A/N: Another story! :D Please read and review. Thanks.

Disclaimer: 'Naruto' and its characters are not mine.

- - -

You're so close but still a world away…

PROLOGUE

He woke up with a massive headache, result of a hangover from last night's heavy drinking.

He slowly opened up his eyes to reveal dark onyx orbs, looking for someone in particular. A roseate-haired friend, namely, Sakura. Sakura came first to his baffled mind. Where exactly is she? His best friend, his helper last night into forgetting the failure he's suffering from his latest break-up with Ino, whom he dearly loved. Sakura who laughed, cried and sang with him last night in the midst of melancholy, sorrowful grief. For short, the one who empathized with him. Sakura whom everyone thought of as a boy, but she is a girl. Sakura, was in fact, a girly girl. But then some doubted her identity, for it was impossible for them to be best friends, a boy and a girl. Impossible for them to have shared only a plain friendship, and nothing more. But he really saw Saki, as he fondly called her, only as a friend, a little sister who ought to be taken care of, protected, and helped in times of dire need. Why wouldn't, couldn't anyone understand that simple fact? Why did his only beloved one, Ino, should be jealous of his friend whom he only sees as his younger sibling?

He glanced around his blue room, only to find no Sakura. She was nowhere to be seen. He dizzily stood up, one hand rubbing his temples, the other one holding onto the headboard for support. He walked rather wobbly towards the bathroom, but still, no signs of any other person's presence. Besides the empty beer bottles resting on top of the rectangular glass table, a black ashtray full of cigars and a letter atop the bedside table with the lamp, nothing. Wait, a letter? What letter?

Opening the neatly folded scented paper, his eyes read the words carefully written in a familiar script.

Sasuke,

Good morning! Well, I'm long gone by the time you get to read this letter of mine. I am in a place, far far away from you. No, I'm not doing this to hurt you or what, you know I can't do that to you. I did this for both of us, for our good. I don't want another break-up from you and your future girl friend. Who wants to be the stupid reason for a series of heartbreaking anyway? I don't want to be the reason of your lovelife falling into ruins.

I just hope that you and Ino will eventually get back together. Or find the girl of your dreams who you'll love and will love you in return. You deserve it my friend. And me? Well, please don't worry about me. I can live by myself. Without you by my side to protect and pamper and treat me like a baby. I think I can handle myself; I'm ready to be independent on the wild! I will prove this to you one day.

Take good care of yourself and good luck! ;)

Your friend, Saki

He folded it back, and sat on his bed. He began reminiscing cheerful memories with her. Their shared laughs on corny jokes, her bubbly personality and her little thoughtful ways of showing affection. A small sad smile crept up on his lips, knowing that he'll miss everything about her now that she's gone.

- - -

A/N: Done! :D I know, the prologue is short, but there's more to come if you'll review! ;)