A Caring Person
"Are you sure you can do this alone?"
"Yes, sensei, he is right: this is a dangerous venture. Would my presence assist-"
"No, Lee. This is something I have to do by myself. I just have to go in and…" And what? What am I going to say?
"Yes, sensei?"
"Well, you know, Lee…"
"I do not, sensei. Please tell me."
"Well, um…"
"Yes?"
"We're here Gai," Ninkame stared up, looking stern as usual. "We'll be waiting out here to rush you home when-"
"Thank you, Ninkame!" Gai gave a slight bow to the tortoise. "Take care of Lee."
"As always."
"Lee…" They teared up.
"Y-yes, sensei?"
"Just… just take care of yourself, okay?" Lee sobbed,
"Yes, sensei!"
"Don't cry, Lee!" Gai sobbed.
"Yes, sensei!" They both sniffed and wiped their eyes.
"I'll be back!" Thumbs up.
"Yes, sensei!"
"What are you doing?" The door had been thrown open behind Gai. "Were you ever going to knock or were you just going to stand there shouting at each other?"
"I-"
"Come in."
"Squeal, whine." Gai gave Lee a last sad little wave before Tsunade shut the door, looking him up and down with Tonton as he blew his (rather large) nose on a (… green) handkerchief. She sighed. I don't know what you see in him, but…
"Gai!!!"
Oh lord hok-
"Oh, you came!!! Oh, I'm so glad!"
Oh, Shizune don't… I can't watch. She hugged him. Oh, you didn't, Shizune, you didn't… He flailed in utter panic. She was oblivious.
"I thought you weren't going to come!" He somehow composed himself by the time she looked up, beaming.
"Well I did promise…"
"Oh, come in, come in! Sit down! Was it a long walk? It's a hot day! Do you want something to drink?"
Of course he does, dear, but you're not going to give him a chance… "Come on, Tonton. Let's go outside. I don't want to be here for this."
"Squeal." Tonton walked through her door and Tsunade, after some self-debate, ran to get her (empty) gambling money jar and (practically empty) purse.
"How has your day been? Are your pupils okay? How's Neji? The other two are Tenten and Lee, right? Did you say you wanted a drink or not? Are you comfortable? Can I-"
"Shizune!"
"Oh, dear, I'm babbling, aren't I?" She blushed furiously and messed with her sleeves. "It's just that… well when… I'm just so excited! I- You do like me alright, right? I'm not terribly annoying am I? I don't always-"
"Shizune. Please sit down." She sat promptly, eyes wide and searching. He sighed. "I… Well I like you a lot, Shi-"
"Oh, no… I thought this might happen." She looked crushed. "It was the babbling, wasn't it?"
"No! I really do like you, it's just… How do I say this? You… you can do better than me. I'm… strange. I'd be bad for you, Shizune. I-"
"Gai, Gai, Gai, no! No! No!" She shook her head. "No! Gai… you're not…" He smiled slightly. "strange in a bad way. You're different. You… you're a caring person. That's what I need. That's what I… want. A caring person." Without his noticing, she had leaned across the table and grabbed his hands. He looked aghast at his captured hands and then up into her giant eyes, inches from his own and getting closer. Some instinct took over and he stopped panicking. Fractions of inches, and then he remembered Lee.
"I have to go!" He stood up, coughing awkwardly at her shocked expression. "Bye now!" He made a beeline for the door, and closed it before he could hear her small "Good-bye". But she smiled.
He likes me. She flipped back on the couch. Likes me…
"Sensei! How did it go? Did you inform her of your opinion?"
"Yes, Lee," he stroked his chin, "and, no." He walked off humming, leaving Lee to stare at an aloof and exasperated Ninkame.
"Let's not get behind, Lee."
