A Lotus in Winter: A Rock Lee Love Story

Chapter 39: Rebirth

Lee's POV:

I ran with my team to get Sayuri to Sakura and Katsuyu. As we made it there we saw the most amazing thing, hundreds of green lights flew from the sky into the village. Then people who had been proclaimed deceased began to rise. They were alive. I smiled at Sayuri knowing she had done so much to help. Naruto had won. Tents had been put up to house the injured and I put her on a bed there.

Naruto returned to the village on Kakashi Sensei's back and was congratulated by us all. My heart was with my beloved though as I congratulated him, I soon went back to her. That was when I remembered Kakashi Sensei, he had to be told. I ran to him and told him what had happened, he grew solemn and asked me to take him to her. I did so.

Sakura had just made it to her when we got back to the tent and I wish we had waited. All of her wounds were unwrapped so they could be cleaned and treated. There was not enough chakra to heal her.

She lay there as pale as a sheet except for the blood and grime. She needed to have her clothes changed and the mess cleaned off to prevent infection. Sakura asked us to step out while she did this. We obeyed, I lowered my head and tried holding back tears. I felt like I had failed her again. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder.

Kakashi: "She's going to be fine Lee. She wouldn't want you sad or feeling guilty. She would want you to help the village and others."

I knew he was right, but written on his face was the same guilt and pain.

At that moment I heard running and saw a ball of fur running our way. It was Hitsugi. I cried out his name and cried happily, he was alive! He jumped on me and kakashi and licked both of us and eventually let us up.

"Where is master? Want to play fetch."

We laughed at first, but then lowered our heads and explained to him. He immediately ran in the tent. We heard him whimper and howl. It was a heartbreaking sound to hear him cry that way. Sakura called us back in, Sayuri lay covered up to her chest. There of course were no clothes to change her into, but she couldn't remain in her old ones that could infect her. So she lay unconscious under blankets. Her hands were wrapped now much like mine, her head was wrapped and I assume her leg was wrapped too as well as other cuts she had.

"I've done all I can for now. When I rebuild up my chakra I will heal her but for now I can do no more. I'm sorry"

We thanked her and she left the tent. Hitsugi curled up under her head so she could use him as a pillow. Kakashi sensei stroked her hair and talked to her, telling stories about his dad and old team. Meanwhile I held her hand, careful not to hurt her.

Kakashi's POV:

I had finished carrying Naruto back to the village and was celebrating with him. When it all calmed down I began to search for my sister. People looked at me strangely and I couldn't figure out why, others came up to me and asked I express their gratitude to my sister. I couldn't be more confused, then Lee ran up to me and explained what had happened. I went to her as fast as I could. She was in a terrible state when I saw her and it was all I could do to contain my tears.

Sakura needed us to step out and we obeyed. It appeared as though Lee felt the same as me, so I tried comforting him. Then Hitsugi showed up and hearing his cries were more than I could bear.

When we were finally allowed back in with her she was wrapped in bandages and as there weren't any clean clothes at the moment, she was naked under the covers.

I sat by her and stroked her hair gently, I had to let her know I was there, so I told her stories of my childhood. No one else in the world mattered at that point, but her.