Wood chips flew like planes through the air and bounced off near by trees. Rock Lee had been practicing all morning since nearly 5 am, kicking and punching away at the stump that was rooted before him. It was now closing in on 2:00 and Gai-sensei would be coming by soon to tell him 'what a great job he was doing.' This normal schedule was what Lee lived for, he loved training and building up his power and most of all he loved Gai-sensei. These were the only things he ever wanted or needed, this and the beautiful presence of Sakura. Speaking of which...
I haven't seen Sakura this morning. Normally she would have come by and said hello. Lee pondered a moment and discussed the matter in his head. Finally he decided to leave his holy training ground a search for his angel.
As he appeared from the thicket of branches and trees, Lee noticed the villagers seeming a bit on edge. The people who were out of their homes were running straight to them, mothers rushed their children and markets flipped over their closed signs and locked up. What's going on?
As Rock Lee continued to view around the emptying area, he still kept in mind his true mission, to find Sakura. Just as he was turning around a flash on pink met with his eyes. Sakura's billboard forehead had collided with Lee's brick hard chest, bouncing her off and sending her to tumble backwards flat on her butt. Her red dress wrinkled up around her waist as she fought for it to stay put.
"OH MY GOD! SAKURA!" Lee busted out in tears. Falling down right beside her he scooted in close to examine her wounds. She had none, just an enormous headache.
A light moan escaped through her biting lips, "Lee?" she asked briefly glancing up into his dark eyes and past his jet black bangs. Sakura rubbed her head in a furious motion and attempted to stand with the help from Lee's assistance.
After minutes of apologies, Sakura and convince Lee that she was fine and got straight to the matter at hand. "Lee, do you know what's going on?" she questioned confused by the ghost like town.
Lee's eyes widened, "No, I thought you would've known." he stated embarrassed. Everything was a blur, the higher ranked ninja had been springing into action and now Naruto, Neji and Sasuke were making their own way over to the two.
Naruto yelped like a puppy, "What the hell is going on?" he cried out approaching Lee and Sakura.
Sakura answered, "No one knows," she stole a quick blushing glance at Sasuke that sent Naruto's to flame in an outrage.
Blowing her off, Sasuke caught in the-nic-of-time Iruka who had briefly landing on the sidewalk to spring back up into the abyss of trees and rooftops. "Iruka-sensei!" he shouted above the growling Naruto who still was stabbing Sasuke in the back with his dagger eyes.
A serious frown was carved into the sensei's features, "Yes Sasuke," he asked waving for him to hurry with his question.
Neji stepped forward, "Do you know what's going?" he asked coolly, softly urging Naruto back with one hand.
"Yes, there was an animal killed around the gates of the village. A fox." Iruka answered nervously, choking on the stuttering words from his lips.
By now, Naruto had calmed his fired body. He shook his head and bewilderment, "So, a fox was killed. Why is everyone freaking out?" Weaving on arm over the other and frowned and mumbled softly under his breath.
Iruka's gaze tightened and he lowered his voice slowly as to relieve to tension of views from other near by watchers, "The fox was crushed to death. It was like some force was blanketed around him and squeezed the last of his breath out shattering every bone in his body." He sighed and closed his eyes for closure.
Rock Lee flinched slightly. He remembered the feeling of shattered bones piercing through every muscle and sending stabbing jolts to surge through your body. The unstable pain blasting away all other senses, clouding your judgment and completely numbing your mind. So he's here. Lee whispered closely to himself under the shuttering winds of his breath.
Sasuke peered past Naruto and Sakura and over onto Lee, who was trembling with anxiety. He grimaced and turned back to Iruka. Breaking the silence that became the seventh member of their party, Sasuke spoke, "Iruka, can you show us this fox? Where is it?" he asked plainly, yet his voice was slightly hinted with oddity.
Iruka, (faintly curious to why they wanted to see the dead animal in the first place) etched a quizzical smirk on his face. "Sure," he said, "but why do you all want to see it?" the tension that had been building up on Iruka's shoulders was beginning to dissipate and rid itself.
Sasuke signaled Neji and Naruto with a brief nod of his head, "Just want to check something out, that's all." he stated reassuringly.
Catching his quirk of interest, Naruto poked Neji in the back with his finger and smiled coolly. Neji returned the gesture.
….….
Last night was too much on me. Maybe I should tell Gai-sensei what's happening? Lee flung his weary legs across his wide set bed and let his bare feet smack against the chilled hardwood of his floor. A shiver stabbed up his legs.
Suddenly a spider like feeling crawled up Lee's bare arms and onto the broad shoulders that were concealed by the light fabric of a white T-shirt. He shuttered softly, trembling with a freezing cold sensation that sent his arms to blanket around one another and massage them with warmth.
Jerking his head to the side, an ajar window caught his dark eyes and answered his question. Did I leave that window open last night? Finishing his thought, Lee arose and briskly trotted across his floor and over to the large set of swinging window doors. He reached forward and yanked them shut, close the clasp tightly down.
Glancing down, Lee saw a picture frame that had been cruelly knocked down and face forward on the small desk that was setting in front of the window. What? Picking up the frame, Rock Lee noticed and crack forming over his beloved Gai-sensei's face, both him and his student, Lee, performing the 'Nice Guy' pose.
A heavy question plagued his mind. How did the window open last night, and why is this picture frame broken? A sudden sheer thought of terror stole his mind away from reality.
Fling his eyes directly back to the window sill, Lee noticed small dust like flakes littering the wooden white surface. They sprinkled down across it like salt, leaving a noticeable trail the followed straight to Lee's bed, beside his still warm slept spot.
Gaara? Lee thought obviously setting the picture back down and up right. I know he's here. But why has he come? Does he truly want to kill me? No, not after he saved me from one of Orochimaru's followers. We talked and everything seemed fine. And if he did want to kill me why didn't he do it last night when he had the chance?
….….
Everything was perfect last night, the moon hung high above in the star speckled sky and not a cloud could shade away their light. Since jounin and chunin were distracted with the now oddly shaped fox, Gaara could make his move. Slipping his sand under the thin crack of the glass window, he carefully, silently, un lock the clasp that held him prisoner outside.
Using a set of desk and a chair as a staircase, he quickly and easily made his way down onto the floor and over to the limp sleeping body ahead of him.
This is what I came for. Gaara told his mind over and over, convincing himself that this was right, yet it felt slightly odd.
Lips parted open vaguely and revealed the soft pink color of a tongue that belong to Rock Lee. The easy calming sounds of his breath flowing in and out through the small opening echoed through the almost silent room. His black hair spilled under his head like a inky puddle and the white shirt he wore clung delicately to his toned chest. Both arms were folded gracefully over the thin cloud gray sheets that protected his form. Only one thing was wrong, his lips were so pale.
This almost prefect picture was ruined by pale lips. Why am I even thinking about his lips? Gaara had never realized it before or even wanted to, but Lee had very full lips. They puckered up just right and were formed over one another to give him a most delicious appealing mouth. His narrow shaped face didn't help but add to the boy's cute charms.
Why are his lips so pale? Control wasn't present as Gaara reached up a hand to Lee's face, cupping it warmly against his cheek. Motioning his hand down, his thumb traced softly across Lee's color lacking-lips, causing him to wiggle in his slumber and close his mouth momentarily. Gaara leaned down and was so close he could breathe in Lee's air. His hand still remained against the green beast's face. Temptation took over and a sudden sparking idea lit up Gaara's mind.
What if I just…? His thought trailed off mid way and he inched closer. I just want to see the blood race through him, to see the salmon pink shade flood back. But before he even finished, Gaara had already put his plan into action. Descending down, Gaara claimed what he wanted, pressing his lips against Lee's, softly, not enough to do anything. Soon he felt himself wanting, yarning more of him, of his taste. Opening his mouth more, Gaara worked his jaw up against Rock Lee's urging him to put forth some effort and kiss back. Surprisingly, his prayer was answered.
Lee had slid his eyes open briefly and sealed them once more, his dark lashes tickling Gaara's cheek. He shifted forward and into the kiss, deepening it with heat. His muscle memory had taken over, and the rest of his body lay still sleeping.
Realizing that Lee had put forth some action, Gaara jerked away, almost falling back himself. What the hell? Why did I do that? Without staying to really see if Lee had awoken or not, Gaara turned and bolted for his exit. He ran up the chair and leapt over the desk and through the window. As he landed on the dirt road, a soft cracking sound of glass shattering could be heard following him. Shit, now I know he's awake!
No second thoughts were necessary, Gaara didn't care anymore. A whir of sand and dust twisted around him and covered his form and body. A sudden burst appeared and he was gone. Gaara had vanished in the mist of the night and disappeared without a trace.