Sakura struggled to get comfortable. She wanted to toss and turn but refrained from doing so. She didn't want to wake up Lee in case he was sleeping. The events of the day kept replaying in her head when she closed her eyes. From being on video call with Ino to the nice date she shared with Lee. If it were just those parts, she couldn't complain.

She was remembering the anxiety she felt as she drove to fetch Guy; wondering if Lee and Neji would be okay.

She, Sakura Haruno, tangentially involved with Yakuza business. She still couldn't believe it. Hiashi Hyuga would be behind bars for now, but it was only a matter of time until he got out on bail. What then? Her thoughts wandered to Hinata, Hiashi's daughter. Naruto and the other policemen were going to figure out what to do with her and have her reintegrate into society as ex-yakuza. The poor girl hardly knew anything about the real world.

Sakura sighed. "Lee?" She called out softly. "Are you awake?"

"Yes." His response was clear, lacking any sleepiness.

"I can't sleep." Sakura turned and scooted closer to the edge of the bed where she could look down at him.

In the pale moonlight that was flitting through the blinds of her window, Sakura could see Lee's eyes reflecting the light back to her. "Neither can I," he admitted. While the thrill of staying in her room had died down, he was hyper aware of her presence. Even if his eyes were closed and they were sleeping separately, he could still feel her there.

"How about we talk until we fall asleep?" Sakura leaned her head in her hand, noting that Lee was attempting to sleep like a mummy with his hands at his sides all stiff-like.

He turned his head towards her. His hair brushed against the pillow and parted his bangs, providing a clearer look of his face. "What about?" Lee asked.

Sakura didn't know. She shrugged. "Anything."

There was a pause as Lee slacked his jaw. "I have a confession."

Her interest was piqued now. Either he was going to say something Earth shattering or it was going to be another one of his Lee-isms. Sakura raised both of her brows at him. "What is it?"

"I have been in love with you for far longer than when we first exchanged words doing laundry." He didn't wait to see her reaction, his eyes were upturned towards the ceiling to avoid looking at her. "I think I was in love with the idea of you since before I laid eyes on you."

"And when did you realize this?" On the day she moved in, Sakura didn't see Lee in the building or outside of it for that matter. As far as she remembered. She met him a day later when getting ready to go to school early in the morning.

Lee found the courage to make eye contact. "Before you moved in, your parents knocked on every door on the floor to meet us. I assume they were making sure you would be around decent people. I had the pleasure of meeting your mother."

Sakura felt flush. "I didn't know they did that!"

Lee nodded. "They did. Your mother told me that her daughter was going to move on across from me and asked me to be kind." He then chuckled. "And then threatened me if I did anything unsavory towards you. She made me promise."

Sakura groaned. Of course her mother would embarrass her like this. It wasn't enough that Sakura couldn't make a first impression of herself to her neighbors.

Lee smiled softly. "I think you have a lovely mother. You look like her."

Sakura felt immediate regret. Lee talked about his father briefly but his adoption by Might Guy made it apparent that his mother was not in his life and had not been since he was a baby.

Lee continued. "Imagine my surprise when I got to see Mrs. Haruno's daughter! How unfortunate that our conflicting schedules never allowed us to speak to each other earlier. Every morning and night that I caught a glimpse of you, I yearned to speak to you. Even just once."

"You got your wish then." Sakura smiled down at him.

"I have."

"Mm."

"If I may continue, I do have something to ask you." Lee waited until Sakura gave him a nod. "In a few days... I have a match. Will you come to see me?" If Sasuke really hadn't come back to speak with her, then she would have no idea that he was going to face off against Lee. He wanted Sakura to know the truth about her friend. After all, she learned the truth about Naruto, albeit a way more harmless truth than what Sasuke was harboring.

Sakura nodded repeatedly. "Oh you bet I am! I've been studying extra hard. If need be, I know how to make a perfect cast."

Lee winced. "Let us hope it never comes to that."

"Yes," Sakura yawned. "Let's."

ˏˋ ˎˊ

The following morning, Lee woke up with the sun as he normally did. For a moment, he forgot about his surroundings. Usually we was used to waking up and seeing his beloved framed photo of his family on his nightstand. Instead, he was met with the view of Sakura's bedpost as he laid on the floor.

That's right, he was in Sakura's room.

Sakura room... That's right! They decided to make their relationship official the night prior. No more prancing around mutual attraction. Life was too short for that.

Especially with the life Lee led, he could die at any point before his time. He spotted Sakura's sleeping form, sprawled out having kicked off her comforter.

Even now, she was his sleeping beauty.

There wouldn't be any training today as the aftermath of yesterday took Neji out of action and took Guy to the police where he'd be trading information with Kakashi. Tenten would probably be with Neji, Lee figured. He could certainly train by himself, but for once, he wanted to push it to the side. He wanted to spend every waking moment with Sakura.

A seed of guilt implanted itself in his heart. Would Guy Sensei be disappointed in him? What about Sakura, was he being selfish in desiring her abject attention when she wanted to take things slow?

His desire for her burned inside the pit of his belly, lighting a flame in his chest. It can't have been normal. He never had feelings like this before.

Lee had grown up with the idea that no one would love him, at least not romantically. He was ugly and a nutcase according to his peers. He had turned those feelings into fuel for training. But the idea of a passionate, romantic love was tantalizing. When Guy had taught him about it, Lee began to romanticize romance.

Now he had it.

And he realized that he was staring at her sleep.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the apartment door. Sakura bolted up from her bed. Her hair was sticking up from moving around in her sleep. "I completely forgot..." She stood, shuffling her slippers on. "Stay here, she instructed Lee. My mom comes once every other week to drop off a care package."

She didn't pick up on the fact that Lee was already awake. "Whatever you say, Sakura."

Sakura went to open the door, leaving Lee alone in her room. He heard Sakura and her mother exchange kind words, presumably hugging each other in greeting.

"How'd the studies coming along Sakura?" Her mother asked.

"It's actually going really well!" Sakura responded enthusiastically. She set the care package up on the kitchen table.

"Not studying too hard?" Her mother crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing her daughter with a hint of scorn. "You've always did have your nose in a book. It'd do you some good to spend time with friends and family."

Sakura sighed. "I know Mom, I'll try to visit you and Dad more often."

She felt her mom put her hand on her shoulder. "I just don't want you getting burnt out is all."

"I'll try not to." Sakura managed a smile.

"Okay, I've got to go Sakura. I love you sweetie." They exchanged kisses on the cheek and Sakura watched her mother depart.

Good. No impromptu room check where she decides that Sakura must be sloppy and she has to clean up after her.

Sakura opened her room door, finding Lee pacing her room. "She's gone," Sakura told him. "You can step out."

She grabbed an apple from the care package and tossed it to him, to which he caught it in one hand. "That is nice of your mother to bring you a basket."

Sakura nodded. "There's no way she's gonna let me live off of cup ramen and jellies. I try to cook for myself but I hardly feel up to it." She wasn't a terrible cook either, but it just wasn't the same as mother's home cooked meals.

The door knob wiggled. "Sakura, you really ought to lock the door... I left my keys in here— oh." Sakura's mother stood in the doorway, staring at Lee with her mouth agape. "Sakura, tell me it's not what I think it is."

"I mean," Sakura crinkled her nose, "just how bad do you think it is?"

Lee waved, grinning brightly. "Hello Mrs. Haruno! It is so good to see you again!"

Sakura refrained from facepalming. "Mom, this is Rock Lee. Lee, this is my mom, Mebuki." She gestured between the two as she gave them a proper introduction— a second one since she was not present for the first one against her knowledge.

Mebuki frowned deeply. "When were you planning on telling me you had a boyfriend? Why he... He just lives across the hall, doesn't he?"

Sakura sharply inhaled, "Uh yes he does and, hold on mom. We literally just started dating."

Mebuki looked the two of them over, drinking in their appearances. "Hm."

"I have done nothing unsavory towards your daughter!" Lee assured her. He gave a thumbs up. "You made me promise and I never break a promise. Sakura is a delicate bloom that I do not intend to deflower until the time is right."

Sakura felt a fever coming on. "This isn't happening..."

"Well." Mebuki blinked. "He certainly is eccentric. We have to tell your father about this.

"Moooom!" Sakura protested. She hated the way her voice wavered, she felt like a teenager again. "At least let me work my way up to that."

Mebuki shook her head. "After last time? Your father and I would like to keep tabs on your love life." She turned and looked at Sakura's strange boyfriend. "Mister Lee? You are invited to dinner. I'll have Sakura tell you when." The woman promptly took her keys and left.

Last time?

Lee looked at Sakura. What did her mother mean by last time?