Section 25: Lee! I'm Proud!

Lee still stared over at Tenten with confusion to why she had the change of heart. He remembered all the things she had said before the exam, about how he'd never be as powerful as Neji. He scratched his head due to the memories, and glanced over to the still blushing Tenten.

"What's going on?" Lee's confusion began to bother him, so he got up from the crouch he was in and headed out of the room.

"Wait..." Lee halted and turned back to Tenten, who was holding out her hand nervously, "...are you mad at me?"

He smiled reassuringly, "Of course not, you just were saying how you feel about me, that's ok."

Tenten burst forward towards Lee, "No! No... I was wrong... I don't feel that way anymore. I... want you to understand that!"

Lee brushed her off, slightly annoyed, "Thank you, but if you're trying to mess around with me, you've done it already."

Tenten curled up sadly, "No... I mean it all." Lee looked at her questionably, and noticed her behavior was as if she was telling the truth. His eyes filled with guilt, and he walked over to her.

"...Thank you very much, Tenten. That means a lot to me, you know." He lifted his arm up, giving the nerdy thumbs up once again, followed by the shimmering smile.

Tenten smiled and looked away from him nervously, "Lee...?" He looked up surprised, and lowered his arm. "...do you remember when I told you that you'd find a girl that overlooks your appearance?"

"...yea? Where are you going with this?"

"Well, would you be mad if I said I could be that girl... because I'm not Sakura or anything."

Lee didn't really know how to answer, so he just stood silent. "What... should I say? Girls... don't ever like me. I don't know how to deal with this... Sakura-chan... doesn't like me anyways... and I always wished I had Tenten's attention..." He took a deep breath, trying to accept how things were between him and everyone he was close to.

Tenten turned away, ashamed and embarrassed, "I...I'm sorry Lee... I'll go."

"...No, its ok... I know how it feels, to like someone who doesn't notice you because of another person." He reached out and grabbed Tenten, pulling her close to him, "I promise I won't do that to you, though." She looked up, surprised that he was treating her so well, after the past that they had. She curled up in embarrassment. "...I'd like that by the way."

She looked up at him surprised and confused, "...like what...?"

Lee looked down on her, and smiled brightly with his eyes arched upwards, "...If you were that girl, that I would find."

Tenten's eyes widened and she buried her head in his chest to hide her expression from him. "I didn't think he'd like me back..." She closed her eyes, "I'm sorry that I can't be Sakura for you... but I'll try my best to be like her."

Lee took his hand and held her head to his chest, "I don't want you to be like her, just stay the way you are... that's the girl I like now."

Suddenly, the ceiling began to creek unsettlingly. Both Lee and Tenten heard and looked up to where the creek came from, curious to what it was.

With a loud crash, a dark figure plummeted through the ceiling, landing onto a small table in the room. Lee and Tenten lashed back in horror and surprise, until the smoke and dust cleared out of the way.

"Gai-sensei! What're you doing!?" Lee shouted, pointing at his disheveled teacher.

Gai stood up straight with a goofy smile on him, "I heard everything, Lee! And I'm proud of my pupil for not only being a great ninja, but also having the ability to gain the attention of the ladies!" Gai flung his thumb up with a big grin on his face.

Lee smiled brightly, while Tenten looked away blushing in embarrassment. "Thanks Gai-sensei! I hope me and Tenten..." Lee glances over to her, "...could have something!"

Tenten looked back over to Lee, and nodded to him, "Yea...!"

Gai began bawling like a baby all of a sudden, "Two of my best student found love that blossomed like a lotus during a perfect spring!" He dove forward, and hugged both of them tightly.

Lee and Tenten both had frightened faces, as their teacher cried onto their shoulders. Tenten reached with her free arm and pat Gai on the shoulder for comfort.

Lee forced out his words despite the tight grip of Gai's arms, "Hehe, it's ok Gai-sensei... but could you loosen the grip a little, so we can... live!"

Gai pulled back smiling with the tears in his eyes, "So, what's going to happen between you two you think...? Get married?! Have kids?!"

Sweat drops roll down the back of both Lee's and Tenten's heads, and Lee mutters, "...We're only thirteen Gai-sensei..."

Gai lashes back, standing up, and starts to rub his head, "Ohhh!? I'm sure you two will be great anyway!" He flings his arm forward, except making his movements more elaborate than necessary. "I'm so proud, Lee!"

Lee bounced up and flung forward, and yelled in a spastic tone, "Thank you so much, Gai-sensei!"

Tenten was off to the side of Gai's and Lee's goofy testosterone overflow, sighing unenthusiastically but with a grin, "... They're both so goofy... and Lee's pretty much insane." She looked over blushing towards Lee while he and Gai yelled at each other happily, "...but I guess that's what I love about him."