Tomorrow Finally Comes

Title: Tomorrow Finally Comes

Author: Quirk othe Trade

C&CC: quirkothetrade@yahoo.com or where ever this is posted.

Category: fan fiction

Genre: yaoi, romance, angst, AU to be on the safe side,

Rating: adult, 17 and up or mature minds

Warnings: AU-ness, implied sexual content; implied character death; Kakashi/Gai; Kakashi/Lee; anticipating future Lee/Gaa/Lee; implied Naru/Hina/Saku; implied one-sided Neji+Tenten...

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and make no monies off of this fiction. Naruto belongs to whoever owns it. (Do I really need to name names?) This is a fanwork made in hopes of expressing my love for the series and to shut up the damnable plot bunnies that conspire with my muse.

A/N: I don't think I have the characters in character, but that's why there's an AU tag in the 'genre' section. Thank you all for being patient, and enjoy. ^_^

Beta: Un-betaed

Synopsis: More set-up, and on the way to Sunagakure.
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Lee set his backpack down on the ground at his feet and leaned back against the jam wooden gate that served as the main entrace and exit to Konohagakure. He was the first one there, and he was willing to bet the last one would be Kakashi. (Why had Gai-sensei's timely habits not rubbed off on him?)

"Lee!" Tenten's voice called, and he rolled his head around to greet her. "Tenten!"

The brunette dropped her bag beside him and smiled widely, which he returned. Two years of mourning might be coming to a close, making this one mission they were eagar to go on. But in the mean time... He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Tenten, has Neji been attempting to ask you out again? I noticed the two of you were tense around each other again."

The smile dropped, and she sighed. "I keep shooting him down, and after a few months of sulking, he comes back and asks me out again, each time more earnest than the last."

"If I may ask, why are you turning him down? He is at an impeccable peak of his youth! The two of you should strike while the iron is hot!"

"Well... he has a huge fan club for one thing and for another, even if he's serious, the Hyuuga clan still participates in arranged marriages. What's the point if he's just going to get married off at Hyuuga-sama's whim?" Tenten rubbed the back of her neck with one hand.

"Is that all that's keeping you from saying yes?"

There was a brief moment of instinctive jumping and lashing out before Tenten calmed down and tucked away the kunai in her hand. "Don't sneak up like that!"

"Is that all that's-" Three heads turned at the muffled giggle and scuffle inside the town walls. Neji abandoned his quest for Tenten and took the few steps away to peer behind the tiny shop's alley. He immediately went ashen and walked back with jerky movements, his face shocked. It was enough to concern their female team mate, who asked tentatively, "Neji, are you alright?"

He didn't answer, though his mouth worked at it for a moment. It made him look rather like a fish.

There was a swirl of wind and leaves, and Kakashi was suddenly there, a pack on his back and his Icha Icha Paradise no where in sight. The Copy Ninja was early, if not on time, and he took one look around to discern who was present and not. When he stopped on Neji, who simply pointed and mouthed some more in the depths of his psychological trauma, he turned and went to investigate.

"Naruto, Sakura-chan, stop molesting Hinata-chan and let's go."

There was a lintey of curses and protests, at which Kakashi flipped out the orange book and assumed his most laid back pose without actually leaning on anything. "Neji-kun, you may need to intervene so snap out of it."

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO HINATA-SAMA!"

Lee and Tenten peered inside as the threesome appeared, Sakura and Naruto with their backpacks in hand and Hinata in a rumpled yukata that had probably been much neater before she'd been pushed into an alleyway. Naruto pouted, eyes squinted shut while Sakura looked like a cat who had gotten the cream. The Hyuuga heiress was flushed and happy as she stood there pigeon-toed between her lovers as Neji countinued to rant, rave and threaten, red-faced, before them.

"Yes, yes, yes- that's enough, Neji-kun." Kakashi drawled out, attention firmly on his book. "They'll know better next time. In the mean time, I'm sure everyone's assembled and ready to go?" A chorus of affirmatives filled his ears, and he snapped the book shut. "Let's go then."
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They were making good speed, already halfway across Fire Country when Kakashi called a halt near a small stream. "Eat, drink, rest. After this, we're making for the caravan route into Suna and not stopping until we hit at least the first oasis."

"Why? If we just ran we could make it there in-"

Kakashi glanced around at the trees exageratedly. "We're just reporting into the Kazekage, because we're on loan from Tsunade-hime for joint missions. Remember?"

Neji filled in the pause for the rest of them. "Yes, Kakashi-sensei. Shall we start a fire?"

"If you want to. I'm assuming everyone brought something to eat besides ration bars, at least for today." Making for the nearest high point in the nearest tree, the Copy nin walked up the trunk to settle himself in the branches.

Lee did a few stretching exersices before he swung his backpack off his shoulders to his feet and knelt, undoing the zipper and digging for his water bottle and rice balls. He ignored Naruto's shadow clones running off for firewood, and Tenten fetching water from the stream. The urge to run was still there; that high he got off of pure exercise urging him to run even more. But he ignored it in favor of food, and contemplated taking a nap while he could. He was still a little tired from last night.

"Oi, Lee, let's spar!" The real Naruto sang out, drawing everyone's attention. Lee glanced up in time to see a heavy hand land on the blond's shoulder, drawing his attention behind him. "Eh?"

"Yes, Naruto-kun, let's spar." Neji's expression was vendictively gleeful- for Neji, anyway.

"I don't want to spar with you! You're going to try to kick my ass!"

"Who said 'try'?"

"Gunbate, Naruto-kun! Neji-kun!" Lee settled himself, covered a yawn with one hand then opened up the sets of leaves holding his riceballs as he observed the so-called spar. Riceballs began to disappear absently . (Naruto-kun never learned how protective Neji actually is of his cousin, and it's not like he could take his frustration out on Sakura-san in good conscious. Ah- it is good training! Neji will not hold back the power of his youth!)

"If you're going to spar, get away from us so we can make the fire!" Sakura roared as she and Tenten ducked, distracted from setting up a fire ring of stones by scitterbombing guys leaping over them.

"Mah, Naruto, Sakura's got rocks to throw." Kakashi called down from his perch.

Lee took a drink then cheered them on.

"That's not helping, Lee-san!"
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There were lights begining to bloom ahead of them in the vast darkness of sand, light that was brighter than the faint wash of starlight from the moonless sky. Naruto called back, "Almost there- up ahead!"

The measured, rythmic pants from everyone around him had lulled Lee almost into sleep. That wasn't anything new or unusual, for his team had found him dozing on his feet at a jog before. The blond's shout awoke him now and he stumbled slightly before taking it in stride. There was something to be said for muscle memory. The lightest thuds just behind him to the right reminded him of Kakashi's position as the rear guard, and he turned his head slightly to glimpse him from the corner of his eye. All he saw was silver hair and black cloth.

"We're almost to the first oasis." The older man's tone was mild. "You can sleep then."

"I am fine-" Lee started to exclaim in protest, by Kakashi's next words, still mild, made him snap his jaw shut. "Sorry about last night."

Neither Kakashi or himself had ever spoken of what occured at night, at least not outside the confines of Lee's lodgings. The rare and few times they had... encounters outside of the bedroom, had been in hard-to-reach places in remote training areas. Publicity hadn't been an issue. For the jounin to speak at such an unoppertune time...

"Did something happen with Iruka-sensei?" Unused to whispering or anything related, Lee none the less did it, sympathy highlighting his voice.

"Ah." That was the last of any speaking between them as they caught up with the rest of their group. Two caravaans were there, unwilling to brave the chill or night-time beasts that lurked the sands. They couldn't really be blamed for that; hired goons just weren't shinobi.

Crossing into the oasis, Lee noted the differences. The sand was heavier, the plant life and water made the air moist and easier to breath, and it was a shade warmer than the normally dry air chilling their lungs. Slowing to a walk, he immediately began subtle stretches, prepared to cool down. Kakashi moved past him, taking the lead and guiding them to a free spot unoccupied by the caravans. Everyone else was moving the same as the taijutsu master, stretching and rolling muscles and joints. They were watched closely by those on guard duty, then acknowledged with short nods. With Team Kakashi and Team Gai there, their job had just gotten a bit safer. Shinobi were most likely to be the ones attacked and attacking, so they would have a chance to secure their holdings or run- whichever came first.

Tents were immediately unpacked and set up. Tenten went in one, Neji and Lee in another, Naruto and Sakura in the third while Kakashi tried to call first watch. Lee was left to argue with him while the others slid out of sight to sleep until woken. "Eat and drink, then sleep. We'll leave before first light to gain ground. I'll take first watch and wake the next-"

"Kakashi-sensei, please allow me to take first watch! I am refreshed after my imprompt nap!"

"No. You're probably the one who most needs to rest fully." Kakashi pretended not to notice the others slipping away, Naruto's leer at Sakura and her resulting mock-scowl, Neji's wishful half glance at Tenten and Tenten's pointedly not looking at anyone. "Well, good night."

"I wish to talk to you on a certain matter," Lee said in his best whisper as soon as the last body had disappeared. "If that is alright?"

Kakashi nodded as he pulled out a blanket and wrapped it around himself as he settled under a tree that faced everything that he needed to see for the foreseeable future. Lee knelt beside him, watching their enviornment as well. "Are things not progressing well with your courtship of Iruka-sensei?"

The book was immediately pulled out. "Un. He knows about the mission."

"He must feel uneasy with the potential to retrieve Gai-sensei. Afterall, you two are not yet lovers."

"Iruka's a tough nut to crack." A note of pride threaded Kakashi's voice momentarily. "I think he'll have nothing to do with me when we return."

"You can not know that for sure. This person we have been sent after may not be Gai-sensei at all." It badly pained Lee to say that. "Or he may be in need of much medical help in order to be able to return to himself, which may take years, and it has already been years. One would not blame you for taking a new lover."

"...I wouldn't abandon Gai. Iruka knows that."

"Your dedication is commendable, given that Gai-sensei may not even know you anymore. But perhaps it would be wisest to wait and see what lies in Suna." There was a soft sound somewhere near, like a bug burrowing in sand. If he was judging distance correctly, it was down near the watering hole of the oasis.

"What are you going to do about Kazekage-sama?" It was said lazily, without real curiousity. Kakashi was the only person Lee knew who could ask like that and still want a real answer, even if it was on a painful subject. "Your situation will never change if you don't do something. There's no telling how long we'll be in Sunagakure; perhaps this is your chance."

"...I will not talk of this issue." Lee rose to his feet and stretched some more. "I have given up."

"It's foolish to give up before you even try, you know." A page of Icha Icha Paradise finally flipped over. "Go to sleep or you'll be last on the watch list."

And Kakashi would make sure of that, too.

"Good night, Kakashi-sensei." Lee left him and went to slip into the tent with Neji.

The Jounin sighed quietly behind his mask. "Sorry, Gai. I've made a mess of things since you've been gone."
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TBC...
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