Chapter 2

There aren't many words Sakura would be able to use to describe her feelings towards her team mate. Every night, before she fell asleep, she would lie awake, staring at the ceiling, the image of his face before her eyes. She would look at each little detail; his dark, penetrating gaze, his flowing ebony bangs, the way the corner of his mouth curled when she messed up at sparring. It was true, she had gained Tsunade's massive strength, and yet, both Sasuke and Naruto were in an entirely different league to her. She had learnt this fact, on the day Sasuke returned to Konoha. There had been a fight between Naruto and Orochimaru. Her comrade had been almost killed if it hadn't been for Sasuke jumping in and betraying his new master in order to save his best friend. That had been the end of the snake Sannin.

Every night she would remember how she had stood on the side, just watching. "Don't come near!" Sasuke had said, when she had tried to help him fight, "He's too strong for you!" The only role she played was the healing of wounds after the battle. All she was good for, was sitting back and realising how amazing her team mates were.

Her feelings were mixed. Everyone said, "It's a crush, get over it" …however… yes, she thought, maybe it had started like that but that slight interest had developed into true love. At once it was the most wonderful feeling to be near him, though Sakura also resented her feelings. Why, why did she have to fall for him? The one person every girl liked. The one person who didn't like anyone else! The one person who hated her… why did she have to love him…? But, as she thought this, she couldn't help but look at him and notice how perfect his body was, or how beautiful she thought his face was. Beautiful? Well, she couldn't believe she thought this either, but when she saw him, she really did feel this way…

Thus, as she went to sleep each night, she would picture him… he would smile at her… he would tell her he did care…

So, as she stood there, watching him run from her, she felt so hurt. She'd devoted most of her life to thinking about him and doing things for him. Never once had he told her he appreciated her actions. In fact, most times he ordered her to go away and at least once, had confronted her and told her to her face how annoying he thought she was. He couldn't understand how deeply her feelings ran and he probably never would.

Sakura was reawakened from her depressing thoughts when she suddenly remembered how late she was for training. She continued to run through the streets, heading once more for the bridge.

Upon arriving, she was confronted by her sensei, Hatake Kakashi. "Hm?" he said as she made her way to stand by the railing. Sasuke ignored her, but she didn't notice because she couldn't even look at him. "Sakura," said Kakashi, smiling, "You're later than me. I am not alone in losing myself on the path of life… ne?"

She didn't look up. "I'm sorry," she muttered.

"Hey, Sakura-chaan!" Naruto sang, "Where were you? I beat up Sasuke while we waited for you."

Sakura waited for the usual retort from Sasuke to his rival but it never came.

"Well," Kakashi said, ignoring the tension in the air, "Today, we will practise chakra control before a C-rank bodyguard mission."

"Whaaat!" Naruto cried, "C-rank? But I want to beat up some high class missing nin!"

"Today is not the day for that," Kakashi replied. "I think you guys should be taking it easy right now."

"Whyyy!" whined the blond haired ninja, but his teacher only smiled knowingly.

And so the day progressed. Sakura was unable to look at Sasuke, and he didn't say a single word. Once they had been dismissed from their mission in the evening and began to set off in their separate ways home, Naruto approached the pink haired kunoichi.

"Sakura-chan," he said gently.

"What is it, Naruto?"

"I can understand why Sasuke would be weird today, but why are you so quiet? And you didn't ask Sasuke to dinner like to always do!"

"What's the point?" she answered, looking at her feet.

"Huh? But you're always talking to him, Sakura-chan. Why not today?"

She was silent. Naruto was getting closer to the cause of her dark mood.

"Has something happened between you and Sasuke?" Bang. Got it.

She bit her lip and fought back her tears as she tried to keep herself from blurting out her feelings. She felt a friendly, comforting hand on her shoulder. That was more than enough to make her start crying again. "Why does he have to be so cold!" she wailed, and found herself in a hug.

"Sakura-chan…" he said, "I know you really love him. I'll make him pay for whatever he's done to you."

She sobbed for a few moments, sensing a presence nearby. She glanced over Naruto's shoulder and caught sight of two dark eyes watching her. In the blink of an eye though, they were gone. She hadn't had long enough to determine whose eyes they were, but she had a pretty good idea.

"N-Naruto," she said, pulling away from him and drying her eyes, "You said… you know why he's being different today. Why is that?"

"Oh," he said as they started walking again, "He only told me this recently as a punishment for running away, hehehe! But… today is the day his clan was killed."

So that was why he was being so cold today… Sakura was aware that her other team mate had difficulty coping with and expressing his feelings and understood his different behaviour. Though, that didn't explain why he was late…

"Thanks, Naruto," she smiled, "See you tomorrow." He smiled back and waved as he jumped up onto a roof and called, "Bye, Sakura-chan!"

She made her way to her house. However, when she arrived there, an idea struck her… It would be risky, but perhaps she may be able to find out something…

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Author's note: Hmm. Hello there. xD I hope you're liking it so far n.n

A couple more chapters to go, I don't want to drag this on too long. I'm sure you're waiting for the fluff.. xDDD

Anyway. Next part coming soon.

…

8D