Title: Scars and Stitches

Characters: Team Gai

Genre: Friendship/Romance/Angst

Summary: A love triangle of Gai-stronomic proportions.

Chapter Twenty-five

Lee

Lee had looked up to Gai-sensei ever since he introduced to him to power of youth during their first meeting as a genin team, many years ago. For the young shinobi who did not know anything but taijutsu techniques, Gai-sensei was his inspiration, the one he strove to become when he grew older. That was why he readily accepted his sensei's gift of a spandex suit, and copied his hairstyle (much to his unyouthful teammates' revulsion), and pretty much imitated all of Gai-sensei's moves (dynamic entry, lotus technique, even the infamous Good Guy pose).

That was also the reason why Lee decided to turn to him for much needed love advice, even when he had never actually seen his sensei on a date, or even fawn over a woman at the very least.

But surely Gai-sensei knew matters concerning love, right? After all, he had tirelessly lectured them about the wonders of springtime of youth before, and even tried to teach them about what he called "the birds and the bees" (in which Neji attempted to jyukken him, and Tenten to throw a barrage of sharp, pointy objects in his direction).

Besides, Lee did not have a biological father, let alone a biological family, to consult with, so Gai-sensei, for all intents and purposes, was his best—and probably his only—option.

"Gai-sensei, have you ever been in love before?"

He asked it simply, as he and his sensei were on their sixty-seventh lap around the village.

The older shinobi paused for half a second, as if considering his answer, before he beamed and let his teeth sparkle at his charge. "Why, of course I have! I, too, have experienced intimacy at the height of my youthful life!"

Lee's eyes sparkled with admiration, eager to hear his sensei tell another anecdote from his springtime of youth. "Really, sensei?" he asked, round eyes going rounder in excitement. "Who is she? Does she live in the village?"

Such was the change in Gai-sensei's expression that Lee, for once in his short, youthful life, truly worried that he had said something to offend his mentor. "S-sensei?"

And then the somber expression dissipated, as if it were a mere trick of the light, and Gai-sensei was beaming at him again, flashing him a Good Guy pose, and then conveniently evaded the question by asking him how his relationship with the beautiful blossom that was Haruno Sakura was going.

Lee blinked, and for once practiced tact, and answered as best as he could, even when he really, really wanted to know who Gai-sensei's precious flower was.

"Sakura-san is as lovely as always," Lee replied, eyes glittering from obvious affection. And then, just like his sensei a few seconds ago, his face clouded, upon recalling the reason why he asked him the question in the first place.

"Gai-sensei?" and he paused, because what he was about to say next was so unyouthful he was certain that his father figure would be disappointed in him. "What will you do when you realize that, maybe, you're in love with your best friend after all?"

The older Green Beast of Konoha stopped his silent reminiscing (his teeth was pinging left and right while Lee was still trying to form words) and turned to his student. Lee had expected him to be angry, to reprimand him for acting like that, but his sensei gave him a small smile instead, as if his question was not surprising at all.

"So you finally realized it, didn't you?"

Round eyes blinked, wondering what his sensei meant. "Finally?"

A fatherly hand on his shoulder, and Gai-sensei, minus the sparkling teeth and thumbs up, grinned, but not unkindly. "I always knew that sooner or later, you will come to terms with your feelings for our own youthful flower."

"B-but I have promised my eternal devotion to Sakura-san!" Lee all but wailed, because that was most certainly not what he had hoped his mentor would say. "And Tenten, Tenten is my best friend, and Neji is my eternal rival but he is my best friend too!"

Because how does one explain that admitting his feelings for Tenten would not only hurt his precious cherry blossom, but his best friends too? How could he, who strove to protect the people he cared for—was that not the reason he wanted to become stronger, better than he was yesterday?—intentionally bring pain to the very same people?

"What should I do, Gai-sensei?!"

"Lee," Gai-sensei's voice was compassionate, but firm at the same time. "You have a pure heart that cares for others. I trust that you know what you have to do." And then the thumbs-up made a re-appearance.

"Do right by them."

"Lee-san!" the pink-haired medic nin met him halfway two days later, in the bridge, a favorite spot of couples in their village. They did not really schedule a date, Sakura and him, and it was mere coincidence that the kunoichi spotted him as he trudged the quiet and lonely path back his house.

For a second Lee wanted to run the opposite direction and disappear, because he was not yet ready to face Sakura-san, even when he has decided to do the right thing, as his ever-reliable sensei had advised.

But he was a ninja, a proud shinobi of the Leaf, and he would face his challenges, even when they come in the form of pink hair and emerald-green eyes.

"Sakura-san," he greeted, noting that his tone was anything but excited. The kunoichi must have realized it too, because she immediately frowned and closed the remaining distance between them, the back of her left hand automatically finding its way against Lee's neck to check his temperature.

"Are you feeling sick, Lee-san?" she asked. "You look a little bit gloomy."

And then Lee was crying again, and quickly gripped Sakura-san's hands before she could pull away in fright. "My dear, precious cherry blossom," he sobbed. "Your concern for my well-being is most youthful indeed! I only hope that I could return your wonderful kindness, but alas, I am nothing but a fool who could do nothing right in this world!"

Sakura-san blinked, and then chuckled. "What are you talking about, Lee-san?" she asked, grinning. "If this is about not completing your laps around the village over that dumpling incident, then don't worry about it!"

Lee sniffed some more, before kneeling down—not minding Sakura-san's strangled gasp and the amused looks from other people passing by—and bowing his head low.

"I am afraid that I can no longer continue going out on dates with you, my precious blossom," he sobbed, letting go of the kunoichi's hands and prostrating himself on the ground. "It would be unfair to you, because my heart is unfaithful and thus unworthy of your affection!"

His declaration of unfaithfulness was followed by an eerie silence, and Lee feared that his beautiful Sakura-san was going to, to quote Naruto-kun, "punch the living daylights out of him and send him flying to Sunakugare."

Instead, there was a quiet sigh, and then he heard her whisper, "So you finally realized it, didn't you?"

Sakura-san echoing Gai-sensei's exact words made Lee look up—had they been hanging out without his knowledge?—and regard the kunoichi with questioning eyes. "Finally?"

The medic nin smiled, a little sadly, before shaking her head. "I knew it was a bad idea, but I had to try, at least." And then she squatted, so that they were eye level once again, and whispered, "It's okay, Lee-san. I always did know you'd choose Tenten over me."

That he did not even mention his best friend's name yet and Sakura-san had guessed it correctly confused him. Did everyone assume he was in love with Tenten all along?

Had he been in love with Tenten all along?

"B-but . . ."

The pink-haired kunoichi shook her pretty head once more, and offered a more sincere, albeit forced, grin. "Go get your girl, Lee-san. She's not going to wait for you forever." A chuckle, as if a sudden epiphany had taken place. "Don't make the same mistake I did."

And then she was gone, and Lee was left in the middle of the bridge, wondering why his heart felt so light and heavy at the same time.

End of Chapter Twenty-five

Random anecdote: Last week, I opened my office e-mail and noticed one new message about an upcoming project. Lo and behold, when I opened the mail, guess what the name of the sender is? TENTEN. I almost died fangirling (and then immediately wondered if the sender had panda-buns as well). Now I just need to ask her if she has a boyfriend/husband named Neji and she will certainly be my new favorite person!

/coughs

Anyway. Nothing like a Gai-Lee father-son bonding to brighten up our day, neh?

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter/s. I swear, I want to cry every time I see a new alert in my inbox. I know I haven't been faithful in sending out replies, and I'm really sorry for that. But thank you for sticking with me all the same. (Gosh, I sound so sentimental. This is so not me.)

Reviews will be lovely, and flames will be used to fuel Lee's and Gai-sensei's springtime of youth (or if that's too weird, let's just stick to roasting marshmallows, like before).