Chapter 13- The Daily Practice
"Ino! You're finally here! And you're right on time for the practice!"
"Heheh… Sorry to have worried you, Sakura!"
"Nah, it's okay. What matters is you're present for the practice, Miss Princess of the play!
OH, LOOK! And Shikamaru's here too! How've you been feeling lately, Shikamaru?"
"Who me? Uh, a lot better now, I suppose. Though I still feel kinda dizzy… My head seems as if it's spinning around in circles…"
"Lucky you! You don't have to memorize any lines! Come to think of it, Tsunade-sama hasn't even given you a part for the play yet!"
"Well, that's good. At least I could rest while I watch Ino practice! Oh, and Sakura…"
"…yes?"
"You're wrong about the part where I don't have a part in the play… In fact, I play as the most important character for Ino!"
"And what part might that be?"
"…I'm her number one supporter!"
Ino suddenly blushed and smiled, "Shikamaru…"
"I'll support you all the way, Ino! And I brought some mouth wash, in case of emergency…"
"Oh, Shikamaru! That's so sweet of you. Thanks!"
Suddenly, out of the blue, Lee entered the scene…
"Good morning, princess!" he said, doing the nice guy pose, "Did'ya sleep well?"
"Lee, please stop smiling…" Ino replied, covering her left eye, "You're teeth are so shiny, they're blinding me because of the sun's reflection!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Shikamaru! You're here, too?"
"Oh. Hello, prince." Shikamaru said, with a frown.
Lee immediately noticed there was something wrong with Shikamaru. The frowning, the support for Ino… He knew there was something going on! He quickly put his arm on Shikamaru's shoulder and asked, "May we talk for a while, Shikamaru?"
"What do you want to talk about, huh?" Shikamaru asked, still frowning at Lee, "That weird haircut of yours or your latest toothpaste commercial?"
"N-nothing like that!" Lee replied, "I just wanna have a word with you!"
"Oh."
Then, Lee pulls Shikamaru away… "I'LL SEE YOU GUYS LATER!"
He takes off, with Shikamaru, giving out another killer smile… 'KA-CHING!'
INO: MAKE HIM STOP! MY EYES ARE BURNING!
SHINO: You know, you should wear sunglasses, like I do. 00
Meanwhile, where Lee and Shikamaru are standing (wherever that is…)
"I couldn't help but notice that you're jealous of me, Shikamaru!"
"JEALOUS! Now, why would I be jealous of you! Number one, I hate thick eyebrows! Number two, I hate bodysuits made entirely out of spandex! Number three, you're haircut is freaking me out! Number four, your teeth are too shiny! And number five, your eyes are far too big and far too round! They look like two fried eggs on a plate! No, wait… THEY LOOK LIKE SAUCERS! IT'S DRIVNG ME INSANE!"
"Shikamaru! Listen to me!" Lee yelled, then slapped Shikamaru's cheek.
"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR!" Shikamaru yelled.
"YOU WOULDN'T SHUT UP! I JUST HAD TO DO IT!" Lee yelled back.
"BUT THAT HURT LIKE HELL!"
"I JUST HAD TO DO IT!"
Finally, Shikamaru kept quiet. He crossed his arms and leaned on a tree. "So… What do you want to talk about?"
Lee took a deep breath and said, "I can see the anger in your eyes! Knowing Ino will be playing the role of the princess in the play, you obviously want to be her prince, am I right?"
"Huh? Now where'd you hear that garbage?"
"It's not garbage, Shikamaru. It's LOVE!" Lee said with huge, sparkly eyes. Then, the background suddenly changes… It turns pink with sparkly white dots and roses blooming.
Lee dances around the scene, with tiny little birdies flying about… "There's nothing to be ashamed of, Shikamaru!" Lee continued, "It happens to everyone! Anyone can fall in love!
I know you're in love with Ino! You can tell me anything you like! I'd be ready to help!"
"Geez… You're starting to sound like Choji…" Shikamaru told him, "But hey! A play is a play! It's not really reality… So, I wouldn't care much."
"But you really do look jealous, Shikamaru." Lee replied, "I didn't want this, either! I actually expected to be paired-up with my one true love, Sakura!"
"I know that already, fuzzy brows."
"Hey, stop calling me that!"
"What's the matter? You don't like it, saucer-eyes?"
"And stop calling me that, too! It's irritating!"
"I'm sorry, Lee… It's just that… I love Ino so much, and I-
"You don't have to worry about a thing! I'll do something about this and you'll be her handsome prince in no time!"
"But Lee-
"Don't wanna hear it! Just call it one of my small but fascinating ways on how to help a friend and his love problem! It'll be a piece of cake! All I have to do is talk it out with Tsunade-sama, and…"
"…WHAT! What do you mean, 'it can't be helped'!"
"I'm very sorry, Lee. But for you to give up your role as the prince, well… You just can't!"
"But… But why? We haven't even started practicing yet!"
"I'm really sorry, Lee, but…"
SHIZUNE: Tsunade-sama, Maito Gai is here!
GAI: NO! NO! NO! TELL ME THIS IS ALL A LIE, LEE! TELL ME YOU AREN'T GIVING UP YOUR PART IN THE PLAY!
Lee meekly turned to face his teacher and said, "I'm sorry, Gai-sensei. But, I really don't think I can do this! I'm not cut out to be a prince!"
"LEE! Don't say that!" Gai said, angrily. Then, he suddenly slapped his student's cheek.
"Gai-sensei! Why?" Lee asked, crying.
"I'M SO SORRY, LEE! I DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT YOU!"
Then, the two once again had one of their Student-Teacher Hugging-Crying session in Tsunade's office…
GAI: Oh, Lee! You're special in your own way! I love you because you are who you are!
LEE: Oh, Gai-sensei! Your kinds words have touched my heart!
GAI: Oh, Lee! You don't have to be handsome to become a prince! To me, you already are one! So go out there and do your thing!
LEE: Oh, Sir Gai! You don't understand!
GAI: Yes, I do, Lee… I'm your teacher! I understand you completely!
LEE: No, you don't! It's not because of my looks! I'm quitting my role because…
"Shikamaru, you want to take the role instead?"
"Yes, Gai-sama… If it's possible."
"You see, he's got a secret crush on the princess, Gai-sensei!" Lee whispered.
"LEE! CUT IT OUT!"
Gai quietly thinks of a way to solve this. He crosses his arms and closes his eyes.
"Hmmm…" he moans.
"Well, sensei?" Lee asked, "Can we help him? His poor innocent soul is crying for love!"
"If it really can't be helped," Shikamaru told them, "Then, it's okay…" He slowly walks away, until…
GAI: Stop right there, mister! You're not going anywhere! I won't let your heart fall into loneliness and misery! Because I am a kind-hearted teacher! And there is no way I can ignore a student with a love problem!
"So… Are we gonna help him?" Lee asked excitedly.
Gai smiles and does his nice guy pose in front of the two students and says, "Oh yeah… But we're gonna need some help from the neighborhood…"
"…the neighborhood?" Shikamaru asks curiously.