lee hasn't been traveling with her for long, but she'd had a feeling their little journey would pass over this day, and it isn't a complete coincidence that sakura has found a rather nice inn for them to spend the next few days. it's more expensive than she'd usually go for, but people insist on paying her for her services sometimes, and she's saved quite a bit of money as a result. it's worth it, to see her friend stretched out and relaxed after taking advantage of the onsen. "i made you something," sakura says with a smile, after lee has given a thoroughly positive review of the space, and she holds out the wooden carving of a tiger with a lotus at the end of its tail. "happy birthday, lee."
most wouldn’t consider rock lee the “type” for things as sensitive as diplomatic endeavors, but he’s taken to liasion between villages like a fish to water. not only is he charasmatic and dedicated in his normal day-to-day, but he and sakura work well together. she travels to those who need assistance, while lee spreads the good reputation of the allied shinobi forces; a union that needs to last long after the ashes of war have settled.
normally, settled under stars isn’t the worst way to sleep, despite the terrible strain on ones back - he never complains, thought. but sakura seems to want to splurge that evening, and lee doesn’t say no. the inn is lovely, the sheets smell like cherry blossoms and the fancy hand soaps in the bathroom look good enough to eat!
(he doesn’t ,of course, but the colorful shapes of roses and shells are tempting.)
“hmm?” owlish eyes blink over to his companion as she speaks, “for me?” he confirms even as she reaches out to him to hand him something. it’s a carving, wood smooth in the shape of a tiger and lotus. lee feels his throat begin to clench a little. his eyes begin to water. not only is it a gift which means she was thinking of him, but it is something she crafted for him. made for him with her own two hands. something special and meaningful. his clan is small, it’s himself and gai, but the lotus has always meant so much to it.
when he glances up at her, it’s through glassy tears, but there is a smile plastered on his face, “this is beautiful, sakura-san! thank you so much!” a hand raises to wipe the tears as they fall but more replace them before he can stop it, “i will cherish it, always!” // @formerfool
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