Haruno Sakura; 5 Years Later

Age 17

-No Love-

One could say that there has never been a match more perfect than that of Sasuke and I.

We went together like bread and butter, peanut butter and jelly, and oreos and milk!

So of course, one could look at the 'relationship' that Ino and Sasuke have and know that it's only a front. Ino is just so desperate for Sasuke and Sasuke THINKS that Ino's making him happy.

But she's not.

He just needs to realize that I'm the only one for him and then everyone will be happier.

Except Ino.

But she deserves it.

Anyway, in other news that also had everything to do with Sasuke and what he was doing with his life since I keep a very detailed profile of his days, I had heard through the grapevine that Sasuke was being promoted to the jounin rank today.

I figured that it would be a great idea for a date if I met him outside the Hokage's office and we both went out to celebrate.

I just had to make sure I was the first one to catch him because he's still the most popular boy around.

Which is why he's perfect for me.

I didn't have to dress up nicely for him because lately, everyday I've been dressing up.

Why look your best for just one day when you can look great every day of the year?

Also, now that I'm not a ninja anymore, I have plenty of time to go out and make myself look better. And as a plus, I don't look dirty, have cuts or have a boy's haircut like Ino.

However, I put on some nice perfume just for Sasuke in case things got a little intimate.

I modeled my perfectly pink outfit in front of my mirror. I felt like a movie star all the time and it made me feel great. I bet Ino couldn't say that when she looked in the mirror. I bet she felt like an ugly, dirty boy.

Of course, not all boys are ugly and dirty. There's always Sasuke who's far from ugly and dirty! Well, he's dirty sometimes, but never ugly. However, when he's dirty… it's rugged.

I made my way over to the Hokage's office and stood outside the door. It'd be perfect.

I had it all planned out in my mind. I would ask him if he wanted to celebrate as a team and he'd HAVE to say yes to that. But, considering Naruto's got plans of his own today concerning Consolidation, the 'team' would consist of me and Sasuke.

Alone.

I must have been waiting outside for at least twenty-five minutes but it felt like hours.

I kept rehearsing what I was going to say to Sasuke in my mind so that I wouldn't accidentally stumble when I looked into his gorgeous eyes.

Suddenly, Naruto, Kiba and Chouji approached the door.

"Hi Sakura!" Naruto said to me in his regular annoying voice. He just doesn't get it, does he?

"Naruto, don't you have someplace to be?" I asked him, trying to get him to go away just in case Sasuke came out.

"Yeah!" said Naruto as he looked like he was going to wet himself. "I'm getting my consolidation teacher today!"

As if that's anything to be proud of.

Chouji looked away rudely. Just because I wasn't talking to him, doesn't mean he can't pay attention to me.

He must have a crush on me or something.

I couldn't help but notice Kiba was frowning. Had I said something offensive? I don't think so.

But I don't care what Kiba thinks. Though, I have noticed that he IS kind of cute lately...

He began coughing lightly and making a scrunched up face. Even that was kind of cute.

But not as cute as Sasuke.

It was then that I realized that Naruto was still talking to me.

"Whatever Naruto." I said. He might have said more after that but at the point, I stopped listening and the three of them went inside.

After a bit more waiting, my prayers were finally answered! Sasuke came out!!

With Ino…

"Sasuke!!" I said in my cutest voice.

"Sakura…" he said in his melodic voice.

I think he was being wistful.

He definitely loves me!

"I heard the good news!" I said to start the conversation up. I wish Ino would just leave. She's making things kind of awkward.

Then I looked down to see that she was clutching his hand.

Probably just to make me jealous.

Probably against Sasuke's will too.

I couldn't have that.

"You can let go of him now, Ino." I instructed her.

"I don't want to." She replied in a snippy voice.

Why is she so unreasonable? I'm surprised she has ANY friends! At least her hair is longer now though. It reaches to at least her shoulders but I think she still keeps cutting it.

EVERYONE knows Sasuke likes long hair better. Which is why mine reaches all the way down my back.

Just for him.

Then I remembered my plan that I had rehearsed.

"I say we go out and celebrate you becoming a jounin." I said cleverly. "As a team of course. Just for old time's sake."

"Naruto's busy." He replied. He was playing RIGHT into my trap. It was only a matter of time now before I had him.

"He is?" I said, pretending to be confused. I couldn't help but smile about that. "Then I guess it'll just have to be you and me!"

I looked at Ino, telling her without words that if I steal her 'boyfriend', it's not my fault that I'm so perfect for him.

"Sakura, I'M going out with Sasuke to celebrate." She said. How selfish of her! I JUST asked Sasuke and now she's trying to steal him when I had said it first!

"That is SO like you Ino." I informed her. She might want to be aware of this fault. "Wanting to steal Sasuke all to yourself."

"We're celebrating TOGETHER because we were BOTH promoted." She pointed out.

Did that make her better than me? Just because she became a jounin and practically dedicated her life to winning Sasuke? How pathetic.

"I've never heard of someone work SO hard to get a guy." I said. It was true. "You trained to become a jounin just so that you could win Sasuke's heart?"

Sasuke and Ino both simultaneously looked at each other. I think Sasuke just realized how pitiable Ino was.

"Sakura…" she said, looking as though I just pointed out her most terrible secret. Which I had. "You know that's not true…"

"Do I?" I asked, feeling as though I had sufficiently won and embarrassed her enough. I reached my hand out to grab Sasuke's strong hand. "Come on, Sasuke. Let's go…"

I suddenly felt his hand pull out of mine. Had he not been ready to go yet?

"Sasuke…?" I asked him as I turned around. Then what followed was probably the worst thing I had ever heard in my life.

"Sakura, I want you to leave me alone." He said.

Those words stabbed into me like spears.

Maybe he just meant for right now.

Maybe Ino asked him first so he wanted to celebrate with her and THEN with me.

Saving the best for last, I bet.

"What, you want to celebrate with HER first?" I said, pointing to Ino. I couldn't even look at her at this point.

"I don't want to celebrate with you at all." Sasuke said.

I felt as though my heart had just been ripped out of my body and stomped on.

I wanted to say something, but I couldn't get the words out.

My mouth wouldn't speak so I had to get out of there. At least until I could gather myself. I turned and walked away, leaving Sasuke and the tramp by themselves.

My walk picked up to a jog as I felt the tears running freely down my cheeks.

Then my jog turned into a run and my tears turned into full out crying.

I couldn't believe it.

He had to be brainwashed! He doesn't love her! He can't! He's supposed to love me!

Where's my fairy tale ending?

I reached my house and pushed the door open. I didn't stop running until I had reached my bed and thrown myself upon it, sobbing into my pillow.

I sat up slowly. There was make-up all over my pillow because of my crying.

Then I looked at myself in the mirror across the room. I couldn't stand looking at myself anymore. My make-up had smeared across my face so I looked like a hideous monster!

Obviously I wasn't good enough! Sasuke only likes manly girls who wear pants!

I grabbed onto the dress I was wearing and ripped a big part of it off.

I tore off my expensive shoes and threw one of them at my mirror, shattering it.

Why did Sasuke like Ino with her short hair? It was shorter than HIS at some point!

I clutched my long pink hair in my hand.

The hair that Sasuke is SUPPOSED to love.

I couldn't stand the fact that I had it anymore. I ran over to my dresser, searching desperately for a pair of scissors.

I found one in the bottom drawer and pulled them out. They were pink, like everything else I own.

I held them up to my soft hair that I worked so hard to maintain and with a harsh jab, I began ripping into it.

I didn't know how short I was cutting it at this point but I didn't care. I kept cutting until the locks in my hand were separated from my head.

I stumbled over to my window, opened it and threw the mass of pink out the window.

I found myself screaming out the window.

I don't even know who or what I was screaming at or what I was even saying but it didn't matter.

I fell slowly to my knees and continued crying.

Nothing made sense anymore.

Am I always going to be this unhappy?