"If you love me, let me know. If not, please gently let me go." - Anonymous
Silence engulfed the woods as a pair of young shinobi traveled down the dirt path. Haruno Sakura walked beside her teammate Rock Lee, refraining from speaking to one another. The silence was peaceful yet awkward.
The dark-haired Rock Lee continuously switched his gaze from the road to Sakura, the girl he had a crush on for almost three years. He had wanted to impress her several times during those years but she didn't seem affected by his advances.
Meanwhile, in Sakura's mind, she was focusing on her childhood crush Uchiha Sasuke, a rogue shinobi who had abandoned their village in search of dark power and revenge, devastating both Sakura and his other teammate Naruto. She was more than determined to bring him back. However, she was starting to have second thoughts on her love for him…
Later that night, the two teens stopped at a local inn for the night. They made themselves comfortable after taking a bath and settling in their beds.
Sakura waited until Lee had fallen asleep before quietly sitting up in her bed. Hugging her legs close to her chest, the pink-haired kunoichi gazed up at the full moon outside the window.
Once again, her thoughts drifted to Sasuke and that night when he left the village. Tears slowly welled up in her eyes and she quickly wiped her cheeks.
Perhaps I should give up on Sasuke? I mean…I'm sure he's given up on coming back, let alone going out with me…
She looked over her shoulder, a small smile curling against her lips at the sleeping Rock Lee.
Well, Lee, he's…he's been with me the entire time. And he's been really nice to me even though I rejected him…
Taking in a deep sigh, Sakura cuddled her legs together, feeling the butterflies flutter around in her stomach as she again looked back at Lee. She blushed when she saw him flinch and turned back to the window so he wouldn't notice.
I wonder if…he would let me fall in love with him this time. Am I too late…?
"No, Sakura. You are not too late at all."
The girl almost jumped at the sound of Lee sitting up. He smiled at her as she rushed over to his side, her face as red as her top.
"You… How could you hear my thoughts?"
Lee sweatdropped at her question and simply answered, "You were talking out loud, Sakura."
Again, she blushed brightly and turned her face away from Lee's. His hand extended and touched her soft face, bringing it into a soft kiss.
Sakura was taken back at his sudden forwardness but she dismissed it and fell into his loving arms. Lee brought his lips to her cheeks and forehead as he cuddled her close.
Pure silence engulfed the room as it did in the forest earlier that day. The light from the single candle in the room was quick to fade out with a sudden gush of wind, leaving the two in serene darkness…