Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Ichi-go, Ichi-e

(One time, One meeting)

Resolve

I never knew my heart could break like this. The pain is almost unbearable. When I look into his eyes, I see it there bubbling just below the surface, mixing with hatred and loathing. I wonder…is the boy I knew drowning in that?


Wide eyed, Hinata watched as Sasuke's hand clenched tightly around Sakura's throat, slowly squeezing the life out of his former teammate. Sakura's greens eyes bulged in fear, her breath strangling in her throat. The force of which escaped her throat in pants and gasps as her airway began to close off.

His obsidian eyes never wavered from Sakura's, a malicious smile twisting his once beautiful features. "What's the matter Sakura? I thought you'd be stronger by now?" His grip tightened. "Where's your resolve? I thought you and that Dobe were going to save me?"

Hinata's breath caught in her throat as Sakura's hands grabbed at his, trying in vain to break his grip. Her feet kicked at the air, her body twisting and fighting in a frantic bid for escape, only to halt when he slammed her form into a broken wall.

Inside, Hinata was screaming. Stop it! You're hurting her! However, on the outside, all she could do was watch as he continued his assault. Fear, horror, anger, sorrow--these were the emotions coursing through her trembling form with tears prickling the back of her eyes.

Then there was the wash of guilt. Where was the courage she'd found days before? Was Sasuke really so different from the monster known as Pein? Or was it simply that Sakura wasn't Naruto and, therefore less important as a result?

Questions and fear over rode her senses, but deep down she knew it wasn't any of those things. In her heart of hearts, she knew what was holding her back. It was the fear of what once was being ripped to shreds in face of what is. Her memories flooded her mind, making her remember a boy she once knew.

"Hurry up, Hina-chan, or he'll catch us!" Spiky black hair bounced with each leap forward he took, his face glowing with excitement, a stretched out grin reaching from ear to ear as he looked back at her. His chubby hand clutched hers tight, and she stumbled along behind him as his little legs accelerated beyond her owns capabilities.

The boy and that smile. His light laughter echoed in her ears. The way he brooded even then, his face puckering into a pout when his Aniki caught up with them.

"Stop it," she whispered. Her heart accelerated with pain and clenched in sorrow. Her voice cracked with tears. "St-stop it!"

It wasn't enough. She barely heard her own voice above the howl of the wind blustering over the barren landscape. She even doubted he knew she was there.

"B-bastard!" Sakura managed to spit at him defiantly. Her green eyes burned with anger and resentment, and then flinched as his grip tightened once again.

"Tut-tut," he said, his smile widening to an unbelievable degree. "And here I thought you'd be the same girl chasing after my affections, futile as it was. Did you still pine after me Sakura? Even after I turned my back on you?" Sakura's form stilled at the taunting. Her eyes closed against his assault of words. He humphed, his eyes narrowed in disgust. "How pathetic."

Then he tossed her to the side like a rag doll. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword when he turned to face her broken body. "How could someone like me ever fall in love with someone as pathetic as you?"

He gripped the hilt of his sword, slowly drawing it out of its sheath as he approached her. Hinata heard Sakura's whimper and saw the defeat reflected in her eyes. All it took was that moment, that one split second, for her body to react.

She felt the rush of wind envelope her body, her muscles protested, yet worked hard to reach them just in time. Her fingers wrapped around the tightened tendons of his wrist, digging into his flesh and halting the arc of movement as he began to strike his former teammates fallen form. Her other hand swung around, the open palm glowing a fierce blue and striking the tempered and sharpened blade, shattering its hard metal where she struck, breaking it in two.

Her hand continued to swing around, her body moving with the momentum. Her other hand, still wrapped around his wrist, pulled his body into her own, her opened fist aimed right at his chest. The target, his heart. His eyes fastened on hers, surprise dancing just below the surface of their dark fathomless depths.

"Stop following me!" He growled, snapping his head in her direction. "I don't want your company. I don't need it."

She stumbled back, taken off guard by the force of his angry aura. "I-I'm sorry." She squeaked. Instinct told her to flee before he lashed out at her, but her feet would not move. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes, frustrated by her own weak will and inability to take action when she knew she should.

He turned his back on her and began to walk away. She reacted then, without thinking or considering the words spilling out her mouth. Her chest burned with the emotions flowing in her words.

"I know it hurts." She said. "But you don't have to do it on your own. They're there to help you. If you let them."

He glanced back at her, his gaze pinning her in place. "And what about you Hinata? Where is the help you would offer me?"

Her gaze faltered, aiming at the ground in her shame. She frowned. "I-I can't help you."

"And that's the problem isn't it?"


At the last possible second, Hinata reined in her attack. The gathered chakra dissipated from her open hand as it glanced off his shoulder. Sasuke twisted away from her, wrenching himself out of her grasp. He slide back, out of her reach, and crouched low.

"Hyuuga," He spit out, venom coating his voice as he scowled at her. "Are you finally willing to take me on? "

She narrowed her eyes, resolve reflecting in their white irises. She didn't answer. She didn't need to. Instead, she fell back into the Jyuuken stance, activating her Byakugan.

He smirked, tossing aside his broken sword. "Lets get this over with."