Disclaimer: The characters from Naruto do not belong to me. They will forever be the work of Masashi Kishimoto.

As this is my first fanfic, I hope you guys will give me advice as on how to improve. Thanks a lot!

Oh yeah, if any of you are wondering, the manga which spured and inspired me to write this was Imadoki by Yuu Watase. You should try it sometime!

Also, no flames please, as I believe my "fragile" constitution can't take it. Haha

Chapter 1: Loss

She was right as always, he thought, as tears leaked out of his eyes.

His hands were trembling ever so slightly as he clutched her body close to his, and YES - the Uchiha Sasuke was crying.

He was reminded of the words she spoke to him merely a while ago, that money couldn't buy him everything, neither could status, fame or bootlickers.

But the thing was, he'd been brought up to worship such ideals, such beliefs, that he never saw the light, until it was too late.

Clutching her fragile body close to him, he cradled her in his arms as if she were a porcelain doll. But in a sense, she probably was.

To him.

She rested comfortably in his arms, eyes closed, revealing thick lashes which covered the emerald eyes hidden beneath. Her signature bubblegum pink hair was pooled in waves on the floor; her once creamy pale skin though, was now an ashen white.

But even so, she still had her signature smile on, as if to reassure him that everything would be all right.

But it wasn't. It would never be, not anymore.

To most, she was pretty in nature, but not astounding in beauty. However, to Sasuke, she was breathtakingly angelic.

She was his world.

A world which had crumbled to pieces the moment she closed her eyes, probably for the very last time.

From young, Sasuke had been taught only 1 thing. That was, emotions were weak.

They were useless, and they weren't what brought about the Uchiha Empire to its current glory. No, emotions were for the "ordinary" folks as his father liked to call them, or the "weeds" in society.

He was taught to mask his feelings behind a facade of coldness, and maintain this act whenever he was in public.

Yes, even though these ideals were wrong, they were all he'd ever known.

Until she came along, and changed his world...

She was always so smart, so perceptive, and over time, she completely broke through his painstakingly erected walls, finding the "true" Uchiha Sasuke beneath them.

She was his savior, his goddess, in the darkness that threatened to consume him.

And the thing was, when she had rescued him from his despair, he had unknowingly built his new world to revolve around her very existence.

An existance that had vanished merely moments ago.

Taking his happiness along with it.

It was true.

As much as Sasuke wished to deny it, as much as he shook her cold body repeatedly to get some...no any response from her, it was useless.

She never responded to his pleas. Not even once.

His whole frame shook with barely restrained anger and heartbreaking sadness, not directed at anyone else, but himself, for having not protected her.

"We'll be together forever..."

That was his promise wasn't it? If so, why did he fail to keep it?

The cherry blossoms were in full bloom now, and he desperately wished to see them with her.

For they reminded him of her name, one which rolled off his tongue so well...

Cherry blossom of the spring...

Haruno Sakura

His first and only love, who was now lying in his arms, cold and unmoving.

Enraged sobs wrecked his throat... he knew his heart would never heal.

Sakura was dead.

Sigh... but don't worry! The story won't stay so sad all the way. The next chapter will be of the first meeting between our 2 heroes!

That's all for now folks!

Pls review!