The room was quiet. Neji stared to a random spot and Lee watched his feet with amazing interest. None of them wanted to say anything. The situation was tense and the hot sunrays only made it harder to stand. Lee rolled his eyes and all of a sudden decided to ask something.

"So... you're going?" he asked Neji. The Hyuuga only nodded. "Right..."

A few more seconds of silence followed.

"I'll be back soon." Neji stated. Lee nodded like the other boy had done before. "That Sound people don't stand a chance against someone like me."

"I know! You're ama-" Lee closed his mouth and changed the sentence. "You're good."

Neji closed his eyes and folded his arms over his chest. He didn't know what to say in such an embarrassing situation. He had always hoped he would have a moment like that with Lee to tell the boy how he felt. But he was so worried with the mission he could hardly think of anything else. Neji was, for the first time, truly worried about a mission, but he wouldn't admit that to Lee. He never admitted his feelings for Lee; they would make him seem weak.

"Take care of... Tenten while I'm out, will you?" Neji knew that wasn't the sentence he wanted to say. He wanted to tell Lee to take care of himself and to be strong when the time for the surgery arrived.

"I don't see how I could help her in the conditions I encounter myself in..." Lee answered in a very polite tone. "But I'll try."

"Right..."

And once again the boys fell silent, only this time they exchanged looks. Lee could barely resist Neji's usual gazes, how was him supposed to stand such intense staring like that one? Lee scratched his forehead and decided to get up and leave.

"Ok, so I'll see you soon. Have a good mission." Lee was walking away when he felt a hand hold his good shoulder and turn him around. Neji was staring at him just like he had been an instant earlier.

Neji lifted his head a little so he would be the same height as Lee. His noses were almost touching and Lee felt his cheeks were very warm. Neji was blushing himself, so Lee didn't feel too ashamed of himself.

"Take care, Lee." Neji said and laid a soft kiss over Lee's lips and turned his back to the boy, leaving for his mission.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Oh my the shounen ai!

That's all I have to say. ^_^;