Well, she was precious…like a flower

She grew wild, wild

But Innocent

He met her after the biggest blizzard in Tokyo's history. Finding her face and hair caked with mud, she gleefully jumped into the brown slush. Her laugh rang loudly in the playground, his ears wincing softly at the boisterousness of it all. She looked up with those happy blue eyes, blond hair pressing against tan cheeks.

He frowned. She was different than the rest.

Her hands gave innocent waves, darkened by the mud and shining from the slime. He only stared as she walked away, drudging in an orange jumpsuit that hurt his eyes and was too big for the small girl's frame. He saw her skip over to the three misfits that seemed to hang near a tree. The three misfits that happened to be part of his elite class, though he would never have included them into his own group.

Once he formed one.

She reached to take the hand of another muddy boy, his smile resembling that of an innocent pup. They eagerly pointed at a big puddle of brown mud, planning their next adventure within it. A small chubby boy shyly joined in, swirls on his cheeks covered from the latest stain of chocolate from snack time. His clothing had met the same fate as his cheeks. He pointed in the direction of the puddle and then grabbed his best friend from behind him. A lazy boy with shoulders hunched, letting out a small moan of annoyance from being interrupted from doing anything. The girls grabbed him as well.

The black-haired 5 year old smirked at the grimace on lazy boy's face as he felt the slimy hand grab his. But knowing him, it would be too troublesome to do anything about it. She grabbed his hand tightly as the other took the one from chubby boy's. Dog boy had latched his own muddy hand to the free hand from chubby boy's. The mischievous smiles never leaving their faces as they prepared for the fun to begin.

3…2…1

They ran as fast as they could, feet leaping in the air. A wall of brown water surrounded them as it cascaded into rain drops on them. Cheeks once again draining with dirty water, clothing soaked to the bone, and laughter making him wince.

A perfect prayer in a desperate hour

She was everything beautiful and different…

The girl tossed her hair back as she hugged dog boy and kept him in the water. She lifted herself off, shaking off the droplets that wouldn't stick to her clothing and draining it from her hair. The blonde's eyes met his and he saw those happy eyes once again.

She gave another shy wave with a wet hand and went back to the three stooges to help them up. She jumped up and down, constantly bragging how her jump was the biggest and the drenched blond hair as the proof of it all. Hearing a small murmur of the word troublesome, a shriek of 'Kiba, stop shaking like a dog, a complaint for more cookies, and a retort of 'we just had some, Chouji,' the raven gave a small 'hn' and walked toward the school building, focusing on the sound of crunched snow instead of the loud annoying blonde as she gave another idea that would most likely end her into deeper trouble than she was in.

Uzumaki Naru was nothing but trouble and that was one thing in his life that he didn't need.

Stupid boy…

She was 12 when they had officially met. Side by side with the three other misfits, she had taken her seat in the back of the class to find a clear hideout for secret conversations and future pranks. Consequently, it was a seat that had been put by his side. Sasuke frowned.

He was desperate not to have her near him. He would have taken Sakura or even Ino besides her.

The screech of a seat interrupted his forlorn thoughts as his eyes moved to the girl next to him, lazy boy taking her other side and chatting away with fatso. She wore that similar jumpsuit that been twice her size at the age of five; now fitting comfortably around her older frame.

It still hurt his eyes though.

Unlike the muddy girl he was use to, she was somehow able to stay clean. Her hair had continued to stay in its messy ponytail, tangled and curly strands framing her high cheeks. Her hands, though no longer caked with mud and dirt, were painted with cuts and bruises from a recent escapade of firefly catching he had seen her done with her sidekicks yesterday. Her blue eyes were still their annoying happy baby blue and they got even happier the more she chatted with her friends.

It was much easier and less irritating to focus on the sky outside his window than to even engage with the girl.

Stupid boy…

You can't fence that in…

Stupid boy…

It's like holding back the wind

He jumped at the warm hand on his naked arm and jerked his head with a glare in his eyes. Eyes and mouth shined with happiness, unaffected by the cold demeanor. The smile turned into a wide grin as the blonde gave him an over enthusiastic wave. The three boys watched with amusement.

"Hi! I'm Uzumaki Naru! These are my best friends: Nara Shikamaru, Inuzuka Kiba, and Akimichi Chouji."

She didn't start it with a blush, a twirl of her hair, stuttering, or even a 'you may not remember me.' It was as if she had never seen him before in her whole life. That they had never shared the same daycare, kindergarten, and elementary school class, never played in the same playgrounds, or even shared the same invitations to certain formal events with his parents and brother and her grandparents. His eyes widened at this, wondering if it was from shock or the stupidity for the girl not to know who he was. Even his name was an indicator that he belonged to an elite class in Tokyo.

Might as well make her regret her words.

"Uchiha Sasuke," he snapped, darkening his onyx eyes as far as he could go, "I like nothing and hate a lot of things. One of them is silly blonde girls who wear orange jumpsuits for boys."

The smile was wiped off the happy face and he toasted his success. He was half expecting her to cry and rush into any of the waiting arms of her three dead-last friends and complain of his meanness. His eyes shifted to said friends, as they watched with amusement and the fatso one with a bit of worry. Dog boy had a sly grin on his face as if he was getting ready for something good, and the lazy one seemed to muster a look between a glare and one of amusement.

His eyes made their way back to Blondie, widening at how close their faces were. Her baby blue had darkened to a deep navy and soft dimples decorated an angry face. Her fists were clenched tightly, pale white knuckles contrasting against her tan. She raised herself from her seat, her hair covering half her face as a murderous gaze set upon him.

His eyes penetrated the same feeling back and before he could prepare his ears for their funeral—

"What did you say about silly blonde girls, you bastard?"

She lunged with all the strength a twelve year old girl could have. She screamed to the top of her lungs as her hands made their way to his throat in an effort to strangle him.

"Get off of me, you loser," he shouted as he squeezed her wrists tight. He barely heard the sounds of screeching chairs as her friends and others in the class lifted themselves up to see the fight between a simpleton and an elite class student, he barely heard an even more annoying screech of 'Naru you idiot, get off of poor Sasuke-kun' from an incoming group of girls, and the shout of annoyed teacher as he felt her being pulled off.

Lifting himself off the ground, he watched as she struggled in the professor's arms.

"Let me at him! That bastard is going to get it! Let me go, Iruka-sensei!" Her wailing legs and arms didn't stop as she was dragged back to her seat, a gentle hand from the teacher on her shoulder until she was reduced to a death glare and pout on her lips. He heard Shikamaru murmur a small 'troublesome' before patting his friend on her shoulder and Chouji offering some chips as a condolence prize. Kiba gave her words of praise, saying she was the first girl ever to take on an Uchiha.

Sasuke groaned at that…Great…

Roll calls, explanations of their schedules, and soft giggles as many students made fun of their teachers consisted of Sasuke's first day of school. When Naru wasn't busy engaging with her friends of future breaks, she would glare at him and childishly stick out her tongue if he even gave her an eye roll. The sound of the bell at the end of the day was heaven letting its angels sing.

She laid her heart and soul right in your hands

And you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans

Old enough to make his way back home, he opened the door from the front of the building, making his way pass the swooning fan girls, and to the unlocked gate. He heard a giggle as Naru skipped her way toward the three morons and chatted about a new prank she would pull on Iruka-sensei the next day. As if she felt his gaze, her eyes traveled to him, but instead of cold as steal, they were as hard as iron.

He watched her make her way towards him and debates whether he should make a run for it (cowardly) or stay where he was with a glare on his face (just plain stupid). He watched her step up to him, back strengthened and hands behind her back.

"What do you want, loser," he started off. Naru's shoulder tensed as an itch overwhelmed her hands to punch the pretty boy in the face. Removing the dimples from her face, she gave a prideful smile and even taller stance for her short size.

"I won't be affected by your words, Sasuke-teme," she started, "I am here to give you a second chance and want to treat ya for ramen," the pain on her face made it sure this was difficult for her, "My treat."

She never knew she had a choice

And that's what happens when the only voice she hears is telling her she can't

"I hate ramen" was the hammer hitting the nail on its head. He watched as her facial expressions went from shock, to horror, and rage.

"Fine! See if I ever ask you to join me for ramen again, you bastard!" He winced at the loudness of her voice as she stomped over to her friends once more, looking back only once to stick out her tongue as a last act of defiance.

Sasuke shook his head and made his way out of the gate. He could hear the words of 'Sasuke-teme' surround him. With a heavy groan, he had a horrible feeling he would be hearing those words as long as Naru Uzumaki was in his class and in his life.

Stupid boy…stupid boy

Thirteen was a rite of passage many of his classmates were passing. Naru was a huge exception. She still had that personality that would make anyone want to slit their throat and the thought of her becoming a woman made Sasuke cringe at the idea.

He had come to tolerate her and her quirky ways, albeit on a thin line. He would constantly hear her babble her way of her many adventures she would have in her grandparents' backyard and her successful mission in making another person's life miserable. The chatting would die when class began, but she seemed to make him be reluctantly included when it was brought up once more.

For reasons unknown, she had made her way to stick by his side with great disdain.

He was included in conversations, most being arguments between the two of them. When he sat in lunch, she would claim that this was where her, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Chouji sat for lunch no matter how many times he tried to move to a different table. When she would talk loudly of her dream to the biggest person Tokyo has ever known, he couldn't help but comment on her weight (how was he to know with that baggy jumpsuit of hers) and another flying of fists in the air.

Despite that, he was included and he couldn't find himself resisting it.

"What a drag," yawned Shikamaru, "This room gets hotter every day." He lazily fanned his sweat forehead, not bothering to push back the brown hair that fell from his tied ponytail.

"It's almost summer time, Pineapple Head. Which reminds me, Grandma Tsunade and Grandpa Jiraiya made some ice cream for after school. Wanna come over?" Shikmaru actually made an effort to nod while the two other boys almost seemed to kiss the feet of the girl for saving their lives.

"Hey, loser, aren't you hot in that ridiculous outfit," Sasuke murmured as he brushed his hand on his perspired forehead and stare at amusement at the flushed cheeks and huffed face of his 'enemy.'

"Shut it, you bastard! It might be summer, but it's still cold enough to wear this."

"Says the girl who told Shikamaru it was summer," laughed Kiba, earning him a fist to the tip of his head.

"Shut up, Dog Breath! Fine, I'll take the thing off."

"Whatever," Shikamaru yawned as he hunched his body deeper in the chair to feel the slightly cool metal against his back. Chouji shrugged and Kiba sported his doggy grin while rubbing the sore spot on his head.

So what made you think you could take a life

And just push it and push it around?

Unzipping the orange jacket, she shed the heavy coat to reveal a blue tank-top and caprice underneath. Her arms, tan and thin, and those khakis barely showing the same russet skin on her boyish hips. Sasuke's eyes traveled from the grouchy face and down the body, stopping at the small, miniature mounds that rested on her chest, barely visible if it wasn't for that tight shirt. Sasuke's gaze rested there as he stared at the attributes that would make Naru a woman in a physical sense. They were nothing of impressive standpoint. He had caught himself once staring at Ino and Sakura's chest to see bigger mounds than the ones he was looking at know.

Their pathetic size however made his stomach churn. His gaze from those petite hills made their way to the flat stomach, most likely as smooth as the shirt that laid on top of it. He swallowed a dry breath as his throat began clogging any way to get air in and out. Naru, bless her naïve nature, barely saw those lingering eyes as she focused on the board in front of her, annoyance written on her face.

Tiny valleys, smooth surface, and coffee skin filled Sasuke's mind like a chant, a record with scratches that would repeat the same word over and over. His eyes to transfixed on the easily-comparable body, that he failed to see the Inuzuka kid's grin widen and eyes burn with a somewhat perverted look a thirteen year old shouldn't even possess.

"Like what you see, Uchiha?" His reverie broke and his eyes jerked to the dead-lasts to see that evil smirk on Kiba's face. Chouji, with all his innocence, had only a confused look. It was Shikamaru's half-closed eye gaze though that made him read a silent message.

Following a long yawn, the brunette cloud gazer's eyes became hard with an 'I-know-she-is-my-friend-but-it-would-be-a-drag-to-kick-your-ass-so-stop-staring-at-my-friends-developing-boobs-before-I-stab-your-eyes out' look before settling for another yawn and tossing his head back. He gazed at Naru, who had a confused look similar to Chouji's as she sat even straighter in her seat and kept with Sasuke's gaze.

When had her eyes become a sea blue and when had her lips become a pretty pink?

Stop it, Uchiha! An heir like you shouldn't think that way for some average blondie!

"Nothing to compare her too, Inuzuka," Sasuke smirked, "I've seen a billion times better than what I see right now. So, Uzumaki, you ever thought of stuffing?"

"SASUKE-TEME!"

Blocking the punch his way, he congratulated himself in pulling his way out of this problem.

I guess to build yourself up so high

You had to take her and break her down

Argument put aside after failed attempts to bruise him, Naruto settled with a discussion on ice cream and some ramen when they arrived to her home.

"Ne, Sasuke-teme, want to go to my place for ramen? My treat!" The other three rolled their eyes at the statement, knowing full well the answer to come next.

"Dobe," Sasuke murmured as his eyes focused on the book in front of him, "You know I hate ramen."

"Fine, you asshole, see if I ever invite you again!"

She will.

Fourteen years old and seasons changing.

It was a crisp autumn day when she told him she would be leaving with her grandparents to China for some business trip of their library. Pervy Grandpa's pervy books had somehow become best sellers in the large country and there was a call to expand the book's business there despite Granny Tsunade's protest. She had claimed that she would only be gone for two years and constantly reassured her groups of boys (minus Sasuke) that she would continuously write them.

On the day before she would leave, all four students had taken the only girl of their dysfunctional group to a small fair at Konoha High School that was open for the public. Her eyes twinkled as she bounced up and down after looking at the rides and games. Sasuke shook his head at the immaturity but no one could miss the thin smile grazing his lips.

His parents all but forced him to join into the group's activity when they had shown up at his mansion, somehow making their way pass the security guards. When the word friends left Naru's lips, there was no stopping his mother, father, and brother from suggesting he go with them and stuffing his pockets with more money than needed for a trip to an amateur fair by low-class students.

Despite attempts to tell them that the three morons weren't his friends and the biggest moron of them all wasn't his girlfriend, he was shoved out of the confines of his home and family (traitors) and standing in a blinding torture of sights and sounds.

He felt a warm hand grab him and felt a thin tan arm interlock with his pale one. Naru giggled up at him as she guided him toward one of the rides Kiba had picked to go on. A one with high hills, fast speed, and quick turns. Sasuke was dragged to one of the carts, shaking his head at the bouncing ball of sun next to him.

"This is higher than I thought," Naru commented, biting her lip as she watched the coaster incline even higher. The raven smirked at the obvious nervous tension in his fr-enemy.

"Scared, loser?"

"No and don't call me loser, you bastard!"

The cut in the blood circulation made his arm numb as he felt the arms wrap around it and the blonde's head snuggle into Sasuke's arm.

Well, she laid her heart and soul right in your hands

Preventing the heat on his face to get any warmer, he shrugged her off.

"Get off of me, you wimp! I can't believe you're scared of some sissy ride!" He watched her settle to clutching the steel handles as her legs began trembling.

He found himself the clutch the minute the cars began to fall. In each ride, the big and the small, he found himself wrapped in warm arms and a head snuggling in his chest. She was a bad cold, unable to shake her off no matter how many times he shoved her away.

"Let go of me you wimp." It had become a sort of catchphrase throughout the night of rides. Each shove, each hit, and even a fist to the head wouldn't shake her off.

And you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans

After a few games, Chouji winning her a stuffed fox, Kiba a stuffed dog, and Shikamaru, claiming it was too troublesome to play a carnival game, buying her a mood ring, the end came with insults thrown her way of a coward she was. Shikamaru stared with interest as a Uchiha bombarded her with complaints and insults, eyes drifting to Naru to see her own retorts and insults of her own. She occasionally pushed him back or give him a silent treatment for a span of 5 seconds before settling to their frequent arguments once more.

Seriously, this bothersome thing would end if they just shut up and kiss, Shikamaru sighed. Well, he wasn't getting involved in it.

They made their way toward their respective homes, meeting on a corner. All three morons gave their head moron a tight hug, asking her a final time if she will promise to call and write. When the answers finally satisfied them, they gave Sasuke the responsibility to escort her home. Arriving at her grandparents' measly apartment, Sasuke bit back a comment as Naru opened the door with a key.

"Sasuke," the blond spoke, her voice for once a tiny whisper, "Do you want to come in for some ramen? My treat."

Sasuke felt his hands automatically clasp the cloth within his pockets, soaking them with sweat he didn't know had perspired. He gazed back up, the stubborn and annoyed look radiating his pale features once more.

"Dobe, you know I don't like ramen." A squeeze on her shoulder was the closest thing he would ever come in hugging her and he smirked at the annoyed look on her face and the roll in her eyes. She said her goodnight and a final criticism of his dislike for Ramen before shutting the door and locking it tight. Sasuke sighed gently.

This was good. He wouldn't have to put up with her for two years. Two years of forgetting the existence of the color orange, two years of that loud voice that made his ears torture, and two years of that blonde-haired blue-eyed freak being as far away as continents would allow.

The pain in his chest deepened. He knew he shouldn't have eaten the chili dog the morons had given him.

She never even knew she had a choice

He and the idiots had transferred their way into Konoha Academy for the Elite, not to be compared (and rightly so) with Konoha High School. Because the three were heirs and part of the elite class as well, it seemed obvious that they would enter the high school he was destined for. A high school with fan girls that were ten times worse than in secondary schools. He didn't know why he had stuck to them after Naru had left to China. Any connection, especially her friends, should have been broken the minute he was free from her presence.

But here he was, stepping out of his car and locking it up safely. A loud rumble from behind him made it known that Kiba and his trash he called a motorcycle had arrived. A cough from an engine, the vehicle was turned off.

"Hey, Uchiha, have ya been receiving cards from Naru?"

He did and to be honest, he knew she shouldn't bother. It started out like most of her letters, the excitement ringing at what she saw, heard, and did in China and a question on how he was doing. He would right back anything that would pop up and always leave note saying not to bother writing to him.

They weren't close. Not Kiba, Shikamaru, or Chouji close.

To make his point even clearer, he had stopped writing but the letters hadn't stop coming.

"Hn." A yes and he heard Kiba snort, a sound that came across on why his friend even bothered with someone like him. Someone she had now officially declared a friend. Before Kiba could voice the words out loud, heavy panting came from Chouji as he rushed to greet his friend and acquaintance. Catching his breath, a smile lit his face up and he was bouncing on his heels.

"What's up, Cho?"

"She's here! Shikamaru is headed toward the front gate to see her. She's here!" Kiba's eyes widen at the words as he and Chouji began taking off to the school's entrance, forgetting the raven as he stared after them. Stuffing his hands in his dark jeans, he knew he would hear from it later if he wasn't one of the first to greet her.

Breaking his way past fan girls and the student body in whole, the sight was enough to make sore eyes heal.

There, standing in front of him, was a girl in short shorts, a tight t-shirt, and blond hair cascading down her back in waves, tied in a half ponytail and half free-fall. Her tan skin seemed to glow in the sun as her blue eyes shined it's Caribbean sea. The muscles in his mouth slackened and he felt his jaw drop from its usual position. She hugged the three boys tightly, each of them holding her for a few minutes to make sure she had returned and she was here to stay. Even Shikamaru mustered the energy for a hug. Sasuke stepped down and when the eyes landed on him, he felt his jaw slacken on him at the close up at the beauty.

"Sasuke," Naru smiled at him and embraced him tightly. He lips tighten as he felt the flat, yet hard stomach press against his own, a much larger set of mounds than the ones he had gazed at the age of thirteen press against his chest, and the aroma of sweet lavender dance around him teasingly. He gently pushed her away.

"Great to have you back, loser." An attempted punch and slap was easily blocked again.

She had settled down during their lunch period to tell them off her travels in China and her plans now that she was back. Naru was never good in grades. She had barely passed secondary school with the rest of her losers and receive the lowest marks in every class. However, when it came to physical activity, her dominance was thriving. Any sport made her life, especially with those involving mud and water. Konoha Academy was known for their skyrocket tuition, but Naru was greeted with bear hugs as she told them she would be joining them under a sports scholarship. Sasuke grimaced at this. He knew he would never escape her.

But at least she had begun to make a greater amount of friends so her attention wasn't merely focused on him for the time being. Rock Lee was the first of new friends. He was hyper and annoying, she was hyper annoying. The similarities couldn't be more fitting for new friends. Sakura and Ino had long since forgotten their hatred for the girl once they saw her long golden hair and began swapping ideas of certain female issues that he and the morons were relieved not to be a part of. She may have been their friend (they being the three morons), but she was still a girl who had already hit her fair dose of puberty.

The Hyuuga heir was another close friendship Naru had formed and although she had an extreme shy nature, the girl enjoyed Naru's friendship and became her best girlfriend. TenTen soon became a part of the group due to her tomboyish nature she possessed that was similar to Naru's. Both girls also happened to be part of the same teams at the Academy and it was through TenTen that Naruto was able to make friends with Neji, Hinata's cousin and TenTen's boyfriend, along with another friend named Shino. The whole group of them, nine in total connected by one small and annoying blonde.

Sasuke groaned at this ever large group. His parents would have a field day with this.

But despite this irritation, he had never stopped his eyes from gazing at her, his stomach warming and skin tingling as she ran the huge track field in her gym uniform. His swallowed the dry saliva clogged in his throat as he watched the sweat drop down her face and neck, wetting her hair to make it stick to her cheeks, the small bounce of her breasts that seemed to show even more as the shirt became a second skin to her body, and the long tan legs with strong hidden muscles beneath the smooth skin as she stretched on the soft grass. He cursed himself for this staring.

"Hey, Naru! Drink this before you collapse. It would be a drag to bring you home unconscious." Shikamaru through her water bottle as Kiba through her a towel he had around his shoulders. Smiling at the two boys, Sasuke watched the girl gulp the savoring liquid down her throat and use the towel to wipe her face. His eyes shifted to Shikamaru, Chouji, and Kiba, wondering if they were viewing the same thing he was.

Damnit.

Kiba was focus on a conversation with Hinata, Chouji was fighting to get his BBQ chips back from an angry Ino, and Shikamaru's eyes gave their attention to the clouds above him. Sasuke's eyes focused on them, furrowing with confusion at why they weren't seeing what he was seeing. His gaze caught onto Shikamaru who once again, spoke with those lazy mahogany pupils that read a 'yeah-she-is-a-woman-now-but-she-is-also-our-friend-so-quit-staring-like-she-is-some-piece-of-meat' look. With a loud yawn, the one-sided conversation had ended. Sasuke looked away, but his onyx eyes always went back to the golden girl was she began another run with Tenten, fixing her hair in a ponytail before rushing off.

It was the whole year like that. Gone was the messy, muddy orange jumpsuit girl and replacing her was a grown, annoying, still orange-loving woman who had now made it a daily routine to wear white skirts every day. Either her idea or she had bowed down to the threats of Sakura and Ino. Her smile was still contagious to those around her that he himself only found himself giving a small smirk. Her golden hair, though still a bit messy, always was in an elegant ponytail or at least a soft wavy feature.

But she was still Naru. She was still that pesky tick he couldn't get rid of.

Almost punching his head to rid himself of these thoughts, he had begun to snuck away from the group when he heard the squeak of sneakers run up behind him. Only one girl would wear sneakers instead of any high heeled shoes.

"What is it, Naru," he sighed with annoyance without a turn of his back.

"Hey, Sasuke." There was a hint of nervousness in her voice, different from the loud, boisterous call she usually gave him. He felt a sudden aura of awkwardness and tension around them. Breaking it, he knew he would have to turn around stare down at the girl. His eyes, as always showed no emotion, but Naru had always been an open book. Her biting lip, her hopeful eyes, and the digging of the sole of her shoe into the cement ground made it known that what she was about to say next had to be important to her.

"You wanna go out for some ramen? My treat!" Sasuke's shoulders sagged at this. Really? They had known each other for more than half their lives and she was still asking that same idiotic question?

"Loser. You know I hate ramen." With a look of exasperation and a small twitch of his lips, he walked away expecting to hear ear-shattering screams of his distaste for ramen. Turning around, he had found her gone, running back toward the group and tackling Rock Lee from his backside, making the bowel-haired teen greet her as he always did.

She didn't yell. Sasuke let out a sigh of relief for his ears, but the pain in them was even stronger as he made his way through the front gate of the Uchiha compound.

And that's what happens when the only voice she hears is telling her can't

The halls were crowded with students, parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends as they all gathered to congratulate them of their success of graduating. He watched as she hugged her grandfather and grandmother tightly, his ears catching praises and how her parents would have been so proud of her. God rest their soul.

He never knew she was an orphan.

In a yellow and red kimono with orange blossom decorating the silk fabric, she rushed over to him as he sported a nice suit and held his diploma in his hands. White blossoms decorated the bun in her hair and the usual golden mess was as smooth as water and the bangs on her forehead straight. She barely had any make up on except for some smooth blush and gloss on her lips, making them even more desirable than Sasuke wanted to even think about.

Her arms wrapped around him, laying her head on his shoulder despite his frame stiffening hard. His eyes gazed down at the top of her head, smelling the citrus shampoo mixed with a small amount of lavender perfume that radiated off her neck.

He squirmed and gave her a slight push. She hugged him for a minute. That was all he would accept from her.

You stupid boy…

Naru only smiled as the presence of their friends gathered around them, the girls in different kimonos and the boys in expensive suits. Naru made her way around the group, hugging her friends and expressing shock that they were already eighteen years old. Her hugs lasted for more than a minute when it came to her three boyfriends, Kiba enveloping her in a large hug and handing her the new puppy his mother and sister had gotten him today. Chouji squeezed the life out of her, begging that she wasn't going to leave anymore and why she was going back to China for the whole summer break. His cries of anguish were diminished when Shikamaru reminded him that the four of them (including Kiba) were going with her and the new friends Naru had met over there and the people she had invited to her graduation: Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.

They had made their way into the group and Naru enveloped them in a hug. Gaara, Sasuke had noticed, was as stoic and cold as he was, but it didn't stop him from hugging Naru back and engage her in a conversation on China with his older siblings. Shikamaru once again held a one-sided conversation with Gaara's older sister as she snorted at any words he said and offered him a piece of her mind.

After hugs, tears, promises that they all would hang out in the summer before heading off to their respective universities; it was time for the day to end. Sasuke had finished that hundreds of pictures of him, his parents, brother, and the rest of the Uchiha clan, he was left with her and her sidekicks as they chatted about Hong Kong. Naru had invited him to come along and made every possible way to convince him to go.

Would he want to be stuck with her for three weeks in another country? Besides their friends, who would?

Oh, you always had to be right

His rejection of the offer seemed to let her down, but she had the three others so it wouldn't be much of a stab if he wasn't included. He barely mumbled a few words to her that he would be easily ignored.

He wished.

"We better head home," Shikamaru broke the excited conversations seriously, "The plane leaves tomorrow at 8 in the morning and I still need to pack a few things before we go. It's gonna be ad drag since my mom wants to help."

The other three nodded and got up from the school bench to head out towards their respective homes. Sasuke once again requested to take Naru home and after goodnights and see you tomorrows from the three boys, they headed toward her apartment. They were silent on the way and Sasuke failed to realize that her arm had linked with his as they strolled the concrete sidewalk. Any attempt to push it away as the grip tightened even more.

"Can you let go," he murmured with a small snap in his voice.

"Come on, teme! It's our last night before I leave and I just wanna hold onto your arms a little bit longer!"

"It'll be a relief once you let go of it."

"Careful, Sasuke," she giggled as she rested her head against his arm, making him twitch, "You might regret those words." Sasuke rolled his eyes at this, but permitted the girl to rest against him as they arrived to her apartment. Waiting for her to unlock the door, she turned around to meet her gaze, azure eyes shining with the same hope she seem to give him at the end of the day. Shining eyes he could barely comprehend.

"Sasuke-teme," she smiled at the nickname and watched his face turn to one of annoyance, "Do you want to go get some ramen tomorrow before I leave. Last chance!"

What happened to my treat? Was he gonna be paying for it this time?

Sasuke gave a heavy sigh and looked at the girl with narrow eyes.

"You know I hate ramen, idiot. We're eighteen and you seem to still not know that." There was silence, no yelling or insults escaping the glossy lips. Naru smiled at him with that foxy grin she always gave to him and the others. She shook her head and gave him a final hug, feeling his body stiffen like an ironing board.

"No, but I was hoping you would give it a second look. Maybe ya will, but that won't mean I won't stop, you bastard!" The immature smile returned to her face and stick of her tongue out at him (so childish), she headed back in and he could hear the soft rummage of the lock being in place. The raven prodigy shook his head and headed down the stairs.

Something like ramen wasn't part of his menu. If she knew anything, she knew he would prefer tomatoes.

But now you lost the only thing…

That's ever made you feel alive

They had reached the age to drink a beer at twenty-one. The first sip of sake had the grown woman and she toasted to the adulthood they would all encounter. Chatting their way of college classes, teachers, and life, Sasuke found himself gulping down more beer than needed.

He always felt he needed to drink more, especially around her.

Naru laughed at another pathetic joke from Kiba while successfully stealing some of Chouji's BBQ pork from his face. She had spoken of Gaara and his siblings from China and how they were doing, her recent outing with TenTen to help her pick a wedding dress, and a new sports scholarship she had received from abroad. At 21, her features hadn't change since she was little. Her eyes were still wide and Caribbean blue, her hair gold and in a messy ponytail, and her tan never fading an inch. The three misfits have kept their usual looks as well. Shikamaru, though had grown in size, still had his eyes narrowed with fatigue and annoyance, his shoulder-length brown hair still in its pineapple ponytail, and his posture slouched even more. Chouji was still a fatso, but he had let his hair grown out even further and had started taking better care of himself once he began dating Ino. Kiba's shaggy brown hair was still as horrible as ever but tamed even more with a haircut, his cheeks sported his triangular tattoos, and his personality not changing a bit. If there was a change in it, it would have been around the Hyuuga heir that he had been secretly crushing on.

He himself still kept everything about him the same. His hair the same style, his onyx eyes reflecting the same cold nature, and his posture one of wanting to be alone. He hadn't change and it made him shiver that it was he and Naru who had kept everything about them a same in their large group of friends.

Once five rounds of beer became ten, Shikamaru made the wise decision that it was time to head home to their community apartments. Naru and her boyfriends had shared a same floor in an apartment villa while Sasuke had retired to a fancy condo in downtown. Agreeing, they lifted themselves up with a stretch and headed out. Like always, he volunteered to escort Naru home and failed to even realize that home was the direction they were all headed towards.

"Sasuke, let's head towards Konoha Bridge," Naru grinned, a hand on his arm and a smile of assurance she would be okay to her friends. They nodded and murmured a 'see ya tomorrow' before Naru grabbed Sasuke's arm and led him to a small wooden bridge they would both take on their way to Konoha Academy in their high school years. Leaning against the rail, Sasuke only stared at the young blonde as she stared into the water below her, trying to catch any glowing fish there were rumored to be. No matter how many times she was told they weren't true, she always gave a second look.

She always believed in the unbelievable.

"Sasuke?" He slightly jumped at the voice, the quietness of it all making him believe he was actually alone. His eyes met shining blue ones that continued to sparkle their Caribbean sea. Naru smiled at him, tightness in her lip forming and a soft tremble at the curve.

"Why don't you like ramen?"

Was she really asking this?

"Because…it's salty and not healthy."

"Come with me for some ramen, Sasuke. My treat."

How many times was she going to ask the same thing? Why couldn't she get that it wasn't his type of meal? Why was she so persistent on having ramen?

"You know I don't like it. I just told you, dobe." He watched the face scrunch at the name, but she didn't reply with her usual 'teme' response. She only smiled even brightly at him with her foxy grin and happy eyes that he still couldn't figure out.

"One day, you will like ramen, Sasuke-teme! I know you will, but I might not ask you for it anymore!"

"I'm counting on that day, dobe. You seem to have some memory loss to not know that I detest ramen." A small laugh, but there was a hard line of force into it. He watched as she turned her back to walk away to her community apartment. Stopping for a short time, she turned around and gave him a wink and a stick of her tongue.

"Teme! You're gonna be a lifelong bastard for saying that!" She continued back, laughter leaving her lips. He knew she could picture his face of confusion at her answer. He shrugged his shoulders and headed toward his own condo, taking one last look back to see her run to the apartment and disappear under the streetlights. Feeling his heart lurch and give him a quick stab of pain, Sasuke ignored it and continued his steady pace.

He knew he shouldn't have drunk that much alcohol.

She laid her heart and soul right in your hands, yeah

She was married the day after Toyko's biggest blizzard in a decade.

The sky was covered in a vast number of clouds, the ground piled with cold crystals to cover the dried grass and mud underneath, and the air fresh and anew as frozen drops made their way softly to the ground. The honks of cars and crunch of snow was heard from the guests that made their way into the gleaming church. She had hugged him when he scowled at her choice of day, knowing that it was already a hassle on a big wedding day, but her smile showed one of careful thought and a bit of playfulness.

"It's beautiful, Sasuke," she gushed, "The world is white, the world is starting anew! It's like a blank piece of paper ready to be filled with bigger and better memories!"

She got him there, and when did she become so philosophical?

He grumbled and surrendered at will to her demand of the wedding.

Staring at her now, Sakura placing her wavy hair in an elegant braid that trailed down her bare back with a white flower adoring her hair, Sasuke couldn't believe how right she was. On a platform, a strapless white dress flowing behind her. Her bridesmaids in baby blue dresses that matched her gleaming eyes were awing at the beauty she possessed. An angel that had crash landed with the face of a divine creature but the personality of something so foreign to him. He felt his lips twitch as he watched her face light up and she give a brief jump of excitement.

A small twitch turning to a gentle smile that he never felt himself grace his features as his eyes continued to bore into the divine angel in front of him.

"Sasuke-kun! You shouldn't be here! You know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding! Shoo! Go!"

Sakura's strong hand shoved him into the direction of where the boys were and he felt momentarily surprised at the woman who had a strong infatuation of him in their younger years snapping at him for ruining tradition.

Or it could be the fact that she was pregnant with twins.

His sites laid on the men that had made their home in the hallways of the Church, scanning Naru's and, he'll admit, his friends of the male arena. Shikamaru sat on the window sill, his eyes staring at the vast clouds as if they were the only thing that mattered in life. Knowing him, they probably did. Chouji was leaning against the wall by his lazy friend, a pale blonde-haired baby in his arms that was barely two months old.

Fatso becoming a father out of all of them…Sasuke still found it hard to imagine.

Lee was patiently telling his green-eyed daughter to wait for the wedding to start before throwing the pink petals in the air. The tiny girl only giggled as she jumped up and down with the basket clinging in her petite hands, contents spilling out and a nervous father picking them up one by one. Shino's attention was focused on an elegant vase, but it was what was in it (probably some bug) that he was seeing, Neji was explaining the rules of being a ring bearer to his and TenTen's young son as he handed the small tyke the pale blue pillow, Kiba was entertaining Akamaru with a quick round of fetch (why in a church?), and Gaara and Kankuro were focused on a private conversation.

Walking into the mixture, Sasuke received nods and smiles in his direction. His eyes scanned the tall walls of the gothic church and their stain glass windows.

How had he gotten to this moment? This surreal reality that was about to hit him? How—

You stole her every dream and you crushed her plans, yes you did

"She's ready!" Ino's shrieking voice made him slightly flinch as his body turned their way to the woman as she ran as fast as her high heels would let her. Running to Chouji and taking their son out of his arms and into her own, she immediately began giving orders as if it was her own wedding.

She's ready. She's ready.

Sasuke found himself pushed into the core part of the church, walking down a velvet carpet to the beautiful alter of gold that laid ahead of him. He barely felt himself exhale a trembling breath, could barely feel the slight shake of his hands and the tension in the muscles of his arms. The burn in his cheeks, nose, and eyes were starting to get to him too.

He didn't realize he was allergic to flowers.

Standing in his place, he briefly felt a hand on his stiff shoulder and a small shake of it. He stared at Kiba who gave him a wolfish smile and eyes that said 'just relax. It'll be over soon.' The brief nodded and narrow eyes looked around to see the last of the guests piling in and the bridesmaids rushing in to take their place with the maid of honor (Hinata) holding the hands of the young flower girl and ring bearer as she took her place in the middle of the doorway. The girls giggled as they made their way up to the alter, bouquets in their hands and quieting down when the classical music played.

Arm linked with that of her grandfather, he saw the angelic beauty walk down the aisle with a smile on her face, back straight, and white roses in her hands. A veil decorated the back of her head, but didn't cover her face.

A far cry from traditional wedding, but Sasuke should know well enough that this was no traditional woman. This twenty-five year old was a wild ride beneath a pretty face. As she approached the alter, he could feel the stares of their friends on him, burning holes as if to give him a silent warning.

A warning of—

The priest began speaking and his eyes focused on her once more. Her eyes lighting up as she looked at him, the smile showing of her glossed lips, childish dimples, and pearly whites.

A look of radiance he had never seen before until now. She was truly happy where she was at that moment.

She never even knew she had a choice

Baby blue meeting soft dark.

Pale hands entwined with sun-kissed digits.

Rings gleaming from the light of candles.

And that's what happens when the only voice she hears is telling her she can't

A kiss sealed the deal and Sasuke could feel fate clasp around them both at that moment. Cheers rang through their ears as their friends clapped, whistled, and squealed at this holy matrimony. Walking down the aisle, he had never pictured this grown woman to know be part of the most elite clan in all of Konoha. In all of Tokyo. Flowers were thrown on them as they exited through the high doors, pale pink sakura blossoms landing on his shoulders. Even with a hold, his hands wouldn't stop trembling and his face couldn't stop burning.

He knew he should've gone for rice.

You stupid boy

She ran up to him with a smile, pressing her body against his as he felt the warmth of the blonde spread on him like a wool blanket. She gave a laugh as she entwined her arm with his and it only made the allergies even worse than before. Despite his stiff posture, he gently gave her a hug.

He was still an Uchiha. He had to hold up some…something that ran through his blood.

"Sasuke," Naru giggled as she grabbed his hand and stroked the back comfortingly, "Wanna get some wedding cake! My treat!"

No answer, a yes or no, would change the fate that would be seal. He had nothing to lose, nothing to gain and he let himself break with a smile that made Naru's grin widen even more and nodded his head.

"Dobe," he gave a short laugh, "You know I love cake."

Oh, I'm the same old, same old stupid boy.

Maybe it was life's greatest surprises in the end. Maybe it was destiny that had put them two together. Neji seemed to be a big believer and damnit, he himself was starting to believe it too. Maybe it was time, that there was a certain hour, minute, a certain day that they would lock eyes and see something different in them, that there was more than what was in the past and what could be in the future.

No push needed. Maybe a small one, but just a tap to send them into the direction they were on.

A direction that led him here, in a cold building, head leaning against a limestone wall, arms crossed, hair a mess, dark shadows beneath his eyes, and the sounds of ringing phones and beeping monitors a lullaby that wanted him to sleep. He barely had gotten a wink of sleep since the cold winter night at 11:00 pm.

He could vaguely remember the sound of Naru's cry, the operator on the other end giving words of reassurance, and the flashing white and red lights as the vehicle sped away. If it was not the wedding that sealed the fate of his future, maybe it was this.

Providence really was a bitch.

Hands shaking from an unknown force and face burning once more, he could barely make out Kiba and the extreme anxiety encompassing the recently-married man. He would pet his dog as a way of comfort, but it offered him no help and the whine of the grown white canine was evidence of that. He could barely here Chouji on his phone as he gave words of reassurances and positive notes. Through the soft murmurs of his words and the fast text messages, Sasuke could feel the optimism in Chouji's demeanor.

A small scream lifted their heads and he heard a laugh and a sigh of relief when the sound made its way into their ears. He lifted himself up, ignoring the brief celebration behind him of pats and tearful laughs and focusing on the two metal doors in front of him. His hands burned with fire as the trembling got even worse. His face was enraging with pain, cheeks down to the bones, nose, the tightness in his lips, and his eyes.

God, his eyes.

The doors opened with a jubilated slam and it made him jump, his heart beating at a faster rate than he wanted it to. It was just the thing to make him break everything now.

It took a while for her to figure out… she could run

A small wind of two men rushing by to see the small babe in warm arms. Dark hair and strands of golden blond mixing perfectly on the child's soft and fragile head. Big brown eyes with specks of blue hidden in those irises as the small boy took his first gaze into his surroundings. Confusion, wonderment, and a hint of mischief caressed his skin, a perfect mix of pale and tan.

Sasuke gave a hard laugh as the baby turned its way back into the soft embrace of arms holding him. He barely heard Kiba's whoop for joy for his godson to be born and Chouji on the phone once again.

So this was it, then. Hot water sprang down his cheeks and he could barely summon the energy to question why they were even there.

Why was water on his face when he barely had a bottle in his hands?

But when she did…

Wiping that silly water of his face as quick as he could, his stance was high, his eyes narrow and dark, and his lips in his usual frown. But no matter what dignity (what was the meaning of that word now?) that he held as an Uchiha. He looked into the face of a man who would barely muster a smile if it weren't for something great. A smile and brown eyes that seem to know that held the whole world in the palm of his hands and in a small hospital room. The energy in his excitement.

Now, he could only dream.

"Sasuke-teme! You want to go eat some ramen! My treat."

"Sure, dobe."

"Congratulations, Shikamaru," his voice as stern as steel, "Yours and Naru's baby is beautiful. You must be very proud.

She was…long gone, long gone...

First Naruto fanfic and I did a female Naruto! LOL! Oh well. Anyway, I'm a HUGE fan of SasuNaru, but ShikaNaru has sort of grew on me, especial with FemNaru. Hope it doesn't have too many grammer (how I detest thee) mistakes or spelling or stuff. I'm thinking of writing a POV of each of the other characters, not all the "Rookie 9" and Gaara and his siblings, but on Naru, Shika, Chouji, and Kiba. Granted, it won't be as long as Sasuke's (I had too much fun torturing the pain in the ass), but it might have a song in their. Let me know.

Read and Review XOXO