This Chapter is inspired by song 'Addio, Amore Mio' ('Goodbye, My Love'), by Piero Piccioni for film 'Amore Mio Aiutami' ('Help Me, My Love').


Present…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Past…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ


*Ja Ne: A Japanese phrase commonly used for 'See Ya' or 'Later'.

*Kirei: A Japanese word that's interpreted as 'Lovely' 'Pretty' or 'Beautiful.'

*Umai: A Japanese word used to describe something 'Good' or 'Delicous'.

*Onegai: A Japanese word that loosely translates to 'Request' or 'Wish' but is often used as an informal 'Please'.

*Chotto Matte: A Japanese phrase meaning 'Wait a Moment's or 'Wait a Little Bit'.

*Nigete: A Japanese word commonly used for 'Run', 'Run Away', or 'Escape'.

*Tatami: About 1.62 square meter traditional Japanese mat used as flooring. A room of six tatami mats would be about 9.72 square meters.

*Chabudai: A traditional Japanese table with short legs.

*Mo: A Japanese term used to express exasperation and can be used in place of 'Enough Already'.

*Aho: A Japanese word in the Kansai dialect meaning 'Idiot'.


Act V:

'Gaara's Interlude: Goodbye, My Unrequited Loves'


.…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Gaara was trying his hardest not to be nervous.

The Kazekage's figure was in a dark pink apron with a small embroidered cactus over his heart, bathed in the cold glow of the open door of a mint green refrigerator in the apartment of the taijutsu specialist; preparing lunch for the 'Beautiful Green Wild Beast' and his rival.

Before he went home, he was going to do everything in his power to help Neji realize his feelings for his eternal rival because that's who he loves and the red-headed Shinobi wanted Lee to be happy because-

-Gaara is in love with Rock Lee.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

It came crashing, like a wave against stone, softening; smoothing.

Gaara understood his role at an age when his brain had not been fully developed enough to grasp the gravity of the dire situation his father's actions had put him and his siblings in.

He had understood his fate very well, he was to follow orders given to him by the Kazekage, he was a weapon only meant to kill and was very young when the color of life began to lose its luster, his days fading into a black and white blur, like a sandstorm washing the landscape of its hue.

The people around him confirming every day that his very existence was a curse, proven in tenfold when the only person he thought cared for him, volunteered for one of the many attempts on his life, the missions given by his father. His uncles face had been blank as he told the small redheaded child that even his own mother thought of him as unworthy of love, letting him know gladly he should die before taking his own life.

For many years he believed that, it had simply been a fact; he'd always be alone, a loveless demon of the sand and yet-

Gaara was a hopeless romantic.

He spent a majority of his life alone using that time to train and read, teaching himself many hobbies with reading being his favorite one. He explored a variety of books, non-fiction and fiction, spending most of his youth in and out of the library and bookstores.

The red-head even entertained romantic novels, he thought even the trashy, unrealistic ones had their good points, though he believed that there was no one who'd ever see him in that light.

He became enamored by heroes who'd fight for the less fortunate, or save a princess who's home has been destroyed by neighboring forces; people finding strength in friendship and compassion or books with people who don't realize they're in love until its almost too late.

He loved the intimacy of best friends to lovers, a person who had seen the very worst of him but had always thought the very best.

Someone who knows everything about you, your habits, your sins and they care about you for who you were and the person you grew to be but from the young red-head's experience with romantic literature, there has always been one underline theme that ties all of them together; you'll never truly get to choose who you fall in love with.

He spent his adolescence in a sleepless haze; when he grew bored of his daily activities and his eyes became restless, he'd sit back and stare into nothingness, unblinkingly. The sand user using his vivid imagination to daydream; he'd sit so very quiet and still in his room, wide blank gaze as his mind plays a detailed scene, like he was watching a film.

His mind seeping into a dreamscape where his imagination feels like it's coming to life. In his dissociative state he'd take the role of the rescuer, saving the new love of his life, protecting them from harm.

Other times he was the one to be saved, waiting for the day someone may come to love him and help him escape the joyless greyed-edges reality, though deep down, he told himself no one would ever come.

Gaara was met with many confusing and conflicting emotions when he came to Konoha. For the first time he was surrounded by people who didn't know of him or his past, they didn't fear him as soon as he came near.

He watched their interactions with each other, they were familiar with each other in a way Gaara had once hoped for, that he now labeled as weak, but it turned out he was wrong.

Connections had made these people stronger.

Rock Lee had been the first person to ever touch him, willingly, on purpose, to cause harm, but he had still been the first and Lee had been strong, anyone watching would say he is a skilled Shinobi.

The Sunan found himself in a situation he hadn't been in for a long time, he was scared. He had thought Lee had meant to kill him, then he had become excited at the prospects, at a chance he might actually fight someone strong enough to fight back.

Feeling the pain from Lee blows had brought him crashing to reality, he was a human, that could feel pain, besides his emotional anguish, it meant he could die.

The environment he had been raised in taught him that he existed to be strong and kill, therefore he had to kill those who were strong.

He ventured to Konoha hospital with every intention to murder the one person to harm him, but just like in the Chunin exams, when Lee's sensei put himself in harm's way for him, Lee had friends who had done the same for him once again, protecting him, something Gaara had only experienced through books; he walked away with a feeling that he now recognizes as jealousy.

After they had failed to invade Konoha, before they learned of Orochimaru and the murder of their father the Kazekage, he laid battered on the ground defeated, fearing for his life, his body pushed past a limit he didn't know he had; expecting his enemy would now do the only logical thing left-

-Kill him, right there and now.

Instead, he watched wide eyed as the blonde desperately crawled towards him, to empathize with him. Listening intently as Naruto declared he would do anything, stop anyone, from hurting the ones he cared about most, the people who saved him from the lonely fate he had shared with the sand user, claiming that, it was his friendships that made him the strongest, wishing someone had been there for Gaara too.

In those fleeting seconds before his siblings came to his rescue, the red-headed sand user decided that Uzumaki, Naruto was his first love.

It hadn't been his intention to develop a crush on the new founder of his respects but innocent daydreams of the knuckle-headed ninja venomously fending off enemies, spewing heartfelt words of endearment towards Gaara like he had done previously at the Chunin exams about his comrades, had turned into dizzying fantasies of what it would be like if he was to pledge his loyalty to the sand user, whispering sweet nothings and-

Hold hands.

Gaara's head was filled with the hot-headed blonde, passionately proclaiming he'd risk his life for the ones he'd cared for, replacing the protagonist from the countless tales he's read that recuses him from his darkened life style, taking him to the light.

Colours becoming vivid before his very eyes, he deeply admired Naruto's dedication to his friends, to his dreams. From then on, the sand user finally felt he had a purpose, if he could gain even a fraction of the people that Naruto cared about, he knew he'd become strong just like him.

He could become a person worthy of being loved.

The young red-head still in a fragile state of mind, believed love had to be earned, but even back then the sand user knew in whatever way, Sasuke had already earned Naruto's love; obvious to him from the blonde's demeanor after the failed rescue mission.

He knew that his own love would always be unrequited, but nothing would ever stop his affections for the blonde. The sand user deciding to love him from a distance and wanting to help him in any way; not to earn Naruto's love, but because Gaara loved him and wanted him to be happy.

The red-head apologized to Lee after the failed Sasuke rescue mission. He was trying to become a person worthy of trust and was met with compassion and that fearless look in his eye that the redhead had once been confused by, but now made his stomach flop in nervousness. He thought he might have been scared because for once he felt completely relaxed next to the green clad ninja.

Lee's character was always warm, calm and inviting; when he said something, there was no guessing, and you knew that he meant it.

Sending him off at the village gates, Rock Lee had promised to write him, and he kept it. Not that the redhead thought he wouldn't, just not expecting the flutter of warmth that filled him when he received the first letter a month after their assistance in the rescue mission.

The contents were courteous and simple, but red-head still memorized every word, starved for affection like an abandoned domesticated dog, lapping the words from his pages like they were the only water for miles.

The green-clad ninja didn't rely on fancy words but was well-spoken; what impressed the sand user was when he wasn't being polite, his speech shines with his enthusiasm and honesty that translates well even on paper.

The letter had been the sweetest offering of friendship he'd ever received and it took him an entire month to compose his thoughts enough to think of a reply.

Communicating with others was usually a guessing game of social cues that the Sunan had never been prepared for. No amount of reading and observing had helped him at all, seemingly experience was key; it made sense, you don't become a good fighter by sitting back and watching others fight.

The redhead felt he had to mask constantly, people already feared him and one minor deviation from his norm, left a few people uncomfortable and suspicious but with Lee—

He doesn't feel anxious at all, the green clad ninja wears his emotions on his sleeve but has a good poker face when it comes to being a Shinobi. He was serious, calm at times yet excitable and a little overzealous, but kind and the sand user admired all those things about him.

He wished he could express himself freely in similar ways and being around his outgoing friend inspired him to open up to those around him even more.

They became closer, continuing to write each other for a year, until it approached Gaara's fifteenth birthday, in the following week he'd become the Kazekage.

A few months before, he wrote the green clad Shinobi, saying he was happy and excited for his future, but he fears he won't be able to 'write as much as he had in the past' and that thought made him sad.

Then rewrote his letter saying 'as much as he liked' because his pen pal often used phrases like that, and it was true-

Gaara liked writing Lee, he was open and curious with always the right questions and honest answers, the red-head felt like he could tell him anything and his friend would accept it.

He wanted to talk to him forever.

The Sunan decided if Naruto is his first love, Rock Lee must be his truest.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Currently he stood in Lee's kitchen, pale skin exposed to the light above, the tips of his ear keep a rosy tint, a light smattering of freckles almost pinkish in hue sprinkled across his nose, created by any type of exposure from the sun. He was dressed in a plain white shirt with the sleeves rolled, with a wide neck exposing his collar bones, dark red pants and apron, nervously putting together a meal for two people that weren't his siblings.

Gaara was excited about preparing lunch for his friends, he was an excellent cook but found himself distracted by his own guilty subconscious about maybe, purposefully, withholding information about the significance of the meetings he had come to Konohagakure to attend.

There had been rumors going around about his sister, Temari dating the newly appointed head of the Nara clan and Chief aid to the just as new Hokage. Something that they had intended to keep a secret that had somehow spread so far and wide within the month they had started seeing each other, that the elders caught wind of it.

They held a meeting; never a good sign.

They informed the three siblings, though they're still in the process of rebuilding their nation, thinking now would be a good time for a political unification in the form of a marriage between two extinguished families.

—To which Temari promptly announced to the room they weren't dating, they had 'fucked' once, Kankuro and half the room were sputtering in protest of her choice of language, then the blonde let them know exactly where they could shove that idea.

A rumor had soon spread that they had broken it off and Shikamaru immediately started dating Ino, that ended even sooner.

The Suna elders were embarrassed and the talk of marriage hadn't come up again, until months later. It had been Temari who approached her little brother about the woman she wanted to wed, the sand user immediately sent the paperwork for their elders' approval.

He had thought it would be easy as the elders had just proposed a union between the two villages, they had even gone so far as to conspire and contact Konoha before bringing it up with their Kazekage when it had come to Temari and the Nara, he thought he'd just needed get the papers for them to sign again; he should have known better.

The elders told them point blank, they couldn't produce children, the woman she wanted to marry was an orphan adopted into a civilian family; there would be no political gain in their union and if there were to be no heir, there would be no wedding.

Gaara was infuriated, usually it was his siblings who flew off the handle to defend what was right, but in this moment the redhead could see that his sister's insecurities had gotten the best of her. She was a by the book kind of gal, she had listened to the elders for their all of their sake, but the sand user could see his sister shrinking, a dark look coming over her face, head bowed.

Kankuro was just as useless looking, he was the first to let them know about his romantic preferences, and the first to realize why it would never matter if the elders had their way.

His brows furrowed and his lips tightened. It was as much as a pout as he could muster, so had he thrown a bit of a tantrum and stormed out, he did not like what the council was insinuating and he had believed they were trying to outgrow their old mindset.

He knew he was going to have to make up for it, not just to the elders, but to his siblings as well. It wasn't easy growing up being the siblings to someone the village referred to as a monster, he had given them their fair share of troubles.

If it was an heir they wanted, the red-head was willing to give in if it meant that at least his siblings could have their choice, he knew what he was getting into becoming Kazekage and the concept of arranged marriages wasn't lost on him; he wouldn't be surprised if they had, blind dates waiting for him when he got back.

Gaara was going to sacrifice his freedom to choose who he married for the sake of his sibling's happiness, he felt it was the least he could do.

Until the day he was to wed, he wanted to live with his heart on his sleeve.

The sand user turned to his left to stare out the balcony doors, his mind starting to wander. Lee was out there, retrieving the plants from Neji's hospital room.

'I hope the cacti are okay.' He thought stirring a creamy miso soup, pouring some from a ladle into a little sauce bowl for tasting, he paused hearing a shuffle beside him when the bathroom door to his right cracked open.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Some might not be able to tell by his facial features but Gaara was excited.

The sand siblings were headed on the cloudy cool route to the Village Hidden in the Leaves, it had been two years since they had been back, the last time being the Sasuke Recuse Mission. The air around them was still, yet biting, a temperature they weren't used to. Although his sand shield not only aided in keeping his bare skin from the chill, but also regulated the temperature beneath the sand, leaving him completely unbothered by the icy weather.

The same can't be said for his siblings, who were rushing ahead in hast to get to the village walls and to stay warm, he was following but at his own pace, eyes every so often traveling to the clouds above, expectantly, hoping it would snow, a weather phenomenon where he's from. The soft winter weather never seen in Suna, the red-head only viewed it once as an angry pre-teen unable to enjoy its magical wonder, but everything was different now.

Gaara was different now.

The red-head was looking forward to this trip, looking forward to seeing his friends in Konoha because tomorrow was his birthday. Something he had only started celebrating last year, when his brother and sister surprised him with his favorite meal and cake.

For the first time in a long time he was glad to be alive, to see the snow, to be able to have people he calls precious and to have someone happy he had been born.

When the he reached the gates of Konoha where his siblings were being greeted by Shikamaru and Kiba. The sand user had to push down the disappointment of his friend, nowhere to be seen, but still greeted the two other Shinobi curtly. Mentally making a note to ask if the green clad ninja was within the village walls as they were escorted to their hotel to warm up, then to the Hokage's tower.

It was late afternoon when they finished their business, the clouds veiled the glaring sun and the scent of cold was in the air, but still no snow in sight.

He almost glared at the sky, but decided that was too childish and set out on his mission to search for the bushy-browed Shinobi that had been on his mind since entering the Village Hidden in the Leaves while his siblings were busy flirting with their escorts.

Using his chakra to scour the area, he finally spots a familiar flicker of warmth at the training grounds that travels through his entire body drawing him in like the moon pulls the tide. His heartbeat quickens as he advances, when the redhead feels a presence above, all at once he controls his body and stops jumping backwards just before reaching the final row of trees.

Aloft in the air, as if wings were attached to his back, was the pale eyed Hyuuga dressed in his usual muted tones, the only colour was the hue of pink on the skin exposed to the cold. He could've been mistaken for a ghost the way he slowly descended before him, hauntingly beautiful; his empty gaze locked on the red-head's as he landed.

Lee had written about Neji, telling Gaara he thinks they'd get along. The green clad ninja told him about their 'eternal rivalry' and how it started and how after meeting Naruto everything changed; something that Gaara could relate to.

He knew Hyuuga, Neji was someone of great importance to his new precious friend and the red-head planned on treating him as so.

The letters about their friendship had more length than the ones written about his crush, Haruno Sakura; that's why even if his new found object of his affections wasn't completely heterosexual, he feared he'd still be an afterthought to the person before him that he had such history with.

There was a stillness between them, many seconds passed before Gaara thought about breaking the silence, but in that time the brunette had accepted whatever he saw in him with a slight bow of his head, eyes closed, he reached into the pouch behind him. The sand user tensed, rearing in the urge to protect himself as the Hyuuga grabbed and quickly tossed something towards him, which he caught effortlessly with sand.

To this day, he was unsure if it had been a gift, this moment, or maybe he was trying to test the red-head, try to gauge his intentions; he would have done the same when it came to those he cared about, but all of his thoughts were cut short like the breath in his lungs once he brought the item closer for inspection.

The sand softly floated the cloth into his hands, a folded grey cloak wrapped in twine that smelled of the green clad ninja he had been searching for.

The red-head controlled his breathing, feeling pale eye's inspecting him as the brunette walks past him into the woods, briefly he wondered if Lee ever talked about him to his friends as he began to move forward.

As calmly and quietly as Gaara could make himself, he approached the pulsating chakra beyond with the sound of blood rushing through his eardrums, pulling him into the light that breached the line of trees.

"Lee." Puffs of air becoming visible in the cold as the red-head breathes his name in a hushed tone.

Deep within the training grounds surrounded by trees, cleared at a forty-foot radius, stands a tree towering above all the rest, at least 50 meters tall, was a shirtless Lee, top half of his jumpsuit tied below his torso, the blazing glow of bright green chakra, landing blow after blow up the scared flesh of the enormous tree. The Shinobi reached halfway up its length, planting his feet on the bark to flip backwards, curling into a ball midair before landing with his back to the red-head.

His heart was pounding, he had been too focused on battle last time he had fought against Lee to truly behold him in all his glory, but even back then he chastely remembers thinking Lee's movements were graceful. taijutsu being a skill that requires you to be light on your feet.

The sand user saw a wild dancer who had no need to preform for anyone, producing his own tender glow on a stage set just for him to shine on, dancing in earnest, creating a genuine light that attracted Gaara like a fly to lamp.

They made eye contact once he turned around, confusion on the Konohan's face turned into excitement.

"Gaara-kun!" Lee shouted sounding ecstatic, smiling brilliantly at the sight of his friend, he began jogging towards the red-head, whose feet had started moving of their own volition towards the approaching Rock Lee.

Up close the sand user traced the lines of Lee's face flushed, little puffs of air forming, still panting from the vigorous exercise, he looks hesitant, as if he wanted to say something or come closer.

Maybe it was Gaara that wanted him to come closer.

"I didn't know you were going to be in town! How long will you be here?" He chirped brightly, the sand user had to ignore he vicious flurry of butterflies in his stomach wordlessly nodding.

"I wanted to surprise you. We don't leave until tomorrow afternoon unless the weather is bad." The red-head replied as he silently prayed for a storm.

The bare-chested Shinobi blinked at him before letting out a chuckle that reminded Gaara of the sound of chimes blown by a warm gust of wind through sand.

Ah yes, the cold was useless against the heating of the red-head's body, becoming hyper aware of the close distance between them, eyes drilling holes into his laughing face, trying to keep his eyes from traveling all over.

"Isn't it I, who should be surprising you for your birthday?" Lee spoke between giggles.

'Ah, he remembered...' Gaara was silently overjoyed, Rock Lee wasn't the type of guy to forget things, the red-head couldn't stop the feeling of being important to someone wash over him.

"This calls for a celebration! Fate has brought us together my friend, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner tonight? That is if your free of course!" He asked in an excited tone, though hands twisting nervously behind his back when the black-haired Shinobi suddenly shivered.

In seconds the Sunan was in his personal space, before he could stop himself, he was wrapping the cloak in his hands around the Shinobi's bare shoulders. Fastening it securely, Lee never flinching away from his touch, only watching him with curious surprise.

He felt the back of his cold knuckles brush his skin as he pulled away; inwardly he cursed his shield for robbing him of the simple pleasure of an accidental brush of skin.

"It would be my pleasure." The sand user spoke quietly into the crisp air changing the taijutsu specialist's look of surprise into a fluid, tender smile that shone through his eyes, melting the red-heads defenses like the heat of the sun to snow; the red-heads lips formed a modest smile of their own.

The sound of the sand users name being called ended their quiet moment, it was Temari, led by a nervous Tenten, an indifferent looking Hyuuga, trailing behind the young Nara and Akimichi. Once they got to them, the enthusiastic green clad Shinobi informed them all of their newly made plans.

"The more the merrier, right my friend?" Lee gives the red-head his trademark thumbs-up and a smile so Gaara nodded, unable to say no when that grin was turned towards his way.

"Great! What are you doing until then? You're done with your mission, right? I can show you around." The taijutsu user inquired, the sand user nodded again then looked towards his sister who was becoming more fluent in his wordless dialect, sighed in response.

"Yes, you can go off with your friends, as long as you always stay with someone, got it?" Temari said sternly with one hand on her hip, Gaara simply nodded, agreeing with her demands, the green clad ninja stood at attention and saluted.

"I promise to protect Gaara-kun with my life!" Lee clamoured, the red-head froze, trying to push down the skip of his heart while inwardly he swoons, his sister smirked, it was her turn to nod in approval, she reached out and gently pats her little brother's head.

"Ja Ne!*" She calls as she turns to walk away with Chouji and Shikamaru in tow with a wave of her hand.

"Neji, Tenten-" The red-head tried his best not to scowl at the way the green clad Shinobi regarded his teammates as Lee turned to them, opening his cloak to correct the top of his jumpsuit to protect himself from the cold now that his heart rate was coming to a rest.

"-are you joining us before dinner?" Lee finished happily; skin now protected against the icy winds.

"I have training to finish." The pale eyed Shinobi said in a monotone voice, placing his hands in his pockets before turning on his heel and walking away, an apologetic looking weapons specialist following behind him after giving them a wave goodbye.

"I guess it's just me and you." Lee leaned towards him with a thumbs up and a wink, standing up straight he flings his robe back around his shoulders, clouds above faintly part allowing thin slivers of light to engulf the black-haired Shinobi's frame.

"Let's go get something to warm us up, shall we?" He said giving the red-head a grin that could compete with the glow of the sun, Gaara thought, if he had held his hand out to him in that moment, he would have taken it.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Even with all the books he's ever read, Gaara didn't have the words to describe the captivating vision before him.

Steam poured through the door of the bathroom, seemingly curling around the Hyuuga's frame, skin flushed from the heat, a pale pink yukata tied loosely for comfort was pulled away slightly from his neck but clung to his partially damp body as he soundlessly walks towards the samd user..

He couldn't stop the feeling as if he was reading one of those heart-pounding moments in the books where the yearning of the protagonist hits it breaking point. They end up is so taken aback by the beauty of their love interest, they divulge into a lengthy monologue expressing the impact that person has had on them, just by standing before them; but in the moment the redhead could only simply say-

"Kirei.* " He doesn't hear the word as he breaths out through his lips, just the thick rush of blood that is surely traveling to his ears.

Unbeknownst to him, his hand was steadily cooking over the steam of the soup slowly coming to a boil. His brows furrow accidently dropping the spoon in the pot, quickly turning the temp off and reaching in to grab it even faster still burning himself once again.

The red-head was already moving when he realized they both had rushed to the sink at the same time, their fingers brushing as they both reach for the tap, Gaara pulled back abashed, it was Neji who moved forward, gently grabbed his hand, holding it under the cold water.

"Are you okay?" He asks, pale eyes boring into teal ones, the Sunan's face was burning in embarrassment but he didn't want to look away.

Stiffly he nodded trying to keep his gaze from traveling to the open expanse of exposed skin on his collar bone.

The brunette's attention turned to the rosy fingertips clasped in his hand, inspecting them for any serious damage, the Kazekage just stood there dumbfounded, unsure what to do, but quietly enjoying their contact, trying to commit every second to memory.

'Eh?' He wondered, heart hammering wildly. 'Why is this affecting me so much?'

The warmth of his hand, he was standing so close to him he could feel the energy of his body radiating heat, and the smell-

Like a clean, crisp and sharp breeze blowing a light trail of incense through a forest of bamboo. Feeling the complete sensation of an entirely alive Hyuuga, Neji. He closed his eyes feeling a wave of emotions without time to sort them out. Before he could stop himself, his hand closed over the brunettes.

"Tea?" The Sunan spoke lowly, peering at him through his lashes, ears burning, flushed darker than his burnt fingertips. He goes to break contact, reaching for a towel for both of them to dry their hands on when he sees the gentle glow of healing jutsu surround his hand.

The Kazekage willed desperately for the quicken of his heart to dampen, thinking it was beating so hard you could probably hear it. He needed to shake it off, he was just caught off guard. He needed to push down whatever feeling this was, for Lee's happiness.

It wasn't as if the Hyuuga himself wasn't a catch, his beauty was refined and moved with grace; his confidence and intelligence made for a deadly combination.

Neji is someone who was worthy of being called Rock Lee's eternal rival.

From what the green clad Shinobi has told him about the hardships he's overcome because of his family; something that heavily relates to Gaara. Though the sand user wasn't always there to witness it, he could tell the cold air has lifted from his aura and he can see the pale eyed brunette cares deeply and appreciates his teammate for all of his quirks.

The red-head was going to do everything in his power to make sure they understood just how wonderful they both are and how lucky they would be to have each other.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

The taijutsu specialist lead, and the sand user followed. Lee talked seamlessly the whole time as Gaara listened and quietly replied when he asked about himself and his home, telling him facts about different plants in the area that he learned because of his influence, enthusiastically reenacting stories of when he lived rambunctiously among the streets of Konoha where he felt at home.

They were in a part of the village sand user had never been before, the roads became narrower and uneven the farther they walked, a few houses looking more unkempt; it reminded the red-head of the parts of his very own village that he wanted to help.

The taijutsu specialist informed him that this was the more impoverished area of the village where his orphanage was located, they had stopped there on their way, the place where he had stayed before meeting his sensei, Gai, giving odd jobs to earn money to get an apartment of his own.

At the time he wanted to live alone, to be independent, to become stronger and for the first time Lee grew silent in a way that worried the red-head before smiling and moving on like it had never happened.

Their next stop was a shop he said he would frequent because the owner always gave him a fair price. The sand user felt a little confused when they passed the front entrance and walked down a series of alleyways to a tiny back grassy opening surrounded on all sides by trees and thick bushes that led to the backdoor to a shop not even four feet in front of them where the black-haired ninja knocked three times.

It felt like a fairytale.

"Obaa-saamaa!" Lee called after knocking. A couple seconds later, the top half of the door swung open bathing them in a warm glow and thick sweet scent, revealing a very short, very old woman with grey hair pulled into a tight bun and a dark purple checkered kimono.

"Okaerinasai, Lee-kun." She said with a small smile. The taijutsu specialist reaches into his pouch and had taken out 100 yen from a coin purse, setting it gently into the old woman's hand.

"I can pay for myself." The sand user spoke softly as he reached for his wallet but was stopped by a hand so warm he could feel it radiating through his shield.

"It would be my greatest honor to treat you for your birthday, my friend." The red-head was looking at his face, he could see his lips move, his ears caught the sound of his voice but could barely understand because his whole body was set aflame by the focus on Lee's hand on his.

"Tadaima! Two today please!" He says with the brightest of smiles that the grey-haired woman returns softly, though his hand had left, Gaara couldn't concentrate on anything but the warmth left radiating through his right hand.

"I see you have a friend here with you Lee-kun, isn't that nice." The older woman coos at the green clad ninja.

"Hai! He was able to visit me, all the way from Suna!" The green clad ninja practically bellowed, Gaara could feel his face become hot, taking joy in his friend's excitement of his presence, hand still tingling.

The two exchanged conversation a bit more before the woman disappeared and returned with a platter with two cups and two pieces of grilled mochi letting them know the treat was on the house. The red-head took the smaller piece because he wasn't too big on sweets, enjoying them together in a comfortable silence.

"Umai.*" He whispered in surprise after he took a sip of the drink set before him.

"Isn't it? It's warmed rice milk made special by the Oba-sama who is the owner of this tea shop. When I was younger, I was often bullied by the kids from the orphanage. One day I couldn't take it anymore and I ran back here so no one would find me." Lee paused before brightening up.

"But then Oba-sama found me and treated me kindly, letting this become my own little hideaway." He spoke quietly with a small smile, finishing off the rest of his snack before the sand user could find a reply, the older woman called for the green clad ninja.

"Lee, would you have a little time to take these bags of rice down stairs for me?" She asked, her left hand bracing her lower back.

"It would be my honor to assist you at any time, Oba-sama!" The black-haired shinobi said seriously with a bow, then stepping through the door the shop owner opened for him. Lee even made it a challenge for himself to carry all six bags down at the same time.

"My grandson would have been his age by now." The woman in the purple kimono started softly, back facing the red-head, calmly watching the stairs for Lee.

"Him, my son and husband are all dead now... My daughter-in-law helps me run this shop and when I die, this shop will close but..." Only turning to face Gaara once she saw the top of Lee's head.

"While we're still alive and kicking, it's important to dote, on the people we care about most, right?" She whispered with a wink.

"Is there anything else you need me to do, Oba-sama? I swear on my youthful spirit that whatever it is, do not be afraid to ask!" Lee stated with a fist on his hip and chest.

"Hmm, I think I may have one more request." she said grabbing her chin with thumb and forefinger.

"Hai!" He shouted enthusiastically face shifting to a confused look when the grey-haired woman pulled out a small package from the sleeve of her robe.

"Please share this with your friend tomorrow, it's almost dinner time so don't spoil it." The said woman with a wag of her finger, Lee gave her the most serious of nods.

"You have my word!" Reaching in his pouch for his coin purse but was stopped by the shop owner's hand.

"B-but, I must give you something, the snacks and-" Lee stammered flustered.

"I don't need it, and it's my request for you to take it, without pay. Onegai . * " She spoke gently patting his hand in-between hers.

"...Arigato Gozaimasu." He said defeatedly, the older woman chuckled.

"And don't forget to come back now, ya hear?" She said, giving his hand the firmest squeeze, she could muster before letting go.

"Mm!" Lee said looking down at the woman warmly with his face flushed from the cold; the most kind and gentle look Gaara had ever seen, it made him want to cry.

Even after they bowed and said their goodbyes with promises of their return, the older woman in the purple kimono stood in the entryway watching them until they were no longer in sight.

The rest of the walk out of the alleyways was silent, he couldn't see Lee's face, but just the back of his head, but imaging a smaller version, wrapped in bandages walking the darkening alley alone made Gaara's throat tight and his eye's burn.

The clouds never fully lifted; as the sun went down, the darkness came fast and the street lamps and lanterns followed quickly behind, lighting the streets of Konoha on their way to the restaurant.

Hours passed without feeling like time had moved at all as Lee stopped to show him one last place. Right before the shopping district was a series of homes and closed communities belonging to those wealthiest in the village, at the cross roads leading to the shops at the last corner of homes was an empty, massive Japanese style home completely surrounded by wooden fence except for a chain linking off the entrance.

"As far back as I can remember, this house has been abandoned. It has twelve bedrooms and its own bathhouse... I used to tell the kids at the orphanage that I'd become a famous Shinobi someday and when we grew up, I'd buy that house so all my friends could live together and so we'd never be lonely." Lee said with a chuckle.

"You still have time." Gaara said before he could stop himself, with a serious look that surprised Lee, making him let out an even grander laugh that made the red-heads heart squeeze.

He honestly believed it, that Lee could do anything and everything he wanted should be his.

"I, Rock Lee swear on my life to become the most youthful recognized ninja that ever lived!" The green clad ninja shouted into the sky, all the red-head could do is gently nod in agreement.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Gaara had to turn away from the Hyuuga's serious expression, there had really been no need to heal him, he had barely been burned. The show of care was turning the Sunan's stomach all hot and mushy, trying to distract himself by grabbing the kettle for the tea.

"Is there anything I can help with?" The Hyuuga asked walking up beside the Kazekage and leaning down to try to make eye contact.

He doesn't turn to look at Neji because he can't look him in the eyes right now, the redhead felt like he was in a pitch-black room and the brunette's gaze was a spotlight cast upon him, exposing him and things about himself he had never known. He didn't want to say no and have him think he was being a nuisance, but he also didn't want to leave room for argument.

"It's best if you res-" He was swiftly cut off.

"Gaara. Do not baby me." The Hyuuga said sternly as if it was a warning; the redhead's eyes widen, turning to look at the brunette before he nodded slowly.

Unaccustomed to people talking to him like they weren't afraid of his powers or his status. He turned his attention back to his food, setting the tea kettle in front of the pale eyed Hyuuga.

"Tea for me as well, but Lee will probably want-" Gaara mumbled before interrupted again.

"Coffee." The pink clad Hyuuga answered, he simply nodded in confirmation.

"You must really care for Lee." Neji said after a moment of them working in silence alongside each other.

"He is a great man and strong Shinobi. I've never met someone as passionate for life as him. ...I never had someone care for me the way he has. Naruto and Lee were my first true friends...Because of them... I do not feel lonely anymore." The redhead said calmly, feeling his body start to relax. It was the most they had spoken since the day before at the hospital, Neji paused before he responded.

"I'm glad Lee had someone like you looking after him." The Hyuuga whispered softly as he poured water into the kettle.

"I feel like I'm the one Lee is looking after. There is nothing I could ever do to repay him for the kindness he has shown me." The redhead stated in a voice just a quiet, jumping in surprise when he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning his head and met pale eyes only inches away.

"I feel the same way." The Hyuuga had a sad look in his eye as he leaned against the counters edge crossing his arms.

"Gomen, Gaara. My attitude towards you when Lee and you first became friends was childish, I treated you unfairly and never apologized for my behavior. In all honesty I was just mad at myself and I saw part of myself in you." He turned to look at the Kazekage whose features softened at his words.

"I think it was just easier for me to be mad at you for hurting Lee then to be mad at myself for the ways I had hurt him." The Hyuuga admitted, gaze cast to the ground in shame.

"...There is nothing for me to forgive. I find it admirable to show concern for one's friend. I would have responded the same way." The brunette's eyes widen in surprise before he smiled warmly, making the unsuspecting Sunan's stomach flop nervously.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of Lee abruptly opening the front door.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Gaara wished the walk to the restaurant had taken longer, before he could blink, they were in front of the door and as Lee pulled it open everyone inside shouted surprise. The red-head had thankfully felt everyone's chakra as they approached, thinking better than to actually surprise him, but the gesture was still sweet.

He had never had any kind of party let alone for his birthday; he truly appreciated the thought. His siblings and their friends they left with earlier had joined the party with the rest of their respective teams with the exception of Naruto who was outside the village for training but-

He couldn't stop thinking about how being with Lee made his skin feel like a cold, sweet, fizzy soda, that made his blood feel thick like molasse and his tongue heavy and dry like salt water taffy; he felt like he was going to melt and crumble into dust to be swept away by the wind all at the same time, but he knew he had no place in his heart, that was reserved for-

"Sakura-chaaan!" Rock Lee called with practically hearts in his eyes.

And even if it wasn't her, he knew he came in third to-

"What took you so long?" Inquired Neji, trying to look indifferent but looked a bit indignant.

'But that's okay because...' Gaara thought as he soundlessly found a seat next to Lee.

Being with Lee, is enough, being someone worthy of his friendship is enough.

Dinner soon came to an end and even included a cake; it didn't matter how many times Kankuro and Kiba teased him he wasn't going to share what he wished for.

There were so many people talking about so many things happening around him Gaara couldn't keep up when Lee suddenly grabbed his sleeve. It became his landline, the lighthouse standing proud in the middle of a storm; the only thing the sand user could do was sail straight ahead.

"Sorry, everyone." Lee cleared his throat.

"Thank you all so much for coming, but you'll have to excuse Gaara-kun and I a little earlier than planned." The green clad ninja said using the sand user's elbow to gently pull him onto his feet.

"Eeh?! C-chotto Matte!*" Temari shouted and the other around the tabled laughed and hollered, but the red-head's back was turned and his heart was pounding, he was already heading towards the door with Lee close behind him.

"Nigete!*" Kankuro called with a cackle, Kiba wolf whistles and Chouji pounds a fist on the table howling, Ino laughing, Sakura and Temari chastising them for their antics.

"I promise to escort Gaara-kun straight to the hotel afterwards! I swear on my youthful spir-" Gaara closed the door to the restaurant that barely held the wild sounds of the party before Lee could finish. The red-head started walking towards the direction of Lee's apartment when a green blur sped past him and jumped onto the rooftops.

"Come, this way is faster." The taijutsu specialist called, with what he thought was an actual sparkle in his eye, taking off into the greyed night, the sand user pursuing with much enthusiasm.

Lee landed on a wooden balcony barely big enough for two, the sand user hopping down facing the glass doors, pale green curtains shielding viewers from the inside. Icy fog escapes his mouth as he stands, coming nose to nose with the green clad ninja who grinned through chapped lips, face tinted pink from the cold.

"Do you trust me?" He asked seriously, though a glint of mischief was in his eyes; the Sunan simply set down his gourd as sand poured off his body, feeling the frozen winds of winter on his skin for the first time.

He could only manage a nod in agreement, because he did trust Lee, even if it had never occurred to him before this moment, but he knew his face was red hot.

Not only did he feel shy without his shield, used to its constant presence, no one besides his siblings had ever been this close to him, it made the green clad ninja paused in his movements, eyes wide with surprise, he nodded like he understood before pulling bandages out of his pouch.

He slowly covered Gaara's eyes, the red-head focused on steadying his breaths as his heart hammered wildly. Once he was done, he heard the sound of the glass door slide open, feeling a hand slightly warmer than his own grasp his hand gently and firmly leading him into his apartment, closing the door behind them engulfed his senses in the earthy scent of Lee.

Like petrified wood the size of mountains, sculpted by the wind; warmed with the heat of the sun.

The red-head could hear the sound of Lee's breath change, it quickens slightly in excitement, vibrating with energy as he guides Gaara a few more feet until they stop in a spot emitting warmth and his blindfold was removed, blinking a few times to let his eyes adjust.

There in front of him emitting the only light in the dim room of Lee's six tatami* mat sized apartment, on a rectangular dark brown chabudai* was a heat lamp, giving off an orange glow casted upon a plastic clear box and an envelope. It hosted a glass bowl the size of a palm filled halfway with water, floating on top was the smallest leaf with crinkled edges.

"It's a lotus!" Lee's words sounded rushed like he had been holding his breath.

"There's this really amazing lake right outside the village that grows all kinds of lotus blossoms in the spring and summer. I never had the words to capture its true beauty, but I wanted you desperately to see it my friend!" The green clad ninja exclaimed making wild hand gestures, Gaara couldn't move his eyes from the sight.

"But I realized I didn't know the next time you'd get to come to the village...So I researched and started to grow one myself with the help of Ino-chan!" The Leaf Shinobi continued as if it was the only logical thing to do, start an entire new hobby just to give someone a gift; at this point the red-head couldn't look at him.

"The first couple of attempts didn't go so well... it might be a miracle that this one survived but it did and I was so excited to show you, I never thought you'd get to see it so soon!" Lee stated voice raising in volume as he spoke, bringing his hands behind his back nervously.

The Sunan dropped to his knees to peer at the little plant closer, it seemed like the taijutsu specialist was waiting for him to respond and when the red-head stayed silent pulling his present closer, he continued.

"In a few books, I read that Lotus are a symbol of purity and can mean strength, resilience and rebirth in the language of flowers...I hope you can accept this as a symbol of our ever-growing friendship, like our bond that continues to deepen and grow stronger!" Trying one more time to prompt an answer from the Sunan nervously wringing his hands he blurted out-

"...Do you like it?" Lee asked softly trying not to sound as stressed as he felt.

"I love it." Gaara replied just as quietly, a smile blossoming on his face.

'I love you.' Rang loudly in the red-head's mind when he heard a gasp.

"Gaara-kun, look." His friend called from the glass doors separating them from the chill of outside.

The red-head tore his gaze away from his gift setting it back down on the table. He got up slowly, walking to the same glass doors they had once entered hand in hand to the clouded night sky as tiny flakes of snow lightly drifted through the air.

He stood silently, shoulder to shoulder with Lee in front of those doors, staring in wonder at the winter flurry thinking about the ways this birthday had been significantly better than the rest.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

The redhead watched as the Hyuuga got up to inspect the sound, calling Lee's name. The Sunan followed behind and sped up when he heard a gasp, Gaara peered from behind Neji's frame, noticing the color on the brunette's ears deepening.

Snow was falling in thick, heavy drops, creating inches of it on the ground behind him, the green clad ninja stood with the door thrown open, holding a bouquet of every type of flower imaginable; the size of all three of their heads together wrapped in gigantic windmill palm leaf and a white ribbon.

"Now, I can finally say it." Lee stated seriously, whose face was chapped and flushed.

"Okaerinasai! Neji!" Thrusting the bursting arrangement inches away from his teammate's chest with a bow.

"Mo.*" The Hyuuga groans as he gently pulls the bouquet to his chest, turning away from his eternal rival, but when Gaara sees the look on the brunette's face, he knew he had made the right choice.

Neji's usually stoic features had a delicate flush he tried to hide by slowly pressing it into the mass of flowers.

"You don't like it?" Lee asks nervously gripping his hands.

"Aho.*" He immediately replied straighten his shoulders before walking away from the dejected green clad ninja down the hall to a room on the far right. Just before he passed the threshold, the red-head heard a faintest whisper as the Hyuuga's door shut.

"Tadaima."

Gaara knew he was making the most logical choice, but just for a second there was an ache in his chest that would have to wait until he traveled home.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ


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