Chapter Three:
Lee opened his eyes to see Etsu's face extremely close to his. He gasped and backed away a little, the blush evident on his face. He stared at the young woman for a while. She was good-looking before she left Kohona. And now…she was gorgeous. Her hair was longer and her body was more woman-like. She didn't notice last night when she jumped on me…She was brushing up against my- The taijutsu master shook his head. No. He was in love with Sakura! He couldn't fall for someone else. That wouldn't be right! He looked back at her. But, still…It is truth that she is beautiful. What man would even think about…hurting her? Etsu started to wake. She beamed at him.
"Good morning Lee-kun…" she rubbed her eyes sleepily and sat up to get out of bed. Lee grinned. "Hey, I'm kind of hungry…" Lee jumped up. His guest couldn't be hungry! He trotted off to the bathroom and took a three minute shower then, to the kitchen to start breakfast. Etsu went to take a shower and changed her clothes. When she entered the kitchen, she found Lee seated at the table waiting for her to sit down so he could start eating. On the table was an assortment of foods. A feast. Lee was so…polite. Etsu sat down and started eating. He copied her movements. "Lee-kun…this is delicious! Where did you learn to cook?" He pointed a thumb to himself with a bright smile.
"You think my cooking is good? You should try Gai Sensei's!" He laughed heartily and you giggled. "Hey, Etsu-Chan?" You looked at him. "Your boyfriend…Did he put those bruises on your body?" You remembered that you hadn't thought of covering your arms last night.
"Wh-why would you think something like that, Lee-kun?"
"It was just a guess. But, now I am sure of it…Please, you don't need to hide your pain from me, Etsu-Chan." He assured, standing up and putting on a grey zip-up sweater on top of his green and black striped shirt. "Come on, Let's go out and meet our friends! They were really excited when I told them that you came back." You stood up and smiled. Then, you followed him out the door.
Hiei fought the urge to throw up in the back of Kurama's mother's mini van. It was his first time in a moving car. Yukina wasn't uncomfortable. He didn't want to be made fun of by Yuske on Kuwabara when he got back. Kurama was driving. It would take them about half a day to reach Kohona in a moving vehicle. Hiei held on to his breakfast.
Naruto met you and Lee first. He nearly spit out all the ramen in his mouth when he saw you.
"ETSU-CHAN!" He yelled hugging you. You didn't notice the troubled look on Lee's face as he let go. Sakura and Ino came next to see what Naruto was fussing about. You got hugs from both of them. Sakura didn't really say anything but, a hello to Lee. You looked around.
"Where is Sasuke-kun?" As soon as you asked that, everyone got silent. Sakura almost cried. Naruto looked down in depression and shame. You wore a sweat drop on the back of your head. Lee smiled while twitching.
"I forgot to tell you about Sasuke-kun…" Lee explained the situation with Sasuke as you traveled around Kohona. "So, you see…that name is unmentionable here."
Finally, Hiei was out of the car. Now, only one problem remained. Looking for Etsu. Hiei knew she was with that human boy. He frowned and started walking in the direction of Etsu's sent. On the bridge were Etsu and the human boy. Another red-haired person was walking toward them. He was scary-looking with eye make-up and a gourd on his back. Hiei glared as he stopped in front of the two. He decided to get closer to hear what they were talking about.
You gasped lightly as Gaara approached. Lee smiled at you and said it was alright.
"Hi, Gaara-Sama! How are you today?" Lee asked happily you tried to smile but, all you could do was remember the forceful kiss Gaara had given you when you'd first met. That was not pleasant. "You remember Etsu-Chan, don't you?" Gaara nodded slowly. You peeked out from behind Lee to see that Gaara was starring at you. You blushed. Gaara was kind of cute when you looked at him.
"Um…How…do you do?" You greeted, smiling. Gaara stared at you and offered his hand. You stared for a moment before clasping your hand with his and shaking it lightly. You went to pull away but, Gaara didn't want to let go. He pulled you next to him so you were very close. Lee's smile twitched again.
"G-Gaara-Sama…what are you doing?" You asked. He pointed to a black figure looking back up at you all. Lee gasped.
"Who's that?" He asked, glaring at the person. You looked down. You knew who it was. The person you'd hoped to never see again. Hiei. You unintentionally squeezed Gaara's hand and he looked at you. "Do you know him?" You nodded slowly, tears forming in your eyes. Lee gave you a knowing glance. Hiei appeared in front of you and you screeched, hiding behind Gaara. Lee put his hand up to stop Gaara from attacking Hiei with his sand.
"You must be Hiei. Am I correct?" The bowl-cut boy asked. You wondered how he knew Hiei's name. You never mentioned it before. Hiei glared at you before nodding. "Etsu-Chan talks about you in her sleep…" You blushed. Hiei glared at Gaara.
"Etsu…don't make this more difficult then it already is! Just come back before I crush your little friends." He demanded. Gaara's sand was at the ready.
"You aren't human. Lee…get away from him." The sand shinobi ordered. Lee's eyes widened and he backed away. Hiei let out a chuckle.
"Shukaku; the sand tanuki. Do you really think you can win? Hn…you could only dream of such fantasies." Gaara got into a protective stance in front of you. Hiei looked at you again. "Hn, I don't have time for this. Etsu, if you don't come now, your hanyou friend will die." You gulped and touched Gaara's sleeve, making him look back at you.
"Gaara-Sama…" you started but, Lee took your hand and started pulling you away.
"Come on Etsu-Chan! We have to get out of the way! Gaara-Sama's battles can get really messy." They were nearly off of the bridge when a huge tree suddenly sprouted up in between Gaara and Hiei. The branches grabbed Hiei and Gaara just watched the fire-demon wiggle around cursing and screaming. "What in Gai Sensei's name?!" (LOL, Lee…) Kurama appeared behind Hiei.
"I'm sorry please, forgive my friend." He said to Gaara. Hiei had become silent. "And Hiei! You were supposed to wait for the rest of us before going off and looking for her on your own! You probably scared her so bad that she won't want to come back." Hiei glared at him.
"STFU, you stupid kitsune! And let me go!" He yelled. Kurama's plants dropped him on the ground. Gaara retracted his sand and stared at Kurama.
"Who are you people?" He demanded, calmly. Lee and you came closer to see the newcomer. Kurama noticed you and smiled.
"Umm, Etsu-Chan…why is that woman with the red hair smiling at me like that?" Lee whispered.
"Lee-kun…Kurama is a man." He was in shock for a couple of seconds.
"Etsu-Chan, I'm glad to see you're okay. We were all worried about you…Why did you just run away without saying goodbye?" You glance to Hiei but, when he glared you said nothing. "Alright…you don't have to tell me right now. Would you like to see Yukina? She came all this way to see you…" Etsu nodded. Gaara came next to you and grabbed hold of your hand. Lee took the other. You blushed and followed Kurama. Hiei glared at them and flitted off.
Yukina smiled as you came closer. You ran to hug her.
"Nee-Chan! I missed you!" You squeed. Yukina smiled.
"And I missed you, Etsu-Chan. Oh, who are these two boys?" she looked at Gaara and Lee. Lee bowed and introduced himself. "You told me about Lee-kun already but, not about Gaara-san." You blushed. What were you supposed to say? 'He sexually harassed me and I almost got raped by him'? Surprisingly, Gaara spoke for himself.
"My name is Sabaku no Gaara. I am the Kazekage of the sand village. You probably haven't heard of me because I live so far away." He latched his hand with yours again (Man, Gaara likes to hold hands!), making you blush. You looked at Lee with a frightened expression. He gave you thumbs up. Yukina nodded and talked with Kurama about something. You looked at Gaara.
"Gaara-Sama…thank you for protecting me…you are very sweet." You kissed him on the cheek. You smiled at Lee and hoped to get his approval but, he was looking at his feet uncomfortably. Then, you noticed Hiei. He was leaning up against a tree while glaring at you all. You squeezed Gaara's hand again.
"Hey…" Gaara started uneasily, "How do you know these demons?"
"Umm…They are my friends!" you told him.
"What about the fire-demon who attacked us? What is he to you?" He pointed at Hiei; who was listening to the conversation. Lee saw your eyes start to fill up and put a finger to his lips.
"He's her ex-boyfriend, Gaara-Sama." He explained, just above a whisper. Hiei had disappeared from the tree and was standing in front of you.
"Hn," He was about to say something else when you screamed. You screamed so loud that Kurama and Yukina stopped talking. A wall of sand was put up between you two by Gaara and you huddled next to Lee. "Still afraid?" He sounded sad.
"Hiei…stop scaring Etsu-Chan." Kurama warned. Hiei glared at him and disappeared once again. Gaara came and sat next to you. You smiled up at him.
"Thank you again Gaara-Sama…" He said nothing but, put his hand on top of yours. You blushed but, didn't say anything. Then, you thought of something. "Lee-kun…are you and Sakura…together?" Lee eyed you nervously.
"Well, um…you see…Sa-Sakura-Chan hasn't returned my affection yet. I come to her every day so that I can tell her my feelings but, she…" His head went down in shame. Gaara just stared at him in the awkward silence. You sighed.
"Oh…I'm sorry." You blushed when Lee bent closer to you.
"Please, don't be…Besides I'm sure my love problems are nothing compared to yours, Etsu-Chan. " He was trying to make you feel better but, you stared at him.
"Umm…Thank…you?" Gaara sighed softly. He was smirking for some reason.
"Etsu…" He spoke. You looked at him in surprise. He talked and said your name! "That's your name, right?" You nodded. "Do you…like me?" His expression didn't change. Your face was as red as Kurama's hair. Yukina and Kurama had run off somewhere, talking about a hotel of some sort.
"Wh-what kind of 'like' do you mean, Gaara-sama?" you asked.
"…There is more than one kind of liking someone?" He was confused. You looked at Lee for help.
"Umm…There's friendly 'like' or romantic 'like'." He told him.
"Ro…mantic…?" He was even more confused. You blushed, hoping that Lee could explain.
"Being romantic means that you do special things to show a person that you care about them and you feel love for them. Not the kind of love that siblings share or that friends share. True love is a special connection that two people feel when they're attracted to each other. Romantic 'like' is very close to loving someone that way, Gaara-sama." The taijutsu master explained. Gaara nodded.
"Do you like me…at all?" He asked again. You smiled.
"Yes…" You put both hands to your face and blushed.
"What kind?" He questioned. You poked your fingers together. Lee whispered something to Gaara and he spoke again. "Never mind about that. I wanted to ask you about something you did to me. You put your mouth on my face. Why did you do that?"
"It was my way of saying thank you for helping me…Are you angry?"
"Actually…I liked it. Could you do it again?" He pointed to his cheek. You and Lee sweat dropped. Gaara was truly clueless when it came to affection.
End Chapter
Well, hope you liked it! Where did Hiei go off to? Who will Etsu end up with? Lee, Gaara or Hiei?! Help meh! Write it in a review or message me, please! Next, chapter: Hiei's tour around Kohona and more fluffiness. Review, Plz! Bye-bye!