This is my next Multi-chapter story and it's a Leeten. I have recently had a growing admiration for this pairing and a lot of that is thanks to DeenaTweety. Her writing style is exquisite just like her plots. She was the one that youthfully challenged me to write this so this story is dedicated to her. If you get the chance check out her fanfictions you won't be disappointed. ;D

Chapter 1

"Tch, it's been four years since you first started pining over him."

"Sometimes I really hate you and all your damn observations, you Baka", she said shooting daggers with her rust colored eyes.

"Ouch. I should have known you'd get all feisty. Love a troublesome problem for troublesome women."

He laid down beside her crossing his arms behind his head like a makeshift pillow in an attempt to create a comfortable recline.

"You know, Shikamaru, you can be as comforting as a bowl of ice cream," she replied in a clipped tone that was just drunk with sarcasm. "Kami, why do I even talk to you?"

He turned his head toward his conflicted friend. She meet his gaze her own harboring a poorly concealed bittersweet tint that broke his heart.

"Because I give it to you straight just the way you like it" he answered her rhetorical question with a playful wink. A self-satisfied smirk formed on his countenance with the knowledge that he had completed his momentarily goal of washing the bitter from her tan face leaving only that sweet smile.

"Shikamaru…"

"Yes, Tenten?"

"Thanks", she said as she pushed herself up out of the grass. "I'm going to head home." She stood up and brushing the dirt off her tush proceeded to walk home.

He lazily flipped on his stomach so that he could see her walking away and called out, "Women. She tells me her problems and then leaves when the sky is clear and there are no clouds to watch."

The wind whipped against her retreating form carrying a girlish giggled. He smirked again turning his attention to the now clarion sky.

"Heehee. So troublesome."

~O~

On the way home, Tenten found herself observing the dirt road with such intent one would think it held the secrets to the universe. Tiny pebbles had wedged themselves between her bare soles and shinboi sandal. They irritated her more with each step she took.

Her thoughts were fluttering in several different directions like birds disturbed from a peaceful feast.

Kami, I've already accepted the fact that he'll never see me in that way. His limelight is already filled. So why can't I just move on?

Tenten outwardly huffed at the question knowing quite well what the answer is.

Every time I come close, Lee unknowingly makes me fall in love all over again. From his childish antics to that smile that could shame the stars he's got me hooked…, the smile that involuntarily came with thoughts of her teammate began to falter, … like a fish gasping for air pleading to be thrown back into the water.

She sadistically gaffed at the image of her own bun head on a fish's body.

I must be losing it.

He mind drifted back to the ever growing irritation in her sandal. I need to sit down and shake out these damn pebbles.

Tenten spotted a nearby bench and quickly shuffled over. She felt immense relieved as she slipped off her sandal sand the tiny annoyances fell to the ground. She pulled her knees up to her chest and her head flopped back into the wooden bench.

Geez, I'm exhausted, Tenten mentally complained as sleep overcame her frantic mind.

~O~

Tenten's peaceful slumber disintegrated as there was a disturbance of weight at the other side of the rickety bench. She gradually lifted her head only to be greeted by a familiar spiky ponytail.

"Making it a habit of stalking me, Shikamaru", she smirked, "this is the second time I've seen you today."

Shikamaru raised his hands in mock defense. "Tch, actually I think a certain kunochi came by my training field and took advantage of my good natured heart, lazy as it may be, and proceeded to spill out her guts."

Tenten let out a laugh so hearty it could rival Maito Gai's.

"You know if memory serves me right."

"Oh, Shikamaru," she said through breaks of laughter, "when does your memory ever fail? Hey...speaking of memories I remember how this all started."

He said nothing in return instead he opted for looking out of the edges of his eyes to lock gazes. From two years of friendship, Tenten correctly interpreted this as, "I've heard you. Please continue."

"Back when your stalking career first started", she teased. Shikamaru shot her a piercing glare as he held most of the blush from his tan cheeks.

"Tenten…"

"Oh yeah, yeah", she interrupted with a dismissive wave of the hand, "I know you aren't a stalker your cloud-watching clearing just so happens to be next to my training grounds", she finished making quotation marks with her fingers.

"Tch, you know you're the least troublesome kunochi but you sure know how to get under my skin." In conclusion and for extra emphasis of his displeasure he muttered another "Troublesome."

"You flatter me," Tenten winked. "Anyway, Oh yes! You happen to be observing me long enough to deduce that I was in love with Lee…"

With every kick that Lee administered to the training post it sent a deep ripple through his body. Using her well trained eyes she observed every bit of his definition. She set her face in her hands feeling the heat from her countenance radiating onto her palms.

She had concluded that that jumpsuit was both a hindrance and blessing to her infatuated imagination. Sure it hugged every craves and counter of his toned body but it revealed no skin.

Thank goodness for the workings of the human mind.

Tenten smiled as she peeled away inch by inch of Lee's jumpsuit starting with the collar. If Tenten wasn't a trained kunochi she would have found herself mesmerized by Lee's deadly dance and not notice the slight rustling of leaves in her peripheral vision.

Unsticking her glued eyes from Lee's dynamite body she focused all her attention in the direction of perceived movement.

Manifesting from the darkness of the canopy leaves was Konoha's own shadow manipulator. Her eyes grew with surprise but she made no move to question his presence instead patiently waiting for him to explain.

He would later note that this was one of the things that he loved about her.

Shikamaru lazily plopped down on the log beside her and when he was good and comfortable he said, "I was walking to my favorite field and I spotted you white shirt." Suddenly, with a face so expressionless you'd mistake him for a statue he drawled in his cut throat manner, "You like Lee."

Too lazy to turn his head he opted for observing her through his peripheral vision. First came the large disbelieving eyes. Than the deep blush.

Cue the denial.

"I do not like Lee!" she exclaimed.

"Tch", he rolled his eyes,

She continued, "I mean where do you even get an idea like that?! Me? Tenten of Konoha love my best friend and teammate Rock Lee!"

Her rant was stopped short by the unconvinced expression that Shikamaru was sporting. From the exasperation and embarrassment of her current situation Tenten took a deep breath and recklessly threw herself backward off the log and landing in the spring grass.

Shikamaru was so surprised by her sudden fall that he rushed by her side to see if she was hurt. Crouched beside her he scanned her over finally being blessed with the opportunity to observe close up what he had admired from far away. Her spirited eyes were staring into the cloudy blue sky. Shikamaru exhaled and crossed his legs next to her too tired to sit back on the log.

"Kami, there's no pint in lying to the most observant analytical shinboi," Shikamaru nodded in agreement and Tenten hid her face in her hands letting out a deep sigh. "I've kept a secret for so long and now everyone will know."

He scowled, "You must be hanging out with Ino and Sakura too much. Just because someone finds out a secret does not mean that it will be broadcast all over Konoha. Tch."

For a long time, Tenten was silent letting Shikamaru's statement completely soak into her overworked mind.

"Thank you, Shikamaru." She removed her hands from the face. "But you know that since you know my secret I'll be coming to you for advice and deep heart to hearts," she laughed.

Mirroring Tenten's earlier action, he flopped back into the grass sighing a "Troublesome."

"Tch. Oh yes, I remember how our little "heart to hearts" began"; he scoffed and rolled his brown eyes.

Shikamaru laided sideway on the bench his head resting comfortably in his palm. He silently watched as a genuine smile lit up Tenten's face and she let out a tinkling laugh.

"Shikamaru," she started grabbing ahold of his hand, "you know you're more than an ear for me to talk off. You're my best friend."

She let go of his hand and bounced up off the bench and turned to face her friend.

"Reminiscing with you here has put me in an amazing mood." She bent forward and laced her arms around his slim shoulder holding him close only for a second.

"Thank you, again. I'm really going home now. See ya around, best friend!" Tenten began her spirited sprint back home.

Only after her form had vanished did he permit the blush to grace his cheeks.

Friend, Shikamaru rolled the bittersweet word around in his mind.

~O~

Her jovial sprint was slowed when she spotted a familiar body hunched over her steps.

When she had finally descended upon him the young boy offered no youthful greeting. Instead, he buried his tear-stained face deep into her white line shirt.

Tenten never cried but the sight of her sobbing friend almost did her in. Sure she'd seen him cry all the time. Over youth or beauty but this was different. These were heart wrenching sobs that screamed pain.

She stayed stoic and she managed to shift his limp body into a more comfortable position. She lightly draped her crossed arms around his back pulling him closer. His face rested neatly in the craves of her neck his clenched fist lying uselessly in her lap as he continued to sob.

After a few moments, his sobs began to decrease in frequency and magnitude. When they ceased she slowly let her arms fall to her sides.

Before meeting her patient gaze, he attempted to wipe his face clean on his bandaged arms.

"Lee..."

He looked up into her loving gaze and she flashed him a tentative smile. He smiled weakly in response.

"Tenten... I am sorry that I am not acting my youthful self. It is just that Sakura-san…," Lee began choking on sobs as he tried hard to fight back the tears threating to well in his already glossy eyes. Tenten could not conceal the dark shadow of rage that passed over her face at the mention of Sakura's name. She quickly pushed down her own selfish feelings as Lee continued.

"I was walking by the hospital to speak of my youthful love… but as I neared the entrance there on the front bench I saw Sakura-san…," the welling tears spilled over as Lee finished, "kissing Choji-san! I could barely breathe. I… I remember running and then... I found myself at your front door." He looked down tears running freely down his tan cheeks landing on his shinboi sandals.

"I promise Sakura-san I'd wait for her. But now there is no longer anything to wait for."

Tenten's heart mirrored Lee's as she gently placed a hand on his hunched back. She softly whispered his name again, "Lee…"

"No, Tenten," he interrupted her lifting his gaze to meet her own, "it is obvious why she chose him. He is far more youthful than me. And he's twice the man I'll ever be."

Only physically! , Tenten mentally argued feeling the anger rising in her stomach.

"And he'll be a better boyfriend."

Tenten was aghast. All the teasing Lee had endured as a child had wreaked havoc on his self-esteem.

Oh hell no.

There was no way she would stand to see him like this. She grabbed a hold of a piece of his green spandex.

"Lee, do you know what material this is?" she demanded.

He looked confused at her sudden question but answered anyway, "It is the youth material spandex, Tenten."

"No, baka! Its boyfriend material", she exclaimed jumping up and down pointing at him. A smile began to peak on Lee's lips.

Yes!

But it dropped back down.

Damn!

"I am sorry but I do not think so, my youthful flower."

"If you don't believe me I'll prove it to you!"

Stop, Tenten. I know what you're going to say…

Than it happened, Lee's face broke out into that famous smile. The one that radiated so much happiness it caused Tenten to melt. Along with her conscience and reasoning.

"Oh, Tenten, how can you do that!?"

"Look for the next couple of days you'll pretend to be my boyfriend. In that time I will evaluate you and tell you what you do right and what you'll have to improve on", Tenten stated matter-of-factly.

Lee was practically jogging in place. "What a youthful idea!"

In one swift movement he pulled Tenten into warm bone rushing hug.

"Thank you my lotus flower! I will see you tomorrow!"

Tenten flushed a deep red as Lee sprinted back home. With that Tenten levitated back into her cozy home and busied herself till it was time to sleep.

That night she dreamt of beaming smiles and an absence of spandex.

OH YES! Chapter 1 of 4 complete. Feel free to review and be open minded.

And on another note I'm looking for a beta reader. Anyone intersted?