Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Period.
"Marry me."
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Sakura was taken aback by Sasuke's proclamation.
Her boyfriend of four years looked at her, a glint in his eye as he awaited her answer with anticipation.
He had come by her cubicle in the hospital to check up on her.
Sasuke did not like those bags under her eyes from all her hard work and being sleep deprived. It had worsened considerably after her most recent mission, which was a month ago. He tried to point it out to her and argue but she merely shook it off and said it was her duty. He dropped the subject. Now he took it upon himself to check up on her and keep her company.
He had never said cheesy words and sweet nothings and all that but for him, actions speak louder than words. He was Sasuke Uchiha after all, so talking as such wasn't his style.
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Sasuke waited for Sakura's answer. He had just stopped by Sakura's work and gave her a quick but loving kiss. Once she had finished her shift, he faced her and kissed her passionately, as he had the time he asked her to be his girlfriend. After they broke the kiss, he looked down (he was a foot taller) at her smiling face and popped the big question. She had stared at him thoughtfully before responding.
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"You're so funny, Sasuke-kun." She giggled softly.
Sasuke was not a very patient man. Nor did he like to repeat things, especially a question like this. He was never an overly emotional man. He gazed at her.
"Sakura…."
Yes, Sasuke-kun?" she glanced at him innocently, a smile playing upon her lips.
"Marry me."
This time she wasted no time answering his question.
"Is that a threat or a promise?" she asked playfully.
"Hn." He grunted.
"Well?"
"A little of both, I suppose." He teasingly smirked.
"You're so funny, Sasuke-kun." She freely laughed.
He loved the musical sound of her laughter.
"C'mon! My shift's over. Let's invite Naruto to ramen!"
She looked at him evilly.
"You're paying!" with that, she dragged him by the hand and burst through a fit of giggles.
She had hoped to distract him.
But he had noticed.
Sakura still had not answered his proposal.
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Sasuke was a direct man. He didn't like to beat around the bush. Two days after he had first asked Sakura, and received no direct answer, he tried again. He was eating ramen with her at Ichiraku's. (Naruto had been on a mission, thank God, and could not join them. Or else he would have been broke.)
They ate in a comfortable silence; Sasuke was starved from his latest mission and Sakura seemed incredibly tired. That is, until Sasuke broke the silence.
"Marry me." He repeated for the third time.
"You already asked." She pointed out.
"You didn't answer." He retorted.
"Fair enough." She agreed, picking up strands of the noodles with her chopsticks.
She was trying to stall again.
Sasuke would not have any of it.
"Well?" he raised an eyebrow.
"No." she replied calmly.
Sasuke did a double take. Sakura had just refused!
"Why?" he wanted to know.
"Well…." She trailed off.
"Don't you love me?" Sasuke swallowed his pride and asked.
She looked at him horrified, as if he was half-crazed.
"Of course I do, you ass. Why would you think I don't?"
"You said no." Sasuke replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well Duh!" she shook her head weakly.
Sasuke was confused.
"First of all, you didn't even bring flowers or gifts or all that."
"That's why you said no? Because I didn't bring flowers?" Even he couldn't believe it.
For a moment she gazed at him sadly. It turned into a rather cute pout. She slowly nodded her head.
"I never knew you liked flowers."
"Well, I do."
"I would've gotten you some before then."
She laughed. "I don't really see you as the type to be carrying flowers, Sasuke-kun."
He glared (not a hateful glare but rather a playful one.)
"Then why do you want me to get flowers, now?"
"Because you are proposing, dammit, and it is tradition to bring flowers!"
"Strange logic."
"Oh shut up, bastard!" She slapped his shoulder.
"So you refuse my proposal and now I'm a bastard?" he raised and eyebrow, a smirk tugging on his lips.
"Yes." She leaned forward and kissed him.
"But you're my bastard."
Her face glinted with a smile. As she returned to her original spot, he saw the ghost of a look she had flashed him with earlier.
She may have refused now. But he knew there was an opportunity later. Of course, he would have to purchase flowers next time.
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Sasuke lay awake. He could not sleep. He had been pondering about Sakura the whole day.
He rarely saw her more than twice today, due to her hectic schedule. He thought of the last few days.
Sasuke searched for his girlfriend, flowers on one hand.
He found her shooting kunais at target dummies.
"What are you doing here?"
"Training, obviously." She swung her kunai.
Bull's eye.
"You should be resting."
"It's my day off, Sasuke-kun."
She could not be persuaded.
"If you can't beat them, join them." He muttered.
The two practiced throwing shurikens and kunais for two hours before Sasuke decided to make his move. He walked behind the tree in which he hid the flowers.
He approached her, her back was facing him. Gently he tapped her on the shoulder.
She looked surprised and delighted when she saw the flowers.
He nonchalantly handed the bouquet of red roses to her.
She smiled at him, knowing what was coming next.
"Marry me."
She smiled teasingly and replied.
"What? No ring?"
He responded by taking back the flowers. To which she slapped him (that hurt, considering she used chakra) and laughed. Later he gave it back.
Guess third time's not really the charm.
Clearly, she was impossible. But he loved her, so he would not give up.
This time he wanted to be prepared. He took her to an expensive restaurant.
As they finished with desert, he handed her more flowers and gave her the ring. He did this casually of course.
This time he did not even have time to ask.
She had given both back, responding,
"Was the whole kneeling-on-one-bended-knee and proclaiming your love for me so overrated, Sasuke-kun?" she giggled.
He tried to swallow his pride of course. Surely, Sakura was quite possibly insane. He was about to do it, much to his chagrin, when the waiter returned with their check. He knew then that it was too late because she was hastily getting ready to leave. In fact she was out the door by the time he had paid.
What is up with Sakura? He wondered. She had said thatshe loved him and yet she had denied him four times! Dammit! She was so confusing! He wondered why she was playing mind games with him.
He knew she was stalling. Every time he asked, she did not give a very straight answer. Her answers always led him to believe that there was room for improvement and that there could be a chance to for her to say 'yes.'
It angered him for her to do that. He wondered if she did love him or if she was just leading him on. He banished that thought and mentally beat up himself for even thinking that that might be a possibility. He knew deep down that she loved him with all her heart. But that did not make sense. If she did love him then why had she said no? Why had she kept stalling with all those unnecessary things he knew she did not really value? All of these questions nagged his brain. He wanted some answers.
Another suggestion appeared in his mind.
What if she wasn't ready?
What if it wasn't about if she loved him or not?
What if she kept stalling because she was not ready for that kind of commitment and she was simply scared to hurt his feelings?
He deemed that that might be the reason. He cursed himself.
What if his constant asking had alarmed her? He didn't want her to be scared. She looked exhausted enough already. Wait. Sasuke thought.
What if she had also been thinking about his numerous proposals?
What if it also kept bugging her like it had him? He might possibly be another reason that she was not getting enough sleep. He repeatedly cursed himself. He would not have this. He wanted her to always be cheerful and healthy and not troubled and exhausted.
Tomorrow he would confront her and get some answers.
He decided to hold off his proposal, wanting to give her time.
Sasuke Uchiha could wait.
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Sneak peek:
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
"How many times?"
"Four so far."
"You're so lucky, forehead."
"I don't think I'm that lucky, pig."
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
"What will you say next time?"
"I don't know if there will be one."
"Don't say that!"
"The truth hurts. After all, time is something I don't have much of."
Please Review!
By the way, try to guess who is talking and what they are talking about in the sneak peek.