Hi.

This is the first chapter (the other was the prologue), and we're going back into the past to when they first met. It'll stay this way too, so nya.

Also, this chapter is in Ino's POV and so is the rest of the story.

(Not my characters. Did I say this before…? Well, I did now, so don't yell at me.)

Chapter 1
For the last two or three days, I had heard mens' voices and loud grunts like they were picking up heavy things. I was also hearing trucks go by often, big trucks. But, in fear of it being a certain group of people, I never dared to peek out the dirty windows of my house. My house was always dark, dirty, and smelt of rotting wood. But, never once would I complain. Despite the way it looked, my house held strong during bad weather.

But enough of my house, let's talk about my odd day.

I was out for a walk early this morning, soaking any sunshine I could on this bright sunny day. My sandals slapped against the sidewalk. I had just remembered that I hadn't bathed in about a week and was about to turn back home when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Hey, who are you?" A young girl yelled at me. She sat against a tree and was dressed in clothes that did not have any dirt of holes in it. Her strawberry blond her fell down her back a ways. Crystal green eyes me. She held an open book in her lap.

I stood proudly. "I live here. Sorta. I live down the street." A lie. "Did you just move in?"

The girl nodded. "Just a few days ago. But that's beside the point. What are you doing on my lawn?"

"Sorry, I wanted to see who lived here." Another lie. "I'm Ino."

"Sakura."

"So Sakura, whacha doin'?" I asked nervously. I don't make friends very well and am not good with people.

She shrugged, "Reading. I'll do anything to get out of my house and away from my parents." She rolled her eyes, "Do you have any idea how annoying some people can get?"

Yes. "Kinda. Hey, wanna go blow up a bullfrog?" I said, trying to get rid of my tension.

She laughed. "What? What kind of family did you grow up in?"

My thoughts said something I wasn't ready to admit, so I answered the opposite. "The loudest, most obnoxious you can imagine. C'mon." I ran forward and grabbed Sakuras' arm. She used little resistance and dropped her book while she ran fast to keep up with my speed.

We ran down the sidewalk, past my house and into an old grassy field. I heard Sakura mumble something about the ugly, 'abandoned' house that I happened to live in. But she didn't know I lived there, and I said nothing of it. I eventually let go of her hand and dashed as fast as my feet would take me. I didn't want to blow up a bullfrog; I wanted to race someone my age.

I've been really alone with no friends for years. If you must know, my parents are dead. They died on a business trip. I never really ever met them, and I bet they didn't even think of me as they died. The orphanage keeps trying to take me away. And somehow, I'm actually allowed to be in a school. But don't pity me, I'm just fine. I'm a strong girl who enjoys a challenge. Especially when it's running.

"Wait up, Ino!" I heard Sakura yell from far behind me.

I laughed joyfully, and yelled back, "Catch me if you can!" She understood this as a challenge, and sped with every bit of energy to catch up.

This field seemed to never end. Each blade of grass whipped against my leg as I rushed past them, with Sakura just on my tail. I looked down for a spilt second at my feet, and saw a rock seconds before my leg. I had no time to turn and jumped high in the air. I landed ironically on another rock that sent me flying through the grass.

I finally landed against a tree and felt I should trick Sakura. I was now all dirtied up with a few scrapes her and there. I knew she would try and help or something, being the rich looking person is.

See, living on your own helps you learn about people and get a better sense of someones' personality in a glace than anyone. I could tell that her family was somewhat rich, and she was the bored, my-parents-don't-listen-to-me kind of person. But, inside she's probably a very honest and angelic person that will do anything for a person in need.

I'm gonna use that to my advantage.

Laying there, dirty and messy, I open an eye a little to see where she was. Sakura was still catching up, jogging now to catch her breath better. I closed my eyes and waited.

Poke. Poke. Poke.

I opened my eyes with a blank stare.

"Are you still alive?" She was poking my face with a stick like a child. I swatted her away.

"Very funny. I'm fine for your information." Ok, so I was wrong. Some people or tricky to know.

She snapped her fingers, "Damn. I had hoped you died."

My eyes went wide. She laughed, "Joking. Jeez, you're as bad as my mom."

"You're a very weird person." I said as I brushed the dirt off. She smiled and sat down against the tree.

"Thanks."

"You know…" I began.

"You're my kind of person." We had both said that in unison and stared at each other. I shook my head and sat down next to her.

We fell asleep, tired from our run, underneath the shade of the tree. The sun beamed around us, but never touched from our shaded protection. We slept easy.

Oh. My. God.

I wrote the first chapter.

I'm sorry if you're confused. I have no self-confidence.

Review replies:

AshwolfX: Thank, but wouldn't you do the same for your best friend?

Kikirini-chan: LONG REVIEW. Talkative, aren't we? Do you really like my work that much to wait impatiently? Eeeee! Questions! You'll figure it all out through the story. The prologue was more of a teaser to get peoples attention. Please have patience.

But maybe I will when my reviews come in from you super kind people.