A/N: Sorry for the late update! Thanks again to all those who reviewed! We were three reviews short of chapter four's, but I'm still happy! Anyway, here's the next chapter!
Chapter Six: The Tables Turn
Half an hour later, the two Genin had already ordered their meals, and were now almost through with their respective dishes. Apart from making requests to the waiter, the booth they sat at was dead silent. As they both picked at their food with chopsticks, Sakura could feel her anger rising slowly. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She abruptly stood up and banged her fists on the table.
Startled, Lee glanced up at her. In fact, practically everyone in the restaurant was staring at her, but Sakura didn't mind. She had to clear things up with Lee.
"I've had enough of this, Lee!" Sakura stated firmly, her emerald-green eyes burning holes in Lee's. "I'm sick and tired of the silence! And I'm through with all this misery!" She instantly pushed Sasuke out of her mind before she went into another state of depression. "You said you'd make sure I get through the rest of the day, right?! Well, how can I possibly get through if we don't say a word to each other?! I can't stand it!"
Lee didn't know what to say. "Sakura…"
"Don't 'Sakura' me!" Sakura snapped, surprising herself for sounding so much colder than she had thought she could be. "This isn't like you, Lee! What happened to the optimistic person who was so madly in love with me just yesterday?! What happened to the Lee I knew?!"
Lee only looked to the ground, his head hanging in despair. "I…I am sorry, Sakura…" he muttered softly.
Sakura was about to say something else, but couldn't will herself to. She immediately softened up and sat back down. "No… I'm the one who's sorry, Lee…" she apologized sincerely, "I was the jerk. You did nothing wrong."
"Do not say that, Sakura," Lee insisted.
Sakura shook her head. "But it's true. In fact, it's undeniably true." She drew in a breath. "But please…let's just finish this date. It doesn't have to be any harder than we make it. And that's all I ask of you, Lee." Ironically, she felt like she and Lee had just switched roles… "Can we please just forget all this happened and get through this?"
Tears welled up in Lee's eyes. Sakura, you are truly amazing! I love you! I love you! I LOVE YOU! He nodded, "Of course, Sakura! Anything for you!"
Hearing Lee return to his old self again brought a smile to Sakura's face. Though she had to admit she wasn't at all fond of Lee's over-the-top affection, Sakura was relieved that he was now energetic and full of life.
Pretty soon, the waiter returned with the bill. Automatically, Lee reached into his pocket and pulled out some yen, but Sakura stopped him. Before she could say anything, Lee cut her off, "Please, Sakura, allow me…"
"Let's be fair and split the bill, Lee," Sakura offered.
Lee looked at her for a second with uncertainty, but then nodded at last. "Yeah," he agreed, grinning broadly, "Good idea."
And for the first time since yesterday, Sakura felt like she and Lee had finally made a connection.
After leaving the restaurant, Rock Lee offered to walk Sakura home.
Sakura hesitated for a moment, but then replied with a, "Okay, if it's all right with you…"
"Of course it is!" Lee declared fervently. "In fact, I would be most happy to!"
Sakura smiled meekly. Okay, let's face it. I appreciate the offer and all, but I'm kind of getting tired of the whole agreeing-with-everything-I-say. "Thanks…I guess," she replied tentatively.
When they reached Sakura's block, the young kunoichi turned to Lee, "Hey, um, thanks for everything… I guess I'll see you later then?"
Lee didn't say anything, and at that moment, Sakura grew a little worried. She scowled. Was it something I said?
Finally, Lee suddenly said, "Sakura, I want you to be completely honest with me…" His voice was more serious than ever, and Sakura had no idea what to expect.
"…What is it?" she asked apprehensively.
He looked her straight in the eyes, "Did you…have a good time today?"
That question took Sakura off guard, and she began to wonder the same thing: Did I have a good time? Well, not at first, I'll admit, but after we finally made amends, I guess everything went pretty well… Rock Lee's no Sasuke, but at least he cares about what I think and how I feel…something Sasuke hasn't even regarded after all this time… Sakura began to feel the tears forming in her eyes again, but forced herself not to cry.
No… I'm stronger than this, Sakura told herself firmly. I won't let some guy keep me from living my life. I won't be hampered back by Sasuke. I have to move on and stop living in the past. What's done is done, and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it…absolutely nothing I can do that'll change his mind…
Before Sakura could continue to argue with herself, Lee interrupted her thoughts, "I will…take that as a no then," he said dejectedly, turning away from Sakura.
Suddenly realizing that she'd been so caught up in her own world, Sakura finally became aware of Lee's presence. "No! Don't get me wrong, Lee!" she replied vehemently, "Overall, I did have a good time!"
Lee gave her a dubious look, but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes, "Really?"
Sakura thought about it for a moment. "Actually…yes," she replied at last, surprising herself that she was actually telling the truth this time.
And of course, that was all Lee needed to believe. Oh, Guy-sensei! Thank you for all your advice! It is all because of you! Tears of joy streamed down his face, and he quickly wiped them away. "I am so happy to hear that, Sakura! We should go out more often!"
And apparently, Sakura didn't seem to mind. Instead, she smiled and replied with a strong, "Sure, I'd like that…"
Word traveled fast in Konoha, and pretty soon, almost everyone knew about the new couple. Apart from Naruto, Ino was the most surprised, especially when Sakura walked past her flower shop one day with a single red rose in her hands.
Without thinking, Ino kicked her feet up over the counter and dashed for the door. "Hey you! Sakura! Hold it!" she cried.
Sakura turned around to see her best friend and rival—make that former rival—of Sasuke's affections. Ever since their battle in the preliminaries of the Chunin Exams, they have rekindled their friendship…well, sort of… At least Ino wasn't calling her Forehead Girl or even Billboard Brow anymore.
Sakura glanced at her blankly. "Yeah? What's up?"
Ino placed her hands on her hips. "Just where'd you get that rose from?!" she demanded indignantly, "I didn't see you buy it at my shop! Who gave it to you, huh?!" No way can it be Sasuke! It just can't be! I won't believe it! How could he choose someone like her over me
Sakura smiled secretively. "Well, it's not Sasuke, if that's what you think…" she answered.
"It's not?!" Ino could hardly believe it. In fact, she was absolutely too shocked to even jump for joy. Did she just say it's not Sasuke?! How's that possible?! The only guy Sakura likes is Sasuke! …Unless it's… "Then who's it from?! Don't tell me it's Naruto! I know he has a huge crush on you! Just never thought you'd like him back—let alone accept a rose from him!"
Sakura's enigmatic demeanor instantly altered into disgust. "Naruto?!" she repeated incredulously, "Are you kidding me?! This rose is not from Naruto! I don't like Naruto and I never will! Ya got that?!"
Ino glared at her. "Okay, okay, I get it," she retorted irritably, "Geez. You don't have to shout, Sakura."
"Well, I just want to make myself loud and clear that I do not like Naruto!" Sakura snapped back.
Ino scoffed, but then changed the subject, "Alright then. But if it's not Sasuke or Naruto, who is it?" She fixed Sakura with a look that said I-want-answers-and-I-want-'em-now. So who is it, Sakura? I won't rest until I find out who this mystery boy is. Is it one of the guys at the preliminaries? Let's see…
Ino began to make a mental list in her head. …Besides Sasuke and Naruto, there's Shikamaru and Chouji from my team… Kiba, Shino… then there's last year's top rookie, Neji Hyuga, and that weird-looking guy with the bowl-shaped hair whose name I can't remember… Um, and there's also those creepy Sound Ninja guys and the two even creepier guys from the Sand Village… Ino thought for a moment. …That's the list of all the guys our age I know, and I don't think Sakura would like anyone but Sasuke…
Sakura didn't say a word, which—of course—angered Ino to no end. "Just say it, Sakura! It's no big deal! As long as it's not Sasuke, I'm happy!"
"Okay then…" Sakura began, before dramatically pausing. "…You'd probably have never guessed that it's Rock Lee—"
The name suddenly became clear in Ino's mind. "Ohmigosh, are you serious?!" Ino shrieked. "Lee?! Him?! You mean the guy with the unibrow?!"
Sakura suddenly went on the defensive. "So what if he's got a unibrow?! It's the person he is inside that I like!"
Ino could scarcely breathe. "You and Lee," she muttered to herself, dumbstruck. "I-I still can't believe it. This is too much. Never had I thought you'd wind up with someone like him. This is more shocking than you liking Naruto—"
"Correction, Ino!" Sakura interrupted crossly, "I do not like Naruto, remember?!"
Ino ignored Sakura once again. "My gosh, Sakura, this is surprising," she stated, still in disbelief, but now curious as well. "Since when have you two started going out? I heard Lee broadcasting something about you 'finally going out with him,' but I thought he was just being crazy. But now…" A twisted smile formed on Ino's face. "…I'm gonna tease you to no end."
Sakura shrugged. "Go ahead and tease me," she said carelessly, "I don't care."
Once again, Ino found herself in utter disbelief. "What?! You don't care?!" she repeated.
Sakura smiled coyly. "No, I really don't," she replied, and then turned away from Ino. "In fact, you can even have Sasuke if you want. He's all yours." And with those three words, Sakura sauntered away.
Ino was shocked into silence. First she's going out with Rock Lee, then she doesn't care about my teasing her, and now she's letting Sasuke go?! Her crush since the Academy?! This is too much to take in! ..." Ino could only stare at her best friend's departing back. I thought I knew you, Sakura. Thought I knew you like night and day, but you've changed… so much that I don't even recognize you anymore! It's like you've become a totally different person! What's gotten into you, Sakura?!
A/N: To make up for my short chapter, I made this one extra-long! This is probably the longest chapter so far! Hope you liked it! Things are really changing now. I mean, Sakura's totally flipped! So, everyone knows about the new couple now, right? Wrong! I know I haven't brought up Sasuke since the second chapter, and I bet you're wondering what's been going on with him. Well, just wait a little longer! And please R&R!