Chapter Two

The Cruelest Joke

            Disclaimer: Me no ownie! I wish I did though. Especially Naruto-kun! Or maybe even Sasuke-kun! Or maybe even master Kakashi-sensei too! *starts drooling*

            Notice: Umm, again, words in italics are thoughts. Stupid people.

            Note: Plz review! If you don't review then my life will be uncomplete and worthless! *Sobs*

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-Sakura's hiding place.

            Sakura looked around past the foliage of the trees. The sun started coming out and the weather had gotten warmer. So far, it had been about 45 minutes into practice, and she hasn't been attacked yet.

            Sakura tucked her hair behind her ears. Ever since she got it cut, her daily hair ritual of combing and spraying to make her look good for Sasuke had shortened dramatically. Actually, she liked her new haircut, but she didn't know if Sasuke liked it.

            Secretly to her, Sasuke didn't care how her hair looked. Yes, Sakura was a beautiful girl with an attractive forehead (a bit large, but attractive) but that didn't mean he really cared about her appearance. Sometimes her worrying about looking good was a liability to Sasuke.

            Sakura's emerald eyes scanned the area for so much as a shadow or a fleeting figure. She was seemingly alone . . . or at least for now. She sighed. At this rate, she will never find Master Kakashi or Naruto.

            Suddenly she heard an object coming to her. A metallic whirling sound. That could only be one thing. A shuriken!

            Sakura swerved to her left. A shuriken whizzed past her ear, smacked into a branch, and fell to ground (because the tip wasn't sharp enough to stick to the wood.) She turned around and found more shuriken flying towards her from all sides! She did the only thing she could do.

            Sakura jumped back and fell to the ground.

            However, the shuriken kept coming. She quickly rolled over to her side and managed to get up. She started running. Her breathing began ragged as she stumbled why she scurried away.

            Then Sakura's foot got caught on a tree root. She fell to the ground; face first, with a loud Ka-Thump. On top of that, she felt a blunt-tipped throwing star strike her back and ricochet off. Oh no! Inner Sakura screamed.

            Sakura growled in anger with herself and turned her head around to see which one of her teammates attacked her. She gasped when she saw Sasuke slide down from a branch of a nearby tree. He had a slight smirk on his face as he walked over to Sakura. Sakura almost felt like crying. How could Sasuke turn on me like that? She didn't seem to realize that all of her teammates were supposed to be against her, as well as themselves, and that included Sasuke.

            "Are you ok, Sakura?" He asked her, eyeing her ankle, which was very much bruised from falling.

            Sasuke-kun is worried about me? All right! Oh, but if I say my ankle is hurt, he will think I'm a weakling! No way! No more weak Sakura!

            "I'm fine Sasuke-kun," she said with a small smile.

            "Are you sure? Your ankle is pretty messed up. Do you need help getting up?" Sasuke put his hand in front of her.

            Ahhh! Sasuke-kun is so worried about me! I'm so happy!

            "Iie, I'm fine Sasuke-kun. I can get up by myself," Sasuke's little smile went to a frown quickly. Sakura noticed and blushed.

            Sakura slowly pushed herself up. She wobbled a bit, but managed to stand up on her own. Her ankle was absolutely killing her, but she managed to smile a bit to Sasuke.

            "See Sasuke? I can sta- AHHHH! "Suddenly her bad leg let out a jolt of pain. She fell forward but Sasuke caught her.

            "We should get you to master Kakashi and let him fix you up," Sasuke said, cradling her against his chest.

            "Sasuke-kun . . ." Sakura whispered. She didn't know what to say.

            He picked her up and held her in his arms. Sakura was silent while inner Sakura was weeping with joy. He slowly walked forward to a massive mud puddle in front of them.

            "You know Sakura, when I first met you; I thought you were another annoying girl fallowing me around. All you were was another person trying to get me to like you. But now, I think I feel more different about you.

            "Ever since you cut your hair, I have grown a new respect for you. And I think that maybe I even love . . . you. Sakura, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked. For once his eyes were loving, dark pools instead of the cruel ones she was used to.

            "A-aishiteru Sasuke-kun!" Sakura whispered.

            "Aishiteru Sakura-chan . . ." he leaned his head down, parting his lips a bit.

            Sakura closed her eyes a brought her face up to his. Their lips were only a few centimeters away. This is it! This is what I've always wanted from you, Sasuke-kun!

            Suddenly he let go of her. Sploooooshh! Sakura fell into the giant mud puddle Sasuke was holding her over.             Sakura opened her eyes in surprise. Sasuke dropped me in the mud!

            Mud was soaked into her hair and clothes and covered her face like a mask. Sakura wiped away the mud over her eyes with an already muddy hand, which only made it worse. She looked up at Sasuke with shocked eyes.

            "I'm sorry Sakura, you're too heavy . . ." Sasuke apologized.

            Sakura blinked. Was really doing what she thought he was doing? He was.

            Sasuke was laughing at her. Not just a giggle either. His eyes were closed and he was in hysterics. It was as if her misery was the funniest thing in the world. "Sasuke-kun" her eyes were watering up with tears.

            Then Naruto and Kakashi slid out of a tree laughing their head off. Naruto gave Sasuke a high five while Kakashi was walking over to Sakura. Even her usually kind and perverted teacher was chuckling at her current situation.

            "Sorry Sakura, we had to pull this prank on you. I set it up and got Naruto and Sasuke to help. We all used our Shuriken against you at once. I didn't know that you would twist your ankle though," he said, giggling a bit.

            Sakura looked over to Sasuke. He was looking down at her in a mocking sort of way. All those romantic words were just a lie?! I confided my love to him and he was just playing along?!

            She looked over to Naruto and master Kakashi. Naruto, master Kakashi . . . you used my love for Sasuke-kun against me? Why? Just for laughs?

            Sakura's eyes started filling up with tears.

            Just . . . for laughs?

            Her eyes were over flowing now.

            No . . .

            Sakura was crying rivers now.

            No . . .

            She pushed herself up from the ground and ran. She only made it a few feet when her bad ankle made her fall flat on her stomach again.

            Their laughter stomped. "Sakura!" Naruto cried out. He rushed to her side, trying to help her up.

            "Get away from me!" Sakura screamed. She looked back at Naruto, flames in her eyes. A look of pure hatred. She gave master Kakashi the same look and she gave one to even Sasuke.

            "Just get away from me!" And she managed to run away before anyone could stop her, tears streaming down her face. And she disappeared over the blood-colored horizon.

To be continued

Next chapter, A Plan.

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Well, what cha' think? Do you like it, do ya? Huh, huh, huh? Plz review! I won't continue if I don't get reviews. ^o-  (that's a wink, I guess) They pulled the cruelest joke on poor Sakura-chan didn't they? Poo on them! Dun worry, Sakura will get back I think