyes'. It was ironically the medical term they called the two black ringed eyes. Only they didn't put into days or months to the boy when that particular problem would go away. And from what Gaara felt the doctors must have shaved his bruised eyebrows for an opperation or the skid across the street had shredded them away. Either way he felt that he must look like a monster.
"I'll be by soon with your lunch, alright?" Informed the nurse.
Gaara nodded watching the woman leave the room before turning his attention to Shino.
Scooting a little closer to the bed, he asks in his deep tone. "When are you coming back to school?"
"...3 days I think she said. Or maybe it was three days the last time I had asked." He couldn't remember. "They wanna make sure that the coma didn't have any lasting effects on me."
"I see." Says Shino. "I wish for your speedy recovery." He holds out a hand with a small paper crane in it, and beside it is what seems to be a paper grasshopper?
Taking them, Gaara smiled believing the grasshopper must be from Naruto, but then he remembered that the older boy and Naruto don't really know each other all that well. It sure was strange, though, to have Shino make him a grasshopper. Gaara remembered Naruto had found a cricket when they were on the hill that day. But then again, Shino is a huge bug lover. He found that out the first time he'd met the older boy when he was in kindergarten; Shino must have pointed out a dozen different types of bugs to him to distract him from being afraid. 8 years ago, Gaara had taken the wrong bus home from school that day because his brother and sister, whom he usually rides with, had after school activities so they couldn't ride with him as they normally would. The first week of school the Tsuna brother and sister told their little brother not to take the preschool bus home that they would pick him up after class so they all got home at the same time and he's been used to that routine for so long he didn't think twice about checking the bus number should a day like that one come. When he got off at the fourth stop as he always does, he noticed right away that he was in the wrong neighborhood. But Shino had spotted Gaara and asked him if he was lost. Gaara told him he'd gotten on the wrong bus and Shino walked him home. The second grader has been his best friend since.
"Thank you." His face stiffens to concentrated as he looks down at his cast covered arm.
"Is something wrong?" Asks Shino noticing this.
"No, I'm just a bit tired."
"I could lea-" Shino starts to say but is cut off.
"No!" Gaara says firmly. But then his voice returns to nuetral. "Stay here."
"Alright."
Glaring at him for a second, Gaara nods then closes his eyes. "Thank you." But he doesn't fall asleep, though, he's very tired. All he can hear is the sound of his heart monitor beeping.
It was weird for Shino. Not to have the red head glare at him he does that to everyone. But behind that glare he saw something else, what seemed to be a bit of fear.
"Shino?"
"Hm?"
"Did you see someone leave this room at anytime when you came to see me?"
Blinking, confused at such a weird question he replies, "No." He can't recall ever seeing anyone in this room except for Gaara. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"....Someone was here," he says looking down at his cast. "talking to me.... I think."
"Why not ask the doctors."
Gaara nods, eyes glued to the foreign name on his cast written in green marker. Rock Lee.
4 days earlier.....
"It's gonna suck when you leave the hospital Lee." Says Kiba while chewing the cookie that used to be with Lee's lunch. "I'm not saying that I don't want you to recover or anything, it's just-..."
Lee held up a hand. He understood, the hospital makes really good food and dessert- not that he's had a single one since visitor's were allowed. The boy's friends, Neji, Sasuke, and Kiba came over after school to visit him a day after the surgery when Gai had called their parents telling them that it was alright if they came. It was weird when they'd heard about what happened. At first they thought that it was Lee who had gotten into the accident, but it was some other kid and Lee called an ambulance right before he went into shock. The boy had missed days of school while he got an opperation for a pacemaker and he's now sitting in the hospital recovering from a successful opperation.
"When are you allowed to be sent home?" Asks Neji from by the window. He's been watching traffic down below, the ambulances driving up. But beyond that was a nice view of a mountain. Lee got a good room for view. Too bad he's bed ridden most of the day.
"Tomorrow." Says the boy with a slight frown.
"You don't sound too happy about it." Comments Sasuke eyeing the small bowl of round melon, cantalope, and strawberries.
Lee shrugs. "I kind of made a deal with my roommate that we would get out of here together, but he's still in a coma."
"Who, the kid that got nailed by the car?" Kiba cocks his head in that direction. "Why would you wanna do that? Do you even know him?"
Nodding, Lee looks at the sliding curtain. "I... I don't know, his eyes looked so lonely. I thought, staying here until he woke up would really cheer him up a bit."
"But he's in a coma Lee that could take months, maybe even years to recover from," says Sasuke and after a second thought he adds. "If at all."
"I know."
The four boys turn their attention to the door when it opens. The end of Gaara's bed is the first thing they see before the boys unconscious body is fully seen, a nurse comes in after him pushing the bed. Gaara had been taken from the room to have his bath since Lee had visitors. Normally the red head would just be covered by the curtain dividing their beds.
After securing the locks on Gaara's bed wheels, the nurse peeks around the curtain at the four of them and in a kind voice she says. "I'm sorry but you're going to have to go for now, visiting hours are over soon and Lee really should be resting."
The three visitor's nod then gather their things giving Lee a quick and delicate hug good bye.
"Wait a second!" He calls to them.
Turning they cock a brow asking 'what?'
"Does anyone have a marker I can use? I'll give it back to you tomorrow."
Thinking it strange, Kiba turns his backpack around to the front, one shoulder still holding it up. "Here."
"Thank you." He takes it from him twisting it between his fingers.
"See ya."
He waved to them. With a sigh, he waits patiently while the nurse writes down Gaara's stats before elevating the boys bed. She smiled at him before leaving the room and closing the door. Sliding out of the bed, Lee carefully walks over to Gaara's taking a seat beside his bed on the stool. Taking the boys hand, he rubs it with his thumb.
"Looks like I'm getting out of here early. Sorry we couldn't go together like I'd hoped." He looked at the boys face rather than his hand. "But that doesn't mean that I won't still come to visit you. Okay?" Letting go of Gaara's hand, he uncaps the marker. "I'll be the first to write on your cast, that way you'll know I was here." Tapping the marker to his chin he rolls his wide eyes up to the ceiling in concentration. "Now let's see.... Hn. I've never written on a cast before, what am I supposed to say? ....I know!"
Next time I'll protect you. Rock Lee.
Satisfied, he walks over to his own bed and falls asleep. The next day when Lee's father, mother, and uncle came to pick him up from the hospital Lee managed to sneak a hug to Gaara when everyone went out to the hall. He whispered in the boy's ear. 'I'll see you tomorrow' then left the room. Two hours later, Tsuna Gaara opened his eyes.
Kankuro drove Gaara to school that morning. His brother just seemed so out of it he figured it would cheer the little guy up, since he's been in the hospital for so long, if he was surrounded by nice and familiar things. Gaara didn't speak the entire trip to the middle school even though the older boy tried to provoke conversation out of the red head.
"So, did you have a good sleep?"
Gaara turned his eyes at his brother before fixating them back on the road ahead.
"Dad was a wreck when you were gone, so was uncle Yashamaru." Kankuro looks at his brother to see what he'd thought of that. "He must have bought you a million things to put in your hospital room."
Gaara believed that, and yet when he woke up he didn't see so much as a flower arrangement at his bedside, though, his father and uncle did come by. Hesuke was never much for fatherly love or effection, in fact, he wasn't much of anything. It was like after Gaara was born both parents just decided to quit their duties as parents and live the life they've always wanted. His father, completely dedicated to work and his mother... well, she's made a world for herself that no one- not even her own husband and brother, is allowed in. At least Hesuke will acknowledge his children, he often has dinner with them when he doesn't decide he's not interested in what Temari or uncle Yashamaru has prepared. So yeah, their uncle acted a lot as both mother and father to them; never making excuses or so much as giving reason to why their actual parents don't give a damn. He just stepped into the role, handing some of the responsibility to Temari and a few average jobs like mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, and cleaning the gutters to Kankuro. Gaara got nothing but more time on his hands. But he knew his uncle loved him, hell he spoke to him didn't he?
"It must be weird, huh? Sleeping so heavily." His brother explained.
Again Gaara just looked at his brother, not knowing what the male wanted him to say. Yes, it was weird. No, it was fine. To tell the truth Gaara felt nothing at all.... nothing. He shuddered just remembering the feeling, laying still in bed then waking up and having his very slow pace heart suddenly elevate to the point where he could feel each beat like a punch on the chest. He just wanted to stay home in bed. But he also wanted to see his friends, so he had to come to school. Shikamaru had brought him a new robe when he visited him at the hospital and Naruto a gameboy. He thought he might like to borrow his for as long as he'd like. Gaara thanked them for the gifts but he didn't feel like playing games or anything. The two boy's talked about their week and what happened in school, they also mentioned that they got his homework for him and what a load it was. Gaara would be spending his days at home after school just to make it all up in time and he will still have to do the new stuff that was coming in. Coma's suck.
"I'll pick you up after classes, okay bro?" Calls his brother from the window after he exits the car.
"Don't bother, I'm walking with Naruto and Shikamaru."
Looking mock offended, he snickers saying. "Excuse me. I'll call Yashamaru then and tell him that."
Gaara continued into the building without another word. The stir of people all around him made him dizzy as he walked the halls. It was like he could feel every single person he passed and it was making him sick. He needs to sit down.
Behind him, Naruto and Shikamaru- who just got off the bus, spot the red head right away. Naruto puts on a sly face creeping up behind the boy, two fingers poised for side poking. The moment he got close enough to the Tsuna boy, he jams his fingers into Gaara's sides. "You're back!" He calls happily.
Gaara jumped like he'd just been shot, a pain shot through his gut just as it had when the car slammed into him that day. Visibly shaking, the red head spins around glaring at the blond. Pacing forward a couple steps that the boy had backed up he grabs him by the collar. Growling out in a loud voice, he snarls. "Don't ever sneak up on me again! Got it!"
Confused, Naruto calms his cheer down a notch then says softly. "Got it." Turning on a bright smile once the red head released him, he says. "Glad you're back. Sorry for scaring you, I just got excited to see you." One hand behind his head he laughs nervously. "-'Kay?"
Gaara looks at him for a long while then says. "Okay." Turning around, his shoulders tense when Naruto's arm slips around them but they ease back to a calm slight slump. He felt guilty all of a sudden. He didn't mean to make Naruto feel bad. Its not as if he has a sign on him that reads: Beware of trauma. Do not jar, shove, or startle the victim at anytime. He should apologize, Naruto is just happy to see him out of the hospital. Turning his head, he says. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."
"Huh? Hey its alright! I know you're just a little crabby. You have every right to be- aawww." Naruto, always quick to bounce back, grappled the boy in a hug.
Gaara reached a hand up touching the blond's arm.
Shikamaru watched closely for any sign of tension left in the boy's posture and seeing none he slips his arm around Gaara's and Naruto's shoulders. The three of them walk silently to class.
.................
As Lee wandered through his classes he wondered how he'd managed to have such a full week of distractions. After coming home his mother said that he needed bed rest for one more day so that he could get a mother's care, so he'd skipped that day of school. The next day he spent over at Sasuke's house while the two of them studied- Lee was seriously lacking in one of his classes and it seemed to come naturally to the other boy. It was strange being older than someone by a year and they're brighter than you when they haven't even entered your grade level yet, but then again Sasuke has been called a genius by many people Lee's noticed over the years. The third day he spent at Neji's home. The Hyuuga boy was moving things and he'd asked Lee and Sasuke to come over and assist him; they were offered lunch once the time came. The Rock child jumped at the chance to test out his new pacemaker. Normally moving things would take the wind out of him rather quickly but to Lee's amazement he'd done half the room by himself and didn't feel the least bit tired- well, not as much as he normally would have been. On the fourth day Lee spent it in doors since it had rained, he and Kiba played video games when the puddle jumping boy and his dog, Akamaru, came by to see if he wanted to come out and do the same. Nariko forbid it so the two ended up playing video games in the den and watching an action movie that was a present from his father when Lee was in the hospital. So in all he had no time to go to the hospital to see Gaara because visiting hours were always over. It was a shame and by the time he'd been able to go there Gaara was asleep but that Tsuna Gaara was to be released in a few days.
So this fine Tuesday afternoon, Lee walked the halls with his eyes peeled for the red head. He had to be somewhere. But as classes went by and he didn't see him, Lee began to wonder just how old the boy was. He could be in elementary school for all he knew. He didn't seem that young, but with the way kids grow these days it was hard to tell. Entering the lunch room, he grabs a tray and fills it with a bowl of cut fruit- the freshness of it questionable, a square of lasagna was scooped down onto the center of the tray, spinach on the smaller spot next to it and above it all a carton of grape juice- which he would give to Neji everytime. Lee brings his own energy drinks to have with lunch so he didn't need the school's and since one of his best friends likes it all the better to just keep taking them.
Twisting his drink rapidly in his hand, Kiba walks into step with Lee. "Isn't that your crush over there, Lee?" He points the carton of orange flavored juice across the cafeteria.
"He's not my 'crush', he's just a boy." Says Lee with a fierce blush on his cheeks. It wasn't that he considered Gaara a crush or anything, he just got embarrassed whenever someone brought up the subject of love. Its hard to think about loving someone and giving yourself to them. What if it doesn't work out? Do you just keep trying or should you give up and wait for someone to come along to you? He preferred the waiting game its safer on his heart.
"Yeah? Well if your eyes had snapped over that way any quicker the side of your face would have to sue for a hit-and-run," After a second thought he adds. "No offense." Then takes a seat. Opening his drink he takes a long swig, then watches Lee as the Rock boy takes a seat while watching his non-crush. "Why not go sit with him. I don't mind, the other guys are coming."
Looking like someone dumped cold water on him, he shakes his head. "I could never, plus, he's already got people sitting with him."
"So?"
"Well, they could be all he needs."
Making a face, he sighs then shakes his head. "What planet are you from anyway? A guy likes to have people around him, it makes him feel like a big shot. Go over there."
"No." He says firmly then starts to eat his lunch.
Shrugging, Kiba says over a bite of lasagna. "Suit yourself."
Across the cafeteria. Gaara is staring at Lee noticing that the boy is stealing a couple stares back.
"And then she gets in my face with that whole 'Naruto where's your homework' thing- is that unfair or what?"
Cocking a brow, Shikamaru asks. "Where is your homework, Naruto?"
"I had it! She didn't even give me a chance to whip it out! That's what's so unfair." He whines. Pouting, he crosses his arms. "Dad checked it and put it back and everything- and how grade-school is that to have your parents check your homework?"
Shikamaru snickered at how ridiculous his friend sounded just now. What does he think he's in college? Naruto's innocence would be almost embarrassing if it weren't out weighed by adorible.
"Say," like moods he's also quick to change subjects. "Did anyone else stay up late last night? They showed this old ghost movie on that old people channel." You could almost see the spooked chill that ran up and down Naruto's spine. "I almost wanted to climb into my parents bed."
Shikamaru shook his head.
"Gaara, did you see it?" He asks the red head.
Gaara said nothing, just stared.
"Gaara?" He whined. When that didn't work, he panicked thinking something happened to the boys injured brain. "Oi! Gaara, snap out of it!" He shakes him on the shoulder. "Say something!" He tugs at his hair, eyes spiraling like he's about to go insane if the red head doesn't say something soon.
"Did I do something wrong?" Asks Gaara in a calm, yet confused voice.
"Hm?" Intones Shikamaru.
"To Lee." Replies the boy. "Have I done something to hurt him?"
"Who's Lee?" Asks Naruto recovering from his spiral.
"Him." He nods his head in the large-eyed boys direction, but then he blinks as though he's gotten something in his eye. "Wait... I... I don't know."
The two friends exchange worried looks telling each other that their dark clouded friend must still be a little lost after the accident.
"But he signed my cast," Gaara muses to himself. "So I must know him."
"Hmm?" Tapping a finger to his chin, Naruto shakes his head. "No. But I can find out about him for you." He offers already thinking up ways to approach the mystery boy that's got his friend so confused.
So after lunch, Naruto is slipping down the hall, back against the wall, humming that spy theme that he's heard on tv anytime someone slueths around. Wall to wall, he inches his way through the crowd until he's close enough to Lee to tap him on the shoulder. When the taller male stopped at the drinking fountain to take a drink, Naruto crept around hunched over until his eyes rose just above the rim of the silver drinking fountain to get a look at the boy. He smiled faintly at this Lee, taking a good look at his closed eyes and slightly parted mouth. Naruto clutched his heart when the older male opened his eyes catching him in the act.
Springing up to a straight stand, Naruto laughs nervously thinking up a lie. "Eehhh hehehe."
Smiling at the boy, Lee says. "Hello Naruto-kun. Did you want something?" He goes on to ask.
Blinking, Naruto points an accussing finger. "Naruto-kun?" He repeats. "Are you a stalker or something! How do you know my and Gaara's names?"
Now it was his turn to be confused. Pointing a finger at himself, Lee says absently. "Am I a stalk-...?" Waving his hands frantically, he replies. "Not at all! I saw your names on Gaara's cast when he was at the hospital. You drew your face, right?"
Lips turned out in thought, the blond glares. "And just what were you- a stranger," He says pointedly. "doing signing my friends cast? Huh?"
Frowning a bit, Lee says thoughtfully. "I just thought it would be nice; I didn't know it was an exclusive cast. Tell him he can white it out if he wants to. I'm sorry."
Feeling bad for hurting this Lee's feelings, Naruto moves his hands back and forth like he were fanning flames or something. "Calm down buddy! No need for hurt feelings. I was just grilling you cause Gaara wanted to know."
Hopeful, Lee asks. "Really?"
Grinning cheekily, he says. "Yup, and I can put in a few good words for ya. How does, cool, nice, and officient sound?"
"They sound great!" Cheers Lee who after a second re-hears it and says. "Though I don't know what officient means in your terms; I like it!"
"Yeah, I'm a damn nice guy!" He cheers himself for being such a good person.
Both boys strike the same pose with their hands on their hips, heads thrown back as they laugh triumphantly from feeling good.
"But uh," Naruto says, laughter instantly gone. "drop the kun thing or I'll sock you in the mouth, it drives me nuts. Okay?"
"Got it." He replies with a salute and dazzling smile while inside he wished he could break that damned polite habit as he recalled Kiba saying about the same thing when they first met.
Impressed with such a luminous grin Naruto snags the boys wrist. "Right, meet us at the tree out front of the building. The ugly one with couple's love carved into it, you can walk home with us!"
"Walk home with you?" Lee panicked hearing that. To see Gaara again. Be around him, talk to him. Over load. "Wa- wait, Naruto!" He called to the disappearing boy.
Too late. He's been shangheid.
Gaara's no better off as he steals glances at Lee. What was I thinking? So what if he signed my cast, so what if I can't stop seeing his face? This boy doesn't fit in with any part of my life and somehow, I can't... He shakes his head from that sort of thought. Its crazy to label someone something when you don't even know them. Shikamaru is his friend, Naruto is his friend and Shino, but Lee... Lee is... Who? He wonders quietly, looking over and up at the taller male.
Smiling at the red head, Lee says. "I'm glad that you're doing ok, Gaara." He touches the boys shoulder with ease giving it a light rub.
Gaara shivered. Why does it feel like I've just been electricuted? Is Lee important to me somehow? He muses taking side long glances at the male now.
Lee continues talking. "Hospitals freak me out when they tell me-.."
Cutting in Gaara finishes Lee's sentence. "They tell you you have to stay longer than three days."
Elated, Lee beams. "Yes! You remembered."
"Yes." It was the how that confused Gaara. He's sure he's never met Lee before and yet when looking at him he knows things about him. Personal things that should be kept private and yet Lee acts as though they've been friends for sometime but haven't spoken in a while.
"Hey love-birds!" Calls Naruto from across the street.
Gaara and Lee turn their heads.
"Let us know if its a happy ending. See ya later Gaara, bye Lee!" He waves both hands.
Shikamaru waves to them as well before continuing home with Naruto. Gaara watched after his friends as though they just left him to die in the middle of the jungle.
Turning to Lee he says rather blunt. "Have we met before?"
Blinking, he winks at the boy. "Not formally, but," his cheeks turned kind of pink. "I talked to you at the hopsital when you were in your coma. We shared a room because the hopsital was full. When a room was free you got to stay with me because the doctors said it was nice to have verbal company around."
Thinking this information over, Gaara questions. "What did we talk about?"
"I talked about this and that about myself." He answered.
"Hm. I don't remember being in any coma, just waking up and having my sister tell me I've been asleep for a week and a half." The boy looks blank as he walks on. "But I didn't hear anything in the meantime, that would be impossible."
"Why?"
Gaara shrugs. "A coma is the first stage of death; the system shuts down taking all the senses with it. So it isn't possible for me to have heard you."
"Mm." Thinks Lee. "But you must have, how else would you know about something I've told you."
He's right. I do know things about him. Maybe I wasn't as dead as I thought.
Aside from Lee saying 'there you are' when moving a low branch from Gaara's direct path, there wasn't much conversation between the two beyond that point.
Finger outward, Gaara states. "That's my friend Shino."
Looking up ahead, Lee spots a boy wearing an eigth grade uniform. He knew that blue from anywhere because he got lost in a swarm of them when walking into the wrong section of the building his first week of school. His face looks happy once registering the boy a few feet up ahead of them. "I know him, we have band together." Placing a hand beside his mouth he calls. "Shino!"
And so the three of them walk home together, first to Shino's house because the boy told them that he had to check on his nearly hatched caccoons- they're due today and he didn't want to miss it. The Aburame home is very reserved in the old world look. Shino's house reminded Lee of Neji's house but it was a bit more modern old world rather than- don't touch anything. He especially liked the couches that are set low to the floor and very roomy. The boy's bedroom was a sight to behold with a tank here filled with different types of spiders and a tank there with what looks like beetles, and the curtains have cacoons on them. Good thing bugs don't creep Lee out too much or he'd of jetted the moment he stepped foot in the room. Instead he walked over to the ant farm set beside the Aburame boy's bed.
"I haven't found enough ants to fill it yet." Says Shino absently while pulling crysalis from his curtains and setting them into a tent.
Lee wondered why there were only two inside. Leaving the farm he heads over to the window to help Shino and Gaara with the soon-to-be butterflies. As they work, Lee notices something. He's noticed it for a while but being inside the males home it just seems odd that he would still be wearing them.
"Shino? Can I ask you something?" When the male glances a 'go ahead' Lee continues. "Why do you never take off your sunglasses? I've seen you wearing them around school and in band. Are they prescriptions?"
Gaara looks over at his best friend with a cocked brow, it was as if for the first time he were just noticing the sunglasses his self.
Adjusting them, Shino says in his usual plain tone. "Do you know what its like to feel that something about you doesn't match the rest of you?"
Slightly down from thinking about that, Lee nods.
"For me, its my eyes. So I wear sunglasses until I can accept them." He closes the tent. "I told my teachers that it isn't going to bother anyone if I wear them so they let me."
"I see." Lee didn't know that even attractive people thought they had flaws. It made him further wonder what the males eyes look like having delt with his own share of leers from his own appearance but that's never been the thing that bothered Lee growing up. It was never being able to keep up with the other kids because of his heart condition. Its the thing about himself that he dislikes the most. He loves being active and having to slow down just didn't suit him. It was good to know that he got the opperation even though he was nervous at first, it really was for the best.
Speaking of which, he still needs to take a med for that. Even with a pacemaker he has to take a blood thinner so the thing doesn't have to pump too hard when working. And stupidly he left it at home. "I'm sorry but I have to go. I left something at home that I need to get."
"I'll go with you." Gaara says with more concern in his voice than he'd meant to show. He remembered Lee talking about his condition and how sometimes he feels a little winded and can't quite make long trips without stopping for a while. He didn't want the boy to be alone with that.
"O- okay. Thank you."
The two walk out of the Aburame home after saying good bye to the bug lover. And so they were alone again.
...........
1 week later....
Naruto is going down the stairs in his home at top speed. He's just finished loading his backpack with his school needs after taking a quick shower at 5:50 that morning. Breakfast was a large bowl of peanut butter Captain Crunch, then a quick stop in the bathroom to brush his teeth, humming as he does so. Stopping at the front door he pulls it open greeting the sun with a huge, eye closing, grin. "Monday!" He declared gleefully.
But just as he starts to leap out of the door and take off towards the Nara place he's flying- literally flying; his legs are just winding in mid-air as he tried to continue running. Realizing his toes haven't touched grass yet, he winds his legs even harder with a few grunts and groans like maybe he'd been set in slow motion or something. But after a moment he realized that something was wrong. Naruto ceases his useless running then opens his eyes to see, standing beside him, his father; he's got him by the collar holding him up like a hook and Naruto is a slab of beef in a butcher's window.
Uzumaki Minato inspects his son up and down while keeping a firm grip on the collar of the boys white uniform shirt. "Books?" He asks.
Snickering the blond boy grins with a thumbs up. "Every one." His legs begin their run again, but again he goes nowhere. "What gives! I'm gonna be late for school!"
"Homework?" The man continued to grill his son, hand coming up on his hip.
Again he makes his struggling sounds. "Y-eeee-ssss."
Giving the boy a good whiff, he smiles with a nod. "Yup, took a shower."
"Why you-..." Naruto threatened, taking useless swings at the larger male. "Let go- Whoaa- hoo!!" He's flung like a doll from the front door, hearing it slam behind him; his father's laughter being cut short by this.
The curtain moved at the window. "Bye son." Minato called with a quick wave.
Skittering to his knees more than surprised he didn't rip them. Naruto gets on his haunches brushing the gravel from his pant legs. "That guy..." Mutters the boy. "Everytime... thinks he's so funny." Setting a hand on the plushy thing his face had smacked into, to help him up, Naruto turns his head straight to see what he'd half landed on; he usually hits the grass or the pavement. But not this time.
Naruto looks up to see that the plump child, Chouji, has broken his fall. Chouji grinned triumphantly.
"Good catch right?" He cheers himself.
"Yeah man!! A fat-ass like you makes a great landing pad." He straightens up patting the boy on the back good-naturedly.
Fist balled, Chouji knocks Naruto on his ass with a push hard enough to send him back quite a few steps. That only made Naruto's comment a little more truthful as only someone with big meaty mitts could give such a powerful shove.
"Naruto don't make fun of Chouji." Insist Shikamaru beginning to head towards the sidewalk.
"Yeah, especially after I saved you a piece of my birthday cake." He reminded the boy of a few days ago when he'd brought it over for the energetic blond to eat before they took off for the arcade that day.
"Alright, alright... I'm sorry." Though he sounded like he had a roll of the eyes mixed with it. He stuffs his hands into his pockets, a hunch to his shoulders as he pouts into place beside his best friend and the food bringer.
The three walked in silence for a bit. Each thinking about their own thing, which brought Shikamaru to wonder something.
"Nee, Naruto? Did you buy a gift for Gaara yet? You know he woke up over the weekend- Temari told me, and he'll be released from the hospital maybe after today."
Solemnly he says, "I didn't. I'm no good with gifts for hospitalized people. Gaara especially! That guy's hard to shop for."
"I'll bet." Comments Chouji.
Sad faced, Naruto says quietly. "Imagine, being hit by a car."
"Yeah." Agree the other two boys.
"Then ending up in a coma!" Says Naruto with bewilderment in his tone.
"Yeah." Again the two boys agree.
Chouji looks up at the sky then down at his sandeled feet. "Do you think its karma?"
In a bland tone the Nara boy asks. "For what?"
"For always being so sour- I heard the car that hit him was a pretty sweet ride."
Shikamaru and Naruto bite down their snickers. It really wasn't right to make fun of someone in the hospital.
"You'd better not let Gaara find out you said that." Warns Shikamaru.
"That's how he ended up there in the first place!" Declared Chouji throwing his arms up into the air.
................
At the hospital. A middle-aged nurse is writing briskly on Gaara's chart, smiling sweetly at the young boy every now and then as if to console him that nothing is wrong so far. Gaara's best friend, Aburame Shino, is sitting on the stool beside him watching the woman silently, waiting for her to leave the room so the two can speak comfortably. Since his arrival Shino had to wait twenty minutes in the hall while a nurse gave Gaara a bath and when she was finished- and he was covered, his bedding got changed. She then gave the boy a massage to make sure his muscles weren't stiff. Tsuna Gaara has been in a coma for a week and a half and it showed all over his face and body the extent of how he got there. Because of the accident, Gaara had a broken arm, one cracked rib which was healing nicely as the nurse had told the red head; Gaara's nose hadn't broken but it was banged pretty hard from the impact, he was lucky in that aspect. But he would rather have a broken nose than the weird rings around his eyes caused by the head trauma. Shino wasn't sure if he should tell the boy or not but Gaara had been the one to point it out right when the Aburame boy sat down, saying 'raccoon eyes'. It was ironically the medical term they called the two black ringed eyes. Only they didn't put into days or months to the boy when that particular problem would go away. And from what Gaara felt the doctors must have shaved his bruised eyebrows for an opperation or the skid across the street had shredded them away. Either way he felt that he must look like a monster.
"I'll be by soon with your lunch, alright?" Informed the nurse.
Gaara nodded watching the woman leave the room before turning his attention to Shino.
Scooting a little closer to the bed, he asks in his deep tone. "When are you coming back to school?"
"...3 days I think she said. Or maybe it was three days the last time I had asked." He couldn't remember. "They wanna make sure that the coma didn't have any lasting effects on me."
"I see." Says Shino. "I wish for your speedy recovery." He holds out a hand with a small paper crane in it, and beside it is what seems to be a paper grasshopper?
Taking them, Gaara smiled believing the grasshopper must be from Naruto, but then he remembered that the older boy and Naruto don't really know each other all that well. It sure was strange, though, to have Shino make him a grasshopper. Gaara remembered Naruto had found a cricket when they were on the hill that day. But then again, Shino is a huge bug lover. He found that out the first time he'd met the older boy when he was in kindergarten; Shino must have pointed out a dozen different types of bugs to him to distract him from being afraid. 8 years ago, Gaara had taken the wrong bus home from school that day because his brother and sister, whom he usually rides with, had after school activities so they couldn't ride with him as they normally would. The first week of school the Tsuna brother and sister told their little brother not to take the preschool bus home that they would pick him up after class so they all got home at the same time and he's been used to that routine for so long he didn't think twice about checking the bus number should a day like that one come. When he got off at the fourth stop as he always does, he noticed right away that he was in the wrong neighborhood. But Shino had spotted Gaara and asked him if he was lost. Gaara told him he'd gotten on the wrong bus and Shino walked him home. The second grader has been his best friend since.
"Thank you." His face stiffens to concentrated as he looks down at his cast covered arm.
"Is something wrong?" Asks Shino noticing this.
"No, I'm just a bit tired."
"I could lea-" Shino starts to say but is cut off.
"No!" Gaara says firmly. But then his voice returns to nuetral. "Stay here."
"Alright."
Glaring at him for a second, Gaara nods then closes his eyes. "Thank you." But he doesn't fall asleep, though, he's very tired. All he can hear is the sound of his heart monitor beeping.
It was weird for Shino. Not to have the red head glare at him he does that to everyone. But behind that glare he saw something else, what seemed to be a bit of fear.
"Shino?"
"Hm?"
"Did you see someone leave this room at anytime when you came to see me?"
Blinking, confused at such a weird question he replies, "No." He can't recall ever seeing anyone in this room except for Gaara. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"....Someone was here," he says looking down at his cast. "talking to me.... I think."
"Why not ask the doctors."
Gaara nods, eyes glued to the foreign name on his cast written in green marker. Rock Lee.
4 days earlier.....
"It's gonna suck when you leave the hospital Lee." Says Kiba while chewing the cookie that used to be with Lee's lunch. "I'm not saying that I don't want you to recover or anything, it's just-..."
Lee held up a hand. He understood, the hospital makes really good food and dessert- not that he's had a single one since visitor's were allowed. The boy's friends, Neji, Sasuke, and Kiba came over after school to visit him a day after the surgery when Gai had called their parents telling them that it was alright if they came. It was weird when they'd heard about what happened. At first they thought that it was Lee who had gotten into the accident, but it was some other kid and Lee called an ambulance right before he went into shock. The boy had missed days of school while he got an opperation for a pacemaker and he's now sitting in the hospital recovering from a successful opperation.
"When are you allowed to be sent home?" Asks Neji from by the window. He's been watching traffic down below, the ambulances driving up. But beyond that was a nice view of a mountain. Lee got a good room for view. Too bad he's bed ridden most of the day.
"Tomorrow." Says the boy with a slight frown.
"You don't sound too happy about it." Comments Sasuke eyeing the small bowl of round melon, cantalope, and strawberries.
Lee shrugs. "I kind of made a deal with my roommate that we would get out of here together, but he's still in a coma."
"Who, the kid that got nailed by the car?" Kiba cocks his head in that direction. "Why would you wanna do that? Do you even know him?"
Nodding, Lee looks at the sliding curtain. "I... I don't know, his eyes looked so lonely. I thought, staying here until he woke up would really cheer him up a bit."
"But he's in a coma Lee that could take months, maybe even years to recover from," says Sasuke and after a second thought he adds. "If at all."
"I know."
The four boys turn their attention to the door when it opens. The end of Gaara's bed is the first thing they see before the boys unconscious body is fully seen, a nurse comes in after him pushing the bed. Gaara had been taken from the room to have his bath since Lee had visitors. Normally the red head would just be covered by the curtain dividing their beds.
After securing the locks on Gaara's bed wheels, the nurse peeks around the curtain at the four of them and in a kind voice she says. "I'm sorry but you're going to have to go for now, visiting hours are over soon and Lee really should be resting."
The three visitor's nod then gather their things giving Lee a quick and delicate hug good bye.
"Wait a second!" He calls to them.
Turning they cock a brow asking 'what?'
"Does anyone have a marker I can use? I'll give it back to you tomorrow."
Thinking it strange, Kiba turns his backpack around to the front, one shoulder still holding it up. "Here."
"Thank you." He takes it from him twisting it between his fingers.
"See ya."
He waved to them. With a sigh, he waits patiently while the nurse writes down Gaara's stats before elevating the boys bed. She smiled at him before leaving the room and closing the door. Sliding out of the bed, Lee carefully walks over to Gaara's taking a seat beside his bed on the stool. Taking the boys hand, he rubs it with his thumb.
"Looks like I'm getting out of here early. Sorry we couldn't go together like I'd hoped." He looked at the boys face rather than his hand. "But that doesn't mean that I won't still come to visit you. Okay?" Letting go of Gaara's hand, he uncaps the marker. "I'll be the first to write on your cast, that way you'll know I was here." Tapping the marker to his chin he rolls his wide eyes up to the ceiling in concentration. "Now let's see.... Hn. I've never written on a cast before, what am I supposed to say? ....I know!"
Next time I'll protect you. Rock Lee.
Satisfied, he walks over to his own bed and falls asleep. The next day when Lee's father, mother, and uncle came to pick him up from the hospital Lee managed to sneak a hug to Gaara when everyone went out to the hall. He whispered in the boy's ear. 'I'll see you tomorrow' then left the room. Two hours later, Tsuna Gaara opened his eyes.
~ + ~ + ~
Present day. May 15th 2004. Tuesday.Kankuro drove Gaara to school that morning. His brother just seemed so out of it he figured it would cheer the little guy up, since he's been in the hospital for so long, if he was surrounded by nice and familiar things. Gaara didn't speak the entire trip to the middle school even though the older boy tried to provoke conversation out of the red head.
"So, did you have a good sleep?"
Gaara turned his eyes at his brother before fixating them back on the road ahead.
"Dad was a wreck when you were gone, so was uncle Yashamaru." Kankuro looks at his brother to see what he'd thought of that. "He must have bought you a million things to put in your hospital room."
Gaara believed that, and yet when he woke up he didn't see so much as a flower arrangement at his bedside, though, his father and uncle did come by. Hesuke was never much for fatherly love or effection, in fact, he wasn't much of anything. It was like after Gaara was born both parents just decided to quit their duties as parents and live the life they've always wanted. His father, completely dedicated to work and his mother... well, she's made a world for herself that no one- not even her own husband and brother, is allowed in. At least Hesuke will acknowledge his children, he often has dinner with them when he doesn't decide he's not interested in what Temari or uncle Yashamaru has prepared. So yeah, their uncle acted a lot as both mother and father to them; never making excuses or so much as giving reason to why their actual parents don't give a damn. He just stepped into the role, handing some of the responsibility to Temari and a few average jobs like mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, and cleaning the gutters to Kankuro. Gaara got nothing but more time on his hands. But he knew his uncle loved him, hell he spoke to him didn't he?
"It must be weird, huh? Sleeping so heavily." His brother explained.
Again Gaara just looked at his brother, not knowing what the male wanted him to say. Yes, it was weird. No, it was fine. To tell the truth Gaara felt nothing at all.... nothing. He shuddered just remembering the feeling, laying still in bed then waking up and having his very slow pace heart suddenly elevate to the point where he could feel each beat like a punch on the chest. He just wanted to stay home in bed. But he also wanted to see his friends, so he had to come to school. Shikamaru had brought him a new robe when he visited him at the hospital and Naruto a gameboy. He thought he might like to borrow his for as long as he'd like. Gaara thanked them for the gifts but he didn't feel like playing games or anything. The two boy's talked about their week and what happened in school, they also mentioned that they got his homework for him and what a load it was. Gaara would be spending his days at home after school just to make it all up in time and he will still have to do the new stuff that was coming in. Coma's suck.
"I'll pick you up after classes, okay bro?" Calls his brother from the window after he exits the car.
"Don't bother, I'm walking with Naruto and Shikamaru."
Looking mock offended, he snickers saying. "Excuse me. I'll call Yashamaru then and tell him that."
Gaara continued into the building without another word. The stir of people all around him made him dizzy as he walked the halls. It was like he could feel every single person he passed and it was making him sick. He needs to sit down.
Behind him, Naruto and Shikamaru- who just got off the bus, spot the red head right away. Naruto puts on a sly face creeping up behind the boy, two fingers poised for side poking. The moment he got close enough to the Tsuna boy, he jams his fingers into Gaara's sides. "You're back!" He calls happily.
Gaara jumped like he'd just been shot, a pain shot through his gut just as it had when the car slammed into him that day. Visibly shaking, the red head spins around glaring at the blond. Pacing forward a couple steps that the boy had backed up he grabs him by the collar. Growling out in a loud voice, he snarls. "Don't ever sneak up on me again! Got it!"
Confused, Naruto calms his cheer down a notch then says softly. "Got it." Turning on a bright smile once the red head released him, he says. "Glad you're back. Sorry for scaring you, I just got excited to see you." One hand behind his head he laughs nervously. "-'Kay?"
Gaara looks at him for a long while then says. "Okay." Turning around, his shoulders tense when Naruto's arm slips around them but they ease back to a calm slight slump. He felt guilty all of a sudden. He didn't mean to make Naruto feel bad. Its not as if he has a sign on him that reads: Beware of trauma. Do not jar, shove, or startle the victim at anytime. He should apologize, Naruto is just happy to see him out of the hospital. Turning his head, he says. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."
"Huh? Hey its alright! I know you're just a little crabby. You have every right to be- aawww." Naruto, always quick to bounce back, grappled the boy in a hug.
Gaara reached a hand up touching the blond's arm.
Shikamaru watched closely for any sign of tension left in the boy's posture and seeing none he slips his arm around Gaara's and Naruto's shoulders. The three of them walk silently to class.
.................
As Lee wandered through his classes he wondered how he'd managed to have such a full week of distractions. After coming home his mother said that he needed bed rest for one more day so that he could get a mother's care, so he'd skipped that day of school. The next day he spent over at Sasuke's house while the two of them studied- Lee was seriously lacking in one of his classes and it seemed to come naturally to the other boy. It was strange being older than someone by a year and they're brighter than you when they haven't even entered your grade level yet, but then again Sasuke has been called a genius by many people Lee's noticed over the years. The third day he spent at Neji's home. The Hyuuga boy was moving things and he'd asked Lee and Sasuke to come over and assist him; they were offered lunch once the time came. The Rock child jumped at the chance to test out his new pacemaker. Normally moving things would take the wind out of him rather quickly but to Lee's amazement he'd done half the room by himself and didn't feel the least bit tired- well, not as much as he normally would have been. On the fourth day Lee spent it in doors since it had rained, he and Kiba played video games when the puddle jumping boy and his dog, Akamaru, came by to see if he wanted to come out and do the same. Nariko forbid it so the two ended up playing video games in the den and watching an action movie that was a present from his father when Lee was in the hospital. So in all he had no time to go to the hospital to see Gaara because visiting hours were always over. It was a shame and by the time he'd been able to go there Gaara was asleep but that Tsuna Gaara was to be released in a few days.
So this fine Tuesday afternoon, Lee walked the halls with his eyes peeled for the red head. He had to be somewhere. But as classes went by and he didn't see him, Lee began to wonder just how old the boy was. He could be in elementary school for all he knew. He didn't seem that young, but with the way kids grow these days it was hard to tell. Entering the lunch room, he grabs a tray and fills it with a bowl of cut fruit- the freshness of it questionable, a square of lasagna was scooped down onto the center of the tray, spinach on the smaller spot next to it and above it all a carton of grape juice- which he would give to Neji everytime. Lee brings his own energy drinks to have with lunch so he didn't need the school's and since one of his best friends likes it all the better to just keep taking them.
Twisting his drink rapidly in his hand, Kiba walks into step with Lee. "Isn't that your crush over there, Lee?" He points the carton of orange flavored juice across the cafeteria.
"He's not my 'crush', he's just a boy." Says Lee with a fierce blush on his cheeks. It wasn't that he considered Gaara a crush or anything, he just got embarrassed whenever someone brought up the subject of love. Its hard to think about loving someone and giving yourself to them. What if it doesn't work out? Do you just keep trying or should you give up and wait for someone to come along to you? He preferred the waiting game its safer on his heart.
"Yeah? Well if your eyes had snapped over that way any quicker the side of your face would have to sue for a hit-and-run," After a second thought he adds. "No offense." Then takes a seat. Opening his drink he takes a long swig, then watches Lee as the Rock boy takes a seat while watching his non-crush. "Why not go sit with him. I don't mind, the other guys are coming."
Looking like someone dumped cold water on him, he shakes his head. "I could never, plus, he's already got people sitting with him."
"So?"
"Well, they could be all he needs."
Making a face, he sighs then shakes his head. "What planet are you from anyway? A guy likes to have people around him, it makes him feel like a big shot. Go over there."
"No." He says firmly then starts to eat his lunch.
Shrugging, Kiba says over a bite of lasagna. "Suit yourself."
Across the cafeteria. Gaara is staring at Lee noticing that the boy is stealing a couple stares back.
"And then she gets in my face with that whole 'Naruto where's your homework' thing- is that unfair or what?"
Cocking a brow, Shikamaru asks. "Where is your homework, Naruto?"
"I had it! She didn't even give me a chance to whip it out! That's what's so unfair." He whines. Pouting, he crosses his arms. "Dad checked it and put it back and everything- and how grade-school is that to have your parents check your homework?"
Shikamaru snickered at how ridiculous his friend sounded just now. What does he think he's in college? Naruto's innocence would be almost embarrassing if it weren't out weighed by adorible.
"Say," like moods he's also quick to change subjects. "Did anyone else stay up late last night? They showed this old ghost movie on that old people channel." You could almost see the spooked chill that ran up and down Naruto's spine. "I almost wanted to climb into my parents bed."
Shikamaru shook his head.
"Gaara, did you see it?" He asks the red head.
Gaara said nothing, just stared.
"Gaara?" He whined. When that didn't work, he panicked thinking something happened to the boys injured brain. "Oi! Gaara, snap out of it!" He shakes him on the shoulder. "Say something!" He tugs at his hair, eyes spiraling like he's about to go insane if the red head doesn't say something soon.
"Did I do something wrong?" Asks Gaara in a calm, yet confused voice.
"Hm?" Intones Shikamaru.
"To Lee." Replies the boy. "Have I done something to hurt him?"
"Who's Lee?" Asks Naruto recovering from his spiral.
"Him." He nods his head in the large-eyed boys direction, but then he blinks as though he's gotten something in his eye. "Wait... I... I don't know."
The two friends exchange worried looks telling each other that their dark clouded friend must still be a little lost after the accident.
"But he signed my cast," Gaara muses to himself. "So I must know him."
"Hmm?" Tapping a finger to his chin, Naruto shakes his head. "No. But I can find out about him for you." He offers already thinking up ways to approach the mystery boy that's got his friend so confused.
So after lunch, Naruto is slipping down the hall, back against the wall, humming that spy theme that he's heard on tv anytime someone slueths around. Wall to wall, he inches his way through the crowd until he's close enough to Lee to tap him on the shoulder. When the taller male stopped at the drinking fountain to take a drink, Naruto crept around hunched over until his eyes rose just above the rim of the silver drinking fountain to get a look at the boy. He smiled faintly at this Lee, taking a good look at his closed eyes and slightly parted mouth. Naruto clutched his heart when the older male opened his eyes catching him in the act.
Springing up to a straight stand, Naruto laughs nervously thinking up a lie. "Eehhh hehehe."
Smiling at the boy, Lee says. "Hello Naruto-kun. Did you want something?" He goes on to ask.
Blinking, Naruto points an accussing finger. "Naruto-kun?" He repeats. "Are you a stalker or something! How do you know my and Gaara's names?"
Now it was his turn to be confused. Pointing a finger at himself, Lee says absently. "Am I a stalk-...?" Waving his hands frantically, he replies. "Not at all! I saw your names on Gaara's cast when he was at the hospital. You drew your face, right?"
Lips turned out in thought, the blond glares. "And just what were you- a stranger," He says pointedly. "doing signing my friends cast? Huh?"
Frowning a bit, Lee says thoughtfully. "I just thought it would be nice; I didn't know it was an exclusive cast. Tell him he can white it out if he wants to. I'm sorry."
Feeling bad for hurting this Lee's feelings, Naruto moves his hands back and forth like he were fanning flames or something. "Calm down buddy! No need for hurt feelings. I was just grilling you cause Gaara wanted to know."
Hopeful, Lee asks. "Really?"
Grinning cheekily, he says. "Yup, and I can put in a few good words for ya. How does, cool, nice, and officient sound?"
"They sound great!" Cheers Lee who after a second re-hears it and says. "Though I don't know what officient means in your terms; I like it!"
"Yeah, I'm a damn nice guy!" He cheers himself for being such a good person.
Both boys strike the same pose with their hands on their hips, heads thrown back as they laugh triumphantly from feeling good.
"But uh," Naruto says, laughter instantly gone. "drop the kun thing or I'll sock you in the mouth, it drives me nuts. Okay?"
"Got it." He replies with a salute and dazzling smile while inside he wished he could break that damned polite habit as he recalled Kiba saying about the same thing when they first met.
Impressed with such a luminous grin Naruto snags the boys wrist. "Right, meet us at the tree out front of the building. The ugly one with couple's love carved into it, you can walk home with us!"
"Walk home with you?" Lee panicked hearing that. To see Gaara again. Be around him, talk to him. Over load. "Wa- wait, Naruto!" He called to the disappearing boy.
Too late. He's been shangheid.
~ + ~ + ~
For Lee the walk home was completely awkward. He has no clue what to say to Gaara now that the boy is awake. This always happens to him. Mentally, he's geared up for days with conversation but when trying to execute it, it doesn't turn out so good and he can come across as tongue tied or a little nervous. Not very actractive traits. In fact if it weren't the fact that Naruto and the other boy Shikamaru making light conversation about classes, Lee was sure he would have just turned at the first corner he saw to escape the situation.Gaara's no better off as he steals glances at Lee. What was I thinking? So what if he signed my cast, so what if I can't stop seeing his face? This boy doesn't fit in with any part of my life and somehow, I can't... He shakes his head from that sort of thought. Its crazy to label someone something when you don't even know them. Shikamaru is his friend, Naruto is his friend and Shino, but Lee... Lee is... Who? He wonders quietly, looking over and up at the taller male.
Smiling at the red head, Lee says. "I'm glad that you're doing ok, Gaara." He touches the boys shoulder with ease giving it a light rub.
Gaara shivered. Why does it feel like I've just been electricuted? Is Lee important to me somehow? He muses taking side long glances at the male now.
Lee continues talking. "Hospitals freak me out when they tell me-.."
Cutting in Gaara finishes Lee's sentence. "They tell you you have to stay longer than three days."
Elated, Lee beams. "Yes! You remembered."
"Yes." It was the how that confused Gaara. He's sure he's never met Lee before and yet when looking at him he knows things about him. Personal things that should be kept private and yet Lee acts as though they've been friends for sometime but haven't spoken in a while.
"Hey love-birds!" Calls Naruto from across the street.
Gaara and Lee turn their heads.
"Let us know if its a happy ending. See ya later Gaara, bye Lee!" He waves both hands.
Shikamaru waves to them as well before continuing home with Naruto. Gaara watched after his friends as though they just left him to die in the middle of the jungle.
Turning to Lee he says rather blunt. "Have we met before?"
Blinking, he winks at the boy. "Not formally, but," his cheeks turned kind of pink. "I talked to you at the hopsital when you were in your coma. We shared a room because the hopsital was full. When a room was free you got to stay with me because the doctors said it was nice to have verbal company around."
Thinking this information over, Gaara questions. "What did we talk about?"
"I talked about this and that about myself." He answered.
"Hm. I don't remember being in any coma, just waking up and having my sister tell me I've been asleep for a week and a half." The boy looks blank as he walks on. "But I didn't hear anything in the meantime, that would be impossible."
"Why?"
Gaara shrugs. "A coma is the first stage of death; the system shuts down taking all the senses with it. So it isn't possible for me to have heard you."
"Mm." Thinks Lee. "But you must have, how else would you know about something I've told you."
He's right. I do know things about him. Maybe I wasn't as dead as I thought.
Aside from Lee saying 'there you are' when moving a low branch from Gaara's direct path, there wasn't much conversation between the two beyond that point.
Finger outward, Gaara states. "That's my friend Shino."
Looking up ahead, Lee spots a boy wearing an eigth grade uniform. He knew that blue from anywhere because he got lost in a swarm of them when walking into the wrong section of the building his first week of school. His face looks happy once registering the boy a few feet up ahead of them. "I know him, we have band together." Placing a hand beside his mouth he calls. "Shino!"
And so the three of them walk home together, first to Shino's house because the boy told them that he had to check on his nearly hatched caccoons- they're due today and he didn't want to miss it. The Aburame home is very reserved in the old world look. Shino's house reminded Lee of Neji's house but it was a bit more modern old world rather than- don't touch anything. He especially liked the couches that are set low to the floor and very roomy. The boy's bedroom was a sight to behold with a tank here filled with different types of spiders and a tank there with what looks like beetles, and the curtains have cacoons on them. Good thing bugs don't creep Lee out too much or he'd of jetted the moment he stepped foot in the room. Instead he walked over to the ant farm set beside the Aburame boy's bed.
"I haven't found enough ants to fill it yet." Says Shino absently while pulling crysalis from his curtains and setting them into a tent.
Lee wondered why there were only two inside. Leaving the farm he heads over to the window to help Shino and Gaara with the soon-to-be butterflies. As they work, Lee notices something. He's noticed it for a while but being inside the males home it just seems odd that he would still be wearing them.
"Shino? Can I ask you something?" When the male glances a 'go ahead' Lee continues. "Why do you never take off your sunglasses? I've seen you wearing them around school and in band. Are they prescriptions?"
Gaara looks over at his best friend with a cocked brow, it was as if for the first time he were just noticing the sunglasses his self.
Adjusting them, Shino says in his usual plain tone. "Do you know what its like to feel that something about you doesn't match the rest of you?"
Slightly down from thinking about that, Lee nods.
"For me, its my eyes. So I wear sunglasses until I can accept them." He closes the tent. "I told my teachers that it isn't going to bother anyone if I wear them so they let me."
"I see." Lee didn't know that even attractive people thought they had flaws. It made him further wonder what the males eyes look like having delt with his own share of leers from his own appearance but that's never been the thing that bothered Lee growing up. It was never being able to keep up with the other kids because of his heart condition. Its the thing about himself that he dislikes the most. He loves being active and having to slow down just didn't suit him. It was good to know that he got the opperation even though he was nervous at first, it really was for the best.
Speaking of which, he still needs to take a med for that. Even with a pacemaker he has to take a blood thinner so the thing doesn't have to pump too hard when working. And stupidly he left it at home. "I'm sorry but I have to go. I left something at home that I need to get."
"I'll go with you." Gaara says with more concern in his voice than he'd meant to show. He remembered Lee talking about his condition and how sometimes he feels a little winded and can't quite make long trips without stopping for a while. He didn't want the boy to be alone with that.
"O- okay. Thank you."
The two walk out of the Aburame home after saying good bye to the bug lover. And so they were alone again.