A/N: Hey there everyone! I know I'm starting on another story but I can't help it. Hopefully I can finish this one. And hopefully you'll like the story. :D
Chapter One: On My Own
I tap my foot in frustration.
Could you be any more annoying?
I'm standing in line for ice cream and I just so happen to be behind this slim, blonde, loud girl that can't decide what flavor of ice cream she wants. It really isn't supposed to be that hard of a decision when there are only two flavors of ice cream: chocolate and vanilla. The vendor even said that she could pick both flavors if she likes.
"But I only want one flavor," she whined.
It's been 5 minutes.
The noon sun is beating down on us despite being in Konoha's somewhat shady family park. It's a beautiful day to be outside. The sun is shining, the birds are warbling, children running around with their own ice cream cones and their parents watching them nearby. The occasional lovey-dovey couple strolled by and their secretive smiles made me look away.
I heave an exasperated sigh, loud enough for the blonde chick in a ponytail to hear me.
"Look, lady, it's been more than five minutes and you still haven't decided on what flavor of ice cream you want. Can you hurry up? You're not the only one getting ice cream," I say impatiently.
She turns around and her sky blue eyes stare at mine for a second before glaring at me.
"Gosh, can you be any ruder?"
Her condescending voice does nothing to me, since I'm kind of used to people looking down on me. I don't feel any offense when she so clearly thinks that I'm offended.
I look up and pretend to think before I look back at her. "Actually, yes, I can. So if you don't want me to be 'any ruder' I suggest that you pick your flavor and go."
She huffs in indignantly and turns back to the vendor.
I smirk in triumph when she finally makes her choice and pays the vendor. She casts me a dirty look before walking away.
The vendor, a man I see around town often, looks at me with an amused smile.
"You seem really feisty today, Sakura-chan."
"Yeah, well, I can't stand being near people who can't decide what they want for themselves," I say simply with a shrug.
He chuckles and slightly shakes his head, his snowy white tresses swaying with the movement.
I offer a small smile at the man. I've known him ever since I was a kid. Whenever we saw each other he would always have something special for me, whether it is a flower or a hot bun or a bowl of ramen. Whenever I got into trouble he would also conveniently show up nearby and I could always count on him to hide me behind his tall, sturdy frame.
If he hadn't protected me all those times, I would've sworn I had a serious pedophilic stalker following me around. Not that pedophilic stalkers don't protect what they were stalking, but this guy was just different. He never hinted at anything weird and he never treated me or said anything that would set off alarms in my head. Besides, what kind of pedophile/stalker would laugh in a boisterous manner that would call attention to himself?
"The regular?" He asks, referring to the ice cream flavor.
I nod and wait for him to serve me a scoop of vanilla ice cream. When he does hand it to me I fish around in my pockets to find change.
"Oh c'mon, Sakura-chan. You know this one is on me," he says kindly.
The smile on my face widens and I eagerly take the cone from him. Before I enjoy my treat I ask him my usual question.
"So when are you going to tell me your name?"
The old man's eyes crinkle in amusement. He throws his head back and laughs heartily before calming down.
"When the time comes, Sakura-chan, you will know who I am."
"Aww, c'mon! I've known you for so long and I still don't know your name?"
"You will know in time, I promise. Perhaps you will know it real soon," he says cryptically.
I sigh and sag my shoulders. Seriously, this old man can be quite adamant when he wants something.
Hmm...suspicious.
"Fine. I'll see you around then, old man," I giggle and happily stroll away.
He shoots me a look that says that he isn't old but then he looks away to focus on another customer.
Night has fallen over the city of Konoha. While it isn't my favorite time of the day, it is the time that I am the most cautious. I have to be in order to survive the streets. I clasp my backpack tighter to my chest as I look both ways before crossing the street. I'm in the busiest part of Konoha because I was searching for a job, even as help for some of the farmers at the farmer's market. Now that it's night time and most of the shops are closed it's time for me to leave and get some sleep too.
As I walk in the shadows of the trees in Konoha Park in search of my regular sleeping spot, I could see a few people walking on the paved road. They look and sound like a bunch of drunk guys heading home. On one of the benches I see a lonely man in a business suit with his head down, arms crossed of his chest, and his leg crossed at the knee. I can't exactly see the color of his hair since he's too far from one of the lamp lights but I if I had to make a guess, he had either brown or black hair since it blends with the shadows.
I continue to go my way in the darkness, silently passing behind the lone man, heading in the direction of the group of drunks. Just as I was about to pass them, I trip on a jutting tree root and land on my face with a loud thump. I immediately notice that the men had gone silent and silently cursed to myself.
"Hey, did you guys hear that?" one man slurred.
"Let's go check it out," another one answered.
Just what I don't need.
I quickly get up and grab my backpack, which had fallen off my shouler when I tripped. But just as soon as I reach my bag, a hand clamps down on my shoulder and the pungent smell of liquor invades my nostrils.
"Well, what do we have here?"
I keep quiet and try to pry the hand off my shoulder.
Another person appears in front of me and I think there are about three other men standing behind me. So far there are at least five men. Five drunk men.
The man in front of me stepped closer and I can also smell the liquor in his breath. I flinch when he shoves his face into my line of vision.
"You have pretty hair," he laughs. "Can I call you Pinky?"
"Leave me alone," I bit out.
He laughs in my face and I scowl.
"Aw c'mon Pinky! It's gonna be fun. Just you, me, and these four losers."
A small grunt of protest sounds behind me at the mention of 'losers'.
I really don't have time for this.
"Get your stinky breath out of my face," I growl and clench my right hand into a fist.
The man smiles a predatory smile.
"Or what, Pinky?"
"Or I'll bust your face in, you drunk piece of sh-"
I feel the air leave my lungs and then I feel pain in my gut. I double over and cradle my abdomen, trying to recover from the sneaky punch the man had delivered.
"I don't like threats, Pinky. But I do like to have fun. How about it? Let's have some fun."
And before I could even stand up and punch this guy into the next millenium, I am knocked to the ground by a swift kick to my feet. My mind swims for a second at the sudden change in position. I try to push myself up but one of these jerks has a foot on my chest that kept me down. I look up and against the soft moonlight I see five silhouettes glaring down at me.
Next thing I know, the guy that was talking to me is straddling me and lifting my shirt up. The foot on my chest had disappeared but the weight of the man still kept me in position. I begin to flail my legs and my arms, trying to land a fisted blow to this guy's face but he somehow avoids me.
When his hand touches the skin of my abdomen I start to freak out and let out a scream for help. My cry is cut off short when a hand slaps down on my mouth in an effort to shut me up. Enraged, I bite the hand over my mouth and one of the guys yelp and the hand withdrew. But shortly after that I receive a blow to my head. The pain shoots through the rest of my head and I can feel my conscience dwindling.
The man straddling me slides his hands up toward my bra but this only triples my effort in trying to get away. I kick and scream and spit on his face, distracting him from his goal of removing my shirt. He eventually tires of my struggle and punches me in the face.
"That's it, Pinky. I'm not playing nice anymore."
He instructs the other men to each hold down one of my extremities and I feel their grubby hands grab my ankles and my wrists.
I cry louder this time, tears streaming down my face, and scream with every breath I have.
"Shut up!"
The guy then starts to violently land blows to my head and my stomach. He's screaming about something but I don't understand what he's saying. I'm starting to tune him out as my consciousness and my vision started to go out.
But before I slip into my unwanted slumber, I see a sixth shadow appear and knock the other guy to his side and off my body. My hands and feet are a freed and in a few seconds there was a gentle hand softly lifting my head off the ground.
I look at his face but the only thing I see are two bright red eyes looking into my face. They had these black comma things around them. They're so mesmerizing. I'm quickly losing consciousness so I didn't hear him yelling at me.
I inevitably black out.
A/N: Short, but I'm just getting started. The story won't really pick up until around chapter 3 or 4. I'm already working on chapter 2. Please review and let me know what you think! Your thoughts, ideas, and reactions are an inspiration to me. :)
Chynee