Sakura stepped towards Lee.
"I'm sorry…for what I said when we were younger…" She began. "I realized that I really do love you too…Will you take me now?" She asked as she advanced upon the boy.
Lee stumbled backwards, shocked by this display.
"Sakura-san…" He began but he was cut off by Sakura who was trying to kiss him. Lee panicked and pushed away. Sakura gave him a confused look.
"Sakura-san." He began, firmly. "I don't love you like that. I used to but now I love you more like a sister. I…realized recently that I do not love girls anymore…" Lee finished hiding his face behind his beautiful shiny hair.
Sakura was completely shocked. Lee's confession ran chills through her body. Lee likes boys? She thought. She put on her best smile. She said good bye to Lee and left hastily. Lee sat on the ground, feeling bad about breaking the news to her like that.
Gaara silently approached Lee. He sat down on the ground next to him.
"Lee…" He said, suddenly.
"Ga...Gaara?!" Lee said, shocked. "Wh...what are you doing here?"
"I...was wondering if you are busy tomorrow. I'm in town for now and I have something I want to tell you…" Gaara asked, eagerly.
Shocks ran through Lee's body. He wasn't sure if Gaara had overheard his conversation with Sakura or now. Hesitantly, he shook his head.
"Would you like to go to this Konoha Spring Festival thing that starts tomorrow?"
Lee opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He nodded as he blushed. He quickly forced a goodbye and ran. Gaara smiled slightly.
--He wrapped his arms around Lee. He looked deep into his eyes and leaned in closely. Their lips almost touched…--
Gaara awoke with a start. These dreams occurred every night. Each time getting further. He glanced at the clock. It was almost sunrise. He got dressed and went atop the building. He started at the horizon has it began to glow with morning light. The sun slowly inched up until the first rays broke through. The sun had fully risen by the time a shout forced Gaara back into the real world.
"Gaara-san! Are you home?" Lee shouted.
Gaara jumped down from the roof and landed near Lee.
"Hai." He said plainly. Lee smiled.
"To the Festival of youth!" Le shouted grabbing Gaara's hand and tugging him along. Gaara blushed slightly. He hurried to keep up with the youthful ninja.
The festival was unlike anything Gaara had ever seen. He had never been to a festival. Booths lined the street. The children ran freely laughing and playing. The scent of different foods laced the air. It was a happily busy place. They even had a couple of rides. Gaara looked around curiously like a child in a new place.
Lee dragged Gaara over to a cotton candy booth.
"One cotton candy," he told the lady as she handed him a fluffy blue stick. He took a wad off and offered it to Gaara.
"Try it. It's delicious." He said gently feeding the sugary treat to Gaara.
"It's so sweet…" Gaara whispered.
Lee grabbed Gaara's hand again and dragged him to a dart booth.
"This is fun. Tenten can hit all the balloons with one dart." Lee said cheerfully. He handed Gaara a few darts. Gaara took aim and got six balloons with only two darts. Lee took a couple darts and got thirteen balloons.
"Nineteen balloons. I'll let you get a twenty prize." The man said, gesturing to the official Kage plushy collection.
"What do you want?" Lee asked Gaara. Gaara pointed at a Kazekage plushy. He gave it to Lee as a present. Leeturned from Gaara for a brief second to cradle the doll lovingly in his arms. He grabbed Gaara's hand again. He ran towards the Ferris wheel.
Gaara sat down in the cart of the wheel. They began to rise up. By this time, the sun was setting. They sat at the top and watched the sun finish sinking into the horizon. Gaara looked into Lee's inviting eyes. He leaned closer slightly. Suddenly, the Ferris wheel jerked forward. Gaara and Lee blushed. They got off the ride and Lee walked Gaara home.
"Goodnight, Gaara-san." Lee said softly.
"Goodnight, Lee." Gaara said. After an awkward silence, Lee turned and went home.
--Gaara blushed deeply. He looked up into Lee's eyes. Their lips touched softly. Any pain or worry in his mind disappeared. He felt truly happy. He felt loved again.--
"Gaara?!" A voice woke him up. "Gaara! I'm coming in." Temari called.
She opened the door to find her little brother still half asleep.
"Wake up, Gaara. It's almost noon." She said pointing at his clock. "Sorry I haven't been able to visit you for four days. I've been filing out some paperwork…and Shikamaru…" Temari began to ramble.
"Temari." Gaara said plainly. "What do you want?"
"Oh. Yes. We have to leave in three days and return to the village. Kankuro's been having some trouble with the younger ninja. They don't respect him as much. They feel that he is weak since his puppets were recently destroyed." Temari said, breaking the news.
"I see…" Gaara mumbled with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"So what did you do during those three days? Did you tell everyone thank you?"
Gaara closed his eyes fondly remembering the day before. "I found most people on the second day here. I found Gai the third day and thanked him. Yesterday, I went to the spring festival with Lee."
"I see. Lee, huh…I heard from Sakura…never mind." Temari said smiling. "We're having dinner tonight at Shikamaru's. Try to look nice." Temari got up and left.