Hey everyone! It's xXAkatsuki Black RoseXx with the awaited 26th chapter of Dance Of An Eternal Lotus! I apologize for those villages that were most likely destroyed during this wait (destroyers...you know who you are) and hopefully this chapter will make it up! First off I'd like to give recognition to those who reviewed, alerted or decided to favorite:

Reviewers: Fk306 animelover, Peace-Dog, GrimmyGrimm666, Jackle Cards, Cool (), Neko of Light

Alerters: Sparkles of Youthfulness, Just A Mortal, crazy guard girl, tazdevil, lilmeika, Neko of Light, 13, LieutenantMomiji

Favoriters: Nova Rapture, Jackle Cards, crazy guard girl, xX-Star Sapphire-Xx, Neko of Light, LadySilverDragon2, 13

Thank-you all so much it means a lot to me! Now I'm happy to present the 26th chapter of Dance Of AN Eternal Lotus!

Chapter 26

"It hurts…it really hurts…"

The scent of smoke and burning rock was all that filled Azami's nose as she laid still on the ground. The female felt like she couldn't breathe and when she did her whole body seemed to feel the pain. "I...I can't move," the teen thought, her body just felt like a ton of bricks. Biting on her lower lip Azami could feel herself start to waver as her eyes became watery. Why…why couldn't she be strong enough? She had tried so hard, she didn't want to be in the back of the pack anymore. "It's not fair."

Dark eyes stared down at Azami and Lee couldn't help but shake his head, no, this couldn't have been it. The kunoichi fought so hard, this couldn't be where the road ended for her, it wasn't right. Moving forward the male put a hand on the rail but stopped himself, all he could do was tighten his grip around the metal. "We made a promise we'd make it to the end, we promised each other," he thought as he hung his head. It wasn't supposed to end up this way.

"Is she still conscious?"

Glancing to the side, Lee looked to Kado who was leaning against the rail along with Akio. The older shinobi's grey eyes were looking intently at the kunoichi on the ground and as he saw the faint twitch of her fingers he nodded. "I think so, but she needs to get up," he murmured. "If she doesn't, this match will go to Eimi."

Kado clicked his tongue against his teeth in annoyance, "come on Azami, you've come too far to go down like this," he muttered.

At that moment a small laugh filled the air and Rock Lee couldn't help but turn his head as he saw Eimi straighten up, a smirk on her lips. The male felt a small rage build in him, "Azami get up!" he yelled which made eyes on the balcony turn to him. "You have to Azami, get up now!"

"Lee," Tenten spoke softly as she continued to listen to her teammate's cries. It was odd to hear the desperation in his voice along with the wavering rage. Moving close to him, the kunoichi placed a hand on his shoulder. "You have to calm down Lee," she tried to coax him.

"It's no use," Eimi called up with a sigh, the female put a hand on her hip. "My flames have the tendencies to cause major burns; even if she wanted to get up I highly doubt she could."

"Azami!" Rock Lee yelled again completely dismissing the girl's comment, he wouldn't listen to her. No, he wouldn't believe in her. The male had seen for his own eyes how the Kumogakure kunoichi had grown and he knew she had fight in her. "Aza-chan," he murmured out and soon his pupils dilated for a moment as he watched silver hair shift as the teen weakly picked her head up from the ground. Onyx eyes stared into emerald ones from under silver tresses and Lee felt as if his heart was being squeezed as he saw the tired, sad smile grace Azami's lips.

"Lee…I'm sorry."

The taijutsu user watched as Azami laid her head back on the ground and her gasps of breath could be heard. She was giving up, she was actually giving up. Tightening his grip on the guard rail, Rock Lee allowed his head to hang. Soon he closed his eyes tightly, "Azami."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

It was odd how everything seemed to change. There was no longer the hard concrete floor under her but instead she was resting in something soft and grainy. The heat of the burning flames had been replaced with a gentle breeze and in what seemed like the distance she could hear rolling water. A small sigh escaped capped lips as Azami opened her eyes. Blinking a few times the female slowly raised her body; it didn't seem as heavy as before. Shaking her head the kunoichi ran her fingers through her hair pushing it back. Looking at her surroundings, Azami couldn't help but feel a little confused; she was on the shore of an ocean.

"So…you're giving up?"

Looking to her right, Azami saw her other side. A small frown was on the female's face and her arms hung lazily at her side. Feeling the sand go between her toes as she moved forward, the other stopped in front of the kunoichi on the ground. "Every time something goes wrong," she paused, her voice calm though in a sense cold, "are you just going to take defeat as the only option?" A small huff came from her lips, "I'm disappointed."

"What do you know?" Azami yelled as she stood up and stood face to face with her other side. "You're not the one that's out there fighting this battle." Emerald eyes narrowed, "you're not the one that alone in that ring!" At that moment, the teen felt a sharp sting against her face which sent her head to the right. Raising a hand to her cheek she rubbed the sore spot before looking back.

"You really are stupid," her other half spat as she shook out her hand, she didn't want to have to hit the girl but in all honesty she was asking for it. "Yes, I will agree with you that you are alone in that ring but what about the others?" she questioned. Seeing the confusion in Azami's eyes she sighed, "Kado, Akio, hell, even Tanjiro, they're all rooting for you to win this." Turning her head the female looked out to the sea as blue waters soon turned into white foam as they hit the shore. "Don't you think that counts for something? You may be the one fighting in the ring but they're fighting as well from the sidelines. If they have the strength to believe in you, shouldn't you have the same?"

Azami allowed those words to float through her mind and soon looked to the ground. They wanted her to win? Closing her eyes the female let out a small sigh and shook her head. Everything was just so confusing.

"What matters the most: what others think or what I think? If you put things into priority I think it becomes clearer."

"What I think," Azami murmured as she reopened her eyes and looked to her other half, she had a knowing smile on her face. "So that's what Kado meant… in the end it's only you that can make that decision to move forward."

"Though to have people that believe in you is also something special," Azami's other half said. "You saw the battle with Hinata, she had the strength to say she wanted to change and Naruto's words caused a positive effect on how she felt." The female shrugged, "it's always good to have the extra boosts when you need it, but first it has to come from inside you." Raising a hand towards Azami, her other half smiled. "So tell me, will this be the end?"

Emerald eyes stared at the hand in front of her and slowly Azami curled one of her hands into a fist. She could feel her heartbeat speeding up. Things made sense to her, after all this time she was finally getting it. Though could she use that knowledge, did she have the strength to use it?

"I-I just wanted to change myself, do it myself."

"Even if you're scared and uncertain, you continue to fight."

"I believe the key to becoming stronger is hard work-and so for that reason I shall train day and night."

"You push yourself past those mental limits and the ones others put in front of you."

"Whatever happens, happens but I swear- I won't go down without a fight. We made a promise remember?"

"What keeps you going?"

I'll start making my own confidence.

"What makes you fight harder than ever?"

"I know it feels like that but you have to remember, the answer is always lying inside you. Maybe it's even right in front of you, I know shinobi are suppose to think with their head but Azami, I think you should think with your heart this time, you were always the best at that."

"AZAMI!"

"Lee," the teen murmured as she heard the male's voice, he was still trying to get her to move. At this Azami couldn't help but smile brightly as she looked out to the ocean, as the wind pushed her hair back she took in a deep breath feeling rejuvenated. Looking to her other half she nodded and slipped her hand into hers. "Not by a long shot," she said confidently. "If people can believe in me, than I should have no problem believing in myself, it all starts with me."

"Just the way it should be," Azami's other half said and soon her hand started to take on a pure white glow that spread throughout her body and to Azami's hand. She smirked as she saw emerald eyes widened as her form started to fade and take on a different shape. Smooth white tail feathers spread across the sandy beach and large wings opened up. Silvery eyes looked into emerald green ones, "now, it is time."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Call this match already!" Eimi said with annoyance. She knew she was the victor of this match. Azami hadn't moved for a good time and with the green jumpsuit boy continuously yelling her name she was done with this match. "He's just wasting his breath," she thought before turning her head. "Well?" she snapped at Hayate hotly. "Call this match over so we can move onto the next!"

Hayate let out a small sigh followed by a short cough, this girl had an attitude. Looking to Azami who was still he nodded. "Since Yamahara-san is no longer able to fight, this match is at its end…"

"No," Rock Lee growled as he banged his hand on the rail. This wasn't the way it was suppose to end. "Azami please, you have to get up," he thought. Gritting his teeth the taijutsu user felt as if his chest was being squeezed.

Looking to the other occupants in the room Hayate closed his eyes, he could see some of the disappointment on their faces but it wasn't like he could just wait till Azami moved. It had been long enough as it was. "The winner of this match is-"

"DON'T!"

Dark blue eyes widened as Kado heard a familiar voice cut off Hayate and quickly looked down. As he did a smile spread to his lips as he saw Azami pull one of her hands in and set it under her. He watched as the female slowly pushed her body up and came into a kneeling position. She was breathing heavily but she continued to rise as she set her right leg under herself and pushed up. For a moment the female looked like she was going to stumble but quickly caught herself. "Azami," Kado murmured.

"I'm not done, I'm not done by a long shot," Azami managed through her gasping breathes. Rolling her shoulders the female looked into Hayate's direction, "nor do a forfeit, I'm going to finish this match." The kunoichi's eyes narrowed, "I'm not backing down!"

"How dare you!" Eimi screeched as she tightened her right hand into a fist, her chakra flames started to form around it. "You don't know when to quit!" Pushing her fist forward, the kunoichi sent a fireball at Azami and smirked knowing it had power behind it but as her opponent quickly swung a leg up and a large gust of wind blew through the arena her expression faltered. Her fireball had exploded but was quickly dispersed by the wind but soon Eimi realized that that wasn't just it. "It's…it's her chakra."

Giving a small huff Azami was glad she showed Eimi that her words would no longer bother her. She was going to fight like a true kunoichi would; all that mattered was how she felt about herself first. "Though," the female thought as she turned her head to the balcony. Her eyes landed on her teammates and she gave a bright smile which was equally returned for the most part. It was then that she turned her gaze to one more person; her emerald eyes became half-lidded.

"Rock Lee."

For a moment the male felt as if he had a lump in his throat as he heard his name travel through the air gently. His dark eyes stared into Azami's and silently the two seemed to make a connection. As the female started to move, Lee tilted his head curiously. Watching Azami bring her hands close to her and place one over the other on her chest before moving her right one out and leaving her left one where it was the male shook his head. He didn't understand.

"Do you remember…"

Rock Lee looked to his side as Kado watched Azami. Whatever she was doing it seemed he understood the body language and was able to put words to it. "Do you remember, what you asked me, what seemed like so long ago?" the male continued to speak.

"What I asked," the taijutsu user murmured as he watched Azami twirl. In his memories he could see the two walking through Konoha chatting lightly. Lee had a smile on his face and so did the kunoichi. "That's right," he thought as his words came back to him.

"Yet Azami-chan, one day, would you dance for me?"

Closing her eyes, Azami smiled as she gave another small twirl and allowed her right foot to come in front of her left. So he did remember. Reopening her eyes she tilted her chin down and her head to the side before bringing her arm back. Crossing both hands at the wrist she allowed her lower arms to press close to her torso. "I will keep my promise," Aza thought as she uncrossed her wrist. "For this dance-"

"Is for you."

"Aza-chan," Lee murmured as he heard Kado speak what the girl meant. As Azami bowed towards the male he smiled back letting his hands drop to his side he bowed forward as well. Straightening up his dark eyes met forest green ones and left an arm he gave a thumbs up with his signature bright smile. "Show your youthfulness Azami," he coaxed.

Hearing those words, the kunoichi felt something leap for joy inside her and she nodded, "thank-you," she murmured back before she turned her head to Eimi. The girl was glaring at her but she remained calm but there was a new air around her. No more did Azami feel uncertain or hesitant but instead felt confident and if she dared say, a little bold. "Come at me with everything you have Eimi-san," Azami paused, "I'll fight you all the way."

Seeing both girls get into a fighting position, Hayate could help but give a weak smile. It seemed this fight would have more to it and he had to say, a part of him was interested to see what else these genins had to offer. Taking a breath the male looked at both females before nodding, "this match will continue," he said strongly. "Resume!"

Rushing forward with a new outlook, Azami felt as if she was flying on wings. "I can do this, I know I can," she thought as Eimi ran at her as well. "Kado, Akio, Tanjiro, Lee, if you think I can I won't let you regret your thoughts, I won't let me regret my thoughts." Letting out a cry, Azami's fist collided with Eimi's with such an intensity the teen could feel it move throughout her body. Around the cornea of the female's eyes the emerald green color, silver started to take over the rim. "I'll show everyone how much I've grown and what I can still do…"

"And no one's going to stop me."

It's coming down to the wire folks! With Azami's new courage will she be able to stick it to Eimi or will she fall short. All will be revealed in chapter twenty-seven which I hope to have out soon! As per usual, comments and constructive criticism is greatly welcomed an appreciated. For those who've stuck with me thus far and those who are joining in thank-you very much, you've be a reason I've kept going. So for now everyone till next time!

xXAkatsuki Black RoseXx