It wasn't like she had any other choice. Being the surrogate daughter of the queen had its perks and throwbacks as well. Sakura had the right to attend to the council meetings and to be the lead medic of the capital's hospital. But with rights came obligations too. So when her country got defeated by its neighbor and the meetings for peace started, it was no surprise for anyone when she became the fiancée of the enemy king.
She knew all along that a day like this would come. But she hoped beyond all hopes that she'll be mistaken. That the woman she trusted the most, the person she considered as her second mother would never let something like this happen to her. But the little bubble of hopes and dreams burst in the matter of seconds, and there was no way for her to create another one.
She still remembers vividly at the afternoon of the announcement of her engagement. Sakura tried her best to mask her emotions in front of the council. She didn't allow even a slight quiver for her lips, not to mention tears to surface. The moment when she allowed herself to show weakness was when she was back in her private chambers. She cried herself into sleep, desperately trying to muffle her sobs with her pillow, even though there wasn't anyone who could've heard her.
Sakura woke up to the sound of harsh knocks on her door. The pinkette sat up and with slow moves went towards the slightly shaking door. Only one person could knock like that and the thought alone made her want to crawl back into her bed and fall asleep once again.
"I know you are in there." Tsunade said between knocks. "Open the door or I'll tear it down." This made the younger woman roll her eyes. "Sakura! You know that this is not an empty threat." Her surrogate mother growled. The younger woman could imagine the twitching of the queen's brow. Finally, Sakura twisted the key, the lock making a clicking sound. Tsunade barged in, crossing the room in a matter of seconds, only stopping when she was facing the huge window. Sakura closed the door, carefully surveying the older woman.
"I know that you are upset." Tsunade said after a long pause. She had her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze fixed on the outside view. "But this is the only way." She said softly. "I've considered many options... and this is the smallest sacrifice that we could make."
"Smallest?" Sakura raised her voice. "How could this be the smallest sacrifice, when it's your own daughter who ends up in an arranged marriage?"
"As a mother, I'm in as much of a pain as you are." Tsunade turned sharply, facing the pinkette. "But there's no other way. I…" Her gaze shifted onto a spot on the marble floor. "I am so sorry, Sakura." She finally looked at her daughter, her honey eyes filled with unimaginable pain. "Had I been younger, I would be in your place."
"But you are not." The younger woman noted bitterly.
"Sakura…" She tried to hold the pinkette's hand, but she snatched it away, before her fingers could even slightly graze her skin.
"You are selling me to a man whom I never met. And yet, I despise him to such an extent, that I can't even express it in words. He… he took away my freedom in each and every sense. Starting with invading my country and then having my hand in marriage. And you are just standing here, doing nothing!" Her voice was full of bile.
"How many times do I have to tell you that-"
"It doesn't matter how many times you say it, it won't change a thing. It won't make me calmer and it won't make me accept my fate. You can never make this better. Never." Sakura could feel the all too familiar sting of tears in the corner of her eyes. "How can accept that I'm being sold off like a piece of meat? Could you accept it?"
"No…" Tsunade looked sideways. "I would be as infuriated as you."
"Then… do something. Help me." Sakura pleaded.
"I can't do anything! Either we give your hand in marriage to them, or we'll have to send hundreds of children to Konohagakure as a guarantee for peace." The blonde rested her gaze on the polished marble floor.
"Wh…at?"
"That bastard Danzo planned the whole thing out." Tsunade fisted her hands. "I really tried to avoid this Sakura… I really did…" Their gazes met, and the younger woman knew instantly that the words spoken to her were genuine.
"Then… I really don't have any other choice, huh?" Sakura whispered, all hope withdrawn from her. Her question was met with deafening silence, further confirming her fear.
…
Her palms were sweating and her fingers were trembling like never before. Her heels clicked on the pristine marble floor as she paced around the large room. She was the only person present… at least for now. As the hand of the clock moved yet again, her nervousness increased. What could probably take him so long?
The double doors on the other side of the room opened and a man entered. He had silver hair that stood at a strange angle on top of his head, the only visible part of his face was his forehead and right eye, everything else was covered up with a black mask. He was tall, but had a crouched posture and had his hands tucked in his pockets. Even his clothes weren't anything fancy, a fact that Sakura noted bitterly. After all, she had to get all dolled up for this special occasion, whereas he showed up in casual clothing. All in all, this wasn't how she imagined Hatake Kakashi, king of Konohagakure and her future husband.
Sakura gulped as the man came closer and closer to her. She fisted her hands in order to stop the nervous shaking of her digits. 'Calm down, calm down.' she repeated the words in her head like a mantra faster and faster the closer he became.
"Miss Haruno, it is an honor meeting you." He said when he was standing right in front of her. He was about to reach for her right hand, in order to kiss it, but Sakura hid it behind her back.
"How about we drop unnecessary formalities?"
"Oh… you are quite straightforward." Kakashi chuckled with something akin to amusement in his voice.
"I just hate to waste my breath on unnecessary things." Sakura replied, her voice still cold. The other reason why she didn't want to waste her precious intake of oxygen was because of the damn corset she had to wear for this special occasion. She'll make this event special and unforgettable all right.
"Should we sit down?" The man gestured to the two armchairs that were situated around a small table. The pinkette nodded slightly, walking towards one of the chairs. They sat in silence for some time; the only sound was the ticking of the clock.
"I…" Sakura snapped her head up when she heard him speaking. "I really don't know what to say right now." He scratched the back of his head. The girl creased her brows, feeling nothing less than dumbfounded. The man who was known as a ruthless soldier and king all around the continent was now acting as a shy, teenaged boy.
"That's strange." She folded her arms on her chest.
"Why do you think so?" He cocked his head to the side, raising a brow.
"Oh, I don't know… here you are, Hatake Kakashi, king of Konohagakure, the warlord feared by everyone. I expected more confidence from you, or something." Her words earned a chuckle from him.
"So, you think about me like that?"
"Obviously. I'm not an airhead who'd think that you are some blonde prince in shiny armor that comes and battles with the big bad dragon. Frankly, you are far from being even slightly like that." Her words made him slightly wince.
"I hope that we could become friends by getting to know each other a bit better."
"Oh, of course, let's get to know each other. Let's start with our opinion about one another." Sakura said in her most delicate voice, with a smile that was far too gentle. "I hate you." She stood up and stormed out from the room, slamming the door in order to emphasize her anger
Hello everyone! This is a chapter which just kept nagging at me and I just had to write it down and see what you think about it... so please review :)