Ninja Moon

This pairing is one that I had a tough time deciding on...Whether or not it should exist or be replaced by a different pairing. The only reason it exists is because I found a really cute fanart-chibi-comic-thing that made me go "AWWWW!" for at least an hour. It's not even a sexy pairing like KakaIru or SasuNaru in my opinion, so don't expect these two to really do much beyond snuggling and warm-and-fuzzy-feelings. And I hate writing for Gaara and Rock Lee...I know too little about them...

Chapter 7: Jupiter, Princess of Thunder and Forest
"Jedite is dead. He underestimated this generation, but it will not happen again."

"I understand, miqueen."

"Go and gather energy for our true queen. And bring me Sailor moon's head!"

"Yes, miqueen. I, Nephlite, will not fail you."

---

"The beautiful garden had become a bloody battlefield in a matter of moments." I've dreamt this before...This is the third time..."Two princesses of fire and thunder fight back group after group of attackers, fleeing to nowhere. Surrounded, the princess in green takes her counterpart into her arms and holds her close. Her voice is sad, but strong. Strong as her spirit. 'We'll leave each other soon, but when I find you, I'll know you...I'll hold you forever and protect you from lonliness...because I love you...'

'My blossum...' The crimson princess whispers, her unshed tears choking her. 'My spring blossum...Please find me quickly. I'll be alone for too long without you...'" Her face...Why can't I ever see her face?

Rock Lee sighed as he opened his eyes, forcing himself out of sleep and back into Konoha. He sat up and hugged a knee to his chest. It was a nice, sunny day and classes had be cancelled due to Iruka's constant love of nice days and belief that each nice day should be enjoyed to its fullest. Lee agreed with the stuents it was because, like most of the other teachers, Iruka secretly wanted out of class to investigate the identity of the mysterious Sailor V.

Ever since she hit the newspaper, Sailor V has been popular with aspiring girls and imaginative boys going through puberty. But Rock Lee had a different princess to search for, another woman of mystery who had caught the fighter's heart. The princess of red that feared lonliness. Rock Lee knew she was someone close to him, someone right under his nose, someone like...

Gaara stood near a sandy stream shore, practicing a combination of his sand jutsu and tai-chi that resulted in a relaxed, dance-like fighting style hidden by ripples of sand.

Rock Lee sighed sadly, letting his large brows furrow in a frown. Gaara...He's always sad, always hating, always alone. I remember fighting him. His emotions were powerful... Rock Lee stood from where he lay on the grassy hill and went to Gaara. "A pleasant afternoon to you, Gaara-san," Lee greeted, trying to be cheerful.

The sand nin gave Rock Lee an icey glare, letting the sand fall back onto the beach. Something in the glare faltered, and Gaara sighed. He bowed stiffly, as if he'd been punched in the gut and mumbled, "A pleasant afternoon to you, too, Lee-san."

Just as Rock Lee began pondering about Gaara's oddly-kind behavior, he noted that Sasuke was watching from a bush. Sasuke-san? Spying on Gaara? A-a-ah...He must be the one who brow-beat Gaara into an agreeable person. I'd applaud you if I knew it wouldn't get me hurt. "You were practicing your jutsu?"

Gaara nodded and sat on a patch of dry grass, looking at the stream. "I have gained a new power and new purpose," the genin said. "Now I must constantly practice this new skill so I may find my princess."

Such seriousness! Wait...a princess? "You dream of a princess?" Gaara nodded. A common factor! I must laern more so I may help him find his princess as I search for mine. "What color of gown does yours wear and what is she like? Mine wears a fire red and is strong, yet warm and passionate."

A surprised look swept Gaara's face, followed by deep thought. His eyes became distant on the stream. "So that is my destiny..." He muttered to himself. The genin didn't look at Rock Lee. "You will find your princess soon..."

Rock Lee blinked at him. "You are so sure?"

Gaara nodded. "I remember our fight...Do you know what you wish to do now that you cannot be a ninja?"

"Yes." Lee stood and struck a dynamic pose as he had learned from Gai. Gaara was beginning to agree with Kakashi that the teacher needed to be shot. "I will become a stronger fighter so I may protect my princess, even if I cannot be a true ninja!"

This declaration earned a weak smile from Gaara. He shook his head and stood, starting to walk off. "...You're weird..."

The fighter gave his colder counterpart a curious look. "What about you? I thought you loved only yourself."

Gaara paused, touching the kanji on his forehead. "I did...but...a small part of me hopes that my princess will not betray me as my family has."

Rock Lee smiled. "If your princess is anything like mine, she loves you for who you are and would never dream of hurting you."

"Hmph..." Gaara left the fighter at that.

Sasuke appeared at Gaara's side when the two were a distance from the non-nin. "It's him, isn't it?" The Uchiha asked, not afraid of the sand-nin's wrath. "He's the princess you dream of...He's the one you share a dream with..."

"That's none of your concern," Gaara hissed.

A brave hand appeared on Gaara's shoulder. "It's okay to admit defeat, you know." The sand-nin glared at Sasuke, who didn't even flinch. "I mean...I really don't think Rock Lee is out to get you. His intentions are pure and he really sounds devoted to his princess...to you..."

Again a light emotion touched Gaara's face. This time it was a thoughtful sadness. "What if he hates me if he finds out?" Gaara sounded like a lost child.

"I think he'll feel honored to have the one nin who could defeat him as his princess."

---

Rock Lee stirred in his sleep and woke when he heard someone crying and whispering his name in the breeze. His chakra tingled with danger and common sense screamed warnings in his soul, but the fighter quickly changed and ran out to find the person calling for him. Deep down, he begged for it to be his princess. He found himself at Hero's Memorial, though not alone.

Gaara stood glaring at a form in red gowns with long black hair laying on the ground. The whimpers and words came from the fallen woman. Sudden anger filling him, Rock Lee stood between the two with his back to the woman in red, protecting her. Gaara continued to glare. "Stand aside. She's a demon," Gaara told him.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Rock Lee shouted. "This is my princess!"

Gaara's eyes softened a bit. "She's not your princess," the sand nin said calmly, almost sadly. "She's an agent of the Negaverse sent to destroy you."

Something made Rock Lee's spine tingle, and he restrained a shiver. "Why would this 'Negaverse' want to destroy me?"

The woman behind him shrieked and lunged. Monsterous claws had replaced her hands, and her face was that of a hideous beast's. Rock Lee was frozen where he stood, gaping in fear and surprise at the woman. A shield of fire appeared between the two and again the creature roared, this time in pain.

Rock Lee turned to Gaara, his eyes going wide when he saw that the sand-nin was a young woman in a red fuku. A small flame danced around an open hand at Gaara's side. Above and behind him, a green star sparkled. Gaara spoke with a strone, familiar woman's voice. "Because you are a princess and scout...an enemy of the evil Negaverse."

A hand reached down to help Rock Lee stand, and as Rock Lee took Gaara's hand and stood, he felt a rush of sparkling power go through him as green light filled his vision. He opened his eyes and saw Gaara was smiling lightly, a pink blush on his face. Like Gaara, Rock Lee had become a woman wearing a fuku of green. Realization filled the non-nin fighter.

Gaara nodded. "You are Sailor Jupiter, princess of thunder and woods..." His blush darkened and eyes went to the green choker around Rock Lee's neck. "My...spring blossum..."

"You knew..." Lee whispered, his hands finding Gaara's shoulders. "That's why you hesitated earlier...You knew I was your princess and you were mine..."

"Yes..." Gaara answered. "I knew." He looked up at Rock Lee, then past him with a serious expression. "We have a demon to destroy."

Rock Lee followed his gaze to the woman, who now had the semblence of a lion to her. He felt the tingling of power within him and knew what it was. The scout in green stepped away from Gaara, unsure and unwilling to let his ally to be harmed by the attack he was about to summon.

Free from the fire attack, the wounded lion-woman lunged for Rock Lee again. Air crackled as lightning sizzled the breeze around Lee. "Jupiter Thunder Crash!" He shouted, sending the stream of rippling light at the creature. It let out a final roar of anger and paina s it dissolved into nothing. When the last of its remains blew away with the wind, Rock Lee again faced Gaara.

"You did well," Gaara admitted, his eyes avoiding Rock Lee. Still, he was blushing.

A light smile touched Rock Lee's face. Sand-nin...how you are a double-bladed sword... The fighter thought. You, who are powerful, are also sad, angry, and alone. You, who are wise in the way of fighting and jutsu, have much to learn about life. He lifted a gloved hand to Gaara's chin, gently forcing him to look up. "Burning flame of strength and nobility..."

Foreign tears touched Gaara's eyes. Touching them, he looked lost once more. Suddenly his body acted before him, and Gaara and Rock Lee were in each other's embrace. "Spring blossum..." Gaara said between wild sobs, his face buried in the breast of his counterpart. "Loyal and soft spring blossum! Where have you been? Where have you been?!"

Rock Lee kissed the kanji visible under Gaara's tiara, hands petting the weeping boy's back. "I'm here now..." He whispered softly. "I'm here for you, my princess...and I will never leave your side..."