Disclaimer: I do not own Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, Naruto or even the city of Konoha. I don't own anything related to Naruto except for my story! Which is really sad….. I don't even own Shikamaru! Waah!! -hugs teddy bear-

Authors Note: This is the first story I've actually posted. I've written more...I just haven't gotten around to posting them. 0.o...hehe… Anyway this is my first romance story ever!!! Yaay!

-holds up teddy bear- Polar helped me a lot even though he doesn't like romance and stuff like that.

Cherry Blossom Wilting

The wind was blowing fiercely, stripping the cherry blossoms from the trees and tossing them about before leaving them- a trampled sodden mess. The rain pounded into the ground and beat a tattoo on the roofs of the village. It was supposed to be the worst storm in Konoha history and everyone was safe inside. Everyone but Sakura Haruno. No one had seen her slip away from the party and run down the street. She wanted to run forever, leaving it all behind her- but she couldn't. She collapsed beneath the cherry trees and let the tears run down her face, mixing with the rain and mud.

"He hates me! He's always hated me," she sobbed, "I've been a fool!"

The wind shrieked at her as the rain drove into her skull, soaking her completely. Even then Sakura didn't care, as the fury of the storm barely matched the storm raging inside of her. The pain only numbed her to the memories as she was reminded of all the times she had thrown herself at Sasuke and all she had missed because of her childish infatuation. Yet it still hurt to know it could never be. And what she had lost –Ino's and Naruto's friendship, the possibility to be truly great-hurt even more. All those opportunities-gone.

"And in the end, it was useless!" Sakura cried to the barren trees, "Sasuke doesn't love me, he doesn't love anyone!"

Sakura cried as if her heart would break- but it already had. It had broken each time Sasuke rejected her. Now it had shattered, and her tears continued unabated, racking her body. The storm grew stronger and slammed down as thunder began to roar. Still she didn't move, never opened her eyes, never saw him walking up to her. He stood over her, watching her cry.

"Aw, jeez," he sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he knelt down beside her.

"What's a no talent kuniochi like you doing outside in this storm?" he asked her.

Sakura jumped, hastily wiping her eyes, "Sh-Shikamaru! What are you doing here?!"

"Looking for you."

"Wh- What?"

"You left the party and nobody could find you, not even Naruto knew where you were."

"They were looking for me?" Sakura's spirit lifted.

"No."

Sakura's shoulders slumped as any hope she had was crushed by her own worthlessness.

"Oh…that's okay." She tried to smile but she couldn't the pain was too much. Her heart was a sinking lead weight crushing her fragile, crystal dreams and those shards were cutting her to shreds. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Sakura turned away, not wanting Shikamaru to see her cry.

"Thank you… Thank you for looking for me…Shikamaru," she said, her eyes turned away from him, "I'll be fine."

She turned to go, her head bowed and her spirit weighing her down.

"Rrrrgh, this is so troublesome!" Shikamaru grumbled, frustrated. He grabbed her arm, "Sakura-Chan, listen to me," his voice was low and filled with urgency as he turned her around, "Sasuke may not love you but Naruto will always be your friend. Whether or not Sasuke loves you changes nothing about you or anyone else."

Sakura merely shook her head. He didn't understand, he didn't understand how long she had sought to impress Sasuke, how long she had been infatuated with him, how much she had lost because she had fooled herself into believing he could return her love. Shikamaru's efforts only caused her more pain at all the trouble he'd gone through only to have them fail, and the memories of her wasted years hit her with all the force of a tidal wave breaking and tearing her down.

"I'm sorry… I just can't believe that," she murmured, her voice breaking with withheld tears. Shikamaru searched her face, trying to understand her, figure out a way to tell her what he needed to say, had needed to say for a long time.

"Sakura…."

"Please… Shikamaru. Just leave me alone," she pleaded, "I'll be fine…somehow."

Shikamaru stared at her trying to figure out what to say next, but this time, when it most counted, he couldn't think of a plan; the words just wouldn't come. She slipped out of his grasp and backed away, leaving. He had to stop her, find a way to keep her here, if he didn't he knew she would never come back. Only he couldn't get the words out, the ones that would make her stay. He grabbed her again, stopping her.

"Sakura…listen…I…you can't…,"he stopped, despairing at his own inability to stop her. He stared at the barren trees, searching for the solution, for inspiration, knowing he was losing her with every second he wasted. He turned back to her, searching her eyes for the answers.

"You are the most troublesome girl I've ever..," he stopped, shaking his head angrily. "Damn, stupid no-talent kuniochi! You……arrgh!"

He stared at her, searching for some hint that she understood what he was trying to say, he found none. Slowly, not knowing what come over him, not wanting to frighten her, he bent towards her, kissing her ever so lightly.

Sakura could barely believe it, all this time she'd wanted her first kiss to be from Sasuke but now she realized it would never have felt like this, this simple sweet ecstasy that brushed her soul as lightly as butterfly, painting it with the bright colors of joy. Slowly, her eyes closed and she relaxed in his arms feeling safe for the first time in what seemed like eons. When he pulled away, she felt like she was in heaven.

"Sakura… I love you." He whispered, worried that he made a mistake. Sakura simply smiled at him and his heart soared.

"Come on. Let's go back to the party." She said, taking his hand.

The wind howled, thunder roared, rain drilled into the ground, and lightning split the skies, but this time no one noticed. This time it was simply a storm that would pass, like all storms, no matter how fierce. It would pass, wiping everything clean and leaving the skies clear.