A Year's Wait
blackharu
Do not own...
Chapter 2 - Visiting Questions
"So, did you only come because of whatever Tenten said?" Lee asked, walking on the roads of Konoha with the redhead.
"No, I need to give Tsunade-san something," he answered seriously.
"What?" he questioned, eyes growing in size with curiousity.
"Classified."
"Oh, okay... Well... When are you leaving?"
"Tonight."
Lee saddened at this response. "Is that why you said 'Happy Birthday' to me already?"
"Yes," Gaara nodded.
"You're not even staying? I was planning on having a birthday party!"
"I can't."
"Please?" he pleaded, making large puppy-dog eyes.
"I can't," he repeated, slightly agitated.
"Okay, well I better go anyways. It was nice seeing you," the taijutsu master said, running off while waving.
"You too," the redhead simply replied, a frown forming at his mouth. He watched the taller teen run away and continued walking toward the Hokage's building. A brunette soon jogged up to him and gave a small huff. Her hands were situated on her hips and a mad face graced her features.
"How could you, Gaara-san? You can't even stay for Lee's brithday?" she shouted increduously.
"No," he replied dully, walking past her, not even giving her a glance, . She turned around and fisted her hands by her sides, steam practically rising from her head.
"You don't care! He was so upset when you didn't reply to his letters! The least you could do is show up at his birthday party!" she yelled, running up to him.
"No."
"If you're worried about a present, then-"
"Tenten, I said 'no'!" he snapped, thoroughly annoyed.
"I don't know what he sees in you!" she hissed coldly, stomping off..
The sentence continued to ring in his head. A chant that repeated itself over and over, as if taunting him. He growled at the already gone shinobi, cursing her for the statement. His legs paused their strides, thinking over the cold phrase. What does he see in me, he wondered, looking up to the sky for answers. It was as if the cloudy space knew his problems and what to reply, for it started a light drizzle of clear liquid. He cursed softly to himself then walked for safety, in no hurry whatsoever.
He took shelter in a rather large store, the heated air almost suffocating. He looked around the store, twitching as he realized what kinda of store it was. Many women with swelled stomachs walked around with either a bored husband or a small child. He mentally blanched at being stuck in a maternity store, but decided it was better than the storm... Or was it?
It wasn't..
Gaara quickly got out of the feminine building and walked through the hard rainfall. The falling water made his red hair stick unwillingly to his face, framing his features beautifully. His bright turquoise eyes looked dazed as his mind drifted into other subjects. He wondered if Lee was caught in the storm and whether or not the chounin took shelter.
I don't know what he sees in you! The brunette's voice swarmed his head again. He closed his eyes and a sigh of defeat escaped his lips. When he opened his eyes again he had luckily found himself in front of the Hokage's office building. He entered the red structure and walked up to a yound lady with a pig.
"Shizula-san, you wanna hang out sometime?" a man standing next to her asked, obviously drunk.
She visibly blanched, "No, and that's not my name Jiraiya-sama." Gaara's eyes slightly widened at that man being one of the famous legendary senin. They weren't famous in the Suna, but since his father was Kazkage, he knew other important shinobi. Also, from that Lee would write about Jiraiya, saying how he was Naruto's other teacher.
"Shizuru? Am I correct?" Gaara started, coming up to stand by her. "Is Tsunade-san in?" She glared at the young leader, for her name once again said wrong.
"Yes, Gaara-sama, Tsunade-sama is upstairs." She refused to give her name unless he actually asked, which she figured he wouldn't. She was right and sighed dejectedly, as he walked away from her, heading upstairs as he was told.
The Kazekage took even steps up the many stairs, a bored look plastered on his face. Eventually, he made it to the top of the staircase and straightened his posture for any slumping of his shoulders. He heard a few pops from his upper torso but ignored the loud noise.
He walked through the corridor, looking at each door for it to signalize it was the Hokage's office. Soon he came to a door that had a plaque with the words "Hokage's Office" on it. He knocked on the door and waited for any response. After hearing a groggy "come in", he opened the oak piece and stepped into the spacious room.
"Tsunade-san, I am to give you this," he spoke seriously, handing a scroll over to Konoha's leader. He turned to leave when he was stopped by the female behind him.
"So, what did you get Lee?"
He whipped around and glared at the Godaime.
"What do you mean?" he asked patiently, hoping she was talking about something different than tomorrow.
"His birthday is tomorrow and I figured you got him something," she answered simply, wiping off some drool she found on her face.
"I'm not stayng and I got him nothing."
"You're not staying? And why not?"
"I need to go back to Sunagakure."
"You can go back tomorrow afternoon. I'm sure no one would mind." He glared, he was annoyed. Gaara had no clue why he had to stay in Konoha for Lee's birthday. He wouldn't mind staying, he actually wanted to, but he needed to get back home. Giving the scroll to the Hokage was a request that his elders had planned to give to his group leader (a/n-whose name I don't know). He had stolen the job because he knew the next day was Lee's birthdate. He couldn't stay, even though he was Kazekage. His elders stilled outruled him in every category and he was told to be back immediately.
"They would. It's my duty to be back on time," he graced her with the closest thing to a full explanation. She huffed at him, crossing her arms over her overly-large chest.
"Let me talk with them," she said before picking up the phone on her desk. She dialed the familiar number and a male's voice picked up.
"Moshi moshi?" he asked.
"Yes, this is Tsunade of Konoha," she began, sending a wink over to Gaara, "would you mind if we borrowed Gaara for a day?"
"What for?"
"One of his close friends is having a birthday party."
"Gaara has no friends, he has told us as such. We will not allow him to be at your village for much longer without any subordinates. Make sure to send him back unharmed. It was nice talking to you, Tsunade-san," the male replied before disconnecting the line. She slammed the phone down and glared coldly at the inanimate object.
"That bastard!" she cursed, clenching and unclenching her hands in aggravation. After she cooled off some she turned to the redhead, "Sorry you have to go...soon."
"Hn," he sighed mentally, heading out of the room. He heard a few statements thrown his way, but he ignored them and continued to exit the building. His normally stoic composure had turned to that of a bored one, even his tone of voice was bored (if he was to say a word). Just as he made it to ground level, a male entered the building with a green umbrella.
"Shizune-san!" he said cheerfully. "How are you? Has Gaara already left?" The redhead raised an invisible eyebrow at the questioning of himself. A small smile tugged at his lips when he finally recognized the shinobi.
"Lee-san, I'm doing okay. How about you?" she answered kindly, still carrying the pig. "He hasn't. He's still with Tsunade-sama..." The kunoichi started, looking around the room. She spotted him at the foot of the staircase and smiled politely. "He's right there," she said, pointing in his direction. The taijutsu master rotated to look at the spot which was motioned to and smiled widely at finding Gaara standing there. The Kazekage had his arms crossed over his chest and a small smile curved at his lips.
"Gaara, c'mon!" he chirped.
"To where?"
"There's a big thunderstorm outside and you don't have an umbrella! Don't you have to be home soon? I'll walk you!"
"My home is far away, Lee," he said with a slight small at the childish boy's words.
"That's why we have to hurry!" he stated before grabbing the redhead's hand and pulling him outside. Once outside, under the shelter of the veranda, he opened the green umbrella and got underneath it, making Gaara squish in too. He started walking, the redhead having to follow if he wanted to be under the comfort of the green object.
"Lee, it's okay. I'll be fine," Gaara tried to reason, pondering on why the leaf-nin was doing this.
"I know you will, but since you can't stay until tomorrow. I just want to walk you home," he answered with a tint of sorrow. The two walked in silence, but not an uncomfortable silence. Neither looked at each other nor spoke a single word or sound.
Eventually the duo made it to the Suna (Lee ending up complaining about how much his feet hurt). The two stood on the doorstep of Gaara's house, looking at each other.
"What do you want for your birthday?" Gaara finally questioned.
"Um... Anything, I guess," he shrugged. He watched as the redhead seemed to close in. Being the person that he is--meaning how he swooned over who he liked--he prepared himself for what he thought was coming next. He slipped his eyelids down and pushed out his lips. He felt a hand rummage through his hair and waited patiently for the kiss. When nothing happened, Lee opened his eyes to be greeted with a confused look on Gaara's part.
"Gaara, I thought.." Lee blushed at his thoughts and a hand lifted to scratch nervously at the back of his neck.
"Kisses are overrated," he said dully.
"Gaara..."
"What Lee?" he asked to his name being called. He had just opened the door and was planning on going in.
"If you could stay for my party, what would you get me?" Lee questioned, giddy.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" he repeated, hopes crushed, and here he thought Gaara liked him!
"I'm not good with gifts."
"So? You could get me anything!"
"I don't know. I'd get you nothing."
"Not even a card?" The redhead shook his head, indicating he wouldn't get or make a card.
"Absolutely nothing?" he repeated again, still uncertain He was about to go insane.
"Lee, what does it matter?"
"I just thought you'd might've gotten me something," he answered, his voice portraying his sorrow.
"Well, you were wrong," the taijutsu master waited for any romantic like "I wouldn't just get you something I would get you anything" or something like that. When he got no such comment he sighed, clearly unhappy, and just as Gaara was going to ask what was wrong, the door opened.
"Gaara, home already?" a blonde asked, stepping outside. "Oh, hi Lee!" she said once she noticed him.
"Hello, Temari!" he greeted with feign joy.
"So, tomorrow's the big day?" she replied as more of a statement than question. The sentence brought small bloches of red on the shortest's cheeks. Lee looked quizzical and utterly confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Tomorrow's your birthday. Gaara's been mumbling about it for a while now," she responded, smirking at the reaction she got from her brother. "Oh sorry, ototo, I didn't know it was a secret," she let out a smile and sent a wink towards the leaf-nin.
"Gaara's been talking about it?" he repeated, slowly. He jumped to the blonde, taking her hands in his. "Did he tell you what he was going to get me? He keeps telling me he would get me 'nothing'!"
"'Nothing', eh?" she questioned. "That's not what I heard." She pretended to be pondering deeply. "Whoops. Did I say that out loud?" she teased her brother.
"I said the same thing to you, Temari," he reasoned, glaring at her harshly.
"Well, whatever you said, why don't you two come in? Or do you have to go back, Lee?"
"I don't have to go, but I shouldn't stay too long."
"How about you spend the night over here and you'll be home early in the morning?" she suggested. Then she turned her head to the side. "Seeing as ototo doesn't sleep." Gaara mumbled.
"I couldn't," he replied, raising his hands in defense, yet still holding onto the umbrella.
"Oh come on, you'll be back in time for your party, and I'm sure you wanted Gaara to come," a nod, "and this is pretty much the same thing," she finished. Lee gave up and let himself be pulled into the large house, a secret smile gracing his lips.
"I should call Gai-sensei to tell him where I am," he stated.
"He won't mind, you'll be fine," Temari replied, yanking on the stiff Lee. She got him the sit down, along with her brother, and stood in front of them. "You guys want anything? Food? Drink?" When she only received a few shakes from their heads, she sighed. Temari turned on the television and walked out of the room, preparing her plan.
Her brother was stubborn, and scary, and Lee was an idiot with odd tastes. Even though she didn't quite believe in same-gender relationships, this was her brother and she cared. No matter what anyone said, she cared and would do anything for him. So if the two "love birds" couldn't help themselves, she would have to set them straight!
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Next Chapter - Temari becomes matchmaker and Gaara and Lee have trouble on deciding what to do...
LOOKIE HERE!
Please give me any ideas for how they spend the night, no matter how overused they are! I just don't want it to end up like my other fic... So please, ideas would be appreciated! Thankies!
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1 - I believe her name is Shizune and whenever I ask someone her name they never know. So I thought I'd make a small joke on that... Sometimes I would call her "Shizuru" and I thought "Shizula" was kinda funny, heh heh.. Anyways, if I was wrong about her name bein' Shizune please tell me so I can fix that immediately!
2 - I thought that since they call Tsunade "Tsunade-sama" or "Hokage-sama" that they'd call a neighboring village's leader "-sama". If they wouldn't do that, maybe because it's not any of their business or whatever, would you tell me. I might be wrong and I don't want people to think that's what actually would happen, if it wouldn't.
3 - Godaime means something along the lines of 5th ruler or 5th leader, something like that. "go" means "five" and I'm too lazy to find out what exactly "daime" means. But it does mean something like leader or ruler... Just so ya know :)
4 - ototo means "little brother". I have seen various ways to spell this word, that being "ototo", "otouto", etc., etc. But the meaning does not differ. It still is equivalent to "little brother" in the English language.
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A/N - I hope you liekd this chapter, this story is becoming a chapter story and I hope it's enjoyable! Please review to tell me what you think!