The Way Things Were and Are

So sorry about the lack of updates! I have been rather busy at home now that school is over. Blah, it's no fun. I really am sorry!!! I hope you'll all forgive me! I hope this chapter makes up for it.

Note: Pulled from chapter 10 in TWTA.

REVIEW REPLIES:

Ino-chan: Thank you! It does explain it doesn't it? lol I am glad you liked it. :)

Admiral ShadowWolf: Yes, sorry. No smut in that chapter. *cough* Or this one. *cough* As for how many there are to go...let's say a lot...^^; lol

Jess: Thank you! I really am glad you liked it. :) I'm really not a genius, but I appreciate the compliment nonetheless! Thanks again! I hope you'll enjoy this story as well.

Annieme: Yes, it was rather WAFFy wasn't it? Oh well. That's never a bad thing! :D

charmpit: Yes, yes, there will be more. Hopefully tonz more. So many pairings to play with in this story! haha

jess249: lol Oh good. I was hoping your imagination would be able to handle that. haha just kidding. Yes, Naruto+glomps = potentially dangerous. I hope you'll like this story too!

yuurimaoh: Oh good! I am glad you liked it! There will definitely be more Sasuke/Naruto and Lee/Gaara stories. I assure you. *grins*

KatFO: Sasuke? Adorable? Yes, I suppose that works for that side story. haha

ShikaChouFan4Life: I like to keep things as "in canon" as possible with my stories. Personally I love all of the new stuff from the manga because it makes Itachi even COOLER (if that's possible). lol I'm glad you're enjoying the stories though! :D

robyntalks: I'm glad you liked it. I hope you'll continue to enjoy it! :) Yes, things will definitely be fun to read from other points of view. :D

digiditz: Yup! Here's even more for you!

Moiira: *blush* Thank you!

ImTheDobe: Thank you. :) I am glad you liked it. I had fun writing it. Yay for WAFF! lol Hope you'll like this story too!

qwerty: I'm glad you liked it. :) Thank you!

yaoilovergirl: Yes, there's much more. And thank you! :D

Zenith-Kaitou: No worries about not review on the epilogue of TWTA. :) I completely understand you not doing that. I'm also glad you liked the first story. I hope you'll like this one too!

Arieru: It seems that I gave many people that impression (about Sasuke hitting his head during sex. XD). lol I hope you'll enjoy this update! And thank you!

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Side 2 (Lee/Gaara)

Gaara sat patiently on Lee’s couch, reading over one of the ridiculous magazines his lover had subscribed to, shaking his head at the more incredulous and inane articles. It was stupid to think that anyone could actually accomplish these feats. And yet, Lee would try, saying that it was youthful and that new challenges were always a good thing for one’s vitality and progress in strength. He would always give Gaara the thumbs up after saying this as well.

Sighing, Gaara set the magazine down and relaxed into this lover’s couch. He had come straight here after his meeting with Tsunade, the trade problems proving more difficult than what they had originally thought. It was, as Shikamaru would put it, troublesome. The red head stood up and walked into the kitchen, filling a glass of water before slowly sipping at it. He was always slightly envious of how easy it was to get water in Konoha compared to Suna.

He was alerted of Lee’s homecoming when the door opened and closed, much more quietly that usual. Slightly worried, Gaara set his glass of water down and looked into the living room. Lee’s face was twisted in concentration and he was pacing back and forth in on the living room floor. Hairless brows drawing together, Gaara drew closer to the other. “Lee? Are you alright? What’s going on?”

“I’m fine, Gaara,” Lee said quietly. “It’s Neji I’m worried about.”

Gaara sat down on the couch, pulling the other to sit down next to him. “What’s wrong with Neji?”

“That’s just it,” Lee replied, his legs bouncing. “I don’t know what’s wrong. He’s locked himself in his room. We were sparring in the training field when Hanabi ran in and told Neji that Hinata had returned.”

Gaara blinked. “The Hyuuga girl that ran away? She’s back?”

Lee nodded, his hands twisting against themselves. “I saw her for myself when I walked Hanabi home. She looked miserable if you ask me. Anyhow, I immediately went to Neji’s room, with Lord Hiashi’s permission of course, and asked if I could come in. He didn’t answer and when I tried to open the door I found it locked. I couldn’t get inside.”

Now Gaara was really confused. “He locked his door and wouldn’t let you in?”

Lee nodded again and jumped back up to his feet. Gaara could see why the other was troubled. Whenever Neji was upset or frustrated, he had never denied Lee’s company before. In fact, he had been all the more welcoming to the green-clad shinobi before. The fact that Neji wasn’t letting Lee see him, much less talk back to him, was troubling indeed. But they weren’t going to get anywhere with just thinking about it.

Throughout the day, Lee would often run over to the Hyuuga compound, usually without warning to his red-headed lover, and try again, only to return defeated every time. When night came and it was too late in the day to make a friendly call to the Hyuuga home, Gaara tried to calm his worried lover down, but to no avail. Lee would sit for no more than five minutes before he was back up and pacing again, occasionally walking to the bathroom or the kitchen.

The night passed quickly, Gaara falling asleep by himself, much to his irritation. Morning came and Lee was acting no differently. He had small bags under his eyes and his pace was just as fast and worried as it had been before Gaara had gone to bed. Growling in frustration, Gaara when to the kitchen and made himself some breakfast, tossing an apple to Lee, who caught it without breaking his pacing, biting into it and his eyes staying distant.

It was well into the afternoon when a knock came to Lee’s door. Knowing the other was too preoccupied with his thoughts to get the door, Gaara walked over and opened it, sighing heavily when he found Shikamaru standing at it. The Nara raised a brow and looked over at Lee. He didn’t need to hear the unasked question to know what Shikamaru was thinking.

“He’s been like that for a day now,” Gaara explained. “I can barely even get him to sit down.”

Shikamaru didn’t say a word as Gaara let him in. The red head watched as he walked over to his lover and smacked him in the back of the head. He frowned at the action, but figured if it worked in calming Lee down, even slightly, he wouldn’t kill Shikamaru for it. He closed the door as the two exchanged their ‘greetings’, focusing in on their conversation.

“What’s up with you?” Shikamaru asked.

Lee frowned. “I’m worried. About Neji.”

Gaara watched as the brow that had previously gone back to its normal position raised again. “What’s wrong with Neji?”

“That’s exactly it!” Lee said, biting his lower lip. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since he found out that Hinata had come home.”

The red head almost snickered when the other went up. “What do you mean?”

Lee, finally, sat down and let a heavy sigh escape his lips. “He refuses to come out of his room. And he’s not eating very much. I asked Hiashi if he knew what was wrong, but he didn’t know. He merely shook his head and sighed. Y-You haven’t seen him?”

“I’m not allowed to,” Shikamaru stated. Gaara could’ve sworn that there was some sort of curiosity, if not concern in the Nara’s eyes.

The Kazekage made his way over to sit down next to Lee, placing a hand on his shoulder as the other asked a question that was resting on both of their minds. Shikamaru wasn’t allowed to see Neji? That was awfully strange to the red head’s mind.

Shikamaru sighed softly. “Hiashi’s told me that I have a choice, between Neji and Hinata. I have to decide by tomorrow.”

“Pick Neji.”

Gaara blinked and stared in surprise at his lover. Had Lee…just told Shikamaru what to do? That had to be a first. Gaara had never heard Lee tell anyone what to do. He had heard the other give suggestions and opinions, often followed with other options and ideas, but never an outright order. It was shocking to him to say the least. By the look on the Nara’s face, it would appear that it was no less surprising or shocking to him as well.

Shikamaru stared at Lee for a moment before a soft sigh left his lips. “What makes you think I should pick Neji?”

Lee lowered his eyes to the floor and relaxed slightly. “Neji…has been much happier these days. Not many people have seen the difference, but I have. I think it’s because of you really. I don’t know, but…he just seemed happier whenever you were around, no matter how much you teased him.”

“Could you give me an example?”

“Do you remember when we were all at the dango shop? When Ino said that Neji had a stick up his ass?” Lee asked.

Shikamaru grumbled and nodded. Gaara couldn’t help but smirk a little. It would seem that Shikamaru remembered it all to well.

“When he realized that you were there,” Lee said quietly, “I could have sworn that…he looked like he was about to smile, but stopped himself. Other than that, he just seemed to be…happier. I don’t even know how to explain it.”

“Hmmm,” Shikamaru hummed. “Well, I guess you’ve answered any questions I had, Lee. Thanks.”

Lee jumped up from his spot as Shikamaru made his way to his door. “Who are you going to pick?”

“Not sure yet,” Shikamaru answered, opening the door and looking back at the pair. “You’ll find out when everyone else does. In the meantime, why don’t you pay attention to your boyfriend? He looks like a neglected puppy.” With that he closed the door, Gaara half glaring at him.

Lee blinked a few times before he looked down at Gaara. The red head could see his thought process and merely smiled when his lover blushed in embarrassment.

“I have been rather neglectful, haven’t I?” Lee asked softly, looking down at the ground.

“I haven’t minded,” Gaara half lied. He stood up and turned to walk into the kitchen when he was suddenly grabbed from behind. “L-Lee?”

“I will never ignore you ever again!” the taijutsu master exclaimed. “I promise!”

Gaara rolled his eyes and turned around in Lee’s arms. “Lee, don’t make a promise you can’t keep.”

“But-“

The red head hushed him with a kiss, short and sweet, and smiled at him. “Really, it’s alright. It’s not as bad as what the Nara made it sound to be.”

“If you’re sure…”

“I’m positive,” Gaara stated. “Now, let’s get some dinner made.”

Lee beamed and nodded his head. “Of course! Then we can go and eat somewhere pleasant!”

Gaara agreed. He was glad to have his old Lee back. He was sure that the other was still worried about Neji, but he wouldn’t brood over it so much anymore. Maybe having Shikamaru show up had been a good thing, despite how the other had handled his lover at points. But it had worked and so Gaara wouldn’t complain. After all, it wasn’t every day that Rock Lee was pacing back and forth in his living room, worrying over something or someone.

Dinner was quickly made and once finished, the two moved out of Lee’s apartment, Gaara refusing to let Lee carry him wherever the other wanted to lead him. Yes, he more often than not let Lee do it because someone with Lee’s speed could avoid looks and glances that Gaara didn’t want to have. Even after he had lost Shukaku, people still regarded him as a monster. Even in Konoha it was odd. He was the Kazekage and as much as he liked the title, he hated the formality that came along with it.

“We’re here, Gaara!” Lee said excitedly.

Gaara could only blink. The place Lee had brought him to was beautiful. Green grass tinted red and orange by the afternoon sun was resting along the edge of a large lake, the other side filled with the trees of the Konoha’s large and immense forest. The sun was reflecting off of the water, reds, oranges, and pinks mixing in the ripples. It was beautiful in Gaara’s eyes and he had never seen anything like it. In fact, it was almost as if it were a dream.

“Do you like it?” Lee asked.

“It’s amazing,” Gaara replied. “Suna afternoons and sunsets are never like this.”

Lee beamed. “I’m glad I could share it with you! Now, let’s eat our dinner!”

Gaara ate his food slowly, eyes distracted with everything that surrounded the two of them. It was absolutely gorgeous in his mind. Once finished, Lee gathered their things and ran to the nearest trash bin, leaving Gaara by himself for a few minutes. He simply stared out over the water, watching as fish occasionally popped out to catch a bug or just for the heck of it. It made him smile inside. It was all so serene and peaceful. Suna’s sands never looked like this.

He didn’t jump when two legs slid up next to his own, or when two arms wrapped around his torso. He merely gave a small smile before leaning back, letting his eyes close slightly when a soft kiss was pressed to his forehead. As unaccustomed as he was to the whole love subject, he loved the attentions he received from his black-haired lover. Lee had worked with him for a few years, getting him used to the ideas of familial love and then the love of a friend. Naruto had helped him with that one as well.

It had only been a year ago when Lee had brought on a whole new concept of love to him. And yet it had gone much smoother than the taijutsu master had expected. Gaara had been more than ready to go onto the next step and acquire a special someone. Lee had not been expecting it to be him though, and yet he was very much overjoyed to find out that tidbit of information. So much so that he had run all around Suna…fifteen times.

“Gaara, I’m glad I have you by my side,” Lee said quietly, somewhat lost in thought.

Somewhat caught off guard by the statement, Gaara turned his head to look into the face of his lover. “What brought that up?”

Lee gave the other an amused grin. “I was just thinking about how lost I would have been should you not have been here yesterday and today. Anyone less patient than yourself would have given up on me and I would have starved to death.”

Gaara smirked. “You would not have starved. You would have just gotten hungry.”

“Nonetheless, thank you,” Lee whispered, which was so different from his normal self. “I owe you quite a bit for the happiness you bring to my life.”

“Hmm,” Gaara hummed, letting his eyes close as he snuggled closer to the body sitting behind him. The sun was long gone at this point and the dark of night was beginning to take over the sky. As time passed, he shivered slightly, Lee’s arms coming to wrap more protectively around him. He hummed once more in appreciation and relaxed completely into Lee’s hold. He really loved these moments, where it was just him and Lee. He was always so solid in public that these moments where he let loose were always enjoyable.

“Should we go back now?” Lee asked, looking up at the night sky. The stars had come out long ago and the two had been sitting in the same place for hours.

Gaara merely nodded and put up no protest when Lee got up, picking him up at the same time. The green-clad shinobi raced off towards Konoha, holding the Kazekage close to him as he ran. Gaara didn’t care who saw them, should anybody. He knew that some people in Konoha didn’t approve of homosexual relationships, but he didn’t care. His friends, the only people in Konoha that he truly cared for, didn’t seem to care, seeing as many of them were the same way.

They arrived back at Lee’s apartment. Gaara smirked inside of his head as he tiredly made his way inside. Every time he came, Tsunade would always offer to give him a room in one of Konoha’s vast hotels, but he would always refuse. And yet she seemed to do it only out of precaution, not political interests. She knew of his relationship with one of her shinobi’s and could care less. If anything, it only made Gaara happier with the woman’s position.

“Why don’t you go get ready for bed?” Lee asked, locking his door, his normal, bright smile on his face. “I’m just going to finish up a few things and then I’ll be in.”

Gaara did as he was suggested and merely nodded as he made his way to Lee’s…no their room. Lee was so persistent sometimes and he had insisted that whenever the redhead was visiting Konoha that his room automatically became their room. The Kazekage shook his head. His lover was such a strange, vibrant person. He often considered himself so lucky that Lee returned his feelings. It shocked him that no one else had wanted to nab the taijutsu master before him.

“Gaara? Are you alright?”

The Kazekage was brought out of his thoughts only to realize that he was simply standing in the middle of their room, staring at the bed. He shook his head and turned towards Lee, smirking. “I’m fine, Lee. Just having a little trouble with removing my clothes is all,” he added coyly.

Lee quickly caught the hint and smiled seductively himself. Gaara always shivered when he saw that smile. Who would have thought that Lee could be so sexy? The green-clad shinobi made his way slowly over to the other and wrapped his hands around his waist. “Shall I help you remove them, my little Tanuki?”

Gaara let his eyes fall shut. He hated and loved that nickname at the same time. It always reminded him of his past, when Shukaku had been firmly sealed within him, depriving him of his sleep and giving him the strange, permanent black markings around his eyes. But it also reminded him of all the wonderful things that had happened since he had met Lee. Yes, he still regretted the chunnin exam events, but after that…they had become a powerful, even threatening team. He would never tell Lee his thoughts however. There was no doubt in his mind that his lover would stop using the name if he did.

“Yes,” he whispered, leaning up against the other. “I’d like that very much.”

Lee’s smile grew slightly and his hands slowly made their way to unbuckle and remove Gaara’s vest, letting the heavy thing fall to the floor. Not stopping in their trek, his moved to the redhead’s maroon coat and started to slowly unzip it, letting his fingers trail over pale, unmarred, almost perfect skin as he went. He felt Gaara shiver underneath this touch and his smile slowly slid into a smirk. It wasn’t until that point that he truly noticed how tired he was. He sighed softly and rested his head against the other.

“I’m sorry Gaara,” he whispered, letting his hands drop to Gaara’s hips. “I don’t have the energy for that tonight.”

Gaara smiled knowingly, leaning forward and pressing a light kiss to Lee’s lips. “That doesn’t mean you can’t help me finish.”

Lee shook his head and chuckled. “Tease.”

“You can only blame yourself for that one, Lee,” Gaara said softly, reaching up and starting to unzip Lee’s suit from the back. “You’re the one who taught me all these emotions.”

Lee chuckled again. “You make life worth living, Gaara. Don’t ever leave me.”

“I have no plans to do so now or ever.”
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Aw, so cute, eh? lol I hope you guys like it too. :) Again, I'm sorry that this was so late in being updated. I'll try to be more consistent from now on. :) Anyhow, pleas review and tell me what you think! :D