As soon as she was a good three blocks away from the Ichiraku, Sakura managed a quick glance behind her shoulder. From here, the ramen shop seemed quite distant, and though she could make out the general shape of the place, she couldn't see identify any people in the shop. That's good. I'm far enough now.
Sakura turned around and, coincidentally, laid eyes upon that small old gray, stone bench. She smiled at it wryly before taking a seat. Why do I always wind up here…of all places?
She just sat there for a moment, thinking hard as she tightly gripped the pleats of her red outfit. I still can't believe what Sasuke said to me just now! The nerve of him! After all that's happened, how could he commit the very same mistake he made the last time?! How can he just tell me how I should feel?! Who does he think he is?! Sakura's anger reached its apex, and if it weren't for her being three blocks away from him, Sakura could've sworn that she'd have slapped Sasuke. I…I hate you, Sasuke!
The sudden thought surprised Sakura. Never in her life had she ever thought she'd hate him, but then again, never had she thought she'd wind up with Rock Lee, either. Still, the thought of hatred toward Sasuke was quite strange.
Sakura rested her head in her hands, and stared at the ground. I say I hate Sasuke, but no, that's not true… I just…I just wish he would learn to accept me for once, and not just shove me aside… She sighed. I tell myself I'm completely over Sasuke, and that I shouldn't care about what he says or thinks about me anymore, but if that were true, why does it hurt to hear him say all those things to me? Why do I even care anymore?
A fresh tear hit the floor, and Sakura wiped her eyes irritably. No more tears! I'm sick of crying! Stupid Sasuke! It's all his fault!
She glanced up just in time to see Rock Lee quickly speeding down the street. Drawing in a deep breath, she steadied herself and called out to him, "Hey, Lee, what's up?"
Lee turned to face Sakura, and then smiled when he saw her. "Oh, Sakura! I did not even notice you were there!"
Well, that's a first, Sakura thought, a bit surprised.
"So, where are you going off to in such a hurry?" she questioned curiously.
"I have to meet with Guy-sensei right now for some one-on-one training," Lee explained quickly, "I am sorry, but I do not have the time. Can we talk later?" He had a sympathetic look on his face that revealed how sincere he was, and at that moment, Sakura couldn't help but wish Sasuke were more like Lee in that sense.
Other than that, Sakura felt like she really needed to talk to Lee to get her mind off Sasuke, but she knew better than to get in the way between Lee and Guy. Even though Lee pledged undying love for her, she knew that Guy was Lee's idol. "That's alright," she lied, trying earnestly to sound convincing. "I completely understand."
Lee hesitated. "Something is bothering you, is it not?"
Sakura couldn't help but smile a little. "You know me better than anyone, Lee."
Lee glanced around tentatively for a moment before giving Sakura a strong smile in return. "Okay, if we can make it quick!" Sitting down next to Sakura on the bench, he told her, "Now, what is the problem? Remember, you can tell me anything and I will gladly listen!"
Now that he was all-ears, Sakura didn't know where to begin. "Well, it's just that I-I can't get over him. He's all I think about, and…I really don't know what to do…"
She…she is talking about me! Lee figured, almost unable to contain his joy. That I am certain of! He tried his best to keep himself from bursting out in a display of sheer happiness, and eventually managed to tell her, "If you cannot get someone out of your head, then maybe they are supposed to be there."
Sakura couldn't quite understand why Lee was saying that—especially since this was Sasuke she was talking about. She's at least expected Lee to be more upset… but then it hit her. "Oh, no! You don't get it, Lee! I'm talking about—"
Yet before Sakura could tell Lee everything on her mind, a nearby door burst open, and a loud voice proclaimed, "Ah! That's better! Now I can finally go back to the Ichiraku and finish cleaning before Sasuke does!"
Both Sakura and Rock Lee suddenly glanced up. "Naruto?"
"Huh?" Naruto spun around and instantly noticed the two of them together. He narrowed his eyes, and pointed a threatening finger at Lee. "Hey, what are you doing here, Bushy Brow?!"
Lee glanced over at Sakura briefly before answering Naruto, "I was just out on my way to see Guy-sensei. And—now that you mention it—I guess I better get going…" He quickly stood up to leave.
"What?" Sakura stood up as well, alarmed. "You're leaving now?" But I didn't even get to tell you anything yet!
Lee winced. "Yeah… I am sorry," he apologized, "But I have to." And then before she knew it, he took her hands in his and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. As he reeled back, Sakura noticed a deep blush across his face. "I promise that I will make it up to you!"
And then—in an instant—he was gone. All the while, Sakura just stared straight ahead of her, completely stunned. Likewise, Naruto—who had just witnessed the whole thing right in front of him—was gaping at Sakura in shock.
After what seemed like an eternity, Naruto finally ran over to where Sakura stood and blurted, "I can't believe what I just saw! I mean—I can't believe he did that to you! I'm just shocked, Sakura! What the heck just happened?!" He gave her a moment to reply, but then quickly grew impatient since she wasn't responding. "Hello! Earth to Sakura! Why aren't you saying anything?!"
Sakura was still lost in her own little world. I can't believe he just kissed me just now! That was completely uncalled for! She suddenly snapped back into reality. "...T-to be honest…I'm not sure what to think…" she breathed at last, still completely stunned.
"Oh, don't lie to me, Sakura!" Naruto protested indignantly. "I can tell you're totally in love with Lee! For what reasons? I don't know! And I don't think I ever will!"
Sakura chose to ignore Naruto, and glared at him instead. "Shouldn't you be heading back to the Ichiraku right now?"
"You're telling me?!" Naruto exclaimed incredulously. "Just how long have you been out here hanging out with your boyfriend, huh?!"
Sakura just rolled her eyes. "Quit complaining, Naruto," she told him dryly, before raising her voice in anger, "And besides, I'm the one who should be complaining! It's because of you that he had to leave! …I hope you're happy!"
Naruto changed the subject, "I don't get it, Sakura! What's Lee have that I don't?!"
"For one thing, he's not loud and obnoxious like you are," Sakura retorted.
"What?! Now, Sakura, that's not true—" Naruto insisted.
Sakura cut him off. "I don't have time to argue with you, Naruto!" she shot back fiercely, "Now go back to the Ichiraku before I pound you into the ground!"
Naruto backed away from her apprehensively. "B-but aren't you coming, too?" he squeaked.
"No!" Sakura exclaimed. Yet this time, she didn't sound as threatening, because she knew that the reason why she couldn't go back there was because of Sasuke. Besides, I can't go back there now… Not with Sasuke around… I still can't believe he said all those things to me again.
Yet despite her less hostile tone, Naruto was still as scared as ever. "Yipe! Okay, okay! I'll go! Geez!" He took off back toward the ramen shop, "But don't blame me if Kakashi-sensei gets mad at your for bailing on the mission!"
As Sakura stared at Naruto's retreating back, she narrowed her eyes at him. Bail on a mission? Who does he think he's kidding?! I'd never bail on a mission! Sakura hesitated. But then…what am I doing now? Well, it's only because of Sasuke. If it weren't for him, I'd never… A sudden realization dawned over her. Hold it! Bailing on a mission? Bluntly telling Naruto that I wouldn't follow him back to finish our mission? I'm acting just like Sasuke was… Sakura stared down at the ground forlornly. …Two weeks ago…when he said the same thing to me…
Sakura fell back down on the bench.
Back at the Ichiraku…
As Sasuke wiped the counters, his mind wandered. Sakura likes Lee? Since when?! The last time I remembered, she was completely freaked out by him and thought he was weird…apart from that one time when she was acting grateful for something he did at the Forest of Death. But c'mon, just because she became more appreciative of him, doesn't mean she actually likes him now, right? …But then…what could have changed her mind?
He smirked, finally allowing his curiosity to subside. Well, I'll admit I am surprised of her new attitude towards me, but…like I told her…she needed to stop wasting her time, and just get over it.
He glanced up all of a sudden, and just barely caught sight of pale pink hair in the distance. She was three blocks away from where he stood, but Sasuke could still tell it was Sakura. And though he could not see her face, he knew that she was gazing at the ground… forlornly.
Sasuke stared at her for a moment, and started to feel that irritable sense of guilt climb up his spine again. But Sasuke wasn't willing to let it get the best of him this time. Who cares if I was so blunt? I had to set her straight! …I was just telling her that she should get on with her life and to stop wasting her time by moping in the past! And besides, why should I even feel the least bit guilty right now? After all, she did say that she was over it, and that she had now moved on to Lee, and was completely through with me, right?!
Sasuke glanced back up in Sakura's direction, and scowled. No… She can't possibly have meant all that, at least…not being so depressed like this… Maybe she was just lying…?
Sasuke's guilt caught up with him again, and he suddenly felt compelled to walk outside and make it up to her. Sighing in frustration, he dropped the damp cloth on the table, and headed out of the Ichiraku…
That is, until he saw a black-haired boy in a green jumpsuit coming to an abrupt stop in front of the bench where Sakura sat.
Sasuke froze. Hold it! That's Rock Lee!
For some reason, Sasuke kept his eyes fixed on the two of them. And when he noticed that Sakura had not jumped ten feet away when Rock Lee sat next to her, Sasuke's eyes widened. So Sakura was telling the truth?! She and Lee really are together now?! Sasuke didn't know why it was so surprisingly to him. Usually, things like this wouldn't even interest him in the least, but, apparently, this time was different.
After all, Sakura had only loved Sasuke…
Until now.
Sasuke just shrugged it off, though. So, she finally has found someone else to worry about and obsess over… That's nice. No more stupid fangirl chasing after me day and night… He grinned in amusement, and then returned to the counter. Grabbing the damp white cloth, he resumed his task of cleaning as he forced himself to keep his eyes down at the brown counters. But it didn't take long before he looked up again. This time, he noticed a vibrant orange figure in the distance. That's Naruto, no doubt, Sasuke observed, Hn. Took him long enough…
From where he stood, Sasuke noticed Naruto pointing a threatening finger at Sakura and Lee—or at least, Lee, in that matter—and even though he couldn't hear a word, Sasuke knew he was yelling at him. Naruto's hopeless… Sasuke thought, shaking his head in disgust.
The next thing Sasuke knew was Lee suddenly standing up to leave with Sakura right behind him. Then, he noticed Lee take Sakura by the hands and lean in to…
Sasuke began to feel a knot twist in the pit of his stomach. No, he wasn't at all surprised that Lee had kissed her. Instead, he was completely surprised that while he'd expected Sakura to shriek and jump far, far away, she didn't. Instead, she just stared at him, and Sasuke couldn't tell from that whether she had reacted with disgust or elation. The feeling of not knowing tortured Sasuke to no end, and he had no idea why… No idea why he was feeling jealous of Sakura's new boyfriend.
A/N: So there you have it! Sasuke's thoughts, as promised, and the new jealously that starting to form…