A Rivial

Lee's eyes widened, "Gaara!" He yelled and ran over jumping off the bridge and into the water extremely worried. "No no no no! He can not be drowning!' The leaf ninja screamed in his head as he reached out in the water. The redhead was going down the river, he couldn't let him get away... Not just in this but anything. Lee had the want in his heart to not let Gaara get further then a foot from him. With a little effort he finally grabbed Gaara's hand and swam them back to shore. Meanwhile Riku was finally noticing it and was running to them. "No.. Gaara-kun breath.. breath..." 'You have to do CPR you know that! But that would mean our lips would... No time to think Lee help!' His brain screamed and he didn't have anymore time to think it over. Closing his eyes Lee leaned in and plugged Gaara's nose, pressing their mouths together and breathing in. When he felt Gaara's chest rise he pulled back and pushed on his chest. Then repeated it again until Gaara coughed up water. "Oh thank god!" He yelled pulling Gaara into his chest starting to cry a bit. All in the matter of about 5 minutes Lee had felt tense, stress, pain, hurt, loss and now relief. There was just a little problem running up to them now.

"What did you do! Your lips were all over him, Pervert!" Riku yelled going to take Gaara form him.

Gaara kept coughing for a bit and gripped onto Lee's vest. "R-Riku calm down.." Gaara ordered and looked up at Lee getting confused by the tears in his eyes. "T-Thank you L-Lee.." He said before going into another coughing fit. Naruto ran over and relaxed seeing Gaara was ok and set a hand on Riku's shoulder as he panted. "Good job bushy-brows." He said grinning.

Lee blushed a bit and gently pat Gaara's back, "Hey hey you can not breath that hard just relax and try to follow my breathing.." He said softly. Riku glared, everyone was paying attention to Lee, Lee was in the spot light HE saved Gaara, Gaara was actually freely touching HIM. Needless to say Riku was a bit ticked.

"Gaara.. We should get you back to the apartment... You should change and lay down.. I'll even dry your clothes.." He was trying anything, just something that would get Gaara out of Lee's arms. But the leaf ninja was not going to have any of that. He whipped his tears away and stood up pulling Gaara up with him. "No he should relax here.. he can dry in the sun..." He replied back to Riku.

Gaara did as the leaf ninja said and tried to match his breathing to Lee's, Naruto walked over and pulled off his jacket draping it around the Kazekage's shoulders. "Did I really just die again?" He asked meaning his drowning and looked up at Lee through his bangs. Naruto started walking to lead them back to the group.

Lee chuckled at Gaara, "No you did not Gaara-kun.. you almost did though.. I kind of saved you.." He said awkwardly and kept an arm wrapped around him for support while following Naruto. 'His arm is around him and Gaara is not freaking out! But.. He hurt Gaara before! How could he be ok with it?!' Riku screamed in his mind infuriated and he ran up to them. "Gaara.. wouldn't you be more comfortable at the apartment..? I mean.. you almost died.. you really could use some meditation.. plus.. I am here to protect you and I do not think you out here while cold is very good. You are virtually defenseless right n-"

"If you are here to protect him where were you when he fell?" Lee said looking at him with a serious look. Riku's head dropped and he stopped walking. "Well I.. he told me..." He had been defeated at the moment and he knew it. A sigh left his lips. They were both getting irritated with each other.

Gaara and Naruto sweat dropped both feeling a bit of tension in the air. Gaara stumbled and tightened his grip on Lee's vest which he had still not let go of. "How did you save me from drowning?" He asked and Naruto turned around to walk backwards.

"Jeez Riku relax you seem like your ready for a battle dude." The blond said raising a eye brow at him.

"...I am.. I haven't been able to beat the crap out of someone in a long time..." Riku growled out tightening his hands into fists as he looked at the two from behind. Just what the hell was Lee thinking?!

The leaf ninja however ignored the burning glare in his back and caught Gaara, "Gaara-kun are you ok? We can rest for a minute if you still need to relax." Lee was still worried about Gaara but confused as to why he was. '...What is this feeling I get anytime he might get hurt...? ugh I know I just care for him as a friend.. but why does it seem like it is more...?' He thought to himself then heard his inner Lee respond. "Maybe because there is? Think about it... Before when he confessed his love to you, you did feel a spark. But you flipped out and didn't listen to me. Now you still do not listen to me. I am your mind I should know what is best for you..' He stated back. Pursing his lips together Lee shook his head thinking back, 'No... you always think...perverted stuff and are immature, why would I trust you on what I want? Me and Gaara are friends.. plus I doubt he stills likes me anyways..' The inner Lee rolled his eyes and seemed to pity himself. Really was he that much of a baka to just push things away? 'What ever you say.. you technically are the boss..' His inner voice said unwillingly fading away as the real Lee smiled at Gaara wanting his response.

"The warmer I get the more I move..." Gaara said and looked away from the older male feeling a small pain in his chest that he always got around Lee. He lifted his hand and gripped his vest over his heart and Naruto frowned looking at him.

"Gaara you ok?" Naruto asked and Gaara gave a small nod but Naruto could tell he was upset.


The glare from the other man intensified, he knew exactly what was up with Gaara. He got like that anytime Lee was mentioned he was hurting on the inside. "We should stop..." Lee said softly and moved sitting Gaara on a rock. "Do you need some water? I could run ahead and get some from the group.." He said still being a worry wort about his best friend.

Strolling over Riku stopped in front of the two but didn't say a word further knowing Gaara would scold him like a dog if he said anything. But that didn't stop him from giving Lee all the dirty glares. The leaf ninja winced, 'is it my fault..? Why is he gripping over his h-... Riku is glaring at me... This is my fault... I am the one upsetting him...' 'Well genius glad you noticed.. can we stop being aloof and just like kiss him or something? That should cheer him up!' The inner Lee replied and grinned. The black haired man on the outside though blushed and stood up.

"Maybe Gaara should go back to the hotel... it might be best..." right now he was really just wanted to get away from the young kazekage. He wasn't the only one feeling pain, Lee suddenly felt his heart want to break in two thinking of the fact, he was causing Gaara pain. It was HIS fault that he was hurting at the moment. Yes he had saved him from death.. but there is one thing he had been letting him die in.. his loneliness. It was all his fault Gaara's heart was hurting why his eyes looked so lost before. No purpose even seen in them. He glanced to the redhead then let out a soft sigh as if confirming to himself it would be best.

"Gaara-kun... why do you not have Riku take you back? Changing out of the clothes really will be best... and you could use some rest..."

Gaara snapped out of his own thoughts and frowned up at Lee. "Don't think I'm so weak, I'm the Kazekage after all I'm fine. I'm just a little cold." He said and pulled Naruto's jacket tighter around himself.

Naruto knelt down next to the leader and rubbed his arm to warm him. "Says the guy who looks like his hair melted." Naruto said and Gaara blinked and smirked at him.

"If your trying to tease me your not doing a very good job at it." Gaara said and pushed his bangs out of his eyes so he could see better.

"No no no! Let's not change the man's mind.. come on Gaara.. Please come home, this is the first time I am actually asking you to do something for me... will you at least do that??" Riku complained pulling Gaara up and wrapping an arm around him as Lee had done before so he could support Gaara.

Lee winced and let his head bow, "P-please Gaara-kun, you should listen to Riku... he obviously knows how to care for you..." Riku had to move his arm off when he felt Gaara push it away and sighed rolling his eyes. The leaf ninja turned around and whipped his eyes, 'keep calm.. you can not be that upset over hurting him Lee.. relax...' He thought. Muttering, "I am going to the others bye.." To Gaara and he reached out to hug him.

Gaara tensed and flinched from the arms around him, he felt another pain in his chest this one worse then before and he pulled away. "I...I n-need to go. R-Riku stay h-here.." Gaara said and turned not able to take it anymore and ran off into the woods. "Gaara!" Naruto yelled and ran after him leaving Lee alone with Riku.

"Now you did it idiot! Vous êtes si stupide!!" Riku yelled and went to chance after the two but Lee caught him.

"What did you say..?"

"I said! You are so stupid! God why did you do that?! YOU hurt HIM before, don't you even realize that?! Why would you even think of touching him! Didn't you notice he was holding his chest?! His heart hurt!" Riku ranted on now turned around and completely taking it out on Lee. "Because of your dumb ass anytime he thinks about even the fact he enjoys being around you or loves you he hurts! YOU STILL HURT HIM!" The older man huffed and growled at Lee who was now baffled.

"Gaara-kun still..loves..me? Even after what I-"

"HE SHOULDN'T! But he does! And you are just screwing it up! Do me a favor breeder (note: What gay people love to call strait people ^^ ) either fix this, fix what you have done to Gaara, or stay the hell out of his life he doesn't need you to upset him anymore!" Then the body guard turned and ran off, leaving Lee alone with his thoughts.

'Gaara...still loves me.. why does that...I am happy..but..I hurt him... I am still hurting him? Ugh I am so confused...' He brought his hand into his chest and winced feeling the pain of his heart was becoming worse. Why was he hurting for Gaara? And why was he so joyed about the slim chance Gaara really did still love him? But his head hurt.. his whole body hurt...He wanted to be alone. When he heard Sakura's voice call out to him from behind he cringed, 'this is mainly your fault! Leave me alone!' He yelled in his mind to her while taking off in a sprint. When he got home and plopped down onto the couch, his head into the pillow. Groaning he uttered, "What was I thinking..? Ever thinking me and Gaara could be friends again..." Then his inner voice responded, "Well it is simple, you can not be friends ever again... Let us put it this way.. you can either accept his love and actually listen to me when I tell you we love Gaara or we can loose him forever...' The leaf ninja didn't want to believe that he just couldn't. Those weren't his only options were they? Then he glanced over to the coffee table and noticed Gaara's book on it. 'I did not return it to him..' Sitting up he decided to reread it again. Afterwards he was simply baffled. 'If this book explains love between two guys like that.. and it is similar to mine and Gaara's...I love Gaara...?' 'Finally! Geez, it took how long to drill this in! Come on Lee get up and let's go tell him!!' Inner Lee yelled pumped and ready.

The normal one sighed and stood up knowing there was no helping it. He finally understood what he had to do. After running to the hotel he repeatedly knocked on the door but no one answered. When he went outside he heard Riku and Gaara's voices. "Oh they are on the balcony, I can just jump up there and after Riku leaves go down." He said allowed and jumped onto the black tiled roof.

When moving in though he froze his breathing halting hearing what Riku was saying. "Gaara! Please... hasn't he hurt you enough..? I mean, he saved you life.. and that pain is still there.. it has been two years of us knowing each other and a year after what he did.. and you still are rejecting me.. He obviously doesn't care anymore.. you are just friends to him... please let me fill that hole in your heart.." Riku's voice said then it grew softer.

"Je vous aime... and you know what that means.." Lee peeked over the balcony and could see Riku gently running his hand over Gaara's cheek while whispering into his hear. 'He is going to push him away like always Lee do not let it get to you... like he said before Gaara still loves you...' He thought in his mind trying to keep from just snapping.

Gaara stared up at his body guard and sighed deeply. "I...I guess I have waited long enough for him..." The leader said bowing his head and closed his eyes. "Alright Riku..." He finely said his shoulders falling in defeat.

Riku seemed to smile yet pout at the same time as he tilted Gaara's head up. "Do not seem so upset about it, I promise you I can make you happier then any man alive," He stated proudly and brushed his lips against Gaara's forehead before tightly wrapping an arm around his waist. "Come on I think your clothes are dry and you have a meeting on, My love..." he said and whisked Gaara away into the apartment.

Lee sat there for a minute speechless. Did he really just figure out his feelings for Gaara, and do all that, just to run all the way here and loose him?! Taking in a deep breath Lee brought his hands to his hair and grabbed it screaming at the top of his lungs while leaning down and hitting his head on the roof. A man who was next to him the whole time fixing the roof stared at him with a very confused face then cough. The leaf ninja froze and turned red standing up. "Umm... very youthful job on the er roof... k-keep it up... I am off now yosh.." Lee forced a grin and bolted away. Running to Naruto's house he banged on the door repeatedly, the blond should be home now it had been at least an hour since he had gone home. "Naruto! Naruto open the door! Naruto!!"