Twisted Proposals

Chapter 1: Can't Remember to Forget You

The reason he would marry was fairly simple, love. He'd like to think he made the right choice because in the end he knew her love was something he didn't deserve, but if she was happy then he figured that would be enough for him.

They were in the midst of a mission, battling a group of six ninja, probably chunin. "Each of us will take on two." Sakura declared, being the captain in the mission. Tsunade didn't trust either Naruto or Sasuke to be leaders. Sasuke knew firsthand how strong Sakura was, having fought beside her during the war but still he found himself glancing her way making sure she was alright.

He was trying to fight his enemies off as quickly as he could and he would have finished by now if she wasn't a constant distraction.

He glanced at Naruto's way and saw him playing more than fighting with his enemies. Sasuke was sure their enemies were mentally challenged because no one in their right mind would challenge Team 7, the heroes of the war.

Sasuke upon losing his patience performed a fire jutsu throwing a fireball at his opponents then appeared behind them and kicked them both a few feet away. He wasn't sure if they were still conscious or not because he immediately turned his attention to Sakura. She was fighting the two ninja with her brute strength; but when the two attacked at once one from the front and the other from behind he didn't think twice about going to her aid.

He rushed at her and when he was close enough threw her with a harsh shove to the side and used the Leaf Whirlwind, a technique he had copied from Lee, throwing the enemies a few feet away.

Naruto, apparently already finishing his battle, rushed over to Sakura who had landed on the ground and quickly asked her if she was alright. Sasuke too turned toward her and asked, "Are you hurt?" Concern was evident on his voice as he approached her.

She took a moment to stand to her feet visibly ignoring Naruto and Sasuke's questions, she then turned around as if looking for something. "Where are the ninja we just fought?" She asked, her voice laced with anger.

Sasuke and Naruto both looked around to find that the ninja they had just fought were nowhere to be found. "They escaped." Spoke Sasuke, stating the obvious an earning a glare from the pink haired kunoichi.

"I noticed." She paused to take a breath, trying to keep calm. "Now do tell me why did they escape?" Her question along with her glare was solely directed at Sasuke. Sasuke was surprised to see Naruto, from the corner of his eyes, remaining quiet.

"Because they had the chance." Sasuke replied ignoring Sakura's harsh tone of voice that seemed to imply it was somehow his fault.

That seemed to make the kunoichi explode. "Of course they had the chance!" She yelled exasperated. "I told you we were to defeat two each, but no! You just had to come to my rescue leaving the ones you defeated unguarded!" Sasuke was almost sure that even Tsunade back in Konoha could hear Sakura yelling.

"I was giving you a hand." Sasuke supplied still unfazed by her anger.

"And who told you I needed your help!?" She yelled, her hands turning into fists beside her. He saw Naruto take a few steps backwards, probably knowing it was better to step out of Sakura's Circle of Terror especially when it wasn't directed at him. "I can defend myself just fine, I don't need you tossing me aside and fighting my battles for me!" Her voice seemed to grow louder, if that was even possible.

"I know." Sasuke spoke with a frustrated sigh.

"Then why, why do you do it?" Sakura glared at him.

"Force of habit, I guess." His reply was quick, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

"Well get this through your thick skull Sasuke, I don't need anyone's protection. I think I've done enough to prove my worth as a kunoichi; and as a sign of respect the least you could do is acknowledge my abilities not belittle them by protecting me." It wasn't the first time she'd gotten mad at him and it probably wouldn't be the last, but it had been a while since he'd seen her so angry, especially at him.

He found himself liking the way she yelled at him and defended herself from him. It was part of a Sakura he never saw the transition to, a different Sakura than the one he had once tried to sever bonds with. This Sakura wasn't afraid of talking back to him, she was more confident. The Sakura that with a last glare his way walked away from them now was a Sakura that refused to stay one step behind them and watch their backs, she walked beside them with her head held high.

The reason he protected her wasn't because he didn't believe in her strength and abilities, it was as he had told her, a force of habit. She was his team mate, and most importantly she was Sakura and he couldn't help the urge of wanting to protect her.

It wasn't the first time he'd accepted the extend of how much he cared for the pink haired kunoichi, but it worried him and terrified him every time he came to the conclusion. He shook his head slightly, knowing that his thoughts were headed into dangerous territory. He glanced at Naruto seeing him still staring at the direction Sakura had just left to.

"You really did it this time, teme." Naruto told him as he turned to face him.

"I didn't do anything wrong." Sasuke told Naruto with a shrug.

"Are you kidding me? You know she hates to be underestimated, especially by us." His eyes were wide as he shook his head at the raven haired Uchiha. "What were you thinking!? Throwing her aside to fight a battle for her, you're lucky she didn't get violent!" Naruto threw his arms in the air, in Sasuke's opinion he was making things bigger than they really were; exaggerating was the word.

He knew Naruto wanted him to apologize, but it was safe to say that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. The last time he apologized to her was in the middle of the war and that didn't go so well, it could be said that it was the worst decision he ever made second only to leaving the village.

Apologizing again was something he would like to evade, permanently.

When Sakura returned back to the team she didn't look happy, but at least she didn't look ready to rip his head out he assumed that to be progress.

They walked mostly in silence, Sakura didn't seem in the mood to talk just yet and Naruto seemed to know better than try to force a conversation out of her in her current condition. Sasuke in the silence could finally admit, if only to himself; that what he had done earlier had been wrong. It wasn't right to interfere in her battle when she was more than capable to beat them herself. Not to mention that his little stunt could have been a setback for the mission.

The mist grew thick around them which meant they were almost to their destination, the village once called village of the bloody mist and now known as the Hidden Mist Village, Kirigakure.

"We're close, right Sakura?" Naruto asked as he looked around himself.

"We are." Sakura assured him and then sighed before speaking again. "This goes without saying but I think I'll say it anyway, I want you two to be on your best behavior. This means I don't want any trouble Naruto, and Sasuke remember you aren't on any of the Kage's good side." Naruto chuckled at that and Sakura sent both shinobi a pointed look.

Sasuke wasn't an idiot he knew the mission was important and they were sent specifically because the three of them had an important role in the war. Sasuke knew Tsunade had done well in selecting Sakura to lead their mission considering Sasuke's reputation and Naruto's lack of professionalism.

"Haruno Sakura, the Mizukage has been expecting you, right this way." The voice broke Sasuke away from his thoughts. The man before them led the three of them to a large building where they were told they would find the Mizukage.

Sakura thanked the man who led them there before walking inside both Naruto and Sasuke following her. With the man's instructions Sakura was able to quickly get to the office. Sasuke knew that if it had been Naruto they would have surely gotten lost in such a confusing building.

Sakura knocked on the door softly and opened it when getting a reply from the inside. The three of them stepped inside the office and were greeted with the sight of the Mizukage setting the paperwork aside as she turned to them with a smile.

"You must be Sakura Haruno, a pleasure to meet you." The Mizukage stood from her desk and made her way around it taking a seat on said desk.

"Same here, Lady Mizukage." Sakura spoke respectfully bowing her head slightly.

"Call me Mei." The woman's smile turned warm and she then turned her attention to Sasuke.

Sasuke remembered the woman from the Kage Summit back when he was bent on revenge and a little too far gone, not something he'd like to admit. "Well, well look who we have here… Sasuke Uchiha. I'm glad to see you've finally seen the light, a little birdy told me that it took a history lesson from the God of Shinobi for you to come to your senses. Quite the story teller he must be." Her smile turned into a smirk and Sasuke resisted the urge to narrow his eyes at the woman before him. Such an obnoxious woman. "So it seems we not only get to keep the sharingan in this world, but such a handsome man too; be sure to pass those genes of yours to the next generation." She winked.

"Hey, hey! What about me?" Naruto protested not bearing the thought of Sasuke winning in even being liked by the Mizukage.

Mei's attention turned then to the blond. "Sorry darling, not everyone is blessed with good looks." Sasuke saw the amused smile that tugged at Sakura's lips threatening to show before he decided to turn his gaze away from her.

"We've come to deliver you a scroll from Konoha." Spoke Sakura finally getting to business and handing the woman the small scroll which she placed beside her on the desk.

"Thank you three for a job well done, I apologize you had to come all the way here just to deliver a scroll." Her smile turned apologetic. "I've prepared a reservation in the name of Sakura Haruno in the hotel just outside from here, you're to spend the night and I wish you a safe trip back home." Mei cheerfully said goodbye to the three of them and winked in Sasuke's direction twice before they left the office.

Once in the hotel room Sakura threw herself on the bed in the corner closest to the door. She relished for a small moment how comfortable it was and rolled around placing herself in a sitting position with her legs crossed in front of her as she looked at her teammates.

Naruto was looking at the two remaining beds probably pondering which one he wanted to himself, but before he could choose Sasuke walked over to the bed in the other corner and took a seat.

"Hey! I wanted that one!" Naruto complained loudly and Sakura resisted the urge to giggle because she was supposed to be mad.

It was hard for her to stay mad at either of them. A year and a half had gone by after the war and it took them a while before things between them could get comfortable. She looked at the two boys bickering from across the room, a small smile on her face. Anyone who saw them now would find hard to believe how difficult it had been for things to turn out this way, it didn't come natural as some people believed.

"Would you two stop it!" She yelled at both boys who seemed to have forgotten she was still in the room.

"You always ruin all the fun Sakura." Naruto pouted.

"And you act like a child Naruto, if I don't stop you it would probably end up in a fight." She couldn't help but smile as Sasuke narrowed his eyes at her. "We'll be heading for Konoha first thing in the morning, if there aren't any setbacks we should be there by the afternoon so we should sleep soon." Sakura informed them as she proceeded to look through her backpack finding the spare clothes she had brought.

"Well I'm hungry so I'll go see if I can find a ramen shop around here." Naruto declared as he quickly left the room throwing the door behind him.

Sakura sighed before turning to Sasuke. "I'm going to wash up." She told him before making her way to the bathroom and closing the door behind her.

She quickly discarded her clothes and stepped in the shower. She let the water fall on her as she relaxed, if it were for her she would stay there all day, but after a few minutes in the shower she sighed.

Naruto could be one to skip a bath now and then even in missions, but not Sasuke and she knew that if she took too long he would start complaining. After washing herself she quickly made her way out of the shower.

She dried her hair with a towel and proceeded to put on her clothes which consisted of some black shorts and a small undershirt she usually wears beneath her red one. Taking the dirty clothes with her she came out of the bathroom a content smile adorning her lips. After putting away the dirty clothes she turned around to see Sasuke sitting on the bed with his back against the wall, his eyes closed.

"Sasuke?" Sakura called approaching his bed when he opened up his eyes to look up at her she spoke again. "I'm done; you can use the bathroom now." He continued to look at her, not moving.

After a moment he stood up from the bed slowly and proceeded to look through his backpack. Sakura turned away from him and walked over her bed when his voice stopped her.

"Sakura." He called out to her and when she turned to him she saw him looking straight at her.

"Hmm?" Sakura mumbled blinking twice, wondering what he wanted. He surprised her by taking her wrist and pulling her toward him. She was too taken aback by his actions to react.

They were close now; their faces no more than inches apart and Sakura couldn't look at anything else but him. His onyx eyes bore into hers and she could hear her heat beating loudly in her chest, she knew he could hear it too.

In a swift motion Sasuke closed the distance between them, their lips meeting in a kiss. It took Sakura a moment to process what was happening but when she did she kissed him back wrapping her arms around him. She felt as his arms wrapped around her holding her close, tangling his hands through her wet hair as he deepened the kiss. Soon enough they were out of breath, it was then that they broke off the kiss and their eyes met.

Sasuke's eyes widened after a moment and he opened his mouth to speak. "I…" He trailed off not seeming to know how to continue. He detangled himself from her gently but quickly and once again opened his mouth to speak. He shook his head, not saying anything and turned away from her walking out of the room closing the door behind him.

Sakura was left there standing in the middle of the room frozen in shock not knowing exactly how to make sense of what had happened. The lack of Sasuke's warmth made her shiver with cold and it was then that she came to the realization.

Sasuke had just kissed her.

She blinked several times before passing a hand through her hair, she was sure she wasn't going to be able to sleep any time soon.

a/n:

So a new story, yeah I know I have unfinished ones but this has been sitting in my computer for months waiting to make its appearance.

Let me know what you think of this first chapter.

Just make my day and write a little something below. ;)
You review, I update.