Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Basketful of Blossoms
A series of Sakura-centric drabbles. Chapter 1: "... and I wasn't sure whether my heart sped up because of the physical contact, or because I had the sudden urge to run after her." JuuSaku

Title: Puzzle Pieces, JuuSaku
Summary: "... and I wasn't sure whether my heart sped up because of the physical contact, or because I had the sudden urge to run after her." Juugo x Sakura
Words: 1938
Time-Period: After Team Hebi was formed, but before Sasuke found and killed Itachi.

Well, I like making drabbles like Gestures and Acceptance, and so I decided to start placing pieces like those into one giant fic, since they're usually so short. (5,000 words and below) (: I hope you enjoy!

The first time I met her was in a forest, where she had been crouching down in front of an injured bird.

I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

She was healing the bird that I had hurt in one of my unsuspected fits of rage.

I was going to check up on it, to see if it was still alive. The small, delicate creature didn't deserve the large, heavy rock thrown at it. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me as I remembered the loud squeak it had made as the rock connected with it's small chest.

The poor thing was one of my friends. It may have not been human, but it had kept me company, and would always seem to listen whenever I talked to it. The little bird had approached me willingly, without any fear or hate or ulterior motives. I remembered the first time it had landed on my outstretched hand, and I had been so happy with the blatant display of trust and what had I done to thank it?

I attempted to end it's life.

And when I remembered the joy and adrenaline that coursed through my veins at seeing the animal in so much agony, I cringed and grabbed a fistful of my hair in self-reproach, in contempt. I was a horrible person. A terrible, evil, atrocious-

"Who's there?"

I didn't know what to do, so I stood up. She bent her knees in a fighting stance, and I backed away as her emerald eyes pierced mine. I knew I could kill her in an instant, but I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I've already caused enough pain as it was.

"Who are you and what do you want?" She demanded.

"The bird." I blurted, tactlessly. "I- I mistook it for a dangerous animal and I threw a rock at it. I was going to check to see if it was hurt-"

"Oh." She interrupted, visibly relaxing. "Well, I healed it back to perfect health. It was very kind of you to come check on it, though."

Her hardened expression quickly transformed into a soft smile. I couldn't help but stare. I had felt her aura change from threatening to amiable in less than a second.

"Ah." I stated, finding myself at a loss for words. "Thank you."

"I'm Sakura," She introduced herself. She was suddenly so polite, so sweet, so nice. "May I know your name?"

"Uh, I'm Juugo." I replied, sounding unsure of myself. For a second, I thought I might have forgotten my own name.

"Well, Juugo, it was nice to meet you," A polite nod was sent my direction. "but I really should be on my way."

"Y-yeah. It was nice to meet you too." I nodded in return, and with my eyes staring down at the ground, "G-goodbye."

"Goodbye- and don't go throwing rocks at innocent birds, now!" She teased, smiling at me before she turned around and walked away. She had a pretty smile, and I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks.

"Yeah." I softly answered her question, although I knew she wouldn't be able to hear me.

The second time we met was at the market, three months after our first encounter.

I instantly recognized her bright pink hair and different thoughts, different questions instantly filled my head.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I nervously approached her.

"Sakura?"

She looked up at me, eyebrows furrowed as she tried to recognize me, and it only took a couple of seconds before she succeeded in doing so. A smile bloomed on her face, a real, genuine smile. Nobody ever smiled to me, not like that, not since Kimimaro.

Sasuke never smiled. Suigetsu's was always taunting. Karin's smile was reserved only for Sasuke. Enemies' smiles were overconfident, believing they could get the better of me.

But she, Sakura, was smiling at me as if she was happy to see me, Juugo, the monster, the destroyer.

"Juugo! I never thought I'd run into you here." Sakura exclaimed, laughing lightly. "I never expected to run into you at all, actually, ahah."

"Me neither." I replied, giving her a small smile of my own.

"Would you like to eat lunch with me? I was just heading to the sushi shop down the road, here." She offered, looking up at me with her pretty green eyes.

"Sure." I agreed, and we both walked to the shop.

As we ate, we conversed about many different things. Our topics went from small talk, to bits of information about ourselves, and even our life as shinobi. It was something I haven't had the chance to do so in a very long time, and I found that I quite enjoyed it.

Of course, I knew I couldn't tell her about everything. I couldn't mention Sasuke and his goals, or Orochimaru, or even about my curse seal.

Unfortunately, hours flew by fast, and before I knew it, it was time for us to part ways.

"Well, it was really nice bumping into you again." She said, smiling. "I really enjoyed our lunch."

"Yeah." I agreed, nodding my head.

"We should do this again sometime." She stated, and I nodded my head once again at the suggestion. "I'll see you around!"

She gave me a friendly hug before she left, and I wasn't sure whether my heart sped up because of the physical contact, or because I had the sudden urge to run after her.

The third time we met, was by a stream, just off Fire Nation territory and about one week after our last encounter.

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon, Juugo! How are you?" Sakura greeted me, stepping up to wrap her arms around my torso in a small embrace.

"Fine, and you, Sakura?" I asked, returning the hug, although hesitantly. One could never be too careful, especially if one was a monster born to destroy.

I was an unwilling savage underneath a gentle exterior. Chaos and violence were naturally within me, while she was sweet and kind. Compassion was, I believed, what filled her soul.

"I'm doing good. I'm heading back from a mission, but I'm a couple of days early. Would you like to spar with me?" She asked, looking up at me.

Immediately, I shook my head no. I could not, would not hurt her.

"Why not?" She asked, incredulously.

"Because... I don't want to hurt you, Sakura." I replied, wondering why her tone was laced with disbelief. She gave me a hurt look, but it quickly changed to understanding and something else I could not decipher.

"Don't think I can handle it?" She inquired, cracking her knuckles.

"I just-"

"Please? I can always heal myself afterward, you know." She tried to convince me, and I was ready to refuse once again, but when she glanced up at me with hope and anticipation glimmering in her eyes, a warmth spread across my face and I found myself unable to refuse.

"Alright." I finally consent, and she wastes no time in attacking me. I simply stand there, waiting for her to hit me because what could hands of healing do in the offensive?

When I woke up to Sakura's smug face, and glowing green hands, I smiled weakly. I was never going to underestimate her again.

The fourth time we met, three months after our last encounter, we found ourselves in the forest where we first stumbled across each other.

Except this time, I wasn't calm.

I was thirsty, thirsty, thirsty for blood!

She approached me with a smile, but her delighted expression had faded into one of fear, or was that concern? I couldn't tell which one, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that suffocating urge to kill, kill ki- because there was nothing more exhilarating than the feel of blood still warm in your hands, the hopelessness in their eyes as they realize their lives would end so quickly!

I felt the increasing power of the curse seal flowing through my veins as I lunged towards her. She jumped back, evading my swipe, and I was both relieved, yet so very, very frustrated. There was a conflict within the duality of my being.

"The curse seal?" Sakura inquired confusedly, but I ignored the question and charged at her again. Shock was evident in her expression as she dodged my attacks.

"Juugo! Snap out of it!" She pleaded. "I thought we were friends! Please, Juugo."

"I will kill you." I snarled, as I lashed out at her. An insane grin spread across my face as she looked at me with hurt and betrayal.

"No you won't." Sakura replied, in a voice so low it was almost a whisper. My laughter sounded more like a bark that anything else. Suddenly her hopelessness was replaced with determination. "I refuse to lose another friend to the power from this damned curse seal!"

When I ran towards her with every intention to kill, she stood completely still, waiting for me to come, completely unafraid.

Did she not know who I was? Did she not realize what I was about to do to her?

I pinned her to the nearest tree, and she winced in pain at the pain I had afflicted on to her, but instead of screaming, or trying to escape, or even submitting her to her inevitable fate, she leaned forward and planted a kiss directly on my feral, grinning lips.

My entire being was frozen in surprise, and she used my distractedness in her advantage as she slipped out of my hold and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me closer to her small body.

The seal markings faded away, and as I returned to my human state, I reciprocated the kiss. My arms wound themselves around her waist and I found myself controlled in a similar, yet completely different way than Kimimaro and Sasuke had been able to control me.

And I realized, that although Sakura seemed so incomparable to such a strange entity like me, we were both similar, and we both complimented each other. We both had a dualistic nature.

I, being a monster at birth, was generally calm and collected when my body was not unwillingly overcome by the curse seal, whereas Sakura, who was born so fragile-looking, who was meant to heal, held incredible strength and potential destruction within that petite body of hers.

The end!

I hope you enjoyed the little drabble. There's not much of a plot, I just wanted to write some fluffy moments. (: Please review! I appreciate the feedback, even if it's as little as, "I didn't like it," or "I liked it."