As Time Passes Chapter 15: XV But I Mean Nothing to You, a naruto fanfic

Summary: He always said things to make her feel better after the daily cold, hard rejection she received from the one she adored. Yet, he never meant anything more than a friend to her.

Pairings: One-sided Lee/Sakura, Sasuke/Sakura

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, at all. All the characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi-sensei. The song is Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon.

As Time Passes

But I Mean Nothing to You

Somewhere there's speaking
It's already coming in
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
Now you're here and you don't know why

She was in the forest, sheltered by the golden brown leaves that were slowly falling around her. Despite the straight face she had on, tears were slowly falling down her face. Yet again, she had just asked him if he wanted dinner in Ichiraku, she'd even treat him out. It was okay if they went out as friends or something, nothing more. Despite that, he still gave a cold rejection and left. Without thinking, she walked away from him and her legs led her to the forest. It was only when she was covered by the canopy of gold and brown did the tears flow. Leaves rustled behind her as she looked back, only to be greeted by a familiar face.

"Sakura-san! What's with the tears?" asked Lee in concern as he approached her. It had been three years and a few months since they met and he had grown accustomed to their relationship as friends but he still yearned to be something more in her eyes.

"Sasuke-kun said no again," said Sakura with a pained smile as she faced him, "And I don't know why I'm crying. I never used to, Lee-san, but I am now."

But under skinned knees and the skid marks
Past the places where you used to learn
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels who won't return

"I think he means much more to you know, Sakura-san," said Lee as he reddened slightly, looking down to the forest floor while he scratched the back of his head. He didn't know what to do. He thought of seizing the moment to be nearer but it was just wrong to take advantage of the situation wherein a heartbroken Sakura was involved. "I mean, who wouldn't want to lose someone so loved like what happened to Sasuke-san three years ago? So, of course that rejection was harder than normal. He just came back to Konoha, after all, so maybe he's tired."

Sakura looked up at Lee, the tears starting to stop as they left sticky trails on her porcelain skin. Was it really that obvious that she really felt much more for him now? She knew it was no longer a schoolgirl crush, that she really felt something deeper for him, but was it that obvious?

"Thank you, Lee-san. You saying that made me feel a little better." With a wistful look on her face, Sakura offered him a slight smile before rubbing the tear trails dry with the back of her hand. Waving goodbye, Sakura began walking out of the forest.

He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why

"I hope you really do feel a lot better, Sakura-san," whispered Lee as he clenched his fist. He'd do anything to be in the place of Uchiha Sasuke, receiving the love of Sakura endlessly despite how much he pushed her away. Turning around, he began to train, the reason he came to the forest in the first place. "If I don't do one thousand push ups, then that means Sakura-san will never see me as more than her friend!"

He had hope for their relationship, for it to blossom. He knew it was such a tiny hope but after all, hope is hope. A chance at it working is a chance nonetheless.

You're waiting for someone
To put you together
You're waiting for someone to push you away
There's always another wound to discover
There's always something more you wish he'd say

Every day, it seemed Lee would always find Sakura in the forest, the same reason echoing after she spoke of it. However, less tears seemed to appear on her face. His heart wrenched painfully as he realized that Sasuke had started noticing just how beautiful she had become since he left three years ago. Her voice started to become more cheerful, despite the rejection.

"So, Sakura-san, I take it that you and Sasuke-san are on better terms now?" he asked casually as he made a rock skip on the river nearby. Sakura nodded happily.

"When Sasuke-kun says no, nowadays, there's a reason to back up for it, as if he's regretful that he can't make it. What you said that first time, Lee-san, was most likely right," said Sakura as she offered him a bright smile. His heart wrenched even further at the sight of that smile. He knew, one day, that smile would belong to Sasuke alone, as well as everything else about her.

"Lee-san?" began Sakura as she looked at the Tai Jutsu expert near her. Lee looked up with a confused expression on his face. "Thank you," she said as she offered him yet another one of her smiles.

"Thank you? For what, Sakura-san?" he asked, confused as to why she was thanking him in the first place. Sakura laughed slightly before replying.

"For always being here to comfort me when I'm feeling down," said Sakura as she looked up at the sky, "It may seem nothing to you and I might have taken it for granted these past couple of weeks but it really means a lot to me. You're such a great friend."

"That's all I really am to you, aren't I? Simply a friend," he spoke to himself after giving her a nod.

"Sorry, Lee-san? I didn't hear you." Lee looked up and shook his head after laughing slightly.

"I said, it's alright, Sakura-san. It's no big deal."

But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
It's only what you're asking for
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what you're waiting for

Sakura was really cheerful that afternoon, despite the rejection. However, it wasn't a rejection to her. It was a chance at actually going on a date with the elusive Uchiha Sasuke, at least elusive when it came to asking out on a date.

"So he said 'Maybe next time, Sakura,' before leaving for wherever he was going to?" asked Lee, trying to clarify if he had heard right.

"Yeah," said Sakura with a smile as she pulled her knees closer to her chest, "And he said the exact same words. Before he left, he touched my hand briefly, so briefly no one would notice but I did. His touch was warm and it made me feel all tingly inside, Lee-san." Lee nodded with a smile on his face. Inside, however, he was burning with jealousy. Sakura was totally devoted to Sasuke. "Lee-san, are you okay? You look out of it today," she asked with concern.

"Sakura-san, I really like you," spoke Lee with his face devoid of everything except seriousness, "I really do. Do you remember what I said when we first met? That I'd protect you even at the cost of my life? I will still fulfill that promise, even until now." The pink haired girl looked taken aback. Standing up, she looked down at Lee.

"Lee-san, you say everything I want to hear at the minute I think about them. You represent everything I really want in a man, warm, thoughtful, caring, concerned that kind of thing. You're personality is truly everything I want, most of which aren't within Sasuke-kun," began Sakura as tears began slowly falling. Lee felt like this was his big break! Their relationship might actually work out! "But, I love Sasuke-kun. He needs me, he truly does. No one else understands him like I do. You're everything I want, but you are only a friend to me, Lee-san, a really good friend. I'm sorry and I hope we stay that way." Without any warning, she fled, her tears falling freely.

"I should have known," said Lee to himself as he stood up and decided to begin his training to forget about this, "She's really in love with him. Sasuke-san had better be good to her."

Out of the island
Into the highway
Past the places where you might have turned
You never did notice
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return

Then, one day, Lee did not see any sign of Sakura in the forest. Disregarding his training regimen for just now, he began looking for the pink haired girl he loved. Finding no sign of her, he sighed as he walked out of the forest to find out if she was still training with either the Godaime or with the now disbanded Team Seven, as they were all Chuunin. He heard voices as he began walking out of the forest. Hiding behind a tree, he peered out to see who were there.

"Sasuke-kun, do you want some tea?" asked Sakura as she clung to his arm, a bright and happy smile on her face. Sasuke didn't seem bothered at the fact that someone was clinging onto him like that. In fact, he seemed happy.

"Aa." His ever famous reply came out of his lips as he looked down at Sakura.

"Okay then! Let's hurry back to town and have tea! I also want dango," she said happily as she let go of his arm. Running ahead, she cheerfully stopped every once in a while to tell the Uchiha to hurry up a bit.

"And so he's changed," murmured Lee to himself as a single tear fell from his face down to the forest floor.

It had been another three years since he saw that scene in the road leading to the forest. He'd still see Sakura every now and then but usually, she was with Sasuke. They were an official couple no, much to no one's surprise. They had always expected the pink haired girl to end up with the stoic Uchiha as she was the only one who truly understood him. He had been out shopping for groceries when he saw Sakura running towards him, a bright look on her face.

"Lee-san! Lee-san!" shouted Sakura breathlessly in the dark of the night as she came rushing towards him. Her face was red as she stopped to catch her breath. Lee looked at her quizzically as he waited for her to speak. "Look!" Raising her left hand, something shimmered in the dark of the night. In her left ring finger, a band of white gold topped with diamonds rested. It was an engagement ring. "I never expected it but here it is! We're getting married in two months time and I'd like you to come, Lee-san, as an honored guest, for all you've done for me."

"Congratulations, then, Sakura-san," said Lee as he forced a smile, "I hope you're going to be happy with your married life. Excuse me but I really have to go. Sorry to cut this meeting short, Sakura-san." With that, Lee bowed slightly before hurrying off. Never in his life did he ever not want to see Sakura before now.

"And I thought he'd be happy," said Sakura sadly as she watched his figure helplessly, retreating to the darkness and towards his home.

I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why

"Congratulations!" shouted everyone as streamers came flying after the ceremony was finished. From the corner of his eye, he could see the happy couple thanking them. Well, at least the bride was outwardly happy. The groom merely nodded his appreciation. To begin with, he was never really a man of many words. The bride's eyes lit up as she caught sight of him. Excusing herself, she walked as quickly as she could in the white kimono she was wearing as she made her way towards his side.

"Lee-san! I'm glad you could make it! I heard you had a mission assigned to you around a week before our wedding so I'm really glade you could make it," said Sakura appreciatively as she smiled. She looked beautiful, donning the bridal clothes. However, he would have liked it more if he was the groom but alas, that was unlikely in the beginning. His hope never wavered until the minute of their engagement and it was truly crushed now that they were married.

"I know, I'm glad I was able to make it too, Uchiha Sakura-san," said Lee with a forced smile on his face. In truth, he had specifically asked the Godaime if he could have a B-Rank or an A-Ranked mission that would send him a place a way away from Konoha assigned to him now that he was a Jounin. Despite that, the mission had been completed before the expected completion date. He wanted to avoid going to the wedding but it seemed the fates wanted him to be there.

"Mou, don't you be like that now, Lee-san!" said Sakura as her face reddened, "I'm not used to it yet! The ceremony has just ended, after all." Lee laughed slightly as Sakura's nature affected him.

"Well, I must say goodbye now. Congratulate your, your husband for me, Sakura-san and tell him that he's lucky to have gotten you," spoke Lee as he turned around and walked away, "I just came back from my mission, after all." Sakura nodded as she waved goodbye. Before she let him leave, she pressed a friendly kiss on his cheek.

"For everything you've done for me, Lee-san. Let's pray that you'll find someone who loves you dearly soon," she said sincerely before she let him leave. Lee nodded as he touched his cheek. Turning around once more, he finally began walking towards his home.

And I don't know why
Why
I don't know

Owari

I was on the way home when Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon started playing on the radio. I thought about how it really matched the situation of Sakura and Lee and so I decided to write a story about it.

I really feel sorry for Lee, I really do, but Sasuke really needs Sakura and Lee can always find another girl to truly love him as he is.

Please don't kill me!

In any case, these stories aren't going to be long, since they're the type devoid of any major storyline. If these one-shots inspire you to write any more, by all means