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Disclaimer: Is Lee getting chased by Seme's that want him as their Uke? No? Then I don't own Naruto.
A/N: This is the final chapter! The rest will be multiple endings! Lots of good endings and one that is really bad. It will take a while to get the first one up because my brother is getting married and I am in the wedding. So if the first ending is not posted on Friday, do not worry! It is because Dec 1st is the wedding day!
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Title: Angel or Devil
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It took days to get back to Ame and the hideout. Days of something festering in his chest. Lee wanted to scream and break something or just break down and cry. Yet he couldn't do either, he had to keep his emotions in check. Katsu needed him to be calm.
But it was so hard...
Still, he pushed it all down and kept his goal in mind. Number one: Keep Katsu safe. Number two: Reach the base. Number three: Report to Pein. Number four...he didn't know yet but he'd think of something. For now, he was just concentrated on getting Katsu to the base. The base was safer for Katsu anyhow.
They didn't even sleep. Lee took Katsu's exhaustion then gave both his and Katsu's to random people whenever they passed small towns and villages. It made the five day travel turn into two days instead, reaching Ame on the morning of the third day. The raindrops felt...soothing
"Almost there." Lee murmured, squeezing Katsu's hand and giving him a smile he didn't really feel.
They got to the secret entrance to the base and Lee undid the seal, ushering Katsu inside before putting the seal back up. He took a spare moment for himself, closing his eyes and breathing in deep before taking Katsu's wrist.
"Let us go." he murmured, too used to talking now, even if no one ever answered. He took Katsu to his room and led him inside. Then he set Katsu on the bed, "Stay here, okay? I must report back to Leader-sama. I will come back in a bit."
Lee gave Katsu another smile, making it the best he could even if he felt the furthest from smiling. Then he left the room, closing the door behind him. He walked further away from his room and as if leaving Katsu was the catalyst, Lee felt his eyes burn with tears. His throat tightened and he fell against the wall as he covered his eyes, desperately trying to control himself. He took a few shaky breaths, shuddering with emotion.
He still wanted to scream.
Just what did his torment happen for? Sasuke hadn't known...
"F-fuck." Lee cursed, the foul word stinging his tongue. Yet...irrationally, it made him feel better.
"Lee-chan!" There was a gasp and Lee tensed up hard enough to hurt, "That's a naughty-...Lee?" The change in tone was rapid, going from happy-go-lucky to serious in a second.
Lee kept his back to Tobi.
"Tobi!" Lee said with false joy -he was happy that his friend was good and well but he didn't want anyone to see him like this-, "It has been a while. Did you have a mission while I was gone?" he asked as calmly as he could, injecting a laugh at the end.
Fake it until it was real. He was good at doing that...so why was his expression twisting? His lips thinned and his jaw trembled, threatening to warble his words. His brows pressed together, creating a furrow between them.
"I apologize; Leader-sama wanted me to report as soon as I got back." Lee said, needing to get away before he broke down, "You will share your stories after-"
Lee wasn't able to finish. Tobi -Obito- gripped his shoulder and forced him around. He couldn't see Tobi's eye but he could feel it boring into his face.
"Who hurt you." Tobi's voice took on a rough tone, demanding an answer.
Lee broke down and cried. Tears spilled down his pale cheeks and gasping sobs ripped from his throat. He covered his face again, ashamed by his lack of control.
Obito froze, staring at Lee's hunched form with some fear. He'd never been good with tears, never knew what to say to fix the problem. But that was years ago, back before he abandoned his real name and took on the identities of Uchiha Madara and Tobi. What was he supposed to do when Lee looked so small and fragile, like one touch would break him into pieces.
Then Lee made a sound like a tiny wounded animal and Obito moved without thinking.
Obito pulled Lee into his arms, holding him tight enough to hurt the small boy. But maybe if he held tight enough, Lee wouldn't break and Obito could keep Lee whole. Was it shameful that he liked the way Lee clung to him after? Lee pressed against him like he really was the only thing keeping him together and Obito never had anyone do that before.
-Obito himself forgot that he had just been a child when he gave his eye away to Kakashi, thinking that he was going to die. He was still a child, barely a teen when he witnessed the death of Rin by Kakashi's hand. He had no time to actually grow up, only train and train more.-
"Who hurt you." Obito repeated, the words like sandpaper against his throat and he felt so angry that someone dared to make Lee cry. But Lee was shaking his head against his chest and clutching his clothes tighter.
"I- I am so- so tired." Lee whimpered, pressing closer and tugging until Tobi's cloak opened and it was covering him as well. Having Tobi's arms holding him so tightly helped, making him feel like he wasn't going to fall apart as easily and really...when was the last time someone held him like this?
"I just- I just want to sleep. Forever." Another sob choked him and he pleaded, "C-can I? Please?"
Something seized in Obito's chest and he swallowed hard, squeezing Lee even harder without a thought, just fear. "No." He said, the word barely making it out of his too tight throat, "Not forever, never!" he rasped but then he shuddered and said, "But...a while. You can sleep for a while and...I'll keep you safe until it's time to wake up."
Lee cried softly, little hiccups escaping him as he thought. Then he nodded, "O-okay, a wh-while then..."
Lee nuzzled Tobi's chest and only wrapped his arms around Tobi's neck when the man lifted him. He hid his face too, pressing it against Tobi's neck before sighing. His exhaustion crept even deeper into his mind and his aching eyes slowly closed.
"...Thank you..." Lee whispered and if Tobi had anything to say, it was lost to the embrace of sleep.
Obito stared at Lee's slumbering form, surprised at how quickly Lee had fallen asleep. Surprised at just how much Lee seemed to trust him. There was a warmth in his chest that felt familiar and almost hurt but in a good way. He shifted Lee closer to him and began walking to his personal room without giving it a thought. There was just a need to hide Lee away and keep him close.
-Obito had been so young and Lee made him feel things that he didn't think were possible again. It had been so long and only...only she had been able to make him feel in such a way. Was it so surprising that he wanted to keep this still budding feeling for himself and help it grow? Obito didn't know what to do, but he wanted. He wanted and just wanting hadn't been enough before, so he was going to do more than just want-
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Lee closed his eyes tighter as he slowly woke up, not wanting to leave his pleasantly absent dreams. He felt so warm and he was on something soft...reluctantly he blinked and opened his eyes. Orange was what he saw first, a swirling orange mask that he was surprised to see. That's when he noticed the soft pressure on his head.
"Morning, Lee-chan." Obito murmured, his fingers still tangled in Lee's now black hair.
Obito had spent the entire two hours that Lee was asleep just taking in every change. He had taken off his gloves and ran his fingers through Lee's thick hair about a thousand times. He had traced every feature on that lovely and soft looking face. He counted Lee's thick eyelashes, traced plump lips, trailed his fingertips down his long neck. Everything about Lee's slumbering entranced him in a way. Lee was different when he was asleep; quiet and soft, looking reminded him of the moon brought to earth. Yet when Lee woke, he was a sun all on his own, so bright that looking made you feel blind to everything else. Lee was wamth and sunshine smiles while awake.
"How long did I sleep?" Lee murmured, subconsciously shifting closer to Tobi, nudging his head more into Tobi's hand.
"About two hours." Obito answered, smiling under his mask as a new thing popped into his mind. Not just the Sun or the Moon; Lee was like a cat as well, nudging and nuzzling closer, demanding attention. He was more than willing to give Lee that attention.
Lee made a noise of discontent. He wanted to go back to sleep but he had to speak with Pein and Katsu was still waiting for him. He had things to do even though he just wanted to curl into Tobi's side and go back to sleep. Still, he knew he couldn't so he just sighed and sat up.
He felt Tobi's hand slowly leave his hair and followed it for a moment until he was leaning against the man. He nuzzled Tobi's chest and said, "Thank you, Tobi. I feel a little better now."
"...Good." Obito said, resting his hands on Lee's curved waist, "You can sleep longer."
"I cannot, I have to report to Leader-sama..." Lee murmured, humming a soft purr as Tobi stroked his sides pleasantly.
"He can wait." Obito said, more than a little dazed by the pleased noises Lee made as he dug his fingers into Lee's back and dragged them down.
"Mmn..." Lee purred, pressing closer and feeling delightfully sleepy and warm as Tobi practically massaged his back.
When was the last time someone touched him like this? He really couldn't remember. He wanted more of it. But...
"He is Leader-sama...we cannot keep Leader-sama waiting." Lee said then forced himself to sit up again. He shivered as he still felt the feeling of Tobi's fingers dragging down his back though they weren't anymore. Then Lee smiled with sleepy warmth.
"Thank you, Tobi. You really did help me." He said and he didn't know why he did it but Lee leaned up and pressed a kiss to the swirling orange mask that Tobi always wore. He smiled brightly at the man then stood up from the bed and gathered his hair. He nimbly twisted the long locks and rapidly french braided it, using a spare wrapping to tie it off. He grabbed his lotus hair clip from the bedside table and clipped his bangs back then nodded to himself. He didn't quite feel ready to face anyone but he felt more so than before.
"Alright. I am ready." Lee said and gave Tobi another bright smile before he suddenly yelped.
Lee's eyes were wide as he stared at the orange of Tobi's mask, his legs were surprisingly steady despite the sudden curve Lee was forced in to. A curve that was growing as the pressure against his lips increased. Then he squeaked, his hands grasping Tobi's cloak as he felt the man bite his lip -almost too hard-. He trembled then gasped and pushed Tobi away, clutching his own mouth after stumbling back. He barely noticed soft looking lips pressing into a thin line, instead, Lee closed his eyes and shook his head.
"You cannot!" Lee practically shouted and when he opened his now glassy eyes, Tobi was wearing his mask right once again.
"Why not?" Obito asked, his voice rough as he fought not to shake, "Am I...did I ready the signs wrong? Do you not want me?"
There was something about his tone but Lee didn't pick up on it.
Lee jerked, his eyes widening again before he shook his head. Though if it was to tell Tobi that he was wrong, he didn't know, "That- I do not- It does not matter! If I like you in that way or not, it does not matter! Do you not know?! Those who care for me- those who I care for- bad things always happen!"
Obito took a step towards Lee, then another until he was brushing against the smaller boy. his hands hovered over Lee's shoulders before he gripped them, "I am strong enough to endure anything." He said, leaning down and Lee could see 'Tobi's' sharingan eye through the hole in 'Tobi's' mask.
"Does that change anything?" Obito asked, sounding calm though he felt like a wreck inside.
Lee stared, his heart racing. Strong...what was strong? Would Tobi really be strong enough? What was the limit? And...was he even willing to give it a chance?
"..Can...Can I think about it?" Lee asked, his voice small, "I am scared but..."
"Yes," Obito said, smiling under his mask, "I won't rush you..."
Lee sniffled then quickly wiped his face and smiled at Tobi, "Thank you." he said, "I am really lucky to be liked by you."
"Then choose me quickly!" Obito said and chuckled before nuzzling his mask against Lee's cheek, "Just kidding!"
Lee giggled then moved away, "I am going to be going now, I really do have to report to Leader-sama! I will see you soon, Tobi!"
"Be safe, Lee-chan. I'll be waiting."
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"Leader-sama?" Lee whispered as he peaked into Pein/Nagato's office. He smiled as he saw the orange haired man alone and slipped into the room, quickly closing the door behind him, "Nagato-sama!" he chirped, "I am extremely sorry that I am so late! I hope you had gotten my messenger bird in time! I also apologize for not coming back to the base as soon as possible!"
"Lee." Nagato said through Pein, "I forgive it, I heard that many things have happened. I want to hear it from you. What happened?"
Lee paused and shifted. He looked down at the ground the sighed and moved until he was beside Pein, sitting on the ground with his head against the man's leg, "I had just gotten the information you desired..." Lee began then he was telling Pein everything.
He told his leader that Katsu and he met Kabuto, his torturer, on accident, and how he had lost his mind. He said that he remembered suddenly coming to and finding out that Katsu had taken his madness away, his Mindlessness. After that, he knew he couldn't leave Katsu alone. Katsu was his only link to family, his last one, so he took Katsu to another town and sent the messenger bird to Pein when he could. The following days were just of him trying to figure out what was different about Katsu and what was the same.
"Katsu is still a good member for the Akatsuki!" Lee quickly said, lifting his head and staring up at Pein, "He can be my partner! He always fights to protect me, I swear!"
Pein lifted his hand and placed it on Lee's head. Lee quieted immediately and his eyelids lowered.
"Then he will be your partner if you go out to fight." Pein said, "Continue."
Lee nodded with a small smile and continued his tale with Pein's hand on his head. It helped when he spoke about meeting Sasuke -the reason for everything- after seeing Sasori. When he finally finished, he felt tired. Pein's hand moved from its stationary position on his head and he mewled softly without thinking, wanting to be pet and touched.
Pein's hand paused from lifting then slowly pet Lee's hair. Nagato watched through Pein's eyes as Lee sighed and nuzzled Pein's leg.
Nagato once again thought that Lee was too pure for...anything, especially this line of work. It was that thought that made him try again.
"Lee." He said and watched as Lee blinked sleepily and looked up at him with large doll-like eyes. "Lee..." He said again, "You...come to the town you met Nagato in. He will give you your next mission."
Lee blinked, a little confused, but nonetheless nodded. "Understood, Pein-sama" he said, -reluctantly- getting up from his comfy position, "I will leave immediately."
Pein nodded and watched Lee leave his office before looking out the large window that showed all of Ame and the rain that fell everywhere.
Lee closed the door behind him and rolled his head before making his way back to his room where Katsu should still be. He felt a little guilty for leaving the man alone for almost three hours. The number echoed in his head and he softly groaned as he rubbed his face.
He walked faster.
"Katsu?" Lee said as soon as he opened his door. Katsu immediately turned his head towards the door and stood from the bed. He didn't look like he had moved at all since Lee had left. Lee smiled a little helplessly and stepped into his room.
"I am leaving to receive another mission, do you wish to come with me?" Lee asked but Katsu didn't answer. Instead, he moved until he was standing right in front of Lee and just stared.
"I...will take that as a yes." Lee sighed softly and took Katsu's wrist.
"Lee..."
Lee jumped as he heard Itachi's voice and quickly turned, dropping Katsu's wrist as he did. "Itachi?" He said, surprised.
"You changed again." Itachi said, his gaze trailing over Lee before looking at Katsu for only a second then turning his eyes back to Lee, "As did he."
"...Yes, I am..." Lee paused, slightly biting his lip before saying, "I am no longer in danger of madness. I am very close to my original coloring...besides my eyes. I...I went mad and Katsu took my Mindless state into himself. Now he is gone and I am left with a eternal mark."
Itachi nodded, "You are still...stunning." he said, for once disregarding Katsu and speaking his true thoughts.
Lee jolted slightly and stared at Itachi, his cheeks lightly pink with warmth. He shyly looked away, "Th-thank you..." he murmured.
"What is keeping you from turning back to your original color?"
"I think it is my memory. I still cannot actually remember anything before my time in..." Lee paused then skipped over those words and said, "I only have flashes of specific people."
He had a feeling if he met his last shadow then he could remember but now he had nothing to go on. Only his voice which could easily fade from his memory and those eyes that he knew he wouldn't forget.
"I think I can help with that." Itachi said and Lee's breath caught.
"Wh-what?"
"I looked around and found someone you had been close to. I brought them to a specific place..." Itachi said, "I...I can show you." He had went and found the man for Lee, to try and make up for what he had done and the torment Lee suffered.
"Yes! Yes... I want to know, I want to- I want to remember." Lee said, his voice going tight with desperation. He was supposed to be going to that town he met Nagato in but he needed his memories back.
Itachi nodded and turned, "Follow me."
Lee glanced at Katsu then nodded and followed after Itachi, Katsu right behind him.
They kept walking normally until they left Ame and the constant rain, then they took off. Itachi looked back once towards Lee then concentrated on the path in front of them. Lee on the other hand, kept his gaze on Itachi.
His mind was racing with so many different questions, some about Itachi and how he found someone from his past and if his memory really would come back. Others weren't even about what was going to happen but of how everything seemed to be happening so fast. The past few months had been a roller-coaster of feelings and revelations. Meeting Shikamaru, meeting Nagato who was the man behind Pein, meeting Katsu on accident, then meeting Tobi. His mind brought up how he met Gaara, finding out the relation between Itachi and Sasuke then finding out that Itachi considered him important -how important though, was it like how he felt?-. He found out Katsu had loved him, then meet Kabuto on a mission, understood that Sasori held him higher than even he thought. He met Sasuke and learned that he hadn't known -and now that he looked back, there was a sort of desperation in Sasuke's voice when he called out...-.
There were people who cared for him though. That was the best that he learned.
Shikamaru cared.
Gaara cared.
Itachi cared.
Sasori cared -in some way that was unique to him-.
Nagato seemed to care about him if the gentleness told him right.
Katsu loved him enough to forsake his mind.
Tobi...Tobi loved him. The man who had made him uneasy and slightly frightened before but now was a dear person.
He had people, he had friends, and if he had gotten his wish to die on that day he met Itachi two years ago... He would not have known any of this happiness. He had faced sorrow, anguish, happiness, anger, and overwhelming joy.
As he looked back...he was still glad Itachi had not let him die.
Now...now Itachi had made good on his promise of fixing and if this really did bring back his memories, he knew he could forgive Itachi in a heartbeat -most of him already had. What was the point when Kabuto was the true reason. Plus, Lee wanted to go back to how close he was with Itachi before-.
"We're here." Itachi's voice broke through his thoughts and brought Lee back.
Lee felt his heart jump and motioned Katsu to stay where he was. He was nervous, incredibly so, and reflexively gripped Itachi's cloak as they walked into the forest clearing. Itachi paused for only a split second, glancing at him. Lee felt his cheek warm and made to let go but Itachi covered his hand.
"We can wait as long as you need." Itachi whispered.
Lee looked up at Itachi then gave him a small smile, feeling...better, "No, I am okay. Thank you."
Itachi nodded, his eyes gentle though the rest of his face was blank. He lightly squeezed Lee's hand then let go and canceled the genjutsu hiding the man he'd taken.
Lee only got a glance of a black trench coat before his attention was taken by Itachi again. Itachi had lightly taken his chin and made him look at him.
"I will hide in the tree's so you may have an actual talk with the man. Do not be afraid, I will be right here if anything goes wrong." Itachi said and Lee swallowed nervously before nodding. Itachi stared into Lee's starkly inverted eyes then gave the surprisingly fragile boy a soft smile before vanishing into the tree's as he said he would.
There was a slight groan just a few feet away before it cut off and there was a rush of movement. Lee took in a shuddering breath and was almost too scared to turn.
Then...then he heard a very familiar voice speak.
"Lee?! What..."
It was the same as his unknown shadow.
Lee whipped around, his eyes wide as he frantically looked for the eyes he remembered the most. The man was tall, almost or maybe as tall as Kisame, he wore a long black trench coat that he suddenly remembered stealing often. As his gaze raised Lee remembered more and more. Words, actions, days. Then his eyes met sharp black ones and the block in his minds shattered.
Morino Ibiki, the man who became his beloved sensei after being taken out of Team Gai.
Lee cried out in pain, his legs crumbling under him as he clutched his pounding head. Memories poured into his brain, days, weeks, years of memories he'd forgotten. From his childhood until that fateful day.
It hurt so much!
The pain -someone repeatedly slamming a kunai into his head with no death or unconsciousness in sight- distracted him and he could barely register someone grabbing him then running. He dug his fingers against his head, wanting the pain to stop but it felt like an eternity passed before the last of his memories trickled in and the pain finally dulled.
Lee gasped for what felt like the first time in more than it should have been and his greedy lungs finally stopped burning as well. He coughed and hacked, desperately inhaling. When he caught his breath, he began to cry but he wasn't ashamed, he was happy. He looked up and saw only Katsu and a different area instead of the clearing he'd been in.
"Katsu! Katsu, I remember!" Lee shouted joyfully, "I remember everything- everyone!"
Lee laughed brightly, lifting his pale hands to wipe away his tears. He grinned as he saw his clear skin and laughed again. Then a stay thought brought everything to a screeching halt.
"I-...I have to choose now." Lee whispered, his eyes too wide with some horror.
He remembered; he remembered Konoha which had Shikamaru, Ibiki, and the rest of his old team mates and friends.
He remembered his friendship with Gaara which made the link more noticeable in the back of his head.
But...the Akatsuki. He had so many people there now and...
Lee knew he couldn't have both.
"...I have to choose..."
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