After her fight with Kurenai, Matsuri was feeling, to put it simply, like shit.

She got no sleep the night before after waking up three times with the same nightmare which involved a past memory with her mother.

She lay curled up in her bed with her hands covering her ears, hoping to block out her parent's screaming. This happens quite regularly in her home. They always fight about the same thing. Him yelling at her about how controlling and deceitful she was. Her yelling at him about how pathetic and unfaithful he was. But this time was different. This time it was serious.

Even at ten years old Matsuri knew that her parents couldn't live like this. It was just unhealthy, their relationship, or lack of rather, was just to much for any human being to take. The only thing that really kept them together was their countless arguments. It was almost like a routine. She would go out and work all day. Come home to find her husband drunk and stinking of cheap perfume. She would throw and hit things. He would scream how much better she was in bed then her. She would tell him to go screw himself and threaten to leave for good. He would apologise and promise it would never happen again only to break his promise the next day.

Curling up tighter with her knees under her chin Matsuri took her hands from her ears only to hear a bit of a sentence.

"-your not taking my child away from me".

Matsuri froze and heard the sound of sobbing and loud footsteps thumping up the stairs only to soften when they stopped outside her bedroom door. With a sniffle her door opened to reveal her broken hearted mother with tears staining her cheeks and a forced wobbly smile.

"Hi princess, you alright?"

Matsuri moved to sit up in her bed bringing the duvet with her to clutch to her mouth slowly nodding her head.

"That's good, mommy was afraid daddy and I would have woken you up. Can't you sleep?"

Matsuri nodded her head again.

"Do you want me to stay with you until you do?"

She didn't even have to ask as her mother silently walked up to her daughters bed to pull the duvet around both of them and cuddle into her, hugging her tightly. Her mother combed through her hair while she listed to her mom's heartbeat through her chest.

"I'm gonna get you out of here soon Matsuri, I promise you. Just wait for me ok?"

To tired to say anything Matsuri nodded her head as her eyes closed letting sleep take over. She heard the desperate plead of "I love you" from her mom before she was met with darkness.

She woke up the next morning to no one beside her, an half empty house and a departing letter from her mother.


Sometimes she would think back on that day and wonder, what would it be like if she did stay?. Life certainly wouldn't be as better as it is now. There would still be fighting and cheating and lying, but at least she could come home everyday knowing that there would be someone who is sober, to tell her "Welcome Home". She dreamed about leaving with her. Running away to somewhere exotic like Africa or somewhere exciting like Japan, but at the end of the day it was all wishful thinking. What's done is done, she can't go back and change the past. No matter how bad she want's to.

But at least she still has the future to go through. Even though the present might not be as great as she wanted to be, but she already has a goal. She is going to move out of her house and travel the world. She likes to think that she got her adventure streak from her mother. Dating isn't exactly part of the deal. She's been through enough drama with boy's already and a certain someone has been invading her mind for the past few months. It's been getting kind of annoying lately. Why doesn't he just show up and sweep her up her feet already. Matsuri suddenly felt like the saddest human on the planet right now. looking up from the cash register Matsuri looked up towards her friend Sakura who was busy washing the tables with her earphones on.

"Sakura?"

She didn't even give her a glance, continuing to clean the tables.

"She always has her earphones on with her music full blast. It's like their attached to her or something"

Making her way over to stand in front of Sakura, Matsuri ripped Sakura's red earphones off her head.

"Hey, I was kind of busy listening to tha-"

"Sakura, your my friend right?"

Sakura gave her friend a distressed look.

"No Matsuri I'm your pimp, of coarse I'm your friend what kind of stupid question is that?"

"So you know that as my friend it is your duty not to lie to me?"

Sakura dropped the wet cloth on the table in order to cross her arms over her chest and raise her eyebrow.

"Sure, what are you trying to say here?"

Sighing loudly Matsuri,without losing eye contact placed her right hand on Sakura's shoulder.

"Am I a sad excuse for a human being?, answer me honestly."

Sakura looked at Matsuri in confusion.

"Sorry?"

"Am I a sad excuse for a human being? be honest"

She looked at Matsuri in silence not showing any emotions. After a few minutes of staring she put her hand over her mouth to hide the grin that was forming.

"Sakura it's not funny, your best friend is having an emotional day and is asking for some comfort and all you do is laugh in my face? so much for reassuring"

Matsuri turned around to go back to the counter when Sakura grabbed her shoulder stopping her.

"Matsuri, why would you ask me such a ridiculous question, of course not, although some might say you need a little more help than others."

"Your enjoying my pain aren't you?"

"Very much so"

"Masochist"

Sakura gave Matsuri a warm smile before turning back to the tables. Matsuri stayed standing and watched her. Their was just something about Sakura that made you amazed. She has the warmest heart to those who she cares about and the coldest heart to those she doesn't. Her natural pink hair and rare emerald green eyes glistened in the dimmed sunlight giving her a look of elegance and sophistication. Matsuri would always wonder how lucky Naruto is to have her. Sure she has a very bad temper and can be a hot-head at the worst of times, but she is also loyal, beautiful and intelligent. She was grateful for her friendship with Sakura the most.

"Have you seen him around these days?"

Matsuri snapped out of her daze and looked at Sakura.

"Have I seen who?"

"You know, that red head that your swooning over. Seriously Mat we could hear your panties dropping from a mile away."

Matsuri chocked on her own spit and stared at Sakura with burning red cheeks. Couldn't she have put in a less embarrassing way?

"No I have not and I probably will never see him again except in my dreams and my fantasies"

"Is that what the question was about"

Matsuri looked at the ground with embarrassment before looking up at Sakura bashfully through her fringe.

"Maybe"

With a sigh Sakura slowly massaged her nose with her fingers. She ran her fingers through her hair and looked off to the glass windows looking out at the sunset over the buildings.

"Seriously I never took you as someone to stress over a guy"

"Well isn't this an amazing discovery"

With a giggle Sakura released her hair and looked straight into Matsuri's eyes.

"Hey Mat, do me a favour will you?" she said gently taking Matsuri hand.

"Sure anything Sakura"

Tightening her grip on Matsuri's hand, Sakura took a deep breath before saying..

"Don't let boys try to change you, not even if you don't realise it. I've gone through that once and I don't want you to repeat the same mistakes I did. No matter how much you care for them. Understand?"