We walked aimlessly through town after that, enjoying each other's company. It became easier and easier to ignore the townspeople politely, yes, I can ignore people politely. It's a secret I'm not going to share with anyone just yet. Also, hiding in a crowd was usually one of my specialties, but with Lee I couldn't seem to slip away from anyone's attention. The man was dressed in bright green and orange, for crying out loud! Not that I didn't like Lee's form fitting outfit, it was just a bit bright. I liked Lee, but his choice in clothing was very…different. And it made him stand out. People also noticed his Konoha forehead protector that he chose to wear as a belt instead. From his garb it was already apparent that he wasn't from around here but when they saw that he was a ninja from a different village they became suspicious of his presence. I heard them mutter things like 'Is he a body guard for Kazekage-sama because someone is after his head?' or 'Is he here to inspect the village for some reason?' But the one that bugged me the most was 'He must be here visiting with the Kazekage-sama, they must be very close. I wonder what kind of relationship they have?' The last one was usually uttered by adolescent girls and was followed by high-pitched laughter or squeals. What has happened to the youth of today? I smiled to myself, realizing I had just used Lee's favorite word.
"Lee, would you mind if I bought you something else to wear? Something less… Vibrant?" I asked, turning to look at him. He frowned.
"But Gaara-san, Gai-sensei gave this to me. It's all I ever wear!" He said, resistance in his voice. I sighed, it's going to be hard convincing him to change into something else.
"Please?" I said softly, for I rarely ever used that word. And I only said it like this in desperate situations. "For me?" I said, feeling even less like myself. What was I going to do if being around him flipped my whole personality upside down?
"Well…" He said, looking down at me and biting his lip. I knew he couldn't resist me, and if there hadn't been so many people around he might have embraced me right then and there. "If that's really what you want, Gaara-san." He said, giving in to me. I knew by doing this I was tearing him away from his sensei but I didn't really care. I wanted Lee to care about me more than anything, more than anyone. Do I sound selfish? I guess that's how affection is. Such a strange and foreign emotion.
"Thank you, Lee. It means a lot to me." I said, and he blushed and placed his hand behind his head.
"It's nothing, Gaara-san. I'd do anything for you." He said quietly, so just I could hear. It was my turn to blush slightly as he smiled down at me. As he noticed I turned around to lead the way to the nearest clothing store. I walked fast, my heart beating with anticipation and adrenaline. I was going to get to dress Lee, well, pick out what he would wear. I thought of all the things I would want to see him in, the first one being nothing, which just made my blush turn a deeper shade of crimson. I spotted a medium sized shop with nice enough looking clothes and led the way in. The bell on the door jingled as we walked in, alerting the owners of the store that customers had arrived. A small old lady, who might have been hundreds of years old, if that was possible, almost immediately greeted us.
"Welcome!" She said, her voice loud and out of character. She adjusted her thick glasses to get a better look at us. "Oh, Kazekage-sama! Please, come in, come in! You may go through whatever you like!" She said, finally recognizing me. She grabbed my hand, really only being able to hold a few of my fingers, and showed me to the back of the store, where there was some really nice clothes, but they were all my size, not Lee's.
"Um, Miss?" I said and she turned around to look at me. "I'm not really here shopping for myself but for my friend here." I said, motioning to Lee, who was behind me, looking at the different clothes. Why had I addressed him as my 'friend'? What was I supposed to introduce him as?
"Oh, sorry!" She said, moving past me to get a better look at Lee. Noticing that he was too tall he kneeled down, so that he was still about a foot taller than the old woman but she could at least see him now. "Ah, a tall one, you've got here, Kazekage-sama. I wonder what I have here that will fit him…" She started, walking around Lee, as if checking him out. "Hrmmm…" She said, setting her chin on her hand. Just as it seemed she was going to announce a ground breaking idea a younger woman emerged from the door in very back of the store. She looked about 16 maybe 17, and she wore an apron full of needles and pins; which signified that she was the old woman's apprentice and made some of the clothes here. When she saw us from behind the cash register she gave a startled look and raced over to us, Lee and the old woman only now taking notice of her.
"Kazekage-sama, welcome!" She said, giving a polite bow before addressing the old woman. "Tsuna-san, shouldn't you have gotten me if you knew we were helping out the Kazekage-sama?" She said, in a loud whisper.
"Don't worry about it. Even if we were getting the Kazekage clothes I think I could handle it." She said in another loud whisper, giving the girl a confident wink. "But he's here to get clothes for this strapping young lad." She said, her voice now at its regular volume, and she tapped Lee's knee. "Stand up and show the girl your full height so she can find you something nice, eh?" The old lady chuckled as she stepped back. Lee stood and turned to the young girl, and I could've sworn I heard him sigh. But he smiled as he looked down at the girl, who might've been a few inches taller than myself. A foot, at most. She must've been tall for a woman.
"Oh wow, it's not often I meet men taller than myself." She said as she looked up to him, a dreamy look overcoming her features. I felt rage towards her, like I wanted claw her eyes out. Jealousy, maybe? No, I've never felt that emotion before. Well, not to this extent, and not over someone, no.
"Yeah, everyone say's I'm tall for my age." Lee said, trying to sound casual. He had no interest in the girl whatsoever but I didn't know that. I felt the burning fire of rage grow inside me. Was this what people called 'flirting'? Was this woman 'flirting' with my man? Was my man 'flirting' with this young hussy? Did I just call Lee 'my man'?
"Well, we'll see what we can find. What kind of clothes are you looking for? Anything in particular?" She said, still giving Lee that flirty girly smile. The old lady just chuckled again before leaving us to go through that door in the back of the store. I felt like killing some puppies, just to get some of this pent up rage out.
"No, not really." He said, looking back at me, a question in his eyes. But I didn't notice his look; I was too busy drilling holes into the back of the girl's head with my glares. He just gave me a knowing smile, shrugged, and faced the young woman again, who was grabbing some clothes off a rack. It was a pair of long tan cargo-like pants. She held them up to him, and as the back of her hand touched his hip I almost couldn't stop myself from ripping out her jugular vein.
"These should fit. But, pardon my asking, why would you want to change out of what you're wearing right now? I think green looks nice on you." She said, and again, if Lee hadn't been there I might have killed her ass right then and there. Lee turned to me again, and watched me glare at the young girl for a moment.
"The Kazekage over there requested that I change my clothes." He said, walking over to me as I looked away from the girl to look at him. "And if you wouldn't mind," He said, now standing right next to me, "Would you please stop flirting with me? I think the Kazekage's getting a bit jealous." He said, putting his arm around me and drawing me close. Not caring that he was giving away our relationship I put my arms around him and shot her a smug satisfied smile that said 'he's mine, bitch.'
"Oh, I'm sorry Kazekage-sama, I didn't realize he was your lover. Please forgive me." She said, bowing again. I let go of Lee and faced her. She had called him my 'lover' but I didn't care. I'd make him my lover soon enough.
"It's alright, please just help us find something else for him to wear." I said, somehow feeling ten times better than I had before. Like I had somehow beaten this woman in a kind of epic battle.
"Of course, Kazekage-sama! Anything in particular?" She asked, and I felt as if I had regained my power over the earth.
"Maybe something black?" I asked, more to Lee than to the woman.
"If that's what you want, Gaara-san." He said, smiling at my smile. But I knew that what he really wanted to wear was green. So I decided.
"How about black pants and a dark green top?" I said, now to the woman, who nodded meekly. She went to fetch a pair of long black slacks and large dark green tank top. I looked the clothes over and nodded. "Perfect, go put them on, Lee." I said, taking the clothes from the woman and handing them to Lee, who just nodded and smiled. He headed over to the changing room on the bottom right side of the store.
"You're lucky." The still nameless woman said to me.
"I know I am." I said as I smiled in Lee's direction. Feeling like this, feeling so different, it was actually kind of…nice. And as Lee emerged, his headband, jumpsuit, and legwarmers over his arm I heard myself let out a dreamy sigh. I almost wanted to slap myself for acting so girly but I couldn't bring myself to. He looked so nice, I felt like I needed him right then and there. Of course, that's how he made me feel a lot of the time, recently.
"That looks nice on you, would you like a bag for your other outfit?" She asked, moving to the cash register to grab a nice looking canvas shopping bag. Lee just nodded and took the bag from her, shoving his beloved jumpsuit and other belongings into it. He then turned to me and gave me a sly smile.
"So, Gaara, do you like this?" He said, motioning to himself. The use of my name, no suffixes, and his charming good looks had me tongue-tied. I gave a small nod as he came towards me. As he came up next to me he swiftly leaned down and kissed me. Taken back but full of passion I threw my arms around his neck and tried to deepen the kiss. But he quickly pulled away and smiled at my frown. "Not now." He whispered to me. I awoke from my daze of lust towards him and shook my head slightly.
"Uh, what do we owe you?" I asked the woman, turning to look at her. She just shook her head.
"It's nothing, I'm just glad to serve you, Kazekage-sama." She said, smiling as I gave her a bewildered look. Generosity was something I was getting used to, but this was honest. Not forced like with other people in this village. I quickly understood and smiled. I gave her a small wave as I led Lee out the door. Lee bowed to show his thanks and followed me out the door. The reason she'd been so kind was probably because she was one of those girls. The ones who love seeing men with other men. As I said earlier, what has happened to the youth of today? As I thought this I also thought of what I might get to do with Lee later on. I shivered a little with anticipation as I blindly led Lee down the now bustling streets of Sunagakure. I guess hormones affect people in strange ways…
Just as I was thinking everything was going right and that I felt so happy I might just skip back to my bedroom with Lee following close behind the strangest thing happened. I felt as if someone was lifting me up and taking me away. But then I realized it was more than a feeling, it was an action. And it was actually happening, I was being taken away.