To See Another Side of You

Author Note: alright so this has been about a year and a half in the making. I first wrote it in a notebook, and then it took me to get the rough draft typed up. But here's the finished product. And I think I got Lee's character down fairly well. *Shrug* but who knows. Anyway I really want to here what all of you hav eto say about this story.
Special Dedication: To Ryosukapplesofdoom. It was a christmas present... or it was supposed to be. lol. I worte this because it was her fav pairing and I couldn't understand why. So in order to gain a little perspective I wrote a romance fic of them for her. ^^
Warnings: Their are pairings in here you amy not like, including some OC's with the characters we love. A fic for anyone who can tell me who Sasuke's woman is in this fic. Random pairing of your choice aka a crack pairing you would like to see. ^^ Later folks.

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A chilly mountain breeze blew through the village, on a warm autumn afternoon, of the hidden leaf. Colorful trees rustled their leaves, the sound carrying along with the wind, and blades of grass danced in the warm sunshine. A perfect picture of peace after so much pain and fighting over so many years, surrounded the trouble young man standing in the graveyard of those lost in the past. He stood, his black hair pulled back into a short pony tail strands of his stubborn bangs falling away from the tie to fall around his face, staring down at a grave stone with solemn black eyes wearing a mint green Chinese silk tunic and matching silk pants.

He felt shame staring down at the monument at his sandaled feet, it had been a long time since he had visited and a lot had happened since last he’d been. Kneeling down before it, his right arm reached out and elegant bandaged fingers traced reverently over the kanji of the name of one of the most honorable men he had ever known. His shoulders sagged and his hand fell away from the stone with a sigh from the man who had come to visit.

“Gai-sensei…” he breathed reverently with sorrow.

Placing his hands down flat against the ground in front of him, in a triangular shape, before placing his head down there as well in a low bow to give his dead teacher the respect he felt the man deserved. Slowly the man formally known as Bushy Brows, aka Rock Lee, rose from the position and gave his dead sensei a smile. Gone were his boyish rounded cheeks and flimsy looking body curves, no longer did his large eye brows stick out upon his face, the boy had grown into a very good looking man. Yet the one thing that had changed the most for him was his inner out look on the world around him, things were no longer so black and white as they had been before.

“I apologize Gai-sensei, it has been four years. I was having trouble excepting your sacrifice for the burning passion of youth and the continuation of good over evil. I am not sure what you have been informed of so I will just tell you all that I know.” He said to the stone.

Lee paused while he thought of where to start. “Naruto-kun is Hokage now. He’s gotten married, and has twins on the way. He is the picture of a proud father. Nannia is her name, she hails from Mist, a very capable kunoichi and they make a rather happy family. Neji is married to Hinata and I have been informed that this is normal in families of nobility. Thanks to their union the Main and Branch families are now one. The two, I have been told, are trying to have a baby of their own, I am glad that they have found happiness.” He smiled for a moment then continued.

“TenTen met a man from grass country. I know it is strange to hear this but thanks to Naruto we are now allied nations with them. He’s a very attractive jounin by the way and his name is Jin-mou. Since Naruto has become Hokage, we have peaceful relations with all the nations and hidden villages, even Sound.” He paused. “Sasuke is now the Kage of that village. After his defeat at Naruto’s hands he couldn’t quite handle being here, so Naruto said that he could go back to sound and become Kage there. Sasuke agreed and has turned it around, Sound is a very respected hidden village.”

Lee sighed. “Though this is a slight on his person, apparently the young Uchiha had fooled around during his time with Orochimaru. He has a daughter he had transferred here a year ago. He has another girl as well just recently. He married the woman that had his first child and they are a nice family who care deeply for each other. So things in that aspect are much better now. The council of Elders did not like Naruto’s decision but they didn’t get a say in the matter, and they are not happy that his choice has turned out to be a great asset. The young girl who is here she is a genius as well, maybe even better than Itachi, and she rarely ever uses her bloodline limit. She has been told the bloody tale of the Uchihas and has decided that it is best to use those eyes as least as possible.”

Rock Lee tapped his chin in thought trying to decide what to talk about now. “Oh, Kiba has just recently married a distant cousin. The two are currently off on an s-rank mission instead of the traditional honey moon. Shino, well he’s still a happy bachelor and loving life like that. Never thought he was one to be like this but he must have a woman that enjoys his company in every village.” Lee chuckled at the thought. “Shikamaru has two young girls with the very competent sand kunoichi Temari. As is his usual flare he has stated how highly troublesome it is to be a father, but he enjoys it. Neither of them wish to be married as they have to many duties in the separate villages for one or the other to transfer over. So the two girls, are in Suna until they qualify for genin then they will come here to be put with an instructor. Shikamaru goes and visits when he can, and sometimes Temari brings them along when she is on an official visit so their grandparents and father can see them. So as you can see they are doing a fine job of making this arrangement work well.”

He paused thinking before he remembered what else he wanted to talk about. “Oh, and Choji married a very lovely looking woman from the wind nation. Not a ninja just a simple cook he met while he was returning from a mission. Her rice balls are fantastic, well to be honest almost all her food is great. She now is expecting to deliver any day, everyone is very excited. Ino has, as Naruto would say, come out of the closet. She announced that she was a lesbian about a year ago, she now has a life partner though no one has met her. Well Sakura has, she is working with them on a way to get pregnant to carry on Ino’s family name, it’s apparently all very hush hush, which is why everyone seems to know about it.”

“I’m sure you wonder why I haven’t mention her, Sakura I mean. She married Sai about two years back, shortly after becoming the top medical nin. Her knowledge and techniques are highly sought after, so much so that she has traveled to other nations to help teach them how to grow what they need. She now has so many students that Naruto is devising a plan on how to get ninjas to transfer here for her classes from other nations. He thinks it will be yet another great way to bring the nations closer together in this time of peace.”

“Sai is a special delegate between Fire and Sound. Naruto no longer has the time or resources as Hokage to go himself to visit. After so many other delegates have been sent back because Sasuke didn’t agree with them he sent Sai. Apparently Sasuke likes him, and so that’s now Sai’s special job. Sakura hasn’t said yet, but I suspect that she is pregnant herself. She’s probably waiting to announce it for when Sai returns.” He finished with a smile.

Slowly his smile faded and he was silent for awhile just listening to the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves. Taking a breath to calm his racing thoughts he spoke again. “I am very happy for them, truly I am. It’s just I am so lonely watching all my friends and comrades fall into happy relationships around me. I guess that’s selfish of me, but I can’t help it. You’ll be proud of me though, I followed your footsteps Sensei and became a teacher myself.”

“Naruto started a program for me you see, I teach the importance of Taijutsu and when they are older I teach them the art form. I enjoy it thoroughly, I especially enjoy watching their shocked expressions when my Taijutsu beats all of their other jutsus.” He said brightly before his face became more serious and he leaned in raising his hand to his mouth to keep the sound from moving else where. “I also travel on occasion as I am apart of ANBU. You understand the importance of this secrecy you were always very observant.”

Sitting back up looking around before continuing, “I go on the occasional mission when I’m needed by the others. I’m sure you noticed my new attire. I felt that it was time to get my own style, and to be honest I could no longer wear the one you gave me. To many memories, I know you would understand this as well. I wanted to become my own person once you were gone, I figured this would give me more strength.”

“Sakura says I look much better this way, and I have found my self on the receiving end of many the passionate confession.” He said with a thumbs up and a smile.

“This fact brings me to the real reason why I have come to see you today. I have a dilemma, and was hoping by coming here that I could get one more piece of advice from you. The problem is, you see, I have fallen for a nin that out ranks my own status and this is just one problem out of many others. Apparently I have a thing for people who are impossible for me to have.”

With that said he took a deep breath and decided to start from the beginning.

********

Lee sat at his desk in front of the window, grading papers that his students had turned in. So focused on reading them over, commenting, and circling some of their mistakes that he did not realize when another individual entered his room. The second man looked over the man grading papers a questioning look on his face as he was surprised to see him there.

“Lee?” A deep voice asked.

The man, previously known as bushy brows, stopped to look up. He blinked a few times before a smile spread across his face. The redhead who had come into the room stared in amazement.

“Hello Kazekage-sama.” Lee greeted.

“So indeed that is you then.” Came the reply Gaara’s face going back to its usual expression.

Lee looked down at himself and how he was now dressed, “I guess I have changed my looks quite a bit.”

Gaara shook his head, “No, you still look like you to me.”

Lee rose a brow at the man, what could it really be then?

“What I thought surprising was the fact that you are sitting behind a desk.” Gaara answered.

Lee looked down again and took in the desk as if he had not previously realized its presence and blinked before he chuckled a little. Gaara quirked the side of his lips as Lee began to laugh whole heartedly.

“I guess that is strange for me.” Lee commented after he had stopped laughing.

Gaara nodded.

“Well I’m grading some papers. I’m a teacher these days and this sort of thing is apart of that,” he paused then continued. “I still go on missions fighting evil to improve the future for the Youth. I also spend time teaching them to follow their burning passions.”

Gaara shook his head, relieved to see that Lee hadn’t changed to much over the years after all. The man still talked with his hands and arms, still had the ridiculous speech, and still gave that blinding smile. He dressed differently but he was still essentially Lee which was nice to know that not everyone had changed to much. Yet somewhere in that speech it had not escaped Gaara that there had been something missing, something had indeed changed.

“Naruto is busy with last minuet wedding prep. Would you like to accompany me for some drinks instead?” He asked Lee.

Lee was taken aback by the offer but stood up clenching his right fist all his usual enthusiasm suddenly coming back to him.

“YOSH! I’ll do it!” He exclaimed while placing his fist onto the top of the desk leaping over it to land next to the redhead. “I know a perfect place!”

********

Gaara brought the porcelain cup up to his nose and breathed in the aroma of his tea as he closed his eyes. It was his favorite thing about being without Shukaku, foods and drinks actually interested him now. Tastes, smells, and touch; they all finally registered in his body. It gave him pleasure and brought back memories of places or times.

“Kazekage-sama I would assume you are here for Naruto’s wedding, you must be very happy for him.” Lee said as he idly mixed his spoon around his cup making clinking sounds.

“Call me Gaara Lee, we are friends.” Gaara replied.

“Alright Gaara-sama.” Lee answered with a smile.

The red head turned and gave him and exasperated frown which made Lee grin bigger.

“We are in public Gaara -sama it would not be good politics to get any less formal.” Lee replied.

Gaara sighed, it was indeed true, but it didn’t make it any less frustrating and removed from those he considered friends. He briefly wondered how Naruto dealt with it all the time, the blond was far more close to people than he was.

“I am happy for Naruto,” he finally answered Lee’s earlier question.

Lee nodded and took a drink of his tea. It was a very good thing that Naruto had someone whom he loved and, in return, loved him as well.

Gaara spoke up remembering something he had heard from Neji in passing, “I was informed that Sakura and Sai are together. I thought you were in love with her and trying to win her love.”

Lee’s expression tightened at the mention of the pink haired woman, and his hands clenched around his cup. Ah, yes Sakura and Sai he should have seen that coming, but it had been painful to learn about.

“Yes I was, but she was more happy with Sai. I realized my love was a childish one.” He said looking down at the brown liquid in his mug.

The redhead was silent a moment contemplating the implications of that statement.

“That may be true, but it’s still difficult to let it go and hope for better.” He whispered back.

Lee looked up and over in surprise at the words to see Gaara blankly starting out the window his hands tight around his cup as well. Black eyes widened as realization dawned on him and he went to confirm but thought better of it. Best to allow Gaara to keep his dignity at this moment, Lee turned to stare out the window as well. The two fell into a companionable silence, simply watching the snow softly fall outside, and sipping their drinks.

********

“I do.” Naruto said and the room cheered as they shared their very first kiss as a married couple.

She was beautiful in her simple gown of white silk and lace. Form fitting around the bodice and loosely fitting and flowing around the rest of her body. A veil tucked into her lavender hair that fell in curls, pulled back away from her smiling face. The happy couple had tears falling from their closed eyes and Lee had never seen Naruto more happy and proud in his life.

As the procession slowly left the building towards the celebration hall Lee looked over at Gaara who stood off to the side. Instead of being up next to Naruto as best man, he had stepped down and allowed Sasuke to take that place. He was happy, but Lee could also see that he was sad. Yes the man dressed in green knew that feeling well and it was easy to spot in another. Gaara had truly been in love with his best friend, but had loved him enough to allow him to be happy with someone else.

As the people followed Naruto and his new bride out of the room throwing flowers, compliments of Ino, Lee made his way over to Gaara. Lee figured nobody should be left alone when they were morning their love, but basking in their happiness at the same time. It was a very difficult transition.

Coming up next to the redhead they made no sound of acknowledgement, no smiles, not even a small touch. After a few moments of stillness Gaara glanced over and gave him a significant look that was clearly a silent ‘thank you’. Lee nodded his understanding and the two looked back up at the alter. Both contemplating what was to come of their lives as the ones they had loved moved on and past them.

********

Gaara looked over at the Leaf nin known as Rock Lee the man wildly gestured, spoke loudly, and posed in ridiculously heroic positions. The Kazekage gave the briefest of smiles amused as all his sand genin stared at Lee with equal faces of shock and dismay. Gaara had a pretty good idea what they were all thinking too. Is this guy for real? Man he’s a total fucking joke. The redhead new better though, seeing that back during the chunnin exam he had attended Lee should have won if not for the brief moment of pain.

Gaara’s amusement grew as each of his up and coming ninja’s took turns trying to prove to Lee they were better but failed. Lee made Suna look like a complete joke and the redhead knew that the other man wasn’t even trying. The students tried all sorts of jutsus, multiple clone techniques and Lee easily dealt with each and everyone of them a smile on his face the entire time. The truth was that now the only ones Lee would actually have to put effort into beating was Gaara himself, Naruto, his old team, and the other rookie nine from Konoha. Anyone else tended to come up to short and found themselves on the business end of Lee’s whoop your ass into the ground technique.

“Watching our genins getting massacred I see. You truly are twisted Kazekage-sama.” Kankurou said coming to stand beside his younger brother.

Gaara looked over at him and replied, “you’re just upset because you didn’t get here to see it from the beginning.”

Kankurou and Gaara shared looks of quiet amusement before looking back over to the group of kids getting their asses handed to them over and over again.

“He’s different.” Kankurou noted.

Gaara watched as Lee seemed to disappear and then reappear on top the stadium wall before he replied, “He’s grown up, but he’s still Lee.”

Kankurou nodded and chuckled as all the students started to chatter excitedly. Lee once again was gone in a flash and reappeared amongst the group of youngsters startling them all.

“Yosh! Who wants to burn with the passions and strength of youth!” He questioned his fists clinched his eyes burning with excitement.

The group cheered, and Gaara shook his head as he knew by the end they would regret having volunteered. He himself had trained with Gai-sensei a few times back when the man had still been alive. He still remembered it as being grueling and physically humbling as a ninja. To be brought to your breaking point, then pushed past your body’s limits taught a ninja what he or she could and couldn’t do. The whole experience had been shocking and he had found respect for the highly strange man in tight green spandex.

A few hours later found only one genin left and she looked about ready to pass out. Lee placed a hand on the young girls shoulder and smiled down at her. Her dark eyes widen minutely and one could see a faint blush forming across her high cheek bones. Inside her heart fluttered as the thought that the man before was a very attractive and kind man.

“You are full of youthful enthusiasm, with some work you will become a great kunoichi and do the Hidden Sand Village proud. Remember, to work hard for your goals and become a genius at it and you will be able to accomplish anything young one.” Lee instructed her with his thousand watt smile complete with tooth sparkle.

She nodded numbly and turned her face only to see her Kazekage. Caught off guard she quickly bowed low her hair falling forward to cover her embarrassment.

“Kazekage-sama.” She greeted Gaara.

Gaara nodded to her and slowly she stood. Turning his focus on the green monster of Konoha he glared half heartedly at the man before questioning, “are you trying to kill my ninjas?”

Lee chuckled and smiled back at the redhead, “If I was I’d have had them training on a higher level they wouldn’t have been able to handle.”

The girl blinked, higher level?

Gaara frowned in good nature, “I wonder.”

Lee laughed placing a hand on Gaara’s back patting it roughly. Gaara kept his stance, but just barely sometimes Lee forgot how strong he was. Arms still crossed in front of him his mock frown still in place he continued to look into Lee’s round eyes.

“You’re nin just lack youthful burning passions! I merely tried to remind them of it. Maybe if you didn’t try to get them all to be like you…” he hinted back to the man.

Gaara’s eyes became amused with the joke and gave the briefest of smirks, “hm… suggestion noted.”

The girl, whom had been forgotten, smiled in awe before taking off towards her home, “Ja Sensei, Kazekage-sama.”

The two watched the girl leave both amused by her very relaxed goodbye considering who they both were before they too turned and walked away. Lee and Gaara starting up a conversation about the goings on in their nations.

****

Lee watched Gaara seriously go over all his scrolls and other paper work. He’d scribble things here and there from time to time and frown at other times when he down right did not like what he saw. The redhead also had a tendency to bring the quill up to his face and tap it against his cheek in contemplation and on the rare occasion his left eye would twitch. On top of all these things he had observed over the couple months he’d been stationed there Gaara was left handed, had a penchant for orange flavored chocolate, found morbid things funny, and detested it when he saw his younger nins being mistreated simply because they weren’t well trained yet.

On a few occasions Lee had even stood witness while the man lost his temper, and once had seen a seasoned jounin captain leave his office in tears. That man hadn’t been heard of for a month after that and when he finally showed his face again he had apologized for his behavior and had even thanked his leader for showing him what it felt like to be a student again. Gaara was far more passionate than people thought he was and it was highly endearing.

Lee of coarse wasn’t so clueless not to realize what exactly this meant. He was starting to fall for the serious and strong ninja of the hidden village of the sand. Subaku no Gaara was beautiful, dark, and sensual Lee just knew it. It had shocked him at first that he was attracted to Gaara, not because the he was a man, oh no. Being attracted to a man was not an unusual thing, plus he himself believed in love not in a sex of a person. He was shocked because he once again had fallen for someone out of his league.

Yet here he was, watching the redhead out of the corner of his eyes. It was amusing to know that when Gaara was absorbed in his duties as Kazekage it was probably the best time to attack him. Lee admired him greatly for that. The Kazekage never left until all the paper work was done for the day. Gaara was completely and totally for his people, a much different man compared to the lonesome boy he’d first known him as.

Gaara placed the last page down and looked up at Lee who looked to be busy with his own duties. It was odd to have Lee in his office and not else where, but Gaara enjoyed the company and trusted him implicitly. He smiled at the top of the man’s down turned face, Lee was a good friend.

“Lee would you like to get something to eat?” Gaara asked the other man.

Lee looked up and smiled, “that sounds wonderful.”

******
The students filed out of the area after another day of training with Lee. Gaara chuckled quietly as all the students walked out with faces that looked as if they could sleep for a week. Sometimes Lee could be a real hard ass, but no body could out right say it for the man always hid it behind a mask of happy-go-lucky. Gaara knew better though, he’d spent enough time with the man to know now that Lee enjoyed his work and enjoyed watching the students leave exhausted. Walking into the training area surrounded with stone walls at least twenty feet high he stopped and looked for the man he knew to be there.

“Lee,” Gaara called out.

Rock Lee turned and waved enthusiastically at Gaara, “Gaara-sama what a pleasant surprise!”

A few girls, still near, stopped and dashed behind the wall to peek around. Gaara smiled and a couple of the girls silently squealed. One of them rolled her eyes at them her long blood red hair pulled back into a loose ponytail that hung over her left shoulder. Wearing cloths that were strikingly familiar to a certain dark and brooding boy who was now the Otokage. The only difference was the front opened up to reveal strapped down breasts and her shorts were cut more for a woman than a man. The family crest blazed on the back of her shirt.

“Yes, it was a surprise to be called here for a meeting with Naruto. But I’m free right now and was hoping to spar with you.” Gaara replied.

Lee blinked then smiled a toothy grin and started to unbutton his Chinese tunic, “YOSH! I need to prepare, this is going to be a serious spar then.”

The group of girls squealed which earned them a glare from the one. Then those same dark eyes turned back to the training field an elegant eyebrow rising up as she took everything in. She watched Gaara, a man that her father had told her much about, and found that he seemed quite human to her compared to how her father had described him. Especially now as green eyes turned pained when Lee’s shirt was removed to reveal the wide expanse of well sculpted muscle and sinew. She glanced at her Taijutsu instructor, he was a very attractive man, and she could understand why the redhead was attracted to him it was obvious that he was, at least to her.

Lee, once having folded his tunic and tank nicely and set them in a pile, turned to look at the other man and got in his familiar stance. Slowly he rose his hands in front of him. Gaara closed his eyes and took a deep breath, not sure he really wanted to tell Lee to do what he was about to.

“Take them off Lee,” he called out to his friend.

Dark brows rose up, but then said man nodded and leaned over, lifting his pant legs up he unhooked the weights. Placing them down near his clothes he stood back up and straightened back out into his stance. The girls stared in amazement, never had they known he wasn’t even able to go his own speed. The young Uchiha stepped back into the arena and leaned against the wall. Lee waved at her and smiled, Gaara simply noted her presence. If the girl wanted to see this then that was fine by him.

Gaara’s eyes hardened, and prepared himself for the first few attacks that he would be defending against himself. No longer caring the cumbersome gourd on his back, he now only had a small amount that he kept in a bag tied to his belt and that he had covering his body. He was strong enough now that he could make more, and only on high ranking missions did he ever bring the gourd, but it took time to do so. Silence rained down as everyone held their breath and waited to see who would make the first move. Lee’s leg twitched, the only warning Gaara had before he was raising his right arm to block the high kick to his face.

That had been almost to close, Lee had improved again that man was sometimes inhuman in his ability. The next kick came straight at his midsection and he rose his arms in front of himself, but the power of it sent him sliding backwards. Dust rose up from the motion and weight of his body sliding across it, and he didn’t have much time to drop and duck the next kick that came flying at him. Gaara shook out his arms that tingled and stood back up on jumped out of the way as Lee’s fisted hand came whizzing past his face. When next Lee came at him what little sand he’d made came rising to his rescue and blocked the round house kick and the quick punch that followed it, before trying to shoot after the man. Lee jumped back with two flips and landed twenty feet away a gleeful smile on his face.

The young Uchiha with the blood red hair closed her eyes and gathered her chakra into them, when she opened them they were red like her hair. Generally she did not like the use of her eyes, as she felt it were cheating, not to mention one could go blind from over use. Her father’s brother had suffered this fate, and her own father also had this problem. She just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see every move, she was catching most of them with the naked eye but barely. Lee was faster than she had imagined even after people had told her. It amazed her that Gaara was doing as well as he was, which only made her realize that what he father had told her was more than likely true and then some.

Lee swung his right fist towards Gaara’s face once appearing in front of him in a flash, Gaara’s left hand flew up and counter pushing against the inner side of his arm in and upward motion. Then with his right hand fisted Gaara swung at Lee, and if said man hadn’t tilted his head just enough the redhead would have connected with his cheek bone painfully well. Lee’s free hand went flying to grab the arm that had come flying at his own face, just as he grabbed a hold of Gaara’s left with his right, spread his legs and prepared for a right kick to the redhead’s side. Gaara realizing what was to happen crouched down as best he could and lifted his leg to stop Lee’s leg between his elbow and knee. Coming to a stale mate they shoved off one another and landed a few feet away to stare at each other.

“You’ve improved!” Lee announced excited with a thumbs up and a cheesy smile.

“As have you,” Gaara replied tonelessly.

Lee suddenly went into his good guy pose his hand fisted and punched it up into the air giving a whoop of joy, “The power of youth burns strong with in your veins! I’m brought to the verge of tears by the beauty and gusto of your passion as a shunobi!”

Gaara closed his eyes and sighed fighting his sudden irritation. Really did he need to bust into a monologue about youth in the middle of a spar? Seriously there were a bunch of girls gawking at them, he really needed to take this more seriously than he was. Slowly Gaara opened his light colored green eyes and stared dispassionately at his friend who was still rattling on about youth.

“Are you going to take me serious or not Lee?” Gaara asked crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Lee narrowed his eyes at the other man, but otherwise kept his pose, “are you going to be serious with me then?”

The young kunoichi who had been watching them blinked. They hadn’t even been fighting each other at their top levels then? She was taken aback by the thought, they were already moving faster than she had seen anyone fight, and they could still do better? Gaara took on a bored look and seemed to consider his options.

“I was merely testing your battle skills, I here your behind the desk these days. I didn’t want to harm you simply because you were rusty, that’s poor comradeship.” He finally answer jibing Lee.

Lee smiled a dangerous smile and dropped his pose, “you mean you were buying time to gather enough sand to deal real damage.”

Gaara shrugged dispassionately but his eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Well here I,” and with that Lee disappeared from sight only to reappear beside Gaara int a fraction of a second. “Come.”

Gaara had been prepared and he easily commanded his sand to block the kick, push the man back and start to wrap around his… Gaara’s eyes narrowed when there was no one and he immediately dropped as a leg swung over him from the other side. Lee was gone again in a blink of an eye, once more appearing crouched down behind the redhead as he went to shove and elbow into the man’s back at neck breaking speeds.

The redhead slid into a push up position as he tried to kick Lee in retaliation, but the man had once again vanished. The young Uchiha was simply dumb founded, and now had all the other girls standing around her staring in awe as well. For her it was like watching a dance every move and breath taken smooth, thought out, and seemingly coordinated before hand. She of coarse knew better a true ninja made split second decisions in the heat of battle that a regular untrained man wouldn’t be able to think of in ten minuets. So this was what it was like to see the elite fight.

Gaara gritted his teeth as Lee’s foot connected with his stomach and had tensed his muscles for the impact, managing through the pain to grab a hold of Lee’s leg using it to keep him there. The man’s eyes widened comically, Gaara had purposefully taken the hit. Damn, Lee thought, he should have seen that coming.

The redhead’s sand came up from the ground and slammed into Lee throwing him to the ground. The dark haired man found it hard to breathe suddenly and knew he had a couple of cracked ribs. This would not do well for him, he was at a disadvantage now. Placing his hands flat to the ground above his head he kicked off the ground flipping over and away just barely as the sand came down a second time.

Barely landing he had to leap out of the way as the sand followed his every move like a snake. For a few minuets all Lee could do was jump and evade the attacks as he unwrapped a bandage fro his left arm and cinched it tight around his chest to help support his cracked ribs. It wouldn’t last long, but it would do for now as a quick fix so that he could continue his spar with the other man. Leaping up onto a wall he looked down at Gaara with a smirk.

“Well it looks like you really are ready for me to take it up a notch, “he called down to the red head with a thumbs up.

Gaara smiled pooling his sand around him and was not surprised that Lee’s belt wasn’t a belt at all but more weights that the man dropped to the ground. The weights slammed into the dirt kicking up dust and denting the ground, a gasp was heard from the group of wide eyed girls. Good Gaara needed to test his skills, while Lee had been in Suna they had trained to strengthen his weakness to physical attacks. He’d improved gretly, this fight was testament to that, but how would he hold up against Lee if the man took it up another level?”

The redhead widened his legs stance and bent his knees slightly preparing himself for what was to come. Sakura, Naruto and Shino now stood amongst the gaggle of girls and watched the fight. The only quiet one out of the bunch not participating in the whispers for bets was the Uchiha.

“Holy shit this is awesome!” Naruto exclaimed.

Sakura punched him in the arm for his outburst, while Shino simply looked on quietly observing the two fighting in the arena. It was a high level spar and the students gathered probably couldn’t see most of it. He glanced over at his student, the heir of the Uchihas, it was possible she was catching it.

“Can you see it?” He asked her.

“Barely sensei, “ she replied.

He made a non-committal sound in his throat and rose a well sculpted eyebrow as Gaara grabbed hold of Lee’s wrist with his hand and attempted to toss him to the ground. To no avail, Lee was able to stop it and was gone in a flash. Gaara jumped out of the way and quickly dropped into a push up as Lee tried a round house kick to his back, before rolling away as a foot came slamming into the ground where he had been seconds ago. Quickly rising up he leaned to the side evading a fist in the face his own arm reaching out missing the other man’s neck but his sand did not.

Lee cursed as the sand put him in a head lock and pulled his right arm tight against Gaara’s back. He closed his eyes as face was slammed into the ground below effectively breaking his nose. Freed he jumped off the ground a hand over his bleeding nose. Again Lee could only flip one handed, jump, or leap out of the way as the sand pursued him. Lee found that he was frustrated with himself, but pleased that Gaara had improved so much, it proved him to be a good teacher like his late Gai-sensei.

He blinked when not seeing the redhead, only to tense when he found that Gaara was behind him about to punch him one really good one. Quickly he reacted pushing the fist away with his bloody hand and throwing a punch of his own only to have it caught in Gaara’s free hand. Rock Lee looked down into pale green eyes and his heart started to jump excitedly for a whole different reason entirely. They stood like that for a moment longer, as if time was stopped. The two breathing heavily just staring at one another. A long low whistle was heard breaking the two out of their trance. Dropping their arms to their sides they turned to see the miniature crowd.

“That was amazing!” the girls cheered.

“Lee-sensei are you alright?” a blond girl asked.

Lee blinked at her confuse and smiled seemingly oblivious to his injuries, “Of coarse I am Tora! I am young and full of life, I am a hero and the epitome of what a strong ninja is! I have merely sustained minor injuries anyway.”

“Lee you’re a moron sometimes, “Sakura huffed walking forward to help heal him. “I should just leave you like this, but I’m in a good mood today.”

Gaara swayed and dropped to his knees clutching at his midsection. Then surprisingly coughed up blood and vomited onto the ground. The students all gasped as did Lee and Naruto came running over to the redhead that had fallen.

“Gaara!” Sakura yelled at the same time as Naruto then she dove over there to figure out what was going on.

Lee looked panicked and came up behind Sakura trying to see if he could tell what was wrong.

“The hell?” She exclaimed when she realized he had almost ruptured his stomach.

Lee helped lay him back onto the ground gently, “Gaara-sama I apologize.”

The redhead shook his head, “I took the hit in order to injure you. I could have just as easily blocked or evaded.”

Sakura made a disgusted sound in her throat and with a roll of her eyes muttered, “men.”

Lee chuckled, that was a high class nin for you. Always willing to sacrifice a little bit to gain the advantage. Shino put a hand on his student, the girl looking up at him with her regular brown eyes.

“What have you learned from watching this?” Shino questioned her.

“That I have a long way to go still,” she replied it had definitely been a humbling experience.

Shino nodded pleased, hopefully she’d be more willing to listen now. He looked over as Sakura switched to Lee and healed him as well. Now all that was left was to see if Gaara and Lee allowed those feelings to go anywhere. Shino was an observant man, he had witnessed that moment at the end and had realized that the two were easily more than friends. Now they only had to realize it and act upon it.

“Let’s go, “ he said turning away.

“Aa, “ she replied following him out.

*******

Lee stared, a pained look on his face, down at the grave stone. “You see Gai-sensei I’ve fallen in love with the Kazekage. He is so beautiful and strong. He’s full of passion but nobody see it but I do. I want to reach out and touch him, smell him, kiss him. It’s so strange this feeling I have. It’s like pain but somehow different.”

Lee paused, looking lost as he tried to figure out how to word his next question, unaware of the man standing behind him. Gaara was stunned and found he couldn’t even speak unable to break this moment in fear it was just a dream. The redhead started to reach out towards the man, but stopped when Lee began to talk once more.

“I, I guess I want you to tell me what I should do Gai-sensei. I’m so lost, confused, and scared. Gai-sensei please tell me what you would have me do.” Lee finished his plea.

The redhead’s heart was pounding, could this be true? He took a slow breath in collecting himself and his features. Crossing his arms in front of him he looked to be unaffected by what he had just heard.

“That’s easy, he’d tell you to follow the passions of your heart and kiss him with all the youthful burning enthusiasm, because by doing so he would be swept away by the beauty of the moment. Of coarse when he is swept away by the moment he will realize then that he too feels this youthful burn with in his chest. Or something equally idiotic while posing with one hand on his waist, the other giving a thumbs up, with tears rolling down his face, and a retarded toothy grin in place.” Gaara answered his question in a monotone.

Lee’s eyes widened and he turned to see the man, he almost didn’t believe to be there before he breathed, “Gaara-sama…”

The red head simply stood there observing Lee, he couldn’t do anything more. If he moved now, with his heart pounding in his chest and his stomach in knots he’d make a fool out of himself. That would not do, Suna nin were not clumsy and there for never made fools of themselves. This was definitely true if you were the Kage of said village.

“So you think that he’d tell me to just kiss him?” Lee asked slowly standing up.

“Of coarse he would, he always had a complete disregard for the way things worked in reality.” Gaara replied teasingly.

“You’re probably right, it certainly sounds like something Gai-sensei would say.” Lee said stepping closer a smile on his face.

Gaara felt his cheeks flush as Lee came closer still and his arms fell to his sides not sure what he was to be doing with them anymore.

“Do you think Gai-sensei was right? Do you think the man I love will be swept away?” Lee asked inches away from Gaara his hands starting to reach out to brush across the man’s face.

“It’s a possibility, I hear lots of people are into that sort of cheesy ending.” He answered as Lee’s bandaged hands brushed over his cheeks to the back of his head.

“I suppose I’m about to find out if the man I love is one of those people then,” Lee whispered before pressing his lips to the other man’s.

It was just the touch of dry lips at first Gaara’s hands rising up to hold onto Lee’s outstretched arms. Noses bumped awkwardly, as they were both unsure of how a kiss should be, until Lee tilted his head to the right. Pulling back from Gaara, Lee smiled at the other man before leaning in for a deeper kiss lips partially open this time.

The wind began to blow once more, as a storm began to roll in over the mountain, whipping mint green and dark burgundy clothes around as the two moved closer to each other. The small kiss turning into a deeper one as Lee slid is tongue over Gaara’s bottom lip requesting entrance. Neither man seemed to take in that the weather was quickly changing around them the sky turning grey with large clouds over head. Lee and Gaara far to busy exploring each other’s mouths and wrapping around each other to press up against one another. Slowly Lee pulled back from the kiss and placed his forehead to Gaara’s.

“Looks like he does enjoy the cheesy ending.” Lee teased his eyes full of mirth and affection.

Gaara’s face was similar to Lee’s, “well that’s good for you as your just one big cheesy person.”

The two laughed before kissing again, Lee’s hands cupping the sides of Gaara’s face, as the first few drops of rain began to fall down on them. Lee didn’t take notice of the weather while they stood kissing on top the grassy green hill. Besides life was always sunny when you had someone to love who loved you back, Lee thought to himself and smiled into the kiss. Gaara was right, he really was one big cheesy guy.

~END~