It's a wonderful life
Poison- Hello everyone. You may know me as Foxglove's editor, that is, if she's posted any of her story. It's called welcome to Ed's black parade. It should be good (I think.) She doesn't know about this story. I was originally going to write a story called Gaara, you pervert! But it's Christmas Eve. Why should that matter, you ask? Every Christmas Eve they play a movie on TV from the 1940's. I thought it was bogus to watch such an old movie at first, but then I was drawn in. You may have seen it. It's called It's a wonderful life thus the name of this story. I shall be replacing the role of George Bailey with Rock Lee and it shall be very different but follow the same guideline. I'd like to thank everyone who worked on that movie (if any of them are still alive) for inspiring me to write this story. I deleted Gaara, you pervert right away, threw in my All American Rejects CD (with my My Chemical Romance, AFI, Panic at the Disco, Hyde, and J-pop CD for back up) and clicked up Microsoft Word. The movie made me all teary-eyed and I hope this story will touch you the same way it will teach me (hopefully.) I hope you learn a lesson from this story and it will let you see the world differently. (I'm corny, I know.) And yes, there will be shonen-ai. (Hey, Gaara, you pervert was going to be a full blown yaoi, so don't complain.) But really, this is going to be a cute story. I'm getting all teary-eyed again (because it Ends Tonight is playing.) So touching! I'll begin now, before I start crying. This story will be short.
Foxglove- Hey guys! Now I get to be her editor…so I'd best get to editing! We love all our readers!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does (he's actually pretty cute) and this story isn't really his type of thing. I'm sorry if this would ever make him angry…
Chappie one, y'all (Too late! I'm already crying!)
(Before I begin the story, has anyone but me noticed that in the show Rock Lee doesn't use contractions? It's like he's never seen an apostrophe before. Normal: doesn't. Rock Lee: does not. I pointed this out so no one would think my writing is weird.)
A small soft white snowflake landed on Rock Lee's tongue and quickly melted. He licked up the water that remained on his tongue. He loved the snow. It sparkled as it fell, like a wide and expanding Christmas tree. That is, if you were brave enough to look up while it was snowing since the snow pierced your eyes. Rock Lee had his bushy brows to protect him from that.
He kicked lightly at a pile of snow. Christmas Eve was tomorrow, and he couldn't wait. It would be his first with real friends. All those Christmas' spent when he was younger were with all the kids that would poke and prod and make fun of him. The only person he'd really ever had before now was Gai. He grinned as he found that all his friends wouldn't fit on all ten fingers. He would have to use his toes.
"Lee, the hot cocoa's ready!" Hinata's shy voice called to him. Of course. He'd been the only one that felt like stepping out into the snow. Everyone else was inside, waiting for Hinata to fix up some cocoa. He could hear the light ring of the oven as he smelt the scent of freshly baked Christmas cookies. He remembered something Gai had told him. Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings… Not that he believed in angels.
He ran to the door, a very unwise thing to do, and slipped on the ice. Slip. Bam. He landed on his chin and felt a trickle of blood run out of his mouth. He'd only bitten his tongue. Nothing serious.
"Lee! Are you alright!" Hinata was already running towards him. He sat up and wiped the blood that had dripped past his chin onto his sleeve. "I am fine," he told her. Nothing hurt as much as his leg. Had he shattered it? He couldn't tell. He was a ninja. He could live with it.
He stood up slowly, unbending his leg slowly, not letting Hinata see the pain he was in. The girl worried so easily. He limped with her to the door.
And there they were, all of his friends sitting at a large round table. Kakashi and Gai were sitting on soft recliners, sipping tea by the fire. It was almost amusing to see Gai this civilized. He limped to the table and saw the only open spot beside Hinata's. He saw Gaara eye his limp suspiciously, but thankfully say nothing.
(AN: Alas, but where would this story go if we didn't have any problems for our protagonist?)
His lame leg rammed into one of the table legs and caused the table to shake. The drinks mostly just shook in a Jurassic Park fashion (AN: I don't care if you don't get that joke; I'm moving along) but Neji's drink fell over and shattered, spilling steaming hot cocoa and shards of the mug onto his lap.
"Ahhh! Hot! Sharp!" Neji cried as he leaped out of his seat. Blood and cocoa ran down his legs.
"Oh my god; I am so sorry! Let me help!"
Neji held up his hand. "No. Stay there. I don't want to leg of yours to knock anything else over."
"I'm sorry, I just did not see the table leg there-"
"I'm surprised you can see anything with those eyebrows of yours."
Silence.
Rock Lee hung his head. If he'd just told Hinata that he'd hurt his leg, he could've had her help him and Neji wouldn't be mad at him. Idiot.
Lee didn't see, but Gaara shot Neji a death glare.
Hinata sensed his discomfort and sought to change the subject. "That's alright. I'll take a look at both of your legs and fix Neji another cup. Don't worry about it."
Rock Lee nodded at her and plopped down on Gai's lap.
"Hey Lee. Comfortable?" Gai asked sarcastically.
Lee nodded into his chest.
"You're freezing! How long were you out in the snow?"
He shrugged.
"You're lucky you're not my son. I'd have given you a lecture."
"I am close enough. And you have given me millions of lectures."
Gai wrapped a strong arm around Lee's shoulders. "What do you want for Christmas, Lee?"
Lee lifted his head up and looked at him. "You cannot ask me that every year. I am not your real son."
"Nonsense. You're the son I never had; the son I've always wanted. Not to mention you're the spitting image of me."
He leaned his head against Gai's shoulder and closed his eyes. What did he want? He didn't know. Gai would never believe that though.
"I do not know yet. I will think about it."
"Well, think hard."
Hinata reentered the room with first aid and Rock Lee limped up to join Neji on the couch. She bandaged up Neji's quick enough, but she had to splint Lee's. It was only a small fracture; it would heal in a few days with his ninja strength.
He slipped his orange leg-warmers back on over his splint and joined the others at the table.
They sipped their cocoa and chatted lightly, like those good old friends in the movies. Lee kept his eyes locked on Sakura. Her green eyes twinkled and her cheeks lit up when she smiled. Her laugh tinkled like one of Santa's sleigh bells and she playfully tossed her short pink hair every so often.
Lee didn't see, but Gaara kept his eyes locked on him.
Neji was in a better temper, though he didn't talk to Lee much. He'd get over it. Hopefully.
Naruto and Sasuke argued for a while at who could kick whose butt and eventually got into an argument on who would win: Edward Elric or InuYasha. Everyone took sides besides Lee and Gaara. Lee couldn't choose and Gaara didn't care.
They eventually had to decide on a draw before anything got violent. But, it was their way of showing friendly affection.
It wasn't long before Sakura brought up the big question. "So, what do you guys all want for Christmas?"
Ino spoke first of course. She wanted a never ending list of things; mostly hair care products and other things that were inaudible because she spoke so fast. Sakura quickly moved on. Kiba wanted a new coat; his was getting shabby. Bark, bark! Oh, and Akamaru wanted a bone. Shikamaru wanted anything to make life easier (lazy ass), Choji wanted snacks (what else?), Neji wanted a sword (to play with), Shino wanted more gel (for that freaky hair of his), TenTen wanted the new Ayumi Hamasaki CD (if you don't know who that is, look her up), Hinata said it was no trouble (But asked for some new skirts anyway), Naruto wanted ramen (lots of it!), and Sasuke wanted some new Kunai (extra sharp.) Sakura turned her head lovingly towards Sasuke and said she wanted a romantic night with Sasuke. He turned beet red. Would she ever figure out he was cheating on her with Naruto? Lee had kept Sakura from knowing with distractions so that her heart wouldn't be broken. He half wanted to though, so that Sakura could be his. What did he want? He told them he would think about it. Neji suggested cat-sized tweezers or maybe an eyebrow brush. Lee rolled his eyes while everyone else laughed.
Lee didn't see, but Gaara mouthed the words Neji, you bastard to himself.
What did Gaara want? Sakura almost didn't ask since he never wanted anything. Lee had tamed him and brought him from Tamari and Kankuro to their group, but he was still quiet and distant. Surprisingly, he had something more tom say than just "nothing."
"I want… I want something I technically already have, but I want it more. None of you can buy it for me. It has no price, only effort."
With a frightening realization, everyone thought it was power and strength that he wanted. They weren't sure if he'd given up being blood-thirsty yet.
Lee didn't know this, but it was him that he wanted. Or, maybe his love would be a better way to say it?
Everyone made note of what the other wanted and said their farewells. It wasn't that late, but nights came sooner and darker in the winter and no one wanted to walk home in the dark. Gai told Lee to be very careful and gave him a fatherly hug before going home himself. I'll avoid murderers and rapists, he joked. Gaara's eyes grew wide when he said that.
Lee wanted to walk Sakura home, but she was already clinging to Sasuke's arm while Naruto walked indifferently on the other side of him. Sakura still lived with her parents, but Naruto and Sasuke had become roommates so that they would have the nights to themselves.
Too bad for Lee.
"Hey, bushy brow."
God, he hated that nickname! Along with Eyebrow Boy. He had a real name. Rock Lee. Why couldn't everyone call him that and just leave his eyebrows alone?
"Yeah, Gaara?"
"We live in the same direction. I'll walk with you so that you don't slip like an idiot again."
Jerk. It was interesting to know that Gaara lived near him though. No one knew where Gaara lived.
Lee didn't know this, but Gaara didn't live anywhere near his house.
They walked silently, not knowing what to say in such strange circumstances. Lee struck up small talk.
"So, do you feel Christmas-ish?"
"Pardon?"
"You know, do you feel the Christmas spirit? Christmas is not for a couple days, but it is snowing and everything. Lights are up and you can hear carolers. Do you not feel any Christmas spirit?"
"Why would I feel any of that? It's pathetic."
Rock Lee hung his head. "Oh."
"This is your house right? I'm leaving now so I don't have to hear about anymore of your Christmas crap. It's just some commercial excuse to spend money like an idiot."
"No it is not! There is more to it than that! And how did you know where I live…?"
Gaara turned red. "Because, it says Lee on your mailbox! Do you think that I'm that stupid? No one else has that stupid last name but you, bushy brow! Go inside and let friggin' sugarplums dance in your head or however that crappy poem goes." He stormed off, feeling his chest tighten. He hadn't meant to be that mean.
Lee didn't know this, but Gaara knew where he lived because he'd followed him home before.
Lee watched him stomp off. That's the second person he'd made angry today. He held his head high. He was Rock Lee, dammit! He didn't let anything get him down. He looked up at the creaky old house he lived in. He was sure he was the only person alive who would want such a drafty old thing to live in. It had a warm welcoming feeling. It was his home. He would cheer up. Tomorrow would be better.
Or, it would be worse.
Which it was, by the way.
On the surface of the morning, it looked okay. But the only thing was that it was afternoon and not morning.
He was supposed to have woken at 7:00. It was now 12:33.
Crap!
He was supposed to have sponsored everyone at a giant tournament that was happening today. It was held every Christmas Eve and was what many young ninjas looked forward to every year. Lee hadn't felt much like competing this year, so he'd agreed to be the sponsor. You couldn't fight without a sponsor.
He dressed hurriedly, ignoring his leg splint and praying that it wasn't his team's turn yet. Why hadn't his alarm woken him up? He realized with despair that he'd been so tired last night that he'd forgotten to set it.
He didn't spend anymore time pondering it and shot out the door. He ignored the splint and leaped from tree to tree with the speed that only he possessed; that was faster than anyone else he knew. Almost there. God, please say they haven't gone yet.
But, where would our story be if they hadn't gone yet?
There his friends sat, grumbling and swearing as they saw him leaping towards them. He stopped in front of them with his breath short and ragged.
"Have you guys gone yet?" He managed to ask.
The glares that he received answered his question.
"Look guys, I am really sorry. My alarm did not go off and…"
"Yeah, we've heard it all before. Don't blame your alarm," Shikamaru interrupted.
"We've been looking forward to this all year!" Naruto shouted.
"Now we're a laughing stock." Sasuke added.
"I thought you were trustworthy, bushy brow." Neji said softly.
"I am! I just…"
Neji shook his head and motioned for the others to follow him out. "Go jump off a bridge, you shit head!" He yelled over his shoulder.
"I…" Lee whispered. He looked up to see Sakura standing there.
"Sakura! You believe me, right?"
Her green eyes reflected sadness. He felt his heart fall into his stomach. She pushed up the sleeves of her jacket and showed him a series of bruises and cuts.
"See these? These are from training for this. Guess I'll have to wait until next year, jerk."
She stomped off angrily with the others. Rock Lee could have stopped breathing. No. Not Sakura. Anyone but Sakura. He saw Hinata look shyly back at him, but she was too afraid to go against Neji.
He was left with a group of angry friends and the cold and snow blowing on him. He'd forgotten to grab a jacket.
Happy Christmas Eve indeed.
Lee didn't see this, but Gaara had been watching the whole time.
He stalked off into the park and wove around the trees. His green outfit usually let him camouflage into everything, but since it was winter, everything was covered in white and the trees were dead. Their long gnarling branches reached out threateningly towards him.
Yes, kill me. My first time with real friends and I screwed it up. He shouldn't be this upset about such a small thing, but he'd never had real friends before Naruto and the others. Maybe he'd never had real friends at all. Maybe he would just screw up everything for any friend he made. Maybe he just wasn't deserving.
They'd forgive him. Right?
He dragged his feet in the snow, leaving long lines that marked his passing.
He could feel his feet begin to numb, but they might as well have. Maybe then he would fall over and freeze to death here. No, there were too many people around. They would help him because they didn't know what an idiot he was.
He found a bench and sat there. He didn't know for how long, but it had begun to grow dark by the time he looked up again. In the wallowing of his sorrow, he heard a familiar voice. He looked up to see the back of Gai's head. He could spot that round shiny black orb anywhere. Gai was still on his side. Gai still cared about him.
"Gai!" He called out. "Gai!"
He watched him turn towards him and reveal a woman standing next to him. Another woman? He'd been trying for years to score a serious girlfriend and hadn't been successful. He could see from the look on Gai's face that he wanted Lee to back off for now.
Unfortunately, Lee always forgot just how fast he was and couldn't turn himself around with his splint. He slipped on the snow and began sliding at top speed towards Gai and the woman.
He planted his fists into the ground to slow himself down, but only ended up with sore red knuckles. His squeezed his eyes shut and prepared for impact.
He managed to avoid Gai, but instead went crashing into the woman. She flipped and flew over him; head over heels. Rock Lee tucked his head in and rolled slowly until he stopped. When he stood up and brushed himself up, he saw the woman in a snowy heap a few feet away from him.
Dammit.
She stood up angrily before turning and yelling at him. She was calling him an insolent little brat when her eyes grew wide.
"You. You look just like Gai! You're his son, aren't you?!"
Lee tried to say no, but she wouldn't listen.
She turned angrily towards Gai and jabbed a long painted nail into his chest.
"Just who do you think you are?! You think that I'd date someone with such a brat? Don't try to tell me you've never seen him before, because he looks just like you! You can take your son and your flirty little remarks and shove them up your ass!"
Her high heels jabbed angrily at the snow as she stormed off.
Lee looked pleadingly at Gai. God, not you too.
Lee sighed with relief as Gai smiled at him.
His relief turned to despair when Gai spoke to him.
"Lee, don't you know how to stay out of the way? I thought you were a big boy. Can't you just leave me alone for one day? Leave. I don't want to see you right now."
No. Not his last hope. Why on Christmas Eve? What the hell?
Tears sprung to his eyes. He was such a fool! Such a weak fool! Who did he think he was, trying to make friends and bugging Gai all the time? He only made everyone miserable, including himself.
"Fine! This world would better off without me anyway! You will never have to see me again!"
Lee turned and ran before he could see Gai's reaction. It didn't matter if Gai came after him. He was faster then anyone in this village would ever be. Why would Gai come after him anyway? He'd be happier if he didn't have such a burden bothering him everyday.
He wasn't sure where he was going, but he'd already thought of jumping off the hundred-foot high bridge into the icy cold water. He knew the fall wasn't enough to kill him, but if he let the freezing water carry him long enough, it would freeze his veins, then his arteries and eventually his heart and brain.
Halfway there, he was intercepted by Gaara.
"What are you doing? You think that running away will save your problems?!" He yelled as he jumped in front of Lee.
Gaara. He hadn't been at the tournament. Was he still happy with him?
"I, I do not-"
"You're such a coward! You're going to run away after what happened to Hinata and Sakura?"
Rock Lee froze. "What happened?"
Gaara sighed. "After you left, these big punks were disappointed that they didn't get to fight the toughest ninjas in the village and started picking fights. Hinata stepped in and told them to stop. Hinata and Sakura were walking by themselves and were cornered by a group of other ninja. They fought hard, but they're being patched up right now. Now be a man and go apologize."
Lee breathed in sharply. "Oh God." He whispered.
"What?"
"Oh God! I really am useless!"
"What are you-?"
"I know a different way of apologizing. A better way. Tell them that I am so sorry."
"Wait. What are you planning on doing?"
Rock Lee looked him sadly in the eye.
"I am going to end it all. I have caused nothing but trouble for all of you." The words caught in his throat as tears occupied his large eyes again. "Ever since I met all of you, I have done nothing but destroy. I have broken at least one of everyone's things. I am a klutz and I cannot do anything right. Even Gai is mad at me. And now… now Hinata and Sakura were hurt because of me. They are just girls and they got hurt because I am such an idiot. Tell everyone that I am sorry. This is the last time I will see you, so goodbye."
"What? You can't!" Fear twinkled in Gaara's usually monotonous eyes and his heart began to race.
Rock Lee zipped out of his sight before he could stop him.
"Shit!"
His tears disappeared due to all the wind that was zipping by so fast. Braches scratched at his cheeks and face and he could feel the blood running down; warm and sticky. A big branch sliced at his eye part way through, but it wasn't like he would need it anymore.
Ever since he was little- no, ever since he was born he'd been an outcast. He never knew what happened to his parents. Maybe they didn't want him. Who would? School began and he found out he only had any real talent when it came to taijustu. Kids teased him relentlessly, calling him useless and weak and poking fun at his eyebrows. Gai had told him his eyebrows and taijustu were nothing to be ashamed of. But Gai's eyebrows didn't matter. Every kid had respected him. And he could do more than just taijustu. Useless. Worthless. No point. So many words to describe his birth.
He reached the bridge quick and stared desperately into its waters. It was part frozen when sludgy bits of ice floating randomly down the current. This is it. No hesitation.
He would have jumped right away if his eye hadn't caught the shape of someone standing on the bridge with him. He looked like he was reaching for something that had caught in the bars of the bridge. He looked dangerously close to the edge.
"Hey! Be careful!" He shouted instinctively.
The person took a moment to look up at him. When he did, he lost his grip and fell in.
Idiot! If you hadn't said anything he wouldn't have fallen in!
"Help! Help!" He called repeatedly from the icy waters.
Lee didn't hesitate kicking off his shoes and diving in after the boy. He swam with his ninja speed, but it was dulled by the push of the current.
The boy was just sinking into the freezing water when Lee wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him up. The boy took a large breath and wrapped his arms around Lee's neck. He hauled the boy to shore and threw him onto land. It was dark, but he could see the boy's piercing eyes. They were bluer than Naruto's.
"Thank you so much, Rock Lee."
Lee stared at him. He was positive that he'd never seen this boy in his life. Of course, it was dark…
"Who are you?" He asked slowly, hesitating.
The boy's teeth gleamed in the dark as he smiled. Lee could see a fang glinting in his mouth.
"Who am I?" The boy laughed hysterically.
"I'm your guardian angel."