A/N: Hi! I've decided to this fic in collaboration with izumii842. she helped me come up with the name too! If you haven't read her stories, then read 'em! they're good!! Well, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I. DO NOT. OWN. ANYTHING.

"sakura! Sakura!"

"Hai, Tou-san?"

The man watched his 16 year-old daughter walk into the room, wiping her small hands on her skirt. She deserves better he thought. The Haruno's were very poor. But still, this girl deserved so much better. He looked his daughter once over: small frame, crystal clear skin, huge emerald eyes that shone when she laughed, and soft pink hair that was pulled up in a bun. She looked so much like her mother- save for the hair, she had gotten that from his side of the family-it hurt him sometimes. The girl had been through so much, she had lost her mother when she was five, and because her father could not pay for the rents with his minimum wages, helped with his business of making wool when she was old enough. Also, over the years, she had taken up several other odd jobs to help with the rents. It ached the man's heart to let his beautiful daughter do any of the work; he had even told her that she need not do anything, but she had looked up to him, emerald orbs full of conviction replied in a gentle tone that she would do it. So stubborn, just like her mother.

"Sakura, come here," Mr. Haruno patted the space next to the bed he sat on. Obediently, she took a seat next to her father and looked at him with a questioning look.

"Sakura, I received a letter today," he held up a manila envelope to her.

"Oh. What does it say?" Sakura asked. Mr. Haruno looked at his daughter for a while before continuing.

"It's… It's from your grandfather."

Sakura's eyes widened, "Oji-Ojii-san?"

Mr. Haruno sighed. He had never liked to bring the subject of his wife's parents up. They had never truly gotten along well, not to mention they blamed him for their only daughter's death and refused to see their granddaughter.

"Yes, grandfather. He died recently."

"Oh." Her eyes shone with unshed tears for the dead man she had never known.

"But that is besides the point. Well, it seems your grandmother… well she was… an Uchiha."

"Uchi-Uchiha? You mean the richest family in Konoha?" Sakura's eyes were practically bulging now.

"Yes. She had eloped with your grandfather and married him."

"Oh."

"There's something else," Mr. Haruno held up a brown package. "It came with the letter. It's for you," he handed the package to Sakura.

"What is it?"

Mr. Haruno shrugged, "I didn't open it, but the letter said it was a family heirloom of some sort. Your grandmother wanted you to have it."

Sakura took the package in her hands and started unwrapping the paper. Soon, there was a small ivory box sitting in her lap. Sakura gasped. The box had carvings of sakura flowers all over it. Each one different from the other; they were all unique. And they looked so real.

"It's beautiful," Sakura breathed, as her fingers skimmed the surface. Looking at it more closely she found a small hatch in the front of the box. Sakura lifted the hatch delicately and opened it.

"Oh…" Sakura could find no words to describe the necklace that was in the box. She lifted the necklace. A big onyx coloured pearl was attached to a fine chain of silver.

"That's some pearl," Mr. Haruno said.

Sakura nodded, "Can I put it on?"

Mr. Haruno shrugged, "It's yours." Sakura undid the clasp and put the necklace on, fastening it. The pearl settled in the hollow of her neck; it's dark colour contrasting with the pale of her skin strikingly.

"It looks beautiful on you," Mr. Haruno complimented.

"Thank you, Tou-san," Sakura smiled.

"Haruno! Haruno, Open up! Open up or I will—"

Sakura opened the door of the run down cottage she called home.

"Sorry, Otou-san's not at home," she addressed the rather plump man politely.

The man snorted. "I don't care if he's home or not, girlie. He has yet to pay the rents! It's already a month late!"

Sakura's brow furrowed. Tou-san hadn't mentioned anything about the rent not being paid.

"Sorry, but Otou-san's not at home. Come back tomorrow," she said curtly before slamming the door in the man's face.

I'll have to talk to Papa about this she decided.

"Tou-san."

Mr. Haruno looked up questioningly at his daughter, "What is it?"

"The other day, a man came by… I think he was the landlord."

Sakura noticed that her father had gone rigid and his face had paled considerably. She slowly continued.

"… he said that you hadn't paid the rents yet, for the last month in fact. Why haven't you mentioned any of this?"

Mr. Haruno looked down at the floor. "Our business… it's dying Sakura." Sakura barely caught the words.

"What?! How is that so?"

Mr. Haruno shrugged, "I do not know, but I have not been able to make enough to pay the rents… I'm sorry Sakura."

"It's alright Tou-san, we'll find a way to get through this. We always have, haven't we?"

Mr. Haruno looked up at her daughter. She was so small, and yet her voice had held so much confidence it was so reassuring. He felt tears swim in his eyes.

"Thank you, Sakura."

She had made her decision.

She packed her small duffel bag with the little belongings she had and a small purse with some money she had earned working odd jobs. Picking up the letter, she folded it and put it in her pocket. Slowly, she crept into her father's room and placed the note she had written on the floor, next to his sleeping form.

"I'll be back, Tou-san," she whispered quietly and pecked him on the cheek. Then she tiptoed out of the room.

I promise that when I return, I will make Tou-san happy! Sakura reached out for the doorknob.

She opened the door silently and stepped out into the darkness.

… Please wait for me, Tou-san…

Closing the door behind her, she walked, leaving behind her family and life as she knew it.

The moment Mr. Haruno woke he knew something was wrong. His suspicions were confirmed when his eyes caught sight of the note next to his mat.

Picking up he read it once and felt tears brim in his eyes. He knew she would do something like this. That was the reason why he had kept the news about the rent and his business a secret form her. He should've told her not to do something like this, but she wouldn't listen anyway. She was too stubborn, just like her mother. He picked up the note again and read through it.

Dear Otou-san,

Do not worry about me. I am just doing what I feel I must do. I am not the kind of person to sit around when she knows there is something she can do to help, and you know it. I beg of you, please don't come looking for me. I will be fine. Take care of your health, Tou-san. Though you never admit it, you are getting old. I will come back, I promise. I will earn enough to pay off all the rents for us. Maybe find a new place for us to stay as well. We will have a good life, Tou-san. I promise.

Love,

Sakura

The tears were flowing now. His baby was gone. And he could do nothing to stop her.

Sakura looked up, covering her eyes from the sun. She was almost at the place. But she was, oh, so tired. Her throat was dry, her lips cracked. Her bottle was empty of water and she had no more food. She had been travelling for two days already, but her destination was still almost half a day away. Right now she was travelling through the Konoha forests. A kind man had told her it was a shortcut to get to the place she wanted, although he had been a bit surprised at her wanting to go there at all.

Her fatigue was getting to her and she decided to get some rest before continuing. Slowly she walked towards one of the huge trees that grew abundantly in the forest. Slumping down, her eyes closed…

A sudden burst of pain on her left shoulder made her eyes spring back open. Slowly turning her head she saw an arrow protruding from her shoulder. She tried to cry out but her throat was too dry for a single sound to escape her lips. Her vision began to swim as the blood poured from her wound. She was slowly beginning to lose consciousness when she heard two voices at a distance.

"You hit a girl, Sasuke," the first voice said.

"I thought she was an enemy," the second answered before a pair of strong hands wrapped around her body and lifted her off the ground.

"She's lost a lot of blood. We'll have to bring her back to be treated." The first voice again.

"Hn."

Then, she completely blacked out.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it! It took a lot of plotting but we finally posted it eh? I'll try to update asap.. but no promises cos its mid years now. That, and i'm the queen of procrastination. Bye!

XOXO Ambergur-pyon96 with Izumii842