A/N: the chapter 1 was re-write. hope you enjoy this multi-chapter Sasu-Ino fic. =)
i don not own the Naruto characters involved in this fic.
Together, as one
Chapter 1- Heartbreaking Engagement
It was a usual day in Konoha, everyone's doing their daily duties including one Yamanaka Ino, she was on the stool behind the counter of her family's flower shop, looking outside but not seeing the passersby. She's been thinking her situation over and over until she felt a tap on her shoulder,
"Are you okay?" Haruno Sakura asked, "You're really deep in your thoughts that you didn't actually see me coming in." She added with a hint of concern. Ino manage to put out a fake smile.
"I'm okay Sakura, I'm sorry if I wasn't paying attention." She said, Sakura creased an eyebrow and leaned over to look at her best friend closely.
"Are you sick? You're not the usual Ino that I know." It was Ino's turn to creased her eyebrow "you aren't the usual you. I mean, the Ino I know is like the energetic type, look at you, you look so sad and . . . . And depressed" Sakura finished her sentence which made Ino realized her own self.
"Well Sakura," Ino stated,
"Is it because of Sasuke-kun?" Sakura concluded, Ino looked up at her and sighed.
"Ah~ he was part of it but. . ." she trailed "I'm sorry Sakura, I just don't feel to share this with anyone right now."
"But you have to tell me what's bothering you." Sakura was clearly losing her patience on her, and Ino knew it. Ino took a deep, long breath and look at Sakura. "I'm not leaving here until you tell me what's bugging you." Sakura stated as she crossed her arms.
"Okay-okay." Ino replied as she too crossed her arms and took a deep breath again before she spoke. "Sasuke-kun . . . he . . . confessed to me last night." She said, Sakura's eyes went wide that Ino thought it would pop-out of its case, when her best friend's reaction didn't change she leaned over and shook her shoulders. Sakura gained her consciousness once again but didn't say anything. "You okay now?" she asked, Sakura just stared at her blankly, having no choice Ino continued. "He confessed to me last night, I know you wouldn't believe it but he actually did, it was a shocking confession but yeah-"
"Okay-okay, enough with the blabbering, If Sasuke-kun confessed to you, why are you so gloomy then?" Sakura finally managed to ask, it didn't surprised her to know that her once upon a time childhood crush turned friend had confessed to her best friend, after all her and Ino's rivalry over Sasuke stopped a long time ago and she was with Naruto now.
"It's not his confession that makes me sad; in fact, I am very happy that he finally sees me, that he finally recognized my feelings for him." Ino stated, confused on what Ino was saying, Sakura kept her eyes on her friend, waiting for her to continue. "But Sakura, I. . ." Ino sighed before she looked at Sakura's eyes, "I'm engaged to Shikamaru."
Sakura slumped on her bed, tired and confused for the happenings on her friends lives. Unlike her and Naruto, Sasuke and Ino's lives were complicated, she knew that her friends both found new feelings for each other and it makes her happy for that, but Ino's confession a while ago in their flower shop made her felt sad for the both of them.
I wish I could do something to help them fix this mess Sakura thought.
"Sakura-chan~" Naruto suddenly popped on Sakura's bedroom terrace which made the pink-haired girl to stood in a fighting stance, when she recognized who her visitor was, she relaxed herself and walked towards the sliding door and opened it, inviting her lover inside.
"What brings you here?" as soon as Naruto entered the room, Sakura asked as she enclosed him in an embrace, Naruto returned the gesture before he pushed her lightly to give her a chaste kiss on the lips.
"I just missed you." Naruto said as they sat down on Sakura's bed. "Got a problem?" he asked, Sakura looked at him with sadness in her eyes before she answered.
"I don't think I should mingle myself with this, but I can't help it. I want to help them."
"Help them?" Sakura nodded as she stood up and walked out of her room and went to her terrace; she could feel the wind passed her by.
"Ino and Sasuke-kun" Naruto followed her, his eyes darted on her as she tucked some of her pink strands on her ear. "Ino told me that Sasuke-kun confessed to her"
"Isn't it great? Finally, Sasuke and Ino will be together?" Naruto exclaimed but when he saw Sakura's expression, his excitement dissolved.
"I know, but. . ."
"What's the problem with it Sakura-chan?" he asked, his arms snaked on her waist.
I'm engaged to Shikamaru.
"Ino's engaged to Shikamaru." Sakura finally managed to say then her tears fell uncontrollably in her eyes, Naruto turned her around and pulled her in an embrace as he calmed her down.
"Calm down Sakura-chan. We'll help them." Naruto assured her.
"Ino – Ino, are you here?" Inoichi knocked on his daughter's room twice before he opened the door; he looked around and saw that Ino's not in her room. "Ino, where are you?" he asked out loud when he went outside of Ino's room and scanned their home. Ino would be probably home by now because her shift in their flower shop had ended a couple of hours ago. Inoichi went down to find Uchiha Sasuke in their front door he wouldn't be surprised to see him around Konoha, but it did take him aback when he stood there in his front door – together with her only daughter, hands were entwined with one another.
"Father" Ino said, her eyes couldn't meet his.
"Yamanaka-san, I want to ask you something." It was Uchiha's voice that followed her daughter's uncertain call.
"What's the meaning of that?" he asked, his eyebrows creased as he pointed at their entwined hands. He watched as Ino tried to let go of her hand but Sasuke gripped her tighter.
"Yamanaka-san" Sasuke said, as he held their hands up for the older man to clearly see their joined hands. "I want to ask for your daughter's hand."
"Sasuke" Ino could only utter his name, he knew Ino was afraid of what her father might do to him but he could care less, because right at this moment, all he wanted was to make her his bride.