Title: Twenty
Rating: PG
Characters: Rock Lee and friends
Word count: 1065
Summary: Lee is a danger to himself and others.
Author's Notes: In Japan, use of both tobacco and alcohol is outlawed until the age of 20. Not that that stops most high school students from doing whatever they want. But Lee's a good boy. Also, Yuuki's just a name I kicked out. It's not a reference to an actual character from anywhere.

Rock Lee thought of himself as a nice guy. A good guy. An honest, upstanding, responsible member of society. He helped blind people cross the street, he frequently rescued cats from trees, and he never, ever used his super ninja powers for immoral purposes.

Never, ever.

"Lee! There you are!" Gai-sensei flashed a dazzling grin and motioned Lee toward the table where he sat with Asuma, Kurenai, and Yamato. Neji and Tenten were there also, but with a sullen, distracted look that suggested they hadn't come by choice.

"Gai-sensei! But why are there so many people here? You told me you just wanted to have me come out to dinner." Mild confusion painted Lee's face.

"Lee! It's your birthday!" Gai spoke with a glee only he could manage. "You're twenty today! We have to celebrate!"

Asuma nodded sagely. "Yeah. Not every day you turn twenty, Lee. We should have a drink to celebrate. You're legal now." A sparkle lit the man's eyes. Tenten, sitting beside him, looked suddenly panicked.

"No, Asuma-sensei, I can't. It's irresponsible to drink alcohol. It doesn't matter that I'm twenty; inappropriate is inappropriate. A ninja should always be on guard, and how can I stay on guard if alcohol is impairing my judgment?" Gai-sensei gave Lee a thumbs-up and a smile, and Lee grinned back in return. Gai-sensei had made very sure Lee understood the dangers of alcohol.

As Lee pulled out a chair and sat between Gai-sensei and Yamato-sensei, Kakashi came back with a tray of drinks. "Ah, there's the birthday boy! All right, I've got something for everyone here. Let's see. Yamato, you wanted a Jack. Kurenai, your usual Mai Tai. Here you go." Kakashi passed out a hurricane glass and an especially full snifter to the two teachers. "Next up. Corona for Asuma and myself."

Kakashi set down two bottles, as Kurenai spoke up. "Really, Asuma, should you be drinking? You know you have a hard time stopping." A disapproving stare painted her face. "What are they going to say at the Meeting next week?"

Asuma took the bottle in hand, drawing a swig. "It's a party, Kurenai! Lee's turning twenty. It's occasion enough to celebrate. I'll be all right this once." He smiled rakishly, and Kurenai turned back to her own drink.

"That leaves Gai and the kids. You're sure you don't want anything tonight, Gai? Yuuki says he's got some of that really good sake you always like tucked away in the back..."

Gai's cheeks reddened. "No, Kakashi. Ninjas must not drink. We must always be ready for what may come!"

Kakashi tilted his head to the side, a sly grin on his face. "All right, whatever you say Gai. Anyway, I had Yuuki whip up something special for you and the kids, since you and Lee don't want to drink and Neij and Tenten are still nineteen. Hopefully you'll still like it." He set down four tall glasses of a milky-looking liquid before taking his own seat at the table.

Asuma raised his bottle, clapping his hand on the table to get everyone's attention. "Okay, now that we're all ready, I think we should have a toast! To Rock Lee, on turning twenty. Lee's the hardest worker I've ever met. Never seen a ninja like him, and I doubt I ever will again. You're a man now, kid!"

A chorus of "Here! Here!" echoed around the table as bottles and glasses clinked together. Lee tipped back his own, taking a long drink. The mixture, whatever it was, was sweet. There was milk in there, he was sure - and as everyone knew, milk was good for bone and muscle development, which made Lee happy with the drink. There was a fruity flavor too, like sugarcane to sweeten it, and something that tasted a bit like rice, and just a hint of a bite. It went very well together. "What is this, Kakashi-sensei? It's really good!"

"It is, isn't it?" Tenten chimed in. "I really can't tell what's in it, but I like the taste. What do you think, Neji?"

Neji frowned for a moment, considering the drink. Veins stood out around his temples as he turned his specialized vision on the contents of the glass. Frowning, he took another sip and spoke. "Mmm. I think, perhaps, Lee, you should st-"

Gai-sensei rode over what Neji had been about to say, grinning toothily. "It IS good, Kakashi! Tastes like it has milk, some sort of fruit juice, I don't know what all, but it tastes like it must be healthy too!" He downed it on one long swig, and thumped the glass onto the table. "I'll be back. I'm going to ask Yuuki to make a round of these for everyone, so we can all try them!"

As Gai pushed back his chair, standing, Neji tried to speak up again. "But Sensei, the drink isn't really healthy, it's just-"

Lee wanted to follow his teacher's example, so he chugged the rest of his glass as well. "Can I have another one too, Gai-sensei? If it's healthy, I think we should all drink as much of it as possible!"

Asuma reached past Tenten, grabbing the glass that Neji was now ignoring and trying it for himself. "Ohh, yeah. That's nice!"

Neji leaned over to whisper something to Tenten, and the blood drained from her face leaving her ashen. Neji opened his mouth, but the growing noise around the table drowned out whatever he tried to say.

Asuma had begun passing around Neji's glass. Yamato, after taking a sip, arched an eyebrow at Kakashi. "You didn't really... Did you?"

Kakashi nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards.

Lee found that he was having a harder and harder time focusing on the conversations at the table. His head seemed lighter. He wasn't really able to focus on anything. He turned toward the bar, and saw Gai-sensei talking with the bartender. Yuuki? Whatever, it didn't matter. That drink was so delicious! Now Gai-sensei was spinning around. The expression on his face was unfamiliar. Horror? And maybe fear? What on earth could make Gai-sensei afraid?

"But this rum must be overproof, probably 151," Yamato marveled. "It's almost pure alcohol. And the sake's so smooth. That's some really good stuff. And the milk is perfect. It masks the whole flavor. It's... it's almost a work of art."

"Yup," Kakashi said simply.