“Bye,” Sakura whispered in the locker room after the soccer game, knowing no one would be happy with the way she played. She was terrified at the thought of hearing her parents criticize her. The only things they showed up to were the games she played poorly in.

The coach, Anko Mitarashi, smiled at Sakura. “You played phenomenally today, Sakura. Keep up the good work.”

Leave it to the coach to try to be nice to her. “Thanks, Coach,” she replied quietly. “I’ll see you tomorrow at practice.”

As she walked outside, she looked around, half-hoping her parents were outside waiting for her.

They weren’t and Sakura sighed at the thought of having to walk home in the dark after hearing from all the girls on the soccer team that their was a rapist on the path. When she looked confused, everyone told her every parent in the school system had received emails the day before and were told to show their children. It seemed odd to them Sakura’s parents wouldn’t tell her and she played it off like they forgot to check their email.

On the path, she shifted her duffel bag and hoisted it higher over her shoulder. She was good at self-defense, and if it came down to a fight she could run faster than anyone she knew.

“Sidewalks, running away from the streets we knew,” she started to sing, feeling it appropriate for the time. “Sidewalks, like the time we thought was made for you, oh.”

Suddenly there was a rustling noise and Sakura froze. There was a grunt and movement in the trees. Before she could react, Sasuke came tumbling out to her right and plowed right into her, making her fall with him.

“Ow,” she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut to avoid the pain. “Can you get--”

“Sorry,” Sasuke apologized quickly as he scurried off her. He stuck out his hand and grimaced. “I didn’t mean to knock you over. I was trying to catch up with you, but you’re pretty fast, Sakura.”

“Excuse me?” she blurted. “You even know who I am?” she asked.

He quirked an eyebrow. “The geek that sits in the front of every one of my classes. A real perfectionist. Now do you know who I am?”

“Way too popular to be talking to me,” she replied. “Like you said, I’m the geek at the front of the room. Nobody likes me. You’re not going to be ashamed if someone finds out that you were with me?” she asked.

He shrugged. “There’s a rapist in the woods. Do you think I’m an ass? I’m not leaving anyone in the woods alone. Besides, you’re on my way home. People may think I’m an ass, but I was raised like a gentleman. It’s my duty to walk you home.”

She nodded, thinking he was nuts. “And what if you end up being the rapist?” she asked.

“Did you not see the email?” Sasuke replied. “He’s old. He looks like Michael Jackson after he changed skin-colors.”

“You lost me at Michael Jackson. Who is he?” she asked.

Sasuke sighed and shook his head. “I need to introduce you to American culture,” he told her as he started to walk. “Come on. The woods get creepier when the sun goes down, and I’m pretty sure there are bigger animals around.”

“Okay,” she replied, shrugging as she walked with him. Bigger animals. Ha! The biggest animal in these woods were a few lost dogs. Next to that were a few foxes. “So, how do you know my house is on your way home?” she asked.

“I’ve seen you walking. I get on the path right after you, like, every day. Obviously you live in the same neighborhood as me. Why don’t your parents bring you to school?” he asked. “Especially with a rapist on the shortcut?”

She shrugged. “They think I get a ride every day. I just like the exercise.”

“Ah huh.”

And then it was silent. Sakura hummed and Sasuke stopped her at one point. “Why don’t you like to sing around people?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I can’t sing. When I think I’m alone I’ll sing, but I can’t really sing and I don’t like to embarrass myself.”

He snorted. “I’ve heard you before. You’re a really good singer.”

“Thanks. Tell it to my parents. They think I’m horrible. They think I’m tone-deaf.”

“Are you kidding?” Sakura nodded. “That sucks. I’d yell at them.”

Sakura laughed. She had no doubt he would. “I’d love to see that fight,” she told him, thinking of it. She yearned to see her parents put in their places. “My parents are pretty strict,” she told him.

Sasuke laughed. “I know what that’s like. My parents were pricks before they died. At least my dad was. He’d yell at me for everything and nothing. At first I just took it. It was how his dad was, and his dad’s dad. It’s part of being an Uchiha to deal with a jackass for a dad. Eventually I had enough, though. I yelled at my dad and he gave me a black-eye.”

Sakura hissed. At least her parents had never hit her. “How’d that go?”

“I gave him one. And eye for an eye. And then my dad accepted me as a man. Said all I needed was to stand up for myself.” Then Sasuke laughed cynically. “Of course, two weeks later he died. I don’t know how well that logic went. But at least I haven’t taken shit from anyone since. I figured, if I can handle my dad, I can handle and fucker that tries to take me on.”

Sakura smiled. “That must have been amazing. How long have you and your brother been living alone? Were you in the car when they got in the accident?”

He shook his head. “Too long,” he answered.

It was silent again and Sakura tried talking to fill in the void. Eventually she made it home and Sasuke watched her walk in the door. She smiled and waved when she got inside. At least she knew her parents weren’t home.

She dashed up to her room and closed the door, turning on the music and unwrapped her wrists. She looked at them and thought for a few minutes. Was it really easier to cut herself than to stand up for herself?