Butterflies

"Me? I'm nobody. I'm not skilled like Uchiha-san. I am not passionate like Haruno-san. I am not smart like Nara-san. I'm not as strong as Chouji-san. I'm not as collected as Aburame-san. Or as pretty as Yamanaka-san. I'm not as confident as Inuzuka-san. If anything, I'm like Hyuuga-san, socially awkward. Oh wait, no, she's just shy. The socially awkward one is me." OC! Team 7 remix!

Chapter 39 – Perspective: Love vs Hate

8-8

"Sweetie, I feel like heading out into the village for some shopping. Care to join me?" Yasu-nee asks, leaning slightly into my office.

"So, you want to start socializing Fuu and you figure dragging me along to teach me to play nice is two birds with one stone?" I theorize. I still roll up the scroll I've been studying, seeing no harm to giving in to my big sister.

"Now that you mention it, that sounds like a wonderful idea. I'll go tell her she's tagging along." Yasu-nee smiles brightly, acting like that wasn't the plan the whole time. "Ooh! I should bring Naruto and Sasuke as well. And Asami, just to be sure. After all, we wouldn't want Fuu to feel isolated, would we?"

I find myself giggling at Yasu-nee's obvious plan. And that she controls the food in this house, so she knows she controls everyone that eats. And shinobis eat a lot!

I hate that she's doing this. But at the same time…

8-8

We find ourselves in a quaint little music store. Kami-sama, Yasu-nee just loves teasing me like this. I want so badly to go through the sheet music, try to find new pieces for either myself or my students. I want to ogle the flutes and that awesome looking electric guitar for Hanabi – I don't know why, but I just think it would suit her. She's quite the rebel when she wants to be.

But at the same time, I want to study Fuu and stay between her and Yasu-nee. I look to my sister; the conflict is probably obvious in my eyes, seeing as she's smiling at me. We both know she's doing this on purpose, to show me that she isn't worried, that she feels perfectly safe around Fuu. I know, I understand… but my fears don't care.

"Come on, Aya, I think I see some flute sheet music." Asami links arms with me, dragging me along. I sigh mutely, hating and loving this for sooooo many reasons. Still, I know Yasu-nee will just do something worse just to prove her point. This seems like the lesser evil.

"You play the shinobue?" I look up from the sheet music I'm sorting through, finding Fuu there with a subdued look on her face.

"Nn." I noise, looking back down. "A hiyashi styled shinobue. Most of my students do as well. Only Udon plays the koto – the thirteen strings one. And Hanabi plays the guitar."

"Ah." Fuu seems unsure what to do with that information.

"Yeah." I don't know how I know, but I just know that Yasu-nee sent her over here to talk to me. I just know it. "I've been teaching them sound release. So all of them need to learn to sing, play an instrument and other unique tricks to make the sounds they need."

"Sound release… I thought that was only used in the Land of Rice Patties?" She smiles a little, even though she's confused. I can only guess she's happy I'm trying to help the conversation along.

"I wouldn't know. I found a book on it and I'm pretty much Konoha's most proficient user. I've been teaching pretty much everyone in our pack. But I think Hina-nee and Naru-nii are the second and third best. Those two can be scary when they want to be." I explain. "Lucky! Stairway To Heaven! Oh my Kami! Hanabi's going to freak when she sees this!"

"Huh… I can't say I've ever heard of that." Fuu looks confused.

"It's classic Rock. It's pretty popular in some circles, but anyone that plays a guitar should know how to play this song." She looks even more confused. "As in Rock and Roll? Well, more Soft Rock if you ask me, but most definitely in that genre."

"I see." No she doesn't. Hmm, they also have 'Snow' for Udon. It's a pretty playful piece, I find. I think he'd like it.

"You really like music, don't you." Fuu seems amused.

"I love music." I correct, my right index finger raised and 'tapping the air' when I say 'love' to add meaning to it. "Ooh! Princess Sayuka's theme! The part for the koto! I could soooooo do a duet with Udon now!"

I collect the sheets I want, going over them a few times and thinking about the pros and cons. Yes, I like my selection. We're soooo not leaving these here to 'hope' that they're still here another time! Most of the time you have to get lucky and happen onto it.

8-8

After the music store, Yasu-nee decides she wants to go to another store. A shinobi outfitter, of all places. "I was thinking about getting Saki-chan a uniform to train in. Kami knows how hard a time I have keeping her clothes clean with how she trains." Makes sense, so we all follow her in.

"But… wouldn't it make more sense if she's here to try it on?" I mention, just as we start looking into things that are about her size. "I mean, she's the one that has to wear it."

"Good point. Naru-chan, would you mind collecting her and bringing her here then?" Yasu-nee is really something else sometimes. "Actually… no, Aya-chan, you going makes more sense. No one would open the gate."

"Point. Alright, I'll be right back." I sta-

"Fuu, would you mind going with her? I'm sure Aya can manage just fine on her own, but company always makes the journey pleasant."

"Yasu-nee… you're just… so you." I manage, shaking my head and smiling.

"Of course, sweetie. Who else would I be?" She smiles brightly, shooing us with a motion of her hands. I roll my eyes, but can't stop smiling at the same time.

8-8

That's pretty much how the whole day went. Yasu-nee would come up with new reasons why Fuu and I have to do something together, and she would stay with Naru-nii, Sasa-nee and Sasuke. Each time, Fuu tries to strum up a conversation, but just doesn't know what to say… which means I have to mostly keep the conversation going myself.

I sigh, rolling my eyes. Fuu wants to make friends, I can tell just looking at her. The hopeful longing in her eyes each time we're alone. The way she fumbles each time tells me she doesn't have a lot of friends.

I sigh again, sheathing my tanto after sharpening it and oiling it properly. "It's time." Asami says. I nod, knowing that she's right. It is time. And we need to deal with this sooner rather than later.

Still, confronting a sociopath isn't something I look forward to. Let alone in the dead of night. But, this is simply easier. Hogake-dono said that this person doesn't sleep, so confronting him while his team sleeps is easier.

8-8

Finding this particular Sand team is so easy it's almost sad. But… maybe the fact that Asami doesn't know any sensory jutsu is worse? Naru-nii already told her that he'll be training her to make sure she can keep up with her team. What has she been training in then?

Whatever. Gaara. Crazy, unstable, psychotic sociopath that would happily kill us. Focus.

I smell Temari and Kankuro, along with their jounin-sensei –Baki, I believe– in their hotel room. Typical that they wouldn't stoop down to taking a motel room, but what did I expect? Three children of the current Kazekage, they're likely used to the best and nothing but.

Gaara, it seems, doesn't care that his team is fast asleep and probably counting on him to stand watch. He's on the roof, alone. So we make our way up to the roof, careful to keep our distance, but still come close enough to let him know we're here.

"Come to kill me already." The redhead drones. He's sitting on the line where the two slants of the roof meet, staring up at the stars as if nothing else matters.

"Come to talk." Asami corrects. "I'm Sarutobi Asami. I'm told you already know Sasuke, Naruto and Aya?"

"Two nines. How odd." Gaara intones. "It would seem Mother was right, this village is teeming with snacks."

I growl at him, feeling my whole face morph slightly to resemble a wolf's true don't-you-dare-threaten-my-pack growl. My every muscle tenses, ready to pounce and turn this idiot into minced meat.

"Aya." Naru-nii wraps an arm around my middle, both to hold me back and calm me down.

"Odd." Gaara says, his tone more thoughtful than crazy. "She knows what you are, but I've never seen her be anything but defensive of you."

"Aya's like a little sister to me." Is all Naru-nii says.

"And the redhead?" Gaara seems so lost tonight for some reason. What is that boy's story?

"Can't a guy have more than one sister?" Naru-nii sounds amused. "Heck, I've got what… seven sisters and five brothers. Jeez, we've really got a strong pack going, eh, sis?" I snort, amused. Yeah, we kind of do.

"I'm assuming a certain ray of sunshine isn't one of your sisters?" Asami guesses, no doubt referring to Hinata. I smile, blushing for Naru-nii. He just rubs the back of his head, slightly embarrassed.

"It'd be kinda weird if I thought of her as my sister, wouldn't it?" Yeah, it would. The three of us shrug. No point in arguing when we all know he's right.

"You have bonds. You must be weaker than Mother believes." Gaara says dismissively.

"Oh." Asami says, walking up to Gaara slowly. "What makes you say that?"

He doesn't answer. He doesn't lash out either. He's just… sitting there.

"You know, it's weird." Asami says, looking up at the stars. "I never knew loneliness. I was always surrounded by people that care for me, always looked after. Anything I wanted, I was given."

Naru-nii tenses slightly. He doesn't like to talk about it, but I know Asami's upbringing is still a sore point between them.

"But I've never had bonds as tight, as unbreakable, as Naruto has with his precious people." Asami says, longingly. "I used to be so jealous of Naruto-kun. Of his relationship with Aya." She mumbles something that I could swear sounds like 'I still am.'

"Your point?" Gaara demands impatiently.

"What is it with guys and needing everything to have a point? Isn't talking reason enough?" Asami teases, but sounds a bit annoyed as well. She sighs, and shrugs it off. "How typical that you won't listen to anything other than a strong opponent. Jeez, I swear guys would turn the entire planet into a warzone."

Gaara doesn't answer once again.

"Fine, be that way. We'll just have to beat some sense into you. Naruto, Sasuke, Aya. When you meet up with this one during the exams, be sure to beat the snot out of him for me. Alright?"

"Why are you including me in this?" I ask, annoyed. I tend to avoid psychopaths and sociopaths. After all, I don't need another psycho stealing my thunder, and sociopaths are just weird.

"Aya, we're included. Doesn't that drag you into it?" Sasuke asks, smirking. I roll my eyes, but don't comment. "Hmm, maybe we should make all the chocolate in the village disappear." An unmedicated psycho! Are you crazy!?

I growl at him, daring him to try.

8-8

And so, Thursday arrives. One more day before the exams start. And what am I doing? Training to prepare for the unknown? No, of course not. I'd been forbidden to train. Instead, I'm dragging Sakiko all over the village, trying to find her some ramen. Naru-nii seems to have plundered the whole village, so there isn't any anywhere.

"You know what? Forget it. I'm taking you to IchiRaku's." I tell her after the tenth convenience store clerk tells me some blonde guy bought their whole stock two days ago. I swear, if IchiRaku's is out of Ramen, I'm killing that boy.

"Good afternoon, Aya, Saki. I haven't seen you two around at all lately. How have you been?" Ayame-san welcomes us warmly.

"I was here with my team a few days ago, but Teuchi said you needed the afternoon off?" I study her as I take my seat. She blushes lightly and looks away. A date, huh? Well that's good. I wonder who the lucky guy is? Unless… she's into girls? I don't know, and it's really none of my business.

"What would you two like to have today?" She changes the subject, like I figured she would.

"Beef!" Saki announces happily. I pet her hair, trying to get her to calm down a little.

"I think I'll have the miso. And some tea please."

"Father! One beef and one miso ramen please!" Ayame calls out, her voice almost singing.

"One beef, one miso! Got it!" He calls back merrily. These two always seem to be like this, like this show is part of the meal for their customers. I don't get it, but I've never worked in a restaurant – or any kind of eatery, really.

"What kind of tea would you two like? We have oolong, jasmine, eucalyptus, rose petal and desert cactus bloom." She recites from memory.

"Ooh, Aya-nee, can I try the rose petal? That sounds too good not to try just once, ya know!" Saki begs, giving me the puppy eyes and all.

"Alright, two rose petal teas it is." I give in. I see no reason not to, I mean the flavour we pick isn't exactly a big deal.

"Ah, two lovely ladies ordering a most youthful tea." I smelled Lee coming, of course, but I didn't really expect him and his team to pass this direction. "Good afternoon, Aya-kun, Saki-chan. How are you on this glorious day?"

I smile patiently. Lee is just one of those people that you either love or hate. There is no middle ground. I should know, I've been trying to tolerate him for months. "We're doing alright, Lee. And you?"

"I am very much excited about tomorrow. Surely you are entering the exams as well?" He asks, still standing there. I pat the empty seat next to me, and he joins without a word.

"Of course." I give Lee and Ayame the time they need to go through the usual chitchat, Lee eventually decides he wants a beef ramen, and of course Saki has to announce that Lee made the right choice – simply because he ordered the same thing as her.

"I was wondering, Aya-kun. We've been sparring regularly for months now." Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. Ayame-san pretends she has something she needs to check in the back, 'giving us some privacy'.

"… Yes?"

"Would you honour me by joining me for dinner tonight?"

"Ehhhhhh! Lee-san! You're asking Aya-nee on a d-d-date!?" Thank you, Sakiko. Could you maybe say that a little louder? I don't think people in Cloud Village heard you.

"…" I turn, seeing Ino and her team walking up to us. I can tell by their troubled looks that they heard Saki-chan. Akimichi-san looks like he'd seen a ghost, so pale. You don't want other boys asking me out, but you won't do it yourself? Hnn! "That would be lovely, Lee. Pick me up at six?"

"I will do so, Aya-chan!" Lee's so excited he can barely sit still.

8-8

"This is going to blow up in your face. I promise you that." Asami and Minori are taking turns telling me how bad an idea this is.

"Why? Because I'm going out with someone that treats me right, respects me and actually shows interest in me?" I counter.

"No, because you're just leading Lee on to get back at Chouji."

"Oh? Am I?" I wonder, pausing long enough to apply my lipstick properly. "It's a good thing you told me, or I'd never have figured it out."

"You're wearing a fancy kimono and makeup, how do you think he'll interpret that?" Asami asks.

"That I'm trying to look pretty for our date." I point out simply. "Seriously, you two. This isn't a big deal."

"Oh. So your first date ever isn't a big deal?" Minori counters. "Or agreeing to said first date in hearing distance of the boy EVERYONE knows you're in love with? I guess that's just a coincidence, huh?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I lie easily. Of course Sakiko blabbed every detail. Thank Kami-sama she knows that the techniques I teach her are a 'clan secret', even though we're not really a clan yet. It's annoying how many loopholes we have to jump through before we can apply for clan status.

"Uh huh." Minori doesn't buy it. She crosses her arms, and glaring at me in the mirror. "Asami's right, this is soooo going to blow up in your face."

"And what's the alternative? Waiting until Akimichi-san decides I'm worth his time?" I ask, taking off my glasses, pursing my lips to protect my lipstick, and applying the powder over my makeup. I wait almost a full minute, no one answers me. "I thought so."

"So what, you're just going to give up on Chouji?" Minori isn't giving up, even if logic isn't winning her case.

"Should I wait then?"

"Y-yes." Minori doesn't sound convinced.

"And then I come back from a mission, find him in some other woman's arms, find that I'd waited fifteen years for nothing?" I (sort of) ask her (very) point blank. That brings both of them up short. "We kissed, Minori. He knows what I feel for him, knows that I want this to be real. And HE'S the one that said it won't work. What more do you expect me to do?"

I don my kimono, a bright red one that I'd sort of fallen in love with, tying my obi properly and looking at myself in the mirror to see if I look good enough.

"Aya, sweetie. Lee's in the family sitting room waiting on you." Yasu-nee calls from downstairs.

"You're not even nervous, are you." Asami doesn't ask. She's eyeing me, dissecting every nuance in my stance and eyes and trying to figure out just what I'm thinking.

"It's a date, not a marriage proposal." I point out. It doesn't matter if I'm nervous or not. I was asked out two hours ago, and I've been getting ready almost since getting home. It's not as if I have the time to get nervous.

"This is so going to blow up in your face." Asami repeats. I shrug. I have to live with the result either way. Good, bad, what does it matter? And frankly, if Akimichi-san doesn't like it, then maybe he should do something other than gawk at me and act embarrassed when I notice.

8-8

On entering the family sitting room, I see poor Lee fidgeting between Momochi-san and Kakashi. Seeing as I'd sensed a faint trickle of killing intent that stopped the second I touched to top stair, I can guess what they're doing.

"My, my, sweetie. You look lovely." Yasu-nee announces, gushing again. I blush a little but I try not to bite my lip and ruin my lipstick.

"Hey, sis, you mind if I talk to you for a second before you go?" Naruto looks nervous, and worried and… a lot of different things at once.

"Hmm?" I glance at him, then at Lee's wordlessly begging to save him.

"It's fine, Aya-chan. We can keep Lee here company while you're busy." Kakashi sounds a little too happy right now. What is it with guys and threatening each other like this?

Lee tries to get my attention, once again wordlessly begging for me to save him. I blink. "Well, if you're sure?"

"Positive. Take your time, Namiki." Momochi-san waves it off. I can't be sure, but I think I hear Lee whimper pitifully.

Naru-nii leads me into his office, sliding the door shut behind him and activating a seal. Okay, whoa! Why don't I have one!? Oh right… I didn't make one, and I didn't ask him to. Whatever!

"I think this is a bad idea."

"Hnn!" I huff.

"Lee's a great guy, but this isn't what you want."

"Oh? What do I want then?"

"Chouji."

"Who doesn't want me."

"He does."

"Oh? And he shows this by telling me it won't work?"

"I told you he has self confidence issues." Naru-nii tries.

"Yes. And pushing away a girl that is all but begging him to come closer is the right way to handle it." I glare at him. "I've already been over this with Asami and Minori. I'm not in the mood to go over it again with you."

"Tough. 'Cause we're talking about it." He doesn't budge.

I cross my arms, tapping my foot impatiently on the wooden floor. "Talk."

"Do you even like Lee?"

"I like him enough."

"What's that even mean?"

"I feel comfortable around him. He treats me right. And he makes all the right moves. It's not perfect, Nii-san, but what other choice do I have? Do you really want me to sit stare at the stars out of my window until he gets over himself and decides offer me what I've been asking him for?"

"So you're going to sell yourself and Lee short?"

"I'm giving Lee a fair chance." I counter.

"Lie."

"Oh?"

"You're not even nervous."

"So?"

"This is your first date ever. And you're not nervous. You don't find that weird?"

"No."

"Lie."

"What do you want me to tell you?"

"The truth would be nice."

"Well the truth is that I don't plan on waiting forever on a boy that refuses to grow up. If he wants to be Peter Pan, let him. In the mean time, I'll be here, in the real world, dealing with real issues. I'll be making plans for the future and trying my luck with someone that is at least man enough to know I'm worth something."

"You're worth everything, sis. That's why I don't want you to do this."

"Nii-san, you're already taken. And for good reason." I remind him. "You fell in love with a girl that loves you back. You saw your chance to make her life better. And you took it. Should I not want that?"

"Of course you should, 'ttebayo!"

"Then why are you trying to stop me?"

"Because you don't love Lee back."

"He doesn't love me either."

"Yet."

"So I'm incapable of loving him?"

"No, just unwilling."

"Then let me ask you the same thing I asked them. What should I do? Sit around and wait?"

"..."

"Just sit here, biding my time. Growing old alone, hoping that he'll grow up eventually."

"Sis, stop. You're only going to end up hurting yourself, Lee and Chouji by doing this."

"Say that after Hinata tells you it won't work."

"Do you have any idea how many times I felt convinced it wouldn't work between Hina-chan and me?" He's just being stubborn now. "A street rat and a princess. That only works out in fairytales and kid's shows. Name one real life couple that did that."

"…"

"I thought so."

"But you didn't give up. You worked hard, and you tried even harder. And when you saw a chance, you took it. Even if it was just asking me to make the move for you. You MADE A MOVE." I remind him. "What has Akimichi-san done? Push me away. Don't you dare compare that little boy to the man you're growing into."

"And don't you dare act like he means nothing to you!" He shouts angrily. I flinch. No one ever shouts at me. Ever. "Stop lying to yourself, Aya! You're in love with Chouji! You'd die for Chouji! You'd marry that boy in a heartbeat!"

"All the more reason to hate him for turning me away." I turn away from Naruto, hugging myself to stop myself from crying. I refuse to cry and muck up my makeup. "Unseal the door. We're done talking."

"… Aya, y-"

"I said. We're. Done. Talking."

8-8

It takes me almost fifteen minutes to calm down enough to be able to face Lee. But I manage. He's all too willing to leave immediately, and I don't mind at all. We start walking down the road, not quite touching but annoyingly close to it.

"Lee." I begin. He turns to me, questions in his owlish eyes. "I don't want to give you false hope, so I'll tell you the situation and what it'll mean for you."

"I'm not sure I understand. But please, continue." It's only now that I even realise that he's still wearing his uniform. I'm used to it, but this is supposed to be a date.

"I'm in love with someone that doesn't love me back." I begin with the worst of it. He eyes me, unsure what to make of me now. "I'm not telling you this to hurt you, but to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. I don't like-like you, not like that. But you are kind and always treat me right. I'm willing to give you a fair chance and we'll see where this goes."

He's quiet for a long moment. I can only guess he's thinking about that. "Hmm. That sounds fair." He says eventually. "What would happen if this person were to suddenly decides he likes too?" A fair question. And one that deserves an honest answer.

"That depends on you."

"Oh?" That gets him curious.

"I'm a wolf, Lee. Loyalty above all else." I explain seriously. "If we connect like that… So long as you continue to treat me right, I will not be disloyal for silly things."

"If we connect like 'that'?" He wonders.

"I don't like-like you. Things like that take time." I pause letting that sink in a bit. "But if I would start feeling strongly for you…"

"I understand." He says, nodding gravely. "Thank you for telling me this."

"You're a gentleman, Lee. Gentlemen deserve nothing less."

8-8

Lee takes me to this quaint little café in the Commercial District. One of those out-of-the-way places that you either know about or don't. The waitress comes up to us and Lee announces we have a reservation. I find myself smiling a little, wondering if he'd made the reservation before or after asking me out.

The waitress checks the list, nods to us and smiles, asking us to please follow her. We're led into a cosy little corner, the table situated so that neither of us have our back to the crowd. I smile again, wondering at this table being the only one that is set up like this.

Lee walks up, pulling out my chair for me and motioning for me to sit down. Once I do, he carefully eases my seat forward and takes his seat across from me. We're asked if we'd like something to drink while we peruse the menu, and Lee looks to me.

"Some tea would be fine." I say, smiling.

"Yes, tea for me as well." He announces. I still haven't gotten used to his stilted style of talking.

We peruse our menus, but I can't seem to find anything I think I'd like. It seems to be mostly riceballs and snacks – not the kind of place I'd ever come to on purpose. "Hmm? Excuse me, miss! You seem to have given us the wrong menus." Lee calls the waitress back. She profusely apologizes, and replaces the menus with the dinner menus.

Ah, much better. "Please do not worry about it. Such things happen." Lee assures her, teasing a little smile out of me once again. He's a total goofball, but he has a good heart.

I go over the menu again, finding almost too many things I'd like to try this time. "I wonder if the cod is any good."

"The fish here is excellent, I assure you. Personally I prefer the beef. So I'll be going with that." He says, teasing yet another smile from me. "So, Aya-chan. We've known each other for months, but I must confess I know almost nothing about you."

I think about that. "I guess that's true the other way around as well."

"So true. Would you mind telling me a bit more about yourself?" I roll my eyes playfully. "I assure you, I will also take a turn to reveal more of myself. However, as the saying goes, ladies first."

I nod smiling a little again. I find him to be oddly charming. "Let's see. I have two sisters, Yasu and Sakiko. I'm really close with my team, but especially with Naruto-nii. I love training, chocolate, music and the theatre. I love singing and playing my flute. I'm starting to fall in love with sealing arts as well, but I'm not very good yet. Mostly I focus on medical seals, which is fine for now. Umm… Muay Thai is my preferred fighting style, but I know a few others as well. I also love to doodle. Since finding out I'm really left handed and training myself a bit, my drawing has greatly improved, but I don't show my work to anyone." I smile a little, wondering if that is enough for him.

"Ah, truly a lover of life." He smiles, light glinting off his teeth again. "I am much the same, though my passions are for simpler things like training and taijutsu. As you know I am a youthful student and practitioner of the Strong Fist Style. Other than the Strong Fist, I have my tonfa. Almost nothing else." He says that so confidently.

"Oh?" Sure, he'd only used taijutsu against me, but I thought he was only doing that because I was doing the same.

"Yes. I am unable to mould chakra properly. So ninjutsu and genjutsu are forever out of reach for me."

"So you turned weakness into strength by specializing in taijutsu." I say, finally understanding how he so effortlessly beats me every time. I nod, impressed. "I'm impressed. Most others would have given up before they even started."

"This is true. However I do not believe in giving up. If a goal is worth reaching, one should never give up before reaching it." He explains seriously. Just like Naru-nii. I smile.

8-8

After dinner, Lee and I walk around for a bit. No real destination, just mostly talking. We're still at it, two hours later.

"So you only use your tonfa in life or death situations?" I ask. I was wondering why he never used them against me. I'm nowhere near his level of skill in taijutsu, though, so it makes sense.

"Yes. I hope you do not feel I look down on your skills. I simply do not feel you would ever wilfully harm me, so you do not register as a life and death fight." He explains seriously. I like how he words that. He isn't looking down on me, he isn't looking down on my skills. And we both know he's far more skill than I am.

"Hmm. Well now that I know you're a taijutsu specialist, I might just have to use my other skills to even the playing field." I tease him a little.

"Yes, please do. I wondered why you never did. Now I see it was simply a wish to test your taijustu skills against a stronger opponent." He hits the nail on the head. I don't even mind him saying he's stronger – he really is, and he isn't saying it to boast either.

"Yeah. Since I'm the medic on my team, they tend to never let me get into the fight if they can help it." I say, my tone a bit sour. "Don't get me wrong, I see the logic in it. It just irritates me sometimes, you know?"

"Indeed I do. You are most skilled. And to hear that isn't even your main focus makes me wonder just how much you held back in our spars. Please do not hold back in the future. I wish to face your true strength, to test myself against the best." He… hmm, requests? Not quite a demand, but certainly not a question. Whatever.

"It used to be." I say, thinking back. "Back in the academy all I focused on was taijutsu, almost to the point where my other skills were laughable. Once I was placed on a team though, Yoshino-sensei set that straight. She knew papa was a medic, and found out I was studying his old textbooks. So she appointed me the team medic and told me point blank that she was going to round out my training until she could swear blindly that I would survive any encounter."

"That is a most wise and youthful decision. However, I am confused. Are you not under Hatake Kakashi? Gai-sensei is always talking about his utterly hip eternal rival."

I find myself giggling, imagining the older clone to say just that while doing a little jig. "It's complicated. But yes, Kakashi is officially my jounin-sensei."

"I have the time. Please explain." And so I do. The weirdness of Kakashi, how at first I hated his guts – which still isn't too far from the truth, but I respect him far more than I did back then. I explain Yoshino-sensei's offer to train, knowing Kakashi as forever being late to anything other than missions. I explain my earlier troubles with Sasuke, and how hard he had to work to earn my trust. I explain my relationship with Naruto-nii, and why I trust him so completely. I end up talking for nearly a half hour straight, but Lee doesn't seem to mind at all.

"I see. Yes, you are right, that is most complicated. But I am happy to hear that it has worked out so well in the end." He thinks for a moment, I can see it in his eyes. "I find it odd, however. I've seen your team each and every time you have come to our training grounds to spar, and yet I do not recall interacting much with them. They only ever seem to wish to speak with each other and with you."

"Naruto-nii and I grew up as orphans. So we have a hard time trusting people. Though he seems to get to people much quicker than I do, if he decides he likes them. And Sasuke? Hmm. He's too much like Hyuuga-san on your team."

"Yes, I thought as much. They seem to share many characteristics. Perhaps that is why they do not get along."

"Why would you want them too? Isn't one of them bad enough?" I tease, but he takes me seriously.

"I wonder. After all, Neji is a prodigy. Konoha would benefit from having many prodigies. And yet, I wonder if their being a prodigy is enough in the end." Obviously he's taking me far too seriously. I'll have to work on that.

"I was never considered a prodigy. Being called on seems like more of an ego stroke." I say, making a face. Again, he takes me completely seriously. I roll my eyes, wondering why he's always so serious.

"Perhaps you are right. But I believe we too are geniuses. Simply a different kind. We are geniuses of hard work, trying to earn our place in this world rather than having it handed to us at our birth."

"Hmm… maybe you're right." I saying, trying not to feel too annoyed.

8-8

We turn onto my street, still idly chatting about this or that. However, I smell him. Them, really. Team Ten seems to be more than a little curious about how my date will end. We make it in front of the gate, and I smell the three moving in closer.

"Are you alright, Aya-chan? You seem a bit upset." Lee notices my mood, but not out shadows. "Ah. Friends of yours?" Hmm, he does notice them, just not as quickly. Then again, I've kind of been training in sensory jutsu.

"Team Ten. Ino, the blond is one of my best friends. The other two are kind of her lackeys." I say, wondering if they'll react to that. They don't, so they can't hear me yet. "I'm sorry, I really should deal with them before they ruin the mood." I take out three kunai, tossing them exactly at their noses.

"H-hey! What are you trying to kill us!?" Ino asks, furious. Obviously they each caught the kunai. I focus on my eyes, lighting up the scene before me. Ino looks furious, Nara-san looks annoyed and Akimichi-san look almost betrayed. Hnn!

"What do you think happens to spies if they get caught, exactly?" I drone, unimpressed with the three of them. "I didn't take any of you as voyeurs. Care to explain?"

"I could ask you the same thing!" Ino demands angrily.

"Oh, right. Lee. Akimichi-san there is the boy I told you about." I say, my tone neutral. I refuse to get emotional about a situation that won't change.

"I see." Is all Lee says, but I notice he's eyeing Chouji REALLY closely. Stalker-level close.

"You told him about me?" Akimichi-san asks, shocked.

"I do not play games with those I care for. Lee is aware of the situation, and he was made aware at the very beginning of our date so there wouldn't be any misunderstandings." I lay it all out. "Why? Were you planning on using that information to drive a wedge between us?" I aim that at Nara-san and Ino – I wouldn't put it past either of them.

"What exactly did you tell him then?" Nara-san asks, his eyes sharper than I've ever seen them. He sees Lee as a threat for some reason. I don't get it. At all. Akimichi-san had his chance and didn't just mess up, he literally sent me away. Why do any of them care who I date now?

"That is none of your concern. And Lee, you will not answer him either. I am trying my best to leave the past in the past. So unless Akimichi-san has something to say, I suggest the three of you leave. Immediately."

"We're not leaving! This needs to get sorted out!" Ino announces angrily.

"I'm sorry, Lee. It was such a fun evening too." I say, pulling on his shoulder so he leans down for me and kissing Lee on the cheek. I reach into my left sleeve, unsheathing my tanto. "But I need to deal with this, and I prefer not to have witnesses."

"Aya-chan, surely you do-"

"Go home, Lee. We have exams to deal with in the morning." I remind him sternly. He nods, not happy with the fire in my tone. He passes Team Ten, patting Akimichi-san on the shoulder and offering a sympathetic look.

Once he's out of hearing distance, "So, which of you wishes to die first then?"

"We're not here to fight." Nara-san says, motioning for me to calm down.

"You stalk me during my date, follow me home, and you mean to say this isn't an assassination attempt? I thought you were smarter than this, Nara-san."

"And I thought you loved Chouji." Akimichi-san looks surprised and hurt, obviously not knowing that little titbit. That just cuts me even deeper.

"Appeal to emotion. Are we resorting to logical fallacies, Nara-san? That isn't like you at all." I counter, refusing to comment on my feelings.

"Aya, stop. Why are you doing this?" Ino is on the brink of tears, obviously unused to this side of me.

"Doing what? Moving on? Trying to live my life? What am I doing?" The three of them look shocked. "Oh, I get it. It's fine if I remain single and wallow. Crying myself to sleep for weeks is perfectly acceptable. But if anyone shows even the slightest interest in me, it's a problem?"

They flinch, obviously not having thought of it like that. I want to drag this out, to twist the kunai in them as deep as I can, just to show them how deep Akimichi-san cut me over and over again. But I smell Naru-nii coming this way.

"I thought so. So, Akimichi-san. Anything to say?" As I figured, he doesn't answer. I snort, annoyed with them.

"Sis, you okay?" Naruto-nii shows up, opening the gate and coming out to greet me.

"…" I glare at Akimichi-san, entering the gate without another word, making sure to drag Naru-nii with me. I close the gate and drag him around to the side of the house and I just… cry.

8-8

End Chapter 39

8-8

A/N: I really should have put up to the scene with Gaara in the previous chapter, it doesn't quite fit into this one; although, it kind of does just the same. I might fix that in the future.

There's a saying about people in Aya's situation. Well, several really. "There are none so blind as they who will not see." Is the one that sticks out the most. Chouji is making his move, even if he's obviously being nudged every step of the way by Ino and/or Shikamaru. But, realistically, months have passed and only now that Lee's in the picture does a move get made. That alone is hurtful.

However, what's Chouji's take on this? Why is he only now making a move? Why did he wait so long? And why does he seem shocked that Aya loves him? I mean, EVERYONE saw it. Well... you'll find out next time ;)