Hello! This is my first fanfic, and I hope you enjoy it! Reviews are appreciated.

Disclaimer: If the apocalypse were here... I STILL wouldn't own Naruto.

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The kunai gleamed in the moonlight as trembling hands removed it from its case. Sakura had spent the last month sharpening it until it could cut through stone. She knew it could slice her skin like a hot knife through butter.

'Why?' Her thoughts were muddled.

Visions of a powerful young man swam through her mind. His face was angelic, but those eyes. They were filled with a pain that was unfathomable. Lately, that pain had given way to a much worse emotion.

'Malice.'

Tears streamed down her face. This was the third time he'd choked her until she'd blacked out. The kunai came ever closer to her wrist.

'Why? Why don't I leave him?'

She had seen those shows about women who stayed with their abusive husbands, and always wondered why they didn't just leave them. A bitter smile crept over her once beautiful features. 'Now I know why.'

Sakura had built a cage for herself. She knew what he did when he left. Smelled the perfume that wasn't hers. Saw the empty beer bottles under 'their' bed. Remembered all those lonely nights she spent waiting for him to come home. To come back to her caring arms. All was in vain. He had stopped loving her long ago.

She laughed at herself. 'Love?' Even that had become more of a chore for her. If she didn't do it, he would get angry and force her anyways. It was futile. She had tried to leave, but just couldn't find the strength.

The only reason she hadn't given up already was because she retained the hope that he would change. That one day he would realize what he was doing. To himself. To her. To everyone.

Sakura shook with sobs. She hadn't known. How could she have? He always hid. From everything. Even from himself.

A flash of gold crossed her mind, eliciting a gasp from her lips. The only one who hadn't turned from her. The only true friend she still had. 'Naruto.'

Sakura rose and walked to her phone. Gingerly, she dialed the only number she could always remember. ring, ring The other line picked up. "Naruto here. What's up?"

She nearly laughed at his careless answer. "Oi. Naruto, its Sakura. I…I was wondering." He perked up on the other line. "Sakura? You were wondering?" "Would you like to come over for dinner?" There was a rustling sound on the end. "Sure. I'll be right over, okay?" "Okay." Sakura hung up the phone.

As she turned towards the blood red sunset, the kunai slipped from her hand.

'I wonder if Naruto would mind having a female room-mate.'

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-Owari-