Hey world! =D
Wow I need to work on my writing skills O.O

Fortunately for me, my work gets better and better every time ;)

Not that I'm being conceited, I'm just proud of the results

Practice does pay off x)

Enjoy the next chapter my readers of awesomeness! XD

Disclaimer: How did farmers discover milk? O.o


Chapter 03:

"Breathe in"

Sakura closed her eyes and obeyed.

"Are you relaxed?"

Approximating a normal heart rate, Sakura exhaled. She opened her eyes, slowly, and hesitantly nodded. She wasn't really relaxed, but she was calmer than she was before.

"Good," Ms. Suki smiled, "Start with the beginning."

Keeping her eyes on the ground, "I heard a roar, and then there was screaming."

"Were you outside the school grounds when this happened?"

Sakura nodded, "I came inside the minute I heard them. I was scared, but for some reason, I ran inside. I wanted to see what was going on," Looking to her right, "And then I saw them."

"The three boys?"

Nodding again, "They were pummeled to the ground. Blood and wounds were all over them and they were shaking. They were afraid of the eyes that hid in the shadows," Sakura shivered at the memory.

"Eyes?" Ms. Suki raised an eyebrow, "What kind of eyes? What did they look like?"

Sakura shut her eyes closed and bit her lip, "They were big eyes, probably the size of my forearm," lowering her head, "They were black, but were glowing. They were like black lights shining in the shadows. I didn't even think it was possible!"

Tucking her arms together against her stomach, her hands gripped the ends of her elbows, "They stared at me through the shadows. I was shaking so hard, but I couldn't move for some reason. I waited for a few moments and was relieved to realize the monster was gone."

Sakura lifted her eyes ajar, still frightened at the memory, "The eyes disappeared, but I was still terrified. I walked up to the boys once I guessed the monster was gone, to see if they were alright. But when I approached them, they shot up from the ground and ran away from me screaming as if I was the monster itself."

Ms. Suki silently gasped when Sakura started shaking, "I-I was so confused!" Gripping her head, she started to sob, "A-and at the same time terrified! I d-didn't know what happened and w-what was going to happen. I was so s-scared! So confused! I wanted to run a-away! Run away and s-scream, just l-like the b-boys d-did!"

Ms. Suki continued to look at the sobbing adolescent girl with sympathetic eyes, "B-but I c-couldn't! I was shaking s-so hard and I c-couldn't stop. It took s-so much of me j-just to c-cover my h-head and c-close my eyes! I felt so, so weak!"

"But you're not," Ms. Suki reassured, before getting a cup of water for the sobbing girl, "You wouldn't be saying all this information if you were."

Uncertain, Sakura sighed, "I g-guess," she responded before wiping the tears from her eyes and taking the cup from her teachers hands. Trying to calm hers, she held the cup to her mouth and swallowed the tasteless fluid, soothing her dry throat.

"Did you see anyone else at the scene other than you, the boys, or.."

Both females knew she didn't have to finish. Still a bit shaken, Sakura took a few minutes to think, "Well before I left the building," she started, relieved she was able to speak easier now, "the boys were picking on me until Sasuke interjected. He said that he wanted to tell Naru something for someone, but refused to tell me until I left the building."

"I see," Ms. Suki nodded, "Was he still there when you came back?"

Sakura thought back into her past, careful to leave out the blood-curling memories, "No," Sakura shook her head, "I didn't see anyone else when I came back."

"How long did it take until you heard the screams?"

Sakura parted her lips and turned to her teacher, "A couple of minutes after I left the building," she realized. She pondered on the possibilities, but shook her head. That would be ridiculous, "he probably ran away before...what ever it is got a chance to attack him."

Ms. Suki leaned back and crossed her arms, "I'll have a talk with him later," she said skeptically, "But for now-"

Out of nowhere, he school bell rang in their ears, rudely interrupting her teacher's sentence. Startled, Sakura jerked her head up to acknowledge it, while the ebony-haired woman merely waited for the bell to finish its alert, "Let's get to class. We don't want to be late."

Sakura jerked her head to her teacher, taking in her advice, "R-right," Sakura nodded.

~Scene Transition: 5 minutes before the bell rang~

Tenten ignored the voices of peculiar voices that echoed through the hallways and continued to lean against the wall right side to her English teacher's door. Vexed about her pink-haired friend, Tenten looked down on the floor and bit her lip.

'I hope she's alright,' Tenten thought anxiously.

"Tenten?"

Said girl jerked her head up to the direction of the voice, and looked away blushing after realizing who it was.

"N-neji," trying to conceal her blush, "W-what are you doing here?" carefully, she looked up to him curiously as he continued to approach her.

"I'm searching for Sasuke, but it seems his arrival hasn't transpired yet."

Tenten hid her deepened blush caused by his fancy diction. Being in a high-class family, Neji knew best when it comes to being formal. Unfortunately for Tenten, she wasn't the only one that knew it.

The brunette frowned mentally in her head, 'No wonder girls are always all over him.'

"Have you seen him yet?"

Tenten snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at his handsome features, "N-no," Tenten looked up, but averted his snowy orbs, "S-sorry."

Neji nodded, "It's quite alright," realizing where Tenten was loitering, "May I be acquainted to the reason you choose to loiter here?"

"A-ah?" Tenten played the question back in her head and realized what he just asked, "I-I'm just waiting for Sakura to come out of Ms. Suki's office. She wanted to talk to her about something privately."

Curiously, Neji raised an eyebrow, "Is Sakura in any trouble?"

Tenten surveyed the beige tiled floors with apprehensive eyes, "I hope not," she muttered.

Discerning her concerned aura, Neji placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, earning a blush unnoticed by the vanilla-eyed brunette (A/N: Sorry I don't know if there's a male version of a brunette. I'm guessing it's bruno, but it would be pretty silly to type it... Then again, calling a guy brunette is kinda weird because the term "brunette" is for girls aren't they? O.O)

"Not to worry Tenten," Neji assured, "I'm sure Sakura is well."

Tenten blushed harder, her header deeper into the ground. Neji was about to ask, but the opportunity was rudely stolen by the first annoying ring of the school bell. Neji took back his hand in response, much to Tenten's dismay. She enjoyed the warmth and static his cool calloused hand sent her.

"It seems that it is time for us to depart," Neji turned to walk away, but not before turning back to the disappointed brunette (A/N: See? In this statement, you can tell the "brunette" was clearly for Tenten, and it didn't feel weird at all did it? =P), who he just assumed was still worried.

"I'll see you soon," he smiled reassuringly, "And don't worry so much Tenten, Sakura is just fine."

Tenten blushed and nodded before Neji turned again to leave. Tenten watched dreamily his retreating form in admiration.

'He's so-"

Tenten contained her squeal and blushed, 'How does he do this to me?'

Her thoughts were interrupted again by the sound of a door opening. Tenten gasped at the first person who came out, "Sakura!" she called out to the pink-haired girl that approached her, "How's your talk with Ms. Suki?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to figure it out later," Ms. Suki stated as she appeared from behind the pinkette, "The bell has rung and you two need to go to class."

The two looked at each other before turning around to obey. The two started walking towards their next class, but started running when they heard the bell ring again.

Ms. Suki watched them from the distance until they disappeared from sight, "I wonder if she's..."

"The boys were picking on me until Sasuke interjected. He said that he wanted to tell Naru something for someone, but refused to tell me until I left the building."

"I see," Ms. Suki nodded, "Was he still there when you came back?"

Sakura thought back into her past, careful to leave out the blood-curling memories, "No," Sakura shook her head, "I didn't see anyone else when I came back."

"How long did it take until you heard the screams?"

Sakura parted her lips and turned to her teacher, "A couple of minutes after I left the building."

Suspicious, Ms. Suki narrowed her eyes, "One of us."


"So what happened with you and Ms. Suki?" Tenten asked before she took a bite of her apple. They were her all-time favorite fruit.

Staring out onto the crowds from their usual hangout spot, "She asked me what I saw that happened yesterday," she responded as she twirled the water bottle she held in her hand, "And I told her."

"What did you say?" Tenten asked as she leaned her back against the stone table, but her head closer to Sakura, eager to hear the answer.

Sakura shook her head as she leaned against the tree next to it, "I don't want to talk about it," Sakura stared out to the crowd again, looking for something she'll deny looking for if anybody asks, "I'm actually more confused now than I was before."

"Oh," she bit on her apple disappointingly, "I see, but about what?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Sakura stated before looking down. Tenten irritatedly leaned her head back and grunted.

"Oh c'mon Sakura!" Tenten whined, "You told Suki, but you refuse to tell me?"

"She's my teacher."

"And I'm your best friend," Tenten retorted and sighed, "C'mon Sakura! You know I'm there for you no matter what happens. Why don't you just tell me so you'll feel better?"

"It won't make it go away."

"But it will make it easier to carry," Tenten retorted again. Sakura sighed. She hated how Tenten can outsmart her at times.

"Why can't you just tell me?" Tenten whined.

Sakura frowned and looked away, "I just can't okay?"

Tenten grunted again, "And why not?"

"I just can't." Sakura grunted, "can we just drop it?"

"You don't trust me do you?" Tenten solemnly asked.

Sakura looked at her bewilderingly, "W-what? No!" Sakura opposed, "It's not like that at all!"

"Then why can't you tell me already?" Tenten scolded, "I'm trying to be supportive here, but I can't be there for you if I don't know where there is!"

"Neither do I!" Sakura bellowed, taking Tenten aback. Some people noticed the commotion and guessed it was about what they wanted to know about this morning. They were about to approach them, but backed off when both girls shot their threatening glares.

"I don't know who, what, where, when, and why. I don't know anything!" Sakura continued quieter than before, hoping not to bring in more crowds.

"What are you talking about?" Tenten queried.

"What happened yesterday," Sakura started, "I-I-I can't explain it! Okay! For once in my life, I don't know anything. I'm so confused!"

"So why can't you tell me about it so we can figure it out together?" Tenten insisted.

"Because I don't want to!" Sakura admitted. Tenten was taken aback again. This time, offended, "You always say the most illogical, superficial things! Every time something strange happens, you always bewilder me with such stupid accusations!"

Tenten scowled at the remark,"So if you think you're the logical one, why are so hesitant to tell me something you can prove wrong?" Tenten demanded.

"Because this time I can't!" Sakura cried. For the first time in her life, the 'great' Sakura Haruno doesn't know something. If she wasn't so worried about her friend, she would've complained about her and her foolish pride.

"What happened yesterday, it was too unreal, too superficial, too stupid to be real," Sakura seethed, "And yet it was, and I can't explain how or why!"

Tenten sighed hopelessly for her pride-crushed friend, "So what does telling me have to do with it?"

Sakura grunted, "Because if I tell you, you might answer it with another stupid accusation. And if I can't prove you wrong," face-palming, "You might be right."

Tenten raised an eyebrow, "So are you saying you don't want to tell me about it because I might be right for once?" Sakura glared as Tenten laughed at the statement, "Geez Sakura! I know you like being smart and all, but that doesn't mea-"

"It's not about that!" Sakura interjected, causing Tenten to be taken aback again.

'Boy was this girl full of surprises,' Tenten raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

"You tell me about your demons obsessions all the time since we were little kids," Sakura started, "And everyday you learn about something, you always tell me about it, and it terrified me every time!"

Sakura buried her face between her hands before she continued, "Everything about the demons, the sacrifices, the war, the lives lost, how it was lost, they were all horrible!," she seethed, "I could barely believe a person the same age as I was back then could comprehend what their own mouth was saying!"

"It was the truth Sakura," Tenten frowned, "It didn't scare me."

"It wasn't the truth and it never was!" Sakura contradicted, causing Tenten's frown to deepen, "And it scared me."

Tenten's frown turned into a guilty one when the pinkette started shaking, "Every night, I'd have nightmares about the stuff you tell me and sometimes, I'd get so scared, I refuse to sleep at night."

Tenten could tell Sakura was trying to hold back some tears, "I felt foolish to tell my mom about it because it would sound so stupid," Sakura chuckled an angsty chuckle, "And when I did, I couldn't tell you how disturbed my mom's expression was. She scolded me and told me it wasn't real, that I shouldn't believe it. It was ridiculous and it's nothing I should worry about."

"So you decided it wasn't real because your mom said so?"

"It's not just that!" Sakura scowled, "It wasn't real. It never was! They never existed, and that's the truth!"

"I'm sorry if my 'obsession' scared you Sakura," Tenten frowned, "but the truth doesn't always mean safe," Tenten retorted, "You can't just say something isn't true because you refuse to believe it."

The bell's call rang in their ears, announcing snack time was over, and Sakura didn't wait another second before bolting out of their hangout spot, leaving Tenten to stare sympathetically at her shaken friend.

She may be her best friend, but sometimes, she hated her and her wisdom. Sure she makes stupid accusations she can wittily prove wrong, but Tenten always win when it came to rattling each other's heads.

Unknown to Tenten, Sakura considered her as a rival. She was great at sports, popularity, and even advice. She would've been a very popular girl with many friends. For reasons Sakura didn't know, however, she dumped every opportunity just so she could hang out with the school geek, Sakura Haruno.

There was a difference between a nerd and a geek, but Sakura is one of those people who can prove otherwise. Because not only is Sakura Haruno one of the smartest students in school, she is also one of the outfit she is currently wearing on her way to her third period class proves that point exactly.

She wore a white and red plaid shirt, a black and red plaid skirt that reached up to her knees, and white knee socks with black mary janes. And if it wasn't for Tenten, she would've still wore the big black, rectangular glasses she used to wear but never needed. She wore it for lack of self-esteem, fortunately changed a lot when she met Tenten.

Sakura never knew why Tenten would choose her out of the entire school. She was kind, sporty, active, and full of wisdom; Not to mention beautiful: with her silky brunette hair and shimmering chocolate eyes. Sakura doubted Neji never paid attention to her. Who wouldn't?

Sakura had the smarts, but was nothing compared to the brunette princess. Even after many years of an enduring friendship, Sakura still never figured out why Tenten would rather hang out with the school loser than be popular among the other kids.

Yet, Sakura never questioned it. She was grateful Tenten was her friend. She doesn't deserve her.

'At least Tenten is certain of something,' Sakura frowned as she continued on her way to class, 'I don't even know what to believe in anymore.'


"Sakura Haruno"

"Here," Sakura responded, not taking her eyes off her notebook.

"Sasuke Uchiha"

The long pause of silence got Sakura to look up. Everyone looked around the room for a few seconds, and no one seemed to have found the chicken-anal-haired heartthrob in sight. A few girls groaned in disappointment, and not even Sakura can hold back a thwarted frown.

"Not here," Mr. Asuma, their math teacher, decided.

Sakura continued to look around subtly, not wanting anyone else to notice. Everyone knows the Uchiha and the Haruno didn't get along very well, but society is still too unstable to be careless. Sakura didn't want them to get the wrong idea.

'Where is he?' Sakura thought. She'll never admit it, but suddenly, she feels empty in the inside.


"Sorry Sakura, I can't walk home with you today," Tenten scratched her head sheepishly, "My mom wants me to come home as soon as I can so I can clean my room. You know my environmental hygiene..."

Sakura chuckled in amusement. They both did, "It's okay," Sakura assured, "I want to go to the library today anyway."

Tenten beamed at her reply, relieved she no longer has a reason to feel guilty, "Great!" Tenten smiled, then frowned apprehensively, "But be careful okay? It's already late in the school day so not a lot of people are around."

Sakura noted her concern and smiled, "I'll be fine," nudging her friend towards the front gates of the school, "Now go on home before snakes start laying eggs in your room."

Tenten rolled her eyes in response and allowed herself to be pushed towards the school exit, "See you tomorroww Sakura!" Tenten waved before running towards the direction of her home.

Sakura smiled at her friend's disappearing figure before turning for the city's library. Not wanting to take the long way there, Sakura decided to go through the southern part of the school, deciding she'll get there faster that way.

Nobody else was around, so all Sakura heard on the school grounds were her echoing footsteps across the campus. Further and further away from the open, Sakura started to feel anxious. The deeper she walked into the shadows, the more frightened she became.

She shook her head, "don't be silly Sakura," she said to herself, "nothing bad is going to happe-"

Sakura froze at the spot the second she heard a monstrous roar. As if on cue, her knees started to shake. Sakura mustered as much as strength as she could to stay standing, but collapsed when a sharp pain pierced through heart. Groaning in pain, Sakura clutched her chest and winced.

Trying to relieve the stress being applied to her chest, Sakura started to breathe hard, "W-what's happening?" Sakura asked before she looked up, completely regretting it the second she did.

In front of her not very far away, was an unknown four-legged black monster that soared as tall as the average class room ceiling. It had a small mane on its neck and its tail looked as if its been punctured by a count of thorns. It threatened her with its sharp white teeth as it growled, horrifying her with each 12-inched tooth. Sakura whimpered as its icy blood-shaded eyes pierced through moist emerald ones. Sakura winced again and whimpered at the monster's reaction. The more pain she felt in her chest, the hungrier the monster looked.

Her fear chocked her, preventing any scream to come out of her mouth. Her shaking constantly grew madder as the monster ran towards her. She felt like she was going to explode her shaking form as it grew closer. Sakura closed her eyes after tears started leaaking out of them, bracing herself to what was going to come.

A growl was heard and Sakura froze when she saw another large figure tackle the monster away from her sight. Sakura turned in shock to her left and saw that the large figure was the same size as the monster, only it resembled a stripe-less tiger. It gaped as she watched the two monsters wrestle, bite and claw each other like they were in a dog fight. Blood periodically sprayed through the air and more monstrous growls and roars of pain and anger were emitted from each monster as they continued to fight with their lives on the line.

Sakura continued to shake violently as she continued to watch the violent fight. She wanted to scream when some blood splattered on her body, but the fear lodged in her throat still chooses to keep her silent. Gathering up as much energy as she can muster, Sakura held her knees close and buried her head between them.

'P-please,' Sakura pleaded, 'Make it stop.'

As if her wishes were heard and granted, the whimpers and growls gradually subsided until a deep silence engulfed the air. With dared curiosity, Sakura lifted her shaking head and saw that the black monster has been left to bleed to death in a corner of a building pillar while the white monster standing stood over it, trying to catch its breath. Blood, scars, and dirt blanketed its white down, but to Sakura's eyes, it was sickly beautiful.

Sakura gasped when the stained white monster started to make its way towards her and shook at the thoughts of what it could do to her. The closer the monster got, the harder Sakura found it to breathe.

Her breath sudddenly hitched to a stop when the monster stopped in front of her. Sakura widened her eyes when she got a closer look at the monster's after realizing a resemblance. It was black and glowing, just like the eyes she cowered in the shadows the other day.

Sakura started shaking harder, filler herself with the same fear that shook her when she witnessed what that monster did to those boys. Every second it stood in front of her felt like hours to the pink-haired girl and she choked on her tears every time she tried to breathe. All the monster did was stare at her with its glowing onyx eyes, bringing suspense to hers.

Suddenly for some unknown reason, warmth filled her shaking body as tears gradually stopped falling from her eyes. Her rocking chest started to slow down, and soon, she found it easier to breathe.

Sakura juumped when the monster collapsed tiredly in front of her and gasped, 'Is it dead?' Sakura thought before daring to take a closer look. Sakura unconsciously sighed in relief, it's only unconscious.

Sakura beheld at the beautiful creature in front of her as the fear she had for it leaked out of her calming body. She spaced out for a while, thinking about what the monster had done: He mauled the boys that were harrassing her the other day, and risked his life to save her from a dark black creature that, with obvious possibility, aimed to kill her. This monster saved her twice. Both may have had different circumstances, but overall resulted in a heroic act.

Sakura smiled gratefully and caressed her fingers through the thick white fur that weren't stained with blood.

"You may have made the worst first impression I've ever got," Sakura chuckled silently, "But you turned out alright."

Sakura gasped and took her hand back when the monster started to transform. Curious green eyes gaped at the sight of the monster slowly shrink down and resemble a figure she knew too well to not recognize.

The figure was an unconscious teenage boy around her age, and covered in blood, scars, and dirt. Other than the unusually added details, he had dirt-ruffled jet-black hair, pale white skin, and wore a tattered white shirt, black jeans, and blue sneakers.

Sakura jumped back after looking at the boy's face for confirmation. Nobody resembelled such phenotype. Nobody, except for Sasuke Uchiha.


Whew!

That sure was a lot!

But fun x)

I thought it was a great ending scene that needed better...writing.

I'm not throwing myself down or anything.

I have self-esteem too!

But I'm just saying as a humble writer,

I need to do a lot better.

And that means a lot more practice.

And it will get better,

Promise =)

But enough about me,

What do you guys think? =D