I Am Your Friend!

"Thank you! Have a nice day!" Ino smiled brightly as her costumer took her flowers and left. Just as the lady left, Lee came in. "Hey, Lee. What are you doing here?"

"I came for some flowers," Lee looked at the flowers like he was totally lost. "I did not know you had this many flowers."

"Yup! What ever you want, we have!" Ino replied. "Anything in particular you're looking for?"

"I am not sure. I do not know what she will like," Lee said while touching a flower.

"A gift for Sakura?" Ino nudged her elbow in Lee's arm.

"No, no. It is not for Sakura," Lee replied.

"Then who?" Ino asked with shock in her voice. "Do you have another girl that is now receiving your undying love and affection?!"

"Not at all. She is just someone I helped out a couple days ago," Lee finally looked up at Ino. "She has been in the hospital a few days and I would like to cheer her up a bit. I get the feeling that she has been a bit down for a while."

"In the hospital? I'm guessing it's no one I know," Ino said.

"I just met her. I do not believe you know her," Lee said.

"Is she alright?"

"I am not really sure. From what I was about to understand the other day at the hospital, no doctor has been able to figure out what her illness is. And her uncle seems to treat her like a child all the time. I just thought some flowers would cheer her up."

"That's very sweet of you, Lee. I think I know just the type of flowers for her," Ino turned and headed to another part of the room with Lee following her.

…..

Riku sighed as she rolled over and started out her window. It's been three days since she was admitted to the hospital and she was about to climb the walls. She sat up, slipped her shoes on her feet and headed for the door. Just as her hand was about to touch the knob, the door slid open. Lee stood there, with a bouquet of carnations in hand an a slight shocked expression on his face. "Rock Lee?"

"Oh, um, hello, Riku-san," Lee said then held out the flowers. "T-These are for you!"

"You…brought me flowers?"

"Y-Yes. I-Is that alright?" Lee looked at her. He was a bit worried that he had done something improper.

"Oh! It's fine! Thank you," Riku took the flowers and walked back over to her bed. She placed the flowers in the vase on her table. "It's just…no one, but my uncle or cousin, has ever brought me flowers. They're very lovely."

"You have never received flowers? I would have assumed your friends would have…"

"I don't have friends."

"You do not have friends?"

"Oh, well," Riku looked at him with a fake smile. "It's fine. With all the fainting no one really…"

"Walk with me!" Lee suddenly broke in.

"Um…"

"You were on your way out, right?"

"Yes. I was going to go on a walk around the hospital grounds."

"Then allow me to accompany you!" Lee smiled brightly at her. Riku slightly nodded. Lee stepped to the side and held out his arm, like a guy would do for a princess. Riku rubbed her hand on her thigh, in a confused manner, before heading for the door. The two walked side by side thought the building. A couple of the workers there and some of the other people would take glances at the couple as they walked by. Riku was listening quietly as Lee chattered on about his teammates and missions. They needed up sitting on a bench outside the hospital.

"You all sound like you've build a strong bond with each other," Riku said. Her eyes dropped down to her hands in her lap and sadness washed over her face. "It must be nice to have that."

"You can have that too," Lee said as he placed his hand over hers.

"Rock Lee, I…"

"You may call me Lee, Riku-san," Riku raised her eyes to meet his. He was smiling brightly at her. The setting sun seem to make his smile even brighter. "We are friends now."

"Friends? Rock Lee, you don't want to…"

"No!" Riku slightly jumped as Lee leaped up, crossed her arms over his chest and tossed his head to the side in a huff. "My friends must call me Lee."

"Alright…Lee," Riku smiled when he looked at her. He returned her smile with a nod and sat back down. Lee began to talk to her again about his friends. He wanted her to meet them, but she was unsure about it. "I'm sorry, Lee. My uncle will not allow me to go out and meet anyone. He's…a bit over protective."

"So I have noticed," Lee nodded remembered to a couple days ago when he met her uncle.

"Thanks for the invite, though. I…"

"So here you are," The two teens looked up to see Tsunade walking put to them. "I was wondering."

"It is my fault, Lady Tsunade," Lee stood up and bowed to her. "I should not have brought her out here."

"It's fine, Lee. It's perfectly safe for her to be out here with you. I know that you would protect her," Tsunade smiled at her ninja and nodded. Riku sighed inwardly. There was that word again…protect. She was so sick of people thinking they had to always protect her. "I was just looking for Riku to tell her that she can go home tomorrow."

"I can?" Riku asked.

"Is it alright for her to return home now?" Lee asked.

"It's fine. All she has is narcolepsy. A condition that causes her to fall asleep during the day and sometimes causes her to become paralyzed for a few minutes," Tsunade explained.

"Can you cure her?" Lee asked.

"I'm afraid not. This is something that she'll have to live with for the rest of her life," Lee looked disappointed. "She's fine, Lee. There are a few things she can do to minimize the episodes. Other than that she's a healthy girl. Slightly under nourished, however."

"G-Gomen," Riku lowered her head a bit in shame.

"It's understandable. Loosing you parents at a young age on top of an illness would put just about anyone in a depressed state," Tsunade nodded to her young charges and left. Leaving Lee and Riku alone. Lee suddenly felt guilty for nonstop talking about his life. He never gave Riku a chance to talk about her own life. He looked at her just as she was slipping off into sleep. He grabbed her shoulders then picked her up in his arms. He smiled at her then took his new friend back to room.

Notes: Hello! I am lacking in the creative flow so I started writing again to see if I can get a spark back under by back side. I miss all the creative thoughts that use to flowed through my mind. I'm hoping just writing like this will help get me back to where I was. Sorry if I miss grammar mistakes. I'm kinda lacking in the sleeping department as well ^.^' so when I read over something here lately I always miss stuff and sometimes don't even comprehend what I'm reading. Besides that ENJOY!