The rain was pounding against the window pane as she stood with a blank expression on her face. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as she brushed her pink bangs to the side of her face for the umpteenth time that day. Somewhere in the back of her mind she made a mental note to go get it cut. But at the moment she had larger fish to fry. It seemed as if it always turned out like this for her.

Heart broken. Betrayed. Abandoned.

Somewhere inside she felt it was her own fault. Maybe if she had tried a bit harder. Maybe if she had been more affectionate…or maybe if she were less clingy. Perhaps if she was a bit taller and prettier. Or maybe even more mature. But these thoughts were useless, as she knew. After all she was who she was and no amount of wishful thinking could change that.

'Well I mean, there is always plastic surgery..' she thought before she could catch herself. She shook her head to clear it. She couldn't even mope around properly! She really was something. She closed her green eyes, as she tried to think back to what exactly happened. To see if maybe, just maybe if she ever got the chance, there was something she could change. Now she knew this was impossible but she couldn't stop herself from thinking about it.

Her thoughts went back to the night before. The scene was that of a club, one at which all her friends had gathered for their monthly meeting. It was the usual ,except this time she had had her new boyfriend with her, and damn, was she excited. After all, just about everyone in her little "group" had a significant other but her.

The way she recalled it now he had his arm laced around her waist, a bit lower then she would have liked, but she was too ecstatic at the moment to care. Sakura could remember practically running to their usual table and practically screaming at everyone that this was her boyfriend… Shintaro. In retrospect her voice had sort of come off as high pitched as that of a school girl.

'Hey, the music was loud…I had to scream' she mentally defended herself.

The night was fine to start off with. Until she noticed something rather odd. Shintaro was blatantly staring at Ino. Sakura had sighed to herself, because this was the kind of thing that happened often. But Shintaro had been faithful for around 6 months now. And well, she had no reason to suspect him at the time. So she had let it slide.

An hour, and a few rounds of drinks later however it was a completely different story. Shintaro had been a lot more…forward to say the least. His hand was on Ino's thigh who at the moment could hardly tell, for the girl was, to be blunt, wasted. And her boyfriend, Shikamaru was too busy taking another shot to even notice. Shintaro's hand had slowly crept up Ino's dress until he had reached the edge of her panties. It was then that Ino had noticed. And it was then that she had let out a shrill scream. One that caught everyone's attention.

Sakura who had controlled her drinking tonight was thoroughly embarrassed as she grabbed Shintaro by the arm and had dragged him away. All the while profusely apologizing to everyone.

When she finally got outside with him she was about to give him a piece of her mind. But one look at him and she knew that even if she decided to that at the moment nothing would come of it. He was completely out of it.

She had sighed and had decided to let him stay over at her apartment for the night because leaving someone like this alone at night could never be a smart idea. So she had dragged him home, and that was no easy task. After all with her short and petite stature carrying someone who towered over her by a foot was never fun. But she did what she had to do.

After reaching her home she had left Shintaro on her bed and decided that tonight she would sleep on her couch. As she had went back into her bedroom to take off his shoes and undo his tie, she felt someone grab her arm and pull her down.

"Damn Saki, you look hot tonight" he had whispered. Sakura had turned away her face for his breath had reeked of alcohol. "Come on, babe. Let's do it"

Sakura had pulled away and said "No, You are drunk and you don't know what you're saying. Goodnight"

Sakura had already spoken to him about how she felt about abstinence. And he had agreed to never try to push her into it.

She had been about to walk away again when she felt him grab her wrist this time but a lot more forceful then before. She turned around to see him sitting up, his hair covering his face.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You know, you are not that special." He had growled out. He looked up and his eyes were bloodshot. His grip had tightened.

Sakura looked down at her wrist and she could still see the bruises

"I waited six whole fucking months for you, and this is what I get? You know, you aren't worth that time. Yeah sure you are cute. But honey that's all you got going for you. That cute little face of yours. You aren't even hot. And what the hell is up with your prude like attitude? Also can you be any more immature?"

His speech was slurred, and hard to comprehend, but Sakura got each and every word. And every one pierced through her like a katana.

He had went on for a few more minutes pointing out each of Sakura's flaws and pin pointing at those insecurities she had opened up to him about. At the end it was a swift slap that had left a lasting impression that had gotten him to shut up. And she had thrown him out of her house right after. At that point to be honest she hadn't cared what was to become of him. He could have went and stumbled into the roads for the rest of the night for all she cared.

His parting words to her were "we are over bitch, I got better chicks then you waiting for me"

Sakura sighed as she thought back to it. However this time, the sigh was accompanied by a tirade of silent tears and sobs that she choked back. Her whole body was racked with the sorrow. She had actually thought she had met her Mr. Right.

For the rest of the rainy night she had sat by her window, gazing out at nothing. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could almost laugh at what a cliché scene it was. Really, all she was missing was a lonely street lamp in front of her window with a bench underneath and a mug of some sort of hot drink and it could be a scene from a movie. But this was her life. And it sure as hell was no movie.

In the morning it was the sun that had awoken her, gently peeping out from behind the clouds. As she stood up she felt the soreness that normally accompanies sleeping sitting up. She rolled her neck and stretched out her arms as she tried to check what time it was. Since it was a Sunday, her shift at the hospital didn't start until noon.

'Good' she thought 'I can relax this morning'

Sakura had readied herself for the depression that normally hit her after a break up. However after that night of thinking and crying she couldn't find it in herself to produce anymore sorrow. In fact at that moment she felt better than ever. As she stretched her arms above her head the sun which was still being kind of shy decided to grace her with its warm rays. It warmed up her face and her exposed midriff. And she couldn't help but smile.

Sakura could almost say this was the best she had felt in a long time. She was tired of moping around. Sakura felt ready to tackle anything life had to throw at her. But first things first…she needed a shower.

After spending a good hour leisurely getting ready, Sakura checked the time once again. She had an hour until her shift started.

'Perfect' she thought to her self, 'Just enough time to grab a bite to eat'

Sakura pulled on her boots and headed out. The first thing she did as she stepped outside was smell the mid morning air. And it was wonderful.

She headed to Ichiraku's a ramen bar that came on the way to the hospital. It had been a place they had frequented a lot when they were younger. Mainly because it was Naruto's favorite. So it came as no surprise to her when she walked in and saw her ever sunny friend sitting in a stool by the counter.

She walked over and promptly sat besides him, waiting for him to notice. Which was in less then a few seconds.

"Hey Sakura-Chan!" He said a bit too loudly with his huge goofy grin, which quickly sobered up.

"Uhh, I heard what happened between you and that Shintaro guy…And I just want to know how many bones I need to break in his pathetic body"

Sakura let out a little laugh. "Actually Naruto, I think I might handle this one by my self. And to be honest I have never felt better"

Naruto eyed her for a few seconds, checking for even a hint of untruthfulness, but finding none he returned to his food.

Sakura turned to Ayame the daughter of the owner who was practically like an older sister at times and ordered a miso ramen.

She turned back to Naruto , and made small talk with him. After he finished what looked like his 8th bowl he turned to her again.
"Listen Sakura-Chan, I have to leave, I have a mission that I leave for in two days and well, Baa-chan wants to discuss it today. But tonight I'm coming over and you are telling me exactly what the hell went down between you and that asshole"

Sakura was about to re assure him that she was fine but seeing the determined look in his eye she knew he wouldn't take no for an answer.

She reluctantly nodded. And sent him on his way with a hug and a smile.

She ate her own food at a rather fast pace, and made her way to the hospital rather promptly as well.

She had just made it to her office and was putting on her coat when from behind her she heard an unmistakable voice call her.

She gulped, and turned around rather slowly.

"Listen Ino, I'm really sorry about what he did and I have no idea how to make it up to yo-"

Sakura never got to finish her sentence, for Ino had tackled her in a hug.
"Come on, forehead. You know I don't blame you. And I heard that you dumped him, so good for you, plus if anything it was my fault for making such a huge deal of it and embarrassing you"

After a few more pleasantries, Sakura's beeper rang and she hurried away to go help a patient.

Her shift at the hospital ended fairly fast and by 8 she was already home.

Sakura pulled out her key and let herself in. But she knew she wasn't alone. She could feel it. She dropped into a fighting stance.

"Woah Sakura-Chan chill, its me"

Sakura let out a breath of relief. The whole day had been so hectic she had forgotten that Naruto was coming over today.

She smiled brightly at him and said

"Right, I'm sorry I forgot" and stuck her tongue out at him. "want some tea?"

Naruto eagerly nodded.

"Good, Me too. You know where everything is, so go make it and make me some too while I go shower" she said with somewhat of a smirk on her face.

"Sakura-Chaannnn" He whined but he still headed to the kitchen.

Sakura shook her head and ran into the bathroom for a quick shower to remove the days grime.

When she came out a few minutes later the aroma of green tea wafted around her small apartment. With still damp hair she went back to the living room where Naruto had made himself comfortable laying down on her couch, while watching television.

When she walked in, he looked up and motioned to the steaming mug on the table in front of him.

She inhaled the aroma once more and let out a content sigh.

"Okay enough fooling around" He said in a finalized tone. "I want to hear what happened. All of it. Don't leave anything out. And I can tell when you are lying"

Sakura looked at him and smiled

"God Naruto, you have been spending too much time with Ikibi" She let out a little laugh at her own joke but seeing his serious face she sobered up.

"Okay fine. But just so you know I am over all of this crap"

And with a deep breath she recited her whole story all over again. She still needed to stop at some parts, and somewhere between where Shintaro had first put his hand on Ino to when she had screamed, Naruto had moved from the couch to kneeling in front of Sakura. Who was seated in a large rocking chair.

And somewhere between the stumbling home to putting Shintaro on the bed, Naruto had held her hands. And by the time she was telling him what Shintaro had said to her she was sobbing all over again. Except this time when the sobs racked her body and pushed her forward, Naruto was there to catch her.

She sat on his lap and sobbed into his chest and shoulder. There were times when she tried to hold back her tears and get up to show him that she was fine. But he had just pulled her back down into him and she couldn't stop herself from crying some more.

After what seemed like forever her sobs died down and all you could hear from her was the occasional sniffle. Naruto still stroked her hair and paid no attention to just how wet his shirt was. From her hair and her tears.

When she was completely silent he gently picked her up and laid her on the bed and sat by her. Stroking her hand whenever it seemed as if she was having a nightmare of some sort.

Sakura awoke in the middle of the night, and at first Naruto scared the crap out of her. She had almost screamed before she realized who it was.

She turned the lights on, which he had turned off for her comfort.

"Heya" she croaked out in a hoarse voice. She wasn't sure what else she could say

"Why didn't you tell me before what he did" Naruto's voice was so serious it unnerved her.

"He was stupid and drunk Naruto. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. It really doesn't bother me anymore" she whispered out, not trusting her voice not to crack.

Naruto gave her a look telling her that she was a dirty filthy liar.

"I will be fine" She corrected herself.

It seemed as if all the great feelings she had had in the morning were just a dream. Because no way could she feel as shitty as she did now and be as happy as she was then just a few hours ago.

Suddenly a thought occurred to her, and she turned towards Naruto who was currently staring at her.

"Naruto, what if….What if he was right." She whispered so softly that he almost missed it.

She put her head down and her hair covered her face

"what if everything he said is true? I know some of it is. And he had to get it from somewhere…and drunk people don't lie..."

She was about to say more but she could feel the tears coming back up.

Suddenly she felt someone grabbing her face and she was brought eye to eye with him.

"Don't. And I mean Don't. Ever. Say something that stupid, and moronic again. I won't stand for it."

Sakura nodded, slightly shocked at this side of Naruto.

"Promise me." He said.

She nodded again.

"Promise me" he said, a lot more sternly this time.

"I promise" she let out.

"Good girl" he said. "now scooch over, I'm tired of sitting here" he said with a much lighter tone.

Sakura let out a giggle which sounded funny because her nose was still stuffed as she moved to make space.

It wasn't awkward getting into bed with Naruto, because she could trust him.

After he laid down next to her, she moved herself closer to him, and was brought in by his warmth.

"You are like a heater. I swear just come here every night during winter" she said with a small smile

He laughed.

And that was how they spent the night.

Author note:

Hiya! Okay so before you kill me for making Sakura into such a dependent cry baby, just let me say that she will change! And well there will be more with this Shintaro guy. It's just that I wanted him to be someone not in the rookie 9 because I love all of them (yes even sasuke) and I did not want to portay any of them as the asshole I am soon to portray Shintaro as. :3

And lastly can you pleaseeeeeee riview? Please please please please pleaseeeeee.

Thank you :3