PROLOGUE
Where is your boy tonight?

Music was like a little escape place for twenty-one year-old Sakura Haruno. Whenever she wanted to get away from the prying hands of her parents, or from the curious eyes of onlookers, or from the thoughts of one handsome and socially-retarded royalty, she would go out for a walk, plug her ears with earphones, and silently listen to Fall Out Boy songs or We The Kings songs or All Time Low songs like no one else cared.

She would walk and walk and walk and listen and listen and listen, and avoid the curious eyes of passersby around her. That night, like the few nights prior, was escape time for her.

Today, though, she was not keen on escaping the prying hands of her parents, the curious eyes of onlookers, or even the thought of the handsome and socially-retarded royalty of whom she grew to like... or love. What she wanted to escape from were the calculating stares of everyone around her, all judging her from something she had no hold of.

She sucked in a breath, the cold breeze of nearing winter burning in her lungs. The weeks before were stressful, what with the national TV, of all things, following her every move. What was more was the disapproving gaze the handsome and socially-retarded royalty's father had given her one time.

Had she done something wrong?

OK, so maybe going inside the Royal Mansion was one thing, but the freaking Crown Prince of the whole Konohagakure practically invited her. She had been invited inside so many times that even everyone else working for the family already knew her. And it was not like they were doing anything wrong, either! Idiot Naruto was there (so maybe the Crown Prince had somehow rubbed off on her...) and also the Prince's creepy cousin, Sai!

The song Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy) by Fall Out Boy was beginning to play when she began to notice the people around her pause from their strides and look at something behind her. Or at her, she just was not sure.

Maybe they had recognized her as the girl on TV every single day, as the girl who the King of the whole country took a seemingly particular dislike. Or maybe the pink hair. Or maybe the fact that she was the only one who kept on walking while they all stilled on one spot.

So Sakura paused, and realized that hey, they were not looking at her. They were looking at somebody else. Checking the people's expressions, she came up with a conclusion of who they were looking at. It was not great.

Because the conclusion set her heart in an unrelenting pace.

Sakura spun on her heels, her heartbeat thudding loudly against her ears, and thought that she was, indeed, right. The people's hanging jaws were dead giveaways, but what really made her certain were the admiring gazes. Hanging jaws plus admiration were quite exclusive for only one person.

Prince Sasuke Uchiha of Konohagakure.

And he was staring at her like he longed for her. Like he wanted her to return to him when... when in the first place, had she been his? It was as if she was boring holes into her soul, burning every other thought from her head but those about him.

"Sakura," the handsome and socially-retarded Prince called out in that charming and dizzying voice of his. Even with earphones in her ears, the loud and blaring sounds of Grand Theft Autumn playing against her ears, she could still hear his voice with utmost clarity.

The young woman stilled, but when the Prince took one more step toward her, his hand reaching out, she took an automatic step back, surprising not only herself, but the Prince, too. The surprised gaze he sent her almost made her heart skip a beat, if it were not because of the overwhelming presence he had on her.

"Y-Your Highness," Sakura greeted nevertheless, her eyes scanning the crowd around them. She realized that the Prince's personal bodyguards were already around them in circles, holding back the mobs of people from getting to the royalty. "Y-You shouldn't be here."

And the gaze was back. Like he wanted her. Like he lov—

Don't even dare go there, Sakura. She inhaled. Stop at your own risk.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and Sakura was heavily reminded of why she was taking a walk in a cold November night, listening to Fall Out Boy songs, and trying to forget the world for a few minutes... or an hour.

She was greatly reminded of how she did not deserve the cold, strong hand that suddenly took hers in a strong, possessive grip, or of how flashes of camera were practically everywhere as people took pictures of the Prince and herself. Sakura was greatly reminded of how the King Fugaku Uchiha of Konohagakure judged her without fully knowing her, or of the pitying looks the Queen Mikoto had sent her way.

But with Prince Sasuke's cold hand engulfing hers, and with the small tug he did as he pulled her against him...

Sakura realized that she could care less about all those things.

You were the last good thing about this part of town.

Disclaimers:
Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto
Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy) © Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
We The Kings
All Time Low

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Eek. I just tried. I don't even know if it's worthy of continuing. Heh.