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Italics are flashbacks and thoughts to oneself
Bold is Demon's talking
Bold Italic is the demon holders talking back to the demons
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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.
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Title: Ikiryou
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Morning came and Lee woke up just before he heard a tap against his window. Lee slowly turned his head and stared at the ANBU member at his window then sighed and got up. His hair fell into his face and he pushed it back, annoyed as he made his way to his window to open it.
"The Hokage requires your presence." The ANBU said just as Lee opened his window then immediately disappeared. Lee blew a strand of hair away from his face then looked back at Sasuke's still sleeping form. Just like that, his annoyance vanished and was replaced by parental love -or, as close to it as he could feel considering he only had Mother as a guideline-
Still, he had no time to think on such things for now.
Lee changed out of his nightwear and donned his normal black outfit. He braided his hair quickly then went to Sasuke's side. He placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder and gently woke him.
"Shh," Lee whispered as Sasuke grumbled sleepily, "I wanted to tell you that I am being summoned. It is early so go back to sleep, my wolf."
"Mn-okay..." Sasuke mumbled, "...be safe Kaa-chan..." he fell back asleep.
Lee's eyes widened and he pressed his face onto the bed to stop himself from making any noise. He suddenly just wanted to stay in this room- this house, and never let any of his kittens leave.
He loved them so much.
Lee forced himself to calm down and simply pressed a soft kiss onto Sasuke's cheek before pulling away. Then he left, knowing that the others would be asleep.
-Of course Kakashi was awake though and when Lee looked back at the house, he saw Kakashi at his bedroom window. Lee waved though he felt shy at the sight of the older man.-
He got to the Hokage's tower and bypassed the normal entrance, instead, jumping to the windows to the Hokage's office. He barely frowned at the sight of Sarutobi and Tsunade there together and tapped on the window. Sarutobi turned and nodded to Lee so he opened the window and slid into the room.
"You called, Sarutobi?" Lee said, his voice taking on the familiar mocking yet playful tone.
"Lee." Sarutobi smiled and motioned to Tsunade -who had an affronted expression on her face-, "Tsunade has agreed to take on my position. She will be announced this afternoon, but I wanted her to know you beforehand."
Lee slowly turned his gaze upon the female Sannin and his lip curled in disgust, "Is it really so wise? She is not worthy of your title." he said mercilessly.
"What the hell did you just say, you brat?!" Tsunade snarled, her affronted expression turning enraged.
Sarutobi sighed and looked at Lee with a sad air, "Lee, please set aside your dislike."
Lee's lips curled again but this time in anger. Still, he nodded and gave a mockingly low bow, making Tsunade growl.
"Sensei! Why are you letting this damn brat get away with being-" She couldn't even finish her sentence, too angry.
"I am afraid that that isn't my story to share. For now, just believe that there is a good reason." He said then nodded to Lee, "Now, as I asked..."
"As you wish." Lee said with a bitter smile then turned to Tsunade, "As per request, you will come to know my secret. Know this, Sarutobi has my respect, you do not."
Tsunade scowled and stepped towards Lee, her arm reaching out to grab him. Lee growled and his body erupted into orange-red flames. His eyes changed to demonic black slits and he hissed at her.
"You will not touch me, you washed out drunk. I will burn you alive." Lee hissed lowly, his fire growing hotter until it was blue in color but he didn't let it go far enough to bring the black swirls.
"Ikiryou!" Sarutobi said, his voice sharp but behind that was a sadness even Lee couldn't ignore.
Lee bit his tongue against any more insults and turned to the still current Hokage. His blue flame died down but his hair still moved as if the heat was still there. His skin had gained a bluish tint just like his flames and his eyes stayed demonic.
"...Why." Sarutobi asked, sounding so old in that moment that Lee felt guilty. Still, he asked and Lee would answer.
"One Senju Tsunade left Konoha. She abandoned her home and became a gambler and a drunk. She left Konoha with a barely functioning Hospital and many could have been saved if she had stayed. Instead, she thought herself above everyone else and gave into her blood fear." Lee said, his voice monotone
"What would you know! You have no right to speak of things you don't know!" Tsunade shouted, voice slightly ragged sounding. Her unease and slight fear of the name Ikiryou being forgotten for now.
"I know that the Hokage has given you more leniency than you deserve. Do you think anyone else would have been allowed to abandon their village without being labeled a missing-nin? You do not realize how much slack you have been given and you do not appreciate those that have been looking out for you. You do not appreciate your home." Lee said, keeping his monotone voice for if he didn't, he would become truly angry. How dare she...when he would have given anything to have been born in Konoha, to not have gone through what he did.
Lee felt his lips begin to turn down into a scowl that would bare his sharp teeth but held it back, forcing his expression to flatten. He continued, "The Hokage has placed his trust in you now, so as he wishes, I will be available to your whim. You now command Ikiryou. Do not abuse Sarutobi Hiruzen's trust."
At the sound of Lee's title, Tsunade whipped around to Sarutobi but didn't turn her back to Lee.
"You have someone that dangerous in Konoha?!"
Sarutobi sighed once again but did not scold Lee this time. He understood Lee's anger now and though it simultaneously saddened him greatly and made him happy...he just hoped that Lee could grow to trust Tsunade as well. "Lee has been faithful to Konoha for three years now. I trust him." he said, his tone allowing no argument.
Lee blinked in surprise at Sarutobi's words then bit his tongue, feeling almost uncomfortably happy at hearing his words. He didn't expect to hear that Sarutobi trusted him, didn't even think that the man did. The gratitude that filled him made him speechless and he closed his eyes to gather himself again.
When he was able, Lee breathed as released his partial transformation.
"Is that all you wished for, Sarutobi?" Lee said, his feminine yet demonic voice fading back to normal as he turned back to normal.
"Yes, I will inform Tsunade of anything else I deem necessary. You may leave." Sarutobi said and Lee nodded.
Lee left through the window just as he entered and jumped down to ground floor. In the hour he spent in that room, the sun had fully risen and the sky was light blue with a smattering of clouds. Lee smiled as he saw the fluffy looking white forms. Shikamaru would enjoy this morning if only because of them.
But it was more likely that Shikamaru wasn't even awake -or if he was it was because of Yoshino-.
So Lee made himself walk back to the house but slowed down then stopped half way through his park shortcut and sat on a bench, feeling sick out of nowhere. He slowly slumped until he was covering his face with his hands. His head was starting to throb along with his shoulder. It made him shudder horribly. He pressed his palms hard against his closed eyes and tried to just breathe.
The pain only grew worse. He…he had to get to his apartment. Yes, that sounded good, alone, no one could see him like this. Unless Naruto was there…he still needed to endear himself to the boy. Mother said it was a good idea.
Mother…where was mother?
Sleeping…
'Mother…?' He called out to Matatabi, feeling strangely fuzzy, 'Mother?...Are you that sleepy?...Okay…'
An aching sadness gripped his heart for a moment before it faded and everything felt muted. Sight, sound, feeling, even emotion felt dulled.
Emotion? When did he ever feel that clearly?
Lee drunkenly shook his head and stumbled to his feet. He grimaced as he wobbled, wondering why he felt so…off balance. He shook his head again, trying to make his brain get back on track and almost fell instead. His heart thumped in surprise and he slowly began to feel uncertain. His legs suddenly collapsed underneath him and he fell back onto the bench with wide eyes.
He stared at the ground in disbelief then forced himself to stand again. He made his feet move, placing one in front of the other until he was steadily walking. The destination didn't occur to him, he just wanted to be able to walk normally but before long, he found himself in front of the Nara household. He blinked in surprise.
Why would he come to see Shikaku?
Lee stared at the main house for a long moment before he found himself walking forward with the need to be there. How...strange. When was 'need' something he had? Maybe Konoha was actually teaching him something...
Still vaguely confused, Lee knocked on the door and waited.
He didn't have to wait long before Shikaku opened the door and Lee automatically smiled. Shikaku blinked in surprise then his lips formed an easy smile that looked oddly familiar in a way that made it feel like Lee had seen it on someone else's face before.
"Lee, I haven't seen you around in a long while." Shikaku said, slightly chuckling as he leaned against the doorframe.
"I know, it is such a dreadful shame. I have not been blessed with your lovely company for so long, among other things~" Lee purred automatically, making Shikaku chuckle again.
"Still the same as ever, aren't you." The older man said, "Well, would you like to join us for breakfast? I know Shikamaru would be overjoyed to see you again." There was a teasing curl to Shikaku's smile but Lee felt…confused.
"Shikamaru…?" Lee repeated, keeping his own smile up even as his brows furrowed in slight confusion, "Have you been talking about me? How flattering! I would like to meet your son."
Shikaku's smile faded and slowly turned into a frown, "What? Are you…joking?" his gaze sharpened and he straightened up from his slouch, "Lee, what's the last thing you remember?"
"The last thing?" Lee repeated again, feeling himself tense as Shikaku lost his easy going edge. Lee felt the urge to step back but kept himself still. He swallowed hard then tried to think. His head and shoulder began throbbing again and he grimaced lightly before saying,
"I…I ate dinner with Naruto-kun and then walked him home?" Lee murmured, his head was slowly starting to hurt even more, "And…Kakashi-kun told me that I was to report to the Hokage for a mission in the morning."
Lee paused and looked around as if just noticing that it was morning, "Oh…I have to go do that."
Lee turned to leave but Shikaku quickly reached out and took Lee's arm. Lee stopped and looked back at Shikaku with an oddly empty expression, making worry flare even harder in the older man.
"Lee-"
"Hey dad, what's taking you-" Another voice came but it cut off and Lee slowly turned his gaze onto a boy that looked familiar in a way that echoed Shikaku. That must be Shikamaru…
"…Lee?" Shikamaru said, sounding hesitant.
-Why would he sound like that? And why did Lee suddenly feel like his chest hurt?-
Lee smiled pleasantly and said, "You must be Shikamaru, a pleasure to meet the son of Shikaku." He giggled and it sounded hollow, "Shi-san did not tell me how handsome you would be~"
Shikamaru didn't even reply, instead, he rushed forward and reached out for Lee. He cupped Lee's face, staring into those horrifyingly empty eyes and felt enough worry that he thought he'd be sick. He remember that look from yesterday and knew it was nothing good.
"Lee, come on, don't do this again." Shikamaru said
Lee raised his arms to remove Shikamaru's hands from his face but paused as his sight became blurry. His brows furrowed slightly and he suddenly realized that he was crying. Shikamaru wiped his tears away with a gentleness unfamiliar to his memories.
He opened his mouth to tell his confusion or something but what felt like a sharp spike going straight through his temple and shoulder made his legs suddenly crumble beneath him. He gasped for air and clutched his head. Shikamaru followed him to the ground and moved so he was pulling Lee to him as he turned his head to his father.
"Dad, what's happening?!"
Shikaku knelt down as well, trying to check over Lee, "I don't know…" he said, his voice tight, "Let's get him to the hospital. After, I'll inform the Hokage."
Shikamaru looked down at Lee's trembling form then steeled himself and nodded. He shifted and lifted Lee up, holding him close to his body. His heart squeezed as Lee curled further against him, pressing his head against his collar. Shikamaru swallowed hard, a sense of dread curling in his stomach, but that didn't stop him from moving. He ran towards the hospital even as he heard his father shout what was happening to his mother. Shikamaru only had one desperate thought in his head.
'Please, please don't let anything happen to Lee.'
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