Chapter 1: The Promise
She could distinctly hear the snap of the cameras incessantly, their flashes blinding her vision in the already luminescent room. The whispering of the guests that started as a low hum was reaching to a barking crescendo. Everyone was having a playtime; she comprehended between her ragged breaths. The newspapers, morning and late night talk shows, magazine, blogs and the ever-scavenging-for-gossip social circles were delivered fodder that they would happily thrive on for at least a fortnight-
A glimpse into the personal life of Sakura Haruno, soon to be bride of Gaara, the millionaire oil baron.
They were always watching the seemingly perfect fiancé to commit a mistake, a blunder, to put a foot wrong for over a year and today of all days she had faltered. She gave a glimpse of her infamous temper to the audience on a silver platter, but what really drove them into frenzy was the person whose jaw was to be at the receiving end of the slap she had wanted to deliver.
Konoha's most hated tycoon, the ruthless industrialist, Uchiha Sasuke.
One to avoid conflict at all costs, Sakura for once could not care less. She wanted to claw his perfect face off and puncher his lungs. She was seething with unadulterated hatred and anger for the man who had the guts to show up for her engagement ceremony and congratulate her. The feeling was mutual however. He wanted to strangle her for her audacity, she could tell that looking at how a vein was popping on his impassive face.
HOW DARE HE PLAY THE VICTIM CARD,she screamed mentally.
How dare he look at her as if he was the one who was wronged?
She hissed in pain as Sasuke twisted her wrist in his hand and gripped it even tighter, if that was possible.
Sense returned to her when she heard similar voices over the chatter of the onlookers. Her eyes searched for her best friends in the crowd. As she watched, Naruto and Ino made their way towards her, and her rage transformed into a pressing guilt.
What had she done?
How could she do this to Gaara?
What was she thinking, creating such a fiasco on their special night?
Unknowingly, she leaned a little into Sasuke, shortly forgetting that he still had her wrist in his bone-crushing wrist. She wanted to run away and crawl into some dark hole where no one could find her.
How could she bring this on Gaara? How could she forget that her actions affected his image as well?
She let her emotions get in the way yet again and acted irrationally.
And like every time, he was the one who caused this.
"Let her go Sasuke"
Ino's voice cut across her self-loathing and pulled her back to reality.
Sakura realized uncomfortably that she was standing a little too close to Sasuke and at once sought to put a proper distance between them, all the while wrenching her hand back ineffectually.
"Let g-go"
She hated how her voice came out as a pleading, pathetic sound, cracking near the end.
"Sasuke"
Naruto hissed in annoyance, warning the Uchiha who looked unruffled by all the chaos around him.
"Sasuke-kun aren't you going to introduce us?"
Another voice cooed in the tense moment and came in vicinity the form of Uzumaki Karin as she draped herself like a python on Sasuke's free arm. She wore a dazzling bright red dress reaching barely to her knees and was fringed in multiple cuts at her waist with a plunging neckline bordering her ample bosom. With her fire red hair and glass frames matching her dress, she looked every bit sexy and stunning. Everything she was not, Sakura thought ruefully her mind wandering away from the situation at hand, as she studied the woman in her front of her. The relationship between Sasuke and Karin was not clear. A scientist by occupation, this was the first time Karin was spotted in public with Sasuke. However, the familiarity with which she hung onto him spoke volume of the depths of their acquaintanceship. At least, for Karin's part who looked smitten by the Uchiha. The same could not be said for Sasuke for he did not as much as blink to Karin's voice or touch. His eyes still pivoted on Sakura, he absently acknowledged Naruto's presence but did not deign to reply. In the same moment he freed himself of Karin's grip.
Karin straightened herself at once, embarrassed by the treatment dealt to her but nevertheless remained at Sasuke's side. Sakura found herself feeling sorry for the women.
However, Sasuke's undivided attention forced her to look back at him, in his eyes and she unsuccessfully tried to keep hold of her ambience. She was slipping away from the present and drowning in his mystery. A little longer and she could learn all his secrets and diabolical designs.
His reasons for hurting her again and again.
Unbeknownst to her, her other arm lifted out of its own volition and reached for his face. The action did not go amiss by Sasuke, whose eyes narrowed in defiance, watching for signs of another attempt to slap or insult him.
He would never know what she planned to do, as her hand was caught mid-air by Gaara, who pressed it to his lips in a caressing gesture. He pulled Sakura closely in the warmth of his embrace and held her close to him.
Possessively.
"Mr. Uchiha."
Gaara addressed Sasuke evenly, his manner casual but underneath the tuxedo, Sakura could feel his muscles straining.
A hush fell in the hall as people strained to listen in the conversation between the two of the most powerful people in the room.
Seeing how quickly her best friend had lost her colour and was suffering silently, Ino decided to take the matter into her own hands. She saw all that had happened. One second Sakura was smiling and laughing and then she turned and came face to face with Sasuke. A multitude of emotions had crossed her friends face and out of instinct, she tried to slap the industrialist.
"The bride to be is a little jumpy tonight. I believe the wedding jitters are here prematurely."
Ino chirped playfully, trying to diffuse the tension in the room.
"Yes you are right Ino."
Came the voice from Tenten as she strode to stand beside Gaara.
Giving Ino a quick glance, she continued smilingly loud enough for the lurking people to hear.
"We are sorry for the trouble Mr. Uchiha. I am sure Sakura mistakenly took you for Gaara. You should know better than to sneak up from behind a bride to be and scare her."
"You better watch out Gaara."
Chimed in Naruto taking the cue
"We do not want you pummelled before the wedding now."
He said slapping Gaara on the back in a friendly gesture.
The inane conversation and banal reasoning did the trick and extracted a few chuckles from the guests.
"The wedding jitters" was somehow accepted as a seemingly perfect explanation for her actions tonight, Sakura thought mentally. The crowd began dispersing, with more voices regaling their "wedding-jitters" horror.
"...oh, it will get worse as the wedding nears..."
Someone spoke from the crowd, and laughter ensued.
All was well again. The music was playing again, couples dancing, people chatting and champagne flowing.
Ino and Tenten sighed audibly and Sakura noticed how her friends had formed a semi-circle, shielding her from the scrutiny of the cameras as Sasuke still held onto her hand.
"My fiancé does not wish to engage with you any more Uchiha, let her go now."
Gaara spoke in a levelled tone that was edged with a warning.
Sakura shuddered noticeably as a glint of pure malice crossed Sasuke eyes before drowning in his midnight orbs but she had seen it even if it was for a brief second. Sasuke felt her throbbing pulse and smiled with arrogant satisfaction.
"Not for long"
Sasuke intoned softly, almost breathlessly only for Sakura to hear it. With that, he carefully pulled Sakura's wrists to his lowered face and turned them upside down, and kissed her tattooed pulse almost reverently.
Sakura knew it was not a nightmare. They had plagued her life for the past five years, this man and his antics. Only this time there was no escaping him, no alarm clock to wake her up. This was real. Sasuke Uchiha was here and he was going to make her life miserable.
Fuelled by her fear she reacted as though she suffered an acid burn and wretched her arm back painfully, succeeding in freeing it from Sasuke's grasp.
Sasuke only shrugged nonchalantly at her successful escape and spoke to Gaara and Naruto in a tone that chilled Sakura to the spine.
"I will be taking back all that was once mine."
His eyes lingered on Sakura decidedly for more than a few seconds before he took his leave.
"Wha- Sasuke wait!"
Karin huffed, evidently confused by all that had taken place within a span of few minutes. She turned around to congratulate the couple before going after Sasuke, her heels tick-tacking along the floor.
"Sakura..."
She knew Gaara was saying something to her but nothing made sense. Only Sasuke's words echoed in her mind as she continued to look at his receding profile.
I will be taking back all that was once mine.
She knew one thing for sure.
It was not a threat. It was a promise.
A/N: Read and Review :)