A/N: *bows down with hands clasped together* Sorry!!! I know that I've not been updating...but haha, I have a lot of stuff going on. First, my lazy symptoms have taken over me...and second, my birthday was just today...and third, I am really and very tired!! And lastly, my internet has been down *pout* no fair...I have dial-up...AOL sucks!! *smile* And right now, I'm basically typing this author's note, and also the chapter as well. I really do hope that you all will like it. This story has gone a LONG way....a LONG way, and yes I can say that again. *sigh* Please read and review!!! Happy Reading!! XD* ((I turned 14))

Disclaimer: ...leave me alone...

~The First 24 Hours Part II~

Ten-Ten was just finishing up her orange juice and Gaara got out of his seat and headed to his room...as usual. The black-haired girl let out a sigh and resumed sipping her drink right when Rock Lee entered into the house. She could tell that today was not exactly his day to shine...his black hair drooped down, and lost its usual shine...his eyes seem hurt.

"Lee?" the girl motioned him to sit in front of him, "what's wrong? Ino didn't dump you, did she?" she teased, but when Rock Lee gave her a sad look, Ten-Ten knew not to take the tease any further.

"Ouch," she whispered. The two sat across and were gazing into each other's eyes, "drink?" Ten-Ten decided to cheer him up by handing him her glass.

"No thanks, I'm not really in the mood for anything right now," Rock Lee put up his elbow on the table and cupped his left cheek.

Ten-Ten pouted and then gave him a glare (a usual one that she does ^_^) "You are such a sick puppy, Lee..." she retorted back at him. The words nearly let his elbows slip beneath him.

"Huh? I'm not like that," he immediately made up a pretext to hide his inner feelings.

"Uh huh, yeah...whatever, it's so obvious Lee!!" Ten-Ten rolled her eyes and then picked up her crazy straw ( I like those straws!! hehe) and pointed it at Rock Lee as if she was a teacher pointing out some instructions for a schoolboy, "ever since you and Ino got together...you've done nothing but wait on her call," Rock Lee stared at the crazy straw and not at her words.

"I mean, seriously Lee...get a life, all you do is just go when she tells you to, when she says come over...you go over...and when she goes out, you do..." the black-haired girl brought out the information to him, but he was still gazing at the straw.

"ARE YOU AT ALL LISTENING, LEE????" Ten-Ten hit him with the crazy straw, which obviously broke his gaze.

"What did you do that for?" he gave her a frown.

"Ooh, did little puppy boy get hurt from the straw that I hit??" Ten-Ten teased him, while Rock Lee was steaming up with anger.

"My relationship with Ino is none of your concern, Ten-Ten...and since when did you care?" he clasped his hand together and held it in a fist.

"I'm just looking out for you, Lee...and besides, what makes of your relationship with Ino? Since you broke up with her...heh heh, she's probably sitting alone and then Shikamaru approaches her and comforts her," Ten-Ten tried to imagine her words, "it wouldn't at all be a coincidence, you know that Shikamaru has got the hots for Ino ever since they laid eyes on each other when he moved in," her black eyes shined with satisfaction.

A/N: Sorry!! I didn't mean for Ten-Ten to be a bitch and all...I like her.

Rock Lee looked up at her and Ten-Ten smiled, "Come on, get over her Lee...she dumped you, so what? There are many girls out there who would love to go out with you," she encouraged him.

"Really?" his voice trembled like a heartbroken boy who was on the rebound. (He is)

"Really!! Lee...look at yourself, do you at all realize that you are single now? You can do whatever you want without Ino or any girl nagging you and telling you what to do or not to do, live it up Lee...you're only young once," her words made Rock Lee manage to creep up a smile on his face.

"There you go," she then put her straw back into her glass.

"But....but I don't want to be single. I want to settle down with a wife and three beautiful kids. I want a family to take care of and to protect...and to love," his eyes were streaming with hope.

"Then look for the girl, you want," Ten-Ten held out her hand as if guiding him.

"Ten-Ten, how am I supposed to find her? She could be anywhere...see? That's the thing, what if I'll never find her...my special someone," Rock Lee drooped down his head as if disappointed from a loss.

"Geez Lee, just relax. You have your whole life to find her...well...not counting your senior years...but anyway, if you have the patience and smarts, you will find her...just don't expect the first girl that comes around to be your 'special someone'," Ten-Ten lectured, "finding someone to spend the rest of your life with, not just takes smarts...but also your patience and as well as time,"

After a few minutes of more lecturing coming from Ten-Ten, Rock Lee tried to hold his head up to keep himself from falling asleep. When she finally finished, Rock Lee smiled, "Thanks Ten-Ten...I really do appreciate it,"

"Anything for a friend like you, Lee...anything," she beamed at him as she went over to the sink to wash her glass.

"Ten-Ten......where's Gaara? I thought that you two had something,"

"Well, like I said, don't expect the first person that comes around to automatically be your soul mate..." Ten-Ten turned off the faucet and then dried her hands with a cloth.

"You're a great girl, Ten-Ten, I just want you to know that..." Rock Lee went over to Ten-Ten and the two embraced. When they pulled away...their eyes were locked together...their arms were still attached to the other. Before Ten-Ten could pull away, Rock Lee leaned in and gave her a kiss.

Ten-Ten immediately pulled out of the kiss, leaving Rock Lee hurt, "I'm sorry...you don't feel the same way," He then walked away, but Ten-Ten didn't let go of his hand.

When the guy turned around, Ten-Ten quickly pulled in and gave him a long kiss to remember for the rest of his life. When they were finished, Ten-Ten blushed slightly, "I've always wanted to do that in years, Lee," Rock Lee flushed red and then held her hand and kissed it.

~*~

Sasuke sat on the stairs and knew that Rock Lee and Ten-Ten were busy in the dining room. He let out a soft sigh and tried to recollect his thoughts. First, he remembered that he and Sakura had a long and understanding talk at the beach...and now, he is sitting in solitude on the stairs with no one to share with.

His black onyx eyes glistened in the light as the image of Sakura and Neji enjoying their company together replayed over again like a broken record in his mind. "Why did Sakura stop liking me?" he thought, "what was it that made her stop? And what does she see in that Hyuga boy..." thoughts swarmed in his head...full of unanswered questions that need to be answered.

His contemplating was interrupted by Temari who conveniently happened to be heading downstairs to get a drink. "Hi," she greeted him with a smile.

"Hi," he answered back with Temari blinking a few times as if trying to see if Sasuke actually answered back.

"Wow, finally! You actually talk back...what motivated you to do that?" she sat down beside him.

"Nothing,"

"Come on, tell me...it's that pink girl, huh?"

"Her name happens to be Sakura,"

"Ooh, a little possessive here, huh?" Temari teased.

Sasuke shot her a death glare and she backed down, "Sorry," The two sat in silence, letting time pass by...

~*~

Ino huddled together with herself on her small bed. Her long mane fell to the mattress while her face was pale, with her lips of a crimson color. "I broke up with Lee," she whispered. The illustration of Ino and Rock Lee out by the waters...haunted her very own mind. She winced at the thought that she had hurt him.

"I'm such a bad girlfriend, and a bad friend..." her voice quivered as she tried hard to hold back her tears, "crying never solves anything, Ino..." she said to herself. She wiped away her tears and when she looked up, Shikamaru was by the door with his arms crossed across his chest.

Ino wiped the remaining tears away from her face, "What are you doing here? If you're looking for Sakura, she's across from the hallway," Much to her surprise, Shikamaru looked away.

"Bah, I didn't come here to find Sakura....I...well...I just wanted to check up on you," his charming black eyes looked past Ino's, "is it true that you and Lee are over?"

Ino slowly nodded, "Oh, I see...well as usual, breakups can be hard to cope with..." Shikamaru looked at Ino, and there was a surprised look written all over her face.

"What do you know about relationships? You've never been in one," before he started to turn on his heel, Ino stopped him with those words.

"Since when did you pay attention to my relationships, Ino?" Shikamaru whirled around with one ear out anxiously to hear her answer.

"I...uh...I...well...we were on the same team! And I guess that we turned out to be friends...and well you know...friends keep track of each other's relationships I guess..." Ino slightly flushed.

"Uh huh," Shikamaru smiled as he walked away. As he headed downstairs, he dared himself to take another last look at Ino's bedroom before making his way down the stairs.

A/N: *smile* Aren't you all happy that I updated!! Hehe...anyway, I would like to thank everyone for saying happy birthday to me!! I feel so special being fourteen!! He he!! ^_^ I love you all!!

~Eva~