Metaphors-

After the war, Konoha was nothing but a collection of prostitutes and beggars. But oh God, leaving them all behind stung like floor burn across her heart and drunken spiders in her stomach. Hell yes it hurt her, but she knew better than to ride tides of un-fulfilling promises. A story about Sakura, her memory that was erased, her departure from her village of hell, a surprise meeting with what she called the epiphany of sin, and a feeling of butterflies that fluttered in her heart.

Chapter one: smoking red head

Notes: A chapter dedicated to the darkness that lurks within Karin and the sorrow that lives in Sakura.

I LOVE STUDIO GHIBLI

"When I was a kid, my dad said not to lean too far into anything because you could fall in and never get back out." She said looking out into the dark village.

"That's some good advice" The red head replied. "Too bad you didn't listen." Sakura smirked at her friend.

"We went ice fishing once, and I leaned too far into the water, and I fell in." She said. "He kept saying Sakura you idiot! I told you not to lean too far, you idiot Sakura!"

Karin laughed and lit up a cigar in her hands. A fleck of light illuminated her face in the night, and Sakura saw the anguish in her deep red eyes.

"Sounds like your father was a smart man." Karin said exhaling. "I abandoned my parents long ago."

"Do you ever regret that?" She asked, looking into the night. The red head laughed and shook her head.

"Hell yes I do." She replied inhaling again. A silence eluded the two, until the red head spoke again. "Is that why you're afraid of the river?"

Sakura shook her head in response. "The waters are just cold this time of year." She said. "Naruto says that the river is always warm, but I guess only a few people can feel that warmth." Six years ago, when Sakura was thirteen, she would have perhaps felt the warmth of the river.

"We're adults now." Karin said. "Things that are warm and fuzzy don't exist, got it?" She brought the cigar to her lips and looked into the slums of their ruined village. Smoke was still rising from burned homes, and bits of wood stuck out in random angles. The screams of dying people still rung heavy in her ears, but that's what Karin was expecting. To her Konoha was a good place, but it was more to Sakura than just a foster home. It was the heart of all Sakura's happiness, and now it was long destroyed— brick by brick.

After the war, a river was formed, and it ran straight through the village of the leaf. And, as a result of Yamatos last jutsu, a giant tree stood in the centre of the village next to the river. The villagers carved names of fallen soldiers who died in the war on the bark of the tree. Konoha was far from repair, and she believed it never would re gain it's lively warmth as it had a few months prior.

"Do you still think things can still be what they once were?" Sakura asked. Karin furrowed her eye brows in disgust of Sakuras reply.

"Things will never be what they once were. Sakura, this world is full of darkness, and it always will be." She said, making her way down to the village.

"And hurry up Sakura, people will be looking for you." She said.

"Wait, one last thing." Sakura said. Karin turned around and stared at the frail kunochi. She waited for Sakura to speak.

"Do you think he'll be alright?" She asked, and Karin chuckled.

"After what hes done for you..." She whispered. "You should be doing more than asking if hes alright. The cherry blossom of Konoha can't even pay attention to the one man that paid attention to her? Now that's pathetic." Karin started to walk away, flicking the ash of her cigar.

"At least you forgot about him." She added, and the memory of his dark face flashed in her head.

"I know." She replied. "But not completely."

"It's just a matter of time till he attacks again you know." Karin said, throwing down her cigar. She knew that if Sasuke wanted to destroy Konoha, he was going to do it. He would tear it down and not look back. She knew better than to hope that Konoha was going to rebuild itself, but to Sakura it was home. It was more than a place of temporary stay. She stomped on the cigar and turned her heel to face Sakura again.

"Don't be stupid." She said harshly.