Homeless
She shivered silently as the cold wind blew harder, chilling her further. Her name was Sakura, and she was alone. All alone. Her parents were dead, she had no siblings. A year earlier, Naruto had become Hokage, and was too busy to pay attention to her anymore. Sakura didn't blame him though, the responsibility of the Leaf Village came first. Sasuke had taken his own life when his life became too great to bear, and a while back Kakashi had died while protecting her from the Akatsuki. He had promised to always be there... it was all lies. She told herself she hated him for dying on her, but she just couldn't be convinced; Kakashi had given her too much.
No one cared about her anymore. Kakashi, the one man she thought would always be there for her was gone, and that was the most painful blow. Sakura admits that the year before he died, she had begun to fall for him, but that's over now. There was no warm home to welcome her, no happy family to cheer her up when she's upset. There was no one.
To be frank, Konoha wasn't exactly the place to be in the winter. It was FREAKING COLD. No one really went outside unless they had to. However, the beautiful pink haired woman was stuck outside on the streets all the time, all her life. The occasional passer-by would give her a sympathetic look, but no one really did anything to help her. The world was full of bystanders when she desperately needed someone to help her. No one cared.
Today was especially cold. Sakura was garbed in a ratty t-shirt and shorts that barely came down to her knees. They were hardly winter wear. At times like these, she would usually curl into a ball or find some box to lie in. But today, she didn't mind.
It's not worth it…No one cares if I die…No one would grieve my death…They would say good riddance and get on with their lives..It's not worth it. She told herself this constantly, but today it really hit home. If Sakrua was meant to die today, she would die. It was destiny.
A pair of quiet footsteps signaled the approach of a stranger. Normal people wouldn't have heard them, but she had been a shinobi after all. The young Chuunin glaced up to meet the face of the person. He was tall, freakishly tall to be exact. He wore a black cloak with a red cloud print on it, a hood and a mask that hid his lower face. The only pieces of him that were exposed to her were his vivid green eyes. They were beautiful, and She couldn't help but stare.
He turned away from her. "Don't." He growled quietly, turning his face slightly so that the shadows gave them an eerie shine.
Sakura nodded, curled back into a ball and closed her own eyes, waiting for him to leave her alone once more. However, he just stood in front of her, staring at the wall. "Don't you have anywhere to be, little girl? It's too cold for you to be hanging out here. Go home." He said.
The 18 year old laughed coldly. "I don't have a home, family, or anyone even remotely close to me, so please, just leave me alone. I don't feel like talking right now, just go away."
The strange man walked over, sat next to her, and leaned against the wall. "Home isn't always being with someone close to you, but being with some one who respects you or someone who can take care of you. I can understand your hostility. I never had a home when I was your age. But now, I have comrades that I live with. They are excruciatingly annoying, but comrades none the less. I approached you to make an offer." The stranger was sure not to look at her at all, making Sakura shiver slightly.
"I have nothing to give in exchange. An offer is pointless." Sakura's words burned hot fire in the icy air. Nothing at all.
"I would have you work for me as a maid. The payment would be food and housing." the stranger continued.
The offer sounded too good to be true, so Sakura waited silently for him to call back his cruel joke and laugh in her face. But he didn't. He waited quietly and stared at her with his tantalizing orbs.
He waited for her decision. What made me want to help her? Why am I suddenly being so kind? I have never been generous, but here I have just offered some homeless girl a home. What was so special about her?
When she finally spoke, it woke him from his inner conversation. "Do you really mean it?" she asked in a detached tone. She was being careful to hide her emotions.
"Yes." he answer quickly. Why am I so eager?
"Ok. I'll go with you." She said, but it was so quiet that he almost didn't catch it.
"Good. What is your name?" the stranger asked.
"Sakura. What's yours?"
He smirked, the action hidden by cloth. "Kakuzu."