A Lotus in Winter: A Rock Lee Love Story

Chapter 2: The Stranger

Stranger's POV:
Person: 'How long have I been wandering around? Where am I? I'm freezing. If I had known it was winter outside the. . . the prison, I would have taken shoes. At least my feet are going numb. However that's a bad thing, I'm going to die out here at this rate, but it's better than dying in there.'

Person: "At least I will get to see mom again." I smiled at my words, death would be my reward after my long suffering. I would finally be able to sleep without nightmares and be with her again. For some reason I felt tears freezing on my cheeks, but that was the last thing I felt as I succumbed to exhaustion and collapsed. "I'll see you soon mommy." My eyes fluttered and closed.

No one's POV:
Meanwhile Team Guy was tracking the footprints while being led by Neji.

Neji: "I don't understand why they were walking barefoot in the snow, however it will make it easier for us to find them. They can't last long out here. I expect we will be too late."

Rock Lee: "Don't speak so negatively Neji. I am confident we will rescue this person through the power of youth!

Guy: "I couldn't have said it better my young pupil, you are in the spring of your youth! Let's see it put into action!"

Rock Lee: "Yes Guy sensei!"

Tenten decided to change the subject in order to avoid another youth love fest.

Tenten: "So Lee what really distracted you earlier? We all know it wasn't this wild goose chase"

Lee blushed and stated "Umm I, wait what's that up ahead? Meet you there!"

With that statement, Lee ran ahead of the team hot on the trail paying no regard to his teammate's disapproval of this dangerous action.

Tenten:"Lee get back here! We don't know if they are an ally or if it's booby trapped! Lee! Stop! Ughhh he never listens."

Neji: "You really shouldn't encourage him so Guy sensei. He isn't strong enough on his own." Guy sensei then went off into another one of his lengthy speeches about guts and dedication and youth power which Tenten had hoped to avoid. Honestly no one but Lee ever listened when he rambled on so senselessly but they acted like they did in order to be nice.

Speeding up, the team soon reached Lee. At the same moment they saw that the trail had ended. Passed out in the bitter cold snow was a figure laying face down. They were wearing a slightly tattered black kimono and had long wavy hair. The figure's gender was unknown to all as any discernible features were buried in the snow.
The group jumped from the trees and approached this stranger.

Rock Lee's POV:

My heart sunk once I saw our quarry limp in the snow. 'We went all this way for nothing, we're too late. No I won't give up, we can't be too late.' This may have started as an excuse to not talk about Sakura, but now it felt important to see it through. Being the first to jump from the branches I walked towards the person followed closely by my teammates and sensei. "Guy sensei should I?" I asked as I gestured at the stranger.

Guy: "Wait, let Neji use his Byakugan first to check for traps. Neji if you would."

At that Neji activated his byakugan and his expression changed.
Neji: " I don't believe it, whoever this is, is alive. There are no traps anywhere, but their chakra network is weak and growing weaker. there isn't much time."
Without a moment's hesitation I scooped up
the person and turned them over in hopes of seeing their face. However I didn't get to as they were wearing a mask much like an Anbu wears. I could tell though that this stranger was a girl based on her uh chest size which rivaled Hinata's. Not that I notice Hinata's chest or anyone's, especially not Sakura's flat one. I looked to guy sensei for guidance.
Rock Lee: "What do we do now sensei? She's dying."
Guy: "We need to get her in shelter and warm her up. Neji is there any such place in the vicinity?"
Still using his Byakugan, Neji stated "There is a cave half a mile North of here.
Without another word I ran straight in that direction, I had to save this strange girl. I had to prove my youthful strength. 'I'll make you proud Sakura! I'll be a hero!'