Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Naruto or any of the manga series' characters.

Summary: Sakura's extensive drug abuse is slowly tearing her life apart, will anybody be able to stop her before it's too late?

Authors Notes: haha wasn't that a cheesy little summary? Well, it's been soooo very long since I've last updated. My apologies! Ahh but I've been on vacation for the past week and I just got back from Shambhala…oh man, where did my brain go? I think I lost a big chunk of it after that huge party THAT KICKED A LOT OF ASS by the way. LoL, but I digress, time to get to work! Hopefully chapter 8 will be better than chapter 7! Hehe I think I've lost my mind…
Oh and keep in mind this is still very much a SASU/SAKU FIC…this chapter is heavy Saku/Naru Friendship.

Sakura's soft, pastel pink hair fell down past her shoulders, curving around her pale and fragile face in soft wisps. Her eyes were exhausted and rimmed with a sharp hint of pink, a sign that fresh tears had carved their way down the well known path of her cold cheeks. She felt dreadful, but it was a sensation she had slowly become accustomed to; even the painfully cold tears that streamed down her face couldn't snap her back into the reality of her life. Not that she wanted reality; her escape was the only thing she had left. Sakura was caught in the suffocating grip of Crystal method, but she refused to let anybody know, what would they think of her if they found out? It shouldn't be anybodies business what she does to deal with such a relentless pain she felt in her unfulfilled heart. Sakura sniffled quietly as she brought her shaky hand clutching a Kleenex up to her face. Her bitter thoughts continued to swamp her mind with cruel judgment. When had she become so useless? This wasn't the strong, independent and beautiful woman Sakura imagined herself to be. Was it really because Ino had finally taken Sasuke as her own?
Ino had always excelled in everything, from looks to technique, including popularity. "Why did she bother becoming my friend? It was just to spite me from the beginning, why did I ever want to be like her" Sakura's barely perceptible voice quivered. [Because she was everything that you couldn't be]

The realization crept up in the back of her mind and smacked her hard across the face as she stared blankly at the small coffee table in front of her. The young chuunin's parched lips curled down in a frown, but she managed to choke back the sob that threatened to escape. Crying wouldn't help; it wouldn't take back what had happened and what she had gone so low to do. Crying couldn't turn back time or mend her bruised heart. So why did it feel like crying was the only thing that Sakura could manage to do? She sat on her couch in silence; her head hung low so her jade eyes were masked by tendrils of long cotton candy tresses as her body shivered with painful memories. If it wasn't for Naruto, she wouldn't have been able to escape the grasps of her perverted molester and drug dealer. Her hand unconsciously slid down over her waist to her pocket, sensing the small plastic bag that was hidden in her jacket. Who would she pick up from now? She only had gram of meth left and she needed to find another runner. She bit down on her bottom lip and muttered a few curses under her breath as she fidgeted.

Naruto had become aware of Sakura's sudden nervous behavior and decided that now was the time he could finally talk to her. After what he had witnessed, there was no way he was going to hold back his questions, and now that they were in the safety of her home he could approach her without any uneasy feelings of being watched or having their conversation overheard by strangers. His blue eyes trailed down the shaking, crumpled wreck that was sitting next to him before he cleared his throat "Sakura-chan…w..whats happened to you?" his voice was thick with concern. Cold jade eyes shot up and met the warm exterior of electric blue orbs. Sakura's eyes sent a shudder tingling down Naruto's spine; it was the same bitter and empty gaze that had plagued her beautiful face for weeks.

"Nothing".

Her lack of an answer hadn't come as a big surprise to Naruto; he knew she was too stubborn to let him know what was disconcerting her. The blonde let out an exasperated sigh before he reached out and gently took hold of Sakura's delicate hand "Please Sakura-Chan. Let me help you, sharing your troubles won't burden me. I'm worried about you" he spoke quietly; a sad smile gracing his face. Sakura glanced down at her hand that was being clasped by Naruto's, trembling ever so slightly. She didn't want to show anymore signs of weakness in front of her friend, she just couldn't let herself. The pretty chuunin had gradually begun to build a frosty barrier of ice that engulfed her heart.

"Look at me Sakura-Chan…onegai" Naruto's voice pleaded.

She refused to look at him. "Gomenasi. I'm fine, just go home Naruto" Her voice was cold, emotionless. Just like her haunting eyes.

Naruto's blue eye's narrowed in frustration. Why was she constantly shutting him out, this wasn't the teammate he had become such good friends with over these past few years. "Haruno Sakura. What the hell has gotten into you?! When did you become so bitter? The girl I once knew would never let herself be found in the situation I found you in today. You're stronger than that, I know you are. Why didn't you just kick that guy's sorry ass? You're one of the most brilliant people in Konoha village, but lately you haven't been acting so level headed. Ino was right, you've changed into something…something that has had me worried sick, something that even has Sasuke worried." Naruto's stern voice echoed throughout the quiet household.

Her green eyes opened wide in shock upon hearing HIS name. She froze. What was Sakura supposed to think of all this? And since when did Ino talk to Naruto, about her no less? She could feel her heart start to thump wildly in her chest; her mind was racing with a million thoughts. What was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to say? [Sasuke is actually thinking of me?] Sakura was beyond confused; she was riding an emotional rollercoaster that was raging out of control. The day's events and Naruto's words were so overwhelming that she was going to break any second. Memories of Sasuke flooded back into her mind, ripping an agonizing gash into her heart. The stress of it all was just too much and Naruto was startled by his teammate's sudden outburst "Why wasn't I good enough?" Sakura yelled, clenching her fist until her knuckles were white "I worked so hard for nothing!" She squeezed her eyes shut "Why did Ino always have to be better than me!? She was everything I could never be" her voice rasped out. Sakura's breathing had become slightly erratic before she could feel the sting of fresh tears at the corner of her eyes. Her next sentence was nothing more but a strangled whisper "Why…why d-did he choose her …over me"

For a brief moment, all Naruto could do was gape at his pink haired friend and feel nothing but sympathy. The fox boy knew that Sakura had a crush on Sasuke in their earlier years, but he figured it just passed over time. The blonde was so sure it had because Sakura and Sasuke had become such close friends. Only now had he recognized that her rivalry with Ino had run on a much deeper basis, and the fact that Sasuke had decided to date Ino left Sakura completely broken. [She hid it so well, why didn't I figure it out sooner? Naruto No BAKA!] He mentally lectured himself. So that's what it was all this time, the painful sting of rejection, a feeling Naruto knew all too well. "Sakura-Chan…" was all the boy managed to say. He meant it to come out as a form of comfort, but his voice had a twinge of sadness. He couldn't help but feel terrible for Sakura's anguish.

Sakura's death-grip on the couch relaxed as she gazed down at her feet in a depressed daze. [There I finally said it] She glanced back up at the blonde boy who was staring at her with such intensity that it frightened her a little. Before she had a chance to say anything Naruto's voice filled the air once again "Why didn't you tell me before? You shouldn't keep things like this to yourself, it only hurts more in the end..." his tone trailed off. The room was silent for what seemed liked eternity before Sakura's voice was heard. "I didn't want to complicate things even more; I didn't want to burden you or Sasuke with my ridiculous love-sick problems and rivalries. I can take care of myself and move on, by any means possible" Her last comment came off a little more snobby than she intended, but she wasn't about to take it back. Naruto was hurt with Sakura's stubborn attitude towards his help, why couldn't she just accept it? His frustration got the better of him as he snapped out "And I suppose by any means possible you mean getting fondled by some creep in the alley". Silence. He immediately regret opening his mouth as he experienced a wave of throbbing guilt hit him swiftly in the gut.

Naruto's aggressive comment lashed out at Sakura's heart with an aching sting. It bothered her that such harsh words had come from her friend, but what bothered her even more was that Naruto was right. She had been acting foolishly, about everything. She was taken aback by the next thought that popped into her head. [I would've never done that if I didn't need the crystal] At last, Sakura had consciously admitted that she was sick of tormenting herself and that her heart was not the only thing that was suffering. The drug abuse had changed her emotionally and it had finally started taking its toll on her body. As badly as she wanted her fix at this very moment, she began to comprehend that her intoxicating drug was ruining and controlling her life. Her fixed gaze shifted quietly from the table in front of her, to the Fox boys blue eyes that were clouded with apology. Sakura's delicate; porcelain hands grabbed hold of Naruto's shoulders. With some effort, she pulled herself closer to him as she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her.

"Arigato, Naruto"

Somehow, Naruto had a feeling that maybe, just maybe things were going to be alright, and perhaps one day go back to the way things were.

AN: Oh man- well looks like I stalled the Sakura/Sasuke encounter…again. SoRRy! I just felt so motivated to write a touching/serious moment between Sakura and Naruto. Hopefully the next chapters will be longer than this. There will be a heavy Sasuke/Ino chapter coming up soon…and there won't be anything romantic about it! I can't wait for the Sasu/Saku action to come into play…SOOOON I promise!! Thanks for reading!