A Will to Love

A/N: Ok, second chapter. Thank you all for the reviews for my first chapter! There were a few good criticisms around, and I try to abide by them! Special thanks to Fukari, my first reviewer!!

Chapter 2: Losers
Sakura walked out of the bathroom, clean and changed. Looking forward to a good, long sleep, she walked lightly to her room, not making a sound as she moved, a habit evolved from stealth training.

Distracted by the open window in her living room, she moved to close it. Cool breezes tickled the damp skin of her unclothed arms and face. As she neared the window, a head of messy, spiky silver hair was spotted. Eyes narrowing in suspicion, she leaned a bit farther to get a closer look, not caring if she falls. After all, she is on the first floor. A black gloved hand with a piece of metal sewn onto it triggered her paranoia just as she gave up on her previous suspicion. Then something clicked in her mind. Silver, messy, a black glove... Who else can it be?

As she leaned out again, she caught sight of a green vest over black attire before it disappeared in a poof. Now who else can it be?

"Ohayo, Kakashi-sensei," she said out loud as a poof sounded behind her.

"Ohayo," he said, without bothering to ask how she knew it was him. They had become well-acquainted over the years. Maybe they knew each other a bit too well...

"Why are you here?" asked Sakura, sounding curt and wincing at her tone of voice. Kakashi smiled jovially and waved away her rudeness.

"I want to know where you had been. You weren't home all night, according to a few people who came to give you a visit."

"I.... I wasn't home last night," said Sakura softly, wanting to tell someone what had happened last night, but not daring to tell her teacher. His visible eye widened slightly, and it showed the faint surprise he was feeling. Surely, he IS her teacher, is he not? Then he has the power to force it out of her in these situations?

However, he didn't. And it was only because Sakura had suddenly decided to speak after the moment of the 'golden' silence. "No one cares whether I'm home or not. You're not my mother or father..." Her voice tightened at the end of the sentence. Her lips suddenly tightened into a stern, strict line of defiance. Anger was visible, very, very slightly visible on her usually calm place. Her shining green eyes were squeezed as if in pain. Kakashi moved to hug her, but she stepped away. "It's not like you are my mother or father."

Tears began pouring from her eyes. "It's... not... like..." Her voice started choking, as she tried to convince herself. She started to gasp, her voice barely audible now... "You're not my father," she whispered, so quietly that it was barely anything. But she knew what she had said was not true.

Kakashi had always been there for her, even before her mother had died. Her father had never been there for her, he couldn't. His soul was gone even before she opened her eyes. Dead before she was even born. Her mother had struggled, tried her hardest to survive. She was angry at Sakura, who was replicated enough like her father to hurt her, to cause her to hate the very existence of Sakura.

Abusing Sakura was the only way out for her mother. Nothing else would have helped her release the pain that had built up inside her and gradually killed her. Nothing else would have made Sakura the person she is now. Kakashi had helped her through the memories. It all came back to her teacher that she was even sane now. It was thanks to her teacher that she was able to survive the last three years of her mother's abuse. She had endured every little piece of shit that she had come to experience and accept for the first fourteen years of her life.

She was eighteen now, and is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She is a ninja, and abides by the ninja way. Nothing else had been stable like that for her. Nothing else and she was not going to change it.

Kakashi looked on in sympathy, his concerned eyes betraying his calm, detached facial expression. She ceased crying after five minutes, and almost immediately, a hardened look took over her expression as soon as the change had taken place.

"Please leave," she requested quietly. Kakashi stood there, not knowing what to do. Sakura still hadn't moved from her position, although the tear-stained trails on her face were evident.

"No." he said simply. "I want to know why you weren't home last night, all night long. Do you know how worried everyone is--" He was cut off by Sakura's voice.

"And who are those 'everyone?'" she asked harshly, her eyes finally lifting to meet his. They radiated a power and hatred that he had never felt before from her. He felt a bit shaken, almost as though her involuntary emotions were a force by itself.

"Me, Naruto, Sasuke, Ino, and others," he answered lamely. She laughed. She said, "Yea right." She smiled, her lips curving almost as though they were tantalizing him. He stared at her, the smile gracing her contradictory expression. "It doesn't matter where I was, you are not my father," she said once more, the tears brimming on her eyes giving clues of hatred and loneliness and regret, instead of sorrow. It was truly amazing how the gentle Sakura they all know can be like this.

"Alright," he said. "I want you to be at the bridge at twelve o'clock, four hours from now." He looked at her.

"No," he said, seeing how Sakura opened her mouth to question him, "Don't ask for any explanations. Just be there." With that, Kakashi disappeared to only God knows where.

Sakura stood there, immobile, until exhaustion caught up with her once again and forced her to walk to her room and collapse on her bed, falling asleep almost at once. It had been a very strange night for her…

"Ne, ne, sensei!! Why isn't Sakura-chan here with us?" asked Naruto innocently, his blue eyes reflecting his curiosity. Kakashi just smiled lightly.

"She isn't feeling well," he replied. Naruto looked worried, and stopped suddenly, causing the black-haired Uchiha heir behind the blond to nearly crash into him. "Baka," Sasuke said under his breath, his voice throwing out the annoyance he felt.

"Urusai!" shouted Naruto, his face growing angry. Sasuke only rolled his eyes and looked away, bored by the proceedings as usual.

"Can we go visit her, then? asked Naruto. Kakashi shook his head. "Leave her alone for awhile, she needs it. Now, who si ready to go eat and get some training?" he asked. Naruto immediately perked up, and marched around, chanting over and over, "Ichiraku, Ichiraku, Ichiraku!! Ramen, ramen, ramen!! Ichiraku! Ramen!"

Kakashi smiled at his hyperness, and Sasuke only rolled his eyes.

"Sensei, I'm full now. Can we go train?" asked Naruto, bowls stacked in front of him neatly and a pair of chopsticks laying beside it. Naruto was satisfied. Well, until Kakashi made Naruto pay for the ramen. His frog purse deflated considerably, even though the old man who serves ramen had given him a discount. Naruto viewed it as a teacher deflect, and felt that Kakashi should have paid for it all, and if he knew that he was paying, then he wouldn't eaten so much. Kakashi considered it as a good lesson for Naruto to learn, and an important skill to know.

Meanwhile, Sakura was not sleeping, but laying on her bed, crying into her pillow now and then as she remembered fragments of her past. Her back still held vestiges of the beatings she had received, a few scars here and there. By now, her pillow was wet, and she was done with crying. Falling onto a big stuffed panda bear, she almost fell asleep immediately.
Itachi stared at the village gates, where he had sealed his fate as a missing nin when he left the village. Now, as he stared back at it, he could feel the familiarity with the village, although he had never voiced it out. He could feel a sense of encagement, and security. With no love in it. That's why he left the village. Why he had killed the clan off....

Anyways, that was why he thought he had left the little town-like community.

But there were so many more reasons, so many, so much more better reasons. Capacity testing. Shit, he could laugh his ass off at that reason. He knew he was stronger than the whole clan without even trying to lay a finger on them. He knew his limits. It was just them that didn't know him. Sparing Sasuke was the only he had regretted just a little bit. The only family member that had even consider as a true friend, before the incident. He laughed bitterly, staring at the doors, the sign hanging over it, proudly displaying the village's name. Konoha. Leaves. Green leaves. The color of her eyes... Anyways, he was here to deliver a little note and gift, which was held carefully in his right hand, and taking great care not to damage the elegant and intricately decorated paper and trying not to dirty the pure, fresh golden color of the box.

He entered by jumping over the gates silently, screening himself from sight, quickly and quietly reaching what he thinks is her house within minutes. Looking at the house, he spotted a movement from one of the windows, and landed on roof above it. Silently, he peered into the room, and saw a sleeping figure. He grinned, seeing the familiar pink hair and pale skin. He had seen her sleep once before, and yet it still amazes him how a sleeping person can be so beautiful. Well, her anyways.

What her name? Cherry blossoms... That's how she smelt like, too... Fresh cherries... Sakura! That was it.

He was enrapturedwith a girl who's name he couldn't even remember. How amusing...

Sakura tossed and turned, not able to get into an easy sleep. Faintly, through a faze, she sensed someone watching her, watching her every move. Finally, when she couldn't stand it anymore, she sat up in the bed and stayed in that position. After she shifted a bit, a quiet thud outside her window caused her to grab a kunai and look secretively outside.

Itachi watched as the sleeping beauty rolled over to get into a comfortable position, although she turned the other way a few seconds later. His lips feels like it was pasted into a small smile now, unable to get the happy display of expression of his usually detached face. His eyes widened a bit as he watched her open her eyes and look towards the window, sitting up and drawing her knees to her chest, laying her head comfortably onto her knees. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he dropped the little scroll, and the box onto the ledge outside her window, and left the village. He would see her again, he knew he would. No need to stay there any longer...

Sakura gasped in surprise as she spotted a note tied with a green ribbon and a little golden box next to it. She carefully retrieved it, and opened the note.

Cherry Blossoms,

In the box is a gift for you, delicate one. Meet me by the gates of the village tonight at midnight. I promise I will not hurt you, I only want to talk to you. Give me your consent and come tonight. I'll be waiting. Please...

Sakura opened the box, and in it was a branch of fresh cherry blossoms. Her fingers trembled as she picked up the sweet-smelling fragrant flowers, and silently stared at it. It was one of the most romantic gifts she had ever received, despite it beig from an unknown person. She decided to meet him then.

It was nearly ten now, her training with Tsunade and Kakashi worn her out. she dragged her body back into her apartment, taking a long shower and eating a bit of dinner. Sooner than wanted, it was a quarter to twelve. As she switched to black clothes, she pocketed the gift and the note, then ran off into the night, never knowing that someone was watching just then, and suddenly decided to follow her.
Itachi watched the gates, hidden in the canopy of a big oak tree. He glanced at the crescent moon, and it felt like it was midnight. Just when he was about to give up, a lithe figured slid out of the gates, and stood there as if waiting for someone. Itachi stared at the figure, trying to find some kind of trait of recognition. He saw pale pik hair and smiled. Just as he was about to jump out of the tree, he sensed another presence, even if it was only there for a second... A very forboding presence even by his standards....
Sakura walked quickly towards the gate and reached there in no time. She slid outside silently, and waited. A prickle of fear and paramoia siezed her as she thought she heard a soft rustle behind her. Then she waited...
As Sakura slid out of their sight, this mysterious figure continued following her, careful not to make a sound. This figure watched as Sakura walked out of the gates, and its exasperation, curiousity, and a spark of anger made its aura suddenly flare unexpectedly. Careful to hide its presence again, the figure resumed staring at the pink-haired kunoichi, its eye contact never leaving her form, as she stood there, waiting, waiting for some kind of unforetold disaster...
A/N: Well, second chapter's done! I know it's kinda short, but I wanted to get this up ASAP. Please review... Just press that little button that says 'Go' with the submit review option next to it... Go on, go on....Thats right, just move your mouse over there and click, type some kinda encouragin message and then press submit review and Voila!! You submitted a review!!

I have no idea when the third chapter will be up, my finals are coming and I have to study a LOT!!!!!!!!