Lee was in his room, with the door shut. Curled into a ball with his head buried.
I was about to approach him gently when Gai-sensei started roaring.
"LEE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Lee jumped out of his skin, when he faced us he had tears rolling down his cheeks. "G-Gai-sensei!" He quickly wiped his face on his arm. Poor Lee wasn't even dressed, he only had his boxer shorts on, and I couldn't stop gazing at his body... luckily neither of them noticed.
"Where have you been!? You missed training this morning!" Gai-sensei continued to complain.
"I-I... um.." Lee sighed deeply as he turned to the window and stared out, somewhat sadly. I'd finally gained control of my eyes and turned them to his face. He remained sitting and buried his face again into his knees.
"Lee.. is something bothering you?" Gai-sensei asked.
Lee kind of mumbled, then replied in a muffled tone. "It's just.. I don't feel like I'm good enough.. I can't get Sakura-chan to even notice me anymore... no matter how hard I try I.. just keep failing... I'm a failure.." Lee started to sob.
"Lee.." I started to approachi him, to embrace him. To comfort him. However, Gai-sensei got to him first.
"LEEEEE!" Gai-sensei shouted as he ran towards his student who lifted his teary face. Gai-sensei smashed his fist into Lee's face, causing him to slam into the wall with a painful cry. My eyes widened at the sight, a small gasp escaped my lips. Gai-sensei stood with one hand on his hip and the other pointing intimidatingly at Lee. Lee looked up with frightened eyes at his sensei, a small trail of blood escaped his lips and ran down his chin. "THAT IS QUITTERS TALK LEE! I NEVER WANT TO HEAR THAT AGAIN, YOU HEAR?! ARE YOU SAYING THAT AFTER ALL THE EFFORT YOU'RE PUTTING IN, YOU CAN'T DO IT!? ARE YOU!?"
Lee was too frightened to speak.
Gai-sensei's face was turning red with anger. "WE'VE HAD THIS TALK LEE, YEARS AGO! IS IT BECAUSE YOU CANNOT PERFORM NINJUTSU!? OR GENJUTSU!? I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE LEE, YOU DON'T NEED THAT TO BE SUCCESSFUL! LOOK AT ME LEE, DON'T TURN AWAY! AFTER EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO QUIT?!"
Lee's eyes began to water. "I-I..."
"TELL ME LEE, ARE YOU GOING TO QUIT?!" Gai-sensei's stare was intense and frightening, full of fury. Lee lowered his eyes the slightest bit.
"N-no Gai-sensei..." He mumbled.
"What was that?! SPEAK UP!"
""NO GAI-SENSEI! I WON'T GIVE UP!" Lee shouted. A smile found it's way onto Gai-sensei's face.
"THAT'S MY LEE!" Gai-sensei spread his arms, invitingly. Lee's eyes released more tears, as he bolted into his sensei's grip. The pair shared their tight embrace, it was quite the eye-watering scene. Gai-sensei placed his hands on Lee's shoulders and pulled back to look into his student's eyes. "I don't ever want to hear you say you're not good enough ever again, Lee. You're better than that!"
Lee gave a proud nod, but still he seemed sad under that mask of happiness. "It's.. just that Sakura-chan..."
"Lee, you will win her heart one day. If not, chase after ones who love you Lee."
"Love.. me?" Lee tilted his head curiously. Gai-sensei grinned, grinned more than ever.
"That's right Lee. A lesson for both you and that Sakura."
Lee looked clueless, and so did I. "Do you know someone Gai-sensei?" I ask. Gai-sensei swung his fist towards me, making me flinch, he showed me an up-right thumb - inches from my face, then made an affirmative noise as he nodded.
"Who is it, Gai-sensei!?" I question.
"Ahh now, that is for you two to find out for yourselves!"
Lee whined. "Gai-sensei, please!"
Gai-sensei shook his head. "No. But I will give you a hint." Lee and I leaned in close, eagerly staring into his eyes. In the corner of my eye, I saw Lee take out his notepad from who know where. "The one who loves Lee.."
"Uh huh, uh huh!"
"Is..."
"UH HUH?!"
"Most likely going to ask him to be her partner at the Christmas ball in three days!" Gai-sensei announced, proudly. We fell to the floor with disappointment.
"Well Lee-san!" I face Lee, we make eye contact. "Lets go find whoever this girl is that will ask you!"
Lee seemed keen, he nodded in concur. "YOSH!"
After Lee dressed himself, we were off to find this girl. Like two detectives solving a case, we search the village for clues, following the girls, especially Sakura around, not stalking! We were... uh... l-looking for clues!
Lee made numerous notes during the day, and by evening, we sat down at the cafe, discussing what we had found out.
Lee flipped his notebook open. "Okay, I found out..."
"Yes yes?"
"Sakura-chan likes pink dresses!"
I could've facepalmed. "Lee, how is that meant to help with this?"
"I do not know, but maybe if I buy Sakura-chan a pink dress for the ball, she might ask me!" He reached into his pocket, pulled out a pink wig and placed it on his head, it looked exactly like Sakura's hair, then he spoke in a high pitched voice. "Ohh~ Lee-kun~ This dress is beautiful! We should go to the ball together!" He took the wig off, his cheeks turn red. "Of course Sakura-chan! I'll be your partner!" He put the wig back on. "Lee-kun! I love you so much! In fact, I love you more than the dress! We should get married and live far away in a field of roses and lillies, in a small cottage with our three children-"
"O-okay Lee I get it.." I grumble, but secretly amused.
He gave a smug chuckle before sitting back down.
"So what else did you find out?"
Lee flipped a page in his notebook. "Sakura-chan, likes-"
"Is Sakura the only one you took notes on?"
"... Yes!"
I headbutted the table.
Our stalking- I mean, cluetaking turned out to be pointless. But I helped Lee to buy that pretty pink dress in the window. All we had to do was find Sakura-chan. It was getting late, and we figured she'd gone home. We took the dress to Tenten, and asked her if she could wrap it up for us, but she kept ripping the wrapping paper. So we took it to Ino, and she did a nice job of wrapping then thought the dress was for her. She fumed when we explained it was for Sakura, and accidentally tore the wrapping open, but luckily the dress was inside a box, so it didn't get damaged.
We then took it to Hinata, who kindly re-wrapped it for us. We notice she was rather quieter than usual. Lee took notes.
As we admired the stars on our way to Sakura-chan's house to deliver the dress, Lee made an observation. "Setsuki-san.."
"Yes?"
"Did you notice the way Hinata-san didn't look at me the entire time?"
"She didn't?""
"Gai-sensei says that girls who usually like someone try to avoid eye contact.. do you think.. maybe.. Hinata...?"
"Hm.. well.. I hate to disappoint you Lee-san, but I'm sure she likes Naruto-"
"Oh right! I knew that!" He laughed somewhat nervously while scratching the back of his head. I grabbed his wrist.
"DON'T MESS UP YOUR HAIR LEE, WHAT WOULD SAKURA-CHAN THINK IF YOUR HAIR WASN'T PERFECT?!"
Lee's eyes widened, he froze. "Y-YOU'RE RIGHT!" He quickly 'fixed' his hair. "How is it?!"
"It looks... wait no." I took over and fixed his hair properly. "Now it looks good!"
Lee flashed a smile. "Also, Tenten is out."
"Out?"
"Tenten likes Neji-kun!"
"Well.. I think we all knew that." I reply with a smirk.
"So.. that leaves Sakura, and Ino?"
"Both Sasuke lovers.."
"I WILL PROVE I AM BETTER THAN THAT UCHIHA!"
I smile.
We arrive late at Sakura's doorstep. I hid against the wall so when Sakura was to open the door, she wouldn't see me.
However Lee stood there, staring at the door. Sweat dripped down his neck. He was nervous. I picked up a small rock and threw it at the door. Lee flinched.
"Go on!" I whisper. Lee gulped, nodded and knocked on the door twice before it opened. Sakura.
"Hello- oh.. Lee, what are you doing here this late?"
"S-Sakura-chan!" Lee lowered his head and held up the present. "This is for you!"
"Oh.. for me?" Sakura took the present. "Thank you Lee. I'll go place it under our tree."
"W-wait! Sakura-chan! Please, open it!"
"But Lee, it's not Christmas yet-"
"Sakura-chan! I beg you!" Lee dropped to his knees, held his hands together under his chin, giving Sakura-chan huge puppy eyes.
Sakura bit the inside of her cheek in contemplation, then sighed. "Alright I will." She teared off the wrapping, then opened the box. A happy gasp escaped her lips as she pulled the dress out and held it up. "Wow, it's beautiful!"
Lee was shaking with a huge smile, his eyes sparkling, I couldn't tell if he was shaking in happiness or he was just cold. "D-Do you like it, Sakura-chan?"
"Oh Lee, I love it! Thank you!" She chimed. I smile, it had to be Sakura. Deep down Sakura had to have some feelings for Lee. "Though.. isn't it a little cold for this?"
Lee pulled out a flower, it looked like a purple pansy. "I-I want you to be my partner at the ball on Christmas!"
Sakura was silent. "Aww Lee.. I would love to.. but I have to go away to visit my dad on Christmas.. Sorry Lee, I'll make it up to you somehow."
Lee looked crushed. "I.. d... Do not worry Sakura-chan, I understand..."
"I really am sorry Lee, I would love to go though." Sakura said, she took hold of the door knob. A woman's voice began calling her name. "I.. I have to go. Goodnight Lee." Sakura closed the door.
"Aww.." Lee slouched, disappointed.
"Well... Lee-san, there's always Ino.."
"I guess you're right.. I absolutely will not give up! I will find the one who loves me! Whether it be Sakura-chan or not!"