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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: Cherry Lotus

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Lee searched through the crowds, trying to find Shikamaru among the civilians and other shinobi while also not letting Kimimaro be seen. He looked back at the man and held back a sigh. Kimimaro's clothing wasn't exactly...local. Still, he wasn't wearing an Oto headband. Small mercy really. The purple rope around his waist said it instead, to anyone who knew at least.

Lee sighed.

"My Lady?" Kimimaro said and Lee felt his cheeks warm.

Was that going to be his title now? Did Orochimaru say it to make Kimimaro keep a closer eye or...?

No, he wasn't going to think about that, didn't want to right then anyway.

"Sorry Kimimaro-kun, I am just trying to find Shikamaru-kun." Lee said, sending the man a smile. Then he nibbled at his lip. He glanced back once more and asked, "Did...did he tell you how you were going to stay by me?"

"My Lord told me to follow you no matter what."

Lee held back a sound. So that was a no. No matter what, didn't sound good either. And if he remembered correctly, Kimimaro had been extremely...adamant in following Orochimaru's orders.

But he'd also been kind so maybe...?

Lee got another idea where Shikamaru could be and walked back into the alley. He lightly tapped Kimimaro's hand and jumped up to the roof before running. He felt more than heard Kimimaro follow as he made his way to the tree. Ten minutes later he saw the large tree upon the hill and dropped from the roof to continue on. Then he paused. His heart warmed as he'd been right. He saw Shikamaru half hidden by the roots of the tree.

"Kimimaro-kun? Will you please stay here as I speak with Shikamaru-kun?"

"I must follow you." Kimimaro answered and Lee shifted a little nervously.

"Well...Shikamaru-kun is...close to me. He is- um." Lee felt his cheeks begin to warm but made himself to continue, "I wish to kiss him, so...please stay?"

Kimimaro was silent but Lee couldn't bring himself to look at the man. Then Kimimaro spoke, "I can look away for five minutes." he sounded a little...shy?

Lee looked back but Kimimaro had already turned his back. Lee smiled, happy for more than just one reason. He called a quick 'Thank you!' before running towards Shikamaru.

"Shika!" Lee said, unable to not sound happy and excited the moment he got near enough.

Shikamaru automatically opened his eyes, already starting to sit up the moment he heard Lee. Then he found himself with a lap full of Lee. It was definitely one of the best situations to end up in. He put his hands on Lee's hips, his thumbs gently rubbing Lee's waist.

"Hey, what-" Shikamaru began, a smile already pulling the corners of his lips up but then Lee cupped his face and there were soft lips pressing against his own. Shikamaru immediately thre away what he was going to say and kissed Lee back, bringing a hand up to hold the back of Lee's head.

When Lee ended the kiss, Shikamaru followed but paused as Lee said a breathless, "W-wait."

Lee swallowed, heart beating too quickly, as it always did when kissing Shikamaru. "I am- I am sorry for assaulting you. I did really wish to kiss you but there is something else as well and I only have five minutes."

"Assault me any time you want." Shikamaru said, "Now, what do you mean, only five minutes?"

"There is someone following me. No, I know who it is, it is...alright." Lee quickly said, feeling Shikamaru tense. He gently scrapped his nails over Shikamaru's scalp, knowing that Shikamaru enjoyed that the most. He felt Shikamaru shiver before the boy slumped against him. Then he felt Shikamaru's grip on his hips tighten until he was being held.

"Tell me?" Shikamaru said when Lee stopped distracting him -Lee could do that so easily, it would be concerning if he actually cared-.

"I...I made a deal with Orochimaru." Lee said and felt Shikamaru tense again but Shikamaru did not say anything and he was grateful for it, "He appeared a few days ago for a conversation and offered to...dispose of someone for me on a condition. Please do not be angry with me! I swear, I would normally never give in to such things but that man was-" Lee's throat felt like it was too tight for his words to come out and he bit his tongue.

"Hey, if you think that they deserve to die then they must be an absolutely disgusting person." Shikamaru said and he believed that. Lee looked at him with wide eyes and Shikamaru held him closer, "What did you agree to?"

Lee jolted slightly and his cheeks warmed. Now he was the one resting his head, placing it on Shikamaru's shoulder and hiding his face. It wasn't the time to feel so flustered and in awe.

"To have his most follow me no matter what, to meet up with him when he wants for a full year but within reason." Lee said, "But...if I lose Kimimaro then he will come and take me." Lee began to tense, angry again, "That- That man set me up!" he said in a harsh whisper, "Kimimaro is on death's doorstep and the only person that could have a chance at healing him now is Tsunade-sama!"

"Then we find her." Shikamaru said, keeping with the whisper and keeping himself calm though he wanted to punch something -preferably that snake-.

Lee smiled against Shikamaru's neck but it was a small, trembling thing, "Yes, but the one to find her and bring her back had been Naruto and Jiraiya. Only Jiraiya could find out where she was, and even then, the Hokage had been...gone. She was meant to replace him. He changed things, he didn't kill the Hokage this time."

Lee held his breath, scared for what Shikamaru might say but Shikamaru didn't condemn him. No, he didn't...would he ever?

"Then we find a different reason. We will find her ourselves if we need to."

"I do not know where she had been though and that is not all that will happen. Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame will come to take Naruto. That is why Naruto must go with Jiraiya. They came here and hurt Kakashi, putting him into a coma. They will do the same with Sasuke too. Naruto got Tsunade-sama to come back and fix them." Lee said, "I need to tell Kakashi so he will stay away and I-...I think I will tell Jiraiya my truth. I am scared but maybe it will make him help?"

He wasn't just scared, he was terrified. He didn't know what was going to happen if he told but...on the spare chance that it could help. Lee swallowed hard, heart pounding. Then he felt Shikamaru hold him completely, one arm around his waist and the other over his back. It felt so nice.

"If anything bad happens, you know we would all help you. We'd save you. I'd save you no matter what." Shikamaru said and how could Lee not kiss him after that.

It was a desperate kiss but filled with want. How could Shikamaru be like that, so- so perfect? Lee kissed him hard, wishing that he could put into words just how much Shikamaru meant to him -just how much he needed him-.

Shikamaru tilted Lee's head and turned the kiss soft, making Lee drown in it.

When they pulled away, Lee still felt like he could hardly breathe but it was good. His cheeks were flushed and his lips tingled so pleasantly. He wanted to kiss again but he heard Kimimaro.

"My Lady." Kimimaro said to announce his presence and the end of the given time.

Lee looked back at the man, half disappointing but half grateful. He smiled anyway and said, "Thank you Kimimaro-kun." after all, Kimimaro went against his orders just a tiny bit to allow him intimate time with Shikamaru.

"My Lady?" Shikamaru suddenly said, voice filled with different things and Lee blushed for a different reason.

"That is-..." Lee dithered, not really wanting to say it but it was Shikamaru, "That is what he told Kimimaro-kun to treat me like."

Shikamaru kept his face free from any sign of anger or disgust, "And what does he call that guy."

"...His lord."

Shikamaru scowled, standing up with Lee still in his arms, "We need to find Tsunade now. You're not being taken."

Lee squeaked, holding onto Shikamaru quickly. He didn't know if he should laugh or not. He wanted to but knew that he shouldn't. It was an actual concern. But he also knew what Shikamaru was thinking and it was the same thing that Lee had known but had been trying to ignore.

He rested his head on Shikamaru's shoulder, "...Let us find Kakashi first. I wish to prepare him for what is to come."

"Good idea, we can bring him with us to meet Jiraiya too."

"...Over protective."

"Right amount of protective."

Lee giggled.

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They found Kakashi alone and Lee walked up to him. He wanted to ask for time alone again but didn't know if it would work a second time so he wrapped his arms around Kakashi's shoulders and pressed his lips to Kakashi's ear. Strong arms wrapped around him and Lee wrapped his legs around Kakashi's waist to keep him steady. He wasted no time in spilling what was going to happen, the same that he told Shikamaru.

Kakashi tightened his grip but his question was different from Shikamaru's.

"Who did you sell yourself for?" Kakashi asked, voice low even in the whisper. Lee tensed and bit his lip.

"...Shimura Danzo." Lee confessed

"Why was he worth you."

Lee trembled, shamefully glad that Kakashi cared more that he 'sold' himself for the death than the actual death.

"Because he is the reason for so many things. His Root was the cause for the Haruno parents deaths. He is the reason the Uchiha clan was killed in the end. He is the reason-" Lee bit hiss lip, rage filling him. He couldn't say more, not while so angry. All those children, taken and broken into soulless soldiers. It was disgusting.

"It was worth it." Lee hissed, tightening his own grip on Kakashi's back.

Kakashi immediately wanted to deny that. Nothing was worth Lee's life, his servitude to anyone. But what was done was done.

"And you're going to tell Jiraiya now?"

"Yes. I just wanted to warn you about what was to happen so you will not be hurt." Lee said and he began to pull away but Kakashi's chuckle made him pause and look at the man.

"It's cute that you think I'm not going to follow you." Kakashi said and Lee blinked before he felt cloth covered lips against his own. It was a simple kiss because of the mask but it still made him blush.

He could count on his hands, the amount of time's Kakashi and him kissed but it was something else to be kissed in front of others.

And what Kakashi had said...to civilians, that would be creepy, even to Genin it would be. But Lee understood and it was sweet. It made butterflies swarm in his stomach despite what was happening.

"O-Okay." Lee stuttered lightly, "Follow then. I leave my back to you." Lee colored more then quickly got back to the ground.

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Even after just a few hours of watching his Lady, Kimimaro learned many things.

One, his Lady was sly -it was interesting to see how others catered to her. She caught them so easily-

Two, his Lady was fearless -she embraced affection no matter that it was a weakness-

Three, his Lady had at least two men who were intimate with her -he didn't know if he should get rid of them or not-

Four, his Lady was...kind -she asked him if he was okay, if he was hungry, if he needed to stop and rest. She looked so earnest when asking that he didn't feel like it was a slight on his strength. When had anyone ever done that...?-

Five, when his Lady smiled at him, it made him feel strange

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They found Jiraiya near the outdoors hot springs, partially hidden by bushes. Lee paused and looked at Kimimaro, feeling worried.

"Kimimaro-kun?"

"My Lady." Kimimaro answered and Lee held back a sigh. He was already getting used to the 'title' but he wished Kimimaro would just say his name.

"I must ask you to stay here while I speak with Jiraiya-sama." Lee said.

"I must follow you no matter what." Kimimaro said as an answer.

"I know, that is your mission but..." Lee bit his inner lip and subconsciously reached out, taking Kimimaro's hand, "That is Jiraiya-sama, he is a Sannin like your lord. What if he saw you and immediately knew that you were from Oto? I do not wish for you to be hurt, Kimimaro-kun. We just fought with Oto."

Kimimaro was still and stared at the small hand holding his own. It was...warm, and strange. How could hands be that small? They looked fragile too, like he could just squeeze and crush the small bones under her skin.

He didn't know why his Lord wanted this girl, the only thing he knew was that she was important. Now being with her, he 'knew' her to be fragile. She was fragile but smart. She had the Copy-nin Kakashi around her finger and even a Nara Heir. But they could not always be with her and they were not from Oto, so that must be why he was there. His Lord tasked him with guarding and protecting Haruno Lee, his Lady.

His Lord said that she was to be treated like his Lady so that meant that she was to rule with his Lord.

And she wished for him not to be hurt. She was already looking after her subjects.

"I will keep within your line of sight, I promise." Lee said, unknowing of Kimimaro's thoughts, "Just, please, stay here? It will be much safer for you."

"...As you wish, My Lady." Kimimaro said, "I will come as soon as you call or vanish from my sight."

"Thank you." Lee said, smiling widely. He squeezed Kimimaro's hand on reflex before realizing that he was holding Kimimaro's hand. Color tinted Lee's cheeks but he made himself slowly let go instead of just dropping the hand like his first urge wanted. He smiled again, embarrassed, before turning to Kakashi and Shikamaru.

"We'll stay right here." Shikamaru said,

"Just shout, or break something if you want us." Kakashi said, leaning against a tree in false relaxation.

Lee chuckled lightly, "Yes, alright. I will...I will be back soon." 'hopefully' he didn't add but he was truly scared to tell the Toad Sannin the truth.

So much could go wrong...

Lee steeled himself anyway and turned, making his way to the older man.

He stood straight and still when Jiraiya gave him his attention. The easy smile that had begun to form on Jiraiya's mouth faded as he took in Lee's stance. He stood straight as well, already knowing that whatever she was going to say, it wasn't going to be easy.

"Good afternoon, Jiraiya-sama." Lee began, polite.

"Afternoon." Jiraiya greeted back, "Is this a conversation I'm going to like or hate?"

"I honestly do not know. But I hope that it will not end with me being taken away." Lee said and Jiraiya's gaze sharpened. Lee smiled without feeling it, still keeping polite. He took a breath then started with a 'simple' question.

"What do you know about time travel?"

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