"Behind every mask is a face,
And behind every face
There is a story."
Facades
"Ugly"
"Bitch."
"Whore"
"Pink-haired freak."
The malicious words echoed in Sakura's head, hounding her relentlessly as she knelt on the carpeted floor. Tears were sliding out of her emerald eyes, slipping down her face and drip-drip-dripping onto the ground. Despite the dark and musty bedroom, moonlight streamed through an open window, bathing the girl's cherry pink hair with light. Silent sobs racked her body.
No. She thought, trying to steel her nerves. They're wrong. But even as she repeated the words in her head, Sakura's traitorous fingers latched onto the knife.
Sasuke woke with a start, his pillow stained with the sweat that slid off his forehead. His clammy hands were clenched tightly in the linen sheets. The thump-thump-thump of his heart grew louder as it reached a gallop. The raven-haired boy glanced out of his open window. Little dots of hope speckled the sky, each giving it's own tiny light. A star for every wish, for every promise, and for every desire. Sasuke settled back down, his pale body sinking back into the mattress as the cool midnight breeze caressed his neck and hair. Calm down, he scolded himself. It was just a dream. But even as those ebony eyes closed, he could still see the pink-haired girl kneeling as the moonlight glinted off of her knife.
Sakura's sleeves of her pale green pullover slid down her wrists, hiding the symphony of regret and pain that lay in each cut. She stood in front of the mirror, ready to build up the crumbling pieces of her facade. Her porcelain skin was almost flawless – save for the area under her eyes which were ringed with purple, indicating her one of many sleepless nights. No body can know, she thought as she covered it up with makeup. When Sakura was satisfied that no one would know, that no one would even think of knowing, she clambered down the pretty white steps of her old cookie-cutter house and roamed into the kitchen.
"Sakura! What was taking so long? You're almost late for school! You don't want to be late for the first day, do you?" Her mother, Mebuki Haruno, said worriedly.
"Mom, it's fine. Hinata and Tenten will be there. It's not like I'm transferring to a new school," Sakura replied, forcing herself to roll her eyes and smile.
"Well-" Her mother tensed, "I- I just want to look after my baby girl. Especially since your dad-" Sakura cut her off. "Don't," she snarled with lethal calm, "speak about him." she continued, her jaw clenching. Don't, don't don't, her mind chanted. Don't remember. Don't snap. But even as the words resonated in her head, the memory resurfaced
It had been 11 years since Sakura and her mother received the letter. Her father was called to the battlefront on a short notice. He, being the novice and notoriously proud soldier he was, agreed, and left them. Sakura was barely 9 at the time, but she still remembered the warmth of his hand as she held onto it for as long as possible. Then the letter arrived. After months and months of not hearing from him, a letter was waiting at the front door. She recalled the look on her mothers face, how it changed from horror to sadness in an instant, blood draining from her face and tears welling in her eyes. The letter read;
Dear Mrs. And Miss Haruno,
With great sorrow and grief I write this letter. Your father led us to victory. But at a great cost. Despite our warnings, he and his legion led the enemy towards a hidden minefield, and ultimately destroyed them. While most of his army perished, by a miracle, he survived.
Young Sakura's eyes widened, and a shimmer of hope shone in them.
Unfortunately, his ears and voice box was damaged, leaving him deaf and dumb. Never the less, I suggest you visit him. He currently resides in Konoha Hospital.
Best of Wishes,
Makira Yamnaka
General of the
Allied Mother's Force
Little Sakura looked up at her mother's face, and it was beyond her comprehension of why Mommy seemed as if she was disgusted.
"Mommy? We can see Daddy now! We can see Daddy! Let's go!" Sakura squealed.
But the words were deaf to her mother's ears. She kept muttering things that sounded like "disgrace" and "deaf and dumb" Mebuki Haruno felt a tug on her arm. Looking down, she snapped,
"What?"
"I w-w-want to go see Daddy," Little Sakura whispered, afraid of risking her mother's wrath. To her surprise, her mother's eyes softened, but Sakura could still see the distaste lingering behind those viridescent eyes that reflected her own.
~At the hospital…~
Mebuki furiously argued with her consort, conveying her revulsion at having a husband who couldn't hear or speak. Finally, Sakura's snapped, and Sakura didn't have to look twice to see the sorrow and misery fill her father's eyes. Mrs. Haruno grabbed Sakura by the arm and stormed out.
~A few days later a local newspaper reads:
Man by the name of Kizashi Haruno committed suicide following the visit by…. (etc)
Hands trembling, Sakura tried not to let the tears show, even as they pricked her eyes. Her mother was out, probably at a bad place, getting those bottles that reeked and stank up the place. She curled up in a ball and finally let the tears flow.
~End of Flashback~
Sakura hadn't realized she was almost at school by the time she snapped out of it. Unaware of the raven-haired boy watching her, she headed towards the doors of the school.
"Sakura!"
"Sakura!"
"Sakura-chan!"
Hinata, Tenten, and Naruto ran up to her, waving their hands like maniacs through the crowded hallway.
"Ne, Sakura, I heard there's a new student who transferred from Anbu High," Tenten panted excitedly, her olive toned face flushed with the efforts of running.
"Eh?" Naruto and Sakura exclaimed at the same time.
"Anbu High? Isn't that an elite school?" Sakura inquired.
"Ne, ne, what is his name?" Naruto asked cautiously, pushing in front of Sakura, much to her annoyance. Despite her annoyance, Sakura couldn't quite grasp the unusual calculating gleam in his eyes.
"Sasuke Uchiha," Tenten said, her voice wavering with uncertainty.
"I-I hear he has b-black hair and b-b-black eyes," Hinata stuttered.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sakura could see Naruto's powder blue eyes widen as if he knew something about this Sasuke Uchiha.
"Naruto?" Sakura asked quietly, locking a questioning gaze on him.
"Ah, uh, I've never heard of h-h-him before! I have c-class to go to! Isn't that right Hinata? Come on, lets go!" Before Hinata could speak, they were off. Sakura had never seen him babble like this. She narrowed her jade green eyes as she pondered what Naruto had said.
Maybe I'm not the only one who hides behind a mask.