The Power of Youth
By SapphireWhiteTigress

Chapter II – My Friends

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It was early morning when Sakura slowly opened the front door to her home. Peeking inside, she breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that her parents were nowhere to be seen. She fully entered the house, closing the door. It clicked shut behind her. She slowly crept past the sitting room and towards the staircase. As she was ready to ascend the stairs, the sound of coughing caught her attention. She groaned inwardly. Turning around, she forced on the brightest smile she could muster.

"Hi, Dad." She said, facing her father.

Her father raised one dark eyebrow at her. "And where have you been all night?" He asked with narrow eyes, his arms crossed menacing over his chest.

Sakura glanced at the floor to avoid her father's eyes. "I was over a friend's." She said. It wasn't entirely a lie. Sure, she was over a friend's house, but she didn't say that friend was her boyfriend.

Her father continued to glare at her. "Next time, call if you plan on staying the night over a friend's house." With that said, her father left to go to work. He was the owner of one of the best clothing shops in all of Konohagakure. Before leaving out the door, however, he gave his daughter a look she didn't quite recognize. He couldn't possibly know, could he? It was as if he was looking right trough her soul. "I'll see you after work, sweetheart." He closed the door behind him.

Sakura released the breath she wasn't aware that she was holding as slowly made her way up to her room, passing by the room of her parents. Her mother was still sound asleep, snuggled underneath a blue quilt blanket, her pink hair peeking over the top.

She continued on her way to her room, closing the door softly behind her before throwing herself on her bed. Last night has truly been the best night of her life. Magical wasn't even close to describing the way it felt. Lee was so gentle, yet firm at the same time. She covered her mouth to silence a giggle she felt threatening to burst from from her lips. Lee was so cute, with the sweat glistering off his skin, the way his face would scrunched up in concentration and determination. Oh, how she loved that look...

She rolled on her side with her hands under her ear and yawned. She really didn't get any sleep last night...The reason she was home now and not with her beloved boyfriend was because she didn't want her parents to find out that she spent the night at his house. As a matter of fact, she was hoping to make it home before her parents woke up...well, at least her father didn't gave her the third degree.

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A few weeks later, Sakura found herself in the bathroom frequently, emptying the contents of the previous night's meal. She groaned in annoyance, flushing the toilet as she left the bathroom, feeling even more nauseated than when she entered the small room.

She braced herself on the wall next to the open door and stumbled into her room, feeling oddly tired. She's been sick for three days now and wasn't really sure why. Perhaps it was something she ate that gave her a stomach virus? Or maybe she had the flu? Whatever it was, she hoped it'll go away soon. She didn't think she would last very long if her illness didn't let up soon. Today, she was supposed to meet Ino and some other friends for lunch.

She thought about canceling but she hadn't seen Ino in three weeks and the girl called her yesterday once she returned from a mission so they could hang out. They renewed their friendship almost two years ago, deciding that fighting over a boy wasn't really worth it. Surprisingly as it may seem, Ino got over Sasuke way before Sakura did. In fact, Ino been dating Shikamaru, on and off, for the passed two years. It was one of those relationships where they loved each other but couldn't stand one another.

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Later that day, Sakura walked in front of the café where she were to meet her friends. She felt much better than she did that morning, thankfully. But she was still apprehensive about eating anything, for fear that it may not stay down for too long. Walking into the café, she spotted her friends; Ino, Hinata, and Tenten, sitting at a booth in the far back. She smiled, making her way to them.

"Hey guys!" She greeted, sitting next to Tenten while Ino and Hinata sat across from them.

"Hey Sakura," They all said in unison, each one of them smiling in turn.

They ordered and started conversing, not really knowing what to talk about exactly, so they picked some random topic that most teenage girls talked about: boys.

Sakura grinned at the shy girl only known as Hinata. "Hey, Hinata, have you finally got the courage to ask Naruto out?"

Hinata blushed a deep red, as they knew she would. She willed herself not to tap her fingers, as she did when she got nervous. Though she was 16, she was still a bit shy when it came to talking about the blond she adored. " Um, n-no, not yet..."

Ino shook her head disapprovingly. "Hinata, what are you waiting for? If you don't tell him soon, you'll lose your chance forever."

Hinata clear eyes focused on the table, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I-I know, Ino-chan...b-but..."

Ino crossed her arms. "No buts, Hina'. If you love him, you gotta take him by the balls and make him listen to you and if he doesn't love you back, you can just rip out his testicles. That way, he won't be able to reproduce without you."

Hinata eyes widen at Ino's choice of words and blushed wildly as the other two girls giggled. "Ino-chan!"

Ino grinned as their food arrived and took a bite out of her salad. "It seems like simple logic to me. The only thing that makes sense, actually."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Ino-pig," She started, using the nickname that they never grew out of, not as an insult but as a playful jab. "Nothing makes sense to you."

Ino glared at her friend, pointing her fork at her. "Tell me, forehead-girl, what's up with you and Lee?"

Sakura blushed, looking away. "What do you mean?"

The blond haired girl laughed. "Sakura, I've been away for three weeks and now that I'm back, I'm pretty sure something must've happened between you two. Your first year anniversary was like, two weeks ago, right?"

Sakura nodded, remembering their time together that day. "Yeah..." She said, her voice trailing off as her mind drifted back to that day.

"Looks like she's reminiscing. It must have been good." Tenten said with a smirk on her face.

Sakura laughed. "You have no idea..."

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Lee grinned at her as he held both hands over her eyes, leading her away from her home. It was midday when he came to get her, telling her that he wanted to show her something. She laughed and allowed him to take her wherever it was that he wanted to go, as he put both hands over her eyes. She gasped in surprise.

"Lee-kun! Where are we going?" She laughed, loving the way his hands felt on her skin.

Lee leaned down, his lips inches away from her ear. "It is a surprise," He said happily. She could tell he was containing himself from jumping around in excitement. She shivered in delight at the way his hot breath hit that sensitive spot on her earlobe.

"Okay..." She said, a little hesitant, but curious at the same time. What does he have planned for her? She couldn't wait to see his 'surprise' and knowing him, she'll absolutely love it.

He placed a blindfold over her eyes so that guiding her would be easier. He could tell that she was a little nervous with being blindfolded and he squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. "Trust me, Sakura-chan." He said, giving her his good guy pose, knowing that she couldn't see it. Suddenly, she was lifted up, bridal-style, in his arms

She automatically wrapping her arms around his neck as he held onto her, laughing a little as she did so. She noticed that she laughed and smiled a lot more when he was around, and she could just be herself, something she was afraid to do almost a year ago. Lee made everything easier, he made everything seem better when things could get worst. He was always the light that chased away the darkness. Yeah, she knew that sounded cliché, but that was how she felt, no matter how cliché it sounded.

He carried her for a good twenty minutes, the gentle wind blowing against them as he ran to their destination until he finally stopped. He gently placed her on the ground, not wanting to hurt her in any way. She cocked an eyebrow and smiled, anticipating the removal of the blindfold. The sounds that reached her ears were that of running water, like a river or stream, and the soft sound of birds in the distant. As he finally removed the blindfold, albeit slowly, and she opened her eyes.

She gasped, her knees immediately going weak. It was so beautiful that her eyes could scarcely comprehend what she was seeing. She was standing on a ledge high in a mountain but that wasn't what stunned her so greatly. A thunderous waterfall was before them, the gentle mist blowing in both of the lovers' faces. Sakura smiled as she surveyed the scene, several cherry blossom trees grew around the waterfall giving the water a beautiful pinkish tint, Sakura could only marvel at how such a scene could exist, it seems as if from a fairy tale or a perfect dream.

"Do you like it, Sakura-chan?" Lee asked nervously.

Sakura looked up at the awkward looking ninja and quickly embraced him, both of them sighing from the touch of the other, surrounded by the beauty of this dream. "It's wonderful beyond words..." she said hoarsely, her eyes still wandering around the scene before her, filled with unshed tears of happiness and content. "It's so hard to believe this..." She looked up into his loving eyes as he smiled down at her. "It's just so...beautiful..."

"But not nearly as beautiful as you," He kissed her lightly on the forehead before turning her to face the wonderful waterfall, pointing at the source of the water. "Sakura-chan, this is the only place in Konoha, probably the world, where the Lotus meets the Cherry Blossom..." Sakura turned to look and smiled, there were indeed several Sacred Lotus flowers clinging to the roots of the Cherry Blossom trees, they were yellow flowers with the pink petals of the tree. "It is as if the heavens have created this place for us and only us,"

Sakura nodded, her vibrant green eyes gazing soulfully into Lee's dark orbs. "It's amazing, Lee-kun...just amazing..." She shook her head. "How did you find such a place?"

Lee smiled. "Hard work."

Sakura laughed and kissed him.

Everything was perfect.

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Sakura was brought back to the present as Ino rudely snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Hey forehead-girl, wake up!"

Sakura glared at Ino. "Shut up, Ino-pig. Your voice is so annoying."

Ino leaned back in her seat with a smugged look on her face. "You never did answer my question."

Sakura blinked. She actually forgot what Ino had asked her. "What question?"

Ino rolled her eyes, pushing her plate away from her, now that she was finished. "What did you and Lee do for your one year anniversary?"

Tenten grinned and sighed dreamily, placing her elbows on the table while resting her chin in her hands. "I bet it was something romantic. Lee seems like the type of guy that would go out of his way to please his girl." Tenten eyes twinkled as she looked at Sakura, slightly envious. Neji never done anything remotely nice for her...

Sakura gave her friends a look, as if searching them for something, before speaking. "Well...it was the most magical day of my life," She begin, thinking back to that day once more. "He took me to this...beautiful place. The most beautiful place in the world, it seemed. There was this magnificent waterfall surrounded by the most beautiful Cherry Blossoms and Sacred Lotuses that I have ever seen..." The other girls stared at her in amazement. It sounded too dreamlike to be true. "After marveling at the scene for a while, he had planned a romantic picnic. But before that, we went swimming in the river." She smiled wistfully, remembering exactly what happened that day. "After playing in the water," She paused, taking a bite of her forgotten salad, before continuing. "We had lunch under the Cherry Blossoms, and we watched the sunset together..." Of course, she left out the part that happened after watching the sunset...

All the girls sighed as one, imagining such a scene in their heads. "Wow, Sakura, you're so lucky." Tenten said with a small smile on her face.

Ino grinned. "I bet you're glad that you gave up on Sasuke-kun now, aren't you?"

Sakura stared at her food for a moment, feeling a wave of nausea hit her like a ton of bricks. She quickly excused herself before running towards the restroom, leaving her friends wondering about her.

Ino blinked. "Was it something I said?" She noticed Sakura's barely touched food and frowned. "She didn't even finish it." She sighed.

After a few minutes, Sakura returned, almost running into a few tables that blocked her way from her friends'. Once she was at the booth, she slouched down next to Tenten, promptly dropping her head on the table with a groan. The other girls looked at her with worried eyes.

"Sakura, are you okay?" Tenten asked, gently rubbing her back in sympathy.

Sakura shook her head, her hair swaying with the shake of her head. "No. I think I've came down with something. I've been having a hard time keeping my food down for three days now."

Ino raised an eyebrow at her best friend. "Maybe you have a stomach virus?" She suggested with a shrug of her shoulders, waving the waiter over to give them the check. "If it doesn't let up, you should probably go see Tsunade-sama."

Sakura nodded, lifting her head up. Ino than noticed that Sakura looked like hell and she wasn't shy to tell her that. "Sakura, you look like hell. I think it'll be best if you just go home for the rest of the day."

Tenten and Hinata agreed. Sakura stood up to leave, before stumbling back down. Tenten, being closest, quickly caught her before she could crash into the ground. "You know what, I think I'll walk you home." Tenten offered.

Ino shook her head. "You act like you're drunk."

"No, I'm just really dizzy and tired." Sakura said, clearing her head of all the dizziness she felt.

Ino paid the bill, and stood up to leave with them. Hinata also stood, ready to leave. "Sakura-chan, I hope you get better soon..." She said to the pink haired girl.

Sakura nodded, leaning on Tenten for support as they left the small café. They slowly walked to Sakura's house without so much as a single word being exchanged. Once they reached the house, Sakura opened the door, turning to Tenten. "Thanks, Tenten. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

Tenten nodded and started walking away with a wave of her hand. "Alright, later Sakura."

Sakura sighed and walked into her house, softly closing the door behind her. She walked passed her mother who was preparing dinner in the kitchen.

"Hey, honey." She said with a bright smile on her face.

"Hi mom..." Sakura said, not really in any mood to talk to her mother right now. She just felt so horrible and all she wanted to do was go to bed. She climbed the stairs to her room, opened the closed door and shut it behind her. She lowered herself to her bed and reached for the phone. She felt like calling him. He'll make her feel better, that she was sure of. He always made her fell better.

The phone only rung twice before she heard his happy voice. "Hello?"

"Hey Lee-kun," She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lee instantly sensed that something wasn't right. "Sakura-chan, are you okay?" He asked, growing worry for his precious person.

Sakura shrugged, aware of the fact that he couldn't see it. "I'm okay, Lee-kun...I'm just not feeling well. I wanted to talk to you."

There was a slight pause before he responded. "Do not worry, Sakura-chan. I will be over there as soon as I can!"

Sakura smiled, her stomach lurching angrily. "Alright. I'll see you in a few minutes than, love you."

Lee beamed from on the other side of the phone. She could tell from his voice. "Alright, my beautiful flower! I love you!" They hung up the phone and fifteen minutes later, Lee was there.

"Sakura, honey! Your friend's here!" Her mother shouted from down the stairs. She could hear her mother telling him which room was her's, as if this was his first time in the house, when in actuality, he's been there seven times before.

Lee slowly made his way up to his girlfriend's room, hands filled with gifts. He rapped his knuckles against her bedroom door, with a little difficulty as he held her gifts in his arms.

"Come in," He heard the voice from the other side said. He slowly nudged the door open with his foot and grinned as he entered the room. She was laying on her back with her right arm swung over her eyes and her left hand resting on her stomach.

"Sakura-chan, I brought you some soup to help you feel better." He said as he sat down on the bed next to her. Sakura lifted her arm from her eyes to see him. In his arms were some flowers, daisies, that looked to be hastily picked and a small brown teddy bear with a pink bow tie around its neck and in his other hand was some homemade soup in a container.

She sat up and took the soup he offered her. "Oh, Lee-kun, you didn't have to."

Lee waved his hand dismissively, that bright grin of his still shining brightly on his face. "Nonsense, Sakura-chan! Of course I had to. I promised to take care of you and I will keep that promise no matter what." He gave her his thumbs-up sign before placing the teddy on her bed and the flowers on her desk. "How are you feeling?" He asked, his voice was so sincere that Sakura felt like melting into a puddle.

Sakura shrugged, eating the soup he gave her. It was pretty good, except for the fact that her stomach wouldn't agree to anything lately. "I'm okay, I guess." She said, briefly looking up into his eyes.

Lee's eyes looked at her with worry and concern. He stood up reluctantly. "I wish that there was more that I can do for you, Sakura-chan..." He looked down sadly, as if this was hurting him more than it was her. She raised a questionable eyebrow at him. "I promised Gai-sensei that I would meet him in twenty minutes. But I will cancel if it meant that you would get better." He added quickly, looking at her with pleading eyes.

Sakura smiled. "It's okay, Lee-kun. Hopefully, this is a passing thing. With any luck, I'll be better by tomorrow."

Lee nodded, hesitantly turning towards the door. "Is there anything I could get you before I leave, Sakura-chan?"

Sakura shook her head, finishing up her soup slowly. She actually was pretty hungry, since her food wouldn't stay down for more than ten minutes. Hopefully, this wouldn't come back to haunt her. "No, it's alright Lee-kun. Go train with Gai-san." She said with a smile. Lee bent down to capture her lips with his. Sakura's thought at the moment was: I'm glad I rinsed my mouth out before he came over. After the kiss ended, Lee whispered the three words to her that made life worth living.

"I love you."

She kissed him lightly on the nose. "I love you too." He hugged her before leaving her and soon after he left, Lee's soup found it's way in the wastebasket.

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AN: I like to give major thanks to my very good friend EnduranceInTribulation. If it weren't for him, this story wouldn't be like it is today. I am extremely grateful for his help. I'll be honest, this story wouldn't be here if it weren't for my friend. And that's the truth. I'm not going into detail about it. But, please review! I would greatly appreciate it, thank you so much and I hoped you liked it! I now dubbed this story my main priority if I get enough people who actually likes this little thing.

Next Chapter Teaser: Tsunade coughed, her stunned eyes boring into Sakura's confused ones. "Alright, Sakura, I'll give it to you straight. After taking a few tests, twice; mind you, I keep coming to the same results. Sakura, you're not sick. You're pregnant,"