OUR MEMORIES (Requests Open)

Unrequited love

Their love story is as cute as its underrated. A one that needed support.

"There was the love he ever had only for her,
But she could never see,
They were made for each other,
But never meant to be."
.
.
That's how it always was. I guess I was never the one she wanted.

She even looked like she was ready to give Naruto the love he wanted.

Lee sighed. Today was unexpectedly "calm" day for him. He, for the first time didn't felt like training. The absence of Neji did made him lose a little enthusiasm. Tenten didn't came out of her house, it has been a long time.

Yes its been three months since the fourth shinobi world war ended.
There was a lot of work.

Reconstruction, the people in the hospital did the most. Guy sensei is still in the hospital, he did meet him everyday.

He walked down the road covered with cherry blossoms falling on it. Everyone was busy.

Naruto was finally working on the administrative hokage studies with Iruka. Sasuke left to atone for his sins, the Ino-Shika-Cho were somehow the same as they shared the same pain. Kurenai's team was also helping around the village, and his team? It was empty.

And Sakura? He stopped as the name popped in his head. Well she was working very hard. She was starting a project for treating kids mentally after the chaos that affected their mind. She has been going around all five nations and even the remote villages. It was a hassle.

He barely saw her and when he did, his enthusiastic greet would do nothing to her weary eyes. Everyone could she how hard she was working, but it did took a huge toll on her health. He was obviously concerned.

.

Sakura walked on the road, cherry blossoms, it felt peace, she was tired but, peace was there. The pink petals complimenting her hair, that had grown longer. She took a long breath smelling the essence of Konoha, she has been out for so long, she missed it.

The forehead now held a proud mark of her mentor's power, she had all she wanted but she was still incomplete, she knows she always will, it was as if her dream never came true.

She saw Lee standing there with his hands collecting the pink petals. It was as if he was reminiscing something. Sakura hurried to greet him but stopped on her track as she heard her name coming out of his mouth.

"Its so pretty and delicate, just like Sakura. " he looked down and then looked up as the petals fell on his face.

Sakura hid behind the tree and lowered her chakra. She was the best at chakra control.

"When was the first time?" There was a pause as if he was remembering all again, talking to himself. "Yes at the academy."

"It was the time I was being bullied when I saw another pink tint of hair being bullied, I was running to her but a  blonde appeared before me and saved her, it was Ino. Had it been me, would she have liked me?"

Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing, she knew he loved her, but this felt new. She has never seen Lee like that.

"And then again.." he continued, "it was the Chunin exams, I found out she liked Sasuke, I thought she would come to me if I defeated him, but guess she wasn't into bushy brows." He chuckled. But Sakura could tell the pain under it.

"Sakura did gave a bit of more attention to me than she did to the other members of the rest of the teams. I felt as if I had a chance. I saved her, in the chunin exams, I got to see a new strong side of the delicate blossom, I was determined to become more strong as I knew she did too."

Yes Sakura did, because she knew she couldn't give his love back, so she tried to help him and care more.

"I was as determined as Naruto to bring Sasuke back when I saw Sakura crying for him. He was an ass, but she loved him. I know Naruto felt the same and he did inspire me a lot."

Sakura was startled.

"Then the joint mission to Suna with her? It was the best of times. I was happy to spend time with her. Her smile always made my day. She always smiled at me. I love her."

Sakura felt like breaking.

"The war? It was the worst. I hate losing everyone. Sasuke came back into the scene. Neji died. Naruto was fighting for everyone. For his dream. I hoped to save everyone too. But I ended up saving myself. I could've saved Neji."

Sakura wanted to go and run and tell him, he was stronger than all, he saved the most of the lives, he was too an hero, he was like the everyone in the teams that survived the war. He couldn't have saved Neji. He was too far. She knew he was very strong.

"I saw Sakura fighting along her team 7. I saw her obtaining the same seal and power as Tsunade-sama. It was so cool. I saw her tremendous power, but still that same smile she gave me. It only boosted me to break my limits and fight for everyone, at least her."

She smiled, don't know why she did.

"And now she is still working hard...
...

I wish....
I wish..."

There was long pause till the word reached Sakura.

"I wish, she loved me too."

He took his hands and caressed the petals on his face. Sakura knew he was hiding the tears that were streaming down.

Sakura found herself curled up as she sat and cried to her heart's content.

"I know I love her. There wasn't any other than her. She was the one, I swore on my life to protect her. I'd give my life for her and I know it would always be the same."

He walked away. Sakura wanted to run and go to him and hug him.

Telling she loves him too. But that would be a lie right? Because she has already given her heart.

A regret, an emptiness always was in her heart.

.

What if she had given Lee a chance, she knew he'd never make her cry and protect her.

What if she had given Naruto the chance? He was obsessed. She almost did, but "he" came back.

She felt so sad deep inside. She was working so hard but the reason she was doing that? She never knew. Not anymore.

It was unrequited love for Lee, for Naruto.

And for Sakura, to the very extent, it was too.

That's the way it was.

She loved Lee, but not the same way.
Sakura, in the moment cried. She cried as if crying for every mistake she did. It just hurt her. She wanted to let all the pain go that was stored in her eyes.

.

..

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