Ai

Summery: He never took them. He never needed them. And he most certainly never wanted them. So this year, she wouldn't give them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto so don't sue please.

Sakura sighed as she glanced at the calendar. Today was that day once again. That beautifully romantic day that every girl looked forward to. It was the day were young girls would give presents to the men in their lives. It was February 14. Valentine's Day.

She moved her gaze from the red circled date down to her desk where eight small boxes of chocolate were resting. One for each of her guy friends as well as for Kakashi-sensei. Usually there would be only one; a large box of homemade honmei choko, lover's chocolate, and this was her gift to Sasuke every year for the past eight years.

But this year was different. She decided that instead of wasting all of her hard work on a boy that didn't care, she would instead divide the large box of honmei choko into eight boxes of giri choko, friend's chocolate, and these she would distribute among her friends.

Reaching out Sakura slid her hand across her desk, sweeping the sealed boxes into her back pack. Today Konoha's twelve, as most of the village had taken to calling them, would train together making this the perfect opportunity to give her friends their gifts. All of the boys would get something from her this year. All of the boys, except one that is.

A slight feeling of guilt began to rise from the pit of her stomach. It's not like Sasuke would care that he didn't receive a present from his pink haired teammate. After all, he never took them, never needed them, and most certainly never wanted them. So this year, she would save herself the heartbreak, and not give them.

XXXXXXXXX

Sasuke had been awake for hours. It had always been his habit to wake up early, but on days like today (such as Christmas, his birthday, Tuesdays, the last day of the month, etc.) he tended to rouse himself extra early so as to avoid the hoard of girls that he knew would be gathering outside of his door.

Apparently they had caught on to him because when he had escaped through his window at four-thirty that morning a large group of girls had already gathered outside of his front door. He nearly growled at the memory. He really needed to find a new house. Preferably one with a hundred foot high electric fence. Yeah, that might work for a few days…

He shook his head and quickly refocused himself on his task. He needed to finish his warm up quickly if he was going to make it to the meeting in time. Not that he cared about missing the group. After all Sakura and the other girls would be there trying to offer him chocolate again and he would like to avoid that. No, the only reason he wanted to be there was so he could get a good sparing session with eleven of the most talented shinobi the hidden leaf had to offer.

The sun had risen higher in the last few minutes and Sasuke finally stopped his kata. It was time to head for the clearing. He sighed. It would be a lot more enjoyable if he didn't have to worry about having chocolate waved in his face.

XXXXXXXXXX

Eleven of the total twelve jounin class shinobi stood in a relatively large clearing just outside of Konoha, and when I say just out side I mean half a day's power walk for normal person.

This time their old jounin senseis had decided to join the assembly, and even Kakashi was already there, attesting to just how late their last member was.

Sasuke suppressed a growl of impatience as he leaned against one of the many trees surrounding the group. His eyes were closed and his arms were crossed, a look of irritation only just visible on his normally impassive features. He hadn't changed much over the last four years, aside from the obvious physical changes that would arise from aging from twelve to sixteen.

His hair was still in the same style as was his attitude. His clothes though had changed a bit, to be more suitable for his job as an ANBU captain. They were a deep black that seemed to suck up all light, preferable for the night assassinations he was typically assigned, and rather then having his family crest spread wide across his back, it was instead sewn onto the belt that wrapped around his waist.

He shifted his sandal clad feet a bit in order to allow the blood flow enough time to circulate around his body before he lost feeling in his leg. His foot brushed against a small bag on the ground and he rolled his eyes. Next to his feet was a small pile of boxes and bags indicating that he had indeed received chocolate from his female companions.

Three years ago Ino had given up on him in exchange for the lazy genius Shikamaru, but for some reason she still gave him chocolate every year; something about him being a good enough friend to merit giri choko or something idiotic like that. It really irritated him though that both Tenten and Hinata, who had come out of her shy shell a long time ago, also began giving him giri choko. He nearly snorted. He didn't even like chocolate.

"Gomen mina-san!" Sakura's voice finally called out as she dropped swiftly from the trees to land in the clearing below. "Tsunade-shishou called me just as I was about to leave to help her with an emergency at the hospital."

"Don't worry about it Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed happily. "We're just glad you came!"

"How come she gets excused when she is late but you all always yell at me?" Kakashi nearly whined behind his perverted book.

"Because you're a lazy liar." Everyone but Sasuke, Neji, Shino, and Shikamaru responded in monotone.

Kakashi sweatdropped. "Yes, well, shall we get started?"

"Yosh!" Gai exclaimed loudly. "We must allow the children to begin their training that they might bask in the joyful springtime of their youth! Do you not agree Kakashi?"

"Hm," Kakashi said looking up from his book. "I'm sorry did you say something Gai?"

"Curse you and your 'hip' youthful attitude Kakashi!" Gai shouted in furry. "You are truly my eternal rival!"

"Whatever," Sasuke mumbled as he finally opened his eyes to look out at his friends. "Let's start already."

"Oh!" Sakura exclaimed as she pulled her saddle bag off of her shoulder. "Wait a moment!"

Sasuke groaned as he watched the girl reach into the bag and pull out a box of chocolate. "Here Naruto!" She said with a wide grin.

Sasuke started a bit. Naruto? She was giving his chocolate to Naruto! He wasn't sure why but for some reason his chest began to burn. He had to stop himself from storming over to the grinning blond and pummeling him into a pulp. He had Hinata so there was no reason for him to be going after Sakura!

The fire in Sasuke's chest only grew more and more as his pink haired teammate continued to present each boy with a box of her homemade chocolate. Even Kakashi got one! At long last Sakura reached into her bag and extracted her last box, and her grin grew brighter as she made her way towards him. He forced an impassive look onto his face. Of course she only wanted to save him for last. After all, the best is always saved for last right?

Sakura stopped about three feet away and bowed her head slightly as she offered the chocolate; just as she had with the last seven boxes. Sasuke was just about to reach out and take it when her words froze him in his tracks.

"Here you go Lee-san!" She said, and Sasuke noticed for the first time the bob haired, thick browed, spandex wearing boy standing next to him.

"S-Sakura-san!" Lee cried as streams of anime tears flowed from his wide round eyes. "D-d-domo Arigato Sakura-san!" Reaching out he took the box before he moved forward and captured the surprised girl in a tight hug.

Sasuke was fuming. You could almost see the steam rising off the back of his neck. What was that loser doing hugging HIS Sakura? If Sasuke had been less angry he would have been shocked into a near comatose state to realize that he had just referred to Sakura as his, but at the moment that was the least of his worries.

"L-Lee-san…" Sakura choked out. "C-can't b-breath…"

"Ah!" Lee shouted as he released the girl and jumped back. "Gomen Sakura-san!"

"That's alright Lee-san!" Sakura said with another smile as she forced herself to turn towards the others and not look at the dark haired boy that still held onto her heart. (Sasuke! Not Lee!)

Sasuke suppressed a growl as he watched the pink haired girl turn away without even a glance in his direction. 'What's the matter with her today!' his mind screamed as he resisted the temptation to begin yanking out his hair. 'Where is my chocolate!'

He stopped in shock. 'Wait, isn't this what I wanted? For Sakura to leave me alone and stop pestering me?'

He had thought he did; had thought that not having Sakura bothering him would be the best thing that could happen. Now though, as he watched her smile and present chocolate to other boys, boys that were not him by-the-way, he felt something he never thought he would feel over a girl. He felt jealous. He felt rejected. He felt…hurt…

XXXXXXXXX

Group training had ended an hour earlier then usually because, seeing as it was Valentine's Day, all of the girls wanted their men to take them out on dates. So with that everyone separated, some leaving in pares, others not.

Sakura grinned as she watched her friends go off. Shikamaru and Ino, Naruto and Hinata, Neji and Tenten, and Asuma and Kurenai all headed off on dates, while Kakashi left to meet his wife Shizune and Chouji hurried home hoping to receive a Valentine from his girlfriend Temari. The others all wandered off on there own, some with dates waiting and the others without any real plans. Lee, however, stayed behind.

"Oh Sakura-san!" he exclaimed as he grasped her hands in his own. "I just knew that you would return my feelings so long as I remained faithful to the love of my youth!"

Sakura stared at him in surprise. "Lee-san, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."

Lee gasped in shock. "Why your chocolate of love of course!" He exclaimed.

Sakura thought she heard a soft growl coming from the trees but she swiftly brushed it aside.

"Lee-san," She began slowly. "I think you may have misunderstood. The chocolate I gave you-."

Lee cut her off. "I'm so happy today Sakura-san!" He shouted. "Your love fills me to my very soul! Come! Let us celebrate the spring time of our love!"

Sakura had half a mind to just roll her eyes and go along, but she knew that doing so would only get Lee's hopes up even higher and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt her friend.

"Lee-san!" Sakura shouted in order to gain his attention. "I'm sorry but the chocolate I gave you wasn't honmei choko."

"It wasn't?" Lee asked in surprise.

Sakura shook her head sadly. "No, I'm sorry, but it was just giri choko. You know, chocolate for friends. I didn't mean to get your hopes up Lee-san."

Lee drooped in sadness. "I see," he said. "So you still vie for the attentions of my rival, Sasuke-kun, do you?" he sighed. "I should have known, but when you handed me the chocolate instead I suppose I became rather exited."

"I'm sorry Lee-san," Sakura said again. "I didn't mean to confuse you or hurt you. The only reason I didn't give Sasuke-kun any chocolate is because I know he wouldn't want or appreciate it."

"I see," Lee said sadly. "Then I suppose I shall just go and train some more."

He quickly vanished from view as he headed off into the trees at a dead sprint.

"Lee-san…" Sakura whispered sadly as she clasped her hands to her chest.

"You really are annoying."

Sakura shrieked and spun around swiftly to face her opponent. Unfortunately, though she was already a jounin, Sakura still managed to be a bit clumsy when surprised and she felt her feet leave the ground that her head now flew towards. Bracing herself, Sakura waited for the impact. It never came. Instead she found herself being cradled gently in two strong arms. Her body pressed up against someone else.

'Smells nice…' Sakura thought absently as she opened her bright emerald eyes. They widened in shock as they took in her rescuer. "S-Sasuke-kun!" she exclaimed.

"Hn."

"Um," she stuttered. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

He shrugged.

An awkward silence filled the clearing and Sakura shifted uncomfortably in the boy's arms.

"You're annoying." Sasuke finally said breaking the silence.

An angry flush spread across Sakura's cheeks. "I'm leaving!" she shouted as she pushed him away. "I don't have to stand here and listen to you insult me for no reason!"

Swiftly she spun around and lifted her foot to leave. Suddenly the world lurched and Sakura found herself once again in the arms of the Uchiha. She blinked in surprise as she saw Sasuke smirk down at her.

"Don't you want to know why you're annoying?" He taunted.

Sakura said nothing for a moment as she blinked in wonder. Why was Sasuke acting so…weird?

"Uh, sure…" she finally stammered out.

"You're annoying because I actually thought that you forgot about me."

"…Huh?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Idiot, don't you get it?"

Sakura shook her head. "Err, not really…"

Sasuke sighed. "You won."

"…" Sakura was silent though the confused look on her face spoke volumes.

"Me, Sakura," Sasuke struggled to get out through clenched teeth. 'Man this is hard!'

"I still don't get it…"

Sasuke took a deep breath as he tried to tell her what he had only just realized.

"When you gave everyone else chocolate I thought that you were just saving me till last," he said slowly. "But then you handed one to Lee and started training. I thought you forgot about me."

Sakura said nothing as she continued to watch the boy that still held her.

"I thought that you stopped liking me and I was," he paused and closed his eyes, trying to force his pride away. "I…was…jealous." He nearly whispered.

"Excuse me?"

"Dang it Sakura!" he shouted. "I was jealous ok! I thought you didn't want me anymore! That you would go for Lee, and I. Was. Jealous!" he forced out through gritted teeth. Couldn't she at least pretend to make this easier?

"Why were you jealous, Sasuke-kun?" She whispered.

He pushed his face closer to Sakura's, their noses almost touching. "Ai." Was all he said.

"Ai," she repeated in astonishment.

"Aa."

'Ai: love.' She thought. 'He was jealous because of love…'

She took a deep breath and gulped. 'Now or never…'

"A-aishiteru, Sasuke-kun," she whispered almost inaudibly.

Sasuke smiled at her. Not a smirk, but an actual smile! "Kichi," he said as he leaned closer.

Sakura almost stopped breathing as she felt his warm breath on her lips. Suddenly he pulled back an inch so he could look her in the eye.

"Next time," Sasuke growled. "Just give me the chocolate."

He didn't give her a chance to respond as he quickly covered her mouth with his own. She tasted like chocolate. 'I love chocolate…' was his last coherent thought before he lost himself in her kisses.

XXXXXXXX

In the trees, fifteen people stood well hidden from the view of their two friends.

"Well Shikamaru," Naruto whispered with a grin. "It looks like your plan worked."

"Of course it did!" Ino whispered back. "My Shika-kun is a genius after all!"

"I'm just glad Mei agreed to allow her precious Lee-chan to be the bait." Tenten added.

Mei giggled silently as she gripped Lee's arm tightly.

"Oh Mei-chan!" Lee exclaimed silently. "You are my true love! Let us go celebrate the springtime of our eternal love!"

Mei giggled again nodding as she allowed Lee to scoop her up in to his arms and run off towards the Ichiraku Ramen stand. Swiftly the others left as well so they two could spend the remainder of their day with their loved ones.

After the others had left, Kakashi stood on the tree branch for a moment longer as he cast one last look at the clearing. He smiled through his mask before he quickly leapt off to be with his own true love.

Through the frame of branches that the others were looking through, you could clearly see a softly smiling Sasuke talking quietly with a sweetly happy Sakura as he rested his forehead against her own. Even a stranger could see the almost visible glow that shown around them. Ai.

Kaliea: I know it's nowhere near Valentines and all that but I really wanted to write this after reading a few Valentine fics that were already out there. Anywho, tell me what you think! Ja ne!

Japanese translation:

Ai: love

Kichi: Already known