Author's notes: Oookkk… from four reviews, I suddenly get twelve the next day. Woo! Thanks for supporting me, y'all. Sorry for the typos, writing the fics at 12 am. Tirreeed. o

Hyphenated

Rock Lee wished he never heard about the rumors. He did wish that Neji, Kiba and Shika would stop sticking their asses at that topic. And wished even more that Naruto and Sasuke would stop acting as though they ARE lovers.

Lee got so bothered by the 'word' that he wasn't able to concentrate on his trainings. Sometimes, even Sir Gai thinks he's being weird. If before he thinks of his techniques before he executes them, now, he ends up doing the technique wrong.

"Focus, Lee. Focus!" Sir Gai almost said that for like a million times already but Lee won't pay attention. All he does was sweat a lot, shiver, scratch his head hysterically and run away.

Neji could only smirk at poor Lee. As much as he wanted to help Lee out with the magic word's meaning, he refused too. He loves challenges though this time, he's the one to challenge Lee whether he is to find out what the word means or not.

To Naruto's confusion, he kept on wondering why Lee was so tense everytime he comes around. Or even when anybody comes up to him. He runs away like some madman.

"Lee!" Naruto said, trying to be gentle in his words.

"Nooo!" The usual runaway scenario came in.

"Wait!" Naruto didn't want to waste his time following someone who didn't even want to talk to him so he just watched as Lee disappeared in the trees' shadows.

"What a loser…" A familiar voice came.

"Huh-Hey! It's you!" Naruto though surprised, still tended to flaunt some of his hyperactivity. Naruto gave Gaara a pat in the shoulder as if they were friends. Gaara simply eyed Naruto's hand and automatically, Naruto pulled his off the sand wielder's shoulder.

"Yeah, me."

"Do you know what the hell is up with Lee, he's so not… normal nowadays."

"He thinks likewise of you and Sasuke."

"And that means?" A scratch in the head was Naruto's way of responding.

"That he thinks YOU guys are the ones who are being so abnormal."

"Why… and what makes him think that way?"

"I don't want to explain further." Gaara started walking.

"What wait…!"

'Sometimes I couldn't help but wonder why dumbasses like these exist in this world…' Gaara left Naruto panting.

Naruto's attempt of following Gaara was left in vain. Well, he knows he'll find the answers soon. But for now, he has to proceed to the Ramen house at once or Sasuke will hate him forever. Of course, he didn't want that so he already went his way to the place of his most awaited rendezvous.

Naruto tried to run fast. Tried to come on time, but eventually, failed.

"You're late for like 5 minutes and 33 seconds." Sasuke tapped his fingers irritably on the table.

"Well… I'm… I'm…"

"You're what? You're always late. What the hell is up with you?" Sasuke's eyes reflected anger but his tone echoed pain. He was hurt because he didn't know why Naruto occasionally comes late. What was his reason? Sasuke didn't bother answering his own question and looked away from Naruto. On the other hand, Naruto was so worried that he might not get Sasuke to forgive him again… AGAIN.

"Sorry…"

"What the hell is up, Naruto? Why are you—"

An interruption came once again. "Yessss! What the hell is up, Naruto, Sasuke? Why are you guys so… so not normal these days?" It was Neji, with him was Shika and Kiba.

….In the forests…..

Rock Lee wandered around like a caveman. He didn't know what to think anymore. Why was he so affected by things that aren't even important to him. Why did he have to know something that isn't of his concern? But wait, it is his concern after all, because Naruto and Sasuke were somehow, his friends. The thought of all these made Lee hungry. And yes, the first thing he spotted was the Ramen house.

'I'm sure… that everyone's on their training right now and they are not in the ramen house… They are not in the Ramen house…' Lee whispered to himself, repeating the phrase 'they are not in the Ramen house' again and again as he neared the site.

"They are not in the-" Lee unsuccessfully finished his statement when he saw Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Shika and Kiba. He got so afraid of seing these people that he hid under the craters from outside the eatery.

"I need answers, Sasuke… Naruto!" Neji went on.

"What? Huh?" Naruto was puzzled by Neji's words.

"You guys are being weird."

"What makes us weird?" Sasuke firmly said with an annoyed pitch.

"You, him.. so nice to each other is definitely something weird." Neji pointed out.

"It's… a… well… a part of our training!" Sasuke tried to mislead the other boys.

"Sasuke…" This time it was Naruto's turn to get hurt. He didn't realize the reason behind the constant denial of their relationship.

'Shut up and say yes already.' Sasuke muttered almost mutely to Naruto.

"Sasuke's right… Yahh—Oi! Ouch!" Sasuke stepped on Naruto's foot.

"Yaoi, that's the word!" Neji clasped both hands, looking serious. Shika and Kiba raised an eyebrow then smiled in approval.

"He didn't…" Sasuke was even more pissed off that he walked out the Ramen house instantly. Naruto followed along.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" It was a record-breaker shout by Lee. He did hear the magic word again and ran away.

"Sometimes I really do wonder why dumbasses like these exist in this world." The only thing that Gaara could say as he watched Lee ran away like a lunatic.

Tbc!