I have figured out that if I write random oneshots (well this is more like a short story... anyway moving on) in between updating my larger stories (okay, I'm only really updating the Haruno Clan but whatev) my inspiration well does not run dry.

So, because I love Sakura with basically every male character in Naruto, I decided to go with one of my first favorites.

Haku.

Because he's adorable AF.

I DON'T OWN NARUTO.


Chapter One: A Forest Sprite

"Hi!"

Haku looked up in surprise, his bright chocolate eyes widening at the sight of the girl before him. She was around his age, he would guess, maybe five or six years old. But she was unlike anyone he had ever seen before in his life.

Peachy skin, face flushed with unending happiness. Wild strands of pink (pink!) hair, floated in the breeze, falling haphazardly across her face and the tips tickling her shoulders. Sparkling green eyes blinked as misbehaving strands caught on her reddish eyelashes, causing her to shake her head and set her hair into chaos yet again. Haku had the most unexplainable need to touch those pink locks, to see if they were real, if she was real.

He looked around in confusion, wondering where the little sprite had come from. They were in a glade, quite a ways from the nearest village. Zabuza told him to stay out of sight while the older shinobi walked into the shady town to gather supplies. There were no houses this far out from the village, as far as Haku knew.

Perhaps this girl was a spirit of some sort?

A giggle interrupted his thoughts.

"I'm talking to you, silly." The ethereal child bounced closer to Haku, and the boy pulled back. Suddenly, he was afraid that if he dared to touch this spirit she would vanish before his eyes, bursting into wisps and float away on the breeze.

At his retreat, the girl paused and cocked her head in confusion, furrowing her brows and pursing her lips in an expression that made Haku's stomach feel funny.

"Are you scared of me?" The little girl asked, her high voice softening, gentle as if speaking to a wild animal. And maybe he was.

Haku shook his head, although he wasn't sure himself of his answer. "I –I …"

The girl giggled. "You don't have to be frightened. Do I look that mean?"

"No!" Haku exclaimed in horror, waving his hands before him in a negative gesture, hoping that he had not offended the spirit girl.

The pink haired girl placed her fingers upon her lips to smother another round of amused giggles. The boy was just so cute! He seemed so nice and sweet and gentle, nothing like the mean kids back home who bullied her. In fact, the look on the boy's face was one that she knew all too well, worry lines and fidgety eyes. Here was another child who had been hurt by others, yet his eyes shone with a desperation for kindness. And he looked at her like she was… pretty. She had never felt pretty before.

"My name is Sakura." She grinned and held out her hand to shake.

The boy stared at her hand with those adorable doe eyes, glancing from her pink little fingers up to her round, happy face. Very hesitantly, he reached out. The boy seemed to hold his breath as his fingers very lightly brushed the tips of Sakura's own. Quickly, he pulled back an inch, his gaze shooting up back at Sakura's face, hoping that the spirit child would not suddenly poof into non-existence.

When Haku saw that Sakura was still there, he again reached forward, his touch lingering on her hand. But instead of shaking her hand (did the boy not know how?) he held her hand and intertwined their fingers.

Sakura stared at their hands in surprise, her cheeks heating up. She looked up at Haku and saw him give her a shy smile. Feeling her heart flutter, happiness bubbling up inside her, Sakura leaned her head back and let out an unrestrained laugh.

Haku stared at the laughing girl, amazed at the sight. She had to be a forest sprite, or a spirit of happiness. There was no way anyone could find so much joy in the world, especially in someone as insignificant as him. But when her viridian eyes captured his own gaze, Haku suddenly forgot about the world around him. She looked at him as if he was the most important thing in the world, as if he mattered.

"Haku…" He murmured his name softly, his eyes flickering downward nervously.

He had not thought it would be possible for Sakura's face to be happier, yet it did, brightening at his name and nearly blinding him.

"Ne, Haku-chan, you're so cute!" Sakura teased.

Haku turned bright red, and his fingers tightened around hers.

Suddenly Sakura remembered that her parents were waiting for her, and she glanced up at the sky.

"Oh!" she gasped. "I'm late!"

Haku's gaze shot back up at her, panic flashing across his face and his hand tightened almost painfully around hers, afraid to let her go.

"Gomen, Haku-chan, but I have to go!" Sakura's pink locks flew around her head as she snapped her head to look behind her in the direction her parents were no doubt waiting impatiently.

"B-But –!" Haku froze when Sakura's lips landed on his cheek in a small, friendly peck. His mind stuttered to a halt and his grip on her went limp.

"I hope I see you again, Haku-chan!" Sakura called over her shoulder as she fluttered away, taking the light and the color with her.

Haku stared in the direction the sprite had disappeared. His emotions were in turmoil: first he wanted to chase after her, angry that she had left him. Then he wanted to cry because the world seemed so gray without her presence. But the memory of her smile warmed his heart, a piece of happiness that he could always carry within himself.

He almost took a step forward to follow the pinkette, but then he remembered Zabuza's orders not to stray from that spot. His heart almost rebelled against the idea, but Haku squashed such rebellious thoughts quickly.

When Zabuza returned, the rogue was surprised and mildly amused at the look upon his charge's face. Haku seemed lost in a daydream, his expression caught somewhere between wonder and hunger.

"Did something happen, kid?" Zabuza asked, poking the side of Haku's head to break his thoughts.

Haku glanced up in badly-hidden surprise, seemingly unaware of his master's arrival.

When all that greeted Zabuza was silence, the rogue raised an eyebrow meaningfully and crossed his arms in a scolding manner. "Well?"

Haku's gaze turned back to gaze intently into the forest.

"I met a forest sprite."

Zabuza scoffed and begrudgingly ruffled Haku's hair. "Crazy kid. Come on, let's get going."

The missing-nin hulled a pack of supplies onto his back next to his large sword and began walking towards the road. Haku hesitated, staring into the forest in the hopes of seeing a glimpse of pink or emerald. When nothing showed, he sighed and turned to follow Zabuza, tucking the memory next to his heart, a smile touching his lips.


Okay, so yeah this started as a one shot. But its turned into a 5-6-7 shot (I really don't know when this will end). Needless to say there is no over-arcing plotline, however I wanted to take my time writing their story.

There really isn't enough HakuSaku in this world, let alone any which do the couple justice. There is not enough Haku in this world period.

Review please!

~Lilithia