Chapter one: The Demon's Vow
"Sakura!" Naruto yelled from behind me. I turned to see him running full speed after me, he stopped short and took a moment to catch his breath. I smiled taking him in, my has he grown.
"What is it Naruto?" I asked after I gave him a moment to catch his breath. He looked at me smiling as he grabbed my shoulders.
"Lady Tsunade needs to speak with you, Gaara is here. I have no idea what is going on though! She won't tell me anything." He pouted, scratching his head in frustration. I smiled at him and nodded. He looked at me and smiled back. "I didn't think I would find you this quick, this is awesome. I'm meeting up with Hinata, I'm taking her out for some Ramen!" I giggled at his enthusiastic face. Was that for the date, or the food? We chatted for a bit and I bid him fair well. I waited to see him disappear in a cloud of smoke before I decided to go join Lady Tsunade. Gaara huh? What the heck was he doing here?
I knocked on the office door and heard a muffled permission to enter. As I opened the door, I saw Lady Tsunade with a very troubled looking Gaara. I nodded to both of them feeling the energy in the room very thick. "My Lady." I began. "Why have you summoned me?" She studied me, and there was a long pause.
"Sakura." She said in a quiet voice. "Do you still feel for Sasuke?" I averted my eyes.
"No." I said. My Sasuke; I don't think I will ever stop loving, but this being now… Well, he isn't my Sasuke. It has been years and countless efforts. I mean, even Naruto has lost some sort of hope. You'll never catch him admitting that to anyone though.
"Listen up, I have a task for you." Tsunade said with confidence. "The ultimate mission; the bond between two nations." My jaw dropped. 'CHA.. WHAT DID SHE SAY?!' I could hear my inner soul yelling beating her fists to the air. "The Village hidden in the mist has become a threat to both nations yet again, we need to show them that the leaf and sand are unified in their efforts to protect each other, the last thing we need is another war." I looked at her dumbfounded. Maybe I'm jumping the gun here. Maybe I'm misunderstanding her.
"That sounds like a great idea and all but, what does that have to do with me?" I asked crossing my fingers that we weren't on the same wave length.
"We are setting up an arranged marriage between the leaf village and the sand village." She said bluntly. "At least for now. A treaty for peace has always been established but can sometimes waver. I believe that if you both bond these two nations together, we will be able to not only develop peace, but an alley." She sighed. "I know that this is sudden, and you have viewed him as your enemy in the past. But this time is critical and we need to act Sakura, you are the only one I can trust with such a task."
"He tried to kill me Lady Tsunade." I blurted out. I saw Garra wince at my statement from the corner of my eye. No way, I couldn't. It's Gaara for crying out loud. Tsunades face became angered and she slammed her hand on the desk making a crack in it.
Gaara turned to face me and slowly touched his knees to the floor. Was he, bowing to me? Unreal. "No harm will come to you, I give you my word. From me, or any of the other ninja in my village." His head stayed paralleled to the floor waiting for my response. "My people, and I want to protect them. They are… precious to me." I looked away from him embarrassed. I'm acting like a child. This is also for my village.
"No harm will come to me?" I confirmed. He nodded, still not meeting my gaze. "Well, what do I have to do?" I whispered, pain in my voice. With this, Sasuke would forever be out of my reach. He will forever be gone from me. I felt so emotional that tears were rushing to my eyes. Tsunade stared at me in pity. She knew my mixed feelings with Sasuke. I could almost hear her say 'he isn't coming back.' And deep in my heart, I knew that. Years left me, and I could never find the feeling in any other man like I felt with Sasuke. So what was the point in trying to find it? I know that he is going to be the one I love forever. And he isn't coming back for me. This was for my village. Nothing else.
"Sign this." Tsunade whispered. She pulled out an older looking scroll and a quill pen. It was a document of marriage. I did what she asked. Gaara raised from the floor and had a long look at me before he lifted the pen from the desk and scribbled his name on the paper. He walked over to me and bent his frame over my body, towering over me.
"I vow to always protect you." He quietly said in my ear. I felt hot tears fall from my face, thinking of Naruto this morning excited to go on his date with Hinata. He was able to choose who is company was, and that was a given to him. I couldn't believe what just happened. My fate was sealed. My destiny was just written over. But, it's for the good of the village. It should be an honor to serve as such a vital part of peace. Right? So why does the pain in my chest grow?