Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. You all know that, right?
Summary: Sakura Haruno. She's finally happy... and whose fault was this? Karin's. Now, she has nothing. And who was to blame for this? Karin. High School Fic. No pairings yet.
Warning: Rated T for swearing and mild suggestions... O.o
Sakura-centric.
This is my first School Fic. Tell me what you think~!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Yelling/emphasizing"
(Author's Note)
-s-
A 4 year old with long pink hair tied in pigtails walked home hand in hand with her sister, a cute redhead with long, silky hair. They had conquered their first day in school, and they were both proud of themselves and prepared for more days to come. They had to walk a mile home since their bus didn't stop at their neighborhood for some reason.
The redhead laughed, "Our teacher is so silly!"
The pink haired girl gazed at her sister in confusion and asked, "W-What do you mean, Karin-chan?"
Karin rolled her unnatural red eyes that, for some reason, made her look even prettier.
"Duh, Sakura! She was mixing up the adding and subtracting signs! You see, the addition sign is just a line, while the subtracting sign is a cross."
Pink eyebrows rose in amazement and her emerald eyes shone in absalute trust as she exclaimed, "Really? Wow, Karin-chan, you're smart!"
Her parents had taught Karin mathematics once she was old enough to speak. Karin was extremely bright and a fast learner both physically and mentally. Sakura, on the other hand, was exceptionally smart, but her parents wouldn't acknowledge it. She was rather athletic though, and her parents relied on her to gain trophies and make them proud that way. Because of this, Sakura trusted her older sister, who was older by 3 seconds, on the subject of learning.
"Thanks, Sakura. But really. I'll teach you math the right way."
In the 30 minute walk, Karin had tought Sakura the 'right way' of adding and subtracting.
-s-
"Mr. and Mrs. Haruno, your student is absalutely impossible to teach! She has everything backwards and completely forgets the correct way of adding and subtracting right after I teach her about it!" the teacher exclaimed in frustration while throwing her arms up in the air.
A beautiful woman with scarlet hair frowned in disappointment and confusion and replied, "I'm sorry... I don't know what's gotten into Sakura."
A man with silver colored hair nodded with her, his head down in shame.
None of them paid any attention to the shocked little girl hiding behind her mother's leg. She wanted to tell them that Karin was the one who taught her... that it was Karin...
'No... Karin was just... wrong. It was an accident. Everything else was my fault.'
Her teacher then sighed and crossed her arms over her breasts.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid your child has a learning disorder. You're going to have to hire a private tutor. I'm guessing that the other parents wouldn't want their children around a mentally disabled child."
Sakura didn't understand any of this, but she knew that she had done something wrong when her parents were arguing in the car on the ride home. Karen was sitting next to her, holding her hand soothingly like a best friend would. At this kind gesture, the younger sister immediately forgave her older sibling. It was probably just an accident after all...
-s-
At the age of 8, Sakura was the captain of her soccer team, leading her squad to victory every single time. Not a match was lost with her as captain. She was running a victory lap around her house, happy about the fact that her team had won yet another tournament.
She was so happy that she didn't notice a leg stick out right in the middle of her path. That day, she broke her leg and knocked herself into a coma. The last thing she saw was someone's scarlet colored sneakers.
At the hospital, Sakura was in her bed reading a magazine when Karin came to visit with a handful of fresh picked flowers. The younger silbling's mood rose once she saw her sister. Before either of them could utter out a word, Sakura's doctor burst into the room, snatching up a jacket and pulling on his hat.
He stopped at the door and turned at the two girls, hurriedly explaining, "I've got to leave for an emergency at another hospital. Miss Haruno, tell your parents that you'll be just fine in a few days and you'll be as good as new. No scars, nothing. Ok, now I have to leave. Tell your parents this the minute you see them."
And he was gone.
In the afternoon, Sakura was let out of the hospital. Her parents come into view and help her inside the car with crutches and all.
During the drive, Mr. Haruno asks, "So what did the doctor say? He wasn't there when we arrived."
"He had to leave for an emergency, but he told me to tell you-" Sakura answered, but was cut off by Karin.
"That Sakura is going to be crippled for life."
A cry emitted from their mother's lips as her hands went up to her mouth in shock.
"She's going to be able to walk just fine, but if she runs then the bone in her leg will shatter! Another thing is, she knocked herself on the head when she fell, so she's going to have serious problems with reading and learning," Karin continued with a sad tone.
The first thing that came out of Sakura's mouth was, "How did you know I knocked myself on the head?"
Karin sighed and answered, "The doctor told us all this, remember? It must've been that hit on the head that made you forget!"
Sakura remembered exactly what the doctor had said, and there wasn't anything about her being crippled! Yet she remained quiet. The truth was right there, on her tongue... but... if she revealed the truth, then her parents would turn their wrath on her sister... and she wouldn't want that to happen.
By now, her mother was sobbing with her head buried in her hands. Their father was cleching his jaw tightly, his hands squeezing the wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white.
Once they got home, all of Sakura's athletic trophies and awards were burned so that they wouldn't remind anyone of the 'tragity' that had happened. Sakura noted with mixed feelings that Karin had scarlet colored sneakers.
-s-
A 9 year old Sakura gazed up at her new school. Her tutor informed her parents that she was ready for public school, but her parents had been doubtful. During the past year, Karin was the treasure of the family. Their parents put all their hopes and dreams in her, and Sakura was nearly completely forgotten. In fact, a few times during lunch and dinner, there was no plate of food set up for her. Her parents had merely... forgotten that she lived in their household. Now her hair was worn down instead of their usual pigtails, but her eyes were bright and full of hope. Maybe she'll make some friends at this new school of hers!
Karin was taking ahold of her hand and guiding her down the narrow, white hallways of elementary school while Sakura took in the sight of all the teachers and students. She hadn't seen this many people in one setting in her whole entire life!
Soon, they arrived at their classroom with a kind lady as a teacher. Sakura shyly entered the room- with a bit of coaxing from her elder sister- and stood meekly by the teacher, wondering where to sit. Karin already knew her place, and sat down right next to a handsome boy with cute, blonde hair.
"This is our new student, Sakura Haruno," the teacher introduced. "Make her feel welcome."
At this, the redhead jumped up from her seat and proudly announced, "She's my sister! Isn't she pretty?"
Sakura blushed at the compliment and sat down at the seat her teacher was pointing at. She sat right beside the handsome blonde boy without a word and silently placed her backpack down on the floor beside her chair.
Karin was talking animatedly with the blonde boy whose name was Ryu, and Ryu was chatting happily back.
A month later, Sakura was labeled, 'The shy girl' since she was so quiet all the time. It really wasn't entirely her fault. The reason she was like this was because she was usually always cooped up in her room with only her tutor as a friend. Her social skills were very dusty and they usually went wrong whenever she tried to strike up a real conversation.
One day, Karin and her friends went up to her and asked, "Hey, do you have anyone you like?"
Sakura furrowed her eyebrows and answered, "Of course! I like Karin-chan and our sensei."
"No, no, no!" Karin laughed. "I mean, like like."
The young girl's confusion only deepened.
Seeing the uncomprehension on her face, Karen explained, "It means those strange feelings that stir up and make you feel nice and warm inside when you look at a boy. He makes you feel different than the other boys, and you feel attracted to him."
Understanding dawned on Sakura's face, and this new knowledge brought a blush on her face. Something inside her was whispering to her, saying that she should keep it a secret, but the impulsive side was telling her to spill everything.
The impulsive side won over.
"I-I like Ryu..."
Her older sister giggled with her friends, and then winked at Sakura.
"We promise we won't tell."
Sakura nodded, putting her faith in these girls.
The next day, Ryu was glaring at her and avoiding her. When Sakura tried asking what was wrong, Ryu pushed her away saying that he would never like someone like her. Tears prickled at the corners of the female's eyes, but she held them back with sheer will.
Two days later, she saw Karin and Ryu holding hands and acting mushy. Jealousy kicked up inside her, but she didn't dare let it show. When her sister asked if she was jealous, Sakura shook her head and lied, saying that she wasn't. That she was glad that the two of them found happiness within each other.
Yet another day passed and soon, everyone started picking on Sakura's large forehead.
Sakura begged to be tutored again, and without much reluctance, her parents agreed.
-s-
2 years later
Sakura soon became the disappointment of the family- the outcast. Barely anyone but her tutor remembered her. She was now the extra mouth to feed. There wasn't any use for a girl like her. They already felt like she was a stranger, and the accident pushed them over the edge.
One day, her father came home drunk, the smell of alchohol drifted through the room. The rule was made that every time that the dad was drunk... everyone but the dad should lock themselves in a safe room without a window. In fact, the father himself made that rule so that his girls wouldn't get hurt. Unfortunately, Sakura wasn't there at the meeting when they made the rule, so she kept her door unlocked. She heard fists banging on other doors, but it only raised an ounce of suspicion.
Soon, it was her door that was being pounded, and only then did fear bubble up within her. Her dad forcefully pushed the door open... and everything else happened in a blur. Sakura was quickly pinned down and his hands were roving all over her body. The poor girl knew that he was sexually harassing her, and the adrenaline boiled in her veins. With strength that she forgot she had, she pushed her father off of her... but he wasn't giving up so easily. He flung himself on her once more, locking her body parts with his so that they wouldn't be able to move, but Sakura was fighting for her dignity- and possibly her life- so she was more desperate to get out than he was desperate to keep her still.
With all the strength she could muster... Sakura pushed her father out the window... and she went with him since his hand was still holding her wrist in a vice grip.
Once they both recovered from the hospital, Sakura's parents immediately disowned her and sent her to the streets. Sakura wondered if the smile on Karin's face as she left was imagined.
Walking around aimlessly, Sakura found the town called Konoha, and their kind people took her in and placed her in an orphanage for girls. Apparently, the orphanage owners weren't as nice as the villagers.
They forced the girls to chores that they wouldn't bother themselves with- like cleaning up the house head to toe, finishing the bills, and buying and cooking food. Unluckily for Sakura, she was stuck with cleaning half the house in the morning, cooking in the afternoon- lunch and dinner, and paying the electricity bills when she had the chance. This was because she was the oldest at the orphanage so far and she was the only one who had received an education. Hands raw with cleaning, the girls would retreat to their bug infested bunks at night, but their hopes were still high. The other girls dreamt of the dream parents that adopt you and treat you like the most important thing in the world.
Sakura dreamt of freedom- to grow wings and soar high above her problems. She didn't want to be adopted nor did she want to stay in this prison.
Pretty soon, she began to hate this dungeon and started looking for paths of freedom. The thing she kept coming back to... was running away. Once she made up her mind, many plans started coming to her. On the night she planned to escape... she was adopted by 2 drunken adults.
-s-
4 years later
Sakura stared up at her new high school. Her adopted parents turned out to be rich, and they agreed to give her an education if she's obedient and quiet. At first the girl didn't know what that meant, but she quickly learned after her first night of beating. At first she had a tutor, just like last time. Now, she believed she was ready for public school.
Walking up the steps with butterflies in her stomach, Sakura entered the school and looked for her homeroom. When she entered, she felt many pairs of eyes on her and she lowered her head, the ponytail she wore covered some of her face.
Her homeroom teacher, Kakashi Hatake, politely introduced her to the class and told her to sit wherever she liked. It was then that emerald eyes looked up and met with red eyes.
Karin.
She stood there in shock, but her outer features wouldn't show it. Her emotions were held back by a barrier that built itself after 2 years with her adopted parents. Instead, she seemed impassive, her eyes blank. By itself, her legs carried her to the desk farthest in the corner and settled herself there where she could look out the window. A presence let themselves sit right in the desk next to her, but Sakura still wouldn't turn her attention away from the window... until that presence spoke.
"Sakura-chan! I haven't seen you in such a long time!"
Sakura turned her head to meet Karin's brightened face and managed a smile.
"Karin-chan. It's nice to see you again as well."
Karin seemed to be very popular at this school; she already had many fanclubs and other girls who trail her wherever she goes like obedient puppies. So when they saw her talking pleasantly with the new girl, they all came along to talk to her too. In a matter of minutes, Sakura had a group of friends around her, smiling and laughing. A true smile shone on Sakura's face as well when she saw that she had friends as the shield over her emotions slid away.
Sakura found out that Karin was a great leader and an equally great supporter. The redhead became her closest friend, and no one would see one without the other on school grounds. They seemed to be inseparable. A month after school started, Karin started probing into Sakura's private life, and the pink haired girl was more than delighted to tell her new friend everything. Finally, someone she could confide in.
Then, Karin was hosting a party at her house, and invited Sakura over. Of course, the redhead didn't mention anything about the alcoholic beverages that were going to be there. She handed Sakura some hazy looking 'lemonade', and full of trust, Sakura drank the whole cup.
That was her first and biggest mistake she ever made in her 16 year old life.
-s-
The next day, Sakura came to school as usual... but with a slight headache. When she entered the halls, she froze in her tracks. Everyone was glaring at her with pictures all over the walls. Many students were muttering hatefully to their friends about her.
Sakura wondered what was happening and rushed through the halls to her locker to avoid the stares from both teachers and students. Once she reached her locker, there was a picture taped to it. To her horror, it was a picture of her grinding with some random guy she didn't even know! Even more pictures were lined on the row of lockers. Some of them were of her kissing some guys and some of them were of her with a wine cup.
Now she knew why so many people were muttering, 'slut' under their breath.
Some of her friends came up to her with hate in their eyes and yelled, "We thought we knew you, but you proved us wrong! You crashed Karin's birthday party and brought alcohol inside. Then, you made out with her boyfriend and stole him away from her! And she trusted you with everything! She was your best friend and you betrayed her! You're... a monster!"
The pink haired girl refused to let tears run and tried to defend herself. It wasn't even Karin's birthday!
"That's not what happened! Karin's telling you lies!"
Her so-called-friends spat at her in disgust and left, not believing a word she said leaving Sakura standing alone at her locker. In one day, Karin gave it all to her. Yet in another, she stole it away. She turned her head to see the devil crying while surrounded by her fanclub and some friends, who were listening only to her side of the story.
Sakura receeded to a corner in the farthest reigon of her mind and curled up into a ball. On the outside, the only thing that she did was close herself off once more. What good were friends if they all leave you in the end?
-s-
I tell you, this story is rather hard for me to write because I personally didn't experience anything like this... but I can surely imagine it. Is it ok?