Lee stared down at the opened parcel in front of him. He glanced up at Gaara, who stood there with his arms crossed and face stern. Lee looked back down before gingerly picking up the contents. I t was a necklace: what appeared to be a small diamond was lodged into a glossy black stone, which hung from a string of twisted hair.
He looked back up at Gaara.
"Um, Gaara, not that I am not truly honored to receive such a thing- I am! I really am!- but," he frowned, trying to think of a way not to sound rude. "Why give this to me?"
The Kazekage's face didn't change, on the contrary, really. The ongoing stern expression seemed even more pronounced the longer it stayed there. But there was a slight movement in his shoulders, what could be considered a shrug almost, though the awkwardness of the motion conveyed how unnatural it was for the young man. It was as if he were simply mimicking an action he knew to be commonplace even if he didn't truly understand it. Lee recognized it immediately for just that.
"Kankuro said that young men give pieces of jewelry to those they like. Temari received a necklace from," here Gaara did frown, "that Konoha nin."
With a small smile, Lee nodded, urging Gaara on. He knew immediately that this Konoha nin was in fact one Shikamaru Nara. The redhead before him found it difficult to say his name due to what could be nothing less than pure brotherly protectiveness.
"Why did he tell you this?"
Gaara's eyes narrowed, seeming to say "Why does that matter?" but he acquiesced and answered.
"I found a desert diamond and asked what its function was. When he told me of its purpose, I embedded it into obsidian and put it on a string. Is it not a piece of jewelry?"
Biting his bottom lip hopelessly, Lee shook his head. It was very much a piece of jewelry, but why give it to him?
He voiced this question again.
Gaara did not look pleased to hear this question. The young chuunin almost wanted to take it back, remembering Gaara's distinct hatred of repeating himself. He obviously felt that he had already given an answer.
His response, though, surprised Lee.
"Who else would I give jewelry to?"
Unable to argue with the man any longer, Lee put on the necklace. One thing still bothered him however.
"Did you make the string yourself?"
"Yes. The wild dogs still seem weary of me."
Gaara glared at Lee again, not understanding what exactly was so funny.