Prologue to Velvet Black

She stood in the chilly night air that blew her short, uneven pink bangs into her eyes. She didn't notice however, for her emerald green eyes were more focused on the raven haired boy who stood a few feet in front of her. He was dressed in his normal attire, a blue T with the Uchiha fan on the back coupled with his tan shorts. His hands were stuffed deep into the pockets of his shorts.

He slowly lifted his head to face Sakura, his face devoid of any emotion. He silently watched her, his onyx eyes never leaving her figure.

"Why are you prowling around here in the middle of the night?" He asked her. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with the girl at that moment. He didn't want to deal with anyone for that matter. He had wanted to quietly leave the village without anyone noticing. He should have known better, knowing how the mind of his female teammate worked.

"I knew that you would have to come this way, Sasuke-kun…..if you were to leave…" She replied, her anxious green eyes studying his beautiful face only to find it held no emotion what so ever.

"Get out of here…and go back to sleep. You'll catch a cold if you stay out here for much longer." He said coldly before walking towards her.

"Why won't you say anything to me? Why do you always keep everything so quiet and never say a word to me?" She asked, her voice filled with desperation as she watched him walk passed her.

"I told you that I didn't need your help. Quit trying to look after me." He said, stopping in his tracks a few feet passed her.

"No matter what, you just always hate me don't you, Sasuke-kun? The first time we were here in this place by ourselves, you were angry with me…back when we were genin, when our three man squad was first formed." She said, turning towards him.

"I don't remember any of that." He told her, absolutely no emotion in his cold voice.

"Haha…yeah. I guess you're right. That's all in the past huh? That's when it all began though. You and me….and Naruto and Kakashi-sensei…We did all sorts of missions! The four of us. It was difficult at times, even painful and difficult. But I had fun." She paused and took a shaky breath. "I know about your past, Sasuke-kun. Even if you get revenge though. It won't bring anyone happiness. Not you, nor me." She said, trying desperately to hold back the tears that threatened to fall from her anguished eyes.

"I already know…I'm different from you guys. I can't be following the same path as you guys. Deep inside my heart, I've already decided to get my revenge. That's the only reason that I live. I will never be like you. Or Naruto." He told her.

"Do you really want to go back to being alone, Sasuke?" She asked, dropping the honorific. "You told me how painful it was for you. You told me it was painful to be alone! Right now, when you tell me this, I know how you feel. I may have friends and family but…if you were not here it would be the same as being alone!" She exclaimed, finally letting the tears stream from her eyes and down her face.

"From here on out…we all begin our new paths." Sasuke stated.

"I…I…love you with all of my heart! If you were to stay with me, there would be no more sadness. You could forget your revenge and live a happy life with me. I would make it so that you would have no regrets, Sasuke-kun. You know that I would do anything for you. Please…stay with me. If you want I'll even help you with your revenge! I don't really know what I could do but I'll try my hardest to do something at least…" She sniffled and let out a wimper. "Please, Sasuke…stay with me…or, if you can't stay then take me with you."

Sasuke turned his head to face her. "You…really are annoying." He said, his famous Uchiha smirk plastered on his face and a slight glint of guilt flashed across his eyes and no sooner than it appeared, it was gone. He turned away from her, trying his hardest to ignore her crying and began to walk away again.

"Don't! Don't leave me! If you do…dammit I'll scream!" She cried in one last attempt to get him to stay by her side. In the flash on an eye he disappeared and reappeared behind her, his body dangerously close to her own. She could feel the heat from his body lightly playing over her back.

"Sakura…arigato." Sasuke's familiar but smooth voice came from behind her. Her eyes widened at his words then slowly closed as he hit the pressure point at the back of her neck, effectively knocking her out. He caught her before she hit the ground, picking her up in a princess carry, he walked over to a nearby bench and gently placed her unconscious form onto of it. He stared down at her and used his thumbs to wipe away the tears that still ran down her pale face.

"I'm sorry, Sakura."