A/N: *suddenly appears, offers you this, and then slinks back into the void*

(But seriously, thank you for all the sweet, kind comments. I'm still in a bit of a mental/physical health funk and want to respond to those comments with more than a simple 'thank you' but I still feel a bit like a sick animal hiding under the porch from all social contact so for now I'm treasuring your comments in my inbox like a dragon with its gold horde until I am ready.)

Since it's been awhile, let's continue to the plot refresher: Last chapter Sakura and Sasuke return to Konoha, but Sakura's memories have been altered through genjutsu and trying to remember the truth causes her painful headaches. Sakura reunites with Lee, but suddenly faints. Lee tries to convince Sasuke to get her medical help, but Sasuke harshly dismisses Lee from his home instead.

Chapter 39

Given Voice

"Ah! There you are, Sakura!" A wide grin split across Naruto's face at the sight of her under the midday sun. He was waiting at the corner of the center square, where they always used to agree to meet up. He wasn't wearing his white Hokage robe - here he was just Naruto in his glaringly orange shirt. At least, attempting to be, as passerby still waved and greeted him like a celebrity.

"Hey, Naruto," Sakura greeted. "Ichiraku, right?"

"Actually… Was thinking somewhere a little more private this time… considering… y'know," he chuckled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head, tilting his chin towards a child waving big and calling his name from across the street.

"Wow. I'm actually shocked that you want to try something different for once. I'm kind of proud that you're finally willing to expand your horizons."

"Haha, yeah!"

Naruto led her somewhere else, to a larger restaurant. When they stopped in front of the entrance, Sakura stared unamused at the familiar logo on the front: Ichiraku Ramen.

"This is still Ichiraku," Sakura said flatly.

"Well, yeah! But just a branch location! It's totally different!"

After Naruto's growth to fame, Ichiraku Ramen's fame went up as well. The owner still wanted to run his quaint street-side ramen shop, but ultimately decided to open a second larger branch location to keep up with demand.

"In what way could it possibly be different?"

"The ramen recipe here is close, but it's still not the same as when Teuchi makes it," Naruto pouted.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "I take back what I said about being proud of you."

They went in and when Naruto requested a private dining room, the waiter was more than eager to assist the Hokage himself. The private room was cozy, room for only one table and had a sliding door. They took their orders right after - Naruto went for his usual choice and Sakura picked a flavor at random in her desperate attempt at making Ichiraku more new and exciting. (While avoiding the spicy flavors.)

"Do you have your speech prepared for this year yet?" Sakura asked between sips of her soup.

Naruto stared blankly at her.

"You know… for the War Festival coming up in a week?"

Naruto dropped his chopsticks in his bowl, clutching his head in panic. "I totally forgot!"

"What do you mean you forgot? Haven't you noticed all the early festival decorations going up? Been involved in any of the celebration prep? Hasn't Shikamaru or Hinata kept you in line by reminding you?"

"No…" Naruto said sheepishly.

"Unbelievable," Sakura sighed. It was crazy to imagine he was actually the Hokage sometimes. Maybe Kakashi passed on the mantle too soon. "Think you could reuse last year's speech?"

Naruto twiddled his pointer fingers. "I mean… I guess I could, but that speech was so gloomy and would totally ruin the mood… this year is supposed to be a kinda happy victory celebration, not a depressing memorial service like all the previous years..."

"You know what this means, right? After lunch you better head straight home and start working on it, you big idiot!"

"Hey! If you care so much, maybe you do it instead as my honored guest speaker. Hm, Sakura? Hmm? " Naruto was goading her now, leaning over the table with a cheeky grin.

"And save you from your own mess? Not a chance," Sakura smiled sickeningly sweet, shoving his face back to his side of the table. "Anyway, I'm already taken, as I'll be part of the parade marching with the Third Division."

Sakura expected Naruto to whine annoyingly at her, or try and goad her anger further, but instead he smiled big and bright. "That's great! I'm glad you'll be taking part. I didn't think you would since you've been a recluse lately and all."

Haughty, Sakura retorted, "I'm not a recluse!"

"Sure seemed like it… considering you never bothered to visit."

"Well, neither did you!"

"Well, I was busy with Hokage stuff!"

"Exactly! And I was busy with hospital work!"

"Yeah, and you can just ask for a day off. I can't just stop being Hokage."

"Last I checked you slack off using your Shadow Clones. Like my last mission assignment for instance?"

They both crossed their arms at each other, at an impasse.

But they both quickly cracked a smile and laughed it off.

Sakura missed this.

"But seriously, Sakura… You seem… a lot happier now than you've been in awhile. More like your old self and all. And I'm glad to see it," Naruto said. "Been kinda scared to ask in case I trigger your terrifying temper, but I mean… was it all Sasuke related?"

Her smile faded. She looked down at her ramen bowl and absently picked at the gooey egg yolk with her chopsticks. "Would you be upset? To hear that things between me and Sasuke aren't perfect after you worked so hard to keep your promise to me to bring him back?"

"Whoa, whoa! What are you saying? That you feel guilty that not everything is all sunshine and rainbows between you guys just because I kept my promise?"

Her mouth twitched. She couldn't bear to look him in the eye.

"Is he being an ass? Is that it? I could beat some sense into him if you want! I'm good at that," Naruto jested.

"I really don't think that would help things as they are now…"

Naruto frowned. "Sakura… I'm sorry. It's because of the missions, isn't it? I feel responsible since I'm the one approving all his missions that keeps him away from you."

"No, it's just… I don't know…" Her throat felt tight. The clenched chopsticks in her hand began to tremble. She shouldn't have mentioned anything to him. Especially him - the one who loved Sasuke most of all.

It also didn't help that her head throbbed like there was something on the tip of her tongue that she had to tell him - something very important. (At the very least, these head throbs weren't as bad as yesterday.)

"Hey! Hey! You don't owe your relationship to me, y'know? What matters is we have Sasuke back, no matter what we all are to each other, right?"

"Are you sure?" she said quietly.

"Yeah! Of course!" he grinned, until sudden realization hit him. "But wait… Sakura… Are you thinking about ending things with Sasuke?"

"N-No! When did I say that?!" Sakura didn't mean for it to come out as a defensive outburst, but it was too late to take it back. Shame filled her as she shrunk in on herself.

She knew that in the back of her mind that was the next logical step. Naruto just gave voice to it. But that unknown horizon terrified her, made her palms break out in a cold sweat.

"But you said you're not happy, huh? I understand more than anyone how Sasuke is. So what I'm saying is… we can just all just be friends too, y'know? I won't be mad at that at all." He then softly jested, "And then I won't need to feel all jealous anymore being the third wheel, right?"

"I'm done talking about it," she said, voice tight. "I came here to have a nice lunch with you, not to talk about my problems."

Naruto smiled softly. "Sure, Sakura."

Naruto wasted no time to steer the conversation elsewhere, and soon they were laughing and having fun again, leaving behind thoughts of an unhappy marriage.

After they left the restaurant, before they parted, Naruto turned to her, rubbing the back of his head. "Hey, if you ever need me, I'm there, y'know? Especially if you want to grab ramen again sometime. I know we're all in our own bubbles now in life with the responsibilities of crushing adulthood… but… just remember that, okay?"

Sakura smiled big at him and tightly hugged him goodbye. "Thanks, Naruto."

Naruto squeezed her tight, pulling her off her feet for a few seconds. It was a warm, snug hug fitting from the boy with the biggest heart in the entire shinobi world and it eased the tension right out of her.

And he might have not known it, but he had just given her a wonderful gift. Something she stupidly knew all along but just needed to hear it for herself: Naruto's acceptance that he was okay with her marriage not going so great. That she didn't owe it to him to make it work or pretend that it was working. And she was so, so thankful.

But now she had to figure out what to do for herself. She had Naruto's permission for whatever she may choose. And that, was the greatest comfort of all.

Sakura visited with her parents on the way back and stayed for dinner. Her mother told her she looked a little pale, and Sakura waved it off. Just post-mission strain.

She might have thought to bring Sasuke since her mother often complained about not seeing her son-in-law enough, but she liked the excuse to be away from him for longer to deal with her swirling emotions. Especially after her conversation with Naruto.

And not to mention the fact that Sasuke was being strangely overbearing after her head injury, even more so after she woke from her fainting spell yesterday.

When she left her parents, a masked Anbu discretely appeared and summoned her to Shikamaru.

Sakura knew what it was for.

Shikamaru's office was within the Hokage building. When Sakura entered his office her eyes widened. It looked like Shikamaru was still in the middle of cleaning up from a tornado that went through it - some of the shelves were broken or splintered, and papers and documents were haphazardly stacked in piles around the room for later organizing. Shikamaru was in the middle of sorting through one such pile until she walked in.

"What happened here?" Sakura asked, incredulous.

"Hey," he greeted. "Could you close the door?"

Sakura closed it behind her.

"Someone raided the building looking for something a few days ago. They made an annoying mess, and I'm stuck still working through it," Shikamaru sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Do you know who it was?"

"No. None of the guard-nin posted outside saw a single thing. My only lead is something to do with those two Hyuga prisoners set for execution, since they escaped without a trace within the same 24 hours."

A head throb. "Did they take anything?"

"I haven't found anything missing yet. So I have no idea what they might have been looking for or if they even found what they wanted in my office." He sighed again. "Troublesome. I have enough on my plate already." He slumped into his desk and offered her the seat across his desk with a casual wave of his hand, which she took. "Anyway. The reason why I summoned you. You didn't find me after your mission return, so I thought I would take the initiative to summon you instead." He leaned forward with his fingers steepled, eyes suddenly sharp. "Tell me the truth about your mission with Sasuke."

"There is nothing to say; it's as Sasuke said. We completed the mission, but we were attacked by missing-nin on the way back to Konoha. I was hurt, so we spent time recuperating in a nearby town until I could make the trip back home. You can rest assured that Sasuke is no traitor." She was relieved at the truth of it herself.

"Hm. Sasuke didn't know why you two were randomly attacked by the missing-nin. Do you have an idea?"

Sakura shook her head. "They didn't explain themselves by the time I was knocked out."

"They had to have had a reason."

"Maybe because he's an Uchiha?"

"I doubt it. They were native to Villages untouched by Uchiha influence, and they weren't involved in the war. They didn't have anything in their file that made them appear to have interest in medical experimentation through eye theft either. Just brutish meatheads without any greater aspirations, honestly. Are you sure you weren't carrying anything they would have wanted?"

Sakura shook her head. "We just had our traveling supplies."

"Were they Sound-nin? Talons?"

"I don't know."

"They were just unremarkable chunin before they abandoned their Villages. I'm surprised that they were able to take someone of your strength out."

"I'm ashamed to say they caught me by surprise. It was just an unlucky hit."

Shikamaru rapped his fingertips together in thought, studying her intently now. "Tell me… what was the name of the town you stayed at during your recovery?"

Sakura thought for a moment. She winced at the sudden sharp pain. "I don't remember."

Shikamaru whipped out a map and placed it on the desk for her to look at. He pointed at one of the dots on the map, north of Konoha, within the Land of Fire. "Here is Akan, the town where your client was located. There are no other towns in between Akan and Konoha; there are a few scattered east and west, but I would consider them inconvenient at best to reach over Konoha, especially during an emergency. They are simply too far or blocked by natural formations. And, by their diminutive sizes, unlikely to have an experienced medic to treat a serious injury."

Sakura could understand what he was implying. Her mind was trying to sort through her memories, trying to grasp at something. It made her head hurt even more. "I…"

"Surely when you recovered enough to leave, you had your wits about you to tell which direction you were coming from at the very least?"

"I… I don't know what to tell you. My memory is spotty in a few places, but I was promised it would recover soon."

Shikamaru pointed to a dot on the map and said, "Sasuke reported that you both stayed here, in Kiso." His eyes glanced up, studying her. Her mouth opened while her mind searched for a response, but after a short pause Shikamaru continued, "How many days did you spend in that town?"

"I don't know. A few days maybe." Seeing Shikamaru's suspicious look made her uneasy, so she quickly added, "But sure, maybe we spent more time in that town than we really had to, but I think Sasuke just needed a break from Konoha. You should know people here don't like the Uchiha as is… and he has a bit of wanderlust. But that doesn't mean he's not loyal to Konoha! He could also be gathering intel at that time. He's always out there doing good for Konoha. For Naruto."

"Sure... Did Sasuke leave you for extended periods of time during your recovery?"

"I don't think so, but I was bedridden." Her mouth felt dry.

"And so from just that one mission you're one-hundred percent positive that Sasuke isn't a traitor or even doing anything remotely concerning?"

"No. I…" She winced, touching her lancing temple. "Yes, I'm positive. I just know it."

"Sakura… Is there something you're not telling me? Anything at all?"

"What are you trying to get at here? Am I the one on trial right now? I agreed to help you and I thought my loyalties were clear."

"Sorry, you're right." He looked at her with sudden sympathy. "You should visit Lady Tsunade for a check-up if you're still plagued by headaches."

"No! No. I'm perfectly fine."

"Consider it an order then. For keeping one of Konoha's top medic-nin in good health, and in the hopes that you may remember something you've forgotten. I don't think I'm wrong to say that a simple town doctor pales in comparison to the top of the line doctors we employ in our hospital."

Sakura gritted her teeth. She was fine. How dare he pull his rank on her like that over something so trivial. But she didn't need to tell him that.

"Are we done here?" she said instead.

"If that's all you have for me right now, that's fine."

Before Sakura left through the door, Shikamaru said, "You'll tell me if something else comes up, right? Or if you remember something?"

"Of course."

Sakura paused in front of her home's front door, dread filling her.

When she awoke from her fainting spell yesterday, Lee was gone and Sasuke didn't let her out of his sight. He bizarrely doted on her, asking her all sorts of questions in regards to her symptoms and insisting on getting her anything she needed. He didn't let her go outside for the rest of the day, insisting she had to take it easy. And when she relented and agreed to his demands, he hovered protectively around her while she tried to get into something to keep herself busy like reading, shinobi equipment maintenance, or using their barely-touched television.

Frankly, it was exhausting.

And despite insisting he spend so much time around her to observe her health, he didn't offer anything in terms of companionship other than uncomfortable, ill-timed affection. It was almost like he couldn't decide if she was supposed to be his ward or his wife.

Sasuke had even asked today if he could come with her to grab ramen with Naruto, but she turned him down. She just really needed the space to herself, especially now since Sasuke was actually willing to let her go out on her own again.

But now that she was back, the dread of being around him that had built up slowly as the day went on - ever since Naruto gave voice to her feelings - suffocated her.

God, she really didn't want to think about that right now. But it's not like she had a choice.

She took a deep breath and entered her home. Once again, Sasuke was already there. He rose from the couch like he had been waiting for her.

"Sakura. You're back."

She avoided his gaze. "Yeah. Was out longer than I thought - I decided last minute to have dinner with my parents."

When she entered the living area, Sasuke gave her an odd, welcoming kiss, which she quickly parted from.

"How have you been feeling today?" he asked, still hovering near her.

"I'm fine," Sakura assured him. "No fainting spells, just occasional headaches, but none as bad as yesterday."

Sasuke nodded, pleased. "Good."

An awkward pause passed between them as they just stood there. It was almost like Sasuke just didn't know what to do or say and he was simply waiting on her. It was all so odd and it made Sakura tense. Especially since they haven't even talked about that argument they had on their mission. She wished she remembered more of it. Made her head hurt.

To give herself space, she moved to the kitchen and began to put away dried, clean dishes. Sasuke, unfortunately, followed her there. She quietly worked trying to ignore his presence behind her.

She then moved to the side room, which was currently a shinobi equipment room. Sasuke followed her there too. She sorted through her equipment, sharpened her kunai, and wrote more generic genjutsu barrier tags meant for camping. She took stock of traveling rations, and her supply of medical equipment, noting anything she needed to restock or replace.

And Sasuke just watched her from the corner of the room; he a constant nagging blade in her side, a reminder of them.

Sakura sighed, setting down her kunai on the table. "Are you really going to just watch me like that again?"

"Don't want you to faint again like yesterday while I'm unawares."

"I said I was feeling better today, didn't I?"

"I'm making sure you're safe."

"Can you stop," she said through gritted teeth. "It's annoying."

"Annoying?" Sasuke huffed in amusement.

And that little smirk of his made her anger flare. "Yeah! You're annoying! You're still breathing down my neck and won't give me a moment of peace to myself! I'm fine! I don't need you to babysit me like I'm a toddler! It's frustrating enough that I can't remember anything still. And that we're… we…" Upon seeing the sudden surprise on his face her anger cooled. "Ugh. I'm sorry. I think I just need to relax." She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"We…?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"It's nothing," she sighed.

"Give it time. The memories will return and everything will be better and make sense again. I promise," Sasuke said with that strange flash of guilt again.

She hoped so. She had been knocked around for years on the battlefield, but nothing had ever given her amnesia. And she still felt so… off. She couldn't explain it.

"Sasuke… What did we even argue about?" Maybe if she knew, it could help settle her feelings.

"What are you talking about?"

"That night in that town."

"That I haven't been good to you. But I'm trying to be better."

"No… there was something before that, I thought. Something about…" Lancing pain made her gasp, and Sasuke quickly clutched her to make sure she stayed steady on her feet.

"Don't think on it. You'll just hurt yourself."

"But…"

"Relax."

"I don't know how," Sakura muttered.

"Then I'll help," Sasuke stated.

He suddenly captured her mouth with his before quickly deepening the kiss. She had nowhere to go but back up against the wall as she froze. His hand went to the button of her shirt, and through it all he didn't even notice how stiff and unresponsive she was.

Sakura's brain finally caught up. She brushed his hand away, pulled away her lips, and pushed her hand against his chest to give herself space. "Not… not right now."

She couldn't. Not when she couldn't stand the way he always looked past her when they've slept together, at the mechanical, affectionless way he touched her, or the torrent of awful feelings she felt afterwards.

Not again when she was grappling with the overwhelming sense of wrongness of them.

Sasuke pulled away. He looked confused at first, but then there was a strange boyish awkwardness like he wasn't sure what he was even doing in the first place as his eyes darted away. "Oh. Sure."

Sakura felt just as awkward at his bizarrely timed attempt.

And then there was a sudden knock at the front door.

"I'll get it," Sakura hastily said, eager to put distance between them.

She left Sasuke in the equipment room as she strode to the front door.

And when she opened it she was met with a lovely bowlcut and a green jumpsuit.

"Sakura!" Lee exclaimed, instant relief spreading across his features. "You are okay!"

"Hey, Lee." Sakura gave him a relieved smile. "Yes, I'm feeling much better today."

"I was just very worried and I did not know when would be the appropriate time to check in on you and I just wanted to make sure you were okay after yesterday," he rambled, not entirely sure what to do with his fidgeting hands as his cheeks turned pink.

"It's okay, Lee. I appreciate you coming in to check on me. It's very sweet of you."

Lee smiled warmly at her before his eyes flicked over to behind her shoulder. His expression suddenly darkened. "Good evening, Sasuke," he said with a nod of his head.

"Yeah," Sasuke nodded from behind Sakura, staring back at Lee.

The thick tension that roiled off the two of them was strange. Yesterday was a bit awkward already when they first ran into each other, but this time there was something else simmering under the surface. (What had happened between them after she fainted?)

All she knew is that she wanted to make it stop, and she wanted an excuse to get away from Sasuke after his clumsy attempt at seduction.

"Ah!" Sakura exclaimed awkwardly. "Now that you're here, Lee, I remember that we were meant to train today! Sure, it's a little late but there's still some daylight left to burn! Let's go before we lose more of it! Bye, Sasuke!" And Sakura grabbed ahold of Lee's arm and tugged him along down the street before either man could protest.

"Oh! Okay!" Lee stammered, following along.

She didn't stop or let go of Lee until they rounded a street corner, putting her house, and Sasuke, safely out of sight.

Sakura let out a sigh of relief. "Sorry, I just got… excited there. I know we weren't actually planning to train today, but I still want to if you're free."

"Of course, Sakura. I have no obligations."

"Good! Let's go!"

Lee was oddly quiet as Sakura guided them to their usual training spot, a little ways into the woods off the training fields. The sun was steadily lowering in the sky on the horizon, turning the sky a vibrant orange. By this time of day, they would have already stopped training for the day and gone home. Their spot looked different because of it, with the heavy shadows cast by the trees across the grassy ground.

"So… uh, training! Let's do genjutsu training!" Sakura said, clasping her hands together, searching her scattered mind at where to start. Normally she would have had some time to think through things, but this impromptu training session didn't give her any time.

"Sakura…" Lee said, concern lacing his voice. "Are you feeling recovered enough for it?"

"Yeah! Of course! I'm all better! Well, mostly."

Lee frowned. "You know if there is something wrong you can tell me about it, right?" His voice was hesitant, almost a whisper.

No, she couldn't. Not over this when he loved her the way he did.

Sakura let out a slow breath, calming herself from her jittery energy. "I know. Just… what I need is a distraction, if that's okay."

Lee nodded, smiling sympathetically. "Then I would be more than happy to be your distraction."

Sakura smiled, relieved.

Last time they had done genjutsu training, Lee had successfully dissipated a few non-combat genjutsu she had learned from Kurenai, and before then, had dissipated one combat genjutsu with a bit of effort. This time, she would have him try to dissipate more combat-level genjutsu and see if her little assignment she gave him while she was away on her mission did the trick she hoped it would.

To establish a baseline, Sakura summoned a novice genjutsu - one that blurred Lee's vision of the environment and made it feel like he was sinking in quicksand. After some brief stumbling and alarm, Lee focused, and after a brief battle of chakra between the two, Lee successfully dissipated the genjutsu without much difficulty.

Sakura was impressed.

Next, Sakura had him try to combat a genjutsu by denying its effects - rather than dissipating it, one is meant to know the truth of its falsehood, and with utmost confidence, ignore its effects. This was why Sakura had Lee try and train himself in his dreams - if he could deny and warp the reality of a dream, he could potentially also deny what his genjutsu-manipulated mind was telling him was true in the waking world.

This time Sakura summoned a genjutsu of burning flames, a wall split between the two of them. "Now Lee," she cautioned nervously, "The genjutsu I've performed on you so far are painless but this might… appear to hurt. Try and walk through the fire and deny its existence. If you do it correctly you won't feel a thing. But don't push yourself."

Lee nodded, determined. He warily reached out his hand closer to the hungry flames, and flinched back when a spark caught his hand. Sakura could tell he could feel the heat. But he then paused, closed his eyes with furrowed brows, and concentrated. When he opened his eyes, she could see him filled with new resolve. And he slowly stuck his hand out again, this time straight into the fire. He didn't scream as the fire licked his skin. And then he took a step into the flames and steadily walked across it until he came out on the other side beside her. He let out a long-held breath, turned to her, and gave her a grinning thumbs up.

Sakura was stunned. "Wow. You did it."

"My success is due to the training assignment you gave me. I believe I have a good grasp of what you were trying to teach me."

She dropped the genjutsu. "Seriously, Lee, that was incredible. Genjutsu denial, particularly over one that brings about pain, is insanely difficult, yet you did it on your first try. This is no small feat."

"Really?"

"Yeah! You should be incredibly proud of yourself. You've come so far since we first started. You're incredible, Lee."

Lee's grin spread even wider.

Sakura decided to stop their training there on a high note, despite how short it was. It was rapidly getting darker by the minute with the sun having just sunk over the horizon. On top of that she had depleted a lot of her already normally sparse chakra, and it took a little more effort to summon genjutsu for some reason, like trying to start a fire with mildly damp wood.

But as they headed towards the stairs to go back down into Konoha, Sakura paused.

Yet still, Sakura did not want to go home.

"Is something wrong?" Lee asked, noticing her suddenly troubled expression.

"It's just… Sasuke is a little bit overbearing right now, after my mission injury," Sakura awkwardly admitted. "It still feels like I need more time for myself, is all."

"We can stay out as long as you would like," he smiled softly at her.

Sakura beamed at him.

As dusk shifted fully to night, they wandered the outskirts of Konoha. The sky was incredibly clear, and one could see each and every star, especially further away from the light pollution of central Konoha. There were more trees and fields here than buildings, and none of the streets were lined with lights. So they could get an undisturbed view of the sky, they climbed on top of an abandoned building left after Pain's destruction, one taller than the treetops of the surrounding trees. The roof was flat, and provided plenty of room for the two of them to sit and view the stars.

They pointed out constellations together; Lee was able to get the distinctive whirlpool constellation, but the other ones were a bit hard for him to find. So Sakura tried to point out the shinigami, the rabbit, and the toad to him, but he struggled to find any of them.

"Here, let me…" Sakura said. She scooted a bit behind him until her chin hovered over his left shoulder. She then slid her hand down his left arm and straightened his elbow.

Lee had gone stiff and stopped breathing meanwhile, and his hand had absently uncurled from pointing.

"Point, Lee. I won't be able to point out the stars otherwise," Sakura teased.

"R-Right!" Lee finally took a breath as he pointed his finger again for her.

Sakura moved her hand further down Lee's pliant arm and gently gripped it a little above his wrist. She guided it slowly to the rabbit constellation, leaning her head a little closer towards Lee's until their hair was brushing, just so she could perfectly align her sight with his.

This was how her mother showed her where each of the constellations were.

"See that bigger star right… here?" Sakura said, voice low. "The one that looks a little red?"

"Yes," Lee stammered.

"That's the eye." She then slowly moved his arm to trace the ears. "And those twin stars are the tips of its ears." She then moved his arm down the zig-zag of stars that represented its body. "And those stars are its body, and this final bright one is its fluffy little tail."

"I see! But I do not understand. The rabbit seems incomplete. Are there not more stars to fill in its body?"

Sakura giggled. "Constellations aren't like the connect-the-dots games we used to do as little kids! You have to use your imagination and fill in the blanks."

"No wonder I was struggling to see the other constellations." Shyly, Lee then added, "Could you please show me the others too?"

Sakura hummed in acknowledgement. So she did the same with the other constellations she knew too, slowly guiding Lee's hand to them and drawing their shapes with his finger. When she finished going through each one, she realized she had rested her chin on his shoulder at some point. When she was done she pulled away and scooted herself back to his side.

They returned to idle conversation, laughing through a shared story of a mission she shared with Lee's team after Naruto left to train with Jiraya. In particular, at the hijinks that occured at their mission target trying to disguise himself as Guy to fool them and failing spectacularly. At some point the real Guy had reappeared and was just as confused as the rest of them, and the imposter just dug his heels in and swore up and down that he was the real Guy before suddenly bolting.

"Oh! Sakura!" Lee said excitedly. "Do you see that one? It looks like a catfish!"

Sakura racked her memories for any known constellation that was supposed to represent a catfish, but she came up blank. "Where?"

"Over there!" Lee's hands were eagerly tracing wide circles, and she honestly had no clue where he was pointing.

"I can't tell what you're pointing at," Sakura chuckled.

"Then… can I show you?" Lee asked, looking innocently back at her.

"Yeah. Of course."

He scooted behind her shoulder, much like she did with him. He leaned over a few inches so he could level his head with hers over her shoulder. And he drew his hand down Sakura's arm, sending goosebumps down it, until he was holding the wrist of her readied pointer hand and guiding it along.

"Okay, so you can start at that V made up of the shinigami's arms…" The whisper of his voice by her ear sent a shiver down her spine. "Then you trace a big circle starting at the rabbit's eye, then around the moon to this star here…"

"Around the moon? "

"Yes!" he insisted.

"Wait, is that the mouth?"

"Yes! You see now!"

"It's eating the moon? " Sakura laughed.

"Exactly!" he said excitedly.

"Where are the whiskers? It can't be a catfish without whiskers."

"I am about to get there! There are just the final connecting stars of its tail there… and there… and then…" Lee drew her hand back to the front of the catfish and drew long whiskers out of a waving line of stars. "Follow that trail of stars… and there are the whiskers!"

"I see. I see," she giggled.

She looked to look at him over her shoulder. "So you made up a connect-the-dot constellation." Not only that, it swallowed up half the sky and several other constellations to create the massive beast that it was.

He grinned knowingly back at her.

Afterwards, the two settled for laying on their backs to look at the stars so as to not strain their necks from craning them upwards for so long.

"How did you learn to find the constellations so skillfully like that?" Lee asked her. "They are so hard to spot."

"My mom showed me. She's always loved the stars. My father proposed to her under them on a clear night during the time of year her favorite constellation was visible, so she has a special fondness for them."

"Amazing! Your father is a true romantic!"

"Yeah," she chuckled. "And after I came along it was a bonding activity, one where Mom and I weren't at odds with each other, especially since at the time I was so mad at her for not agreeing to getting a cat. Now though… it's a bit too much of a commitment when you can be whisked away on a mission for who knows how long."

"I have a pet. Kind of."

"Wait. You do?"

"Yes!" Lee said earnestly. "Do you remember when I came to save you in the Forest of Death, how I was accompanied by a squirrel?"

"Yeah, it was tame on your shoulder and everything like you were some sort of fairytale prince."

Lee giggled. "Believe it or not, that squirrel found me afterwards. I woke to her tapping on my apartment window one morning. Ever since she drops by at least once a week for a visit and a treat."

"Wow. Did you name it?"

"Wasabi."

Sakura laughed. "And visiting you since after our first Chunin Exams, huh? She must be an old-timer by now."

"Actually, she is still quite spry! I have read once that squirrels can live around twenty years if they are very lucky. And I suspect that she is quite lucky."

"This is my doctor self coming out, but, if you want to keep her healthy, try not to overfeed her. My mom liked to overfeed a favorite duck of hers at a pond. The poor thing could barely fly."

Lee grinned. "Not to worry, Sakura! I have taught Wasabi a few tricks, ones that can burn off calories from the treats I give her. I think she is quite in shape."

"Tricks? Oh, now I have to meet her."

"I must warn you, she is a bit jealous. She took a while to warm up to my teammates. But with some patience and some offered treats, I am sure she will like you too!"

"Oh, I see," Sakura giggled. "She must really love you then. I'll be sure to assure her I won't steal you away from her."

"I suspect that might be too late. She was very cross with me when we first started genjutsu training, considering I was coming home later than usual and I was not there in time to let her in. Not that she would be able to connect the dots, I hope."

"For my sake, I hope not."

Sakura and Lee giggled together, and it felt like they were in their own little private world where nothing else outside of this rooftop mattered.

Sakura snuck a peek at him. His hands were resting peacefully across his abdomen, and his grin was as bright as the stars. She loved seeing that smile, at the creases she could see pulling at the corners, and hearing his adorable giggle.

She knew then for certain that she loved him. She really did. That this wasn't just a silly little crush.

"Ah! Sakura! I have another constellation I wish to show you!" He shimmied closer, angling his body away so that their shoulders didn't clash as they laid there. Their heads were fanned out, inches apart, so he could line up his vision with hers a little better. He took her nearest arm and ran his hand down it, until he was holding the back of her pointing hand. Like before, he traced through a pattern of stars. "Okay, start at that large flickering star and we draw a line to that cluster of three right there…"

"Wait, wait, you haven't told me what it even is yet," Sakura giggled.

"I would like you to guess! I think my constellations look much more clear as to what they are meant to be."

"Okay, okay," Sakura laughed.

Lee continued tracing the stars with her hand, narrating to make sure she knew exactly which stars he was looking at. When he finished, they had come right back where they started, at the first star.

"What does that look like?" Lee implored with finality.

"A fin of a fish?"

"Guess again."

"A… wave."

"Nope."

"A clam shell?"

"Try again."

"This is too hard. What is it?"

"Think of an object that can keep one cool on a hot summer day. Or, in rare cases, be used as a ninja weapon."

Sakura squinted at it again, grinning. "Wait, trace the pattern again for me. You've pointed out so many stars I've forgotten like half of them already."

"As you wish!"

Lee happily obliged her, taking her step-by-step through his constellation with his guiding hand. Sakura followed the zig-zag patterns and how they splayed out from a center point, keeping in mind his hint.

"It's a fan," she answered.

"Yes! Like Temari's!"

But all she saw was the Uchiha clan's symbol.

The world outside their little bubble came crashing back in. For a blessed moment, she had forgotten all about him too. And she couldn't ignore the elephant in the room forever.

She'd have to go back home eventually.

She let out a slow breath, pointed hand unfurling.

Lee quickly took note. "Sakura?"

Indulgent, she angled her fingers back slightly, slotting them between Lee's, and then curled her hand closed, bringing with Lee's laced fingers. Gazing up at their hands held up in the stars, Sakura didn't know if this made her a cheating whore, or she was being unfair to Lee considering his feelings, but she just wanted the simple comfort to ground her, divorced from anything else.

"Have you ever felt like you were on the precipice of something, and you're afraid of what's on the other side?" she asked, her voice coming out small. "All you know is that it will change everything. And once you cross it it will hurt like hell and you can't go back. And it might not even feel like the right decision in the moment, even though you know it in your heart to be true."

Lee hesitantly closed the small gap between their hands by resting his palm against the back of her hand. "Yes," he answered gently. "Back during our first Chunin Exams. When I had to face the decision on whether to accept the risk of surgery to return my shinobi career, even though it carried a high risk of killing me instead. I was so scared, but I knew I could not ever be happy living as I was - crippled for life with no future as a shinobi. I deliberated on the decision for a while, as though I did not know which the real choice was. Guy-sensei helped me decide.

"Even when they wheeled me into the surgery room, a part of me still shouted to change my mind - that the risk would not be worth it, that I might not wake up, or if I did I might be worse off than I was before. But I relented, knowing in my heart the truth of what I wanted. And once I was on the other side, alive, with my body's strength returned to me, now I only look back and wonder what could have been so hard about making the decision in the first place. There is a lot of clarity that comes after, I think."

Deciding she indulged herself long enough, Sakura released his hand and let hers fall to her side. Sakura swallowed. "I think there is something I need to do. And I'm terrified of taking that step."

Lee's hand returned to his abdomen. "Will you be happier for it?"

"I think so."

"Then… I think you already know the right choice."

"Yeah. I do."

"This sounds like a difficult decision. If you need help with this scenario of yours, whatever it may be, I am yours. Just remember my promise. Talking it over with Guy-sensei helped me decide. Sometimes I think one just needs to give voice to it and then it will all become clear, rather than just bottle it up inside left alone with the decision."

"Lee… Thank you," she said, voice thick.

If even determined, uncomplicated Lee also struggled with that inner voice that liked to scream and tantrum and plead, doing everything in its power to work against achieving true happiness because it was so, so scared of change - maybe she wasn't so strange or pathetic after all for struggling with the same.

She would do it. She would break up with Sasuke within the week. Before the War Festival.

She had entertained the idea fleetingly, through indulgent little impossibilities, without any level of commitment. But now she knew without a doubt that it was the right path. Inevitable even, if she wanted to choose happiness for herself.

And giving herself a deadline to make it happen was the only way to get it done rather than agonize and deliberate on it forever, like she had been doing for so long.

But already that inner voice of hers didn't like this. Already it screamed and cried out to take it back, that she can still fix things with Sasuke, that a happy marriage was still possible. Because what would she be without him? What would others think of stupid, pathetic her with a failed marriage? That she only wanted to do this because she was a cheating whore who fell in love with another man, and to redeem herself she should instead prove that she was actually a good, loyal wife.

She aggressively shoved that voice back down. Recognizing it now for what it was - not any rational, intelligent thought. Just some cowardly, instinctual part of herself that worked to self-sabotage her for short-sighted comfort in familiarity.

She let out another slow breath.

She turned her head to look at Lee, and he was already softly looking back at her. So painfully, tauntingly close.

But maybe… after… she and Lee could become something. If he still wanted to then.

If only I could tell you how I feel about you now.

Maybe because she still looked scared, and because she had already just blurred this post-confession friendship of theirs with hand holding, Lee, confidently for once, grabbed her hand resting in the gap between them, much more properly now than the awkward angle they had before.

"Is this okay?" he asked softly. His touch was light, faint, giving her the easy option to pull away and end it if she wanted.

Instead she grasped his hand tightly in return. "Yeah."

Given permission, he held her hand more firmly and gave it a comforting squeeze.

There was no lacing of their fingers, just their hands tucked in one another's. It hovered in enough of that blurred line of plausible deniability that it didn't quite need to mean anything to each other but simple comfort. And there was no one else there to judge.

And she knew in her heart that sweet, innocent Lee meant this gesture to be nothing more than uncomplicated kindness without the wordless implication of asking for more.

She turned her head away to face the stars, because she was afraid to look him in the eyes for much longer lest words or actions she'd later regret came spilling forth. Lee thankfully joined her gaze upwards, giving her the privacy she desired without asking questions.

She let out slow, deep breaths to quell her nerves and that pesky inner voice that was her worst enemy. She focused instead on the warmth of Lee's rough, calloused hands and the twinkling stars above, trying not to come undone. While she would not feel shame for any tears, she wanted this deciding moment to speak more to triumph and determination, that she was ready to claim that future happiness for herself, even if she voiced it still shrouded.

Still, a single set of tears escaped her eyes and rolled down her face - an inkling of sorrow for the inevitable loss of something she once treasured with all her heart. And that was acceptable enough.

"Look, a shooting star," Lee said gently. One streaked across the sky before winking out. "How lucky. Do not forget to make your wish. I already have." When he squeezed her hand she knew without a doubt that his wish was dedicated to her.

Sakura cracked a warm smile and made her wish too before squeezing his hand back.

The harsh inner voices finally quieted, and Sakura believed then that everything would turn out okay.

They stayed like that for a long time. It was funny in a sad kind of way; just from that she was pretty sure she had held hands longer with Lee than she ever did with Sasuke.

She wished she could stay here forever under the stars with him, never letting go of his hand, but it was getting later by the minute, and she was sure it was past midnight at this point.

She finally withdrew her hand from his and sat up. "It's getting late," she admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "As much as I'd like to stay, we should really head back."

Lee sat up as well. "If you still do not wish to go home… you can take my bed. I-I can sleep on the couch." He was blushing, despite the boldness in his voice.

"Thanks, but it's probably not a good idea."

"Right." He cleared his throat, glancing away.

She already had taken advantage of his kindness tonight; she was pretty sure it was past midnight at this point. And she didn't want to blur the line between them even further. What would Sasuke even think if she didn't come home?

The two of them headed back into central Konoha. Lee kindly walked with her back home before they both reluctantly paused on the street in front of her house. And even from here she could already feel the suffocating aura permeating off of it.

"Thanks, for earlier," Sakura said, hugging Lee. "I really mean it. I don't want to say what it's about right now, but I want to give voice to it with you. I will make my choice in a week."

Once again, there was none of his usual hesitation as he hugged her back with a surprising tightness. "You are welcome, Sakura. No matter what time of day I will always be there for you when you need me - no, even if it is just want me. Please do not forget that."

"I won't," Sakura smiled into the fabric of his shoulder. "And please remember you can ask the same of me."

"Th-Thank you."

When Sakura finally loosened her hold on him, rather than his hands politely recoiling back like he was afraid to touch for any second longer than it was appropriate to, he instead lingered, pulling her in closer to give her one last tight, comforting squeeze before finally letting go.

"Goodnight, Lee."

"Goodnight, Sakura. Be well."

He was smiling at her, but that reluctant look was still present in his eyes as she gave him one last look before approaching her home.

She unlocked the front door and paused one last time with her palm on the handle.

And to give voice to it herself, like Naruto did, and how Lee encouraged, she whispered to herself, clear and unshrouded, "I will break up with Sasuke within the week."

She hoped it was as simple as it sounded.

A/N: We'll see if I regret giving the War Festival a designated 'week' deadline lol. I've been mentioning the damn thing since Chapter 15 but have been purposely vague as to when it was happening so it didn't cause me any plot troubles, but I think all the scenes I need can be fit comfortably in a week timeline. If not I might go back and change it to two weeks lol.

Similar topic - I realized awhile back than one of the Talon OCs - the silent poison/bladed fan user Tsume - shares a name with Kiba's mom. Complete accident and I occasionally deliberate on just going back and changing it to something different, but that's a pain in the ass to edit on FFN so I've left it so far. (Maybe I'll make a one-off joke about it in the fic at some point lol.)