Cards

In which Lee and Tenten play a game. Of strip poker.

READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE THE STORY:

This takes place during the canon timeline of the story 'Legendary' which is authored by mademoiselle anna & Sailor Silver Moon. If you haven't read the first chapter of that story, you might find some parts of this one making little sense. This is the tale of what happened to Lee and Tenten when they left the bar, which will be posted in three chapters. I have received permission from both authoresses to write it up based off of their fic (and you can verify this by pming them). That being said, please enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review!

Rock Lee couldn't quite explain the situation he was finding himself in at the moment. To all intents and purposes, it could've been a dream...or nightmare, depending on how you looked at it. One thing for sure, none of his dreams had ever involved him sitting in the middle of Tenten's living room floor, everything but his jumpsuit off, the kunoichi herself less than conservatively dressed.

"C-Can we perhaps talk this over, Tenten-chan?" He pleaded, his voice bordering on the edge of desperation as he tried to reason with his teammate.

"There's nothing to talk about, Lee," she answered, an evil glint in her eye. "Now, take it off."

Lee gulped, as he tried to find some way to hold onto whatever shred of dignity he had left. After all, here he was, the great Green Beast of Konoha, being forced to strip for the amusement of his drunken teammate. Gai-sensei would be completely ashamed of him.

Silently, he tried to remember how it even got to this point. Oh, that was right, he had been taking Tenten home after Neji lost to Sakura's drinking match. He allowed himself a moment of nostalgia as he thought of the pink-haired kunoichi. Sakura-chan had been such a sport, offering to sit in for him since he couldn't participate himself. Yes, there was a reason she was his most precious person.

And then the drinking had begun. He was silently rooting for her to win, of course, and when Neji had actually lost, he'd felt as though he himself had personally triumphed over the Hyuuga. Except when Tenten had fallen over laughing, having also felt the effects of four bottles of sake.

"I am truly sorry, Sakura-chan," he had apologized over and over again, as he tried to help Tenten to her feet. "I am really the one who should take Neji home, but I also have a responsibility to Tenten, and it will be easier for you to find the Hyuuga compound then her house."

He had then rushed Tenten out of there, before she could cause a scene, as she was still laughing hysterically.

The streets outside were thankfully empty, as Lee had half-guided, half-dragged his teammate along the road. It had then occured to him that he'd never really visited Tenten before in her apartment, and hadn't the faintest clue where it would be.

"Ah, Tenten-chan, where is your home?"

Tenten, who had by now calmed down somewhat, though not completely sober yet, began to laugh again.

"Where do I live?" She giggled. "I'll tell you where I'd like to live."

Lee felt a distinct sense of unease at the look she was giving him, and tried again. "Ah, it is quite late Tenten, and-"

"Late? It's not late at all!" The kunoichi gesticulated with her arms. Then she whirled around to face him, and Lee just barely managed to stop before he went crashing into her.

"Hey Lee," she said in a voice he'd never heard her use before. "What do you say we have a little bit of fun tonight, just me and you?"

Lee let out a sigh of relief. He had been getting nervous ever since they'd left the bar, but now he knew everything was perfectly fine.

"What an excellent idea, Tenten!" He exclaimed enthusiastically. "It would be wonderful to train together!"

Tenten smiled sweetly. "Oh Lee," she reached out and ruffled his hair. "You're so cute when you're one-track minded."

Said boy felt the heat rise to his cheeks, as he slowly lifted a hand to straighten out his bangs, expression stunned. Had Tenten just ruffled his hair?

"The fun I had in mind was a bit...different, but sure, we can call it 'training'." She chuckled.

"W-What kind of training did you have in mind, Tenten?" He asked, finding his voice.

"Oh, you'll see."

That had been two hours ago, and now here he was, trying to think of another way to dissuade the kunoichi from this crazy idea of hers.

And all she had done was innocently suggest a game of cards.

"It's a great opening when you're on a recon mission," she had explained, as she shuffled the deck expertly. "Also when you want to socialize and...other things."

Lee hadn't thought to ask what she meant by 'other things', excited as he was to play and brush up on his social skills. It was a simple enough game, and a few minutes in, he had laid out his cards triumphantly.

"Haha, Tenten-chan! It seems that my two queens are far greater than your two sevens!"

The kunoichi did not appear at all fazed. In fact, she just smiled. "Oh dear me," she mused, as though in the greatest of dilemmas. "What should I take off first? My shirt, or should I start with my hair?"

Lee looked at her quizzically (and rather uncomfortably) as he asked her what she meant.

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Tenten laughed. "Every time someone loses, they have to take off something that they're wearing."

"Wha-What?" Lee exclaimed, his eyes going wide in shock. Tenten pretended not to hear him.

"I think I'll start with my hair," she decided.

"I-I do not agree to this!" Lee exclaimed vehemently. Tenten ignored him. She reached up to undo her buns, and made a point of shaking out her wavy brown tresses dramatically as they fell down her back. She smirked when she caught him staring, and he turned away, blushing furiously.

And that was how the night had progressed, with each of them stripping something in turn. Lee had protested when she took off her training outfit, and refused to look at her in such an indecent state. Tenten could only laugh, finding him to be absolutely adorable when he was trying so hard to be chivalrous.

And now here he was, sitting across from her, she in nothing but her undergarments, and he trying desperately to hang on to his last dregs of honor.

"Lee," Tenten leaned in, sensing his dilemma, and he looked up at her, immediately regretting having done so. "I'm waiting." She smiled a very pretty smile.

Lee gulped. This was almost too much. What could he possibly say to his stubborn teammate that would convince her of how wrong and unorthodox all of this was? He had never dreamed he'd ever be in such a situation, in fact, the possibility of it never even entered his mind.

"Ah...Tenten-chan, I enjoy your company very much and value you greatly as a friend, but I do not think-"

He never finished his sentence, as Tenten decided right then and there to kiss him, and kiss him hard.

Lee had never really been kissed by a girl before. Sure, he blew kisses to Sakura, and was secretly saving himself for her, but as far as girls and kissing went, it was one of the few things he lacked training in. Something Gai-sensei couldn't possibly teach him.

But aside from being unprepared for the assault on his mouth, he was also overwhelmed by the implosion of color and sound that reminded him of fireworks and ringing bells. But as all of that soon faded into the background, he found himself focusing on the sole fact that his teammate was kissing him, and he could feel the outpour passion and emotion pulling something on his heart-as though she'd waited to do this for a very long time. It left both of them breathless.

"Tenten," he said at last when she pulled away, but he found that he couldn't think of what to say, so he stated the obvious. "You kissed me."

She nodded.

"Why?" He asked her in utter bewilderment.

"Lee," Tenten leaned in close, her breath tickling his cheek. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I like you."

He was dumbfounded. Tenten liked him? As in, really, really liked him?

"In fact," his teammate continued, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. "I've liked you for a really long time now."

He sat, stunned, as she smiled, leaning in to kiss him again. This one was different, it was softer, and he closed his eyes as she brought a hand to his cheek. Her fingers were calloused, yet somehow gentle against his skin.

"Tenten?" He said softly, as she moved to bury her face in the nape of his neck. He raised a hand and rested it on her back. "I..." he fell silent. What should he say to her? This is very difficult for me. I am in love with Sakura-chan, yet Tenten...how do I tell her that I do not feel the same way?

"Lee," Tenten said softly, still in the same position as before. "Don't...don't say it."

But he did anyways.

"I am truly sorry, but I do not think I can return your feelings."

He felt her tense up, as she pulled back to face him. He couldn't look at her, and instead stared off to the side, as he continued talking. "I am in love with Sakura-chan, and I promised that I would wait for her, no matter how long it would take."

"Even if she never returned your feelings?" Tenten's hands balled into fists. "Even if she got married and had children with someone else, you would still wait for her? Lee, do you even love her, or are you just saying that because she's a pretty face?"

Lee stared at her. How she could even question his devotion to the pink-haired kunoichi was beyond him. "She is my most precious person," he answered, his tone rather defensive. "Of course I love her."

Tenten smiled bitterly. "She could still be your precious person without you throwing your life away for her."

He shook his head. "You do not understand, Tenten-"

"Oh really? What don't I understand? That she doesn't care about you the same way I do? That she respects you as a friend, but never in the way you want?"

"I promised her I would wait for her, no matter how long it took!"

"And what if that never happens? Don't you think you deserve some happiness too?" She shot back.

He was silent. Tenten sighed.

"Do you really love her? Just...think about it. You could care for her, and not love her, they're two different things."

There was a pregnant pause, as he turned her words over in his mind. Of course he loved Sakura. He closed his eyes as he thought of all the things he loved about her. She was smart, beautiful, strong...she was a person who deserved to be protected. Every time he saw her, he got a good feeling in his heart.

He opened his eyes and looked at the girl sitting before him. He knew Tenten for years now, having fought alongside her and taken down enemies together. They were both hard workers, getting to where they were through stubborness and determination. Everytime he thought of her, he got a warm feeling in his heart.

He cared for her, but not in the same way as Sakura. There was something about the pink-haired kunoichi that was just so...enchanting. And yet...as he thought more about it, the way he felt when he saw her, and the way he felt when he saw Tenten, he wasn't so sure if it was actually love. It could turn into love, but something, perhaps time, had lessened the intensity of his feelings.

"Lee?" Tenten said softly.

He looked away. "I...I am not sure..."

"Not sure of what?" She asked, her hands gripping his biceps.

"I care most passionately about Sakura," he said slowly, still refusing to look at her. "I am not sure if it is love. I do not think it is actual love, but I do not think I am in love with you either."

Tenten smiled, closing her eyes. This was more than she could have hoped for.

"Lee," she asked, taking a deep breath. "Do you...do you think...maybe you and I...we can try?"

Slowly he turned to look at her. "You mean...try being boyfriend and girlfriend?"

She nodded her head.

Lee seemed unsure. He had made a promise to Sakura, and he had intended to keep it.

"Lee, she could still be your precious person," Tenten said softly. "Caring for someone else doesn't make her any less special to you."

Lee looked down before finally looking up at her. "I do not want to say yes, if you are to come second in my heart to Sakura-san."

Tenten blinked. Then she slowly shook her head, smiling. There was a reason she loved Lee so much. "Will I be coming second place in your heart?"

Lee balled his hands into fists, gritting his teeth. "I do not know. I do not want to hurt you."

There was a long silence. Finally, Tenten spoke.

"Lee, I don't think you'll hurt me."

He looked up at her questioningly.

"We're just trying it out, right? If we see that it won't work out...well..." She trailed off.

Lee understood. They would try. He smiled broadly. "Yes, Tenten, and I will be the best boyfriend there ever was, or I shall run 500 laps around the villiage!" He stopped for a moment, as a thought struck him. "Wait...does this mean I can kiss you?"

Tenten laughed, feeling the tension break completely. "Yeah, Lee. You can kiss me."

Hesistantly, Lee brought his face close to hers, and, closing his eyes, kissed her chastely on the lips. He wasn't very smooth, but he was passionate as she kissed him back.

Tenten felt him raise his hand and ever-so-gently cup the back of her head. She couldn't resist a smile, as she thought of how delicate he was being, as though afraid he might break her. This had to be so new to him.

As she was starting to really get into it, Lee pulled away, laying down on the floor, tired and emotionally drained. Tenten teased him, calling him a spoil-sport, but laid down on his chest all the same, a feeling of elation seeming to fill her.

"Tenten?" Lee called, as he turned his head to look at her.

"Hmmm...?"

"It is fun kissing you."

The kunoichi laughed once more, as she cuddled closer to him, before falling into a heavy sleep.

End Chapter 1