Hi! I'm back with another chapter. Please read and review! v

Thank you Ikarishinji for your inspiring words. I can only hope the rest of the story goes well. v

random-randomize, Wind797 and Jie thank you for the reviews. They inspire me to continue writing this story.

Regrets

Chapter 2

"Sakura-chan..."

My whisper died in the wind, as I ran through the mass of trees with a urgency like no other. The brown bark of wood, just a mere blur as I ran in hopes of finding her. I had to find her. Something throbbed in the depths of my heart. It told me in no uncertain way, that I needed to find her. Something was wrong.

Somehow with that thought in my mind, I managed to up my speed a notch. My feet pounded insistently on the ground leading me hopefully to my Sakura-chan. Yes, my Sakura-chan. She would always be my Sakura-chan, even if she'd disagree.

She had to be alright. She had to. He had to find her. Baa-chan said she be around here.

As soon as got back from Myobokuzan with the old toad. I made my way to the Hokage Tower in hopes of bumping into Sakura-chan. When I found out from baa-chan, that she'd been sent on a simple retrieval mission and that she had yet to return. I knew that very moment something was wrong. Knew that I had to find her. So with the screaming of the old hag behind me, I left without question, and ran in hopes of finding her. I had to find her.

She was all I lived for.

I lived every moment for her and revelled at any attention she provided me. Even the violent variety. Because despite everything, I loved her. Which isn't surprising considering the level of devotion I have for her. Despite a lack of them, it made all the short moments of tenderness between us all the more special.

I've loved her the moment my eyes met hers. I still remember to this day the moment.

A couple of bastards thought it would be fun to torment her, and stole a pure white ribbon from her possession, which she had and used to put up her hair. They tormented her pink hair and spitefully commented on her forehead. I could here her cries from each notion of verbal abuse.

I don't know what made me do it, but I decided enough was enough and interfered. The little bastards didn't have a chance, and unlike them a few bruises from their small fists didn't send me off into tears.

The adults wouldn't be pleased at my violent actions. But... Bah! I could've cared less. Not as if they'd ever treated me right in the first place. I have the scars to prove it. So why not give them a real reason for once.

There stolen prize tossed was quickly tossed to the ground in their escape, and I picked the discarded ribbon up carefully, and made a move to give it back to her.

She gave a few teary sniffles. That's when her innocent emerald eyes gazed into my jaded ones. The tears making them shine brilliantly. I was lost in her depths of her eyes for a moment. I swallowed nervously, set my customary grin into place as I handed her desired item back to her. She stuttered a quiet thank you.

"Not a problem! Eh... If you're ever in trouble I promise to always protect you! It's a promise of a lifetime! Dattebayo!"

I was completely fascinated as her once grim expression cleared and the most beautiful of smiles graced her lips. It left me feeling completely breathless. But that was nothing compared to the dumb shock I felt, when she pressed the lips of her mouth to my cheek before she ran off leaving me a living statue. I was completely ensnared by the pink haired beauty.

Before her, I was in despair over the mistreatment from the people of the village. That one meagre show of affection killed any of my darkened thoughts. And a new goal in life had presented itself. From that moment on I devoted my life to hers. It may have seemed little or nothing to most, but without her I had most likely have ended up another Sasuke. Grown up with bent only with nothing but revenge to feed on, without an ounce of forgiveness in my heart. I would protect her, even if I had to become Hokage to do it. So came the birth of my dream.

I felt the lungs in my chest burn painfully and persistently at the lack of oxygen. But I didn't care. I wouldn't stop. Not until I found her. So I pushed my tired limbs onwards. Not even wincing as a wooden limbs tore at my skin. Nothing would stop me, not even the risk of death.

That's when the startling scent of blood invaded my nose. Still fresh from the smell of it. I eagerly followed the trail. Hopefully Sakura-chan wasn't hurt.

And finally there came an end to the mass of trees, a clearing was in sight. My hope of finding Sakura-chan alive and well rekindled. I cleared the trees and immediately stopped in shock and anticipation. The entire place was a mess. The ground in the entire area, cracked from an obvious sign of battle. My eyes scanned about anxiously, and widened at the sight of the mutilated form of the Grey skinned Akatsuki freak. I quickly cast him off as unimportant and my eyes continued their trek till... I found her.

"No..." My voice cracked.

Nothing could describe the true horror of the scene before me. It was an image that often haunted me in the form of nightmares. But they were only illusions of my inner most fears. But this. This was reality.

My beautiful Sakura-chan lay in a puddle of her own lifeblood. Pale and silent.

My eyes dilated and focused solely on her. I could care less about the other figure's still form. He didn't matter. I had to get to my Sakura-chan.

I stumbled onwards and dropped to my knees, ignorant to the red liquid seeping and soaking my orange pants. I trembled as I neared her pale body, and with shaky hands I gathered her slack form into arms. An agonising cry escaped my mouth, at the lack of response. She lacked any sign of movement. Her chest was so still. Never the less I brushed a blood soaked lock of hair from her face, and allowed the course texture of my hand to tentatively stroke the softness of her cheek in a gentle tender move.

"Sakura-chan! I'm here. Wake up! Please!"

I gave a weak smile, as I gazed at her figure with a false hope of seeing those warm orbs open at my beckoning.

But there was nothing.

Her face remained impassive. Eyes were closed in eternal sleep. She was so cold.

No...

"I promised… I promised to protect you… It was a promise of a lifetime…"

My arms shook momentarily, before they became vice like as I clutched at her desperately, I didn't even try to stop the tears from falling down the harsh lines of my face, to mingle with the blood pouring from her wounds.

"Sakura, please! You can't die! No…"

She was my everything. If she was gone. There would be nothing. If she was gone… I would go with her.

"My dreams are empty without you..." I whispered brokenly, before I gave a loud wail of absolute grief, and buried my head to her chest and sobbed. But that was when I heard.

Ba-bump...

End of Chapter 2