Hey! I'm back and here to bring you the fourth chapter of Dance of An Eternal Lotus. I really can't think of a name for this chapter but if you have one, suggestions are greatly welcomed. Also at this time I would like to thank Leite Destiny and Kendansa for reviewing the last chapter. You guys rock and get tons of cookies! Now, on with the fanfic!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Naruto, it would be awesome if I did, but I don't! I only own Azami and her squad, alright? Now read and enjoy!
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Chapter 4
The village streets were softly buzzing as Lee and Azami walked through Konoha. Venders were opening their shops getting ready for the day while early birds floated around conversing with each other. Azami gazed around her surroundings with interest; she had never seen the village this early in the morning. Putting her hands behind her back, the kunoichi continued to let her eyes wander. A serene smile came to her lips.
Lee looked back at Azami curiously for a moment before looking down at her hand. "Aza-chan? What is the boombox for?" he questioned.
Azami tilted her head to the side as she lifted her hand up that carried the boombox. She gave a small, shy smile. "I was dancing," the girl spoke quietly.
Lee's eyes softened as he continued to stare at Azami. The girl wasn't facing him directly, but he could see her biting her bottom lip in almost what seemed like worry. "Is she afraid of something?" the Konoha shinobi thought confused.
Thinking Lee was wondering about her current statement, Azami looked towards the sky. "How can I explain this," she murmured to herself, green eyes brightened as a thought came to mind. "Lee-san? You make yourself stronger by exercising and sparring with your teammates, correct?" Azami asked.
Dark eyes blinked as Lee looked down at the girl next to him. "That is right," he said smiling. Azami couldn't help but smile back at him.
"Well you see," she began softly. "To make myself stronger I spar with my team but also dance." Azami's gaze shifted to the ground for a moment before she looked back at Lee," for me, dancing gives me flexibility but also trains my mind. It gives that calm balance to me that shinobi should have even in the face of danger." A small pout appeared on Azami's lips, "even though I haven't really figured out how to utilize the situation and emotion yet," she thought.
Listening to Azami, a considerate look appeared on Rock Lee's face. He seemed deep in thought; he didn't notice the dark silver-haired kunoichi looking at him worriedly. Black haired shined softly in the morning light. "Right," he said hitting his fist onto his other hand's open palm. Lee turned his attention back to Azami, "Azami-chan I shall try dancing!" he announced. "It seems most youthful."
Green eyes blinked in astonishment at Lee's sudden statement, Azami lowered her head slightly but still kept her eyes on Lee. "It's harder then it looks though," she spoke, the girl's voice suddenly became serious. "Steps, positions, posture, they'll all keen elements." Azami's eyebrows rose as she saw a glimpse of sadness is Lee's eyes. She quickly shook her head, "I'm not saying to not try it or anything," Azami quickly said. She bowed her head slightly, "Gomen."
Lee raised a hand and gave Azami a pat on the back, "there is nothing to worry about," he said cheerfully. "Yet Azami-chan?" he said, the girl gave him a questionable look. "One day, would you dance for me someday?" Seeing the girl's eyes widened slightly and her lips not move, Lee continued talking. "It is just I learn better by watching and maybe I can pick something up from you."
Azami stared at Lee, she was slightly shocked. "No one has ever asked me that before," she thought. Azami's face remained blank for a few moments before turning to one filled with happiness. The girl shook her head, and gave Lee a warm smile, "I would be honored to," Azami said gratefully. "It would be great to help you out Lee-san."
The green cladded ninja smiled at the kunoichi, "arigato Azami-chan!" Lee said happily. His pearly white teeth shined as he smiled.
Azami felt light on her feet, a sense of pride was deep in her heart. The kunoichi was glad that she could make someone feel happy, especially if the person could make her smile as well. A small, almost excited grin graced her lips.
"Azami-chan, we're here," Lee said.
Azami came to a quick stop and looked to the left; she tilted her head up slightly. A simple white house with green shutters stood in front of her. She turned her head to the mail box that was to her right; Azami leaned in closer to look at the nice cursive writing on the mail collector.
'Lee'
"Azami-chan! Are you coming?"
Finishing her observations, Azami looked to Lee who was already at the front door. "Y-Yeah," the girl said as she walked through the white colored gates surrounding the house and walked to the door. Azami stopped next to Lee as he twisted the door knob a couple of times before the door actually opened. She murmured a small thank you as Lee allowed her to enter the house before walking in himself. Azami looked around and slipped on her ninja sandals before placing them and her boombox on a green mat next to the door. Her green eyes looked around in curiosity as she walked forward
Lee slipped off his ninja sandals and placed them on a green mat as well, he looked down at the hall of his home. The walls were painted a light beige and the floor was covered with shiny oak wood. Along the walls were paintings and pictures. Down the hall were doorways leading to different part of the house. "Home, sweet, home," the taijutsu user thought.
"Lee-kun? Is that you?" a kind voice called.
Azami found herself slipping behind Lee as she saw a woman come out from one of the doorways. She was a lot older then Azami and had pale skin. She had dark brown eyes with long black hair that was in a low ponytail. The woman was wearing a blue Chinese styled top with light blue jeans.
Lee smiled at the older woman as he walked forward followed by Azami. "Ohayou Kaa-san," he said.
A pale hand was placed on Lee's head as his mother ruffled his hair a bit, a playful pout was on her lips. "Yes, morning," she said, "I told you if you're going to be out all night training, at least come home and tell me." Brown eyes flickered to Lee's arms, "and I see you have more wounds, oh what am I to do?" she said dramatically. The woman looked from her son to Azami who was looking down at the ground, "and who is this? A new friend of yours Lee-kun?" the woman questioned.
Azami stepped forward and stood next to Lee, the girl bowed her head down. "My name is Yamahara Azami," she said softly. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Lee's mom placed a hand on Azami's shoulder, a smile was on her lips as the younger girl looked up. "So you're the Kumogakure kunoichi that Lee-kun was talking about a couple days ago," she said. "It's nice to meet you also, my name is Ju Lee." The woman giggled as Azami twiddled her thumbs, she looked to Lee. "You're right, she is shy," Ju said playfully.
Lee watched Azami blush before looking at his mother, "Kaa-san, I'm going to get some bandages," the genin said, he then looked to Azami. "You can go sit in the living room if you would like." With that the Green Beast walked down the hall and disappeared into another part of the house.
"They're in the bathroom cabinet where they always are," Ju yelled to her son as she turned, the woman started to walk back down the hallway. "Oh and breakfast will be ready in a couple minutes," she said walking back through the doorway. Ju peeked her head out once more and looked at Azami, "would you like some breakfast too Azami-chan?" she questioned.
"H-hai, if that's alright," the silver-haired kunoichi replied softly. Watching Ju disappear once more, Azami wandered to the left into the living room Lee had spoken of. Azami walked on the polished wood floor as she looked around the room. It had two small green couches on each side and a long table in the middle of the room. There was a large bookcase near one of the couches and on the other side of it was a small table. "Cozy," Azami said to herself as she sat down on one of the couches.
At that moment Lee appeared in the doorway carrying a bowl of water, a cloth, and some gauze bandages. The shinobi smiled at Azami as he set the things on the table in front of the couch and sat down next to her. Lee held an arm out to her, "I thank you for doing this Azami-chan," he said.
The kunoichi took Lee's hand into her own as she started to unwrap the old bandages, she smiled softly at him. "No thanks necessary," Azami said softly. "I'm so use to doing this for Kado and Tanjiro it's second nature really." The teen was gentle as she slowly pulled the bandage off, Azami eyes gazed over Lee's many wounds. "You train more then the average genin," she murmured like it was a fact. "Am I right by guessing this isn't the first time you've slept outside?"
Lee nodded in agreement; a smile was on his face. "Yes," he said. "I believe the key to becoming stronger is hard work." A flame was burning in Lee's eyes, "and so for that reason I shall train day and night-Ouch!"
Azami squeezed Lee's hand slightly as she continued to dab the damp cloth against the wounds, "gomen," she said quietly. The kunoichi placed the cloth back into the bowl of water, she picked up the bandages. "I think you training to improve yourself is great Lee-san," Azami said as she started to wrap the bandages around the taijutsu user's arm. "But you have to take care of your body as well. You have to know your limits."
Rock Lee turned his gaze to the table; Azami looked at him slightly confused. "I must surpass those limits if I wish to be at my best," he said confidently. "I must surpass those limits if I wish to follow my nindo." Lee looked back at Azami, "you understand that, don't you Aza-chan?"
Azami looked down at Lee's half bandaged arm, the girl's shoulders slumped. A memory drifted into her consciousness, Azami bit her bottom lip. "Nindo," she thought.
- -Flashback- -
"Mommy do I have a nindo?" a small seven year child asked.
"Every shinobi does darling, it's what you fight for," a soft voice answered. "But it's up to them to find exactly what it is. Does that answer your question?"
- -End of Flashback- -
Azami looked up at Lee, she smiled sadly at him. "To be perfectly honest Lee-san, I don't understand, I really don't," she spoke softly; a lost look was in the girl's eyes. "I don't know what my nindo is but," Azami paused as she shifted her gaze to the ground. "I can see yours means a lot to you and I wouldn't try to stop you from completing it." Green eyes looked back up at Lee; there was a trace of understanding her in eyes.
Lee smiled at Azami; she hadn't yelled at him or put him down about his dream. Even if the girl was shy, at least she spoke the truth, which he was glad for. Lee leaned in closer to Azami before wrapping his arms. "Arigato Aza-chan," he said smiling.
The kunoichi felt her cheeks heat up as Lee held her in the hug. Lifting a hand up, she patted him softly on the back. Azami slowly pulled away from Lee and looked him in the eyes, "but please, if you could," she murmured, "just be a little more careful. I would hate to see you get terribly hurt."
Pleading green eyes stared up into Lee's. He stared down at Azami for a moment before smiling, "alright Aza-chan," he said brightly. "For a youthful flower, I will!"
Azami smiled back at Lee at his answer. She tied a small bow and tucked it underneath the wrapped bandages as she finished wrapping an arm. She took his other arm and starting to take the bandage off. Azami had a questioning look in her eyes, "Lee-san?" she spoke softly. "May I ask you something?"
Lee looked at Azami, "of course Aza-chan," he answered.
Azami concentrated on Lee's arm for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Every shinobi finds their nindo eventually, right?" she asked softly. She tilted her head up slightly to look at him.
Lee blinked as he stared at Azami, he could see a distressed look on her face. The genin's teeth shined as he put a thumb up. "Certainly Aza-chan," he said confidently. "Just like the sunset, a shinobi's nindo will always rise!"
Azami nodded slowly, a shy smile returned to her lips. "Right, arigato Lee-san," she said softly. The kunoichi brushed her hair out of her face as she focused on the task ahead, yet her mind was still distracted by Lee's words. Even though Azami had just recently met him, the teen could see that Lee could take the gloom and doom out of situations and turn them to the more optimistic side. Green eyes looked to Lee who was staring out a window, the way the sun reflected on his face looked just right. Right there and then, Azami made a silent oath to herself, she looked to the colorful sky.
"I will find my nindo. Yet for now I'll just keep trying my best, and that's a promise!"
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Well there's the chapter! I'm sorry if it seemed like bit of a filler, but it's important (I hope...) Well anyways, please review, it actually helps me know people are reading and I want to hear your opinions. They are IMPORTANT! Guess that's all so ta ta for now!
xX.(Combat)Flats.Xx
Hai- Yes
Nindo- "Way of the ninja."
