The setting sun left hints of pink, yellow, and orange in the sky. The four teenage boys sat on top of their cars near an alley, which was where they usually hung out.

"Did you guys hear?" The sun-kissed blonde asked.

The lazy Nara sat on the hood of his car, his head craned upward, looking up at the sky, "Yeah, Lee can't stop talking about it. That troublesome, youthful bastard. . ." He lit a cigarette.

Neji closed his eyes, "Who could blame him? He's had a crush on her since we were in our pre-teen years."

Naruto furrowed his eyebrows at his best friend, "Teme, you could've stopped it."

The Uchiha held the cigarette in between his index and middle fingers, and parted his lips to blow the smoke out.

He spat, "Tch, like I care."

"At least he asked for your permission." Neji said.

Sasuke threw the cigarette on the ground, and stepped on it with his shoe, "He didn't need to."

Naruto crossed his arms in a pouting manner, "I always thought you two would end up together. For years she's been trying to get your attention."

At that moment, the ravenette furrowed his eyebrows, remembering the conversation he and the pinkette had just the other day.

{FLASHBACK}

"Sasuke-kun. . ." She started, looking down at her feet as she stood across from him. He stared at her, waiting for her to continue. Her emerald eyes met his, "I just want you to know. . . That I give up." The Uchiha gave her a slight glare, and she looked back down in sadness, "All these years, I've stood behind you because I'm madly in love with you, but you already know that. I've realized that I can't wait around for your affection forever, because I know I'll be disappointed. You never seemed to care." She looked back up at him, "I'm not going to chase after you anymore."

The breeze got stronger, making leaves fly around the two. Sakura sniffled, "If I keep doing this to myself, I'll waste my life waiting for you, but you'll never come. So I guess. . ." Her hands balled into fists, "This is goodbye, Sasuke-kun."

{END OF FLASHBACK}

The Uchiha never knew the day would come, when Sakura Haruno gave up on him. He's aware of her strong feelings towards him, but he's never quite coped with that. They've been friends for years, but Sakura has always been in love with him.

"I guess it's good she gave up on Sasuke," Shikamaru said, "She hates when guys smoke."

Neji smirked, "Lee refuses to smoke. She'll be happy with him."

Those words the Hyuga just said, echoed in Sasuke's mind.

She'll be happy with him. . .

{FLASHBACK}

"Good evening, Sasuke Uchiha." Rock Lee bowed slightly.

Sasuke glared, "What do you want?"

He gave him a reassuring grin, "I would like your permission."

"Permission?" The Uchiha asked confusingly.

"I am aware of your complicated relationship with Sakura Haruno, so I would like to ask for your permission to date her."

"Hn," Sasuke closed his eyes, and lit his cigarette, "Do what you want. I don't care."

The ravenette began to walk past him, but Lee's words stopped him, "Uchiha, I promise I will protect her with my life."

{END OF FLASHBACK}

"Y'know what this means, Sasuke?" Shikamaru began, "Naruto gets girls better than you do."

The Uzumaki grinned, "Oh yeah! Hinata-chan!"

Neji crossed his arms, "Not to mention Shikamaru has Temari and I have TenTen." A glare crossed his eyes, "You were wrong to let her go."

A slight crease was apparent between Sasuke's eyes, and he replied, "Hn. I'm going on a walk."

~*~*~*~*~*~

She stared at herself in the mirror, holding a sad expression. She then remembered Lee, and smiled, "I'm moving on."

{FLASHBACK}

There was a knock on the door, and the pinkette immediately rose from her seat on the couch. Opening the door, she saw someone she least expected.

"Lee?"

"Sakura," He slightly bowed, "How are you doing on this youthful day?"

Giggling, the emerald-eyed girl replied, "I'm doing fine."

"Since you are in a fine mood," The bushy-browed teen held out a red rose, "I would like to ask you out on a date."

Sakura widened her eyes, and a dark image of Sasuke popped into her mind.

I must forget about him and. . .

And move on.

Giving him a close-eyed smile, she accepted the rose and replied,

"I'd love to."

Rock Lee clenched his fist in front of him in victory, and informed with happiness in his tone, "That is youthfully excellent! I will pick you up tomorrow at 6 o'clock sharp!"

{END OF FLASHBACK}

Glancing at the clock, the pinkette noticed it was 5:59. Right when the clock said 6:00, there was a quick knock on the door. Opening it, she smiled.

The bowl-haired teen gave her a quick look and grinned, "My dear blossom, you look stunning!"

A slight blush was apparent on Sakura's cheeks, "Thank you, Lee. You ready?"

He gave her a thumbs up, "Let us go.

"~*~*~*~*~*~

Throughout the date, the emerald eyes of the girl held sadness, and Rock Lee could see that. Although he didn't mention her behavior, Lee narrowed down what could be bothering the girl, and he finally came up with a conclusion.

Furrowing his eyebrows, he glanced at the pinkette as they walked and noticed she was looking down, frowning.

"Hey Lee," Sakura started, still looking down, "Can we go to the park?"

He smiled brightly, "Of course!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

The cold-hearted ravenette had been walking for nearly two hours, letting his thoughts take over him. It hadn't occurred to him that his pace was very slow. Entering the gates to a nearby park, the Uchiha stuffed his hands in his pockets. His hand accidentally traced the outline of a carton of cigarettes and he contemplated whether or not to damage his lungs.

As if on cue, his onyx eyes landed on something pink on the other side of the path. He could see the scene perfectly. A bushy-browed boy in love and a uniquely stunning girl sat on a bench.

I need a cigarette for this.

Something stopped Sasuke, as he recalled another memory.

{FLASHBACK}

The white stick laid in between his lips, and he flipped open the lighter with his thumb. Before having the flame hit the end of the cigarette, her words stopped him.

"Sasuke-kun. . ." His onyx eyes glanced at her and she continued, "It's unhealthy to smoke."

The egotistical Uchiha scoffed and lit the cigarette nonetheless. A sigh escaped Sakura's lips and he stared at her. She was obviously saddened by his actions and he rolled his eyes. Taking the cigarette out of his mouth, Sasuke threw it on the ground, and smooshed it with his shoe.

"Fine," He began, "I won't do this in front of you. Happy?"

A smile crept on her lips and her eyes glanced down at the crumbled cigarette, "It's also bad to litter."

"Tch," He picked up the crushed cigarette and walked to the trash can. After he came back, he said, "You're such a goody-two-shoes."

Chuckling, Sakura replied, "It'll be beneficial in the long run."

{END OF FLASHBACK}

Sakura was the only person he would ever listen to. If his other friends told him to throw a cigarette out, he probably wouldn't do it. But something about saddening her made him seem like the worst guy in the world. She's always been a bright-spirited girl who could never do what the Uchiha does. They are polar opposites. She smiles and her eyes are always sparkling, while he frowns and dullness is held within his orbs. They've never been alike in anyway, but somehow they made their friendship work.

Sasuke's always known how she feels about him. Hell, everyone does. It reached a point where she confessed to him, but he didn't really care. It seems like most girls fall in love with the Uchiha when they lay eyes on him. He wouldn't dare call Sakura one of his 'fangirls,' but she was caught under his spell as their relationship developed. Shikamaru's words rang in his ears. . .

"She hates when guys smoke."

And then came Neji's words. . .

"Lee refuses to smoke. She'll be happy with him."

Sasuke took his hands out of his pockets and clenched his fists. Why did this little date affect him now? Just looking at Lee and Sakura talking made him feel. . . Angry.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The abnormal eyes of the bowl-headed teen quickly darted to a silhouette in the distant shadows. He sighed, knowing what's happening. After all, he believes everything happens for a reason. A sigh escaped his lips, and he looked at the emerald-eyed girl sadly.

Worry crossed her features, "Hey, you okay?" It was foreign of Lee to seem upset.

"Sakura," He stood up and stared down at her, "I am going to have to cut this date off."

Her pink eyebrows furrowed upwards, "W-What? Why?"

Lee bit his lip, but smiled, "Because your heart does not belong to me."

Blinking away the upcoming tears, Sakura replied, "What are you talking about?"

"Your heart has been taken by another man. He owns it and refuses to let it be stolen by anyone else." He turned to leave, but craned his head to the side to look at her, "But in my eyes, you will always be my dear blossom." Before leaving, Rock Lee gave her his signature grin, teeth sparkling.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Uchiha watched Sakura's date walk away from her, and heading towards him. Keeping his eyes on the pinkette, Lee walked past Sasuke, but stopped.

"Uchiha," He started, "Sakura is a lovely girl. You do not deserve her, but I cannot control who her love goes to. She has chosen you. Cherish it."

From there, the cold-hearted, dark and mysterious teenager took what Lee said into consideration, and made up his mind.

She was his.

And he was hers.

Nothing.

And no one could ever change that.