*And again we return to the present. I'd just like to thank Hanai-kun for his/her lovely reviews (sorry I never got back to you on the second one, btw, I got it after I was ready to update)! Anyway, even if you don't review, I hope whoever's reading this is enjoying it! That's the most important part, right? Well, anyway, I don't have much to say, so have fun reading this chapter!
Notes: Gaara addresses people a bit more formally in this, because as Kazekage, I figure he'd have to, right? As for the Gaara-Shikamaru chemistry thing…well, I figure if anyone would be able to understand Shikamaru in his current state of insanity, it would be Gaara. Also, when Lee mentions "Chifuyu"…well, if you don't figure it out now, you'll find out in one of the next chapters.
WARNING: Any medical knowledge that Kaiser attempts to portray is actually butchered information that she received from high school level Anatomy, high school level Psychology, and the Discovery Channel.
I sincerely apologize to any med students out there who spend this time laughing their asses off.
Chapter 3: Present—Gaara
Gaara took a sideways glance at Lee. The taijutsu-specialist gazed at Neji as if in a trance. He was on his knees, unable to move or speak. Too shocked and horrified to go on. It would seem that the redhead was on his own from here. How similar this whole situation turned out to be to their first mission to retrieve Sasuke.
He shook his head. How much trouble could one man cause? Shikamaru's group would have all lost their lives the first time around, if Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro had not shown up in the nick of time. Gaara and Lee almost lost their own lives, but Lady Luck had helped them there. Now, look where it left them. Two dead. One unhinged (make that two, with the way Lee was acting). One relatively intact (and he used the word "intact" very, very loosely). And eleven unaccounted for.
Gaara sighed. He had faith in his friends, but still, he could do nothing but pray that his siblings got out of this alive. And Naruto. Gaara could not bear to lose Naruto, ever.
A broken sob snapped Gaara back into reality. He could not stay lost in thought. He had Shikamaru and Lee to take care of. He started with the shinobi in the fetal position on the ground. The redhead began to walk over, wincing as his body was jarred with each step (he had one hell of a headache, after all). Gaara knelt down beside Shikamaru, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Nara-kun? Can you hear me? Are you hurt?" Shikamaru just continued to sob uncontrollably.
Then, their eyes met.
And Gaara saw them. The eyes of a man who has had his whole life fall to pieces right in front of him. The eyes of a madman. Eyes that craved both life and death, love and hate, human warmth and cruelty. Gaara knew those eyes. Gaara used to have those eyes. And as he looked at Shikamaru's shaking, vulnerable form, he could only see himself, as he used to be.
He tried a smile. "Nara-kun?" The other seemed to respond, gazing into Gaara's bright green eyes. Gaara knew what Shikamaru needed, the same thing that he had needed all those years ago: human contact. He pulled the genius into a warm hug, murmuring nothing more than, "It's okay." Shikamaru stiffened. "It's okay, Nara-kun," he repeated in little more than a whisper. "It's okay." Shikamaru broke down and cried hysterically on Gaara's shoulder. Gaara just nodded, whispering words of comfort when he could.
There was a groan.
But this sound came from neither Shikamaru nor Lee. Eyes widening, Gaara turned towards the source of the noise. There, to his left, was Neji, looking haggard and pale, like hell warmed over, but obviously alive. His breath was faint but there; Gaara could make out the small rise and fall of the brunette's chest as he took in shallow breath after breath. His body remained relatively still, but his expression was strained: he was in a lot of pain.
Gaara looked back to Lee. It would seem that Lee was too out-of-it to notice that his husband was still alive.
"Lee!" called the redhead, as he comfortingly stroked Shikamaru's hair. "Snap out of it! I think Neji-san is alive."
This seemed to do the trick, as Lee shook himself out of his daze and crawled his way over to the brunette.
Lee gazed at the Hyuuga, pale and covered in blood. Unable to stop himself, Lee brushed a stray hair out of the beautiful man's face. However, as soon as Lee's hand brushed the brunette's forehead, Lee could have cried in happiness. Neji was running a fever: he was alive. "Neji?" Lee attempted to call. No response. "Oh, my love, you are a mess. Please, speak to me; let me know that you are all right." Still no response. Brow furrowing, Lee opted to pull Neji into his arms, hoping that the warmth of another would help him to stir. He lightly kissed the poor feverish thing's forehead. Neji simply shivered. "Neji, please. Please wake up. For me?" Neji moaned, unable to regain consciousness. "Please, love, if not for me, then for our little one at home. Please, Neji, you must wake up…for Chifuyu." Then, as if by some higher power, Neji stirred. White eyes opened slightly, barely focusing.
"Chi…fuyu?" Lee managed a smile. "Wh-wh-" Neji was unable to finish, as he burst into a coughing fit that seemed to rattle his entire body. Lee's eyes widened as blood began to pour from the brunette's mouth. He clutched the Hyuuga's shaking form to himself.
"Shhh, oh, my Neji, please do not try to talk." However, the aforementioned did not appear to be listening.
"Wh-where is sh-she?" he managed. Lee kissed him gently.
"She is home in Konoha, my love. She is safe." Neji nodded, content with the answer. He let his head fall onto Lee's shoulder, completely worn out. Lee turned to Gaara. "Gaara-kun, he is not well. We must hurry."
"Okay," affirmed the redhead, heading towards the taijutsu-specialist. Shikamaru was well enough to walk, but he needed the Kazekage's support (support that Gaara almost needed himself; still, like any good shinobi, he shrugged it off). "We'll probably find our friends on the way…" Gaara began weakly. He paused as he passed Sasuke's body. His face took on an air of melancholy. "I feel bad…just leaving him here like this. It just doesn't seem right."
"After we get Shikamaru-kun and Neji the help that they need," began Lee, "we can return here with Naruto-kun and Sakura-san and give him a proper burial." And with a curt nod from Gaara, the two were off.
As they ran through the landscape, Lee could not help but notice how different Shikamaru was. The Nara was extremely quiet, forlorn, and refused to make eye contact. Every once in a while, the taijutsu specialist would ask, "Shikamaru-kun, are you doing all right?" But Shikamaru would not respond until Gaara repeated the question. At his prompting, the Nara would manage a small nod. Lee had to wonder why Shikamaru would only answer when Gaara asked, but he supposed that it was just one of those things.
Neji's condition was just as difficult to discern. Soon after they had begun to travel, Neji looked up from Lee's arms with large opalescent eyes and whispered, "I know you." Lee simply smiled and replied with a soft, "Yes." Neji sighed and leaned closer to Lee. "I can't remember very well," he continued softly, slowly, "but whoever you are, I think I love you very much." Lee just murmured, "Yes, my love, and I you." Seemingly happy with the response, Neji allowed his eyes to close and fell into a coma-like sleep.
*Another short chapter; the "present" ones will start getting longer as the story progresses. And the pieces will start to fall into place. Well, my friends, thanks for the support!
