Half the year passed right before our eyes. Beef-sensei.. er I mean, Tekuno-sensei was really nice to the three of us and treated us to ramen after every training session. We ended up bringing Tekuno-sensei into our training and he lost a fair bit of weight! Our physical strength had increased and so did our stamina. We learned how to use bigger weapons and can carry heavy things with a lot more ease.
It was finally the day we'd been waiting for. The first day of the Chuunin exams. It was a lot like last time, we had a written examination. I think nearly everyone who failed last time has reentered, but also way more new faces. Ibiki was the proctor again and tried his same old "If you think you haven't achieved a high enough score, then leave and come back next year. If you haven't got enough points you will be forever forbidden to enter the Chuunin exams again." Trick, but some of us already knew the drill. I was seated beside Ino and passed the first round no problem. The second phase, three days later, was a little different than last time. We still had to go to the forest of death, but it didn't seem as hard as last time. Especially without any trouble from Orochimaru and Sunagakure. Except this time we had small, fragile vials of water without a lid. We had to collect 3 and head to the center without spilling any of the random coloured substance inside. It was tricky. Each team was given only one to begin with. We fought against at least 5 different squads because Daisuke kept spilling the substance. Once we obtained all 3 we raced for the centre, Susumu knew the way so we let him lead.
Inside we had preliminary matches much like last time. Daisuke won his match against Kiba, Susumu lost his match against Tenten by forfeiting, not wanting to harm her, and I won my match against Neji who was still as brutal as ever. Although he condemned me for putting up a good fight, because by the end of it we were both out of breath. I was actually surprised I managed to win.
A month later we had the finals. Tekuno-sensei took us on a training hike up in the mountains, saying that mountain climbing would help us prepare. We stayed on the top of the mountain for the entire month but kept complaining because there wasn't enough food. We headed back at the end of the month, arriving back in Konoha two days prior to the exams.
On that day I unpacked my backpack, putting my sleeping bag away and throwing my clothes in the wash. Takashi was annoyed at the fact that I didn't eat much, so he basically force fed me everything in the cupboards, and I didn't complain. It was late in the evening, so I decided to go to bed early for once in my life.
The next morning I got up, Takashi cooked me a piece of toast which I took with me to go meet up with everyone at our usual training spot. It almost felt strange to be back in society. I ran down the street, not really paying attention to the things in front of me, because in the mountains I could run anywhere and not worry about anything being in my way.
Suddenly I collided directly into someone and we both fell backwards after the hard impact. I rubbed my shoulder, snapped my eyes open to see if the person was okay, then grinned when I realized it was Lee.
I stood up and smirked down at him. "Lee-san!"
"Oww.. huh!? Setsuki-chan!?" Lee's eyes widened and the biggest smile came across his face. He jumped up and hugged me really tightly, I hugged back. I didn't realize just how much I missed him until just now. "Where have you been?! I have not seen you in ages!"
"I've been training in the mountains with Beefy-sensei!" I exclaimed.
"Oh! You did not tell me that! I was upset because I did not know where you were!"
"Yeah I- wait.. upset?" I tilted my head. Lee's eyes widened slightly and he looked away scratching his cheek for a second before looking back at me.
"U-uhh.. I-I meant disappointed! Yes! Disappointed! I was disappointed because I did not get to train with you!" He said in a somewhat panicked tone.
I blinked. "Oh.. well, we should train today! The finals are tomorrow and I have to make sure my skills are as sharp as ever!" I exclaim.
"Oh! I remember, you are in the finals too! Maybe we will be up against each other, Setsuki-chan!"
I just remembered Lee had also won his fight against a Sunagakure ninja. "Right! Of course! If we are- then I will win for sure!" I exclaimed. Lee quickly took my hand and lowered it, then put other hand in front of me, his finger poked my nose.
"No! Setsuki-chan! I will win! I have been training really hard! I believe I can defeat you!"
I smiled. I didn't even feel like arguing. I just smiled. I looked away smiling to myself. Lee tilted his head, he still had hold of my hand. I turned my hand around in his grip and held his hand at the same time. Lee tensed slightly. "Yeah, maybe. We'll see." I said, facing away with my eyes closed. It seemed Lee had turned speechless, when I looked at him again he was staring at our hands with slight red cheeks. I felt my cheeks warm up. I stared at him. It was almost like my eyes were attracted to his face. My stomach felt all tingly again. I hope I wasn't getting sick.. especially at this time, right before the finals.
Lee gripped my hand and faced me, we made eye contact. A drop of sweat fell from his forehead, down his cheek until it fell and landed on the ground. "S-Setsuki-chan.."
"Yes.. Lee-san?"
He went quiet. He shut his mouth. His cheeks got redder and redder. "... D-Do not worry.. it is nothing..." Lee quickly looked away, like he was disappointed in himself. I didn't understand, but I didn't pry. I just smiled at him and tugged on his hand.
"Lets go get some ramen! We should eat before we start training!" I mentioned. Lee smiled a little and nodded.
"Yes, brilliant idea Setsuki-chan!"
We walked to Ichirakus, hand in hand. Yes.. walked.. for the first time ever. It was peaceful. I really enjoyed it. I don't know why, but I didn't ever want to let go of his hand. But I did, I let go as soon as we got there.
We had a few bowls each, until we became full. But then I looked over at Lee and he had the last bit of chicken in his chopsticks, heading straight for his mouth. I stared, my mouth craved chicken. Lee glimpsed at me, then at the chicken, and back at me. I avoided eye contact. I just wanted the chicken. Suddenly the chicken was headed straight for me. I blinked a couple of times, leaving my zoned out world. Lee smiled at me, holding the chicken inches from my mouth.
"Do you.. want it, Setsuki-chan?"
I smiled, then grabbed the chicken between my teeth. Lee gave a gentle smile as I ate his chicken. Lee piled his bowls up and mine, then paid for the both of us, which made me flinch. I grabbed his wrist just before he gave Teuchi the money.
"Lee-san you don't have to-"
"Setsuki-chan! It is fine, I insist!" Lee stared into my eyes until I let go of his wrist. He gave Teuchi the money and stood up. I looked up at him, and he beckoned me with his hand, so I stood up too. Lee pulled on my ear then ran off ahead. I rubbed my ear and laughed, then followed after him.
"L-Lee-san! Wait up!" I shouted out, but Lee only turned his head back, flashing a smile, then kept running. I started to laugh, I was really having fun!
I followed him all the way out to some grassy fields, where he purposely slipped over, curled into a ball and rolled a few metres before coming to a stop. He then fell backwards and spread out on the grass, panting slightly with a wide smile. I laughed at the sight. He was so goofy. I jogged over to him, slid on my knees up to him and fell forwards, laying sideways on top of him. Lee started to laugh with me. I rested my cheek comfortably on the soft grass with a smile nothing could erase.
"Setsuki-san."
"Yes?"
Lee grabbed my leg, I got suspicious. Lee lifted it, then sat up, I attempted to roll away, but he didn't let me. I stared at him with a blank expression. He had a smug look. Was he.. testing me? I tried to get my leg back, but he held it up with one arm, his hand gripped tightly.
"What're you up to?" I ask. He only breathed out a laugh.
"You cannot escape!"
"Yeah I can!" I tried pulling my leg back, I couldn't. He smirked at my fail. Each time I failed, his smirk grew wider. Suddenly I pulled it back with a bigger force than before, causing him to fall forward, I grab his shoulders and quickly twist him around and sat on him, pinning him down. "Told ya!"
Lee seemed a little surprised, but he quickly smiled. "You have me trapped so I cannot move. I think you may have won, Setsuki-chan." He said. I blinked. It wasn't like Lee to seem so submissive. Perhaps he just wanted to take it easy and muck around for once, because that's sort of how I felt.
I tilted my head and smiled down at him, the wind blew our hair gently. He stared up at me. "Lee-san."
"Yes?"
I leaned down and rested my head on his chest, he tensed slightly. "Good luck tomorrow."
"U-uh, thanks.. Setsuki-chan. You too!" Lee's hand found it's way to my hair, his fingers softly tangled the strands. I could hear his heartbeat, it was racing.
"... Are you alright, Lee-san?"
"Y-yes! Of course! Why would I not be?"
"Your heart... is-is racing! Are you scared?"
"Scared...?" Lee's heart got even faster. I lifted my head and looked down into his eyes.
"... Is tomorrow making you nervous?" I asked, concerned. I remember what happened last time.. against Gaara. Was he scared of it happening again? Lee shook his head quickly.
"No! No of course not!" Lee sat up, making me sit on his lap. I put my hand on his chest, feeling every beat.
"Then why...?"
Lee averted his head from me, and looked down at the grass. "I... I do not know.. I cannot answer that." Another gust of wind blew through. I felt my own heart starting to speed up. I wanted to talk to someone about how I was feeling. I look at Lee's face again, he was focused on a blade of grass, blowing helplessly in the wind.
I cleared my throat and look away again. Lee was right there, I could tell him. But for some reason, I kind of felt like Lee would laugh at me. I should tell someone else.
"S.. Setsuki-chan." I looked at him again. "I.. I know this might sound a little.. weird to you.. but I wanted to ask someone who would not laugh at me.."
".. What is it?" I asked, now very interested. His eyes lowered.
"Do.. do you think I.. will ever find.. love?" He slowly brought his eyes back to meet mine.
"Love?" I blinked a few times. Lee gave the slightest nod, his expression showed fear of my answer.
"Well.. of course! Everyone will find love..!" I exclaimed, flashing a smile. Lee seemed unconvinced. "Is everything okay?"
"I just.. I do not know.. I tried to say this to Gai-sensei.. but he only laughed at me.."
"Laughed..? Why?" I was concerned now. Lee seemed like he was trembling. He lowered his eyes.
"Can.. I tell you how I really feel?"
"Of course.." I put my arm around his shoulders to reassure him. "Lee-san.. you can tell me anything."
The corner of his lips twitched a smile, he lowered his head, it was leaning against mine, he was facing down, so I couldn't see his face. "I.. don't know how to say it.. but.. I feel that.. I will never find love.."
My voice was now soft and gentle. "What makes you say that?"
"... I know.. everyone is nice.. and they mean well.. but deep down I do not think they like me.. like I am someone.. out of their league.. I did have strong feelings for Sakura-chan... but she will never return the feelings.. when we first met, Sakura-chan told me I... was hideous..." Lee started to tremble a little more noticeably, like he was fighting emotions. "It was at that moment.. I understood... she would never accept me because of the way I.. looked.. Gai-sensei told me.. I must not give up... but in the end all my efforts were pointless.. Sakura-chan will never return my feelings... and often.. I overhear people.. saying how obnoxious Gai-sensei and I are.. how our appearances are appalling.. and the fact that I can only do Taijutsu.. holds me back from every else.. so... deep down.." Lee was starting to take big, shaky breaths. I didn't notice it, but I had tears running down my cheeks. "I... I feel.. that I will never truly be.. accepted.. by anyone..." Another pause, another gust of wind.
Lee didn't move, or say anything, but he was still trembling, his body was shaking. Slowly, I put my other arm around his shoulders, and pull him into a really tight hug. Without saying a word. I held him tight, I wasn't going to let go. I was really shocked to hear, that this is how he really felt deep down. I could understand that Gai-sensei probably would not listen to something like this, especially coming from Lee.
When the wind finally stopped. I spoke, almost like a whisper. "I accept you.. Lee-san.. I accept you." Lee tensed completely. "I... know you don't think it's true.. but.. to be honest I.. I.." I hugged tighter. "I really.. really.. like you.."
Lee froze, he stopped shaking, he held his breath. He lifted his head, I leaned back and saw his face covered in tears, his eyes were wide as wide could be. "Y.. you do?"
I nodded slightly, then used my thumb to wipe tears from beneath his eyes. "Everyone has their disadvantages.. you can't do Genjutsu or Ninjutsu.. I can't do Genjutsu.. Naruto-kun... was much like you too.. he couldn't do simple techniques either, but- none of that matters. None. What really matters... is you who are.. not what you can or can't do.. that's my belief.." I smiled at him sadly, his eyes shed more tears, but he kept the same shocked expression. I smiled a little more as I brushed my thumb across his eyebrow. "Besides... I think your eyebrows are cute.."
Lee almost flinched. His cheeks turned red. A dark red. "C-Cute?"
I nodded smiling. I ignored the tingly feeling in my stomach, I ignored my racing heart. Lee quickly wiped his eyes on his arm, then suddenly wrapped his arms around me very tightly, and buried his face in my shoulder, whining my name. I leaned my head on his and rubbed his back.
Love.. I wonder what that felt like...