Title: A Year's Wait
Author: Dana-chan
Information: Anime - Naruto - LeeXGaara
Chapter: Third

Author's Note: I'm not going to use the same summary I wrote in chapter two, my apologies. Instead, I'm going to come back to this story after being away from it a long time, and clear some things out in this next chapter, hopefully. I'm going to try to conclude this story in the next one or two chapters, hopefully. So, if there is anything you'd like to see happen, tell me, and I'll do my best to find a way to squeeze it in.

Thanks to Koneko. Your suggestions are the outline of this chapter. Thanks again!

Here it is:

Hours later, Temari decided her earlier plans of setting them up would have to be a madman's thought. Obviously, these two were going to have to do all that junk on their own, because honestly, the blonde just couldn't find a way to play matchmaker without being killed in the process. As much as she loved her brother and all, she valued her life greatly.

"I'm going to bed," she called out to the two, the clock's hands both residing upon the twelve. "Gaara, make sure Lee-kun goes home early enough," she continued, walking away from the living room in which they were settled, and onto the hallway, where she would soon find her room off to the side. Kankurou had come home a while ago and instantly went to bed, seeing Lee there.

"Thank you, Temari!" Lee bellowed out to her, quickly glancing to the redhead. After he was certain she was out of ear-shot, he turned fully to the boy and smiled cheekily, "What do you want to do now?"

Outside, the rain splattered upon the ground. Little droplets managed their way onto the windows and created a unique design on the glass. The sandy ground turned to a dark brown, appearing like mud, but not quite as liquid-like. The skies were grey and fierce, dark clouds hanging close to the earth and the heavens giving off strikes of electrocution. The thundering sounds were carried in the harsh winds all across town and sounded like deep screams of the forgotten.

Gaara stood up, eyes looking out the window, mind picking up the image, but not taking it in. He started when the other spoke to him, and replied with eye contact, "I don't really care. Whatever you would like to do."

For a moment, the green beast of Konoha seemed to be thinking rather hard. Not too long later, however, he brought back his smile full power, and choose upon what he was going to do this dreary evening. "Alright then, Gaara... I'm going to ask you a few questions.." When the redhead did not reply, he took that as the okay to go ahead and request the answer to his thoughts.

"Why did you send me a ripped letter? I mean, it's perfectly fine and all... But, why only half of a note?"

The soon-to-be Kazekage appeared to turn away more, as if he were hiding something from the taller boy. However, his voice gave off no such sign, "I had written something on the bottom half. I didn't want you to read it, but I didn't want to re-write the letter, so I just ripped that part off," he explained smoothly.

"Oh... Well, that makes sense then." In some odd way, Lee wanted a little more of a fun-filled event to have become of that situation. Like, Temari had grabbed his note, and in his haste, he desperately tried to gain the letter back, but was only granted half. Oh well, Lee figured, the truth isn't always as fun as the imaginary.

Silence slowly overcame the room, Lee thinking of another question to throw at Gaara, and the latter staring longingly out the window. The instant Lee thought of a question, though, he span to the redhead and said, "What was the biggest event in your childhood. Like, what happened that was the most unforgettable thing?"

Wrong question.

Gaara winced slightly, albeit in went unnoticed by Lee. He slowly turned to face the speaker, and wondered if there would be a way to get out of answering this lovely question. He figured he could always lie, but he'd rather not do that to Lee, it'd just feel... It just wouldn't feel right, basically. "Lee, do I have to answer that?"

"I suppose you don't really have to. But, I really do want to hear about it... But, I understand if you don't trust me enough to tell me something that personal. It's fine." Lee desperately tried to appear okay with that whole situation, but it was obvious he truly wasn't.

It was strange how Gaara just couldn't not tell him anymore... "Fine. I'll tell you. But, I'll have to tell you the whole story." He inhaled deeply, getting ready to retell the story he had never told anyone, and exhaled just as deeply.

"My mother had died giving birth to me. And my father, being Kazekage, could never really look after me. So, I was left to be taken care of by my uncle Yashamaru. Yashamaru loved his sister, my mom, very much. He told me that he loved me and that he would always look after me because I was something left behind by his sister. Because I was something his sister loved.

"Father would always dote me with things, gifts upon gifts, and such forth. But, Yashamaru was the only one who really smile with me and made me happy. Yashamaru was basically my father. When everyone would call me monster and tell me to die and slam their doors in my faces, he would always calm me down and tell me, 'I love you'.

"Yashamaru told me that the reason the sand would always protect me was because it was a present left by mother. That because she loved me, the sand would make sure I was never injured. I wanted to know what an injury felt like, I was curious. But every time I was able to, the sand would protect me. And Yashamaru found me trying one night and he told me that I wouldn't want to do something like that. I told him my heart hurt, and that I wondered whether that was the kind of pain I would receive by bleeding. Yashamaru said physical wounds can always heal, but wounds on the heart could be there forever.

"And one day, when I was sitting on the ledge of our balcony, a man came up behind me and tried to kill me. The sand reacted accordingly, and whipped him back. He was thrust into the wall behind me, and I walked over to him, ready to unveil who this person was. But, then I notice something similar about him, and it made me hesitate for a second. When I ripped off his mask, though, I realized that this man trying to kill me was Yashamaru.

"I asked him why he did that and he said it was orders from my father. At first, I was relieved, because that meant he had no choice, but then he clarified that he had the opportunity to refuse the job, yet he still took it. He revealed to me that he truly hated me, all that time. He had always hated me for taking away his beloved sister. He told me my mother hated me, too, and that the only reason she gave birth to me was to curse our town. He had explosive tags attached to his chest, and when they completed their process, he was left to die, and the sand protected me."

Gaara closed his eyes briefly after telling that entire story in a monotone. He didn't want Lee to think he was all sentimental over that happening, but he should've known that by telling Lee this, things in their stable friendship were definitely going to change. With that thought in mind, he opened his eyes to view Lee, and see what his reaction to the story was.

The leaf-nin had a shocked expression on his face, eyes full of an unidentified emotion. His voice no longer held the happy-go-lucky tone it always did; however, it wasn't the serious tone he spoke in on some occasions, either. In a way, it was a sympathetic tone, but also a "I can't believe I just heard that" tone. "I... I'm so... Sorry, Gaara. I can't... Believe that happened. To you.." he stammered off, not knowing what to say in this situation, but know he was supposed to say something.

"I don't want your pity, Lee. Just drop the subject," the redhead replied in a slightly aggitated tone. He glared at the leaf-nin, eyes appearing more upset than angry.

"Alright, drop it. Gotcha!" Lee smiled a pearly white smile, and gave the other a semi-Good Guy pose. "So, Gaara, what's this about a present that I hear?"

"There is no present."

"Temari said there was."

"She was lying."

"No, I think you're lying."

"Fine. Yes, I got a present for you. But, you can't open it until your birthday," Gaara announced, smirking at the other boy.

Lee laughed cheekily, "What time is it?"

"I don't know. . . Sometime after one maybe," the redhead replied, not really wanting to get up and check the clock.

"Well, then, it is my birthday. And because I can't be with you tonight, I want to celebrate it with you right now. You okay with that, Gaara?" Lee smiled hopefully, his eyes giving away how badly he truly wanted to celebrate this day with his friend.

"Alright, I'll throw a little party with you, or whatever you want," he replied, facial expression stoic.

"But you're going to have to loosen up a little bit, okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

The redhead stepped away from his spot by the window and toward the kitchen. He gestured for the other to follow him, and Lee complied. Without looking back, Gaara walked into the kitchen, heading toward the refridgerator and opening the door. He peered inside, moving a few things around to see everything inside. Moments later, he pulled out a container of sake and closed the door. He placed the container on the counter, looking in the cupboards for two glasses. Once finding those, he put them beside the glass. Just as he was about to pour one glass, he heard his company's objections.

"I can't drink sake. . ." Lee stated after seeing the sake bottle.

"Why not? It'll 'loosen' us up," he spoke those words with a smirk.

"Well, then. . . You can drink sake, but I'm a horrible drunk. I attack things and I break things; I like to fight when I'm drunk. So, please, I'd rather not," he concluded.

"Alright, I'll get you something else." With that said, he poured himself a glass of sake, and then took the container back to the fridge and placed it inside the cooler. He looked around before pulling out some sort of drink Temari had made a few days ago. He kept the refridgerator door open as he poured Lee's cup, and then put it back in its original place. He walked over to the counter, where Lee was sipping at his drink to see how it tasted.

"You like it?" Gaara questioned, earning a happy nod in return as he continued to drink the beverage. He also took a drink of his own glass, gracing the strange sensations it gave him. "Well, since it's your birthday, cake's supposed to be eaten, right?" he smirked at the other. "Two choices. Temari baked a cake yesterday, so we can have pieces of that, or we can make a whole new one."

"Let's make our own, Gaara. It'd be so much... YOUTHIER!" he laughed happily, putting his glass down and moving it out of the way.

"Alright," Gaara replied without looking at Lee. He worked around the kitchen, grabbing the things he needed. He situated a large bowl in the middle of the counter, and placed the specified amount of most of the dry ingredients necessary in the bowl. The redhead measured the liquid ingredients in a measuring cup and poured them carefully into the bowl. "Lee, get the eggs," he said.

Lee did as he was told and got the eggs from the refridgerator and put them on the counter near the younger male. Said boy opened the package and cracked the eggs over the edge of the counter, breaking it over the mixed ingredients. He did that same process two more times. He looked over to the Green Beast of Konoha, egg in one hand, smile slightly tracing his lips, "Want to crack the last one?"

"Ooh! Yippee!" Lee chimed, scurrying over to the redhead and greatfully taking the egg out of his hand. He stood in front of the bowl, doing it exactly as he saw Gaara do the procedure. When he turned and saw Gaara looking smug, he figured he probably did the right thing. Although, Lee wasn't completely certain.

(A/N: I skipped a ton of steps for making a cake. Sorry. I'm lazy.)

Gaara lightly tapped Lee on the shoulder with a wooden spoon. "Lee, you can stir it." He watched as the ebony-haired ninja took the spoon and starting circulating it in the bowl. After a few moments of staring at the action, he walked to his drink and took the glass in his hand. He sipped at the alchoholic beverage, feeling the reaction his body was having to it. It wasn't much as he hadn't had to much, but he felt the cool liquid run down his throat and give him tingles in his stomach.

Minutes passed by and Gaara continued to drink his sake, unaware of the fact that Lee was still stirring. He put down his glass for a moment, seeing the kept-out ingredients and moving to put them away. Before he could do that; however, he saw a finger coming toward his face, only to wipe down his cheek. He felt the smooth batter roll down his cheek, as Lee was in front of him, smiling proudly.

Forgetting about the messy counter, he moved around the laughing Lee and dipped two fingers in the mixture, pulling them out only to be greeted with batter-covered apendages. He closed in on Lee and did a sneak attack from behind, wiping the chocolate mixture down from the mid-cheek to the neck. The leaf-nin whipped around at the unusual texture, laughing some more at the boy. Lee walked toward the bowl, appearing to be walking toward Gaara. The redhead backed up as Lee walked closer. Gaara ran into the counter edge soon enough, and the older boy seemed to place his hands on either sides of the other. The redhead gave him a curious look, smirk showing brilliantly, only to have his mouth covered with cake batter.

Gaara smiled and reached to the bowl a slight ways away from him, getting a whole hand-full. With Lee still nearby, he shoved his whole palm in the other's face, smugly watching the semi-liquid run down his round face. Really cornering Gaara this time, he put his hands on either side of the redhead, putting his face quite close to the other's. Their nose were almost touching, when Lee gripped the bowl and dumped it over Gaara's head. He laughed whole-heartedly when the hair matted together and the redhead's face was covered fully in batter.

He watched as Gaara wiped the mixture off of his eyelids, and out of his mouth, and away from his nose. He glared playfully at the leaf-nin. He took a big swipe from his own face and smeared it down Lee's. Lee also took whatever batter he could get off his face and wiped it down the younger male's neck. Gaara ran one finger through his coated hair and tapped Lee on the nose with the found liquid batter.

Lee found himself lucky enough to hear Gaara truly laugh.

It was weird, and probably something one wouldn't want to hear that often. It was a happy sounding noise, but so creatively Gaara. Lee couldn't help but love it.

Lifting his arm, the leaf-nin placed a mesy hand on the other's cheek, feeling the moving of the joint underneath his palm. Slowly, his laughter came to a hault and he was slightly confused. He wanted to question the other's actions, but then he felt an unusual sensation on his neck. He realized it was Lee, licking up the batter on the right side of his neck. He saw as the other pulled back, licking his lip and visibly swallowing the delicious mixture. Gaara leaned over and kissed the boy on the nose, the batter sticking to his lips. He pulled back and licked the chocolatey treat off his lips, smiling partially.

Konoha's Green Beast laughed lightly, eyes dancing with glee. Lee leaned in and captured the redhead's lips in a searing kiss. He kept the moving to a minimun, not feeling any reaction from Gaara. The moment he was about to pull away, however, he felt the other press back on his lips. Lee smiled into the kiss, opening his lips slowly and poking his tongue through. Surprisingly, he was greeted with another eager tongue. The two muscles danced a fiery dance of dominance, both owner's melting into the connection. Lee put his hands on the younger boy's hips and lifted the other up slowly. Getting the point, Gaara pushed himself onto the counter and wrapped his arms securely around the other's neck.

Lee's hands roamed over the other's shoulders and chest, feeling the texture of the boy's skin through the clothing. Their lips detached and the older boy's lips trailed down Gaara's face and onto his neck, lovingly kissing the skin he found. He found a patch of skin, running his tongue over the smooth texture and sucking and biting at the skin. Lee worked adoringly at the portion of the neck with eyes closed and hands gripping the other's hips.

For a while that continued, before Lee trailed back up to the mouth, happy to find a ready and waiting tongue. The two dancers once again performed a beautiful routine with each other. This sign of intimacy and infatuation did not end for quite some time.

It was a long while later when Gaara found himself coming to a clear vision from a weird state of mind. He slowly realized arms were wrapped around his waist and said arms belonged to Rock Lee. A warm blanket was also draped over him, and his back was against something different than a coach back. He wiggled around to become face to face with Lee. Oddly enough, Gaara found himself smiling at the cute image of Lee sleeping.

Carefully wiggling himself out of the position, Gaara got up to check the time. He frowned when he saw that it was probably time for Lee to leave. Before waking the sleeping boy, though, he shuffled to his room and searched around. Picking up a folded piece of paper, he walked back down to his guest.

Towering over the other, he tapped the boy in the face with his creased paper. Slowly, the other awakened from his sleep, and sat up with a yawn. After blinking his eyes open, he smiled at the redhead before him, "Gaara?"

The younger boy took a step away from Lee, speaking in a monotone voice, "It's time for you to leave, Lee."

The leaf-nin stood up with caution, nearing the other, "Okay. . . I guess I'll have to go then."

"Yes, the sooner the better. It's already around seven in the morning," Gaara explained, not looking the shinobi in the eye.

"Okay. . . I leave. You don't gotta rush me," Lee gave a nervous chuckle before he realized, "So, about that present. . . ?" He watched as the redhead walked to the door, and opened said object. Understanding the boy's gesture, he walked to the door, stepping over the threshold and out of the house.

"Here," Gaara handed him the folded note, "Don't open it right now," he ordered. He gave a small smile, "Happy Birthday, Lee," and shut the door.

Bewildered, Lee carefully unfolded the letter, and felt a creeping suspicion of something he'd rather not think about. Of course, it was probably just his mind making this up. He figured the card would just say "Happy Birthday, Gejimayu" or something. Nothing too personal, really.

"Rock Lee, I could fall in love with you. Happy Birthday."

Lee stared, amazed by the simple words written. Sure, it wasn't extravegant, but it was amazing and special coming from Gaara. He quickly folded the letter up and placed it in his pouch, turning around and opening the door without so much as a knock. He found Gaara cleaning up the kitchen a little bit, and pulled him into a embrace. One of his arms snaked under one of Gaara's and placed itself on the redhead's back with the other hand rested in the matted red hair. He felt hands timidly come up to return the pressure on his back.

The leaf-nin pulled back slightly to place a loving kiss on unsuspecting lips, trying to put as much care, adoration, and love into the kiss as possible. When he pulled away, he smiled whole-heartedly, "Me too," was all he said.

End.

Sorry it was not editted. D:
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