Title: Perfection

Author: Isiri

Rating: PG –for angst, mention of abuse and death.

Genre: One-shot, angst and drama.

A/N: I think this is definitely my favorite out of all of them. I don't know why, but I wanted to cry when I was writing it . . . okay, so maybe that is a little weird, but so what! I'm the author and I can do what ever I want, even cry! . . . . . . . . . Damn, I really have to learn to stop making a fool out of myself . . . . .

Disclaimer: I own nothing; Naruto purely belongs to Kishimoto-sensie.


Perfection

Pt.3: Naruto

No one had ever bothered to ask her why she didn't like him. Everybody assumed she was just like everyone else and they all thought he was nothing more then the class clown or the dirt on the floor.

But they were wrong, so very, very wrong, because to her . . .

He was perfect.

He was completely different from her crush, and yet he was still perfect.

His childish looks and limitless happiness never fooled her, not once, to what his real personality could be. She could never act kind to him because then everyone would hate her too. They would hate her too. She would not, could not, allow that. Because then she would not be perfect.

He never did well in the academy, his marks the lowest in the class. He was even beaten by her in ninjutsu and taijutsu. It never seemed as though he ever tried to do well or work hard towards anything.

But that one day at school, after everyone had left and she had come back to fetch her books so They wouldn't be displeased, she heard his pain. Saw him cry. He shouted to the ceiling, asking why no one liked him, why no one acknowledged him, why, no matter how hard he worked and no matter how hard he pushed himself, he couldn't do anything right.

She had walked in, silencing him instantly, collected her books, and left without even looking at him. After the door closed all she heard was silence.

Then a crash.

Before he started crying again.

She followed his lead later that very night, after They had gone to bed, so she wouldn't get in trouble.

What he did wasn't important to her. How he acted was irrelevant. That day she realized how much the rambunctious blond and she were similar, and it scared her because if she wasn't careful, she could turn out like him, and They would get mad. To Them, she wouldn't be perfect.

And that was unacceptable.

But in her mind, every time she saw his blinding hair and foxish grin, she would always be reminded of that one time she caught him crying. He needed acknowledgment just like her; the only difference was he needed it to make it through the day.

It didn't matter to him if it was negative or not.

She could never give him the same as she gave her crush, or what she wanted for herself. Too risky, she calculated, but there was one way she could always show she knew he was there; alive and existing, and no one would be the wiser.

She yelled at him, even beating him sometimes when he acted stupid.

To her peers it seemed brutal and uncaring.

To her, it was kindness, as much as she was allowed to give.

To him, it was acknowledgment. Not the loving kind of recognition, but it was enough to show him that she understood, that she was there for him, as much as society allowed.

She did this because she saw him, the real him, and knew he was perfect. Not in the same way as herself, not in the same way as her young love.

He was perfect because he was kind, caring, hard working and funny. Able to take everything and anything people said and return it with laughter or a smile, or a crude but humorous joke.

He was outgoing, brave, but most of all, perfect.

How could she see everything she had ever wanted to be, in him, and not consider him faultless?

So to her, he was perfect.

And that was all that mattered.


A/N: All done! Okay, I have to say THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! To understar, my beta and unofficial muse #2. –beams– Oh my gosh, the things I missed spell checking, I was just like, "Gawd, how could I have missed something as big as that?" lol. Oh well, she still helped me, so I am very, very extremely happy and eternally grateful for it! Oh yeah, that reminds me, go read her stories. She's one of the best authoresses on Right! So, I'm going to do some quick review replies from chapters one and two:

Reviews:

Chapter One:

Princess-Lora162: Uh . . . thanks . . . I think. It's great that you enjoyed it, but please don't kill me with a sock!

Sacred-aliance: Glade you liked it! I had just got into a fight with my mom about not being good enough for her when I wrote chapter one, so the P.O.V was kind of from my thinking at first, but it just ended up fitting perfectly. Besides, what better way was there to explain what Sakura was thinking?

Understar: You love my story? --squeals-- thanks! I love your stories too!

Mad-killer-bunnies-alert: Oh my God! Can't believe you reviewed my story! --faints-- You're such an awesome writer! You really think I should write a story about Sakura's home life? Thank you sooo much! Maybe I should. It'd keep me busy over the summer! (Assuming I don't have to go to summer school)

Ashhhley: Hey! I can't believe you actually read this! Lol. Glad it was suited to your liking.

Chapter Two:

Understar: Thanks! Omg! I'm so glad you offered to beta for me! --beams-- You are my HERO understar-san!

Sacred-aliance: He he he, if you think that's dark, just wait until the final chapter! I think I made Sakura a little . . . yeah; I won't ruin the surprise by saying anything. And as for your other comment, no, I don't believe people always do things because they have something to gain from it, whether it is material or not. Like for instance, my friend and I were at the movie theater yesterday and playing DDR (OMG! DDR RULES! EVERYONE, NOW, LET'S D.D.R!) and my mom said we had to go, but could play one last game. While we had been playing a little girl was standing watching with her mother and really wanted to play. So we let her go on instead of us and because my mom wouldn't wait for that little girls turn to end, we left. We I already knew we wouldn't be able to play one more game if we let that girl go on, but we let her play anyways, even though we knew we would get nothing in return. Not everyone is like that, and that was just an example, I'm not saying my friend and I are saints or anything; I've also done things because I would get something in return, like praise. So really, it all depends on the person and his or her choices, nothing and no one else. (Man that was really long! Lol.)

Aznanime-eyes: Oh, I totally agree with you, this is so PERFECT. Lol. I just loved your pun. Thanks so much for your compliments! I'm flattered by what you said, really. I was just shocked and stunned. I hadn't realized I'd delivered Sakura's feelings of love towards Sasuke so well. Now I regret posting ch.3! I don't wana post ch.4 either! I don't think they're good enough for you! –cries-- but don't feel bad about that! I'm sry if I made you feel guilty by saying that!

PLEASE REVIEW!

..:;Isiri;:..