Tsunade sat in her office researching, she had been there a good portion of the morning, one of the rare times she actually did hard work.
"The sand spirit Shukaku inside Gaara seems uncontrollable..." She thought. "However, Gaara is, and for the most part, is an angry person. Maybe if he's relaxed..." Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She sighed and looked up. "Come in."
Lee entered and bowed his head respectfully. "Lady Tsunade, I came to apologize for my earlier behavior." She returned her eyes to her papers.
"It's alright Lee." She started reading when an idea appeared to her. "Lee," she started. "Can you help me with an experiment?" Lee looked up.
"An experiment?"
"Yes," Tsunade smiled. "I might have a way to help Gaara." Lee's heart got caught in his throat, he cleared it before continuing.
"What is wrong with him?" he asked nervously, Tsuande sensed the fear in his voice and became more curious. Unknown to her, Gai had not mentioned Lee had been sleeping beside Gaara, but only mentioned he had a noticable smile. If it was true, she assumed Lee would be the best person to keep him relaxed. "Nothing's wrong with him, he's actually healing quite well, I may have just found out how he heals faster." Lee sighed relieved. Tsunade continued. "I think there may be a way to channel Shukaku's chakra inside him."
Lee was surprised. "Do you really think there is a way?"
"Maybe," Tsunade crossed her arms. "But I need your help. You're the only one who can do this job." Lee smiled.
"Then I would be more than happy to assist you!" He shot her his nice-guy pose. "I promise to do everything in my power to help Gaara." His smile backed up his promise to her. "If it will help you Gaara, I promise to get it done." He thought, making a second promise to Gaara.
Tsunade smiled. "Good." she smirked as she stood, knowing he's agree. "Let's get going." She made her way to the door.
"Wait, we are going to help Gaara, now?" Lee questioned.
"Yep." Tsunade walked past him and out the door, Lee following behind.
.
.
Gaara was sitting straight on the bed, arms crossed, and looking ahead at the wall. He had sat like this through the night several times, so it was almost natural. It was almost like metation state, keeping himself aware and awake at all times. He was unmoved by the knock at the door.
"Come in." He said lowly, not yet looking to the door. Tsunade walked in shortly before Lee.
"Hello Gaara. " He smiled.
Gaara turned at the sound of his voice."Hello Lee." He replied, his voice a tad kinder, not going unnoticed.
Tsunade smiled, now full confidence in her plan. "Gaara," she started as she removed the Adrenalin supply from his body. "It's time for your test. Take this." she dropped a little white pill into his palm. Gaara looked at it for a moment then back at her curiously. "It's a sleeping pill."
Gaara shook his head and dropped the pill onto the table beside his bed. "No." He said sternly. What kind of plan would that be? Did she want Shukaku to destory the village?
Tsunade sighed. "Gaara, take it."
"I wont" Gaara replied, glaring now irratated by what seemed to be her insipid test.
Tsunade became agitated. "Who do you think you are to deny a direct order from-"
"Lady Tsunade," Lee interupted her beginning rant. He walked over to Gaara and sat on the bed, across from him. Gaara looked to him, his gaze softening. "Gaara," Lee started, taking his hand again. Gaara noticed now why he always wore bandaged on them. "Lady Tsunade has a test to help you heal, to channel Shukaku." Gaara's eyes widened slightly to Lee, then looked suspiciously to Tsunade's.
"Are you sure?" Tsunade nodded. Gaara thought for a moment. "What if he gets out?" He knew there would be nothing he could do if Shukaku was released, and if anything, he knew wouldn't be able to live with himself if he hurt Lee again, not that he would say it to her.
"We've already got precausions set and ready just in case anything goes wrong. No one will be hurt." She promised. Gaara pondered it for a moment, looking back at the pill than Tsunade. "All you have to do is rest and stay awake." She explained, then nodded to Lee.
Lee picked up the little white tablet and held it out to Gaara. "It will be alright." He assured with his nice guy pose. Gaara took it in his hand and crushed it into dust in his palm, Tsunade ready to have his head as he slid it into his mouth and took the small glass of water of the table, sipping it to get the fine sand-like grains down.
"Good," Tsunade sighed, exiting the room. "Lee, I want you to do whatever you did last time you were in here. Keep him happy." She ordered, sliding the door shut. Lee nodded, a faint blush spreading over his cheeks.
Tsunade had the idea that Shukaku was a part of Gaara as The Nine-Tailed Fox was a part of Naruto, who heals quickly when injured. Gaara, in extremely rare cases being injured, no one knows much about. Shukaku normally works against Gaara, forcing him to stay awake, and probably adding on to his normally irritable and isolated personality. However, if he were happy, or at the very least relaxed, she wondered if Shukaku could heal Gaara as fast and efficiantly as Naruto does.
She had noted that Gai noticed the breif smile on Gaara's face when around Lee, before being scowled at for intruding. So as far as she knows, Lee is the only person or thing that makes Gaara happy.
Gaara leaned back onto the bed, allowing Lee enough room to join him. "What did Gai want?" he asked cuiously. Lee smiled and turned to him.
"He asked me about you." Gaara looked to him in confusion.
"What did he ask?"
"He questioned why my bandages were not as tight as they usually are, as well as missing my weights and about opening a few of my inner gates. All just to save you."
It took Gaara a moment to remember Lee was always wearing incredibly heavy weights around his legs, aswell as he remarkably being able to open a few of his inner gates, a feat in which some of the most advanced and talented ninja struggle to do.
"Hm..." he responded lowly, turning to face the ceiling. He found himself upset with Lee's last few words.
Lee sat up, earning a curious gaze as he leaned into Gaara's view. "Do you want to know what I told him?" Lee smiled broadly. Gaara smirked in amusement and nodded for him to continue. "I told him how I truly felt for you after what you did." He said happily then began to choke on his words, being sure to make himself clear as his face began to heat. "Not anything that happened before we arrived, of course. I mean, I did tell him that you protected me and-"
"Lee,"
"Yes Gaa-?"
Before Lee could finish Gaara had sit up and pressed his lips firmly to Lee's, running one hand into his slick jet black hair to pull him closer so he didn't have to worry about his injury. Lee instantly pressed back, placing his arms around Gaara's pale neck and hugging him close. They pulled away reluctantly as air became a requirement to their bodies. As soon as it did, Gaara felt the medicience kick in, being faster since it didn't need to disolve as much, he laid back against the plain white pillow and pulled Lee beside him, slowly adjusting physically and mentally to the feeling of such close contact. He moved his arms around Lee midded and held him as he did, letting Lee rest his forehead against his own. Soon the green beast of the Leaf Village was resting at ease, smiling once more. Gaara relaxed and enjoyed Lee's quiet company, wondering only slightly what would happen whenever Tsunade comes to check on them.
.
.
She saw Lee snoring lightly and Gaara's quick half smile before he noticed her and gave her a glare that, without directly saying it, read 'don't-you-dare-wake-up-Lee'. Tsunade nodded to him and turned to leave, pleased with her sucess when Shizune walked in.
"Lady Tsunad-IEE!" She shrieked and dropped poor Ton Ton, who oinked a lazy and surprised responce.
"Shh!" Tsunade snapped, also recieving a glare from Gaara, though more menicing.
"But Lasy Tsunade," Shizune lowered her voice as she reached for Ton Ton. "Gaara's medication-"
"Gaara's fine." Tsunade smiled calmly as she pushed Shizune towards the door. "You just didn't see his smile."
.
.
Night fell over Konoha, stars shimmering brightly over the dark blue sky, every but one ninja asleep. Gaara slid his arms from around Lee and sat up, looking out the window. He silently stood and walked over to it, opening it carefully, a warm early summer breeze welcoming him. He ran his fingers over the bandages covering his chest, they were still white and looked new. He glanced over his shoulder at the sleeping Lee, his smile returning at the sight of normally busy and Leaf's most hard working ninja so calm. He turned fully around and returned to his place on the bed, still sitting he leaned down, hovering over Lee and brushing the dark hair away from his face.
"Thank you" Gaara said softly and, having learned a thing or two from Lee, leaned down a little further and carefully placed a quick kiss on his bushy brow. "for not letting me be alone." He finished sincerly. For the first time since he could remember, Gaara was genuinely happy. He laid back down on the sheets and stared at the ceiling.
"Gaara," Lee's voice startled him slightly. He turned to meet Lee's coal eyes. "I promise you will never be alone." He smiled softly.
Gaara responded by pulling Lee close to him once more, holding him as he did the same and slowly fell back asleep.
.
.
As the sun began to rise so did Tsunade on the way to the hospital, walking at a leisurely pace, enjoying the morning as she smiled to herself.
"That was a risky plan you made." Shizune followed quickly, Ton Ton at her side. "If Gaara would have released Shukaku, the whole village would be in pieces all over again." Ton Ton oinked in agreement.
"Well it worked didn't it?" Tsunade shot back. "Besides," she calmed down. "I knew it would work if Lee was with him. Something happened on the their mission that changed them both for the better, it must have."
They entered the hospital and quickly went to Gaara's room, sliding the door open quietly. Tsunade smiled that the sight of the peaceful ninja, Lee sleeping happily with a smile on his face, Gaara's soon changing into a scowl, but lesser now as the sun began to rise.
"Lee, wake up." She said a little louder than her usual voice. Slowly he began to wake, yawning and blinking sleepily, then blushing realizing what she and Shizune were seeing. "Good morning Lee, Gaara." Tsunade smiled.
"Good morning, Lady Tsunade." Lee returned her smile, blush fading slightly.
"Lee," She said turning to him. "Gai has summoned you for training out at the usual site." Lee nodded and stood. "Hold on a second, you can't leave yet." Lee looked to her in confusion. Tsunade smiled. "Gaara doesn't know the way." Gaara looked to her in surprise. "Yes, Gai Sensei sent for you" Tsunade nodded. "Your mission for the Land of Sun is marked as incomplete. We got a message late last night saying there was another action by the thief." Lee and Gaara looked to each other then back at Tsunade stunned.
"Even with his injured hand?" Lee asked lowly, remembering the pain he had received from Riku's mind destroying attack. "He must be very determined." Lee decided.
"I'm sure he is." Tsunade agreed. "That's why Gai wants to train with you both. To be honest, I'm considering sending him with you. But in the meanwhile, Gaara, your injuries should be healed soon, I'd give it three days tops. That's when you're to leave for the Land of Wind. Understood?"
Gaara nodded. Lee shot her a thumbs up. "Yes ma'am, and I promise that this time we shall complete our mission." He promised with an equally determined smile.
"Good." Tsunade said walking out. "I'll leave you to it then." She slid the door behind herself and Shizune.
Gaara stood and slipped on his black shirt and thick vest, which were hanging neatly in the closet by the door. Being careful of his bandages, he slid on his heavy gourd and was ready. He turned to Lee, who was holding out an empty hand to him.
" Let us get going." He smiled. Gaara stood confused for a moment, then took Lee's hand carefully, yet happily, letting him intertwine their fingers as they headed for the site.
