A/N: I would like to state for the record that I absolutely love writing from Lee's perspective... I can get as sappy and use as many big words as I want and it's never OOC. Lee-kun is my perfect man. ^_^

Thanks again to makura_moderski for being my guinea pig with some of this material.

I'm going to have to give up the ghost of following canon too closely. There's just a point where it gets to be too effed up and interferes with my SakuXLee agenda. Thanks to pharix for helping me see that.

Please, please, please review! Kthxbai.

I still don't own Naruto.

Japanese Glossary:

Arigato: Thank you

Hai: Yes

Gomen: An apology

Chapter 14: Confession

We were about a block away from her home. It was almost over - my first (and probably last) date with Haruno Sakura was drawing to a close.

It was just as well. I had said and done idiotic things since the beginning. I plowed into Tenten because I was too busy daydreaming to notice her standing there, and I had shamelessly gaped at Sakura when I first saw her. She looked extraordinary, but that was no excuse to stare at her as if she were a piece of meat – it was incredibly disrespectful!

I was a mess compared to Sakura, wearing a ridiculous outfit Tenten had selected for me and allowing her to make my hair look as if Doshi had nested in it. I had told her about the date first thing that morning, and she insisted on being my wardrobe consultant. "I'll just have to act surprised when she tells me about it," she giggled mischievously.

I looked at my reflection with trepidation. "It looks really good, I promise!" Tenten had assured me that afternoon. "You're hot!"

Hot was the last thing I felt. I felt like a clown, but grudgingly heeded her advice.

So I had been clumsy and chauvinistic, and I looked ludicrous. To top it all off, I managed to say the weirdest thing in the world to her during dinner… about how she smelled. Who says things like that? I was such a defective! I was certain she would never want to see me again.

The scent of her lip gloss was pushing me to the brink of insanity... as if I needed another reason to focus on her mouth! Women could be well and truly wicked. I took a mental note to castigate Tenten later for helping Sakura torture me this way.

"I really had a great time. Arigato." She looked as if she genuinely meant it. It made me brave for a moment.

'I have already completely bastardized this so-called date. How can it get any worse?' I thought. I took the opportunity to say what had been on my mind all evening.

"Sakura-san... I have a confession to make."

"Oh?" the sublimely lovely kunoichi on my arm stopped walking and turned to face me. "What is it?"

I swallowed hard and tried in vain to keep my voice steady. "I… I... still love you, Sakura-san. I thought you should know that before I leave, even though I cannot hope for you to ever love me…"

She looked at me as if she were seeing a different person, as if she were hearing my expression of adoration for the first time. Could it be that she was actually entertaining the absurd notion of loving me? Of us being in love?

"Quite to the contrary..." I watched as a perfectly pink blush bookended her smile. "I think that could be arranged." She stepped forward, tilting her head slightly to the left. The world seemed to move in slow motion as the moment I had dreamed of for years finally came to be reality. Her sparkling eyes slid closed as our lips came together.

It was pure and chaste and perfect. If my heart had not stopped, it surely would have burst through my chest. I traced the outline of her face with my fingertips as we stood there together, connected. 'This is what true bliss feels like,' I declared to myself. The taste of the lip gloss was an afterthought (It was delicious, though - the perfect dessert). She draped her arms around my neck and I was utterly, irrevocably, unshakably, stupidly happy.

Nothing else in the universe mattered.

She became my universe.

My sun and moon and stars.

My Sakura.

"You guys kissed? Seriously?" Tenten practically screeched with excitement when I told her the next day about what had happened. Doshi hopped in a frenetic circle around her feet, obviously also excited by the news. "I knew there was something different about you today… You're glowing."

"I do not doubt it," I smiled at my confidant as we walked toward the gates of Konoha. "It was wonderful… there is no existing word to describe how wonderful. I only regret that I will have to wait an eternity before I can do it again..."

My mind traveled back to the sensation of joining my lips with Sakura's. I felt emptiness in the pit of my stomach at the thought of going for such an indefinite amount of time without touching her. I had just gotten a mere taste and was already hopelessly addicted... a man possessed.

I shook my head to clear my mind. "How did it go with Neji?"

Tenten hesitated, a look of despair marring her features.

"You still have not told him?" I questioned, a look of mock surprise on my face. "Shame on you!" I wagged a finger at her.

"I really wanted to, but he still seemed angry. I clammed up."

"He will have to get over it soon."

"I'm so happy for you." She shifted the conversation back to me. "It's about time! So, are you guys, like, a couple now?"

"I suppose so," I pondered, grinning like a fool again. "She is my… girlfriend." It felt amazing to say the word. "My girlfriend."

"…So he's my boyfriend now, I guess."

"Well, I, for one, am relieved that it's all over with. I knew it would happen, but who knew it would take so long?" My mentor and employer held out an upturned palm. "Pay up, Shizune."

"What? You guys were betting on my love life? That's not cool." I tried to look angry, but I'm sure it didn't look too convincing through my goofy beaming.

"Oh, calm down," Shizune replied, tugging on one of my pigtails. "It's all in good fun. We're really happy for you."

Tsunade-sama nodded her agreement. "When he gets back from his mission, you can get out a little instead of spending all your time here."

"I could use a bit of a social life, huh?"

"Lord, yes," my boss replied, "I'm getting sick of seeing so much of you! You have less of a life than I do, and I'm Hokage!"

"Okay, okay… I get your point."

"Go give your man a proper sendoff," she winked at me. "But be here bright and early and ready to work hard tomorrow."

"Hai, Tsunade-sama." I bowed and turned to leave.

As I closed the door, I overheard Shizune saying, "Gai's going to be thrilled that he won against Kakashi again." I could only laugh as I made my way down the stairs and walked out into the sun.

"We'll be waiting at the gate. Go ahead and say your goodbyes, my exuberant student," Gai Sensei cooed, his eyes misting over. "Ah, to be young and in love!"

"Sakura-san..." I broke the silence after we had stared into each other's eyes for a few minutes, "or... may I be so bold as to call you Sakura... chan now?" I recalled my dream and smiled, realizing it had come true. Here we were, my girlfriend and I, having a discussion about honorifics.

"Just 'Sakura' is fine, Lee," she answered, embracing me. "You crack me up... you're so prim and proper, like a butler or a waiter."

"Oh, gomen, Sakura-san... I mean -chan... er… j-just S-Sakura..." I knew my face was red again. This had become a pattern. The woman's presence reduced me to an inarticulate, lovesick puddle.

"You are beyond adorable..." She snuggled into my chest and I could have died happy in that instant. "Please come back soon and in one piece."

"I promised to protect you with my life. I have to remain alive to keep that promise, so worry not."

"We've got to go, Lee," Neji yelled. "Your lady fair will still be here when we get back."

I had just gained the ability - the permission - to hold her, and the last thing on Earth I wanted was to let her go, but I relented.

"Take good care of her, friend." I acknowledged Doshi, who poked his head out of Sakura's backpack.

A prickly feeling claimed my eyes. I knew what was coming.

"I love you more than life itself, my precious flower." I kissed her forehead and quickly faced the gate before she could see my weakness.

"Lee... wait." Her voice was unsteady and mournful.

I swiveled in concern, abandoning my pride. "What is it, my darling one?"

"I'm... not ready to say it back to you yet," she sniffled. "But... maybe when you get back, I will be."

My heart soared. Now was the time for a grand romantic gesture. I pulled Sakura to me, tangling my fingers in her hair and capturing her mouth with simultaneous audacity and tenderness I had not believed myself to be capable of. I felt her arms around me again as she kissed me back.

I heard a wolf whistle, presumably from Gai Sensei (Neji would rather set himself on fire than give any sign of support), and Tenten whooped her approval, which made us laugh at our own expenses mid-kiss.

Tears still rolled down her pink-framed face when we pulled apart, but it made me feel better to see her smiling through them. She truly was a treasure, and my dearest desire was to stay and cherish her forever.

"I miss you terribly already."

"Please be careful."

"Anything for my angel."

I watched our hands slowly part as I backed away.