A picnic
Characters :: Lee and Sakura
Setting :: A park by a river around late afternoon/sunset
Rating :: G
Warnings :: none Sakura angst
Glancing up at the sun half past its peak, Sakura took a whiff of the warm breeze that caused her short, pink strands to flow about her face. If there was ever a beautiful day it was today, however, no matter how beautiful it was, the pink-haired girl had an aura of sadness linger about her. A never-ending sadness that she hid well in her heart, disguised perfectly to many, but to her closest friends, stuck out like a sore thumb. She held a basket in one arm, prepared for a picnic that she promised she'd share with one of her close friends, Lee.
A smile spread on the young girl's face. Even though her heart was supposedly dedicated to Sasuke, she still cared deeply for her other friends, and Lee was at the top of said list. He cared for her to such a level that she couldn't help but love and respect him back, however though she did recognize she cared for him a lot and worried about him often, she could never get to mind to turn away from the raven-haired boy that abandoned her on a bench two and a half years ago.
Stopping on the grass next to a sparkling river, she lifted a blanket out of the small basket and placed it neatly on the ground, kneeling and getting comfortable on the soft surface. She hadn't made much, but it was delightful enough to share with someone she enjoyed seeing every now and then. Sakura really needed someone to lighten the load on her heart. Luckily, she had Lee and Naruto as her friends and perfect for the job.
"Sakura-san!"
There was a wonderful, familiar fluttering in his chest. Lee was grinning without realizing it as he ran to meet her, skidding to a stop on the grass nearby. "Good afternoon, Sakura-san," he said warmly, lowering his own gigantic basket. What a sublime spot for a picnic; what a splendid spring day; what a radiant sky! All paled in comparison with the girl, of course.
Sakura smiled upon catching sight of Lee. He always greeted her so kindly, it made her feel so welcome in his presence. Perhaps that was what Sakura enjoyed about him the most, the fact that he was one of the few who rarely got on her nerves. The only time he ever did was when he physically exerted himself too much that Sakura would worry. She hated worrying over her friends, but considering they were all ninja, it was a rather difficult thing not to do. "Good afternoon, Lee-kun." Ever since Sasuke's 'disappearance' from Konoha--Sakura refused to call it a 'betrayal' believing that he would return at any moment--she grew a lot closer to her friends, adopting friendlier suffixes with the rest of the Rookie Nine.
Pulling out a set of juice boxes and a couple sandwiches her eyes widened at the immense size of Lee's basket in comparison to her own. She certainly hoped it didn't carry a 'Youthful Lunch' for 'growing individuals.' "Wow, Lee. You really packed a lot." Sakura indicated to the basket with her index finger, eyes still wide and a bit concerned.
"I wanted to make sure that we had enough to eat," Lee chirruped as he bent down to sit across from her. "Gai-sensei said that our bodies are currently maturing at a rapid pace, so we must provide them with as nutritious a diet as possible! I brought milk, orange juice, green tea, two kinds of curry, nikujaga, mochi, and udon. I also have fruit - do you like apples?"
Lee had learned how to cook from Gai-sensei and by trial and error (he wasn't that bad at it either, considering his teacher's reputation), and had raced back home to prepare his share of lunch after receiving Sakura's invitation. Going a little overboard was his nature; he usually made around the same amount for team Gai's picnics too, whenever they had time to relax together.
Sakura couldn't help but giggle at Lee's, once again, over-preparedness, most likely caused by his green-clad sensei. She never knew why she couldn't fall for a guy like him, well...aside from the whole eyebrow thing. But, still, it could be easily overlooked...maybe. "I love apples, and I'll have some green tea, thank you." The girl did feel kind of bad that Lee had brought more than she did, but had Sakura brought more, who would've known how Lee would have reacted, probably mentioning something along the lines of, 'I have failed to provide as much, if not more, than my dear Sakura-san!'
"So, how has your day been so far, Lee-kun?"
"My day has become a thousand times more pleasant in your presence, Sakura-san," Lee said warmly; he reached into his basket and retrieved two apples as bright as his smile, along with a canteen of tea. "And how are you?" Lee poured the piping hot liquid in midair and whipped out a cup just in time to catch it.
Nodding she responded with a half-hearted, "Fine." She really didn't know what to say, because saying anything else would have added to the lie, if not made it more obvious. Sakura was really disappointed, both in herself but also somewhat in Sasuke. He knew how much both she and Naruto wanted him to return to Konoha, but he was too enshrouded in growing stronger for vengeance that it clouded his mind. Fighting back a frown, she pushed out the best smile she could muster for now, for Lee's sake. She really didn't like it when other people worried about her, and knowing it was Lee, he could probably see right through her fake expression. Hopefully it would be overlooked.
"I'm really happy to be here, Lee-kun. Thank you for coming, and thank you for bringing a lunch as well, although it wasn't necessary at all." His kindness was just too much, she never knew anyone who existed that was as caring and friendly as Lee. Then again, he was a category of his own.
"I wouldn't miss this for anything," Lee said quietly, handing her the cup of tea. He noted her false smile; his heart fell at the sight of it. He wondered if it had anything to do with the mission she just came back from. It probably did. Sasuke...
Lee had pretty much come to terms with his emotions for Sasuke in the years following his betrayal, and so he pushed aside the bitterness welling inside him to focus on Sakura. She was hurting, and the feelings would only fester and grow if she didn't release them.
Lee was the kind of person to confront a problem face to face, eyes steeled and unflinching. Swallowing down the thought that he was making a mistake, he forged ahead.
"What's the matter, Sakura-san?"
"Oh, n-nothing." She barely managed to choke out, deciding whether or not to tell him about the mission. Everyone who knew about their task to try and bring back Sasuke, again, knew the mission was a failure. And with this second failure, people believed Sasuke was gone, a complete traitor to their village and even though he aimed to kill his brother to avenge his family, they took him for what they saw.
However, Sakura didn't see it that way, at least at first. She knew Sasuke had a mission, a lifetime goal which had to be fulfilled as if it was his duty. Sure Sakura hated him for leaving the village, believing he could grow just as strong with Team 7, but he insisted on leaving and training with Orochimaru.
But that's not what bothered her, no. Something was different about Sasuke, he claimed that he simply 'let go' of the bonds between him and Team 7. That those 'bonds' were what made him weak in the first place. It really hurt to hear him say that, not because she cared greatly for him, but mostly for Naruto's cause. Naruto claimed he never had a friend until Sasuke, and it tore her up when she saw the look upon his face on the way home. If there ever was a moment in time that Sakura wanted to never see again, it would be when she glanced over at the normally, bright-faced boy to find it empty and heartbroken.
Realizing she was suspiciously lost in thought she immediately stated, "I'm fine, Lee-kun, really."
Lee had watched Sakura in silence the entire time she sat there, reflecting. He was pretty sure he knew who she was thinking of, too. What he wouldn't give for someone to do the same for him, so intently...
"Sakura-san..." He traced the rings and speckles of her eyes with his own. "I am just... concerned. If you truly do not want to discuss whatever it is that is bothering you, we won't."
"Thank you...Lee-kun." She gave him a sweet smile, growing a bit more comfortable than before. "But, I feel I should get it off my chest, or it will just keep tugging at me. Just, don't feel sorry for me or anything, that's the last thing I need..." She frowned before continuing, "Sasuke-kun has changed. Too much. It...scares me. It's like, the Sasuke that Naruto and I knew as Team 7 Sasuke, doesn't exist anymore."
Gripping the tea a bit too tightly, she spilled a bit in her lap, immediately reaching for a napkin to wipe the liquid off of her skirt. "So, you see, I'm just afraid that we've...lost him." She gulped, not liking what she was saying, afraid that it was true.
"Sakura-san..."
Lee knew what he had to say: Sasuke will come back. Your team will be whole again. You will be whole again. And everything will be fine. He would have proceeded to tell her so at one point, but he had grown up since then; he knew that, in many cases, everything would not be okay, no matter what anyone said.
But he knew something else, too.
"...there is no telling what the future holds for any of us. Sasuke could be lost right now, but if we give up on him, I doubt he will ever be found again." Lee smiled, as strong and reassuring as any mountain. "Your friends are with you. Don't be afraid."
Sakura smiled slightly, though the pain in her heart didn't subside, she felt a tiny push towards a lighter feeling, a weight being lifted ever so gently. "Thank you, Lee." Although she still yearned for Sasuke, her Sasuke's, return she knew that others existed around her to help ease the pain of losing him. If only she were stronger like Naruto, she wouldn't have to rely on simple words every now and then to have a boost of confidence to move forward.
"Anytime," he replied gently. Lee straightened up, cleared his throat, and grinned widely. "Well then, Sakura-san..." in a flash, all of the items inside his basket were suddenly somehow arranged on the blanket for her to choose from. Lee was fast. "Would you like to start our picnic?"
Blinking at the swift movements of the green-clad boy she nodded, mouth agape. "How did you get so fast?" It was then that Sakura remembered Lee dropping his 'weights' at the Chuunin Exams, causing her to sweat drop. Perhaps that was stupid of me to ask...
Reaching for a few things she began to eat, taking a break every now and then to glance at the water. "It's so beautiful here. Sometimes I wished that Sasuke and I could've..." her voice faded, not wanting to talk about such a thing while out at lunch with Lee. "But it's nice to be here with someone kind and...prepared." She giggled when reviewing just how much he brought.
Lee smiled at her question - "Hard work, of course!" - and started piling food into his plate. He was really packing in the curry when he heard the words that followed.
His face flinched - luckily, the dish held up in front of it hid it from view. An instant later, he clamped down hard on his emotions, berating himself; Sakura-san hadn't meant to hurt him - she was just being truthful, and had no idea how much those two sentences affected him.
His enemies could destroy his body, but they couldn't even touch his spirit.
His loved ones, though, could spear it through in a heartbeat.
What she really wanted was to have a picnic on the shore with Sasuke, but it was "nice" to be with Lee too. Sakura-san hadn't meant to hurt him, but Lee was getting tired of always being an afterthought; she wasn't the only one who overlooked him without meaning to.
His hands had never wavered in their motions; when at last he revealed his face, red and steaming from the curry, he grinned at her through watering eyes. "I am glad you are enjoying yourself," he said, pouring himself another bowl. "Konoha is blessed with pristine rivers and fecund woods. It is indeed very beautiful here." Lee refilled his dish of curry and brought it up to his lips.
Sakura nodded, but opened her eyes in concern after seeing Lee's face suddenly turn a bright red. "Be careful, Lee-kun! If you make it too hot, you may hurt yourself!" Still unaware of the reason why he overspiced his curry, Sakura took a napkin to his face, wiping away what was stuck to his mouth. She giggled, "You're so funny, Lee-kun. You always know just how to bring a smile to my face."
Lee blushed; girls, it seemed (and Sakura-san in particular), always made him do that. Her fingers through the napkin as it brushed his lips sent a pleasant buzz through his body, made him grin despite his still-running undercurrent of sadness. "Thank you, Sakura-san. And don't worry; I seem to have built up an immunity to all but the most potent of spices. I can eat fifteen bowls of the Curry of Life with no problem." Lee winked. "Two years ago, Neji fainted after one spoonful - but don't tell him I told you." Lee swallowed a gulp of curry and washed it down with tea, the breeze a comfort against his overheated face.
The girl couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth a bit in embarassment for her sudden outburst. The image of Neji fainting after taking a bite of spicy curry made her day, however it wasn't like she could live through that spice, at least according to what she witnessed with Naruto's experiment with the flavour. "Wow, you must have strong taste buds to live through that. I've heard stories, but never witnessed it first hand."
Indeed, Sakura did acknowledge Lee as strong. Who couldn't? A boy that quick and strong who became great through hard work alone, amazed Sakura. So perhaps along with that, and the fact that he was a natural drunken master, made him more capable of tolerating the spice? She shrugged to herself, still smiling at the bushy-browed man.
Sakura-san's laughter was clear and bright. It was the kind of laughter Lee could listen to all day. "Perhaps I do," he agreed, "But I think it's mostly because I spend so much time eating curry. I'm just used to it. Would you like to try some?"
"Uhm...I suppose I could give it a try. Just don't make it...too spicy, Lee-kun." She placed a cautious finger over her mouth, as if that would prevent the dish from being as spicy as she suspected.
Lee was blushing faintly, but it was hidden by the redness from the curry that still tinged his face. "I won't," he assured her; he opened the second container of curry - much less red and not as shiny as the kind he was eating - and poured a small bowl for her.
He leaned back into the grass, gazing out over the river. "It looks like the sun is going to set soon, Sakura-san." He ran his eyes over the first shades of dark orange appearing on the horizon. The pain in his chest had faded into a dull throb. It was... peaceful here.
Accepting the bowl, she ate, "It's really good, Lee-kun."
Taking a glance at the predicted sunset, Sakura smiled, setting her bowl down next to her, holding her knees to her chest. "It's so beautiful..." A tear fell down her cheek. "Thank you so much for being here, Lee-kun... Thank you so much..."
He heard something in her voice that made him turn to her - and exclaim. "S-sakura-san?" He moved and sat closer - to comfort, and in a smaller part, to see. Her face looked beautiful in the sunset. "Are you alright?" he asked gently. He would have taken all her pain onto himself if it meant her happiness.
"Yes...I'm fine..." She knew he knew what she was thinking, and it hurt her to feel so vulnerable and stupid. Sakura promised him that no matter what he did, she would be there for him. She loved him just that much. But she knew that she couldn't be that weak, she had to move on. Past the girl she once was. Past him.
Wiping away the tear, she decided it would be the last tear she would shed for him. It was a new beginning. And she had so many friends to support her along the way.
Setting :: A park by a river around late afternoon/sunset
Rating :: G
Warnings :: none Sakura angst
Glancing up at the sun half past its peak, Sakura took a whiff of the warm breeze that caused her short, pink strands to flow about her face. If there was ever a beautiful day it was today, however, no matter how beautiful it was, the pink-haired girl had an aura of sadness linger about her. A never-ending sadness that she hid well in her heart, disguised perfectly to many, but to her closest friends, stuck out like a sore thumb. She held a basket in one arm, prepared for a picnic that she promised she'd share with one of her close friends, Lee.
A smile spread on the young girl's face. Even though her heart was supposedly dedicated to Sasuke, she still cared deeply for her other friends, and Lee was at the top of said list. He cared for her to such a level that she couldn't help but love and respect him back, however though she did recognize she cared for him a lot and worried about him often, she could never get to mind to turn away from the raven-haired boy that abandoned her on a bench two and a half years ago.
Stopping on the grass next to a sparkling river, she lifted a blanket out of the small basket and placed it neatly on the ground, kneeling and getting comfortable on the soft surface. She hadn't made much, but it was delightful enough to share with someone she enjoyed seeing every now and then. Sakura really needed someone to lighten the load on her heart. Luckily, she had Lee and Naruto as her friends and perfect for the job.
"Sakura-san!"
There was a wonderful, familiar fluttering in his chest. Lee was grinning without realizing it as he ran to meet her, skidding to a stop on the grass nearby. "Good afternoon, Sakura-san," he said warmly, lowering his own gigantic basket. What a sublime spot for a picnic; what a splendid spring day; what a radiant sky! All paled in comparison with the girl, of course.
Sakura smiled upon catching sight of Lee. He always greeted her so kindly, it made her feel so welcome in his presence. Perhaps that was what Sakura enjoyed about him the most, the fact that he was one of the few who rarely got on her nerves. The only time he ever did was when he physically exerted himself too much that Sakura would worry. She hated worrying over her friends, but considering they were all ninja, it was a rather difficult thing not to do. "Good afternoon, Lee-kun." Ever since Sasuke's 'disappearance' from Konoha--Sakura refused to call it a 'betrayal' believing that he would return at any moment--she grew a lot closer to her friends, adopting friendlier suffixes with the rest of the Rookie Nine.
Pulling out a set of juice boxes and a couple sandwiches her eyes widened at the immense size of Lee's basket in comparison to her own. She certainly hoped it didn't carry a 'Youthful Lunch' for 'growing individuals.' "Wow, Lee. You really packed a lot." Sakura indicated to the basket with her index finger, eyes still wide and a bit concerned.
"I wanted to make sure that we had enough to eat," Lee chirruped as he bent down to sit across from her. "Gai-sensei said that our bodies are currently maturing at a rapid pace, so we must provide them with as nutritious a diet as possible! I brought milk, orange juice, green tea, two kinds of curry, nikujaga, mochi, and udon. I also have fruit - do you like apples?"
Lee had learned how to cook from Gai-sensei and by trial and error (he wasn't that bad at it either, considering his teacher's reputation), and had raced back home to prepare his share of lunch after receiving Sakura's invitation. Going a little overboard was his nature; he usually made around the same amount for team Gai's picnics too, whenever they had time to relax together.
Sakura couldn't help but giggle at Lee's, once again, over-preparedness, most likely caused by his green-clad sensei. She never knew why she couldn't fall for a guy like him, well...aside from the whole eyebrow thing. But, still, it could be easily overlooked...maybe. "I love apples, and I'll have some green tea, thank you." The girl did feel kind of bad that Lee had brought more than she did, but had Sakura brought more, who would've known how Lee would have reacted, probably mentioning something along the lines of, 'I have failed to provide as much, if not more, than my dear Sakura-san!'
"So, how has your day been so far, Lee-kun?"
"My day has become a thousand times more pleasant in your presence, Sakura-san," Lee said warmly; he reached into his basket and retrieved two apples as bright as his smile, along with a canteen of tea. "And how are you?" Lee poured the piping hot liquid in midair and whipped out a cup just in time to catch it.
Nodding she responded with a half-hearted, "Fine." She really didn't know what to say, because saying anything else would have added to the lie, if not made it more obvious. Sakura was really disappointed, both in herself but also somewhat in Sasuke. He knew how much both she and Naruto wanted him to return to Konoha, but he was too enshrouded in growing stronger for vengeance that it clouded his mind. Fighting back a frown, she pushed out the best smile she could muster for now, for Lee's sake. She really didn't like it when other people worried about her, and knowing it was Lee, he could probably see right through her fake expression. Hopefully it would be overlooked.
"I'm really happy to be here, Lee-kun. Thank you for coming, and thank you for bringing a lunch as well, although it wasn't necessary at all." His kindness was just too much, she never knew anyone who existed that was as caring and friendly as Lee. Then again, he was a category of his own.
"I wouldn't miss this for anything," Lee said quietly, handing her the cup of tea. He noted her false smile; his heart fell at the sight of it. He wondered if it had anything to do with the mission she just came back from. It probably did. Sasuke...
Lee had pretty much come to terms with his emotions for Sasuke in the years following his betrayal, and so he pushed aside the bitterness welling inside him to focus on Sakura. She was hurting, and the feelings would only fester and grow if she didn't release them.
Lee was the kind of person to confront a problem face to face, eyes steeled and unflinching. Swallowing down the thought that he was making a mistake, he forged ahead.
"What's the matter, Sakura-san?"
"Oh, n-nothing." She barely managed to choke out, deciding whether or not to tell him about the mission. Everyone who knew about their task to try and bring back Sasuke, again, knew the mission was a failure. And with this second failure, people believed Sasuke was gone, a complete traitor to their village and even though he aimed to kill his brother to avenge his family, they took him for what they saw.
However, Sakura didn't see it that way, at least at first. She knew Sasuke had a mission, a lifetime goal which had to be fulfilled as if it was his duty. Sure Sakura hated him for leaving the village, believing he could grow just as strong with Team 7, but he insisted on leaving and training with Orochimaru.
But that's not what bothered her, no. Something was different about Sasuke, he claimed that he simply 'let go' of the bonds between him and Team 7. That those 'bonds' were what made him weak in the first place. It really hurt to hear him say that, not because she cared greatly for him, but mostly for Naruto's cause. Naruto claimed he never had a friend until Sasuke, and it tore her up when she saw the look upon his face on the way home. If there ever was a moment in time that Sakura wanted to never see again, it would be when she glanced over at the normally, bright-faced boy to find it empty and heartbroken.
Realizing she was suspiciously lost in thought she immediately stated, "I'm fine, Lee-kun, really."
Lee had watched Sakura in silence the entire time she sat there, reflecting. He was pretty sure he knew who she was thinking of, too. What he wouldn't give for someone to do the same for him, so intently...
"Sakura-san..." He traced the rings and speckles of her eyes with his own. "I am just... concerned. If you truly do not want to discuss whatever it is that is bothering you, we won't."
"Thank you...Lee-kun." She gave him a sweet smile, growing a bit more comfortable than before. "But, I feel I should get it off my chest, or it will just keep tugging at me. Just, don't feel sorry for me or anything, that's the last thing I need..." She frowned before continuing, "Sasuke-kun has changed. Too much. It...scares me. It's like, the Sasuke that Naruto and I knew as Team 7 Sasuke, doesn't exist anymore."
Gripping the tea a bit too tightly, she spilled a bit in her lap, immediately reaching for a napkin to wipe the liquid off of her skirt. "So, you see, I'm just afraid that we've...lost him." She gulped, not liking what she was saying, afraid that it was true.
"Sakura-san..."
Lee knew what he had to say: Sasuke will come back. Your team will be whole again. You will be whole again. And everything will be fine. He would have proceeded to tell her so at one point, but he had grown up since then; he knew that, in many cases, everything would not be okay, no matter what anyone said.
But he knew something else, too.
"...there is no telling what the future holds for any of us. Sasuke could be lost right now, but if we give up on him, I doubt he will ever be found again." Lee smiled, as strong and reassuring as any mountain. "Your friends are with you. Don't be afraid."
Sakura smiled slightly, though the pain in her heart didn't subside, she felt a tiny push towards a lighter feeling, a weight being lifted ever so gently. "Thank you, Lee." Although she still yearned for Sasuke, her Sasuke's, return she knew that others existed around her to help ease the pain of losing him. If only she were stronger like Naruto, she wouldn't have to rely on simple words every now and then to have a boost of confidence to move forward.
"Anytime," he replied gently. Lee straightened up, cleared his throat, and grinned widely. "Well then, Sakura-san..." in a flash, all of the items inside his basket were suddenly somehow arranged on the blanket for her to choose from. Lee was fast. "Would you like to start our picnic?"
Blinking at the swift movements of the green-clad boy she nodded, mouth agape. "How did you get so fast?" It was then that Sakura remembered Lee dropping his 'weights' at the Chuunin Exams, causing her to sweat drop. Perhaps that was stupid of me to ask...
Reaching for a few things she began to eat, taking a break every now and then to glance at the water. "It's so beautiful here. Sometimes I wished that Sasuke and I could've..." her voice faded, not wanting to talk about such a thing while out at lunch with Lee. "But it's nice to be here with someone kind and...prepared." She giggled when reviewing just how much he brought.
Lee smiled at her question - "Hard work, of course!" - and started piling food into his plate. He was really packing in the curry when he heard the words that followed.
His face flinched - luckily, the dish held up in front of it hid it from view. An instant later, he clamped down hard on his emotions, berating himself; Sakura-san hadn't meant to hurt him - she was just being truthful, and had no idea how much those two sentences affected him.
His enemies could destroy his body, but they couldn't even touch his spirit.
His loved ones, though, could spear it through in a heartbeat.
What she really wanted was to have a picnic on the shore with Sasuke, but it was "nice" to be with Lee too. Sakura-san hadn't meant to hurt him, but Lee was getting tired of always being an afterthought; she wasn't the only one who overlooked him without meaning to.
His hands had never wavered in their motions; when at last he revealed his face, red and steaming from the curry, he grinned at her through watering eyes. "I am glad you are enjoying yourself," he said, pouring himself another bowl. "Konoha is blessed with pristine rivers and fecund woods. It is indeed very beautiful here." Lee refilled his dish of curry and brought it up to his lips.
Sakura nodded, but opened her eyes in concern after seeing Lee's face suddenly turn a bright red. "Be careful, Lee-kun! If you make it too hot, you may hurt yourself!" Still unaware of the reason why he overspiced his curry, Sakura took a napkin to his face, wiping away what was stuck to his mouth. She giggled, "You're so funny, Lee-kun. You always know just how to bring a smile to my face."
Lee blushed; girls, it seemed (and Sakura-san in particular), always made him do that. Her fingers through the napkin as it brushed his lips sent a pleasant buzz through his body, made him grin despite his still-running undercurrent of sadness. "Thank you, Sakura-san. And don't worry; I seem to have built up an immunity to all but the most potent of spices. I can eat fifteen bowls of the Curry of Life with no problem." Lee winked. "Two years ago, Neji fainted after one spoonful - but don't tell him I told you." Lee swallowed a gulp of curry and washed it down with tea, the breeze a comfort against his overheated face.
The girl couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth a bit in embarassment for her sudden outburst. The image of Neji fainting after taking a bite of spicy curry made her day, however it wasn't like she could live through that spice, at least according to what she witnessed with Naruto's experiment with the flavour. "Wow, you must have strong taste buds to live through that. I've heard stories, but never witnessed it first hand."
Indeed, Sakura did acknowledge Lee as strong. Who couldn't? A boy that quick and strong who became great through hard work alone, amazed Sakura. So perhaps along with that, and the fact that he was a natural drunken master, made him more capable of tolerating the spice? She shrugged to herself, still smiling at the bushy-browed man.
Sakura-san's laughter was clear and bright. It was the kind of laughter Lee could listen to all day. "Perhaps I do," he agreed, "But I think it's mostly because I spend so much time eating curry. I'm just used to it. Would you like to try some?"
"Uhm...I suppose I could give it a try. Just don't make it...too spicy, Lee-kun." She placed a cautious finger over her mouth, as if that would prevent the dish from being as spicy as she suspected.
Lee was blushing faintly, but it was hidden by the redness from the curry that still tinged his face. "I won't," he assured her; he opened the second container of curry - much less red and not as shiny as the kind he was eating - and poured a small bowl for her.
He leaned back into the grass, gazing out over the river. "It looks like the sun is going to set soon, Sakura-san." He ran his eyes over the first shades of dark orange appearing on the horizon. The pain in his chest had faded into a dull throb. It was... peaceful here.
Accepting the bowl, she ate, "It's really good, Lee-kun."
Taking a glance at the predicted sunset, Sakura smiled, setting her bowl down next to her, holding her knees to her chest. "It's so beautiful..." A tear fell down her cheek. "Thank you so much for being here, Lee-kun... Thank you so much..."
He heard something in her voice that made him turn to her - and exclaim. "S-sakura-san?" He moved and sat closer - to comfort, and in a smaller part, to see. Her face looked beautiful in the sunset. "Are you alright?" he asked gently. He would have taken all her pain onto himself if it meant her happiness.
"Yes...I'm fine..." She knew he knew what she was thinking, and it hurt her to feel so vulnerable and stupid. Sakura promised him that no matter what he did, she would be there for him. She loved him just that much. But she knew that she couldn't be that weak, she had to move on. Past the girl she once was. Past him.
Wiping away the tear, she decided it would be the last tear she would shed for him. It was a new beginning. And she had so many friends to support her along the way.