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Chapter Eleven: A Fresh StartThree mornings later, a gentle knock, knock echoed throughout Sakura's small apartment. Since the young kunoichi's parents had left the house earlier, Sakura was the only one who could answer it. Fortunately, she was already up from bed and was just fastening her forehead protector on top of her pale pink hair.
The moment she heard the knock on the door, Sakura's initial thought was that it was Sasuke. How dare he show his face here after all that's happened? Who does he think he is? Doesn't he understand that I just want to be left alone? …Of all people, he should know what I mean! Yet in spite of herself, Sakura left her room, and cautiously approached the door.
She tentatively reached out for the doorknob. (Gulp) C'mon, Sakura! Don't do this again! The worst it could be is Sasuke! So just…open the door already! She then turned the knob and swung the door open.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I…!" Sakura's bold voice instantly trailed off. "Lee? W-what are you doing here?" At that moment, Sakura could have sworn that her cheeks matched the color of her hair. Oh, my gosh! I'm such an idiot!
Standing in the doorway, Lee just stared at her blankly, a fresh bouquet of red roses in his hand. "Uh…good morning?" he greeted timidly.
Sakura felt like burying herself in the ground again. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she apologized quickly. "I, uh, thought you were someone else! But I guess I was wrong! Heh-heh." She topped it off with a sheepish smile.
Lee blinked a couple of times before smiling broadly. "Oh, I see! Well…" He handed the bouquet over to Sakura, another blush crossing his face. "These are for you! I hope you like them!"
More roses? Sakura thought dully, yet instead, she forced a smile. "Why, thank you, Lee! I love them!" she lied, taking the bouquet from him, and then placing them on an end table right next to the door. "So, what brings you here?" Sakura was about to ask him how his training went with Guy, but knew better than that, especially knowing how Lee could go on and on about his idol.
Lee stared at the ground, and scuffed his feet into the concrete. "Remember how I told you I would make it up to you three days ago?"
"Um, yeah?" Sakura answered with a nod. What's he getting into?
"Well, I was thinking that for today, we just take a walk in the woods," Lee explained, "I know it is something different, but that way, I can listen to everything you wanted to tell me back then…without distractions!"
Sakura couldn't help but smile. "That's really nice of you, Lee," she told him, "Sure, that'd be great."
Lee blushed. "I knew you would like it," he said, glancing at the floor before averting his eyes to Sakura. He then extended his arm out to her. "Shall we?"
Sakura just stared at his arm. Is this really necessary? …Ugh, I guess I'd better just do it… "Um…okay…" She slowly reached out for his hand and took it.
Once her hand was in his, Lee led her out of the doorway and down the hallway. As they walked side-by-side, Sakura was relieved that he hadn't suggested holding hands. A nice walk in the woods… Sasuke would have liked that, Sakura thought wretchedly, but then shook her head. No, I'm not going to think about Sasuke…not anymore! And that's a promise! This has gone on long enough, and it's about time I moved on for real! After all…
She glanced over at Lee and smiled. Today's a new day…a fresh start…
As for Sasuke…
Staring numbly at his ceiling, Sasuke continued to lie in bed, his fingers laced behind his head. His lips were pulled into a straight line, an impassive mask showing no emotion. But at that moment, his mind meandered as his thoughts reeled the events of training yesterday:
Kakashi examined the large twin holes made on the front of a huge tan boulder. "Hmm…your aim's a little off today…and your chakra's unstable… Is something bothering you, Sasuke?"
"…"
Kakashi interpreted Sasuke's silence as his cue to continue: "…Is it that last mission? Look, I know cleaning shop isn't your style, but both Teuchi and Ayame raved about how well the three of you did."
Sasuke gripped his left wrist tightly with his right hand, the blinding blue chakra flashing in his open palm. "I'm fine!" he insisted obstinately through gritted teeth, panting from exhaustion.
Kakashi thought for a moment. "Oh, I see! You're just raring to fight Gaara in the final round of Chunin Exams, am I right?"
Sasuke didn't say anything, but Kakashi just smiled. "Well, don't worry about that, Sasuke. You'll get to fight him soon enough! By the time you finish perfecting this move, your training will be done."
Sasuke fixed his eyes on the ground. "Yeah…sure," he muttered. The once-pulsating chakra from his left hand faded, and he balled his hand into a tight fist.
Back in his bed, Sasuke scowled in irritation. Kakashi's right… I have been a little off lately. My mind's all over the place, and I can't even concentrate on the Chunin Exams next week!
Sasuke pulled the covers off himself, and got out of bed. I can't get distracted. I've gotta maintain focus and pay attention to training. No matter what, I must defeat Gaara! He clenched a fist, the fire of determination finally returning to his eyes.
In the forest…
Walking along the dirt path, Lee suddenly caught Sakura smiling. "Well, I am glad to see you are a lot happier today, Sakura." He beamed. "Seeing you happy always brings a smile to my face."
"You're a sweet guy, Lee," Sakura remarked.
Lee blushed. "You think so?"
"Well, yeah," she reassured him. "I've thought so ever since what happened back in the Forest of Death, and from what you've proven to me this past month…"
Lee stared at her blankly. "And that is…?"
"That you've always taken the time to listen to me, and you've always tried to ensure my happiness!" Sakura replied, grinning. "Really, Lee, I couldn't have asked for more!" And this time, she knew she was telling the truth.
Sakura glanced at Lee, and was surprised to see him actually crying. "S…Sakura!" He then abruptly embraced her in a hug. "Thank you! THANK YOU!"
Though taken aback by the sudden notion, Sakura felt no urge to break free from his hold. Instead, she just eyed him curiously. "But…what do you have to thank me for?"
"Everything!" Lee sobbed. "Y-you really are…an angel sent from Heaven!"
Sakura smiled meekly, recalling one of their earliest encounters. But as Lee continued to sob onto her shoulder, Sakura couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. …Maybe I said more than I should have… "Hey, um…Lee?"
"Oh…sorry…" Lee backed away, wiping his eyes with the backs of his sleeves as he tried to collect himself.
Sakura just waited for him patiently. "That's alright."
Lee drew in a deep, shaky breath. "Now…before I forget…" He looked straight at Sakura. "What is it you wanted to tell me the other day?
"Huh?" It took a moment for Sakura to process what he was talking about, but then it hit her as a flashback of their past conversation echoed in her head:
"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…"
"If you cannot get someone out of your head, then maybe they are supposed to be there."
Sakura remembered how she couldn't understand why he was saying that, but had then realized that Lee thought she was talking about him instead of Sasuke. "Oh, no! You don't get it, Lee! I'm talking about—"
Back then, Naruto's sudden appearance had interrupted Sakura, thus preventing her from completing her sentence. But at that time, she was actually prepared to tell Lee the truth. Now…she just couldn't do it. Silently, she wished that Naruto would just pop up from behind one of the trees.
Sakura scoffed at her own thought. As if that's ever gonna happen…
She sighed, snapping back into reality. …I just made his day… It'd kill him if I told him the deal with Sasuke… Sakura then recalled her promise to forget about Sasuke, and stared hard at the ground.
Well, either way…there's no point in telling Lee anymore. Sasuke's just a mere fragment of my memory now. Nothing more.
Lee's voice suddenly pervaded her thoughts. "You did want to tell me something, right, Sakura?"
Sakura turned to face Lee, as if just realizing he was there. After a moment, she forced a smile. "Never mind. I'm alright now."
Lee scowled. "You do not have to lie to me, Sakura," he told her gently.
Sakura winced. Sometimes, Lee understands me too well… No matter…
"Actually, come to think about…you're right, Lee," she began, "Something is bothering me…"
"Hmm?"
Sakura clutched her stomach. "I'm starving!" she confessed, "I didn't eat anything earlier! Do you think we can get something to eat?"
Lee's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, sure! Of course! But…where at?"
Sakura smiled to herself in amusement. Good. It worked! "Er, I don't know. How 'bout some barbeque? I'm feeling up for it today!"
Lee shrugged. "Okay, whatever you say." He turned around, and proceeded down the path back to the main district of the village. Sakura followed closely behind him.
"It will take awhile before we get back to the village," Lee stated regretfully. He glanced over his shoulder back at Sakura. "You should have said something earlier, Sakura. I would have gladly put off our conversation if you were that hungry."
Sakura smiled sheepishly. "No, it was just a sudden realization." Well, that's true!
It was then that Lee suddenly stopped walking in mid-step.
Sakura stared at him, her smile now having turned into a frown. "What?"
Lee remained silent, his body not moving an inch.
Sakura started to panic, "Lee? What is it…?" Her voice trailed off as a sudden shiver ran up her spine. She turned around quickly.
Only to see a sharp kunai knife heading straight for her.
A/N: This is probably my best cliffie yet XD! Sorry to end it so abruptly like that, but as I've always believed, cliffhangers always make readers want to read more! And FYI, the one who threw the kunai is not Sasuke, in case that's what you guys were thinking!
Anyway, my hope is to post the next chapter before the month ends, but anything could happen, so I'm not making any promises! And as always, please R&R!