Chapter Eighteen:

"So what's going on?" Gaara sighed deeply. Him and Ino had been driving around for 10 minutes in complete silence while she let Gaara mull over whatever he wanted to talk about. Gaara still felt unprepared.

"A lot. I'm... unsure how to talk about it." Gaara leaned his cheek against the seatbelt and watched the trees as they drove passed.

"And it has to do with Lee?" Gaara made a noise of agreement. "Okay, did something happen between you two? I didn't want to say anything but he's been totally giving you baby doll eyes. He seems absolutely smitten." Gaara frowned and bit his lip. "Oh so this is going to be good? Come on, you can tell me. I don't have a big mouth... Unless it's to insult Sakura."

"It's just... It isn't only my business, it's also Lee's and I'm not sure if I should say anything." Gaara admitted and Ino didn't say anything but pulled the car into the mall parking lot. She turned to Gaara and sighed.

"Gaara, if it's bothering you, you should talk to someone. Not telling someone something is bothering you because you're unsure of the other party's response isn't the way to go about things. You can talk about it if you need to. If you don't, that's okay too. If you want to talk about it, I'm here. You know I love gossip." She grinned at him and he started to fidget.

"I do... I do want to tell someone." Gaara decided softly. "Okay... It started the other day. Lee invited me to watch a movie with him and he was very... sweet. He made poporn, hot chocolate, he even put a towel and pajamas in the dryer for me for when I got out of the shower..." Ino grinned at him.

"I told you he liked you..." She said with a smug smile. Gaara ignored her.

"After, we started watching the movie and... we kind of... cuddled? He was holding me and I was laying on him and it was just nice. And then we did that all week until Friday." Ino held back most of her inappropriate comments for the time being.

"That explains the looks you two had when we were watching a movie. You wanted to curl up by him and he wanted to curl up next to you." Gaara nodded. "Oh honey, you two are so in love. You're going to get married and have babies." She teased and Gaara flushed. "Did something else happen?"

"Yeah... You dropped me off and I got home that night and Lee was drunk so I took him to his room and he insisted I cuddle with him because he wanted me next to him. So I laid down with him and he started... like massaging me? He was rubbing my back and my arms and then he started kissing my neck and biting my shoulder..." Ino's cheeks were pink but the grin on her face told a different story. "Then... we kissed. He kept saying I was his special person and how cute I was and how he'd protect me, I told him to stop and he kissed me and then he fell asleep."

"Holy plot twist, batman. I mean I knew he liked you but I didn't expect him to do that. Damn, get some." Gaara glared at her and she laughed. "In all seriousness, he shouldn't be doing that with a girlfriend... He should dump Sakura right now so you two can get married."

"Problem is, he doesn't remember. At least I don't think he remembers. He isn't acting like he does. I just don't know how to deal with it. And I feel really terrible, I don't like Sakura but I still took advantage of her boyfriend." Ino raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean you took advantage? He kissed you."

"Yeah but he was drunk and didn't know what he was doing."

"Yes he did. Gaara, you know Lee. You know he wouldn't do anything he didn't want to do. Just because he was drunk doesn't mean it isn't what he wanted. He wants you, he's just too chicken shit to tell you. I don't buy the 'I was drunk' as an excuse to cheat. If you want to cheat, you'll cheat. But good on you for stopping yourself. Since he was drunk he legally couldn't consent even if he totally wants you." Gaara thought about it for a moment and Ino wasn't happy with the atmosphere in the car. Gaara was feeling bad and she didn't want him to. "Anyway, I don't know what the hell kind of outfit you're pulling but it doesn't work. Come on, let's buy you something. We are going to his spar match, right?" Gaara nodded. "Good, you need to look cute as hell." Ino jumped out of the car and Gaara reluctantly followed behind her.

Lee went outside after Gaara left to do warm ups for his match later on. Kakashi eventually found his way outside to see Lee for what seemed like the first time in a month.

"What's bothering you, Lee?" Kakashi asked and Lee paused his warm up and collapsed onto the grass, looking up at the sky.

"So many things." He admitted and Kakashi sat by Lee's side.

"Care to elaborate?" Kakashi asked and Lee doesn't know why he said the truth, he supposed he needed to tell someone. Everything hurt.

"I think Gaara is dating Ino." Lee said softly and Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you think that?"

"They are always together. At school they walk arm in arm. Ino works at the café more with him. They are always together when they are not working or at school. I think they are dating." Kakashi noticed the slight hysteria in Lee's voice.

"What does that mean for you?" Kakashi asked and Lee sat up and looked at Kakashi. Kakashi could tell Lee was crying before. His face was still swollen. His eyes were glassy and Kakashi knew it was only a matter of time before he started crying again. Lee was very emotional. Usually Guy dealt with this but he was at the dojo.

"That my best friend is spending all of his time with a girl who does not deserve him. He is so amazing and I know I do not know her well enough and it is out of place for me to say, but Gaara deserves the world. Everything in the world. And she is not good enough for him. He is so great and someone should show him how amazing he is and I do not think she can do that and I am upset because if anyone needs to know how loved they are it is Gaara. I just want him to be happy and what if she does not do that? What if she cannot make him happy? I do not want to see that. I need him to be happy. But then I think about it and I do not want him to be happy without me. I see them all of the time and they look like they are having a good time and I miss spending time with him. I am jealous. I miss Gaara. It is my own fault that we are how we are and I am angry at myself for everything and I just do not know what to do." Lee was full on sobbing by the end and Kakashi looked at him with a pained expression.

"Lee..." He said surprisingly gently. "Gaara isn't dating Ino. Nor will he be dating Ino." Lee looked up and sniffled and rubbed his face on his sleeve.

"W-what do you mean?" Kakashi sighed. He couldn't say much, he couldn't tell Lee that Gaara liked, maybe even loved him. That wasn't his business to discuss. Those two boys needed to sit down and sort out their priorities. Seriously.

"I've talked to Gaara. I know for a fact that he isn't interested in Ino that way. If he loves her, it's as a friend. Maybe even like a sister. But he isn't interested in her romantically. You need to have a talk with him if this is everything you're feeling. I'm sure he can clarify more than I can. But Lee I do have a question." Lee nodded and sniffled again. "Do you have romantic feelings for Gaara?" Lee's face burned in an instant. His ears, cheeks, forehead, nose, neck, all red. Lee's heart thrummed in his chest and he couldn't control the random trembles of his hands.

"You don't have to answer. It's just a question you should think about. There's a reason that you feel jealous of Ino. There's a reason you want Gaara to have the world. You just need to admit it." Lee nodded.

"I do. He is my special person." Lee rubbed his eyes again. They were burning. His heart hurt from beating too hard.

"Then Lee, why are you with Sakura?" Kakashi asked and Lee grew frustrated. His eyebrows pushed together and his lips pressed into a line.

"I..." The look of concentration was harder. "I liked Sakura for a while. I realize I do not have the strong feelings for her anymore. Still, I liked her so much before I thought maybe this could work out. And I do not think I could hurt her. She may not be Gaara, but I do love her. She is not a bad person. She is lovely. It is just... She is not him."

"I know breaking up with someone is tough, Lee. But I think you need to if this is how you're feeling. Don't let me dictate what you do. Think about things. I'll be here for you. Come on now, it's time to get ready to go to the dojo." Kakashi helped Lee up and Lee rubbed his face again.

"Do you think Gaara will come watch me fight?" He asked and Kakashi smiled.

"I don't think there's anything more he'd rather do."

"Come on Ino, you drive so slow." Gaara complained and Ino glared at him.

"I'm doing 5 over the speed limit. Calm down. We'll make it to your boyfriend's match. We still have 10 minutes until it starts." Gaara sighed and looked out of the window. "On the plus side, you look super cute."

"Don't call me cute. It isn't something guys like to hear." Gaara grumbled and Ino smiled.

"But you are cute. I'm sure Lee will agree with me too!" Gaara rolled his eyes, regretting telling her anything about Lee.

"I shouldn't have let you drag me around playing dress up. If we're late I will be so mad at you." Ino rolled her eyes.

"Yeah whatever. Just text Kakashi or Guy and tell them you're running late. I don't even think you'd have to do that. I'm sure Lee would wait for you. You're his special person after all." Gaara glared at her again.

"I hate you." Ino blew him a kiss.

Lee was standing by the back wall of the dojo looking around awkwardly. Luckily, their fight had drawn a decent sized crowd. Hopefully, they would get more students this way. He honestly had Sasuke to thank for that. Sasuke was pretty popular no matter where he was. He's the reason the turnout was so good.

Looking at the clock, Lee saw that it was a few minutes passed the start time. Sasuke was stretching on the left side of the room by the bleachers. Naruto was sitting next to where he was and babbling it seemed. Sakura walked into the room and smiled happily at him and waved. She walked over and embraced him in a hug.

"Oh good luck, Lee! I know you can do it." Lee smiled softly at her and hugged her again. She was such a good person. He loved being around her. The thought of him breaking up with her soon made him sad. She wouldn't want to be around him anymore. He just had to get time with her while he could.

Ten minutes passed the start time and the crowd was getting antsy. There were only so many stretches Lee and Sasuke could go through. Sasuke saw Lee look at the door a bunch and sighed. He knew he was stalling for Gaara.

"He'll be here." Sasuke said quietly when he was close enough to Lee. Lee looked up surprised and blushed slightly.

"I know... Thanks Sasuke. I really must apologize for the other day. I feel terrible." Sasuke stopped him.

"No. Not now. After I kick your ass." Sasuke smirked and Lee smiled warmly at him.

They both realized that Guy was talking to the audience about classes and times and such. Lee inwardly grinned at the effort Guy put into stalling and the doors opened and Lee's eyes shot over. He saw Ino walk in, almost gliding. She was very pretty, he had to give her that. But she was nothing compared to Gaara.

Lee's eyes widened a fraction looking at Gaara. Black jeans, a green button up rolled to his elbows, his green beanie, a nice pair of tan boots. His hair even looked different. It looked shorter. He tugged off the hat and Lee noticed it was straight. It wasn't sticking up everywhere. Lee didn't know if that should upset him or not.

"Think you can pay attention to the fight?" Sasuke asked with a smirk and Lee quickly jerked his gaze away from Gaara and narrowed his eyes at Sasuke with a smirk.

"Of course. I'm going to beat you too."

"He was totally checking you out." Ino whispered to Gaara with a giggle.

"Maybe he was looking at my stupid hair." Gaara muttered and Ino smiled at him.

"You look adorable."

"Can you stop with that?" Gaara looked around the bleachers for a place to sit. He couldn't really find one they were so packed.

"Gaara! Come here!" Gaara saw his sister and Shikamaru at the top in the corner. Ino and Gaara awkwardly moved their way through the sea of people.

"Hey guys! I didn't know you'd be here." Ino said with a smile. Shikamaru sighed and crossed his arms.

"He didn't want to come. I did. I never saw Lee fight before. I wanted to watch." Temari grinned.

Gaara turned his attention to the mats where Lee and Sasuke stood. They bowed at each other and got into a fighting stance. Gaara wouldn't admit how much he loved Lee's one arm behind the back other hand out in front of him, stance. To quote Ino, it was cute.

Sasuke and Lee knew how to fight. It was amazing to watch them. Gaara was impressed with Lee's speed. Sasuke was fast, yeah, but sometimes it seemed hard to even see Lee he was moving so quickly. Gaara was impressed with the way they fought. It wasn't angry, it was almost like dancing. Especially since Lee really liked flipping out of the way when Sasuke attempted to land a hit. Lee knew how to avoid everything and it was really awesome to see. Gaara bit his lip and heard Ino giggle next to him. He elbowed her roughly and she giggled louder. Gaara couldn't remember a time where he would label something this way but... watching Lee fight was sexy. Lee fighting was so incredibly sexy that Gaara felt uncomfortable being there. He never knew Lee could move that way and it was exciting. Why hadn't he watched him before?

In the end, Lee won the fight. Not for lack of trying on Sasuke's part. He truly put up an amazing fight but Lee was just faster.

"Turned on?" Ino teased and Gaara shoved her lightly and she laughed with delight. "I knew it." Gaara struggled to not spit out an "I hate you". What are friends for?