Chapter Seven
"Bwahhhhh!" cried Maito Gai at the top of his lungs. His eyes two fountains of tears creating a pond at his feet. "She hates me Kakashi! My lotus flower hates me now!" He took another paper tissue from the box on top of the Hogake's desk and blew his stuffy nose loudly and unrestrainedly.
Kakashi sweat-dropped watching the whole drama unamused. It certainly wasn't his lucky day. First, he had a ton of paperwork to deal with, and then it went from bad to worse when his life long friend had broken into his office, full throttling his wheelchair and breaking his door, to talk about his worries regarding his team's kunoichi and her new friend from Takumi village. It was already the third time that week and that day it was related to how he saw Takao leave Tenten's house in the morning. Kakashi's patience was wearing thin. What the hell had he to do with that?
"Could you please stop storming my office to talk about this?" He heaved a deep sigh. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm rather busy here." Gai crumpled the paper tissue into a ball and tossed it into the trash can, but it bounced back and fell on the floor due to its capacity being full. "And stop using all my tissues!"
"B-bu-but… My otp…." He babbled, putting his two pointer fingers together.
"Op- what?" Kakashi lifted an eyebrow. What nonsense was he mumbling now? Another crazy expression of his own, it must be it. He pressed an official seal into red ink paste. "Well, if you're staying here at least do me something useful and grind me some ink," he began as he stamped a document, he had just finished writing.
"Kakashi!" Gai slapped his two hands on the desk and all the objects jumped. The Hokage's heart leaped out from his chest as he moved to make sure nothing fell off.
"You have to send that Takao guy away!"
"Why would I do that?" He asked, now flipping through another report regarding a completed mission on the Land of Fire.
"Because you're the Hokage and I'm begging of you!" Gai clasped his hands together to show him how he meant it.
"So, you're taking advantage of my status for personal reasons, is that it?" Kakashi huffed, not sparing him a glance. "Not nice." Maito Gai pouted in his direction and Kakashi flipped another page ignoring his plead. "You're the one who decided to hate the poor guy from the very start, just admit you're overreacting Gai."
The ninja with bushy brows started circling around the office on his wheelchair waving one of his arms in the air as he spoke.
"How am I overreacting? They are always together; he goes after her like a moth to a flame. What will Lee think when he comes back?"
"Lee?" Kakashi frowned and closed the report on his hand. "What does this have to do with Lee? Are you playing cupid again?" Then he remembered his friend talking two months ago about the possibility of having a 100% Team Gai offspring if Lee and Tenten got married. Kakashi sighed. "Gai, you shouldn't interfere with your student's love affairs. I know you're bored because you can't go on a mission but try to find another occupation." He opened the drawer on the right side of his desk. "Take this," Kakashi threw an Icha-Icha paradise volume at him, which fell open on Gai's lap. "And don't come back until you finish the whole series."
000
"Argh! I can't deal with Gai-sensei's shenanigans anymore!" Tenten crossed her arms in front of her chest and snorted angrily. "Who does he think he is? My dad?" Takao observed her stomping around the street, back and forth, in an outburst of frustration. She stopped and let out a loud growl of annoyance, looking back at him. "He thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he is my team captain? Well, I'm not talking to him again!" Tenten looked away, huffing.
The weapon developer from Takumi village didn't quite know what to say. That morning he had witnessed the most bizarre scene of Tenten tongue-lashing her sensei, who had been stalking her for a week, wearing a fake afro wig and mustache. It was kind of frightening how he seemed to pop up out of nowhere at the weirdest times and places. Tenten had screamed, "I finally have a friend who likes weapons, stop ruining my friendship!" At which he replied, "A friend doesn't come out of a girl's house in the morning!"
During the week, Takao kept wondering why Gai-sensei seemed to hate him since he laid eyes on him, but now he had a clue. It seemed to be related to his closeness with his student. Was he like that with all the men who got along with Tenten?
"Hm, maybe you exaggerated." He noted, remembering her sensei leaving with sagging shoulders and head. "He seemed pretty down."
Tenten looked back at him with a frown and he shrugged.
"Anyway," she cleared her throat and ran her hand through her braid. "He needs a firm hand sometimes." Ugh, her team was full of crazy men that couldn't behave their age. Neji! Why did you leave me?!
"He keeps mentioning someone. Hm…" Takao rubbed his jaw, tilting his head from side to side. "Who was it again?" His forehead wrinkled. "Oh, Lee. I think that's it." Tenten's stomach tensed instantly. "Who is Lee?"
There was a brief pause. Takao noticed how her mood changed.
"Lee is my teammate. He is on a mission." The weapon's kunoichi looked up at the sky and sighed. "Well, he should be almost back." There was a hint of grief on her features. "Anyway, I would like to have your opinion and advice on something."
"What is it?" Takao asked.
"Well, I've got a dream. I want to open a weapon shop in Konoha."
She went on, explaining what her final vision for the ninja tools shop was, while they strolled. When they rounded the next corner, Tenten bumped against a pink-haired kunoichi carrying several documents in her arms.
"Sakura?!" Her eyes widened, and she helped her friend, in the nick of time, held the papers in her arms before they fell. "Oh, I'm so sorry."
"It's alright." She said, smiling. "Nothing fell."
Sakura noticed the man behind Tenten and raised an eyebrow. She had heard of him from Naruto, but it was her first time laying eyes on the Takumi village ninja. He was handsome indeed. Tenten followed her gaze.
"Oh, this is Takao-kun." She introduced.
Sakura gave him a once-over, then looked back at her friend. Hmm… Interesting, she thought.
Tenten lifted an eyebrow, confused.
"I see." Sakura turned to him. "It's nice to meet you. Haruno Sakura."
She held out her hand and he shook it.
"Kawamura Takao." He replied smiling.
Suddenly Sakura's eyes twinkled, and her eyebrows raised. How could she forget something so important?
"Have you seen Lee-san?" Sakura asked.
"Lee?" Tenten's eyes fluttered open. "Is he back?" Her heart rate accelerated considerably.
"Yes. I met him this morning."
"I see." She played with her braid fixing her gaze on it as if it were the most fascinating thing she had ever seen.
"You should go see him. He was discharged from hospital."
"Discharged?!" Terror overtook her face. "What happened?!" Tenten grabbed Sakura's shoulders roughly.
"Calm down, it's nothing serious. Just a flesh wound that got infected. He is fine." She reassured her.
"Really?"
Tenten let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
"Yes. No need to panic." Sakura said. "But I think he could use some help." She winked in her direction.
Tenten blushed.
"Then I'll go see him." She cleared her throat and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Takao-kun, I'm sorry. We'll talk later!"
000
Rock Lee was sitting on his couch after almost two months away from home. His mission had been successful, but that didn't prevent him from getting injured. Nevertheless, he knew risking one's life had always been part of the ninja path, if that scared him, he would never have set foot in the ninja academy in the first place.
He was starting to doze off when he heard several uncoordinated hard knocks on his door. He stood up slowly, rubbing his eyes, and once he opened it, he came face to face with a flushing Tenten gasping for some air. Lee stood blinking at her with his mouth falling open. He didn't mentally prepare to meet her so soon, but before his brain could process anything, she had closed the door behind them.
"Where are you hurt?" She asked, invading his personal space. Lee felt his heartbeat increase when she started searching all over his body for signs of injury. "Take off your shirt."
"Whaaat-?!" Lee jumped and pulled away, blushing hard.
Tenten stared at him poker-faced.
"What's that reaction?" She asked, rolling her eyes when he hugged himself. "Am I going to violate you?"
"W-well…" He gulped. Thoughts of her throwing herself at him on the accidental night were still fresh on his brain.
Tenten put her hands on her hips, huffing.
"You have two options: I take it off, you take it off." She gestured at him. "So, how is it going to be?"
He stared at her for a few seconds, hesitant, but she remained still, and he realized that there was no slip away.
"Fine." Lee sighed and pulled his white shirt up.
Tenten stiffed in place when she noticed his six-pack out in open view. Oh, I forgot... the abs... She swallowed, then shook her head several times. No, no! Focus Tenten!
Now he had his back to her, and she could see the extensive bandages that covered his shoulder, shoulder blade, and upper torso. Her lips parted and her eyebrows pulled up.
"How did it happen?" Tenten asked, running her hand in the air above his bandages. Afraid touching would hurt him.
"It was an iron blade at Kiri." Lee ran his hands through his hair. "I guess I'm too used to having you covering my back." He chuckled and Tenten felt her cheeks heat up. "Lesson learned." He put his shirt back on. "I got first aid there, but it got infected during the journey back."
Lee turned to face her.
"That's why you were in the hospital?"
"Yes. I fainted from a high fever when I arrived in Konoha."
Tenten's hands were instantly glued to his face. He jolted at her touch and his face turned crimson.
"You're still hot." Her brow wrinkled and she put a hand on her forehead to feel the temperature difference.
Lee gulped.
"W-well, it's hot indoors." Lee moved away to open the window. "I just need some air." He started fanning himself.
She crossed her arms and raised a skeptical eyebrow, not entirely convinced.
"Then how long until a full recovery?" Tenten asked, observing his hair being tousled by the breeze, his figure outlined against the sunlight coming through the window.
Now that she was not in worry mode, she noticed he was dressed differently. Usually, he stuck with his spandex jumpsuit, so it was a rare occasion to see him in casual clothes. The jumpsuit really left nothing to the imagination, she had no complaint about that, but it was refreshing seeing him in greenish baggy pants and a plain white t-shirt.
"I have a check-up in four days. If things look positive, I can start training again, but still need to be cautious."
Lee lifted an eyebrow when Tenten kept staring at him silently. She blushed and glanced away when she realized what she was doing.
"I see." Tenten cleared her throat. "Does Gai-sensei know?"
"Not yet."
Talking with Gai-sensei was the last thing she wanted to do, but she wouldn't feel good leaving her sensei in the dark about Lee's health status just because she was mad at him. There were more important things than their quarrel about Takao.
"I'll tell him." She said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Lee smiled and her heart squeezed on her chest.
"Thanks, Tenten."
That smile was her weakness.
000
Rock Lee was lying on his bed after being caught red-handed trying to lift two dumbbells. Tenten dropped all the shopping bags on the floor once she set foot on his apartment the next day at lunchtime. He knew how lucky he was to just be pulled by the ears and dragged into his bedroom.
"I'm not so ill that I have to stay in bed." He complained, crossing his arms over his chest.
Tenten glanced at him from her eye corner. He looked so cute sulking she almost forgot she was mad at him for a few seconds.
"I know, I'm just giving you a well-deserved punishment." She said stepping into his small kitchen and taking up a pot of his cabinets. "Be glad I'm not tying you up to the bed."
"I'm not a kid, Tenten." Lee grumped.
"You seem like a very naughty kid to me if you can't listen to your doctor's advice."
"It was just 20kgs." He pouted, fidgeting. "You know it's hard for me not to train."
"Yes, you're a training addict." She joked.
Tenten turned around to pick up the groceries when she noticed a plastic bag on his dining table, there were dumplings inside.
"Did you buy them?" Her eyebrow wrinkled. Lee cocked his head to look through the door. "Jeez Lee, you know you have to rest for a few more days. Why can't you ever be serious about your health?" Tenten snapped, putting her hand on her face. "You know you can ask me if you need anything."
"It wasn't me." He felt heat swirl low on his stomach. "Sakura left them here this morning."
There was an awkward pause.
"Oh, that's nice of her." Tenten said in a neutral tone, but both noticed a note of bitterness there.
Suddenly Lee felt too self-conscious from all the times he consulted Tenten about his crush in the past.
"I-it's not what you're thinking!" An unexpected urge to explain hit him, even though he had done nothing wrong. He felt awkwardly accountable just by mentioning Sakura to Tenten.
She had a vexed look when she sighed, "Lee, it's fine. You don't need to explain."
The least she wanted now was him feeling pitiful towards her one-sided affections.
"I don't want you to misunderstand."
She almost laughed.
"What would I misunderstand?" Tenten asked. It's not like I'm your girlfriend… "I'm glad she came to check on you." And she genuinely was. Sakura was an amazing doctor and a good friend. Who wouldn't feel grateful knowing the best doctor around came to check on your injured best friend?
"I know, but I don't want you to feel…" He hesitated. "Sad..."
"Why would I feel sad?"
It was a stupid question, but what option did she have?
"Because-"
"Idiot." She turned around and started filling the pot with water. "I'm making some soup."
000
Rock Lee examined his teammate closely. Tenten had her back to him and was putting slices of fried omelet on a plate while wearing his green apron. Today her hair was tied up in two messy braids as she didn't have a chance to style it yet. She had fallen asleep on his couch that evening. Her face looked so tired he didn't have the courage to wake her up, so he decided to cover her with a blanket and let her sleep there. He would gladly give her his bed, but he feared she would freak out the moment she woke up there again.
Tenten turned around and started placing the several breakfast dishes on the table where he was already sitting. The whole scene seemed so domestic but so natural, he felt strange about it.
"You should let me help you, Tenten." He said, getting up.
She squinted at him and took the bowls of miso soup out of his reach.
"You are convalescing."
He sighed.
"Yes, but it is not by helping with breakfast that my health will get worse." Lee grabbed the soup bowls ignoring her complaints.
"It's fine." Tenten pulled the bowls back.
"Well, I'm not fine with it."
"I said it's fine!"
Both stubborn and hot-headed it didn't take them long to make a mess out of it. The arm-wrestling took a few seconds before he pulled the bowls so hard that it spilled all its content on his clothes.
"Lee!"
He winced, feeling the hot liquid burning his skin. He immediately took his shirt off and run to the kitchen sink to cool the burn down with running water.
Tenten was at his side in a flash.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, it's just a first-degree burn." He noticed the way she glanced at him, her eyes tight and worried. "Can you fetch me a new shirt?" He asked.
She nodded and went into his room, searching.
Tenten sweat-dropped at the third drawer full of green jumpsuits. There should be at least twenty inside each one. Is it possible to own that many jumpsuits?
"Where do you keep your shirts?" She asked, defeated.
"It's on the bottom drawer of the dresser." His voice answered from the kitchen.
Tenten leaned down and opened the bottom drawer. Her face lit up when she finally found what she was looking for. She chose one of the shirts, but when she pulled it out a small object, which she identified as an ointment box, fell and rolled on the floor until it disappeared under the bed. Her eyes widened and she instinctively put down the shirt and crouched down so she could search under the bed.
She groped the floor for a few seconds until her hand touched something. It felt unexpectedly familiar. Tenten picked up the object under the bed and her eyes bulged.
"M-my bracelet!" She stared at it incredulously. After searching for it everywhere for weeks, she had given up hope of finding her mother's green jade heirloom. Who would have thought she would end up finding it there?
Lee, who was passing by the bedroom after realizing she was taking too long, cocked his head and looked down.
"Oh, it must have fallen when you undressed in my room that night."
Tenten's flushed face and neck snapped him back to reality. Lee jumped a little and cleared his throat now recognizing the casual way in which he had just addressed the subject.
She stared at him horrified as she had just seen a ghost.
"Y-you remember?" She stuttered.
"Erm-" His gaze shifted away from her face and he swallowed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes."
Instantly the atmosphere between them became strained and stiff. It seemed they were back to square one where it was extremely embarrassing just to be breathing in each other's presence.
Suddenly Tenten got too aware of his naked chest dripping water and her pupils flared. She had totally forgotten he was shirtless in front of her. A blush spread through her cheeks and soon she was beet red. She stood up, picking up his shirt, and pushed it against him.
"Just get dressed." She cleared her throat and walked past him in a hurry. "I forgot I have something important to do."
Tenten was back in fight or flight response and he was lacking in countermeasures.
"Wait." He grabbed her wrist. "At least eat breakfast before you go."
He saw her shiver and, although it seemed impossible, turn even redder.
"I-it's fine! I'm not hungry anyway!"
She put on her ninja boots and vanished.
000
Despite the awkward situation from the day before Tenten still accompanied him to his medical check-up the next morning. He noticed she was trying hard to act natural, but her expressions betrayed her. Like avoiding his gaze, keeping a safe distance, the way her lips twitched in a forced smile. It was becoming gradually difficult to watch. She had always been so confident about herself, would not hesitate to punch him at the slightest display of idiocy, it seemed like he was looking at an alien now. He had to do something about it. They needed to have an honest conversation once and for all.
Lee took a deep breath.
"Tenten," He began as they strolled. "About what happened after the wedding-"
"It's ok, I get it." Her eyes darted and she stopped in her tracks holding up her hands. Lee looked at her with tented eyebrows. "You don't need to explain. Just forget about it." Tenten had been trying so hard to forget and make it look like it never happened, but he seemed clueless to her efforts. She didn't want to complicate their relationship any further, especially now that they were talking again.
"I don't think it's something I'll be able to forget." He said, rubbing the back of his head. Tenten's cheeks were suddenly kissed pink. "And honestly, I'm not entirely sure if I want to..."
His straightforwardness made her eyes bulge and her heart thump hard. God, what was he saying? Was he playing her? No, he was too honest for that.
"A-are you sick again?" She tried.
He looked her in the eyes.
"No, I'm not."
There was no hesitation in his gaze.
Tenten felt a chill run down her spine. His serious mode was way too charming, and she felt weak on her knees. There was a warm feeling lighting up her chest, but she suppressed it. There's no way she would be swayed so easily. He probably just didn't understand what his words were implying. That must be it.
"Anyway, please don't say it so casually." I might mistake you...
"I'm sure of what I'm saying." He took a step towards her. Well, to be honest, he wasn't sure what he was doing or feeling, but he was sure it was impossible to ignore what happened between them, and maybe he didn't want to do it. Was it wrong?
She felt naked with his piercing black eyes gazing at her. Her head felt hazy, and she stepped back. Why was he doing this to her? Hadn't he rejected her before?
"Please, just listen to me." He took another step forward, cornering her against a tree.
Her hands clenched into fists, and she gritted her teeth. Hadn't he said enough before leaving for his mission? Did he think she needed to hear him say it twice? She swallowed. Venting her feelings out? Kissing him? How could she do something so stupid?
"Tenten?"
A low male voice startled them, and they turned their heads around. Lee was surprised to come face to face with a man he never saw before.
"T-Takao-kun?"
The light brown-haired ninja observed the man with the bowl haircut. He had the same style as the ninja sensei who seemed to dislike him, so for a second he assumed a defensive stance.
The weapons kunoichi pushed her teammate away embarrassed.
"Oh!" She stammered gawked before pointing at Lee. "T-this is Rock Lee, my teammate, and friend." Tenten quickly hurried to introduce him.
Takao smiled and gave Lee a slight bow.
"Well, it's nice to finally meet you in person, I'm Kawamura Takao."
Lee blinked twice bemused by the sudden appearance of an unknown man who seemed intimate enough with his teammate to not add - san to her name. Tenten shoved him.
"Oh, nice to meet you too." He said.
There was a pregnant pause and an awkward silence established between the three of them.
"Hm... Is there something you need?" Tenten asked, contouring Lee.
"Ah right, I was going to ask if you'd like to have lunch, but you seem to have a business to deal with. I won't take more of your time-."
"N-no! I'm not busy!" She blurted out, glad Takao had appeared just in the nick of time to spare her from a very awkward conversation. "I'm super free." She emphasized with enthusiasm and hurried in his direction. Lee followed her with his eyes. "Well, see you later." She said without turning back to look at him. And so, she left with the new unknown ninja, ignoring him and the elephant in the room.
000
A week had passed, and it seemed like a progressively unpleasant emotion kept growing inside him. It started like a bee sting that quickly spread poison all over his body. He knew what that feeling was, he had felt it before, but the context unsettled him every time he wrapped his head about it.
Lee tried to dismiss it or even deny it, but the fact was that it crept up on him every time he saw Tenten with Takao. Like when he spotted them that morning studying scrolls together. Suddenly he became too aware of Tenten's cute smile that erupted off her face whenever she saw Takao and they talked over about their weapon's passion together. He noticed the way they both sat close together and the way that ignited a burning negative emotion in the pit of his stomach. He noticed how he had touched her hair, braiding it together after it fell apart. Her lips uttered a thank you and he commented about his two younger sisters who asked him to braid their hair every time. They had a good laugh over it.
Lee's heart clenched like a fist, he thought that was supposed to be his place, but he wasn't paying enough attention or didn't care enough so he carelessly left it open for any other man to take it.
"Hey young man," a voice called. "Your curry is going to turn cold if you just keep staring at it."
Lee snapped back to reality as the curry shop owner cleaned the bar counter in front of him.
"Eating cold curry would be blasphemy!" Someone remarked behind him with gusto. "Not youthful."
Lee turned around and gawked.
"Gai-sensei!"
"It's me indeed, Lee." He pulled up a stool and sat down next to his student. "You should go running at least 3,000 laps around Konoha with that unyouthful level of awareness." His forehead furrowed.
Lee laid his head in his hands and sighed. Gai-sensei was right, what was the matter with him? How much longer would it take for those doubts to clear from his mind? He was thinking about it every time and couldn't stop thinking about it.
"Is something bothering you, Lee?"
"Well," He hesitated. "I-it's nothing. I just had a very overwhelming week, that's all." Lee ran his hand through his hair and there was a flicker of angst in his eyes.
Gai-sensei shook his head and then smirked in his direction.
"Is this about Tenten?" Gai saw Lee's face burn red. "And Takao?"
Lee's eyes bulged.
"H-how did you know, Gai-sensei?" His mouth dropped open, and disbelief crossed his features.
Gai-sensei erupted in a loud hearty laughter.
"It's written all over your face, Lee."
On instinct, Lee touched his own face, like wanting to make sure there wasn't something there. It seemed as far as Gai-sensei was concerned, he couldn't keep his feelings to himself. A slight blush suffused his cheeks.
"Tell me about it, get it off your chest."
It looked like Gai-sensei wasn't going to let him off the hook, but maybe he could use some good advice. Who better than Gai-sensei himself to ask about love? He was a reliable source after all.
Lee swallowed and hung his head down in embarrassment.
"How do I know if what I'm feeling towards Tenten is not just…" He floundered around for a few seconds. "Well, hormones?"
"Love or lust, I see." Maito Gai rubbed his jaw. "Well, they aren't mutually exclusive. They are actually two very fundamental elements of romantic love."
Lee stared at him with a frank wondering gaze.
"Though there are overlaps and subtleties to each, romantic love can be broken down into three categories and stages:" Gai reached for a napkin and started scribbling a few words. "Lust, attraction, and attachment. But reflecting on whether a relationship is love or lust only goes so far. To get to the heart of the matter, think about why you are asking the question."
"Well," Lee's eyebrows wrinkled, and he took a finger to his chin. "I'm afraid it's just a temporary infatuation. What if I am fooling myself? What if I hurt Tenten? How is it possible to fall in love after only one night together?"
Gai put an arm around his shoulders and smiled.
"In love there are no norms, no shoulds, no right way. You can fall in love after a single passionate night and end up married with three kids. You can be friends with someone for years and with a single touch or change of perspective, find yourself head over heels. You can have a year of steamy casual sex with someone and never fall in love. You can love someone you're not sexually attracted to anymore. All of the above and everything in between is possible."
Lee's gradual changing expressions made Gai-sensei chuckle.
"Can love really be like that?" He asked, his bushy brows knitted.
Maito Gai laughed. Watching his precious student questioning himself about love matters sure brought tears to his eyes.
"Instead of trying to define the relationship and place it in a box as love or lust, just think about how she makes you feel." Lee put on his thinking face, staring blankly into space. "Do you trust her? Do you feel free to be yourself with her? How aligned are your values and dreams for the future? How are you experiencing yourself with her, and what does that tell you about what you're wanting or needing?"
A drop of sweat appeared at Lee's temples and, although it seemed impossible, his frown got even deeper.
"You can try and deny it and look the other way, but one of two things will happen, you'll either grow a pair and do something about it or someone else will." Gai went on. "And when you can't stand the thought of someone else being with her that's when you know everything you need to."
Suddenly Lee's face relaxed and he realized he hadn't acknowledged his feelings yet because part of him was still scared of what this change in their relationship dynamic could bring. Tenten had been his best friend for ages. Exploring boundaries between them that had previously never been touched by a ten-foot pole was extremely awkward to picture. However, he cared for her, an overwhelming amount, and it was impossible to contain it any longer.
That night, Lee didn't sleep a wink. His brain was looping over two thoughts: He was in love. He had to confess.
A/N: Hello there!
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