A Lotus in Winter: A Rock Lee Love Story

Chapter 22: Some secrets are better kept

Rock Lee's POV :

The next day I went to go talk to Guy sensei, he was challenging Kakashi sensei again. It was another round of Rock paper scissors. I interrupted them saying I had to talk to Guy sensei. They looked at each other and at the same time said

"Is it about Sayuri?"

I blushed furiously and stuttered saying I was just worried about her and how lonely she seemed.

Kakashi sensei looked away, towards the great stone faces and mumbled"You know only the tip of the iceberg about her pain. The same goes for all of us."

He turned at looked at me, in his eye I saw the same pain that Sayuri held in hers. No it was different, his had begun to dissipate, he was healing. Looking into her tea colored eyes was like looking into the eyes of an animal sent to slaughter.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Guy sensei's voice asking "Well Lee, when you're feeling down, what do you do to make yourself feel better?"

I thought of this and answered, "I surround myself with my comrades and train, or spar with them until I feel better."

Guy : "Then there is your answer Lee. Get her to train with you and all of your friends. I will help her too, so will Kakashi. She enjoys sparring and teaching."

Kakashi sighed but agreed. I quickly ran to gather my friends, at least those not on a mission. Unfortunately team InoShikaCho was out of the village, but everyone else was available. I ran to go find Sayuri but I couldn't find her anywhere. I finally found Hitsugi and asked where his master went. He said she was off on a mission with the anbu. I frowned knowing I had missed my chance.

I slowly walked to where we were supposed to meet everyone only to run into Sayuri leaving the hokage's office after turning in her mission report. When I say I ran into her, I mean I ran into her. We ended up falling, I fell on top of her, and looking down I could see her pretty eyes through her mask. My heart started thumping wildly again and my face burned with blush. I have never felt this strongly before, what is wrong with me?

That was when I heard the most beautiful laugh. It was coming from her, I couldn't see her face but her eyes held actual emotion. No false emotion was within them. This was Sayuri, the person she was meant to be. Even she seemed shocked by this.

I jumped up and helped her up, still blushing. She brushed off the dirt and that was when I noticed her chest. Her shirt had become ruffled enough that part of her curse mark could be seen, or rather it couldn't be seen. There was only the faintest remnants of its presence and I couldn't help but cry and hug her.

"Oh Guy sensei and Kakashi sensei will be so happy that your mark is nearly gone!"

She giggled softly and lowered her head, "So it would seem."

Was it just my imagination or did her voice crack? She was just happy a second ago... No I can't let her sadness come back, she has to stay happy.

I took her hand and started running to the meeting place without explaining anything to her. She followed without question.

We spent the afternoon sparring with our friends and sensei. Afterwards we went to barbecue, choji would have been disappointed that he didn't get to go, but it was the most fun I had in a long time and Kakashi sensei paid for everyone's food. He seemed happy to hear Sayuri laugh, so was Guy sensei. He cried just like me. Everything was going great until I made a mistake.

Sayuri was cooking meat and I asked out of curiosity what being in the anbu was like. Everyone got quiet and I knew I shouldn't have asked.

She continued cooking and stated in a soft tone "It is not as bloody of a job as when I was an anbu in the Land of Woods."

Kakashi sensei looked towards her and seemed shocked. I suppose he didn't believe her.

So I just had to keep asking questions. Stupid me. I asked her why she didn't tell us the whole story in the arena. Was it because of her curse mark.

She nodded. "However it is so faded that it won't inhibit my speech now."

Lee: "Then tell us, please."

Kakashi: "Some secrets are best kept Lee."

The atmosphere became awkward and I knew it was my fault. Sayuri's voice came breaking through the silence.

Sayuri: "My mother never stopped trying to help me escape from my fate. That ultimately led to her demise Lee. That and one other factor."

There was a stunned silence followed by the obvious question of what factor.

Sayuri replied "My mother was a spy sent from another village to go undercover,  infiltrate my father's home and collect intel. She became one of his concubines, got pregnant with me and all the while was working as a ninia from the enemy.  My father discovered this and had her eliminated. Afterwards my father thought I had to be in on her plan and tried having me married off sooner as I was worth more alive. I escaped and was caught soon after and thrown in prison until my future husband could come get me."

You could have heard a pin drop. My heart ached for Sayuri to go through so much and I knew everyone else felt the same.

We parted for the evening soon after and I returned home to face a sleepless night deep in thought.