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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.

A/N: This is such a shitty chapter, I am sorry.

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Title: Ikiryou

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Shikamaru sat at Lee's beside, staring at his sleeping form. After arriving at the hospital, the nurses had put Lee into a medical coma until they could figure out what was happening. So far, nothing. Not even they had any idea. Shikaku had already left to inform the Hokage and Shikamaru hopped that there was something that could be done.

Even asleep, Lee looked like he was in pain.

Shikamaru breathed heavily into his hands, closing his eyes as he pressed his hands hard against his mouth. Then he jerked slightly as the door slid open with a sharp clack. He looked back then quickly stood up as he saw the Hokage along with a woman.

"Hokage-sama." Shikamaru said, and though his voice was almost bored, his body was tense.

"Shikamaru-kun." Sarutobi nodded in greeting then let his eyes trail back to Lee. He held back a great sigh, wondering how he could have missed that something was wrong...

"Tsunade, if you will?" He said, motioning to Lee with his hand.

Tsunade had a...difficult expression on her face, one that Shikamaru identified as slightly hesitant yet determined. In the end, he didn't care how she felt towards Lee as long as she healed him.

She stepped beside Lee's bed and put her hand on Lee's forehead. Green chakra lit her hand and after a few minutes, she frowned and Lee's eyes fluttered open. Shikamaru forced himself not to move and clenched his hands inside his pockets. His heart pounded in his chest.

Would Lee not remember him again? Or would he call his name in that way that Shikamaru loved...

Lee blinked and looked around with a confused expression. Slowly, he sat up and put his hand to his lightly aching head. He closed his eyes for a moment then looked at the others, seing Tsunade, Sarutobi, Shikamaru, and even Shikaku who was near the door.

Why was he in the hospital?

Lee turned his gaze onto Shikamaru and spoke, "Shika? What happened?"

For a second, it almost looked like Shikamaru was going to collapse but it passed and instead, he went to Lee's side and sat on the bed next to him.

"What do you remember?" He asked, subtly taking Lee's hand. Another part of him relaxed as Lee automatically held his hand, lacing their fingers together.

Lee's brows furrowed but still he answered, "I just left the Hokage Tower after speaking with the Hokage." he looked towards Sarutobi who was slightly frowning, then said, "Now I am waking up here...Shika?"

It was Shikaku who answered his unasked question, "I assume you came to our house right after since Hokage-sama said that the time coincided. Only, when you saw Shikamaru, you didn't remember him."

Lee's gaze snapped back to Shikamaru and when Shikamaru nodded, Lee felt his heart squeeze. He opened his mouth to say something, to apologize or plead for forgiveness -he didn't know what but he did know that he never wanted to forget Shikamaru. What was even making him forget?! He didn't know that either and like always, he was scared-, but Sarutobi spoke instead.

"Lee-kun...I will be monitoring you after you leave the hospital. I will send the rest of Team Seven on a mission so you do not need to worry about them knowing." At that, he gave Lee a kind smile, possibly knowing about Lee's hesitance about anyone finding out, "But I will require you to live with me for the time being."

Lee stared wide eyed at the old man then slowly nodded his consent.

"I will prepare then." Sarutobi said before leaving and after him, Tsunade left as well. Shikaku stayed by the door, staring at the two on the bed before sighing and pushing himself from the wall.

"I'll see you later Shikamaru." The older man said, "...Lee, be careful." then he was gone too.

Lee slowly looked back down to the bed. He stared at his hand which was still laced with Shikamaru's and held on a little tighter.

"...Shika...?" Lee mumbled and he felt Shikamaru move closer to him. He started to tremble and his eyes burned with tears, "S-Shika..."

Arms wrapped around him and Lee crumbled. He pressed his face into Shikamaru's chest and cried. He cried with fear, confusion, and sorrow. Shikamaru's grip tightened and Lee just pressed closer, like he wanted to disappear into Shikamaru's arms.

"S-Shika, I-I am s-scared!" Lee cried

Shikamaru grit his teeth and pressed his face into Lee's hair, whispering how everything was going to be okay and that they'll figure out what's happening. Then, not wanting to let Lee go, he shifted until he was laying down and held Lee closer. Lee pressed closer as well, curling into such a small ball that Shikamaru felt his heart hurt.

Then, Lee started talking and Shikamaru felt dread crawl up his spine.

"Shika..." Lee whispered, "I think I know what is happening."

"...What's happening?"

"During the final exam...Orochimaru put a curse on me." Lee said and he shuddered at what he was going to confess, "Jiraiya sealed it but...I met Orochimaru again when I was on that mission. He said...he said that I had not felt it yet. Then he said that I would come to him on my own will."

"Nothing like that will happen." Shikamaru continued, tense, "Even if-...even if you forget again, we will make sure you're safe. We'll remind you as many times as we need to."

"B-but Shika...he seemed so s-sure..." Lee felt like it was getting harder to breathe and Kabuto's workd echoed in his head again, "H-He said- he said...he said, he said, he said-"

Lee whined, trembling in pure fear, "He made a cage Shika, I do not want to go back in the cage!"

All Shikamaru could do was hold Lee, hiding his body from the world. He felt his own eyes burn in anger, wishing that there was something he could do. Anything to make Lee's fear go away.

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A few days later, Lee found himself at the Sarutobi clan house. He sat in the room that Hiruzen said was his and stared at the walls. Only two days into his 'confinement' and Lee was tired. Even if Hiruzen was apologetic, Lee still wasn't allowed out of the compound because of his skills. If he forgot again, he could be a danger to everyone around him.

So every day consisted of him napping in the sun whenever he could. The emptiness in his mind made him feel hollow and nothing could bring him back up except when Shikamaru was allowed to viit him. Then he gained his life again and used Shikamaru as a pillow as they rested in the sunlight and talked about meaningless things.

Like that, Lee could forget that he was technically caged again.

Sarutobi had taken another look at his curse along with Jiraiya and both confirmed that they hadn't seen another like it. Anko's was different along with the ones Jiraiya had seen on the road. They even brought in Anko and she hated to admit it but she didn't know about it either.

There were times when Lee felt himself slipping away but like a jolt of lightening, he'd cling to any memory he could.

It was at the end of the second week that a crow fluttered down in front of him when he was in the garden. His heart had lept into his throat and he took the letter that the bird had. Sarutobi had just left so he knew the man had no way to see him through his crystal ball and for the moment, the ANBU sent to watch him wasn't there yet. He hid the letter and kissed the crows head, asking it to come back later that night.

But that night, Hiruzen said that Team Seven would be coming back in two days so his time under watch was done. Of course, the Hokage wished he could do more but even he was -regrettably- not all knowing. Jiraiya was already on the road again, trying to find one of Orochimaru's hideout on the chance that information could be found.

Even though the unknown scared him, Lee was happy to finally be leaving. He wanted to be back in the place he claimed as home.

Yet when he got home, the first thing he did was open up his letter.

Kitty,

I tried to find out more about the curse you carry. I don't know which one you hold but I found out that Orochimaru had created a new one just for a new recruit. I have a feeling that one are the one he prepared it for.

I will try to find out more. I will do what I can to make you safe.

Kitty, you are the one who makes me feel like there is a chance. I should not be conversing with you and I know I should not have taken that chance and told you what I did, but I could not help myself. Being by you makes me feel human again...maybe that is why I'm not censoring myself.

I will do what is needed, if this is your wish...but I hope it will not come to that.

That month we spent together and our last meeting...you are a very easy person to fall in love with.

Your Fallen one.

Lee slowly held the letter to his chest. Warmth spread throughout his body and he smiled. Itachi had said he was easy to fall in love with...did that mean he felt the same? The thought made him sigh with a smile. Then there was a clack against his window and an unfamiliar bird was there. Lee tensed slightly then slowly put his letter away, sealing it in the top drawer in his bedside table. He slowly made his way to the window and after a moment of staring, opened it.

The unfamiliar bird swooped in and deposited a letter onto his bed before flying back out. Lee frowned but he didn't sense anything wrong. So he picked up his second letter and slowly opened it as well. Immediately, he recognized the writing and a trembling smile curled his lips.

'Oh Gaara...' He thought, rereading the short message.

Lee,

I am coming.

Lee choked a laugh and sat on his bed. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling, wondering.

When did everything get so complicated?

That was actually easy to figure out. It had been coming since he met Naruto with the intention of getting the boy to depend on him. Since then, everything else just...came. How different would it have been if he had met Gaara first? Or Shikamaru?

Lee closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He slowly raised a hand and extended one finger.

"Naruto." Lee whispered, 'Get Naruto dependent. Mission accomplished. He thinks of me as his mother, surprisingly, along with him came the rest of Team Seven.'

Lee extended his second finger, "Mates."

'When the time comes, search and procreate. The time has come and I have three-...four potentials. Two have agreed, one does not know about mating, and I have warned the last about it. The next step is the bite, then...children.'

A fluttery feeling erupted inside of him and Lee giggled. Then, his smile faded and up came his third finger, "Freedom."

'I wanted to be free. Free to do as I wish. Semi-accomplished. I am still a weapon but my use is secondary. I am happy first. Yet my freedom is slipping. This curse is trying to lock me up and I...I know...'

"I will fail..." Lee whispered, his hand now trembling as he curled it into a fist. Somehow, he knew that he would fail. He just hoped that Itachi would find him before he did any damage to his precious ones.

"How...fitting."It made Lee laugh in a way that almost sounded like he was sobbing. He covered his mouth then held Gaara's letter close to his chest.

Of course.

He was Ikiryou, he did more inhumane things than most ANBU. Of course his happiness would be ripped away. It was only what he deserved.

He deserved it...

But that didn't make him any less scared.

Lee closed his eyes and pressed his hand even harder against his mouth.

'What will I tell Shikamaru?' He thought. That boy believed that they could pull through, that somehow, they would find a way, 'Or my kittens?' oh kami, his kitten's didn't even know. Kakashi didn't know! Gaara didn't either and Itachi didn't as well.

Lee's entire body shook and he curled into a ball. His emotions were rampant and it felt like something was slipping away. Suddenly, he jerked as he felt paper in his hand and he quickly read the message there. The memory returned and Lee sobbed.

He finally got it. He knew what the trigger was.

It made Lee laugh, a high pitched hysterical sound.

Of course. Of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course!

He was finally feeling, he could laugh and smile, cry and scream with emotions that weren't infuriatingly vague anymore.

How fitting that it was those emotions that made it easier to make him forget.

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