Gaara fidgeted, fingering the bare skin of his forearms. Temari had insisted he change apparel, but he still felt strangely naked without his jacket. He was wearing hastily bought clothes and they did fit him well, but… it was still strange. He took a deep breath, catching the scent of the cologne Temari had put on him and recited the line of attack his sister had outlined. Usually he didn't have any problems with strategy (when he bothered with it) but this was outside his area of expertise. This "date" was supposed to be pleasant. And she had seemed especially gleeful to know there was a festival currently going on in Konoha. Not that he knew what it was supposedly celebrating- it was beyond his bubble of "do I and/or should I care?"

He huffed in irritation, blowing wayward locks of hair from his eyes. She'd sat him down and messed with his hair too- not that he could really see a difference, but she assured him there was one. Even Kankuro had been impressed. At least that's what he assumed the odd look on Kankuro's face had been- it could have also been shock. He wasn't too sure.

Brushing such wayward thoughts from his mind (and mentally giving Shukaku the finger) he went over Temari's first rule:

"Don't be late."

Well, it was 6:30 now… and he realized that he had no idea where Lee actually lived. He cast around for familiar chakra and was surprisingly grateful to come across one of Lee's teammates. After a minute second of thought he strode purposely after them and caught up with the bewildered ninja quickly.

Neji blinked. "Can I… help you, Gaara-san?"

"I have an engagement with Rock Lee at 7 tonight, but I do not know where he lives. I require directions." Folding his arms and looking intently at the long-haired ninja Gaara waited for his response.

Neji twitched, took a step back then proceeded to stare at him for a moment, critically giving Gaara a once-over. "You're serious." He paused again, obviously wrestling with something, then sighed in seeming defeat. He pointed down the street.

"Proceed forward ten streets, take a left then an immediate right on the next street down. Continue on that street until the 18th building on your right, go up the stairs to the third floor; his apartment is number 983." He glared and folded his arms, fingers spasmodically twitching. "As much of a pain as he is, he is still my teammate. I will be cross if you hurt him."

Gaara nodded, absently thanked him (Temari said those were important when one was requesting information) and went on his way. He could feel Neji's stare boring holes into his gourd, but couldn't find it in himself to care very much.

&&&&&&&&&&

"Oooooh! Where did I put those shoes? Tenten gave them to me not more than a month ago!" Lee stopped and gripped fistfuls of his freshly washed hair and stared frantically around his small apartment. "They can not have gone far! This is a small space, I could not have possibly lost them."

Thinking back to when he'd been given the footwear he vainly tried to place where he'd situated them. They supposedly matched this outfit that Tenten had so thoughtfully picked out for him. He couldn't really remember why she'd done so, but was thankful for it none-the-less. Hmm, I put the shirt and pants into the closet… He blinked in surprise and swung his body around to face the small wardrobe, pointing at it. "AH HA!"

Dropping to his knees he scuttled over and proceeded to throw out everything that was residing inside, moving farther and farther in. Eventually he came across the unopened shoebox which had taken cover under some of his extra legwarmers and grasped the box in triumph. "Success!"

He had just finished fitting the shoes on his feet when a sharp rap sounded at his door. He glanced at the round clock on the wall. 6:45, he's early! Grinning, he bounded over and opened the heavy steel slab that guarded his dwelling.

"Good evening Gaa-aa-a-" Stuttering and eyes widening, Lee took in the shorter red-head's appearance. Or rather was knocked upside the head with it. Gaara was stunning.

He was dressed in a black sleeveless shirt and charcoal pants with a grey belt and a red sash holding his gourd; the whole get up set off his unique complexion and astonishing red hair. The lack of bandages on his calves simply exhibited the (very snazzy in Lee's opinion) black-as-night sandals.

A small voice whimpered in the back of Lee's head: want. Mouth dry, all he could do was stare hungrily at the gorgeous creature that was gracing his front entry.

Lee wasn't the only one struck speechless… Not that Gaara talked much in the first place mind you, but still- it wasn't very often his mind stuttered to a stop. Lee was attractive.

In place of his usual get-up Lee was dressed simply in a pair of black cut-off pants, with a dark brown tank top and a long silk shirt in his signature green over it. The shoes were in a shocking bright rust red, which somehow brought the whole outfit together instead of drawing away from it.

Gaara felt shocked to his core and so didn't notice that it was an unusual occurrence for two shinobi to be standing in an entry-way staring at each other. For five minutes. Gaara was the first to break the silence.

"We are going to the festival." His dry tone snapped Lee out of his daze.

"Oh! YOSH! Yes, of course- just let me lock up and then I'll be ready Gaara-san."

"Gaara."

Lee's head snapped around to face him, making Gaara wonder if he'd given himself whiplash. "Huh?" I know his name is Gaara- did I say something else?

Gaara mentally repeated the lines Temari had drilled into his head earlier, overwhelming his protests of not understanding why it was important. Then he took a breath, and said it.

"Tonight we are not ninja of Konoha or Suna- we have no ranks. Tonight we are simply ourselves. So I am Gaara and you are Lee. Equals."

Even if he didn't understand it, because really- Gaara WAS of the Sand and Lee WAS the Green Beast of Konoha, Lee evidently did. And that, strangely enough, made it worth the confusion on his part. Lee's smile made it worth it.

"All right… Gaara." It looked like Lee was tasting his name, and appeared transfixed by an emotion Gaara couldn't name.

Maybe this night wouldn't be so bad.

&&&&&&&&&&&&

They headed out, walking beside each other quietly- Lee somehow losing his courage in the face of reality and Gaara… was being Gaara. Somehow the silence was comforting, rather than being full of skittish nervousness and awkward tongues.

That was, until Gaara remembered Temari's second rule.

"Dates are for finding out about the other person, Gaara. Talking will be involved- and it will be in your best interest to actually answer questions, as well as ask your own. This is called small talk- you WILL actively participate in it." A heavy glare, full of meaning, bored into his forehead.

Gaara mused for a second- and blinked in surprise as something evidently clicked inside his head.

"Recovering data concerning the other person… it's like an interrogation. Only it goes both ways."

"…"

Temari gaped at him for a long moment. She finally coughed, then nodded, fingers massaging temples, head tilting down so she could stare at the table. "Yes Gaara, like an interrogation. Dates exist because some people like knowing if they could stand spending the rest of their lives with the other person."

Her head shot up and she glared at him again. "So, this is rule number two: You will answer questions and you will ask questions and you will be INTERESTED in his answers."

"…Yes Temari."

Temari's glares were scary sometimes, even to him.

Time to start this "small talk" she was talking about.

"Do you like agave juice?"

Lee's head jerked around to face him, hair making an odd swishing sound. "Eh? What is agave juice?"

"A type of cactus- we skin it, mash the pulp into bits and strain the liquid. The alcohol one can make from it is fairly popular."

Lee blinked. Stared at Gaara, then blinked again. He stopped walking and faced him. "I… have never had agave juice." Lee wondered if this was a clone Gaara or someone jutsued to look like him because he could swear Gaara was trying to have a conversation with him. And that was too weird for words- even for him.

"I'll bring some next time then. It is one of my preferred drinks from Suna."

Lee wondered if someone had hit him in the head when he wasn't paying attention. With a building. It would certainly explain a lot.

Thankfully Lee's mouth was running on "polite" autopilot.

"Oh? Do you have any other favorite drinks?"

Much to Lee's surprise, Gaara actually answered.

"I like the juice of apples. Do you…," here he paused, frowning at nothing in particular.

Lee wondered if the jutsu was wearing off. He readied himself subtly.

Gaara turned to face him, still frowning. He sighed and unfolded one arm to rub at his temple. "Am I doing this right?"

Lee blinked. "Um. Yes?"

The russet-haired boy nodded, and even looked faintly relieved. He began walking again, angling toward a stall that was selling chicken on sticks.

Lee followed- mostly out of morbid curiosity. What had that been about? But the food smelled good, and his stomach agreed that it was time to eat.

As they sat down Lee realized that he'd been so out of it that he'd not even noticed Gaara had ordered. Staring bemusedly down at the plate that had pushed itself into his hands he wondered- why hadn't he asked Gaara out before this?

Looking from the corner of his eye Lee gazed with wild abandon at the vision that was Gaara. He sighed happily while chewing contentedly on his chicken-on-a-stick.

Gaara looked his way at the sound. Pale green eyes gazed at the nin gnawing on what was left of the stick.

"I did not realize you were that hungry Lee. Should I get you more food?"

"Hmm?" Ah, his love was speaking. Lee adored the gravely texture of Gaara's voice. He could listen to it all day. He smiled, still savoring the warm glow centered in his chest.

Gaara's head tilted in confusion. "Lee? Did you hear me?"

Lee took what was left of the stick out of his mouth. "I'm fine."

He was doing that smiling thing again. It wasn't as troubling this time around.