--
Lee rose his tearfilled gaze to Temari; his face frozen with shock. "My respect? Why?"
The blonde eyed the young leaf incredulously. "Are you blind? He loved you as much as you love him."
Lee dropped his gaze to the dead body in his arms before pulling it closer to his body...hugging the deceased kazekage tightly.
"I'm so sorry, Gaara. I love you..."
I love you too, Lee...
Brown eyes snapped up in shock and fear.
"Did you hear that?"
Temari rose an eyebrow slowly. "I think you need to get some rest, Lee. It's dead silent at the moment." She glanced around them pointedly. The surrounding villagers were all silent and still, their eyes closed and heads bowed in a respectful moment of silence for the deceased. It only pissed Lee off again. It was fake. They were all relieved that the demon of sand had passed away. They all saw him as the murderous icon he had used to be. Noone had seen the changed Gaara...the effort he put into protecting the village, the pain it caused him to sense his villages fear...and the hateful glares that were still shot at him when he wasn't looking.
Lee regripped at the cold body in his arms. The muscles were gradually stiffening into place, and although Gaara's expression wasn't peaceful, it was something to remember.Lee stared at the pale face, burning the features into his brain. He never planned to love another person. Gaara would be the only one to take his heart.
He sank back with a sigh; sitting on the ground with the kazekage's body in his lap. "I love you Gaara. I hope where you are now is better than where you were."
How could it be better without you here with me?
Lee glanced at Gaara's face incredulously before snapping his gaze to the blonde beside him.
"You had to have heard that!"
He got a suspicious glance in reply as the kunoichi touched a hand to his shoulder.
"Really, Lee. Get some rest..."
The leaf jerked away, and gazed into the porcelain body in his arms; his eyes slowly traveling to the face.
"G-Gaara...?"
Yes, Lee?