A/N: next chapter.
Genma is very OOC in this, but I wasn't really sure how to portray him. Although I feel like all the characters in this story are a bit OOC so I hope its alright.
So for some questions might come up, Naruto and Sasuke were adopted at the age of six, and Tenten and Lee at the age of eight. No they weren't from the same orphanage. Confusing I know, but it takes me a while to catch up on the finer details. What's important to know is that the Hatake's are a year older than the Maito's.
Usual apologies.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
There's a difference between lust and love.
Once upon a time Shiranui Genma didn't know what that difference was.
Love can be described as an unconditional feeling of devotion, loyalty and care towards another. A desire to protect, care for and be cared for by someone that means the world to you.
It can be instantaneous (although that's extremely rare) or grow over an undetermined amount of time. It is up to the one experiencing the emotion to decide on what the best course of action is to take.
Genma has been living in Konoha for about ten years. It had only been four years since Gai moved into the neighbourhood with his two kids.
Tenten and Lee were wonderful, really good kids who were so close you'd never be able to guess that they weren't related. Genma himself was very surprised to find out that Gai's kids were adopted, but he grew up in a house full of siblings so he took a liking to them almost immediately.
And Gai...
At first Genma didn't really think much of him.
There was nothing extremely attractive about the man, he actually seemed more weird than anything else. However Genma couldn't deny that the moment he met Maito Gai, his interest was piqued. Although the interest was piqued more out of curiosity and amusement than anything else at the time.
But there was something awfully endearing about the strange man and Genma admired his unwavering dedication and determination, even to things that would normally annoy others.
As the brown haired man kept watching his neighbour over the years, he started to realise how wonderful Gai really was and... well... Somewhere along the line he started falling for the strange man.
Lust can be described as an intense sexual desire. A deep want or need to practically violate another in pleasurable ways deemed immoral by society.
Like love, lust can be instantaneous or slowly build up over an undetermined course of time, its up to the one experiencing this desire to decide what to do about it. However while instantly reacting to love may seem like a good idea, instantly reacting to lust can have severe consequences.
After all this emotion can be very volatile and triggered by a number of stimuli, acting on the emotion right off the bat might not be the right course of action to take.
Different factors need to be taken into consideration, simply acting on impulse could have disastrous results not only to the one experiencing it but also those around them.
Then again simply ignoring the feeling might not be the right thing to do either after all, lust is a very difficult feeling to ignore...
Something that Genma knows all too well.
The brown haired man stood in the doorway staring at the older man on the other side of the kitchen.
He let out a low groan, leaning against the door frame as he watched the raven in front of him move from one corner of the kitchen to the other humming a tuneless song.
At that moment he fought against the voice in the back of his head telling him to walk over and make his presence known to the older man in pleasurable ways deemed immoral by society.
See the problem that lust presents?
Although his thoughts were somewhat justified.
Genma didn't exactly hide his feelings for Gai, in fact he was actually pretty honest about them.
Unfortunately Gai was completely oblivious. Whenever Genma flirted with the raven haired man, Gai would always just blush and tell his neighbour to stop teasing him.
Even though Genma loved putting that blush there, it was starting to get tiresome. How can a grown man be so naïve?
Tenten noticed, even Lee yet somehow their father was still as dense as a tree stump.
At this point Genma was starting to contemplate the idea of bending Gai over the kitchen table and see if he notices then.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Gai bent over to put something in the oven. Giving Genma a spectacular view of his ass.
The brown haired man gave a sigh, trying to get rid of the very graphic images swimming around in his head, deciding to make his presence known before he does something deemed... immoral by society.
He cleared his throat, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You should really stop tempting me, Gai."
The raven haired man shot up and spun around in surprise until he saw who it was and smiled. "Neighbour! Its good to see you, how are-" Gai stopped for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed as he tilted his head to the side. "What do you mean tempting you?"
Genma shrugged as he walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. "That was quite the view you gave me." He said glancing down at the other's back.
Gai looked over his shoulder, still looking a little confused until a light went on in his head and a light blush covered his face.
"Very funny." He said giving a pout and turning back to what he was working on, on the stove.
There were vegetables and other ingredients scattered all over the table and counter tops. Giving a low chuckle, Genma walked over to the sink to wash his hands before returning to his previous seat. He grabbed a knife and started chopping up some carrots.
"Expecting company?"
"Yes," Gai said not moving to look at the man behind him. "Kakashi and Iruka are bringing the kids over for dinner. Its the fifteenth after all."
Yes the fifteenth.
After many years of putting up with Gai's ridiculous challenges on a daily basis, Kakashi decided that he would only accept challenges that were issued to him once a month. Somehow convincing Gai that it would give them both time to prepare and improve themselves. Although Kakashi hardly ever prepared.
Eventually as time went on and his most youthful rival married it went from challenge day to dinner night. Apparently neither Iruka or Kakashi were what's the word... very good at cooking. So this was the one day they could have a home cooked meal without the fear of food poisoning.
Genma smirked, "So Naruto's coming. No wonder your making so much food."
Gai looked over his shoulder and gave a smile. "That boy does have one hell of an appetite."
Genma laughed, scraping the chopped carrots into a bowl with the knife before starting with some cucumbers.
"You should come over Genma. With you there, their will be two pairs of adults." Gai said looking up thoughtfully. "Kakashi and Iruka, you and me."
"Are you asking me to be your date, Gai?"
The raven blushed, giving Genma a glare. "You know what I mean, neighbour."
The brown haired man shook his head, both loving and hating the blush on Gai's face. "I've got a shift at the station tonight, don't get off till tomorrow."
"That's too bad." Gai said moving passed Genma towards the fridge. Putting a hand on the younger's shoulder as he did.
Genma gave a sigh wishing that the gesture was more than just platonic.
There's a difference between lust and love.
For some the difference is easy to spot. Easy to differentiate between a physical desire and an emotional one. For others its a little more difficult.
Once upon a time Genma wasn't exactly sure what the difference was.
"Maybe next time." Gai removed his hand from the younger's shoulder, giving him a blindingly bright smile making Genma's heart skip a beat.
Well...
He knows now.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"C'mon Teme! Hurry up!"
Naruto shouted loudly, banging his hands on the bathroom door. "Were just going to uncle Bushy brows for dinner, why're you taking so long?"
"Get lost, dobe."
Came the cool reply from the other side of the door, earning a growl from the blond who started banging his hands even louder than before. "Damn it, Sasuke! If you don't open this door right now, I'm breaking it down!"
"I'd love to see you try, loser."
Rage burned in Naruto's gaze and he took a few steps back, before charging the small space towards the locked door. Until a hand came out from behind and grabbed his arm, causing him to stumble back.
"Not so fast." The blond looked up to find Kakashi standing next to him with an amused smirk on his face. "I don't think Iruka would be too happy with you breaking down the bathroom door."
"But Daaaad," Naruto whined pointing at the door in question. "Sasuke won't get out and that asshole's been in there for ages!"
"LANGUAGE NARUTO!" Iruka called loudly from a room down the hall, making the blond flinch and grumble angrily.
"You're such a snitch."
"I AM NOT!"
Giving a sigh Kakashi walked over to the door and spoke calmly. "Sasuke, were leaving in ten minutes, if you don't finish up and let your brother use the bathroom. Were leaving you behind."
After a few moments of silence on both ends, the door finally opened and Sasuke stepped out. Pulling at the hem of his shirt before looking up to find Naruto staring and Kakashi smirking at him.
"What?"
"Why are you all dressed up, it's just uncle Bushy brow's. And what-" the blond started in confusion until a thought crossed his mind and he gave a wide grin. "No way. You still like Lee!"
Onyx eyes went wide for just a second before narrowing in a glare, "No I don't!"
"Oh yeah? Then what's with the shirt?"
"What about it?" Sasuke growled.
"When Father got it for you, you said you didn't like it. But when mini brows said he liked it you started wearing it every time we go over."
"I do not!" Sasuke growled giving his brother a dangerous glare.
"Yeah right." Naruto said folding his arms over his chest. "You're so into Lee, I'm surprised you haven't jumped him yet."
"That's enough, Naruto." Iruka said now standing in Kakashi's place. "Go get dressed, were leaving soon."
"But Father, I haven't even used the bathroom yet." The blond whined while Iruka pushed him in the direction of his room.
"Well then you should stop teasing your brother and get moving."
"But-"
"No but's."
Naruto groaned as he walked to his room, closing the door with a slam. The older man looked at Sasuke, noticing the look of pure mortification on the boy's face and smiled.
Both he and Kakashi were well aware of Sasuke's crush on Lee, but they never said anything about it. Sasuke was reserved and pretty unemotional when it came to most things, but his facade always seemed to crack whenever it came to anything concerned with Lee. So it wasn't all that hard to figure out.
It was actually adorable.
"Ready to go?"
Sasuke's head snapped up and he gave a quick "yes" before he looked away and started pulling at his shirt.
"You look great Sasuke." Iruka's smile grew and he placed a hand on the raven's shoulder. "Try not to pay too much attention to Naruto."
The teen gave a nod before turning back and making his way down the hall.
Iruka watched him go giving a soft sigh.
Sasuke's come a long way from what he used to be when they first adopted him. Although he's a lot more open now, he was still a bit withdrawn.
Other than his adoptive family, Lee's the only person he really responds to.
Suddenly an arm came down over Iruka's shoulder, making him jump slightly.
"Damn it!" The brunette gasped, glaring up at Kakashi. "Don't scare me like that."
"Language Iruka." Kakashi teased with a smirk, earning a growl from his husband. "You think he's still planning on marrying Lee someday."
Iruka smiled as the memory of a ten year old Sasuke asking him if it would be O.K to marry Lee, came flooding back.
"Probably." Iruka moved away from the mans grasp. "We should get going though. I'm not taking the blame for being late again this time."
"It was your fault." Kakashi said shoving his hands in his pockets.
"My fault?!"
"Yes."
"You're the one who wanted to take the 'scenic route'." Iruka growled.
"But your the one who made me drive Iruka."
"You-" the brunette gave an exasperated sigh and lifted a hand to rub his temples. "You know what, go get in the car I'm driving."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Soft feet padded down the dark hallway, while the nine year old rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. Making his way to the kitchen for a glass of water.
The nightmares and insomnia weren't as bad as they used to be anymore, but the raven still woke in a cold sweat sometimes.
It had been a four years since the... Incident that claimed his families lives and three years since he got adopted. Although his "parents" were nice enough, he was still a bit wary around them and even though he knew he could trust them, he hadn't completely opened up yet.
He wasn't ready, not yet.
Sasuke walked passed the last door in the hall way careful not to make any noise, for fear of waking the Maito kids.
This was the second time that Tenten and Lee, slept over. Kakashi and Iruka thought it would be good for the kids to get to know each other, since their Dad's an old friend.
They got along well enough.
Tenten was cool.
She wasn't like all those other girls that were constantly trying to get him to kiss them. She was funny and really good at sports, that alone was enough to make any nine year old boy like her.
Then there was Lee.
Lee was nice too, really friendly and...
Pretty.
Sasuke felt his cheeks flush in a light blush when he remembered walking in on Tenten and Lee just before bed.
Tenten was sitting behind her brother brushing out his hair. It was the first time that Sasuke noticed how long it really was and how pretty Lee looked when it was loose. He stood there frozen in the door until Kakashi caught him and told him to get to bed.
The raven gave a sigh, 'Its not normal to think a boy is pretty'. He thought walking passed the living room. If Itachi heard him now, he'd be-
A soft sniff pulled him out of his thoughts, and the boy started looking around the living room only just noticing the small huddled figure sitting in front of the large windows on the other side of the room.
The moon was full, bathing the boy under its pale light. Pitch black hair fanned out over the green pyjama top as another soft sniff came from it.
Sasuke walked over careful not to startle the other and gingerly put a hand on his shoulder.
"Lee."
Lee looked up at the sound of his name, dark water filled eyes widened at him until the boy looked away furiously rubbing the tears away. "Sasuke. I did not hear you come in."
"Are you O.K?"
"Yes, I am fine." The boy faked a smile earning a frown from Sasuke. Despite the fact that he had no idea how to deal with the situation, Sasuke still felt the need to do something. Sure he hadn't known the boy in front of him very long, but Lee looked so... Wrong.
It was wrong that he wasn't smiling, or rambling on about his 'Mom' or running around looking for squirrels.
"Lee, what's wrong?"
"Nothing! I was just-" Lee cut himself off when he saw the glare that Sasuke was giving him. Obviously he wasn't believing this lie.
He turned back staring out the large window, up at the moon and giving a shaky sigh. It was silent for a moment until Lee finally spoke. "It has been exactly two years since..."
Sasuke shifted closer waiting for the other to finish.
Lee looked up and gave a sad smile, "She had the exact same windows in her room. Whenever the moon was full I would sleep in her room, we used to put out sleeping bags and camp out on the floor."
"My real-" Lee bit back a sob and spoke with a creaking voice. "She used to open the curtains and say, 'Now the angels can watch you from heaven'. The moon was full when-... when she-"
The boy let out a pain filled cry, wrapping his arms around his waist as tears streamed down his face like heavy rain. Sasuke panicked, instantly moving to wrap his arms around Lee.
The other froze and for a moment Sasuke worried that he might have made a mistake when Lee leaned into him, letting out sobs against his chest.
"It's O-O.K, Lee." The Hatake said softly, rubbing circles on the boy's back, completely at a loss for what else to do.
"She would not wake up," Lee cried. "I begged and-and pleaded but she would not wake up! She left me..."
"Its O-"
"No it is not O.K!" Lee suddenly started struggling in Sasuke's grasp trying to pull away. "What if Gai tries to leave me... or Tenten. I-I can not-"
Lee kept pushing at the other boy's chest, broken sobs echoing in the living room for what seemed like forever until he gave up with his body going limp.
Sasuke pulled the boy closer tightening his grip.
He wished he could tell Lee that it wouldn't happen, that Tenten and Gai would always be there. But Sasuke knew better.
He couldn't make the promises that he knew Lee wanted to hear, but maybe he could make one of his own.
"I won't leave you, Lee." Sasuke whispered stroking the boy's long black hair as he rocked back and forth. "I won't ever leave you."
Lee's sobs started dying down until they eventually stopped and he fell asleep in Sasuke's arms.
The Hatake looked down at the boy, pulling away a bit. Lee's eyelids were puffy and red along with his nose. His long eyelashes were wet while streaks ran down his face and stray strands of hair fell over his cheeks.
'He's still really pretty'
Feeling his cheeks flare with heat Sasuke leaned down and moved the bangs away to kiss Lee's forehead.
"I won't leave you," he whispered to the empty room. "I promise."
The front door flew open revealing a fifteen year old boy with a bright smiling face, which seemed to grow even brighter when he saw the people standing on the other side of the threshold.
"Sasuke!" Lee shouted as he practically jumped on the other raven, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug.
Sasuke returned the favour placing his own arms around Lee's waist, simultaneously trying to force away the pink setting in his cheeks.
"H-Hi" the Hatake groaned and tried again clearing his throat. "Hi Lee."
"Hey! He's not the only one who's here ya know." Naruto grumbled from beside the two, making Lee pull back with a light blush to give the blond a hug.
"Hello to you as well Naruto." The raven pulled away, with Naruto still in his grasp. "How are you?"
"I'm good." The blond said absently when something flashed in his eyes. "But not as good as Sasuke is right now."
Sasuke growled, glaring at his brother.
'He wouldn't dare.'
"What do you mean?"
"I mean-"
"Hello Lee," Iruka suddenly said pushing past the kids through the door, putting a hand on the top of Lee's head, ruffling the hair that was no longer long. The boy cut it as soon as he joined the athletics team, saying something about it getting in the way. "I swear you get taller every time I see you."
"One inch so far this year!" Lee said proudly as the elder walked passed.
Sasuke gave his adoptive father a grateful nod, to which Iruka just smiled.
"Hear that Sasuke, Lee's grown a whole inch." Naruto taunted smugly. "I'm sure you'd love to show him how much you-"
"Do I smell ramen?" Kakashi suddenly asked as he followed his husband inside.
"Ramen?!" The word had barely left the blonds lips before he all but flew into the house, leaving his brother and Lee behind.
"Naruto really does have an indestructible appetite, doesn't he?" Lee said staring down the hallway, where the noise was starting to escalate.
"Yeah." Sasuke stared at Lee, wondering for the one millionth time why he was so infatuated with this boy. Sure Lee was ridiculously sweet, but he didn't know...
Lee turned back and found Sasuke's eyes studying him. An adorable blush spread on the teen and he extended his arm inwards.
"We should probably go before Naruto eats everything."
Sasuke stepped inside, brushing passed Lee as he did making his blush turn a little bit darker.
Now he remembers why he likes Lee so much.
He's really pretty.
A/N: I feel weird about how I ended this chapter.
Tell me what you think.
Please review.
