(Author's 10 year speech)

Wow.

10 years.

Not that this is an ending, but I like to think it's a landmark. 10 years since I joined the fanfiction community. That's quite a long time to still be returning to - something that I have been into fairly consistently since I was beginning my teenage years. Go me! Someone once told me that the real veterans are the writers who have ID numbers below 50000. Well, folks, my ID is: 48753. Woot!

Anyway, I felt like I really had to do something for my 10-year anniversary.

I doubt you all are interested in my history and junk like that, but I can say that fanfiction has had a huge influence on my life. It's part of the reason why I went to college (and graduated) to be an English teacher.

All of that said: Onto the actual story notes!

There are a few inspirations for this story:

"Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane – currently my favorite song. (It was also featured in the new Winnie the Pooh movie – I will be seeing that the moment it goes to theater)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Not that this story is about the book, but I love the randomly bolded prints in which the narrator (*coughdeathcough*) puts in extra inputs and facts. As this story has an… interesting perspective, I thought that might be a cool addition.

My friend, Sheldon, for whom the basic premise was thought up for – but he didn't use it, so I'm using my own story idea. Ha!

Len83 – Love you! You are an amazing encouragement and motivation. I love our correspondence, and thank you so much for betaing! (Everyone note how lovely the writing is because she helped me a lot :) )

Somewhere Only We know

.: Part One: Innocence :.

It was a quiet, peaceful clearing. The soft, afternoon light was filtered by the shade of the trees, bushes, and occasional cloud. Select beams from the sun made their way through the obstacles giving the clearing a magical feeling. A cool, spring breeze let in a refreshing airflow. This clearing was well hidden among the many foliages of Konoha. Trees, bushes, and all things green surrounded a lone Sakura tree. It was early springtime, and the tree was beginning to show its colored blossoms, which made it stand beautifully amongst the green. However, its isolation made the witness of the tree's beauty a rarity.

That is, until one day, a peculiar young child came crashing through the green with the same beautifully colored hair as the cherry blossom tree.

The young girl's head was down, her pink locks covering any chance of sight. If the tree could have, it would have tried to stop the girl; but there was no helping the child as she ran head first into the rough bark of the small tree.

With a loud thunk and a plop, the girl was on the ground just below the pink blossoms. Sniffles escaped the young girl before she raised her small hand up to her forehead to rub the spot of contact. Still, the girl did not weep. The tree noticed then that the girl was dirty. There were various rips on her dress while her face was painted with smudges of dirt and the occasional deep red liquid that came from the inside of the young girl's body.

With her hand still on her red forehead, the girl pushed herself up and blinked a few times at the offending object in her way.

She lifted her gaze to the blossoms. Shining paths from her eyes to her jaw line shimmered in the rays of light that filtered through the tree's branches. A few tense moments passed – as if the tree and the child were sizing the other up. Finally, the child spoke in a voice so soft, the tree was not sure it came from her lips.

"Pretty!"

The tree was pleased that someone could finally enjoy its blossoms. The child reached her hands up as though to grasp the blossoms that were out of her reach. With strength the tree did now know it had, it willed for its branches to shake ever so slightly so that the young pink-haired girl was showered with similarly colored petals. Her mouth dropped open and as her lips lifted upward, showing off the two gaps where her front teeth had yet to show themselves. With her arms lifted high, the child danced among the pink snow.

*Innocence*

It wasn't long before the girl came again. Unlike before, she didn't rush in blindly, but her eyes were still wet, as if it was always raining just for her. The girl stepped out of a bush, tugging her shirt away from the thorns that held her back. Once free, the pink-haired child stuck her tongue out at the bush, daring it to bother her again. She wasn't nearly as dirty as their first meeting and the sharp red liquid had dulled into a rough patch on her face.

She lowered the green bag that was around her shoulders onto the ground before carefully setting herself down beside it, as she straightened out her skirt. Pink hair blocked green eyes from seeing, and an annoyed puff of air pushed the strands away just long enough for her to grab her pack. Rooting through it carefully, the girl pulled out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich wrapped in cellophane. With careful hands, the girl unwrapped the clear material that covered her meal and took a dainty bite, enjoying the view and her new place as she chewed.

*Those careful and precise hands would come in handy later*

The third time the girl came, a follower was in tow. He did not have the pretty, pink hair that the young girl had and that the tree loved so much. In fact, the newcomer's whole countenance was different from that of the brightened young girl's. Yet something made the two fit together despite those major differences.

"Can I open my eyes now?" The boy tugged at the hand that led him.

"No!" The young girl pouted and looked back at the boy. "Keep your eyes closed, Sasuke-kun, you promised!"

"Yeah, yeah." The young boy assured, his head turned to the side with his lips put together in a small pout.

Satisfied, the pink-haired child pulled the boy named Sasuke-kun through the last of the bushes before she let out a mini squeal. "Okay, Sasuke-kun, open your eyes!"

The boy's eyes opened to reveal coal depths. He blinked. Once. Twice. "So?"

"It's pretty! And it's our secret."

The boy raised an eyebrow. "Why a secret? This isn't anything special."

The young girl's shoulders slumped and her head lowered slightly. The tree shook with pity for the girl.

"But…" The girl looked up and took comfort in the falling blossoms. "It's my tree. I found it. And…" She blushed as her hands folded behind her back. "I want to share it with you." Sasuke-kun still looked hesitant, so she continued, pleading. "Our secret!"

The tree, though it wasn't sure what to think of the skeptical boy, could not help but try to support what this young girl wanted. With all of its power, the tree's branches shook from an unfelt breeze causing the two children to be surrounded by a whirlwind of sakura blossoms.

A sigh escaped the boy's lips before they curled up into a smile. "Okay, Sakura-chan. Our secret."

So the girl had a name. A name that suited her. A name that made the tree feel even closer to this girl.

A grin spread across the girl's face as she rushed over to the boy and threw her small arms around him. "I'm so glad!" She pulled away, not noticing the boy's reddened cheeks as she babbled, "You can come here whenever you're sad, or happy, or mad, or tired, or need to talk, or-"

"Sakura-chan!" She stopped to gaze at him, the grin still present on her face.

"I get it. We both come here when we need to."

She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yeah! And the tree will listen to whatever you have to say!" She turned to the tree to smile at it. "It's a good friend."

"Sakura-chan…"

"It is!" Sakura-chan stomped her foot. Her previously curled fists at her side loosened and her grin dropped off her face. She looked sad, yet content. It was a look that did not belong on a child so young and innocent. "It listens to me."

The sounds of a foot stomping. The tree felt that if it had feet, it would surely be stomping as well.

"Don't be sad!" The boy had noticed the sadness too. The girl turned abruptly to look at the boy whose face was now redder than ever. There was a pause as his head turned away from her wide eyes "I'll… " He hesitated, suddenly unsure of himself, "I'll protect you and listen to you too. So…" He faced her again - his expression showing nothing but determination. There was silence as the two children stared at each other, both comprehending what was just said. The red overtook Sasuke-kun's face and her turned away from Sakura. "You don't have to be sad anymore."

"Sasuke-kun…"

And the tree knew he would. Despite the contrast between the two children, dark and light, the tree could still sense the young innocence and resolve radiating from their beings.

*It's unfortunate that innocence doesn't last*

As the sakura blossoms reached the end of their peak, the tree witnessed a familiar scene accompanied by memorable sounds. There were rushing footsteps and the echo of despairing sobs. However, unlike before, Sakura-chan knew where she was going and did not run into the tree. For this, the tree was thankful. It did not want to hurt the child anymore than she already seemed. Watching the sobbing girl as she fell to her knees in front of the tree with her hands balled into fists on her eyes the tree suddenly felt that its branches were heavier than ever before. They sagged under the weight of the tears the girl poured out onto the ground.

Sakura-chan's small fists unclenched themselves as she wiped the constant stream of water from her face. It did no good; only more water came from her glistening eyes. If the tree could, it was sure it would cry with her. Little Sakura-chan's eyes suddenly stared up at the tree. Her hands went to her forehead, under the shade of her bangs. She pushed her hand up, so that her forehead was bare for all to see. "Look." She commanded. The tree was looking, but did not understand. "It's hideous!" She snapped. Then the brief flash of anger in her green eyes was replaced by pain.

The tree preferred the anger.

"At least…" she lowered the hand holding up her bangs, and the soft strands fell in front of her eyes once more, obscuring her green eyes and the subject of her torment. "At least that's what they say."

For the first time, the tree felt anger. The branches shook as if to tell Sakura-chan that she was wrong. If anything, the tree felt the girl was as beautiful as the sakura petals the tree so proudly held. Perhaps she was even more beautiful because of her emerald eyes – yet those gorgeous eyes seemed to hold so much sadness.

"Who cares what they say." The tree almost nodded. Wait… trees are unable talk. The tree noticed Sakura-chan have similar thoughts. Her nose scrunched up as her eyes studied the tree in front of her. Sakura-chan's hand was reaching up to touch the tree when the voice came again. "Why do YOU care about what they say?" If the tree hadn't said it (though it desperately wished it could) then–

That boy! He had returned! The tree was glad. The boy and the tree seemed to think alike when it came to the pink-haired child. Sakura-chan's nose returned to its unscrunched state, as she turned with wide green eyes to the speaker. "Sasuke-kun…" she whispered.

They stared at each other for a while – Sakura-chan kneeling in front of the tree with her back twisted so she could see the young boy staring back at her with just as much determination as the tree felt – though the tree noticed the light red blossoming across his face. It was an unusual color that the tree did not often see. Was the boy ill? The boy seemed to feel the tree's thoughts and his face turned, no longer looking at the girl. "Who cares?" He mumbled again. Without turning his head, his black eyes bore into Sakura-chan's emerald orbs. Finally he shrugged while his eyes turned to look away from the girl. The tree watched as the red only became more noticeable. "You're fine. Just… walk with me from now on and they won't bother you. Because…" The boy still did not look at her, but the tree knew that it didn't matter because Sakura-chan's eyes were boring into his soul – eyes wide and hopeful. The tree was also hanging onto his every word. Sasuke-kun took in a deep breath and whipped his head around to look at her. His voice rose as he spoke the following words, "Because you should only care about what I think!"

The red had completely taken over his face and neck and the tree really began to worry for the boy's health. Sakura-chan, however, did not seem to worry. Instead she launched herself up from the ground and into his arms. The boy did not hug her back, nor did he say anything else but grunt a few times.

The tree felt lighter – happier. Like it could glow again and handle its branches. The boy would protect her – the tree was sure of it. The boy would be there for her to take away her sadness. The tree could entrust the care of its pink-haired companion into the care of this boy.

A whisper: "Thank you, Sasuke-kun."

*The tree regretted these thoughts later*

The tree had not been paying attention. Sakura-chan seemed to only come once every few suns, and Sakura-chan had come during the last sun.

So when the bushes parted to reveal a child, the tree was pleasantly surprised – at least no more surprised than when the tree discovered that it was not the little Sakura-chan that had come to visit.

Sasuke-kun stopped in front of the Sakura tree. He looked left. Then right. His face pinched with anticipation. Both he and the tree were silent. Was he waiting for someone? Looking for someone? The tree wanted to tell him that Sakura-chan was not and had not been there. Instead of saying this, the tree's branches waved.

With a sigh, Sasuke-kun seemed to relax. His nose scrunched up and his eyebrows furrowed. "This is stupid." He mumbled.

There was more silence. The tree waited patiently for the boy to continue.

With another sigh, Sasuke-kun suddenly plopped down in front of the tree and began picking at the grass in front of him – pulling and stripping the green plant. The tree did not like this. The grass made the area pretty and this boy was destroying it! If he wasn't going to say anything…

"Sakura-chan's at home doing homework." He said suddenly. "I figured since this stupid place usually makes her feel better, and it's supposed to be 'our' place, maybe…" His eyes narrow in concentration. He stopped fiddling with the grass and the tree began to relax.

"It's my dad and brother." He said. The boy leaned back on his arms, his legs crossing in front of him and his eyes no longer looking at the tree, but at something only he could see. "My dad likes my brother a lot more. He's the genius." A fist formed in the grass, pulling at some of the scenery, but the tree did not feel as annoyed, "And Itachi is always busy! I want him to teach me so I can be as awesome as he is! Well…" His cheeks were red again. The tree began to worry. "I'm already pretty awesome." He flashed the tree a grin. "Any Uchiha is pretty awesome, especially my family!" The grin lessened and the sparkle of pride left the boy's eyes. "I just wish dad would see me and…" He bit his lip, lowering his head. "I just want him to be proud of me."

A few of the pink leaves fell around the boy, hoping it would cheer him up. If the tree could have, the tree would have told him that his father was proud of him. That Sakura-chan was proud of him. That his brother had high hopes for him. That Sasuke-kun was just a little bud and would grow into a beautiful blossom. (If boys did grow into blossoms). All of these things the tree ached to tell the boy, but could not. Still, as if the wishes reached the boy, Sasuke-kun looked up with a smirk on his face, the frustration gone from his eyes. "Still, Itachi is pretty awesome." Sasuke-kun pushed off the ground and slowly stood up to look at the tree. "If I work really hard, I bet when I become a real ninja I can beat Itachi. Just wait and see!"

With that, Sasuke-kun turned and walked back towards the bushes. The tree noticed that his walk had a bounce to it – something that was missing when he appeared not long ago. As he reached the edge of the meadow, Sasuke-kun slowed to a stop. He turned around and smiled at the tree. "Oh, and this thing between Sakura-chan and I? She's just a girl. A stupid girl that needs watching out for. So don't go thinking it's something else, got it?" The red was back on his cheeks again. The tree found itself less worried than usual. The boy was about to turn to walk again, but stopped once more. He did not turn around, but said, "Sakura-chan was right. I feel better. Thanks."

*The boy would indeed complete his prediction – a regretful decision*

The tree noticed the difference right away. Her gorgeous pink hair was no longer covering her bright green eyes. The tree liked it.

Sakura-chan stood in front of the tree, her feet shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Her hands were behind her back and she looked up at the tree through her long lashes while her head remained down. An awkward silence – both waiting for the other to say something (even though both knew that one could not speak through words.) The tree was decidedly not comfortable for the first time with the girl.

She shifted her waist around a little more, her feet never moving from their assigned post, before she finally spoke, "Do you like it?" Her face was pink, the color similar to her hair. While the tree loved the color, it did not like it on the child's skin. To appease the child, the tree tried to wave its branches causing many of the loose blossoms to fall around Sakura-chan.

Sakura-chan grinned up at the tree. She understood. With all the grace the young child possessed, she daintily kneeled on the grass where she had stood moments before. "Ino-chan gave it to me yesterday. She said that I look better like this." Sakura-chan paused, her nose crinkling as she shook her head. "I don't think so, but…" The green eyes turned wistful. "Ino-chan is so popular! She would know better than anyone I guess. I hope we can be best friends!" Sakura twirled her finger through her hair. "Sasuke-kun hasn't been around today. The teachers aren't saying much, but I hope he's okay. I want him to meet Ino-chan!"

There was a quiet and peaceful pause until Sakura spoke again, her face regaining the pink it had when she had first arrived. "Ino-chan and her friends are so smart and grown-up!" Her green eyes became large. "They were talking about boys! And what girls do with boys!" Her green eyes looked left. Then right. The tree recalled this action from the previous encounter with the boy. With a hand cupped at the side of her mouth, Sakura-chan leaned in and whispered to the tree. "Do you know what boys and girls are supposed to do?" She waited a moment to let the tree guess. It had no idea. "KISS!" Her voice was still whispering and hoarse, but her dismay caused the whisper to go louder than she had meant to.

Sakura-chan leaned back and nodded. "Yeah. That's right. Kiss." The tree did not know what a kiss was. It must be something awful! "It's gross." Sakura-chan confirmed. "Ino-chan says you do that with boys you like." Sakura-chan paused there, her face growing pinker than ever – a shade that was becoming increasingly darker than her hair. "Can I tell you a secret?" Her eyes shifted around as she leaned in closer again. "I think I like Sasuke-kun."

Another pause. The tree wondered if that meant that its precious Sakura-chan would have to do such a horrible thing as kiss! Sakura-chan seemed to arrive at the same thought and leaned back quickly, her hands waving in front of her. "No, no! We won't be gross like that… at least I don't think we will, but then Ino-chan said you kiss when you like someone. So… should I kiss him?" A finger slipped up to the corner of the girl's mouth. She was quiet for a few minutes. The tree wondered if she was thinking about kissing. What was kissing? What made it so horrible?

"I think…" Sakura began, breaking the tree from its inquisitive thoughts. "I think that I'll ask Ino-chan. I'll tell her who I like! She'll help me!" Sakura jumped up, a grin spread widely on her face. She patted the tree lovingly. "Thanks, Tomomi-san!" She skipped off leaving the tree to wonder about her parting words.

*Tomomi means "Beautiful Friend"*

It was raining. The tree loved the rain. It gave life. It gave life to the tree. The darkness in the sky even seemed to make the tree's pink and green leaves stand out. There were a few precious, pink blossoms left. It was almost time for the fragile petals to go, but the tree was ready this year. Two children had been able to enjoy the tree's full and magnificent beauty before the blossoms were gone for the season.

There was a quiet disruption in the steady rhythm of the rain. Sakura-chan came through the wet greenery slowly, as though she was older - far beyond her youth. The tree was surprised. While it enjoyed the rain, Sakura-chan often avoided coming here when the weather allowed the tree to drink. There had been a few visits when their time had been cut short because she had to get out of the rain (the tree never really understood this concept, but chalked it up to one of the many oddities about fragile human beings).

Sakura-chan took sluggish steps to the tree and stopped at its base. The shade of the branches did not stop all of the rain from falling past the canopies to drop and trail down her smooth cheeks. Her bangs were still held back by the bow that dear Ino-chan had given Sakura-chan, but the once bright pink hair had lost its shine. It was limp in the rain, causing more water to drip onto the soaking wet girl.

Sakura-chan did not seem to notice.

"Sasuke-kun…" Her voice was quiet. "his family was killed four days ago. Mommy and Daddy called it the Uchiha Massacre." The girl's green eyes were off to the side as though in a memory. The tree did not understand these words – 'massacre' and 'killed.' Both children often spoke of family. The tree understood that family was troublesome, but still a part of the children's lives, something similar to the birds that had nested in the braches. Sure, they were troublesome and messy, but they were a part of the tree now. The tree felt like it understood the children more. But these new words… by the tone of her voice and the far off look, the tree could only assume that these did not have pleasant meanings.

"I tried to talk to him today." Sakura-chan choked for a moment. A hand wiped under her nose. "He ignored me. He was staring straight ahead. He was…" She looked at the tree now. "Scary! Sasuke-kun scared me! I…" The rain came down harder. "I want the old Sasuke-kun back!"

The tree could do nothing but try to shade the girl, doing what it could to keep the downpour from drowning the child while the last few pink petals fell from its branches.

*End Of Innocence*

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There are two more "Arcs" to this story, so more on the way.

Once again, loves to Len83! (GO READ HER FABULOUS FICS!)