A Place We Call Home

By: Withering Princess

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto because if I own it, I probably would be rich by now…

A/n: Please read the notes below the story, I might say something that would interest you there.

Chapter 1: Nobody's Life is Perfect

"Good morning, Hinata-chan!" a 17-year old highschool student greeted her friend as she sat on her seat right in front of the teacher's desk. Running a hand through her pink hair, he hastily opened her bag and pulled out a thick history book and began to read. Carefully, the pearl-eyed girl craned her neck to see what her friend is reading.

"Uhm… Sakura-chan… we're not going to discuss that topic until next week… Why are you reading it?" the pearl-eyed girl shyly asked her friend who was being a bit too advanced with her studies. She knew that her friend wanted to maintain her good grades but it doesn't mean that you have to study a certain topic a week ahead.

The pink-haired girl slowly closed her book and smiled at her friend. "Hinata-chan, you know that I can't afford to risk my grades. Even if I do want to relax and unwind just for a while, I can't… you know, my parents expect too much for me. I can't fail them." She explained. Truly, she really did want to take a rest from all of these studies, but she cant. Sakura's parents are simply demanding and overprotective to boost. They would get mad at Sakura whenever she got a score below 95 at exams and she still isn't allowed to go out and hang out with her friends at the mall. They even are nosy, always asking what she did that day at school and asking who she talked to at the phone and what they talked about.

Hinata sighed and smiled. "Okay, I understand, Sakura-chan. You just too kind to disobey your parents…" she stated as she sat down next to her best friend. Sakura has been her best friend since grade school. She has been the witness to all of Sakura's hardships just to please her parents. She knew Sakura was struggling inside and often wondered how could she hide that loneliness inside of her by putting up a cheery façade. She doesn't get it why she tries to keep her sadness to herself and act as though there's nothing wrong. Nevertheless, she idolized her best friend for being strong and resilient throughout all of those things happening in her life.

Then, the door opened revealing their English teacher, Kurenai. The crimson-eyes woman proceeded to her desk and greeted the class. The class greeted her back and she began to start the lesson. "Please turn your books to page 48 and kindly read Shakespeare's sonnet 116, miss Haruno." Kurenai said as she wrote 'sonnet 116' on the board.

Gently, Sakura stood up and inhaled deeply. With her clear, distinct voice she read aloud.

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments, love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds

Or bends with the remover to remove;

O no: it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks at tempests and is never shaken:

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken

Love's not time's fool, thought rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and week,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error, and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved."

Sakura sat down as soon as she finished reading the sonnet. Unknown to her, a certain raven-haired lad was standing outside the classroom door, listening to her voice as she was reading the sonnet.

"Mister Uchiha, I know you are there, so won't you come in and give me an explanation on why you are late… again." Kurenai-sensei sternly ordered, emphasizing on the word 'again'. Deliberately, the door slid open, revealing the Uchiha lad, wearing his usual emotionless expression on his handsome face, which made his fangirls drool. Without speaking, the Uchiha paced through the classroom and plopped himself on his seat which is at the far right corner of the classroom, near the window. His action earned him a glare from their teacher. "Mister Uchiha, I'm waiting for you explanation." She snapped.

The raven-haired lad returned the glare. "I overslept. Satisfied?" came his abrupt answer. He stared at the teacher coolly and waited for her anger to erupt, as she did as always, but it did not come. Instead, a smirk played on the teacher's lips, which stirred anger a bit.

"I see… Oversleeping has been your hobby lately, Uchiha. Well, what else should we expect from you, who have absolutely no parents that could have guided to a better behavior, unlike Miss Haruno here…" Kurenai-sensei stated as she glanced at Sakura who was sitting in front of her.

The sudden mention of her name made her stiffen. 'Why does everyone else in my class always have to be compared to me when they make mistakes?' Sakura thought as she stared the speck of dirt next to her nicely shined shoes she was wearing. 'It's not like I'm enjoying the so-called guidance my parents are giving me. No, guidance is not the world… it's more like total control.' Certain memories flashed through her mind.

:: flashback ::

"Mom, can I go to Hinata's place on Saturday? It's her birthday and everyone's going to be there." Sakura asked her mom who was comfortably sitting on the sofa and reading the newspaper.

"No." came her mother's stiff reply. Sakura's heart felt heavy as she heard those words. "You can't go to that stupid party on Saturday. Don't you realize that your exams are in two weeks time? Why waste you time on going to that worthless friend's birthday when you can spend it on studying?! And what if something happens to you in there?" her mom lectured her.

"But mom-" Sakura started but she was cut off by her mother.

"No buts Sakura, okay? We're doing this for your own sake don't you know?! Now go upstairs to your room and review, or I'd personally drag you there!" her mom yelled at her. Sakura sighed in defeat and hid her eyes behind her pink hair. She felt warm tears welling up in her eyes as she ran upstairs to her room. It was always like that. She had no freedom to do what she wants or go where she wants to go. She felt like a robot, made to things that she didn't like. Always asked to study, study, study! Haven't her parents thought about her own happiness?! She always obliged what her parents ordered her without hearing a single protest. She studied until the dead of night just to please her parents, but now! They couldn't even grant a simple request from their child who spent her life trying so hard to please them!

:: end of flashback::

Sakura glanced at Sasuke at the back of the room, which was being lectured by Kurenai-sensei about being late. How she envied him! He was free with no one to watch over him. He could go and do whatever he wants without hearing a single word of lecture. How she wanted to be like him. Unknown to her, Sasuke was being envious of her because she seemed to have a perfect life: she has parents, good grades, and friends. Unlike him… who has absolutely nothing. And now starts a tale of two people who were worlds apart but found a place they could call home. They found their 'home' at each other's hearts.

:: Tsuzuku ::

A/n: Okay! The first chapter's done! I hope you guys liked it. Now, I'll tell you something… The plot of this story is taken from my life (except for the romance thingy which I just put in). Yep! I'm an overprotected little girl which has no freedom… and that sparked the idea of this fic. The little-miss-perfect idea came from my own experiences in life and I put it into writing and viola! This fic was made! Please bear with this piece of work and please continue to read it and you'll understand what being overprotected like me is… well, that's enough chit-chat from me. Please click the little button down there and give me a review. I want to know if you liked this story or not!!!

Okay, just wait for the next chapter… I just have to think what sorrowful stuff happened to my life…