Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

An AU SasuSaku Fanfiction

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Chapter 02

Sakura's POV

I slowly blinked my eyes open, taking note that the sun was shining brightly through the window and I wasn't being rudely woken up. Surprise fluttered through my expression as I gazed at the white un-chipped ceiling above me, wondering where my gray and chipped ceiling was. I noticed that the mattress I was laying on was soft and comfortable, also the fact that there was silken navy blue sheets covering my body was confusing considering I didn't own such pleasant and expensive linen. Furthermore, I felt refreshed, something I've never felt in longest time of my existence in this cruel and bleak world.

"Am I dead?" I questioned loudly to no one in particular, sitting up slowly and looking about the empty room.

I heard a growl disguised as a cough from the furthest side of the bed, near the closed door. I swiveled around hastily, almost giving myself a whiplash given my rapid pivot to check who the unknown individual was, and regretted it immediately. My brain almost instantly released the memories it held captive from me, and soon enough images of everything that had happened these past few days came crashing down on me like a tsunami striking down a town ignorant of the catastrophe to come.

I ran away. . .

I escaped. . .

I finally liberated myself from my despicable kinsmen who relished in watching me suffer in their hands and plenty others. They found joy in mistreating me, and now I'm free from their barbaric clutches. I felt tears rolling down my nearly hollow cheeks, sheer happiness and relief filling my entire being. I forgot where I was during this moment and just who was present in the room, sobs escaping my throat and bubbling out of my lips. I was finally free. The clearing of a throat had instantly shot me back to reality. I tried to stiffen the sobs that had my body wracking uncontrollably, to no avail. I hunched forward, curling into myself, and hoping to God that this person would have mercy on me.

"Why're you crying?" The man questioned lowly. His deep baritone of a voice began soothing me, and in that moment I kind of felt like the safest person for the first time in my life. This is a feeling I cannot accept due to the fact that every time I was lulled into the embrace of safety, I'd begin to hope. If I began to hope, then it was instantly taken away from me. Bam! Shattered, with no one to pick up what lay on the ground.

It was safe to assume that this person didn't appreciate my weeping, and that might mean he'd probably strike me down if I didn't stop at this very moment. I quickly crawled out of the soft bed, and knelt on the soft carpet below me. "Forgive my insolence, master. Do with me whatever you wish." Oh, the humiliation I felt kneeling in front of this person was staggering. I never wanted to be brought up this way. All I've ever wanted was to grow up like an ordinary girl, get into petty fights with my siblings, enjoy a family dinner, be in the loving embrace of my mother. However, I shouldn't pity myself because out there, there might be someone in a much more difficult situation; someone who can't escape like I did.

"What the hell?" the man uttered under his breath. If I were a human I wouldn't have caught onto what he said, but I'm a Were with heightened hearing. My heart instantly constricted, and I felt like I could not breathe. What were these foreign feelings that I suddenly am being conscious of? Why is it this person could inflict internal pain within me with such few word? "I can't deal with this," he announced, making me glance up to see him running his fingers through his hair.

I didn't understand what those words meant, and I couldn't help but fear the worst. He'd probably drag me by the hair like my old master, or throw me in the dungeon where he would have men violate me. While I was busy thinking about the worst possible case scenarios of what would be done to me, I didn't notice the way he stiffened nor the way his eyes glazed over.

The opening of the door caught my attention, and I quickly shut my eyes. He was going to have whoever came in take me to the dungeon, and do unmentionable things to me. Tears began leaking out of my eyes, and my heart pounded erratically in fear. I felt pathetic, useless, dirty, and castoff. I don't have anyone who loves me, and now I'll never get to experience such a warm emotion that's been sorely lacking in my life.

"You called for me, Sasuke-san?" A gentle feminine voice that wrapped me up in warm fluffy blanket of reassurance, queried. I opened my eyes by a crack to take a peek at the person who entered.

"Hn. No need for formalities, Hinata. Aren't I always telling you that?" The man named Sasuke chided the beautiful lavender eyed girl, who just blushed and looked down. "Deal with her," he muttered, pointing at me. I flinched when his frigid obsidian gazed flickered my way with a bit of scrutiny. With that, he gave Hinata a nod and left the room. For some reason, the safety that I felt with him being near completely vanished. I didn't want to believe that this girl could to harm me because of her kind aura, however I couldn't put blind faith in people. It's like the saying, "don't judge a book by its cover." Same goes for the judging of people when you first meet them.

I quickly looked back down, as to not meet her eyes. The shuffling of feet made me wish that I could disappear before I had the chance of talking to her. "Are you okay?" She asked me softly, her dress and my face at the same eye level. I flinched back when she knelt down beside me, a whimper escaping my lips. "My name is Hinata Hyuuga," she presented while sticking out her hand. I didn't know what I was suppose to do with it, so I kept quiet and stared at her outstretched limb.

"You shake it," she announced after an awkward silence of me just staring, and she waiting. I wasn't sure whether or not this was a game, but I raised my hand to shake hers despite that consequences that might or might not occur. When our hands enclosed, a warm feeling began to spread inside of me, beginning from the sole of my fingertips, weaving through my entire body before settling in my heart.

"I'm Sakura," I shyly whispered, glancing up at her with curious wonder.

She let out a small giggle, and smiled at me. "Cherry blossoms."

I looked at her not knowing what to say about her small comment. "That's what your name means," she divulged, sticking out her other hand for me. I grabbed onto it as she began to stand up. When she began pulling on both hands, I understood and willingly stood up on shaky legs.

"I need to check on your wounds, and then I'll bring up some soup for you to eat," she began, walking me a short way to the bed and watching as I slowly crawled up and went under the covers. The enchanting smell of the bed began wafting into my nose, wiping out every other scent I've smelled ever in my life time.

"Shouldn't the f-food be given t-to some who d-deserves it?" I blurted out, clenching the fine silk beneath my fingers.

She stared at me with confusion lining her features. "W-what...?" Her voice trailed her.

"I've angered the m-master, therefore I'm not allowed to eat," I murmured.

"Sakura, did they used to do that to you? Is this how you were treated?"

I clenched my eyes shut at the reminder of the people who made my life a living hell. It was more like if I ever met their eye, then I wasn't allowed to eat for three days and I had to stay in the dining room while they all took their time savoring the taste while offering to give me some. Obvious lie there. The torture I felt when they wouldn't allow me to even eat their scraps as usual made me cry in the solace of my room. Unbeknown to me, tears leaked out of my eyes giving Hinata a confirmation to her accusations.

Her gasp of alarm made me realize that she figured it out, and I once again felt pitiful. I wish a hole could appear from beneath me and swallow me up, just to get away from anyone else knowing about how I was treated. I wouldn't know how I'd feel if anyone found out about my entire past.

"Oh, Sakura." The way her tone of voice quivered meant that she was about to begin crying, and that made me feel like I was going to begin bawling my eyes out as well. She came ambling towards the bed, and sat down beckoning me to sit. I thought she was going to check on my injuries, but instead her arms wrapped around my neck and she pulled me forward. Tears unconsciously began to emanate from my eyes at such a heartwarming scene. What was this? Why was she holding on to me? Is this what they call an embrace? A hug?

Sobs crawled from my throat, and out of my lips. My body was trembling, as a warm heat that I've never before felt in my life began seeping through my entire body. This is something I've never before experienced. I slowly lifted my trembling arms, before halting just as I almost wrapped it around her. Should I really return this hug? I thought to myself. To hell with it. I weaved my arms around her and hugged back. The sniffles emitting from Hinata, made me cry even harder. I've never before thought of someone crying for my sake, but this right here is proof that the world isn't filled with monsters. A stranger I just barely met is granting me a wish I've always craved for for the longest.

"You're going to be just fine." She began chanting, as she ran her fingers through my dyed brown hair.

"I will... I will... I will!" I declared, trusting these words of hers like I've never before trusted in anything before in my life.