I am keeping this a ShikaSaku fic. I want to try my hand in this coupling anyway. Besides, I can always make a Sakuracentric fic later on, when I'm done with this one.

I'm so sorry for not updating in soo long!! I didn't update 'cuz I was moving, and then I got sick, and then I was grounded, and then school started and...

Ugh

I walked towards my locker, intent on just putting away my books and grabbing my other notebooks. I started turning the dial, my hands already familiar with the routine, and let my mind wonder towards what had happened between me and Shikamaru-san.

It hadn't meant anything, right?

It was just something that had happened in a moment of weakness, and it probably wasn't even worth mentioning.

. . . right?

Right.

The second she had answered her own question, a hand slammed the locker-door shut right when she had finished the combinations. She turned and slumped when she saw that the hand was male. Starting from his long slim fingers, Sakura dragged her gaze up his slightly muscular arms, and took in the shoulders. Lean, and elegant. She looked at the neck, not too tall, not too thick, perfectly elegant. She took in his face, and saw the perfect features and cold mocking brown eyes.

Idly, she wondered where the warmth in them had gone.

Maybe they had gone straight to hell, along with his other affections for her, Sakura thought, morbidly amused at the thought, even as her eyes clouded over and her throat constricted with too much emotion. She had just relaxed from the storm of crying a few minutes ago, and dealing with this so soon after that was making her chest and throat ache with something she couldn't identify. Even if she had so much emotions, it didn't mean that she was good with them. She always had too much of the things. And no matter what she did, it would always hurt her the most.

Her brother hated her, and she still didn't know why. And yeah, sure, it didn't hurt like hell to know he'd rather swallow nails than talk with her. And nope, it didn't hurt that he laughed at her along with the other people in school. And it didn't really sting when he'd just watch with an amused smile when she cried, really, it didn't. And no, it didn't hurt when he'd act as if he was sorry for everything he'd done to her, and she'd fucking believe him, and that fucking low-life bastard went and did something even worse to her, and told all his friend about it, and laughed about it over a couple of beers while she was left to cry herself to sleep.

She told you already, it didn't bother her at all.

(You're in denailYou're in denialYou're in denial.)An annoying voice sang in her head, it too mocking her. Sounding so much like a familiar blond.

She couldn't even have a haven in her own mind.

How fucked up was that?

She stared blankly at the cold eyes before her, waiting for the reason he had so rudely, but sadly, so routinely, slammed her locker shut. She was just so tired from all these emotions.

So tired of having to keep herself from blowing up and breaking down in front of everyone.

So Goddamned friggin' tired of being hurt and betrayed and laughed at and just plain tired of everyone in general.

It made her heart hurt, and she really wanted this feeling to go away.

So maybe she wouldn't hurt as much, and maybe her eyes would stop acting as if they were faucets that just kept on leaking, and maybe, just maybe, she could find enough courage to love someone.

And expect them to love her back.

Unconditionally. Unattached. No strings attached. Love. Plain and simple.

But nothing could ever be plain and simple with her life.

Nope, never.

(Ugh. Pessimistic much?) The same childishly mocking voice said, as if she had heard all her thoughts. Judging by the fact that it was indeed in her head, and not just another prank from her older brother to make her look stupid, the voice probably had heard her thoughts.

But she didn't have to be so mean about it...

A cold voice interrupted her thoughts, "Hey, dear sister of mine. Did you have a nice day?" Sasori's mocking eyes glinted with laughter. Her own eyes starting to water, Sakura tried hard not to cry.

He notice this, and smirked, going further. "I heard that the Uchiha kid hooked up with... what's her name?" Sasori pretended to think about this for a moment, his friends smirking and laughing in the background. His hand still against her locker, trapping her.

"Didn't you used to be friends with her, huh? Little sister?" He asked, a fake innocent look on his face.

Sakura numbly nodded her head, whispering in answer,"...yes..."

Finally chuckling, Sasori leaned in closer, so his face was less than a foot away.

"And her name was... Please tell me, little sister. I'm just dying to know." He pretended to beg, but there was an undercurrent of a demand in it, that she dare not go against.

Her heart's pain sharpened, and her throat seemed to understand that she needed to answer, so she could feel more pain for it later.

"...Yamanaka... Ino..."Sakura whispered, looking away from him, staring at the ground. She was aware of the cruel laughter, and the tears falling from her eyes.

So very much aware of them as they slid down her cheeks. Getting her cheeks red, and her nose a light shade of pink.

Sasori leaned his head in farther, until his mouth was right next to her ear. He whispered the last knives that would stab her.

"I think they make a wonderful couple, don't you?"

At this, her silent tears started gushing out, silent sobs wracked her body. She mutely gasped for air, dimly aware that her brother and his friends had already left. They had gotten their entertainment for the day, after all.

She clutched her notebooks closer to her, as she leaned agains the wall.

Why? Why would he do this to her, when he knew how much she liked Sasuke? Did he really hate her that much? Couldn't he go against his urges this one time, and not be so cruel to her? Couldn't he have just stayed silent about this matter, just once?

But what the saddest thing was, she never expected him to do any of these things.

She didn't expect him to care.

-

-

Shikamaru silently watched as Sakura-san was being mocked by who he knew was Sasori. He mentally went through what he knew about him and his friends.

Haruno, Sasori

Age:17

Guardians:

Haruno Asami: Mother

Haruno Hideo: Father

Brother to Haruno Sakura. One of the top scholars of his year, next to the rest of his friends.

Eyes: Reddish brown

Hair: Red

Height: 5 foot 10 inches

The last time he was measured. He was somewhere around that height. Not too tall, and not too small.

Body Build: Lean

Friends: Are known as the Akatsuki, notorious gang. Only petty crimes.

It wasn't much, but at least he knew. He wondered if it was a daily occurrence, and why Sakura-san just took it without complaint.

He was ripped out of his thoughts when he heard muffled crying and cruel laughter from where Sakura-san was. He saw Sakura leaning against her locker, crying, and Sasori and his friends walking away.

Laughing as usual.

Watching Sakura-san cry again, he wondered why he had reassured her. He knew it wasn't for himself, well... maybe a bit for himself too. He wondered why he was pleased by the fact that she had leaned in a bit into his hand, as he -unknowingly then-cradled her.

He wondered why he felt a twist in his gut when he heard the words that were being said to her. He loved Ino, and she was in love with Sasuke.

They were common souls hurt by the people they loved, so naturally he would gravitate to her in his time of need.

Or so he told himself.

It was because he had just stopped those pretty tears from falling from her sad eyes, was he sad that she was crying again. It was because even though she looked pretty when she cried, and that they just didn't seem to fit with her, that he didn't like seeing her cry. It was because he had given the energy to do something for her, that he was irritated that she was doing something that he did not like seeing her do.

It was because of all of those reasons, that he walked up to her and crouched down at her level, since she had slid down to sit and hug her knees to her chest.

He sighed, looking half embarrassed to do such a thing for a girl, and said,"You are one troublesome girl, you know that?" Shikamaru finished, looking at her.

Sakura silently lifted her head, hearing a familiar voice. She looked at Shikamaru shockingly, wondering how much he had heard, and if he was just here to mock her too.

(You're just too insecure to know that he won't hurt you, even though he should.) That annoying blonde's voice came in. Seeming to dislike him for acknowledging her.

He looked her straight in the eye, never seeming to blink, and said,"Didn't I tell you not to cry over something that doesn't deserve your tears?"

He stood up, and held his hand out. Still looking directly at her, patiently waiting for her to take his hand.

And she did, albeitly warily at first. Tentative to touch his waiting hand with hers.

Softly grasping her hand in his, blankly noting how soft and small it was, Shikamaru helped her up. Sending her a reassuringly small smile, when she looked so wary of him.

Still holding her hand, he looked at her, studied her. And said, "You'll be alright in time."

He deftly let go, although slowly, and let his hand fall to his side. He stared into her eyes, wondering why he was doing so much for such a troublesome woman, and walked backwards. Looking into her eyes all the while, until he turned a corner and was out of sight.

Sakura stared surprised,at the corner that Shikamaru-san had just gone around.

There it was.

Unattached. No strings. Plain and Simple.

Just undiscovered.

Wow, I wrote that right? I can't believe I wrote that. I usually see that in other author's writing, but never mine.

Wow, just wow. I actually put romance in that!! Well, that was more like friendship, but still. It can lead there, right?

Please don't burst my bubble.

No flames, but please review!!

Sincerely,

Midnight-chan