Sai was shaking on the floor of his bathroom, curled up into a little ball. Root had defined him for all these years. Danzou had been his mentor, his everything. How was he to deal with that? Sai understood that his being in Root was not exactly beneficial for him as a person, but Root was all he knew! He did not even know how to begin to live without it!

Sai shakily got up on his two feet, and his body began to move on its own. Sai did not think about what he was doing; his thoughts were set on how in the world he was going to live his life, now that Root was out. He walked the streets of Konoha seemingly aimlessly, his mind, along with his heart, racing.

Sai realized his body had taken him to a barely familiar apartment. The door was open, and Sai could see through the opening Rock Lee's lean form working on the kitchen counter.

Sai's body had taken him to Rock Lee's apartment, somewhere he had been only once before. Without thinking, Sai stepped up to the apartment's entrance and passed the front door. He was five feet away from Rock Lee, and Rock Lee squealed when he finally realized the pale artist had been standing at his kitchen.

"Sai!" he yelled, surprised. "What are you doing here—" Sai's face must have betrayed some kind of emotion, for Rock Lee stopped short.

"What is the matter?" Rock Lee wiped his hands on a towel, and closed the distance between them slowly. He looked up into the artist's dark eyes and touched his face gently.

"What is the matter, Sai?" he whispered.

"Danzou-sama is dead." Sai's voice sounded flat and monotone, even more so than usual.

Rock Lee's eyes filled with dread, and before Sai could utter a word, the taijutsu boy had him embraced within his arms. Sai just let himself accept the touch, and leaned into the embrace. This was why Rock Lee was different. Anybody else would have jumped for joy, or would have said something cruel about Danzou.

But not Rock Lee. Rock Lee understood how important Danzou was to him, understood exactly why Danzou's death would mean so much. Sai's life had been Root, similar to how Rock Lee's life had been his training. The two were exact opposites, but so much lay in common between the two…

Sai felt Rock Lee rub his head gently. "Are you alright, Sai?"

Sai buried his face near Rock Lee's chest, feeling the toned flesh under the layer of green spandex. He sighed, then breathed in the scent that could only belong to Rock Lee, and marveled at this feeling. Just being within the lean boy's embrace was magnificent, like a treasure few people are ever able to find…

Sai felt himself being pulled out of the kitchen and off to the small living room. He was placed upon a comfortably plush couch before Rock Lee pulled away. Sai did not like the feeling of Rock Lee's arms pulling away, but he did not react. He simply sat, staring straight at the wall in front of him, his gaze unfocused. He barely heard some noises in the kitchen, footsteps, the front door closing and locking, and more footsteps.

Sai was then wrapped in the most comfortable blanket he had ever had the joy of feeling, and smelled a delicious aroma that was coming from in front of him. Rock Lee had set out two bowls of the soup he had been preparing, and had covered Sai's frame with his blanket for comfort. Rock Lee wrapped Sai's small frame in a soft, gentle embrace, and Sai sighed again, leaning into the other boy.

Sai was surrounded by nothing but comfort. His body began acting on its own accord, snuggling into the embrace and cuddling the starry-eyes ninja. He felt Rock Lee's warmth radiate through the blanket and mingle with his own body warmth. Sai closed his eyes, enjoying every moment.

Rock Lee removed Sai's forehead protector and placed it gently on the table before stroking the artist's sleek, black hair. Sai shivered and closed his eyes, breathing in the athletic boy's scent again.

They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the feel of each other. Sai could not have asked for anything better than this.

"Sai, are you hungry?" Rock Lee said, his voice barely above a gentle whisper.

Sai was not hungry at all, but he knew he had to eat. Besides, the two bowls in front of them smelled very good… "A little."

"Would you like some soup?" Rock Lee gestured to the bowls.

"Yes, please," Sai said shyly.

Rock Lee handed the artist a bowl with spoon and a napkin, making sure he was comfortable. Lee himself took the other, also accommodating himself to a more comfortable position. When Rock Lee stopped moving, Sai molded into Rock Lee's pose, leaning on the other boy in a way as to not hinder him from eating comfortably.

Sai drank a sip of his soup, then instantly dipped his spoon for more. As it turned out, Rock Lee was an amazing cook. Sai found himself downing the entire dish in less than five minutes. He had truly enjoyed it.

When he had put down his bowl, Rock Lee had looked at Sai in amazement. "You are very talented in the kitchen," he stated honestly.

Rock Lee smiled at him. "I am glad someone thinks so." He finished his bowl quickly, getting up in order to wash the two bowls and spoons when he was done.

Sai had pulled on his elbow when Rock Lee had tried to get up. "Later. Please?"

Rock Lee stared at him sadly, knowing he was very upset. How was Rock Lee supposed to comfort him, or offer advice about it?

He slid down into a sitting position and wrapped Sai with his arms. Sai pulled back momentarily in order to wrap the soft blanket around both of their shoulders, cuddling Rock Lee afterwards. Sai closed his eyes as his cheek met Rock Lee's soft but firm chest, and he let his mind shut down while loving the warmth he felt at the moment.

Rock Lee shifted until he was comfortable and was able to envelop Sai in the most loving embrace possible. Their hips were side by side, Sai's squeezed between the couch and Rock Lee's. They were both enjoying the plush blanket greatly, before their breathing became more and more tranquil until both boys fell asleep in each other's arms.

AN/

Here is yet another chapter for my favorite pairing.

And to answer Puskul, I'm participating in what's called National Novel Writing Month, which is basically people writing all they can in 30 days (all of November).

I began my participation with an original idea, but then got tires of it and began this fanfic.

I have no idea where this story is going. I actually intended to finish it about two or three chapters back. I write every chapter to last around 1,000 words, and that's pretty much it. I write what comes to mind at the moment. I'm actually running out of ideas for this story.

-cough- If anyone has any ideas they'd like to see happen in this story, feel free to share and I might put it in –cough-

So, to answer your question, I don't have a big plot behind this. Not many more complications. This fic, I believe, is slowly reaching its end. I don't want to drag it along too much…

But if I conclude this story, I will write another in Rock Lee's point of view.

Thanks for asking!

And if anyone else has any questions –cough- or ideas that they would like me to add to this story –cough-, feel free to share!

Feedback is wonderful, no matter what kind!