Disclaimer: Characters belong to Kishimoto. Plot, and everything else belongs to my imagination.

Summary: It is impossible and unheard of for a tree nymph and a fire spirit to coexist in harmony, much less be anything more than that. But when Sakura's land runs the risk of being invaded and razed to the ground, she will have to set aside any preconceived notions of the fire elementals in order to preserve her home. Will she be able to trust in Sasuke, the leader of the fire spirits, to help her in saving her home? Can they learn to accept one other, especially when one brings life into the world and the others nature is to destroy it?

Pairings: SasukexSakura, slight InoxSai, slight ShikaXTemari

Rating T just to be safe...May or may not go up to M in later chapters.

Prologue

The setting sun cast luminous glow on the lake. The light show that was the reflection upon the surface of the water was enough to make any living creature stop and stare. It was as if the northern lights had been called down from the coldest reaches of the earth to grace this particular forest with it's natural beauty. The colors of dusk played on the surface of the lake, dancing to and fro, celebrating the end of another spring and the beginning of the summer season. Nature was content; this was true as it could be felt all through the forest. A gentle breeze blew through trees and from the the southern most point of the woods emerged a splendor.

But splendor was not enough to describe this being. Her presence made all around her feel at peace. Her laughter was like the tinkling of fine crystal, and one look from her jade green eyes was more than enough to make all souls leap with joy. But the greatest thing about this creature was her smile, fresh air that breathed life into all who saw it. But Sakura gave little mind to the attention given to her by the forests inhabitants (she swore the animals could be as nosy as humans).

She continued to make her way out of the woods towards the edge of the lake, her simple white dress rippling in wind and long pink locks swaying gently with every step she took. It had been a long spring; long but amazing as always. Sakura always had a preference for spring. As she should, for it was in her nature as an earth elemental to do so. Nature spirits usually made their home in trees, rivers, plants, bogs, mountains, and minerals. They attached themselves to practically every natural thing and cared for it, and existed as the life force in all living things. And this is precisely what Sakura did and considered her sacred duty.

Sakura was a tree nymph, a guardian of the springtime. Every spring she and her fellow spirits of the forest would come out of their resting places to help usher in the springtime. She specifically would tend to the blossoming of the cherry blossom trees, her namesake. With delicate whispers and gentle caresses, the small buds would open their petals to the world and release their sweet essence to the breezes. The other nymphs would do similar rituals with their own charges; the oak trees, the chrysanthemums, orange blossoms, even the grass that covered the rolling hills beyond the forest. The earth elementals all worked in harmony to bring life back to the forest at spring. Even the water elementals would emerge from their homes in the underwater caverns to cleanse the lake and thaw the ice that had covered it in the winter.

Sakura loved this about Spring. The feeling of creating something, of giving it life and a chance to start anew. The coming of the spring meant new beginnings, healing what winter had left behind and Sakura felt pride in being a part of that process.

That is why when she first laid eyes on Sasuke, she felt her soul shake to its very core, for he stood for everything she did not; destruction, chaos, consuming everything, making all things barren. In a single word, he represented death. He was a fire elemental, one of nature's most destructive spirits and most likely to not think twice about the value of a life. Sakura could not fathom ever meeting a fire spirit, much less finding herself interacting with one on an almost daily basis. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let's go back to the day that started it all...

BonBon's Commentary:

Prologue is short and sweet..a little bit of a teaser if you will buehuehue. Got an idea and decided to roll with it because why not? I swear almost all my writing happens on a whim regardless. I could literally sit my ass down for an hour and try to write but it won't happen. It has to just come to me (like today I was eating Pollo Loco when it hit me...something about that chicken...)

I'm still going to be updating my other story (Salad For the Young Man's Soul) every weekend. If this one does well (gets enough positive reviews or follows or favorites) then I'll, hopefully, be updating every week (like on tuesdays, wednesdays, or thursdays). Don't plan on making this one too long... maybe 5-7 chapters? Really depends on where the story itself takes me, and the reader response.

Ok so pairings are pretty much what I listed above...I'll try to work NaruHina in there if possible but that is the one pairing I just cannot write, simply because I don't get their dynamic. I have nothing against the pairing itself, I just don't get it. And if I don't get it then I cant write it because then I will screw it up big time.

Anyways, Please R&R. I'm not kidding. I love reading what you guys think on the story, characters, etc. And I'm always open for suggestions :)