Second chapter for the new story, 'the beauty and the beast'. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Naurto's Characters, just my own ideas and plots of the story.

The sun was setting slowly, taking in all the beauty below and comforting the day to an end. The sky was changing to deeps shades to purple, orange and red as the sun was slowly decreases its beauty and wondrous, embracing the beautiful colours of the sky.

The weather dropped as the warmth of the sun began to fade and the wind blew hastily, leaving a chill to remain as things died down and lose light. Even with the fable colours that disappeared during the departure of the sun, the night sky was filled with starry lights and full along with the shimmering moon.

Filling the night sky, it glimmered all around. Reflecting itself in the deep swallows of the water, Lilli pads moving along the surface, frogs jumping all around.

A cerise girl walked along the dirt path towards the lake, her hair brushing against her neck as the winds calming embrace gave her a sense of warmth. Her dark green grown flowed gracefully down her ankles.

Her head-band wrapped with a cherry-blooms clips with deep red pollen in the pink petals. Her neck-lace and earrings a plain sliver cross, and a made-self sun flower's stein.

Her emeralds eyes looked straight to the stone bench covered in weeds and tuples, claret rose in hand.

She sat down on the grey stone bench, pushing aside the weeds, and signed. She was doleful; her father was to go away for a long period of time with a group of merchants and tag along to gain some money for the town, and her family.

It would seem like a fair job; had not for the knowledge of possibly never to be seen again or survive. The job was a very cresol and tough, they were to sell or trade anything across the borders to the east, across the desert.

People had a tough time to keep their trades safe or even themselves as well, the hot musty air and open sun was a very good way for a punishment if you were seeking death, but a horrible way to cross for your life and family on the line.

She grimaced at that, pulling her knees to her chest and rests her head upon them. She didn't want her father to go, she pried and cried that he wouldn't, but she knew... her family had no choice.

For three months now her family have been in debt of their home, her warm spirited home, and there was absolutely no work in the fairly big town. Not much trades or sources have dared to cross the desert and now it was all losing work and wealth for the people, they all had to take drastic measures just so everyone can life in happiness again, but unfortunately taking drastic risks also means risking life.

There were a lot of people thinking they could bring the spirits of the people back by daring to cross the desert for trade and wealth, but those people have yet to come back.

She once remembered her happy and cheerful life back before things went downhill, she smiled sadly and picked the rose up to the bridge of her nose and took a whiff of its fragrant scent. She remembered her mother always smiling and laughing as she would bake her husband's favourite cake or cookie.

Her father always telling his adventure's in the forest for foreign wood. Him always taking his 'five minute cat-nap', which always resulted her mother yelling and screaming for being a lazy bum.

She laughed at that memory, those were truly good times.

Until a group of merchants arrived in search of trade or that was it seemed? What the men were truly after was all the money and wealth of the city, taking over everything they wanted, which also included the woman.

She was lucky to still be with her family today if her father had fought off the men, she would already be married off to some strange ruthless man who would have no respect what so ever.

She should also be lucky that she is gifted with beauty, well she not the most beautifies woman in her town, or even city, but she is still the one with the most beautiful heart of gold.

She was the only one in the town that would always be so spritely and bright, put someone else before her. Or helping as much as she could, which wasn't much as of late. But even with the hard times she was still helping and happy, as happy she could get anyway.

But now as of late she just couldn't see a reason to be so happy and cheerful anymore, despite her best efforts to, she didn't see a reason for her to smile about anything. Her towns was In hell, her father was going away and possibly not coming back, her sister were always so bossy and demanding, her mother wasn't herself, taking up to gambling and drinking, and her life is just a living hell.

All she wanted to do now was cry in misery and crawl into a deep dark whole and never to return, that's all she wanted, freedom.

She had once dreamed all about her life, what would happen when she grew up. Dreaming of her one true love and how handsome he would be, thought he wouldn't be the most stunning man of all time and creation, he would just be handsome.

Having wonderful children smart and educated watching them grow up, and then effetely having grandchildren and watching them grow. Then when the time comes, she herself would grow old and frail by her husband, taking his hand as they both would be released and up to a new world, a new beginning.

That's what she used to hope her life would turn out, but as fate might have it, it wasn't going to happing and she knew it. She isn't a child anymore she must be mature and strong, she must be a woman. She has to let go of her childhood fantasy, it's time for her to grow up. No matter how hard it is, she has too.

She hugged closer to her knees and cried harder, letting out all of her heart and soul. She can't be strong, she can't. She was too weak and she knows that herself, no matter how hard she makes herself tell herself she strong and she forces a smile and laughs, it's all fake. The worst part is that no one knows, no one cares.

Tighten her hold on her legs, turning her knuckles white, she shivered from the cold. The wind blowing strong as looked up and see's the dark clouds covering the moon, shielding its beauty to all.

Depressing she thought to herself as she shakes her head and lens back into the stone chair.

She should get out of here before it starts its rain, she wants to, but she could careless right now. Too upset and figurate that she couldn't bother with anything right now, she just wants to be with herself and pry, pry to god her father will be ok on his trip and that he is safely back home.

She begins to cry again, she hates to think about her father because knowing he might never come back or even survive just makes her want to disappear and never come back.

She looks at the dark rose in her hand and studies it, it is quite beautiful and unique not any kind she see before, especially since the tradesman have taken everything from the town and home you really never see anything so beautiful without going to another town or village, which was across the desert, so really this is the most treasured thing she keeps.

She just hopes her father does return safety, and if he ever found something so beautiful such as this.

She bows her head at the memory.

Flashback

A grey tall man stood by the maroon coloured door-way, as he asked his three daughter's what it was they wanted when he came back from his trip, if he was to every live.

"My Darling Ten-Ten, what is it that you would like?" he asked sweetly, taking her hand and smiling at her.

"I want some new of those kunai those merchant men took from our village, I never got a chance to get them" she let go of her father's hand and crossed her arms over her chest.

"As you wish" he said before going over to his second youngest daughter, "Hinata what would you like?" he smiled.

"I would... like some new dresses father and some matching necklaces and earrings, too please father" she smiled back with a hopeful smile.

"And you my darling, last but not less, what is it you desire love?" he smiled the brightest and stepped closer to her, being the youngest of all the girls, she was his treasured one.

"All I wish from you father, is that you come back home... alive and well" she took his hands and covered them over her own.

"Sweet-heart I'll promise you that... but there's got to be something else for you to ask" he raised an eye-brow and titled his head downwards.

"Well... I guess if you found something as beautiful such a flower, like a rose" she smiled brightly.

"Alright, I'll see to that" he nodded and took out to the front doors, disappearing out into the forest, the last they ever saw of him.

End of Flashback

Her only hope of knowing wither he was coming was with this flower. She sniffed and touched the stein of the flower and running over the thrones, she rubbed a bit too hazily as she drew blood from her numb.

"Ow!" she whispered and stuck the numb in her mouth and sucked away the blood.

"Child, what are you doing out here in the cold!?" an elderly woman said, startling her, looking over to were the old woman was and held a protective hand over her chest.

"Oh dear god, you startled me" she breathed out as the woman walked over and sat down next to her.

"Child, why is it you are out here in the cold" the woman asked, her hair tied in a high pony-tail, wearing old ragged clothes that flowed down to the ground, clearly seeing it's better days, and eyes a green as the grass.

"Oh, I was just thinking" she answered honestly, wouldn't do to lie to an old woman would it.

"What about?" She asked, titling her head to the side.

"The town... and my father" she bowed her head to the ground.

"Child... what is you name" changing the subject as she saw the downcast look on her face.

"Sakura... Sakura Haruno" she said.

"That's a very beautiful name... for a very beautiful girl" she elbowed her gently to the side, earning a small smile.

"No... I'm not as beautiful as my two sisters'... or even this flower. In fact I'm not even beautiful at all!" she exclaimed.

"You are. Your beautiful in soul and heart" she had a hand to her chest, " It's not the looks the counts, but in here" she point to the place where her heart was.

"But-I'm... not-" she began but never finished.

"I am Ino, someone you will learn about in time... but for now" she kissed her forehead, " take care of the man who care's not, love him even when he loves no one. Cerise him as he will in time, be there when he is alone" she whisper slowly and fatally before she disappeared and left Sakura unconscious.

Well how was that, I think it was pretty good but you know it's all up to you R/R please