Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto...sniffle but I sure do wish Kakashi was my sensei...tee hee...

I hope you enjoy my story, this is just the prologue. This is my FIRST NARUTO FIC. So, I'm sorry if my people get a little out of character. Most of this chapter is a flashback to when Sasuke-kun left. Again, I hope you enjoy...

Chapter 1: Reflection-Prologue

Sakura bit her lip, trying to suppress a pained cry from escaping her mouth. The cry was only slightly muffled though, causing a satisfied grin to grace the Sound ninja's face. Catching the twitch of his lips from under his black mask that covered the bottom of his face, she glared at him fiercely with emerald eyes. Her left hand rested on the wound on her right shoulder, her crimson blood spilling through the cracks between her nimble fingers. Her breathing was finally regulating after several minutes of huffing over a simple wound; she was definitely losing too much chakra.

"Getting tired kunichi?" he asked in a teasing manner

"Not even close!" she hissed as she flung five kunai at the unsuspecting ninja

His gray eyes widened as the five sharp weapons flew at amazing speed toward him. Luckily, he jumped out of the way in time. The pink haired kunichi growled and jumped into the air, dodging a punch from the fellow shinobi. She did a quick back flip, kicking him in the process. Landing gracefully in a fighting stance, Sakura watched as the ninja of Sound village stood quickly, mimicking her current stance.

"Just tell me where the Uchiha is," the man growled

"I told you that I don't know!" she yelled angrily, "He is not in Konoha!"

"Then why does every clue lead back to this village? To you?"

"Kami-sama! I don't know!" she jumped into the air once more and landed a swift kick to his gut.

Quickly, she snatched a kunai from her garter and flung it at him. She turned away, hearing his strangled cry. Sighing, she shut her eyes tight, 'Sometimes...I just can't help but hate this job...' she thought sadly.

Walking out of the woods, she began her journey home. Sakura wrapped her arms around her small frame, as in protecting herself from the cold wind that was currently causing her cotton candy colored hair to whirl wildly. With a soft sigh, she looked up wistfully at the moon as its ethereal glow lighted the path ahead of her.

"Sasuke..." she thought, refraining from adding the affectionate '-kun' as the end, 'Where are you?'

Memories of the night he left Konoha flooded her mind in tidal waves...

He walked down the gravel road, obviously not in a hurry. Possibly, trying to memorize every detail of the village he had been raised in...breathing in every scent...taking in every small imperfection or over perfection...The Uchiha stopped a few feet away from the pink haired girl who was staring sadly at him, a knowing look in her emerald eyes.

"What are you doing down here so late at night? Just out for a stroll?" he asked her as if it were every other day and he wasn't about to betray his village...he wasn't about to betray her...

She looked down, "In order to leave the village...you have to take this road..."

He bowed his head once more, walking around her, "Go home," he commanded in a strong voice.

She bowed her head, taking a deep breath as a solitary tear made its way down her face, "Why?", she turned to look at his retreating form, a depressing tinge to her voice, "Why won't you say anything to me?" He continued to walk. "Why do you shut everyone out? Why won't you say anything to me-"

"Why do I have to tell you?" he asked in an angry voice, stopping in his tracks but still not facing her. A waterfall of tears were now making their way down her placid, pale face as she stared at him. "I'm telling you that you meddle too much. Stop bothering me all the time."

She looked down sadly before smiling slightly, "You always act like you hate me Sasuke-kun." She smiled fully now and looked up at him, "Do you remember? When we became genin? The day the three-man teams were decided and we were alone at this very spot." Taking a small pause, she continued in a slightly amused tone, "You were angry at me weren't you?"

(flashback)

Twelve year old Sakura smiled smugly, 'See he doesn't have any parents!' she said about Naruto in a prissy voice. Sasuke looked at her angrily at this comment but she continued on, 'Being alone, he doesn't get yelled at by his parents. That's why he is so unruly.'

There was a brief silence until Sasuke spoke, 'Loneliness.'

'Huh?'

'You can't compare it to how you feel after you get scolded by your parents,' he continued.

She looked slightly frightened as she backed up, "Wh- What's the matter?'

He turned to look at her angrily, 'You are annoying.' She recoiled at this with a shocked look on her face, staring as the Uchiha walked away from her.

(end of flashback)

Sakura stared fondly at Sasuke but all he said was, 'I don't remember.' She looked up at him in a mixture of hurt and shock, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. Sakura looks down sadly and gives a slight laugh as one of her tears fall to the ground, causing a wet spot to appear on the once seemingly perfect ground. 'Of course...that was a long time ago,' but she said it more to herself.

She looked up at him with hope still shining in her eyes, the fond gaze returning, 'But it started on that day. You and I, and Naruto and Kakashi-sensei...' Their minds began to reel with images and memories of them training together...Team 7. 'The four of us have done a lot of missions together. It was difficult, and it was terrible but... But...Even so...' she smiled, her eyes shut tight to block tears, 'It was fun!' She opened her eyes and shrugged sadly as his lips drew a thin line. Staring at the ground, she continued, 'I know what happened to your clan. But with revenge alone, you will not be able to make anyone happy.' The kunichi looked away from him as the midnight cloud's shadow began to cover her face, 'No one...' she continued in a hoarse whisper. She took a breath, 'Neither you...nor me.'

'I know that,' he finally said, causing her to look up, 'I am different from you guys. I follow a different path from you guys.' He paused briefly, emotions beginning to stir in his core, 'The four of us together...It's true that I have thought of us as one possible path.' A slight venom and harshness filled his voice, 'But despite the four of us having been together, my heart has chosen revenge.' His brow scrunched, the thick saddening sound of an oncoming sob filled his voice 'It's why I go on living.' Sakura looked at him as he continued, 'I can't be like you or Naruto.'

Her hand flew to her chest as she jumped forward, yelling hoarsely, 'Aren't you going to be lonely by yourself?!' She cried as she held her hand to her heart, 'Sasuke-kun, you told me that being alone is painful.' He stared down at the ground with pain filled eyes as she yelled again, 'I understand that so well it hurts!' Her tears had made a slight just-rained resemblance on the ground as they continued to fall, 'I have family and friends. But...' she stepped forward once, 'If you leave, for me...' She clutched both hands to her chest as she tucked her chin into her neck, her eyes closed tightly, 'To me, it's the same thing as being alone!'

His eyes saddened as he remembered the picture of his team, 'From this point on, new paths will start,' he said softly. She didn't let him finish as she stepped forward, shouting hoarsely, 'I...I love you more than anything!' she sniffled, 'If you are by my side, I will make sure you will not regret it. I will make everyday more enjoyable,' she pledged emotionally, 'and you will be happy!' She breathed deeply, 'There's nothing I wouldn't do for you! That's why..." she took a deep breath as she yelled, 'I'm begging you! Please stay! I will even help you with your revenge!' He still stayed silent. 'There must be something I can do!' Her tone turned more pleading, 'That's why...Please stay here with me...' She finally opened her eyes, 'If that's not possible, then please take me with you...'

He turned to face her and tilted his head to the side with a slight smile, saying smugly, 'After all this time,' his smile widened, 'you're still annoying.' Her eyes widened as she gasped. He turned and continued to walk. She shook her head and yelled after him, 'Don't go!' Running forward she threatened, 'If you go I'll scream out loud and-' She paused as, in a blink of an eye, Sasuke materialized behind her. It was as if time stopped as the wind tussled their hair back and forth. Sasuke was the one to break the silence as he said in a gentle, yet firm voice, 'Sakura...thank you...' She gasped and all was silent before a quiet thump was heard...he had knocked her out. Her last thought, before she fell into a black abyss was a breathy whisper of 'Sasuke...kun...'

Sakura sighed as she shook her head, "Jerk, then he left me on a bench!"

With another shake of her head, she continued home. It had been four years since Sasuke left Konoha, since she'd last seen him. Most people despised him, some just didn't care, few still had hope for him, she being one of the few...

I know, boring chapter but hey its just the prologue. I hope you enjoyed, please review and stick around for the next chappie.

Luv

Angie!