Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Ice Kunoichi ❯ Gone ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter One: Gone

 

Sakura softly sighed. She was sitting with Temari on the beach. They had become very good friends after she had saved Kankurou and revived Gaara.

“So, you goin' home soon?” questioned Temari. She had let her hair down, and it swung like strands of gold by her shoulders. Her green (A/N: r her eyes green?) eyes were questioning. Sakura stared out at the water.

“Yeah. Soon.” Was her reply. Her mid-back length pink hair was over her right shoulder, and she wasn't wearing her hatai-ate right at the moment. Her once bright jade eyes were now sea green. She had come to realize a few things over time, you see, and was focused solely on protecting others now. Sasuke did not, and never would, love her, for one thing. He was engaged to Ino-pig. Shikamaru and Temari were an “item”, as well as Naruto and Hinata. Aya and Kakashi were engaged, and so were Tsununde and Jirayia! The only single guys she knew were Kankurou, Gaara, and Neji. Lee was dating TenTen. So, let's look at this, hm?

Kankurou was too old for her, and Gaara isn't what she would call a “people person”, so that left…Neji.

Tick.

Tick.

Maybe she should just die alone as an old maid…

Or, maybe, she could go home. Suddenly, they heard a call of,

“TEMARI!” from down the beach. The blond glanced at her friend. Sakura waved her hand.

“Go. You wouldn't want to keep `Shika-kun' waiting.” All the while, her eyes never left the water. Temari shot her a worried glance, nodded, and ran off.

“Problems, kunoichi?” came a cold voice from behind.

“Go away, Neji. I'm not in the mood to argue and/or spar with anyone right now.” Sakura said, still staring at the water.

Neji frowned. He had wanted to spar with her, but she usually took the bait. Nowadays, however, she was distant from everyone. Even him. And worst of all, it got to him. It upset him that her eyes didn't gleam like emeralds anymore, and that her rosy lips didn't part in laughter, and her once vibrant cotton-candy hair hung limp and pale, almost white. Damn her for making him feel this way!

“Something's wrong in that big head of yours, Haruno.” he stated, sitting beside her. She brought her legs to her chest and hugged them, resting her head atop her knees.

“There's something wrong with everyone in the world, Hyuuga-san. You'll have to be a bit more specific, I'm afraid.” She answered dully.

“Sakura…” he growled. Her eyes lifted to look at him. He never used her name, unless he was angry or upset, usually with her. “You aren't yourself. You don't laugh anymore, and you rarely smile. Everyone is worried about you.” A bitter smile crossed her face.

“Worried? Ha. Don't make me laugh, Hyuuga-san. They are too mingled and caught up in their own affairs to be worried about me.” She stood up, and walked towards the hotel.

That night, she wouldn't come out of her room.

The next morning, she was gone.