Lee immediately started packing for the mission, his thoughts racing. He was excited, in fact thrilled to go to the Land of Wind, but one thing still conerned him. \
"Gaara will be my only comrade..." He thought, placing his pack over his shoulders.
He had long forgiven Gaara for what had happened during the Chunin exams, the thought of it hardly occuring to him anymore, in a way, it made him stronger. But there was something else.
"He is a very strong and skillful ninja, but there is something about him that seems..." He couldn't put his finger on it.
Shrugging it off, he continued his thoughts about the mission and started towards the edge of the village.
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Gaara walked along the edge of the town, no one directly staring, but he felt eyes of people watching him carefully. He ignored them and stepped with a slow, steady stride, letting his thoughts roam on the mission as well, his more focused of the subject at hand.
"This job in the Land of Wind isn't far from Suna. Could it be a ninja from there?" He wondered, thinking of any reasoning. "What would his motives be?"
Gaara wasn't the type to talk unless spoken to, and then only if he had a reason to. But he was an exception thinker, pondering or judging any situation before bothering to share his thoughts if he thought he would.
All the same, he continued these thoughts for a moment then changed suddenly, his attention taken by the sound of small children near by. He didn't look directly, but out out of his parithial vision he saw them, five or six children running and laughing happily as they played with a red rubber ball. Gaara growled lowly, thoughts from the past filling his head as he continued to walk, his anger now more apparent than usual.
Suddenly a wall of sand exploded in front of his face. Gaara lifted his head unfazed, he was too used to it. The red ball bounced then rolled at his feet. He glanced back at the children. They were silent, mouths open in shock, their expressions showed subtle fear. Gaara growled once more, slightly louder this time, and kicked the ball aside, continuing his trek. The children saw him move and instantly backed away slightly. One by one they began to disperse, their pace quickening with every step, and not one daring to go for the ball. Gaara didn't care to notice, he was back to his bitter thoughts of life. Why he was who he was and why he had 'love' tattooed on his forehead.
"Gaara!" A voice called. Gaara didn't notice. "Hey Gaara!" Lee shouted again as he ran. "Are you ready to go?" He asked, catching up to the angered sand nin. Gaara glared at him menicingly, though it didn't seem to faze him.
"Yes" He responded after a moment, his face now straight and monotoned. He crossed his arms and looked away from the green nin.
"Alright" Lee replied, a little confused and concerned with the glare he had recieved, but he didn't question. "Let's go." The two started out to the gate, walking slowly.
"I am told it is a long journey to this village in the Land of Wind." Lee spoke after some silence.
"Three nights." Gaara commented plainly.
"Three nights?" Lee rang, it was further than he had thought. He smiled at the thought of the challenge. "Well we better get going then." He picked up his speed, pulling ahead of Gaara as the exited the village of Konoha.
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The day had been short, there had only been about four hours until sundown after Tsunade sent then from her office. During the time not much had been said between the two ninja, by about his thrid attempt to start a conversation, Lee had decided it would be rude to try to bother Gaara anymore.
As the sun began to set and roll into night, Lee began to and quickly set up his small tent, curious as to why Gaara hadn't done the same. They had stopped at a small clearing beside a river, it would be an easy place to be ready incase of an unsuspected ambush, not that either of them expected one.
"Gaara, are you not going to set up your tent?" Lee asked, fixing the last part of his own and placing his bag neatly inside.
Gaara sat on a boulder, his arms still crossed and gourd on his back, looking out onto the river, as it shimmered lowly against the light.
"No." he replied plainly.
Lee didn't bother to persue the conversation any further. Instead he smiled at his work then looked up to the sky, clouds begining to roll in overhead.
"It looks like it might rain." He thought. He turned to the sand nin. "Gaara, are you sure you'll be alright out here?"
"Yes." He replied, not turning nor breaking his gaze from the water. Lee shrugged, he was a tad annoyed, and confused, but he pushed it aside. Gaara wouldn't talk if he didn't want to.
"Why is he so… isolated?" He thought entering his tent. "Goodnight." No reply. He laid down, letting thoughts of the day and days to come fill his head as he drifted off to sleep.
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Gaara looked at the sky. Being from Suna where it hardly ever rained, he knew it would. He slid off the boulder and approached a nearby tree. He slipped off his gourd, placing it by the trunk, being sure it would stay dry. He then tightened his heavy, turtle necked vest, covering and much as his body as it could. He placed his gourd back over his shouldered and stayed under the tree's shade. Rain started falling as he lowered his head. He stood in solemn silence, fully aware and awake, making sure not to get wet. After a couple hours the of thought rain passed, Gaara made his way back to the boulder, sitting on it once more, there was still several hours before sunrise. Gaara began to get bored. He turned, glancing over at Lee's tent. He wondered how Lee had managed to sleep through the rain, it was probably hitting about six inches above his face. To his own surprise, Gaara moved off the boulder and walked over to his tent. Slowly he pulled back the flap and looked inside, being careful not to make any noise to wake the sleeping Lee. He was absolutely peaceful, not moving more than his chest rising and falling with his long quiet breaths. Gaara twitched as a small curve threatened to hit the corners of his lips, but disappeared. He had to resist the urge to growl at himself but imediately began questioning why he had even bothered to get up and bug Lee while he slept. He bowed out of the tent, shutting it once more and returned to his spot on the boulder, bitterly griping at himself, Shukaku joining his self judgement to upset him even more.
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The sun had just started to rise as Lee awoke. He yawned as sat up, stretching out his now rested body, stopping particially as he noticed something.
"My tent," He thought, looking to the loosly closed flap that barely kept the tent shut. He tried to remember the night before. "Did I close it wrong?" He shook it off and exited his tent, noticing Gaara was still seated on the boulder, his vest on and gourd over his shoulder, an angered expression over his features. He appartly hadn't moved all night.
"Morning." Lee said happily, deconstructing his tent. Soon he was ready to continue their mission. "Are you ready Gaara?" He asked, turning back to him. Gaara didn't move. Lee looked to him curiously, pondering his expression for a moment. He had no way of telling what was wrong with him. He thought of Ino for a moment, if she was in this situation, she would have probably used her mind transfer jutsu to get her answer.
Gaara noticed Lee's stare after a few moments and turned to him, Lee now lost in thought.
"What is it?" He questioned. Lee jumped a little.
"Oh, I asked, are you ready?"
Gaara nodded once. "The us go." Lee smiled as they started up their path once more.
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After a couple hours they came across a wall of rock reaching into the clouds, incredibly high, and seemingly inclimbable. Lee stared up in awe while Gaara accessed the rock, coming up with a plan.
"Lee," he said after a moment. Lee turned to him. "Do you remember the Chunin Exams?"
Their thoughts went immediately to their fight, one of the goriest of preliminaries where Gaara nearly ended Lee, both his dreams and himself all together, and only stopped because it was demanded. Gaara felt a rustle of anger at himself for bringing it up, but didn't show.
"I do indeed." Lee replied unfazed.
Gaara was a bit surprised, but continued. "We both can get over this wall in our own ways."
Lee gave him a confused look.
"Start running from those trees, you could easily get yourself up." Gaara pointed back behind them to the edge of the forest. "I can use my sand to send me up." He finished his short explaination.
"Ah!" Lee smiled "Good idea Gaara! We could even make it a race!" He spirinted towards the trees. Now Gaara was confused.
"A race?" He raised a non-existant eyebrow.
"Yes! To see who can make it up first." Lee shouted. "If you win, I'll do it twice!" He stood at the ready and shot Gaara his nice guy pose. Gaara's lips twitched once more.
"Okay" he replied calmly, looking back to the wall.
"Get ready." Lee called, ready to run. Gaara pulled the cork from his gourd.
"Go!"
The race began. Lee came running full speed at the wall while Gaara formed what looked like a sand cloud that began to push him up the wall. Soon they were side by side on the rock. Lee laughed and smiled at Gaara, surprised to see the unconcious, almost half smile on his face. As the top of the wall grew nearer, Lee tried picked up speed, as gravity soon began to take over. He pushed forward and went flying above the wall just ahead of Gaara. As he continued upward, he panicked slightly. He shut his eyes tight as he fall, readying himself to make the impact the best he could. They shot open as he landed on something soft and warm. He looked and saw Gaara standing on the mesa, his smile had gone, he had caught Lee with his sand. Lee breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you very much." He smiled as he stepped off.
"You're welcome." Gaara replied, the sand dissolving back into the gourd. "Lee," he started. "Gomen nasi about the exams." He apoligized, his voice quieter than usual and his head lowered slightly.
Lee looked to him is surprise. He had never heard nor seen Gaara apologize, but he looked sincere, almost upset. He felt badly for him. Lee walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder caustiously. Gaara looked up in surprise but didn't move, he felt his sand start reacting softly.
"Do not worry about it." Lee smiled.
Gaara's was twitching now and he still didn't know why. He began to groan at himself again but was stopped by Lee's voice.
"Now, let us get to the Land of Wind." Lee smiled as he walked ahead.
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Soon enough the sun began to set, and Lee started setting his tent. Gaara stood upside down on a tree branch above him, looking down on his work. It had been a better afternoon. Though no clear cut conversation had been had, Lee had noted Gaara was kind enough to warn him about the next morning. They will be close enough to their location to feel the heat as soon as the sun rises, and it will only get worse during the day. Lee, taking this into account was careful of how he set his tent. A cool breeze rustled though the leaves. When Lee had finished he smiled and spread his arms, letting the wind consume him. He chuckled and enjoyed how lovely it was. It was late in the spring time after all, cool wind like this would only last a few more days.
"Hey Gaara," He said happily, closing his eyes. "You should try this."
"No." Gaara said plainly. Lee instantly felt shot down.
Little did he see Gaara, only using his Chakra to hold himself to the bottom of the branch, yet expanding his arms and coping Lee's movements.
"You should try this."
Lee looked to him first in surprise then joy laughed, ending in a tired yawn.
"I think it's time for me to go to sleep." He smiled. "Will you be alright?" Lee asked, looking to the now arm crossed ninja.
"Yes." Gaara replied solemnly, he seemed as if he hadn't been enjoying the breeze.
"Well, goodnight." Lee said as he crawled into his tent.
"Goodnight, Lee." Gaara answered.
Lee was surprised, he didn't expect a reply, but he couldn't complain. He smiled as he laid down to sleep.
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Gaara stood with his back to the wind. Now and again expanding his arms, as Lee had taught him, enjoying the wind, it was cool, but not cold. His mind battling particially. Soon his eyes once again wandered at Lee's tent. Silently he made his way down the tree, stepping down the side, and over to it. He pulled back the flap and again stuck his head inside. Lee was fast asleep, but this time he was smiling at whatever dream he was having. Gaara's lip twitched and he finally felt his lips conciously hit a curve. He exited and returned to the tree, now shouting mentally at himself and wondering why. What was with him? What was with Lee? What was he doing to him?
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After hours of thought the sun began to rise, as did the temperature. Lee woke to an uncomfortable heat and ripped the blanket off himself. He left the tent and looked at the sky, making sure he hadn't somehow over slept. He hadn't
"How can it be this hot already?" He asked aloud.
"Heat set in on you?" Gaara's voice came from above. Lee looked up at him and nodded, sweat already forming on his bushy brow.
"But it's still nothing I cannot handle." He assured as he smiled. He began to take down his tent.
As walked and they got farthure into the desserted land, the sun rose higher, and so did the heat. A couple hours went by, and Lee was practically panting as he followed behind Gaara. "Gaara…" He said in a raspy voice that surprised himself. "How do… you do that?"
Gaara turned to him. He was pointing to his thick vest and heavy gourd. "I'm from Suna. I'm used to it." He shugged, looking forward once more. "You aren't."
Lee fell further behind, almost gasping for breath.
"You might want to remove your weights or something before you pass out." Gaara warned. No reply. "Lee?" He looked over his shoulder. Lee was laying still, face down in the dirt, and eyes shut. "Lee!"