(I would just like to thank you all for your support for helping me have the motivation to write this story, because I really enjoy it! And by the way, at the end of this chapter, which I was up writing at 2am today, I was in tears and sobbing.. I'll let you find out why.. :3)

Chapter 75

I don't know how much time had passed. But I woke up what felt like an eternity later. There were soft voices whispering. I opened my eyes slowly, a bright light stung my eyes, which caused me to hiss through my teeth and turn my head away from them.
"Setsuki!"
"Setsuki-chan is awake! I knew she would wake up! I did tell you she would!"
"What a relief.."
The three different voices sounded familiar. Especially the second one.. My eyes were open half way, adjusting to the light. Once they did I opened them completely, and stared up at the five figures standing over me. Daisuke, Takashi, Tenten, Gai-sensei and Lee... Lee! I immediately sat up, accidentally head-butting Lee, since he was leaning in too close.
"Arhh!" We both held our foreheads and cringed.
"I told you! Give the woman some air!" Tenten gushed, smacking Lee over the head.
Lee whined loudly. "I am sorry!"
"L-Lee?!" I stuttered, surprised to see him.
"Setsuki you had me so worried! I thought I wasn't going to make it in time!" Takashi huffed.
"Get here..? Oh right, Suna.. wait.. why are you here, Lee? A-and Naruto-kun! It's been ages!" I exclaimed. Naruto grinned.
"Man its a good thing Daisuke came out and told us about you, dattebayo!"
"What?"
"I was about to go see what was happening a few days ago with Kankuro. But then you screamed really loudly, and fainted. I didn't know what to do, so I ran out and told them. But they had to get the poison out of Kankuro first. I stayed by your side, and once Sakura was done a few hours later, she came to see you..."
"Yeah, and I couldn't figure out what was going on, I checked your blood for a blood sample, and it seemed fine to me.. but.." Sakura shrugged her shoulders, she was standing on the other side of the room.
"B-But..?"
"I couldn't figure out what was wrong.. you were bleeding pretty badly from your nose, and your mouth. I didn't know how to stop it. So we contacted home, and they said they had sent back up for our mission."
"Your mission?"
"Right. We had to lend Suna our help. But contacting them took a long time. By then we learned that Gaara had been kidnapped. So we rushed out to save him.. we got into some trouble with the Akatsuki."
"Rgh, that's when Bushy Brows, and Uber Brows-sensei arrived. We managed to get Gaara back... but.."
"But..?"
"Gaara... Gaara was dead."
My eyes widened. "G-Gaara!? Dead!?"
"He's alive though!" Sakura spoke up.
"How?"
"Chiyo-obaasan.. she sacrificed herself and brought Gaara back to life.. he's not longer a Jinchuriki." Sakura said, looking down sadly.
"And I have you all to thank." Gaara's voice came, from the door way. We all gave a slight gasp, as we faced the Kazekage, standing there, a soft smile on his face.
"G-Gaara!"
"So you're awake.." Gaara glanced in my direction, but turned his attention to Naruto. The two of them started to speak. Lee sat his butt on my bed, and stole my attention.
"I was so worried, Setsuki-chan! I stayed here as soon as I heard!"
I stared up at him. "Lee.."
His eyes were full of concern, and relief. He took my hand in his, and kissed it. "We had to retrieve Takashi-san from Konoha as fast as we could, because that is all I could think of!"
I looked at Takashi. He was death glaring Lee. At our hands. It looked like he was mentally stabbing Lee's hand with a chainsaw.
"H-How did you get Takashi back here so fast?" I asked.
"I travelled to Konoha and back, within half a day! I set myself that goal and stuck to it! You were my motivation, Setsuki-chan!"
Neji scoffed in the background. "Lee, you're getting too ahead of yourself.."
"... Okay, just a little over half a day!"
"It took you 2 days!" Neji growled.
"Two days?"
"N-No! One and a half!" Lee pleaded. Neji narrowed his eyes.
"It took you one day to get to Konoha, and another whole day to get back here." Neji explained.
"Wow! You really did that, Lee?" I looked at him with shock. Lee gave a modest expression and scratched his cheek.
"Yes! He is such a magnificent student!" Gai-sensei grinned, ruffling Lee's hair. Lee squealed and shoved Gai-sensei backwards, then fixed his hair. Gai-sensei pouted and stood back. I laughed, highly amused.

Two days later we ready to head home. Gai-sensei carried Kakashi-sensei on his back. Lee thought this was an excellent training exercise. He turned to Neji, and crouched down. "Neji.."
Neji sneered. "Hell no!"
"Tenten!"
"No!"
"Daisuke-kun!"
"What the hell is wrong with you man!? Get your ass out of my face!"
Lee whined. "Setsuki?"
"No! I'll carry you!" I replied. Lee stared at me for a moment.
"... Noooo, I must be as competitive as Gai-sensei!"
"But I must exercise too! That's the only way I can get stronger!" I exclaimed.
"You need to rest, Setsuki. No running around until you're better." Takashi grumbled.
"If anyone carries Setsuki, it'll be me!" Daisuke stated. Lee gave Daisuke a challenging glare.
"No, Daisuke-kun! I am the only one who can carry Setsuki-chan all the way back to Konoha!"
"Oh yeah!? Try me!" Daisuke returned the glare.
"Ladies, calm down." Susumu said, gripping both their shoulders, tightly, causing them to cringe.
"Who are you calling a lady, doll face!?" Daisuke roared.
"Did you just call me doll face?!"
"Yes I did!"
Takashi nudged me on the shoulder, and we started walking with the rest of the group, leaving the three of them there to argue. Gai-sensei had already raced off with Kakashi.
The three of them tackled each other, wrestling. Tenten dumped our bags beside them, with a note attached, saying 'If you want to carry something, be a real man and carry our bags.'.

It took several hours before they finally caught up to us, and in that time Takashi explained to me, what had happened to me.
"They mixed pure blood into your system.. it thickened your own blood.. which could have been dangerous, because your blood was at a high risk of clotting."
"What do you mean by making her blood thicker?" Neji asked.
"It's a little hard to explain. Setsuki's blood has a very high percentage of water mixed with it. It's an 80:20 ratio." Takashi answered.
"How is that even possible?" Tenten inquired.
Takashi shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "Its unexplainable. Even for I. Setsuki was born that way. Its mysterious. But because her blood was thickened, her internal organs, especially her heart and lungs, suffered because they are used to pumping the watery blood, not normal blood. So I imagine the nosebleeds came from her body rejecting this blood."
"You mean I could've died?!" I whined.
"Yes." Takashi said, very bluntly. I pouted, but then he looked me in the eye. "But I will not let that happen."
He went on to explain just how difficult it was for him to remove the thicker blood from my system, and just how risky it was. Takashi stated, that once we arrive at the village, he is going to demand to Tsunade-sama, that he should be the only certified person to do anything with my blood from now on. We all agreed.

Suddenly, dust was being kicked up behind us. I turned my head only a little, when I was suddenly lifted off my feet, into the air, and moving at a very fast pace.
"Eeep!" I clung to whatever had hold of me. I looked up and saw Lee's sparkling face. I stared for a moment before Daisuke's shouting was heard close behind.
"You may have gotten her first this time, Lee, but mark my words, I will have the last laugh! Haha- KAH!" Daisuke almost tripped as he swallowed a fly, he slowed right down until he was standing on the spot, grabbing at his throat, gagging. Susumu, who was behind him, stopped and burst out into laughter. Lee just kept on running.
"Lee what's going on?"
"I must beat Gai-sensei back to Konoha! If I cannot, then my punishment will have be severe!" He declared. Beat Gai-sensei back to the village? But Gai-sensei is already so very very far ahead..
"I believe in you, Lee!" I said. His eyes turned from the road ahead, to me. "I believe in you!" I repeated, flashing a huge grin. Lee smirked and quickened his pace.
"Oii! Bushy Brows!" Naruto called out from far back. Lee glanced over his shoulder, but didn't slow down. "Where's our luggage!?"
Lee's eyes widened.
"No! Daisuke-kun can get the luggage!" I said.
"What do you mean, I can get it!?" Daisuke questioned, clearing his throat and wiping his watery eyes. I made my eyes water, and stared at Daisuke with a sad expression. Daisuke's eyes widened. "D-Don't cry! My beloved Setsuki! I will go back and get the luggage! I promise!"
"On your own?" Susumu scoffed.
"No." Daisuke grabbed Susumu's shirt by the collar. "You're gonna do it with me, Doll face."
Susumu's eyes narrowed. "Is that right, honey?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And if I don't want to?"
"Far out, can't you just do one thing with me!? One thing!?"
"I could."
They stared deeply into each others' eyes. Takashi stepped forward and cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt your little.. bonding moment, boys.. but you better go back and get that luggage." He said, adjusting his glasses.
They both faced Takashi, frowning. "And if we refuse?" Daisuke boldly questioned.
Takashi's eyes darkened, and a wicked smirk grew upon his face. "If you refuse..?"
Both boys' jaws dropped to the ground, their eyes wide with horror. "N-Never mind!" And with that, they both sprinted back towards the desert to collect the luggage.

Lee continued running, until we finally saw Gai-sensei slacking off, taking a small bite to eat at a dango shop in the middle of no where.
Lee ran straight past him. As soon as he saw the green flash of Lee's swift movements, Gai-sensei hoisted Kakashi-sensei back up, and chased after us.
"Haha, it seems you have finally caught up, Lee!" Gai-sensei called. He quickly over took him, however.
Lee's expression hardened, scowling at the fact that Gai-sensei so effortlessly ran ahead. Perhaps I was too heavy?
"Lee! Let me get on your back, you may be able to run faster that way!" I suggested. Lee gave me a thoughtful expression.
"Yosh!" Lee practically threw me over his shoulder, forcing me to hold on myself, I wrapped my arms around his neck, and my legs around his waist. Lee's head lifted a fraction. "You were right! With you on my back, instead of my arms, I feel more flexible! I feel faster! Hold on, Setsuki-chan!"
I nodded and did as he said. Lee quickly caught up beside Gai-sensei, and they ran side by side for a few miles.

After a few hours, they had both slowed considerably. Lee's tongue hanged out of his mouth, like he was dying for a drink. Gai-sensei was the same. This was where carrying me comes to Lee's advantage!
"Lee, open your mouth!" I instructed. Lee didn't even think twice, he just opened his mouth wider. I cupped my hands together in front of his face, and used my chakra to fill them with crystal clear, cold water. Lee noticed and withdrew his tongue, moving his lips forward desperately. His bottom lip touched the bottom of my hand, followed by the tip of his tongue, as he began to drank the water. I tilted my hands upwards, making it easier for him.
He drank all of it, then licked his lips. "Thank you very much, Setsuki-chan!" He grinned, and ran on ahead of Gai-sensei, who moaned exhaustedly.

We finally arrived back at sunset. The incredible speed of Lee allowed us to get all the way back to Konoha in just one day!
I felt so happy, that all I could do was just cuddle him from behind. My head rested against the back of his neck, my eyes were closed. I had the most content smile.
"We are here!" Lee exclaimed. I opened my eyes, and peeked over his shoulder. The village gates were in sight.
"You did it, Lee." I said. "You beat Gai-sensei."
Lee shook his head, then flashed a cheesy grin at me. "We. We beat Gai-sensei, together, Setsuki-chan!"
"But I didn't do anything..?"
"You supported me the whole way! With your help, I was able to keep on going!" Lee said. "Just like last time, when I rushed to Suna with Takashi-san on my back. You helped me to bring Takashi back quickly!"
"I.. did?"
He nodded happily. I noticed his pace was slowing, but I didn't think too much about it. We were a metre and a half away from the gate. When who should happen to suddenly run up from no where and run ahead? That's right... Gai-sensei.
Our eyes widened at the incredible speed. Lee stopped as soon as he passed the gates, staring with shock at Gai-sensei.
"Yosh!" Gai-sensei raised a fist to the air, almost knocking Kakashi-sensei out. "I have won!" He redirected his fist towards us and pointed. "Lee! You let your guard down at the last moment!"
"I... I am sorry, Gai-sensei!" Lee whined. I tried to get off his back, but his hand was still on my thigh, holding me up.
"A shinobi must never let his guard down! Not even at the last moment!"
Lee lowered his head. I poked him in the cheek. "Neh, cheer up! You still got us here in one day after all! That's really amazing, Lee!"
Lee's eyes turned to me, he stared at me as if he was surprised. "A-amazing?"
"Yes! Of course! Not even I could manage that! You really are something, Lee!" I gave him a big, friendly smile. The corner of his lips twitched, and he smiled too. I hated seeing him sad. I put my finger under his chin and tilted his head up more. "You look much better when you smile." I said. Our eyes made contact, for a really long time. Gai-sensei was staring at us, tears rolling down his face, he snorted and sobbed obnoxiously.
I felt my cheeks burning up from his gaze, my heart was racing. Lee, ever so slowly, allowed me to get down, but without breaking our eye contact. He turned to me, and embraced me. My heart felt like it was going to explode.
"S... Setsuki-chan.." He said. His face was turning red. Kakashi was groaning in pain, so Gai-sensei dropped him. But we ignored it. I moved my hand from his chin, onto his shoulder. He was.. trembling?
"Lee..."
"T... Thank you.." He put his forehead against mine. My heart skipped a beat at the contact. I could smell his adrenaline. I could feel the sweat on his forehead and in his hair. It made my legs feel weak. I gripped his shoulder just a little harder, to try and keep my balance. Lee wrapped his arm around my waist, as if helping me stand. He smiled. That cute, harmless smile. My eyes softened. I wanted to look away, I felt a little embarrassed, but his eyes were so intriguing.
My breathing was becoming faster, my heart was racing so fast it felt like it wasn't beating at all. I almost gasped for air as Lee leaned close enough that our noses touched.
Gai-sensei was on his hands and knees, moping in a world full of emotions, crying at the scene in front of him, it was making his heart melt with utmost joy.
"Set...suki.." Lee seemed to be at a loss for words. My own lips were slowly moving, almost like they had a mind of their own, I couldn't understand it, but it was like they wanted to make contact with Lee's own lips.. Lee's lips were the same. "Peck.." He said, then pecked my lips. My eyes widened. I couldn't feel my heart beating at all. I wanted to do it back. I don't know why. But I wanted to. I closed my eyes halfway, Lee did the same. We both hesitated, before both leaning in, together, our lips connected, we closed our eyes.
Gai-sensei squealed in the background, before collapsing, gazing up at his beloved students. Only his eyes were capable of movement, and he could've been imaging a beautiful ocean wave to blend with the sunset.
Lee and I moved our lips unsurely, biting each others' lower lips, and subconsciously pulling each other closer. I felt lightheaded, like I was dreaming. I was kissing Lee? The boy- no, the man I 'love' so much? This is what love feels like.. there's no other way to describe the feelings. Love.
A single tear escaped my eye, and ran down my cheek. I couldn't explain it. Relief? Happiness? Joy? All I know, is that, that tear, was far from sadness. It fell from my chin and landed, on the ground.

"Unh.. hooray... can.. you take me to hospital now.. Gai..."
"No, Kakashi! This is the blooming of love! You don't understand the significance of this moment! Kakashi!"
"Wah! Hey!"
"Their embrace, their kiss, their everything! Their hot-blooded love! Can't you see the passion in their eyes!?"
"Their.. eyes are closed.. Gai.. and stop crying on me, you're getting me wet..."
"Pfffpht! Kakashi.. I'm so.. so happy.. right now! Waaaaahh!"
"G-Gai!"