A lone figure sat amidst a blood splattered apartment that was once so lively, her parents blood pooling around her and staining her clothes. The pale moonlight, pouring from the balcony windows, illuminated her silver hair and porcelain skin. Tears were lost against such skin as hers, the only sign that she was crying was the slight redness of her eyes. The silver gray orbs once shone purity, innocence… now glazed over with desolate emptiness… The thought of death never seemed as alluring as it did at the moment.

Why?

Silence was her only answer. The sound of footsteps was faint but was becoming louder by the second, moving towards her at its own pace. It echoed of someone powerful and proud. Someone that she'll never be no matter what she do because she is of no importance. No one has ever dared to talk to her or get to know her, save her parents. After all, she was the child of a demon…

Even now, she could still hear the remarks thrown at her. She was destined to be alone. Isolated from everyone and everything except… A pair of arms encircled her from behind and lift her up, as a smooth voice said," Let's go, Asuka." Turning in the embrace, she was greeted with eyes that were as black as the night itself before everything blurred and went black.

Ugh… today is not my day, Asuka thought, scowling at the amount of orders she was getting. It was another busy day at Konoha's Bar and Grill and hungry customers were waiting impatiently for their empty stomachs to be filled.

" Asuka! Take care of Table 12!"

" Hai!"

Rushing over with a notepad and pen in hand, she waited for the customer to place his order. While the customer droned on about what to order, Asuka glanced around the restaurant. How long has it been since I…

" Hey!" Jolted from her thoughts, Asuka said," I'm terribly sorry, sir, could you repeat that? It's been a very tiring day for me."

" Oh, that's all right," the customer said, smiling," I know what you mean, having just gotten off of work myself. Anyways, I'll have the glazed chicken with shark fins and a side dish of shrimp prawns. And, I'll also have a Heineken, please."

" Konoha's special and Heineken coming right up," Asuka said, smiling and bowing.

Tsunade, the owner of the well-known Konoha restaurant, looked up from cutting some lettuce as one of her best waitresses walked in. Tsunade was a beautiful women with a very heavy sexual appeal, who often helped Shizune, the head chef, cook than sit in her office and doing nothing. Nodding to Shizune, she washed her hands and walked over to Asuka. Drying her hands on her apron, she said," Asuka, are you alright? You're not as lively as you normally am."

" I'm just… tired, that's all," Asuka said, with a smile," I had a rough night last night. Besides I'm not much of a fan of hectic days, you know how I am, Tsunade-nee-san."

" Yeah, I do," Tsunade said," but… hang in there, ok? I mean you're off in… what, three hours. Not only that, but you also have the next two days off, so you can relax then."

" I'll try," Asuka said, with a sigh.

" Good. Now off you go," Tsunade said, waving her away.

" Hai, Tsunade-nee-san," Asuka said, smiling and bowing.

Tsunade watched as she disappeared back into the bustling restaurant and shook her head. It's been three months since she's worked here and she's still refuses to let anyone get close to her, she thought, with a sigh, remembering the first time she met Asuka.

Four months ago, she was on her way home from a tiring day at the restaurant when she came across the body of a girl, lying in an alley. Curious, she peered at the girl for what seems like hours until the girl groaned in pain. Immediately, she bent down and, touching the girl's forehead, cursed. Glancing around, she picked the girl up and brought the girl to her apartment.

That was how she met the silver haired beauty with no origin or any clue of her background. She decided to hire the girl when she was well enough, after seeing what she was capable of. At first, the girl refused to eat or drink and was usually quiet until Tsunade had practically forced something down her throat. For the first two weeks or so, she had watched the girl, trying in vain to get the girl to talk but the girl refused to talk until she had threatened to call the police.

" Please don't!" The girl cried, grabbing Tsunade's sleeve," If you call them, 'he' will find me!"

There was a note of panic and fear in her voice and it hurt Tsunade to see her like that. Sighing, she said," What is your name, girl?"

" Asuka."

" Just Asuka?"

" Just Asuka," Asuka said, adverting her gaze and releasing her hold on Tsunade's sleeve," I'm sorry."

Tsunade peered curiously at her, wondering who this 'he' she spoke of. However, Asuka refused to tell her and she didn't push the subject any further. Sitting down on the couch, Tsunade said," So, Asuka, you need to call your parents. They must be worried sick about you."

" They're not," Asuka said, softly," they're dead."

" Surely, you have a guardian or…" Trembling and shaking her head, Asuka said," No, no! He's not my guardian!" Then, clutching her head and falling onto her knees, she cried," He's not my guardian! He's NOT!"

Seeing her react so violently, Tsunade made a move to hug her when Asuka glanced up at her with wild eyes and, clutching her hands, said,

" Please hire me! I'll do anything! Anything you want me to do! Just please, please, please don't let me go back there!"

Seeing how painful Asuka's past was, Tsunade closed her eyes and sighed. Then, opening her eyes again, she said," Okay, you're hired." When joy flickered in Asuka's normally dead-looking eyes, Tsunade felt a pang in her heart, warning her of her dangerous gamble. Yet, she refused to heed its warning as Asuka jumped up and hugged her.

" I have finally found you."

A figure in black stood before the entrance to Konoha's Bar and Grill. He had his hands in his pockets as he stepped out of the sleek black limousine and strode towards the entrance doors.

" Are you sure she's here, Kabuto?"

" Yes, sir," Kabuto said, nodding as he pushed open the doors.

The moment they entered, everyone turned to look at them. The once busy and noisy restaurant was now deathly quiet as they observed the newcomers. Some, mainly the females, were drooling over the raven-haired young man who seemed to have an air of authority surrounding them while others shifted uneasily in their seats. Behind dark lens, his eyes studied every female in the restaurant, searching for a particular someone.

Just then, the kitchen doors opened and in came Asuka, the silver haired beauty who was smiling and giggling, followed by a blushing blond haired girl. Registering how quiet the restaurant was, Asuka looked up and, upon seeing him, her smile faded. Stifling her gasp, Asuka said," Um, Ino… can you go get Tsunade-san? Please."

" Sure," Ino said, turning and disappearing back into the kitchen. As soon as she was gone, Sasuke said," I've come for you, Asuka."

With that, the sunglasses were taken off and folded neatly. Smirking, Sasuke put his folded sunglasses in the pocket of his jacket, his onyx eyes beckoning the silver haired beauty to run if she dared. Clenching her fists to stop herself from screaming, Asuka adverted her gaze and, closing her eyes, sighed. Hearing the kitchen door opened, Asuka opened her eyes and glanced over her shoulder. Entering the quiet restaurant, Tsunade said," What is…"

She trailed off upon noticing Asuka's clenched fists and Sasuke's presence. Standing beside Asuka, Tsunade said," Is there a problem here, Sir?"

" No, no problem," Sasuke said, briefly glancing at Tsunade before locking gazes with Asuka again," I just came for her." Turning to Asuka and frowning, Tsunade said," Asuka."

" Um… I…"

" You belong to me, Asuka," Sasuke said, smirking and earning him squeals from the waitresses and female customers.

Ignoring the squeals, Sasuke raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Nodding, Kabuto reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a white envelope. As he placed it on the countertop, Sasuke said," Inside the envelope is a little something for all the inconveniences she caused you. If you need more, just ask." Then, holding out his hand, he said," Come, Asuka." Taking in Asuka's trembling form, Tsunade said," Stop it! Can't you see she's in pain!"

As she said that, Tsunade wrapped her arms around Asuka, calming and soothing her from going into hysterical mode. At that, Sasuke frowned and said," Come here, Asuka." When she shook her head with tears running down her cheeks, Sasuke said," You remember what happened the last time, don't you?"

Hearing that, Asuka stiffened, obvious that Sasuke's words had hit its mark. Glancing at him, she said," Sa-Sasuke, please don't make me go back. Please."

" No," Sasuke said, his patience running thin," now come."

Without another word, Asuka pushed away from Tsunade's embrace and stumbled into Sasuke's. Wrapping her under his coat to share his warmth and kissing her cheek, Sasuke said," Good girl." Restraining herself from strangling the arrogant bastard, Tsunade said," Asuka?" Turning in his embrace and smiling sadly, Asuka said," I'm sorry if I've caused you any trouble, Tsunade-nee-san."

At this point, the Asuka in the other man's arms didn't seem like the Asuka she knew anymore. Slipping out of Sasuke's embrace to hug her, Asuka whispered something in her ear, before turning away with Sasuke and disappeared into the waiting vehicle, which drove away half a second later.

" Thank you for all that you've done for me."