Tomorrow was Valentine's Day, and all day the people in the village had been making their preparations. Night had fallen by the time Lee finished helping people with their decorations and such and began making his way home. The day had made him feel good, though he suspected that he would yet again be turned down by his crush, Sakura. 'Perhaps she is not the one for me,' he thought sadly.

It was during that thought that he had spotted a strange figure on the roof of one of the taller buildings. He paused on the next building over to get a closer look. There, staring up at the silvery crescent moon, sat Mercury.A girl that beat him sensless in so many battles.Not regreting any. Even from that distance Lee could make out the short black hair adn the red shining eyes.Merc's face was expressionless as usual, but something about her showed that she was lost in thought.

Lee was about to leave then, had he not seen a tear run down the girl's cheek. He stared, watching as Mercury silently broke down, tears spilling down her cheeks as she dropped her head against her chest. He couldn't hear her crying, but the way those thin shoulders trembled was the only clue he really needed. Lee felt a pang of sadness in his heart. This Mercury,who had forgotten what it was like to care and love,and now he was surrounded by those who could celebrate the day dedicated to those exact passions. For her, being alone on Valentine's Day must truly be torture.

Lee's hand floated to his heart, the sadness for this girl on the edge of being painful. No, he couldn't sit by and let someone suffer like that.Not even a girl who would not think twice before kiling

Merc looked up with a surprised expression as the boy landed gracefully in front of her.He gave her a charming smile and said, "Now just what are you doing out here, Mercury-chan?"

She quickly wiped his face with the back of her hand,knowing noones ever seen her cry besides her elder sisters and choosing not to meet the other's gaze and instead,watch the stars over Lee's shoulder. What did this fool want?

"What do you care?" She said quietly,sniffling alittle. Her body stiffened as a hand was placed on her shoulder.

"It's getting late, you shouldn't be out in the cold like this," Lee said, crouching down beside her. "Shouldn't you be home with your siblings?"

Anger worked its way across Merc's features. "I have no home, not with them.Not when they go off with their loves, completely forgetting my exsistance..." she growled. His smile began to fade. He put his hand on the girl's other shoulder, waiting for their eyes to make contact again. The pretty red eyes were defiant,and refused to meet Lee's gaze

"Would you like to come home with me?" he offered, smile rising once more. Lee wasn't entirely sure what made him make such an offer, but it wasn't like he could leave the girl alone all night. Finally their eyes met.Merc seemed unsure of what to say; why would he ask something like that? Especially after beating him senseless? She felt an arm slip around her shoulders and begin to lift her upright.

"Come on, let's go!" Lee declared cheerily.

Merc soon found herself in her new friend's apartment, staring shyly at her feet. Lee did his best to make conversation, though all he really got were quiet yes-and-no answers. But with Lee's mood greatly improving, he seemed to talk enough for the both of them. He was even somehow able to get his guest to eat something, though she must have been blushing through the entire meal.

Lee practically forced Merc to sit down to watch a movie, but as the time passed she somehow felt herself relaxing and almost enjoying herself. The second the movie was over, she hopped to her feet and bowed.

"Th-thank you for...all this..." she stammered. "I...I think I should go now..." What was wrong with her? Since when did she get so shy? In fact, when had she ever felt shy or content or even accepted as he seemed to be now?She reminded Lee of Gaara,now that he adn Gaara were best friends

"Would you like to stay the night here, Mercury-chan?" Lee asked. "I wouldn't mind, I think I'd like the company." Merc raised her head enough to get a peek at that same smile. It wasn't cruel or patronizing. Lee's smile was kind, sincere. And cute,? Merc thought, immediately blushing and wondering where the hell that came from.

She found himself nodding and watched as Lee ran to get some extra clothes. As he held them out to his guest he said with a wink, "You better not be wearing that sand-amour of yours,like Gaara when he slept over.I don't want my bed full of sand."Lee chuckled

Neither of them was entirely sure how they ended up sharing the bed, yet neither of them made any comment or complaint about it.Merc began to find that she enjoyed the company, too. She began to feel...Safe

Now Lee just lay beside her, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest with each soft breath. Somehow he was sharing his bed with a woman who had once been a rival of sorts, one who had nearly taken his life. But now, watching her frail, pretty body lying there innocently and peacefully, he found he could not bring himself to be angry. He couldn't make himself be upset in the least, nor did he dislike her.

No, now he felt something else entirely. This broken, misunderstood young woman had left herself open tonight and Lee had been more than happy to take care of her. This stranger who hardly ever known love now trusted him and seemed almost happy to be here.

He couldn't help himself now. He ran his fingers lightly through his soft black hair and smiled. Merc shivered when Lee did it a second time. She turned over slightly to give him a confused look.

"Sorry." Lee said with a sheepish grin. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"Y-you didn't," She mumbled almost too quietly to hear. She finished rolling over to face Lee, though it would expose the light shade of pink in her cheeks. She really liked it when Lee did that. Merc's body stiffened when the bandaged hand was placed on her shoulder, but then she found herself moving closer.

Lee wasn't sure what made her body move, but in his mind there was no objection as he pulled the girl closer and kissed her. He felt no resistance, and after a moment he felt the kiss being returned with an eager desperation.

Merc shivered again as she felt a hand slide down her back. The whole thing was so strange to her, yet it was comforting. All these alien sensations she was beginning to love and crave; the hand mussing her hair and the other reaching the skin of her back just under the shirt; the lips against hers, soft and loving; the warm, strong body gripped against her own... She pressed further into the kiss, yearning for something though she wasn't sure what.

But Lee understood. To Mercury's disappointment he broke the kiss, giving her that same sweet smile as he gently rolled her flat on her back. Though some of these sensations were new to him as well, he knew more about the feelings and affections from which the desire sprung. He understood now what he truly felt, but for Mercury's sake he would wait just a bit longer to voice the feelings aloud.

He kissed her forehead and said in a soothing voice, "Don't worry Mercury-kun, I'm going to take care of you." These words evoked a strange feeling in her, but it was pleasant. She began to feel the quickly developing trust between them, and didn't protest as Lee removed the borrowed shirt,though she was blushing a bright scarlett

Lee ran his hand down the girl's bra.Her breasts were small,alittle bigger than a B 36. Her slender build only left enough room for just the right amount of muscle a girl should have, and the skin was pale and soft. He felt a certain satisfaction knowing that he was the first one to touch this flesh.

He left a quick kiss on her throat before returning to the eager lips. Thin arms wrapped around Lee's neck, pulling him closer with the same desire and desperation. Merc froze when Lee's tongue touched her lower lip. But the seemingly unquenchable desire for contact allowed Lee deeper access without even thinking.

Lee explored every inch of his new love's mouth until he felt Merc begin to seek out as well.He felt a burst of true passion well up inside him, and he began to hunger for this woman's body, for anything and everything he could get. He pulled her body closer and harder against his own, letting his hands wander over the slender shoulders and undoing the chokercollar.

The kiss broke to let them both get a breath of air.Merc's face was almost as red as her eyes, something Lee found very cute. He gave him a mischievous grin before pressing his lips to the girl's slender neck, one hand drifting downwards until he reached the girl's thigh.

When she felt the hand grasp the inner side of her thigh, Merc gasped and (without quite meaning to) raked her nails down Lee's back. He winced slightly and sat up to balance upon Merc's waist. The pretty red eyes slid guiltily to the side, immediately regretting the small but damaging movement.

Understanding as always,Lee removed his own shirt and said in teasing voice, "That felt good, didn't it?"

Slowly her eyes began to travel up again, taking in the well-toned stomach and chest perched above her. The mere sight of that beautiful body sent another, more urgent sensation into her

Lee's smile grew wider at the feel of Merc's heartbeat.It was much quicker. He ran his hand again through Merc's hair, tracing his fingers down over the soft cheek to cup her chin, quite enjoying the shiver that ran through the slender body beneath him.

"Don't be afraid Mercury-kun," he said softly. "Tonight I am going to remind you what love is.."

Merc blushed."Lee...I'm not sure...."She mumbled before being silenced by Lee's kiss."Come on...I know you want it..."He whispered,gently tugging down the shorts she borrowed.He looked at the black underwear.He then trailed up her body,noticing the black sand village tatooed on her stomach,right above her bellybutton.He didn''t notice it before,but ignored it for now.

Merc was blushing madly,holding Lee's hand tight."Please Lee...No more...Your torturing me..."she whimpered.Lee grinned an evil grin that was not his.
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An uncounted amount of time later, the two lay side by side in silent comfort. Gently Lee had shown Merc all the affection and pleasure he'd never known before, happily quenching each of his desires. He held the frail form close, enjoying the innocent beauty of his newfound lover's body.

"Merc..." he said softly."Are you happy right now?"

She smiled and nodded, pressing her forehead to Lee's shoulder.

"I'm glad you stayed with me tonight," he continued. "I'm glad that...I am able to share my bed with the one I love."

Merc gasped and looked up at him with widened eyes. Did she really just hear that?

Lee gave her a quick kiss and said,"I just hope I've made you as happy as you have made me."

At first she couldn't quite find the right words to reply, so instead she smiled and kissed him. It didn't take long for the kiss to extend once more, and it took even less time for both sides to become eagerly engaged.

Merc looked at the clock and blinked.6:00.She looked over at Lee.Lee smiled."Happy Valentines day Mercury..""Happy Valentines Day Lee.."