Chapter 2-"The Lotus Flower."

Sakura had her ups and downs but after a few weeks she got herself back together. I could not believe I could get her to get herself back together; the only problem was she would not stop chasing Sasuke and could not except the fact that it was over between them and she wanted to beat Ino at getting him. It angered me, every time I asked Sakura that I wanted to try dating her and trying to get to know her more, Sasuke would only end up being in the conversation. I tried not to get mad and yell at Sakura, I refrained so many times but I could not hold back anymore. She needed to end her obsession and learn to care for other people's feelings then her own. Sakura saw me again as I approached her.

"Lee, for the last time, I can't stop with Sasuke, I want him." Sakura grinned. "You've been mad lately, are you okay? You don't look yourself usually."

"Do you think I'm okay?!?! I am not! What is wrong with experimenting? I want to date you and you do not want to!" I finally lost it. "………..I helped you…….."

"……..Lee, I'm sorry……look, I want Sasuke……I don't think it would work out for me and you anyway! Go out with Tenten!" Sakura watched my expression change. "Lee..?

"Sakura, you realize that every since this has happened…..everyone has gone away from you." I looked into her eyes. "You have done things to cause this on yourself..."

"What do you know, Lee?!?!" She yelled. "…...I want Sasuke! I don't need you!"

"What? I cannot believe this! I helped her………………I helped her………I do not want to give up on her, she can learn to accept people better…………" I thought. "...Damn it!"

I looked down, I felt like I failed. Like I failed on Sakura, she did not get what I wanted to do. I wanted to help because it seemed no else wanted to and to show her I cared, maybe she needed more time. I felt angry because she acted like I did not exist. We were both bullied when we were kids, she found Ino and I found Gai-Sensei. It seemed that we could relate and I always had her back whenever things happened. I always would.

She looked down on the ground. "Lee, I can't believe I snapped like that." Tears formed in her eyes. "…….Rock Lee, you try so hard and I'm the one crying, getting mad, and shutting everyone out." I looked at her. "Give me a chance, Sakura. I feel angry because you seem to think that I do not exist."

Sakura looked at me as she smiled, she wanted to give me a chance but then Sasuke went back into her mind. I could feel her thinking about it and she wanted to defend Sasuke but let go of the idea. I was not forcing her to forget about Sasuke, it was because I did not want her to over obsess over him and get hurt by rejection. Ino bumped into her as she grinned like a show-off, Ino could get selfish sometimes and Sakura did not bother.

"So, Sakura." She began. "Looks like you didn't end up getting your guy, that's too bad." She began laughing, Sakura got up with clenched fists. I put them away from sight. "So, you are going with Lee? I knew you'd end up with him…..you got so concerned about him when he injured himself that one time and a couple others….."

"…….Shut-up Ino! I don't like him…..I…." a blush came across her face, I began to blush as well. That was the sign I was waiting for, she was showing it. "…..Never mind."

"Well, see you later. I've got Sasuke to attend to." She began laughing again as Sasuke put his arm around her and they walked away, Sakura felt useless and began to cry again. She felt like nothing was ever going to work when it came to love, she did not want to have another break up happen to her again. Poor Sakura, it was hard for me to watch.

"Sakura, have I ever told you about the "Lotus Flower"?" I replied. "I suppose I can tell you again, they say that it will bloom twice no matter what and if it finds what it is looking for." Sakura eyes glowed, she seemed comforted by hearing about the Lotus Flower. "Sakura, I am that Lotus Flower, I have bloomed twice. I now know what I live for."

"L-Lotus Flower?" She asked. "………It is a pretty flower I've heard, you never give up, and I wish I could be more like you. You get over things so easily….I'm so..."

"...Sakura, all I ask of you is to date you." I replied. "I do not nag you and I think I deserve to go with you after all that has happened."

"...I'll think about it." She looked away. "It's just I'm not really sure how everyone is going to react to this...Everyone knows I'm nuts about Sasuke but...

"...It is okay! Do not pressure yourself into thinking that you have to do this." I replied. "...Sakura, just give yourself time."

Sakura walked up the steps as I watched her. She looked back and seemed unsure of what to do next, I watched her carefully. Gai-Sensei came around and saw me, he began to smile as he saw Sakura walk off. I grinned, he shot a smile.

"So, Lee." He began. "Everything treating you good?"

"Yes! Gai-Sensei, she is warming up to me...now what? I fear that it will not go far." I had a concerned look on my face. "Maybe, I should stop? Should I, Gai-Sensei?"

"Lee, that's for you to figure out and Kakashi invited us to a dinner." Gai-Sensei had the "Why waste my time?" look on his face, they had a little rivalry. "Just his kids and us."

"A date?!?! Finally! I can show Sakura how good I can look, what do I where?!?!" I panicked, I never had been on a date and it seemed like I could mess up. "Gai-Sensei!"

"Lee, Lee, Lee. It's alright, its good to be nervous on your first date." Gai-Sensei smiled. "Whenever it's your first time doing something, there's bound to be mistakes. I know."

"Were you nervous on your first date, Gai-Sensei?" I looked up at him.

"Well...urm...let's not go there, Lee." He replied. "Yes, I was but it went better then I expected. I thought I was going to be the worst person to date but I wasn't."

I still had the idea of the date on my mind. What was it going to be like? I really got excited, I never had been on a date and I really wanted to dress to impress. Neji came up the stairs and I quickly ran to him with my problem, I wanted to wear all green since it is my favorite color. Neji shook his head, I knew he was going to do that. I worried even further that I did not have any fashion at all, maybe even hardly.

"All green? Do you want the colors to clash?" asked Neji. "I wouldn't, wear black or something. You would look much better."

"But Neji, I like green...it is better to match then not match."

"...Don't tell me you want to wear that bright green tuxedo you have." Neji eyed me. "You hardly wear your black one, do that one."

Despite wanting to wear my green tuxedo, I decided to take Neji's advice and do my black one. Sakura would freak out if I wore it, it was okay to take someone else's advice and coordinate myself. Sakura talked to Hinata about her decision, Hinata began showing Sakura make-up to choose from. I had no idea that she knew her make-up but she did. Sakura kept trying to figure out what to use as she looked at each color. I thought the bronze would look good on her but she wanted the jade green, Hinata lent it to her.

"I know...It doesn't look like I know a lot about cosmetics...but I do." Hinata replied. "Are you going on a date with, Rock Lee?"

"Maybe, I don't know yet." Sakura looked unsure. "Maybe I will, Rock Lee really looks out for me and he never lets anything get in my way. That's someone I want to date."

I almost died. She wanted to get to know me more and I could not wait for the dinner even if Gai-Sensei and Kakashi did not get along. Sakura wanted to try and I was glad I could get through to her, she looked at me quickly and looked away shyly. I knew she could not wait to see me that night, she was going to look so beautiful and I was going to look so handsome as well. I walked out the lunchroom, happier then I could be.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

The curry was set in front me, I liked spicy and it tasted great. Kakashi had the special they were having while Gai-Sensei decided to take the special as well. I sat next to Sakura, while everyone else began chatting on an on. I felt bad for Sakura, she was the only girl here. Tenten decided not to come, and Sasuke did not want to come because he was already taking Ino out already. Sakura was having a great time as she ate her food.. Gai and Kakashi looked at each other blankly, like they had no idea what to say.

"Well, Kakashi." began Gai-Sensei. "I guess we don't need to fight. So, let's talk about things. I hear that Lee is after Sakura. He really wants to go out with her."

"Are you sure? It's great because she had a split up lately and She thinks it's hard enough that her friend has Sasuke." Kakashi smiled. "I'm sure Sakura will like Lee, he's great."

"Kakashi, I do have my concerns. Lee isn't...very good at dating...he's nervous but I'm sure he'll do fine on this one." Gai looked at me. "Maybe he'll get a girlfriend..."

I looked at Sakura who ate her food. "Sakura, they are dancing over there. What I am trying to get at is...would you like to dance?"

"...Um, okay. I really haven't danced before, I hope I don't mess up." Sakura replied. "...Lee? Do you know how to dance? You look like you could."

"Um, no. I do not dance." I replied nervously. "I cannot, I wish I could. Let us try!"

I took Sakura by the hand and lead her to the dance floor. We stood there for awhile, it was hard to know when to dance. A slow song came on and that was the moment I knew that I had to dance slow and not fast. I grabbed Sakura waist and began leading. Sakura followed my pace and was doing fine, she smiled at me as I held her close. She rested her head on my shoulders, I blush heavily as she did it. Gai smiled, a few tears came in his eyes. I guess he was happy that I was starting a new romance. Kakashi eyed him.

"It's Rock Lee's first girlfriend isn't it? That's why your so happy? That's nice Gai." Kakashi smiled as he took out his book. I once had an admirer, I think I did."

"You, Kakashi? I remember giving a stone as an engagement ring to one of my girlfriends." Gai smiled. "But that was seventeen years ago...it was...pretend."

I watched Sakura closely. The song stopped and she went to go get a soda as I watched her. She seemed so beautiful on a night like this, I never wanted the night to end but it had to once I began telling people about our relationship. Sakura came toward me and she began to drink her soda, I thought of other things like Tenten. She said that she had a thing for me but she moved on and liked someone else then like me again. I did not get it.

Sakura went outside where the pond was and watched me. She began stirring at a Lotus flower, it had bloomed nicely out of all the others. I picked it up and gave it to Sakura, she giggled softly as I did it. I could tell that a romance had a rough start but was forming nicely as it bloomed into a Lotus flower that had nicely grown. Sakura watched the moon. Her eyes gazed like she had never seen it before. I was happy to see that way with a clueless stare on her face. I began to laugh quietly as Sakura stared at the stars.

"Do you think it's pretty, Lee?" she asked. "I like when the moon is full, it looks pretty."

"I think it is pretty Sakura, A full moon means a lot of things..." I began. "It could mean the start of something or the end of something, that is what I think."

" That's true. Lee, I'm sorry about today. I guess I shouldn't have freaked out on you, I guess I need time to heal and that won't be far away." Sakura looked at me. "Is it okay?"

"Sakura, you do not need to apologize to me." I replied. "I already accepted it, I know things can get out of hand do not worry about it."

We held hand as we watched the clouds go by the stars, the Lotus flower sitting between us.

That's Chapter 2. Please R&R