Hello everyone! this is the first fanfic ive ever done! I really support this couple, and ive always loved the manga. i hope everyone enjoys this a bunch!

i dont own any of these characters, kishimoto does

She rolled over in her bed just as sunlight began to peek its nosy head into her room, trying to steal her away from the world she had artificially created in her mind for the night. "Mmhhh.. " she grumbled, not wanting to give in to consciousness. However, someone had other plans, as her alarm clock suddenly screeched, causing her to roll off the bed and hit the floor with a load thud! The sound reverberated through the empty hollow of a husk she called home, and apparently it was also heard below as the neighbors began banging, and yelling something about how 'some people are actually trying to sleep.' "Sorry!" she whispered sheepishly while rubbing her sore head, feeling silly for whispering at all.

Today seemed like it was going to be long, well, compared to her other days anyways.

It had taken her an hour and a half to get ready and to leave her apartment building. She was dragging her feet all the way, and leaving no earth unscaved.

Taking a deep breath to help relax herself and taking in the barely there rays from the harmful sun seemed like it would unravel her, but nothing changed, because nothing ever changed. Things had remained the same, at a standstill, and that frustrated her more than anything.

She had been living on her own since the tender age of 17, in a big city that swallowed the weak up, chewed to drain their flavor, and spit them out it they were done. Only the strong could ride the waves of this ocean without drowning. She felt like she was barely a float, but not quiet neck deep yet either.

Her eyes bore holes into her daily routine. Nothing changed; she didn't need to focus as she wallowed through the city. Every curve, every rough patch, every busy street remained the same, everything was boringly predictable, everything seemed so set in stone.

It wasn't long before she arrived at the train station, her last stop before she reached her final destination, a large hospital. She had just started her internship as a surgeon for Konoha hospital, the largest hospital in Konoha. It was always super busy; there were always men and women with their children in and out. She should have felt honored to work there, and under such a prestigious surgeon, but she didn't. She felt stressed and empty, she felt as hollow as her empty home, surely enough they were twins right?

She worked under the chief surgeon named Tsunade, who was also the Hokage of the city, she was a woman with a small waist line and a very animated bust, her hair was long, blond, and shiny, the ideal of perfection. The woman was loud, outrageous, had a short fuse, and instead of spending time getting lost in the rain she gambled, and drank. She looked so perfect to say that she would go on drinking binges, she didn't have a single wrinkle either. Jealousy was what could usually be described as a feeling one would get when they looked at her.

Everything seemed to be in fisheye view, the world wasn't really as round as everyone thought, it was flat, and depthless. Dog eat dog world.

She heard her destination being called out and boarded the train, everyone was in their usual spot, and even she slugged her way to what was normal. She'd go on to wonder if everyone else felt as unmoved as her, if they all felt the lack of progression, the vast emptiness she felt?

She heard a 'bing', indicating that the doors were closing and that her predetermined journey was about to begin, again. Suddenly a hand jammed into the door causing people to gasp as the doors yanked back open. She turned her head sharply and was instantly drawn from her prison like mind. Someone was attempting to break this stagnate normalcy.

"See teme! I told you we would board!" in jumped a blond boy, the light radiating from him was enough to make her wince and squint to get a closer look. "Shut up dobe, if we had left earlier like I said we wouldn't have had to of run," came another voice, a voice of darkness and utter coldness. In stepped a raven boy, his hair and eyes were darker than black and held no real life in them. They both were strangely beautiful, and seemed to be extreme opposites, yet they were friends, and they were smiling and joking together. 'Their gay' she thought instantly while chuckling to herself.

The doors finally closed and the train began moving.

She couldn't take her eyes off of them, no matter how hard she pulled her head, it held its ground and stayed in place. She was embarrassed to say at least. Others seemed to have noticed their difference too, all sorts of people were chatting that usually weren't, little school girls were giggling, and that could only mean one thing. One was even brave enough (or pushed out of the group until further notice) to actually give the blonde one 'dobe' a letter. She giggled and ran back into her 'now accepting memberships once more' group. The blond merely made an embarrassed face, and when he turned away he looked disgusted. "Robbing the cradle now dobe?" the raven boy joked and shoved the radiant one a little. "It's addressed to us both teme, or should I say partner in crime?!" he joked. They opened the letter and after reading a few lines both agreed it was probably best to get away from the little girls. They're faces were red with embarrassment, or humiliation,. Whichever came first.

Suddenly they strode towards her. Her heart pounded loud enough for everyone to hear, it quickly betrayed her. Damn? Really? They weren't that beautiful,... right? Her head suddenly felt the need to cooperate as it turned straight, but only straight enough to where she could watch them from her peripherals. They kept approaching ever so slowly, and when one passed in front of her she held her breath. It was the radiant one, no need to defile him with her breathing right? As soon as the raven boy passed in front of her the train hitched.

All lights went out as he stumbled onto her, slamming his rock hard (or pointy, she couldn't tell) shoulder right into her nose. The accident was massive, and would need to be reported on the news later. The collision left her feeling dizzy as he dragged her body down with him, quite a few people fell.

She opened her eyes to see him kneeling half way on top of her, quickly he made his way off, something hot instantly ran down her face. She looked up as she heard squawking. "Way to go teme!" the blond punched the other. She touched the liquid and realized that it was blood, and it was everywhere. "Huh?!" she felt very confused, the collision wasn't that massive. Right?

His claw reached down and yanked her up... his warm, ever-not-so-claw-like claw. "here." the blonde one offered. He was holding out a rag, where the hell he got it from was a mystery to her, but she took it nevertheless, and stopped the flow of blood. "Thanks," she mumbled, "yo miss, you sure have one weird ass hair color!" the blond one smiled at her. She blushed a little realizing that he was talking about her pastel pink hair, it was weird, she'd give him that. "Hey," the blond nudged the raven, "apologize teme," he whispered.

"hn," was the noise he settled for as he looked away.

"Yea, sorry for that," the blond extended his hand. "He's dickless and hasn't hit puberty yet, so he's never sure how to talk to girls." he laughed to himself and so did she. The raven wasn't pleased, wasn't pleased at all. "I'm Naruto, and this is..." "It's Sasuke," the raven interjected, finally projecting his voice to her. He certainly had already hit puberty.

"I'm Sakura" she smiled.

"ohhhh i get it! It matches the hair color!" Naruto pointed out. Sakura was sure she wasn't named Sakura because of her hair color; her mother merely liked the name. She giggled, shrugging his effort off. Naruto had jokes. The little bastard.

She spoke and giggled with the two boys all the ways until normalcy happened. Her hour long ride had turned into a time of joy, and something that wasn't predestined. It was different, and in short, she was happy.

But like all days and good times, there was an end to it as the train slowly gave way to screeching brakes.

"Well," Naruto looked at Sakura. "It's been hella fun talking with you, but this is me and teme's stop. Hope to see you again." he insisted as the door opened and both boys made their exit. She simply smiled, and waved and went about her normal life.

She looked out the window to see Naruto walking with his hands behind his head. Then her heart beat so loud she could have sworn everyone could hear it, again. Sasuke, the raven boy was semi turned and staring into her window, at her face. Her eyes gapped at him and suddenly there was an unbroken link between they're eyes that only the train severed when it began to move.

What was that about?! She pondered to herself,

Surely his beautiful eyes were looking elsewhere, or maybe they were staring into her soul, judging its character. It didn't matter, she told herself, because after they left she would simply fall back into everyday routine.

Work had been slow, apparently no one felt the need to be dying or injured and she wasn't sure if she liked that or not. Her mentor invited her into her office, some talk about starting new clinical trials and fixing the names on the surgical board. She got that privilege because she was the youngest, and because she was the new-bee to the hive.

The smell of cheap alcohol was already present on her mentors breath, and the color that stained her cheeks told Sakura that it was still going to be a long day, and surely enough, just as she guessed, her boss called on her every 5 seconds to dust shadows. She was going to lose some weight running around today.

Lunch eventually showed its face, and she rested with her best friend, a woman who was no taller than Sakura but had a big personality and attitude. Ino.

She and Ino sat in one of the high up hallways that overlooked the city; it was used to house old stale gurneys so no one ever knew where they ate for lunch.

"Forehead, why do you eat the same thing every day?" Ino complained about Sakura's lunch every day. Sakura looked into her little lunch bento box. It provided nutrition, wasn't that a simple answer?

"It's easy to make." Sakura shrugged her shoulder.

As time began to leave them Sakura's mind began to wonder, leaving her friend's conversation behind. She was barely making out what Ino's blabber was about.

"...he was so cute, and he took me to dinner and paid for everything, forehead I think he's the one!" her friend was clenching something to her chest with dreamy, wanting eyes. What the hell was she talking about again? Apparently she missed more than she thought. "Hey forehead! Did you hear anything I just said?" Ino looked slightly furious.

Sakura looked at her, "huh?"

"FOREHEAD!" she nudged her. "I was telling you about Shikamaru, my date.. Remember?!" she bobbed her head slightly down, trying to muse an answer out of Sakura. "Oh.. Yea.. "Sakura giggled. "How did that go by the way?" "Gosh you're so hopeless!" Ino folded her arms, trying her best to make a cute pouting face.. it was impossible, nothing was ever cute for Ino.

"Speaking of boys, when are you going to start dating?!" she eyed Sakura, damn her constant need for information. During the years she had known Ino (her whole life... -_-) the girl was known for several things, getting what she wanted, being fashionable and flirty, gossip, and prying until she got answers. Damn her.

"Hmmmmm" Sakura smiled and rocked back, holding onto her knees. "I dunno," she smiled again. Ino glared at her, she was probably trying to kill her with those eyes. Sakura was acting like a teenager in love... "Maybe if a prince swept me up... we would frolic into the distan..." "Okay spill! Who are you crushing on!" ion grabbed her shoulders.. This information was viable god damnit! "No one! No one!" she swatted at Ino's hands, she just could help to smile at how beautiful those boys had been.

"It's Neji, from the office huh?! He's already taken!" she shook Sakura's hands! "Property closed silly girl!" Ino chuckled in triumph, tossing Sakura's hands aside. Sakura merely shook her head. "Kiba, the pet ward dude!" she jumped up, biting her bottom lip with wide eyes! Sakura shook her head again. " good, he probably has fleas anyways…..YOU CANT HAVE SHIKAMARU!" she pointed at Sakura and was smiling hard! "I don't want him either!" Sakura pointed back. People were starting to figure out where their secret hiding place for lunch was.

"ROCK LEEEEEEEEEEEEE~! FRRRRROMMM ACCOUNTING!" she jumped up fully. Mouth open wide and hands high to the sky! "Quit auctioning boys off!" Sakura stood too; she was feeling Ino's energy.

"Hey goofballs!" another woman walked up. "Oh no, they found us!" Ino hissed. The woman made a face, "with the way you're screaming boys names anyone would. Plus everyone has a good view of you two from over there." the woman pointed with a smirk on her face. Both Ino and Sakura looked. "oh," they said in unison. Not knowing anyone could see them. "Sakura, our secret love affair is over.. I don't want to get names." Ino said, while waving her arms about, childishly. "Oh shut up pig! You already have names." Sakura nudged her.

The day eventually finished. Sakura felt like she was going home with more homework than she planned on...

The world was unusually darker than what it had been on her way home. The streets were cold and there wasn't a single car going anywhere. "Isn't this rush hour?" she thought looking at her clock. It read 4 in the morning. She made a face. "Well that's wrong," she said while stopping to adjust her watch. Suddenly rustling was heard.

She turned sharply to see four people standing behind her. They were laughing and staring holes into her petite form. "What are you doing out her by yer self miss? aint it a bit late" one spat while closing the distance between them . 'Oh god' Sakura thought. "Yea!" another spoke. "aint you a bit cold?" he stepped up on the other side of her "I could help warm ya up." He gave a half tooth grin, making Sakura cringe. She stepped backwards as to escape, and turned to run.

Just then her small wedge caught a pot hole and she tripped, all of the content from her purse spilling and allowing them to catch up. "what's wrong miss? We just wanna play a little game.." one grabbed her. "NO!" she screamed scratching his face. "woooo, feisty.. i like little cats.." he grabbed her up by her legs and hair.. She was screaming to the top of her lungs... where the hell was everyone else?! This was defiantly not a part of her daily routine!

He dragged her to somewhere dark against her will. "p...lea...se d. . d...o th...is..." she whimpered. "The bitch doesn't even have money in her wallet," one said while throwing Sakura's wallet at her face. "That's alright, I'll get the right amount from her by this." his hands snatched at her blouse, "HELPPPPPPP!" she screamed, smacking the man in the face and kicking him.

Her shirt was on the floor tone to pieces, and her skirt was torn not too long after. "Get off of me!" she pushed him as he was trying to kiss her. He had already left several nasty reminding hickeys and bruises on her..

Sakura punched his face, nothing happened. She was already nearly naked and was plenty afraid and embarrassed. He shifted his weigh so she sat more perfectly between the wall and him. Everything seemed so fucking dark and surreal, was this how it was all going to happen? What had happened to her ever-so-flat world?

He shifted again, as he did so her foot caught enough leverage to come up between his legs. She rammed her knee into his groin as hard as she possible could, she was a really weak girl, but giving up was never an option.

He lost his grip on her causing her to collide hard with the floor, she gathered herself and tried to stand quickly but was stomped on by one of the four.. it was pain like no other as her body slammed harshly into the ground, without an effort, she let out a wicked loud scream as her bone gave way to his foot. It wasn't broken, just seriously in pain and surely it would bruise.

"You bitch!" he quickly regained strength and slapped her hard across the face, sending her already damaged body farther across the cold ass floor. Her blood splatted against the floor, permanently staining it. That stain later would become a painful reminder to her of the day.

the hit made her feel light headed and extremely dizzy. She internally cringed and dug her nails into the floor as he grabbed her leg and tried to pull her up again.

Fight back.

Fight back or die.

Suddenly something black flashed across all of them. It was quick and agile, knocking down one of them. Sakura looked up, not able to get a good look as to what was happening around her.. The man stood up. "What the fuck was that?!" he looked panicked.

"Who the fuck are you!" someone yelled. Sakura leveled her head up, giving herself a good look; it was the same raven head boy that she talked with on the train. "Sakura!" he yelled out, charging forward to her rescue.

One swung at him, he seemed to have dodged it effortlessly. Then drilled his fist into the man's stomach causing him to double over, Sasuke took the opportunity to knocked him in his spine with his bird like elbow. The man collapsed and groaned all at the same time. "Get him!" he screamed and grabbed Sakura's hair.. She winced and yelled out, causing the raven to move faster.

Someone's fist made contact with his slender pale face, terror bubbled in her stomach as he fell flat to the floor and received a kick by two to the ribs, what if they hurt him? He barely knew her and he was doing his best to fight four people off, all for her?

Sasuke was significantly smaller than the other boys, his lip looked busted and his nose was spewing hot red blood.

The grip on her hair loosened as the leader saw this fight as a losing battle and ran. The others all collided with the ground and didn't get back up.

Quickly he rushed to her side. "Sakura?" he looked at her. "It is you!" Sasuke's eyes rapidly moved over a frame, checking for real damage.

For a slight moment there was red… red in his eyes that was spinning. She shook her head and stared into suddenly charcoal black eyes.

Tears slid down her face in that very moment, it was over, yet she still felt violated, and in short, she was terrified. "The...they were goin.. goin to.." clenching at herself as if it would make everything better. It didn't help that there wasn't anything to cover up her nearly naked form, she felt shame casting down on her.

"It's alright." he spoke, his voice was more gentle than it had been on the train. " I won't let them hurt you," he slipped out of his shirt and pulled it over her head. "Here," he held the shirt out to her. "It's not much, but it's better than being naked." She looked up at him, why was he still trying to help her out? Random acts of kindness? When she didn't was accept the shirt he pulled it over her head, not leaving her with much of an option. It was a solid black long sleeve shirt with a turtle neck and open buttons at the top, and so very warm and comfortable.

"i.. i have to ge..." she resented the stutter in her voice but she couldn't process the right words she needed to communicate. "I'll take you home.. We can ride the train together." he gathered her in his arm.. Sakura looked up at him and then pointed to her scattered items from her purse on the floor. He quickly gathered them as well and placed the purse on her stomach.

She gripped his neck, and allowed him to carry her the whole way to the train station, which wasn't as far as it seemed.

Sasuke smelt of emptiness, and coal. His skin glistened with sweat and a little blood, it was as cold as the winter night. How was he such a suitable person?

Sakura gave into her thoughts.

The ride on the train seemed so much longer than the one in the morning. He continued to hold her in his arms, shielding people's questioning looks away from her. She had whimpered the whole way there, and even now she couldn't seem to pull herself together. Sasuke began to rub her back.. Pacifying her.

It wasn't long before the train stopped, Sakura and Sasuke made their way to her small cluttered apartment , which was deep in the heart of Konoha, everywhere was super close and cluttered, a cheaper place for single people.

He walked her all the ways to her door, holding onto her stumbling form. It was obvious that she was damaged and would need to take a day or so to be examined and make any necessary repairs.

He watched her back as she waltz to her door; he didn't say anything to her, even though he wanted to. Instead he stood in utter silence, and waited for an indication that she could now manage herself.

They stopped in front of her door. "Is this it?" he looked at her, then to the outside of her place, there was a small wilting plant under her window seal. She merely nodded her head, currently not being able to utter 'yes'.

"Thank you, for everything." she spoke quietly and slowly unlocked the door. Sasuke peered inside out of pure curiosity; it was tidy and completely dark and cold. Defiantly a place for a single person. "Please wait." Sakura mumbled as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Wait? For what?

He tried looking through the door hole, then the cracked window blinds. Sakura was changing out of his shirt and into some of her own clothing, pants and all. Sasuke watched her do so, she seemed so frail and broken, surely she too smelt of emptiness.

After a minute or so the door clicked, indicating that she had finished. The black raven shirt was folded with such neatness. "Thank you for everything…" she uttered again in a low tone, never making eye contact with his empty eyes.

He glanced more into her now lit apartment, it suited her he figured, not being really able to make such an accusation of her yet.

"Are you okay?" he began questioning her wellbeing before he even thought of taking his shirt. . She touched her arm and held her head down. What could he have expected from her? A smile?

He searched her pale face, nothing of what happened to her was fair, why did people like her have to experience things like that?

Sakura glanced up into Sasuke's eyes, and for a moment they just stayed there, communicating everything that needed to be said without saying anything at all.

Sasuke eventually accepted the shirt, and she slowly stepped behind the door, closing it in the process.. closing him out in the process.

There was no goodbye, or goodnight. Just simple understanding.

He stood there, feeling strangely rejected before he decided to turn and leave. He had only met her this morning after all, such a weird turn of events.

Sakura crawled into her cold bed sheets and cried herself to sleep.

The next couple of days went by just as easy as they came, Sakura kept to herself for the first few of them, but then told Ino everything and cried like a baby in her comfort. Then the world went back to being predictable, everything was back in its rightful place, everyone said the same things, did the same things, and looked the same way. The world was suddenly very flat again.

Sakura heard the buzzing of her alarm clock go off, signaling that her day was about to begin again. She repeated the same process she had settled herself in over the last couple of years.

Friday eventually rolled around and showed its bald face, the week went by effortlessly, and that only meant that the weekend would probably have the same equivalent feeling as an hour.

Sakura stepped into the crowded train station and sighed. Where the hell were all of these people coming from? People were shoving and rushing to the front of the line when the train rolled around the corner.. Sakura glanced at it, then realized that she needed to board it. "Excuse me!" she tried pushing through the stagnant group of people, the doors to the train were already closing.. "no no no no!" she yelled out trying to get on.. "waiit!" she yelled as the doors shut her out and the train began to move.. Sakura watched the train leave her behind, she clenched her ticket in her hand. Today was about to get just a little bit longer.

"Now what?" she spoke softly to herself while crossing her arms and making a pouty face. "I guess I should call in and let them know I'll be late." she spoke while fumbling for her cell phone. It had received several scratches from that incident, and the screen was cracked in the corner, ruining her once perfectly kept phone.

Sakura looked up while holding the phone to her ear.. "hullo," a voice slurred. Her boss was already drunk off her ass. Thank goodness.

"Its Haruno Sakura, I missed the train this morning." she spoke into the mouth piece.. No reply came, then suddenly. "What's your point?" the voice giggled. "that means I'll be late..." she made a wishful face, not wanting to get in trouble.. "hck, girl... just come in when your good and fuckin ready.. see ya baby.." the woman clicked, disconnecting the call. She smiled to herself; her boss was rather easy to deal with after she had a few drinks in her system. Sakura liked that.

It wasn't long before the next train came, Sakura made sure she boarded this one after exchanging her ticket. She didn't want to go to work at all, not after her boss said she could come in when she was good and ready, but she might as well get the day over with.

she glanced around while holding onto the posts. The train was packed from people back to back, someone important must have died?

The train passed over all of Konoha, which was starting to be covered by white snow. The city looked beautiful during the winter; there were so many available features and things to do during the winter than there was in any other season, since Konoha didn't really have a beach. People would start to hang lights and in the center of the city there would be a big Christmas tree erected, and shop keepers would decorate their shops and change the fragrant in the air... she loved everything about it. Suddenly someone grabbed her shoulder, Sakura froze up.

"oi! Sakura!" a semi familiar voice rang.. She turned to see Naruto and the raven boy standing behind her. She decided to grace them with a smile. "Naruto, Sasuke, it's been a while.." she extended her hand.. Naruto avoided her hand a gripped her shoulders, pulling her into a hug. The raven just watched. "I heard what happened to you! If I was there I would have killed them!" Sakura's eyes were wide, but eventually she hugged him back. Naruto was a good person, she figured.

She glanced at the raven, his mind must have been elsewhere. He looked very cold and detached, always so aloof from everyone else. She watched the lights play tricks on his figure and decided he was the more beautiful of the two. Naruto was blabbering about something while shaking her shoulders, it was nearly impossible to catch on. Sakura smiled at him, she hadn't seen both of them together since the first time she met them, and she hadn't seen the raven boy since earlier on in the week. Looking at him was awkward now, after he saw her nearly naked and everything. Sasuke never glanced at her, he didn't say words either, something was on his mind. Naruto realized that Sakura was staring at Sasuke and was disregarding his comments. He glanced at Sasuke, then back to Sakura.. "ne, Sakura… earth to Sakura." He waved his hand in her face, she suddenly focused on him and laughed. "sorry.." she giggled. "I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out with me and teme at our favorite ramen place?" Naruto smiled at her. 'your favorite ramen place' she heard Sasuke comment. Naruto clasped his hands together. "please! I'll pay! Or teme, whichever comes first!" he grabbed her hands and clenched them to his face.

Sakura looked up smiling at him, he radiated back, Sasuke looked too, curious as to what her answer would be. . "I'll go with you guys.." "yatta!" Naruto jumped up. She smiled and laughed, the world was losing its shape again.

The train ride was short and sweet.. and before she knew it Sasuke and Naruto were getting off. Naruto hugged her goodbye, promising that those 'bastards' wouldn't hurt her again. She accepted the promise. Sasuke merely glanced at her, something was still bothering him. He went to exit but was stopped by Sakura's delicate fingers. "wait…" she held onto him. "Thank you for everything again, please… don't worry about me." She smiled at him, his ever-so-empty eyes strained in confusion, then he quickly exited the train.

Sakura stood there.. hoping he wouldn't worry too much..

The door sounded as it was getting ready to close, then sudden beeping was heard. Sakura looked over to where the sound was coming from and was suddenly grabbed by Sasuke, he had interrupted the closing door. He pulled her into a forehead kiss, then let her go.

"I won't let anyone hurt you again" he promised, looking her dead in the eyes.

And then he left, leaving her mind scattered.

i hope everyone liked it! 3