Hey, thanks again for the reviews

Kepelus: Thanks for the review! I try to incorporate humor and everything else into a fic, it's not as fun unless you can laugh once in a while, right? I decided to make a Sasu/Saku pairing because I figured that even Sakura deserves somebody. I have a few ideas so it's not just a happy ending for everyone... I hope it will satisfy your hopes for this fic! As for Lee, you'll have to wait and see... But considering that he's this Authoress' 2nd favorite character, you can hold high hopes...

MRS. Anonymous LADY: Sorry! I didn't know that you were female, else I would not have been so rude as to call you male My apologies! Anyway, thanks for the compliment!

Everyone Else Who Has Bothered To Read This Far: Word! Thanks for the reviews and for just reading it, ya know? It means a lot to this Kakashi-obsessed girl to know that there's people out there that enjoy mah writing style!

Take me Away

Time had passed so quickly now, Lee was astounded at how quickly the heartache seemed to fade. Now it didn't hurt to breath... No, it just hurt to face the beautiful Cherry Blossom, now. That dull ache in his chest was even less noticeable when laughing with Naruto and Kiba, or speaking secrets to Hinata. It was insane how quickly he had grown to trust that girl. Five days of the seven had passed, and already Hinata was like a little sister to him.

Truth be told, he trusted Hinata with more secrets now than he had trusted with Sakura only days ago...

He looked out. The sun was setting, and he was admiring those colours. He wasn't afraid to gaze at the hues that reminded him of Sakura anymore, no, now in the blues he could see his friend Naruto's eyes. In the reds and pinks he saw Hinata's blushing cheeks. In the woodsy greens he saw Kiba and Akamaru chasing leaves. In the golden rays of sun that broke through the deciduous foliage, he saw hope. That warmth that he had felt around Lady Haruna had now resurfaced in a different way.

Lee had true, honest-to-God friends.

Wiping a tear from the corner of his eye, he put the memory of sunsets and cherry blossoms behind him; instead he looked towards the boy who bared the name of Spiral. The boy that seemed to know just how to heal broken hearts, for he too had shared one and had pieced it back together.

Uzumaki Naruto.

Speaking of which..

"ANO SA! LEE!" The obsidian-eyed beast turned to gaze over his shoulder. He had spent almost all day gazing over this field, watching the sun change places and the shadows shift and change. The wind tickled the grass and made the flowers dance, and it was beautiful to him.. But nothing could beat the sight of Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata jogging up behind him.

"Konbanwa, Naruto-kun! Kiba-kun! Hinata-chan!"

His smile lit up, reflecting the colours of the setting sun as he spun fully to face them, giving them a traditional thumbs up.

"It's dinner time, Lee!" Kiba said, carrying two plates with him, one obviously meant for Lee.

Hinata was carrying her own plate and a small one for Akamaru, and Naruto trudged along carrying two plates for himself.

"We thought we would join you, Lee-kun!" Hinata said with a bright smile, not as flashy, but one to rival Lee's own.

The three new arrivals.. Well.. four if you count the playful puppy Akamaru.. The four new arrivals plopped themselves down on the grass next to Lee, their silhouettes the only things fully viewable from their campsites.

"Ano Sa, Lee..." Naruto began tentatively.

"Hai, Naruto-kun?"

"Sakura-chan has been asking about you all day, afraid to approach you herself... She wants to say sorry."

Lee shook his head, but a small smile splayed across his face.

"I know she does, but I cannot forgive her just yet.. My heart won't let me.. If she asks again, tell her that time will heal all, but to keep her distance, would you?"

Three of his new friends nodded, and the fourth barked cheerfully as he chased a butterfly about.

"He says 'Alright, but Kiba will have to translate for me'" Laughed Kiba as he scratched the back of his head, gaining a trait from their fox demon comrade.

"Anyway..." Naruto broke off, fiddling with a flower in his hand. He had picked every rose in the valley that he could find, every rose just for Hinata.. But he wanted to give her this special flower now, as he asked her the most important thing of his life.

"Hinata-chan.."

Kiba and Lee turned to watch as Hinata looked up at Naruto, her cheeks the same shade of pink as the sky was slowly turning.

"H-Hai, N-Naruto-kun?"

"Hinata-chan.. Would you.."

The romantic tension was building, and Lee was having a hard time holding in his smile.

Naruto lifted the small flower. It was a Lilly of the Valley, Hinata-chan's favorite...

Hinata looked at the flower, and slowly reached out to touch it, the many small blossoms shaped like bells dangled lazily from their stem. The wind picked up and they gently swayed as Naruto took her hand and placed the delicate white flower in her palm.

"Hinata-chan, would you be my... Be... Be my..."

Hinata was already nodding as she held the flower to her heart. She was the heir to the Hyuuga clan, where gifts rained down on he. She was a princess to them, but..

"Naruto-kun, this is the most heartwarming and beautiful gift I have ever received..."

He shy voice almost cracked as she leaned in and hugged the fox demon boy.

Naruto, shocked, looked down at her as she latched herself about his waist and chest.. Her head was buried into his chest, her cheeks a bright pink and a smile more beautiful than the sunset around them was dancing across her lips.

She hugged her gently in response holding her to his chest and gently placing his own head over hers, almost protectively.

When they finally began to pull away, Naruto couldn't help but pull her back for a gentle kiss, one he was so afraid of giving...

Hinata was even more shocked but felt like her heart might leap from her chest in excitement. She had dreamed of this day for about two years now.. The day that she and Naruto would be together.

Upon ending the gentle kiss, the two heard claps in the background.

"Congrats, Hinata-chan, Naruto-kun!" Kiba said as he and Lee applauded them, Akamaru hopping up and licking both Naruto and Hinata in turn.

Lee was smiling, his friends, two of his best friends as of now, were happy together...

He did well to fight back the tears. He was so happy for them! They could be happy together, and maybe when they got older he could be the best man at their wedding...

The happiness shone through his face, but his eyes seemed oddly glazed over.

His heart was beating darkly in his chest as he turned his back to the sunset once more. It shadowed his face now, and though he smiled and that was good enough for Naruto and Hinata, a pang of an emotion less pleasant struck Lee then. It hurt him to think it. It squeezed his kind heart and made him choke on the bit of food in his mouth.

'Why couldn't that be me?' he silently asked himself, 'Naruto got Hinata... But why couldn't I get a girl?'

Rock Lee was jealous.