Love and politics
A/N: Hey! How 'ya doin'? You know what? I have been admitted to one of the best universities in Poland to study Japanese! I'm sooooo delighted! Since this is the Happy Case, I decided to do something for FFN so that people there could also be happy! That is why I came up with this idea. It is dedicated to my OTP (One True Pairing), which is SasuSaku of course! My debut in this fandom wasn't maybe the best, but I promise I'll try my best to please you all this time. I'm here to write for you. This is why I've been born in the first place.
So, as I love writing fairy tales, this is one. There are princes, princesses, love motifs, fights and much much more. Enjoy reding it as much as I enjoy writing it!
Disclaimer: No, I do not own Naruto. However, I love Sasuke-kun.
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Chapter One: To marry or not to marry? That is the question…"Your suggestion is pretty interesting, I must say."
"I thoguht you'd consider it that way. But in my opinion, it is the best solution to avoid any future conflicts between our countries."
"My nephew has suggested this earlier actually…though I'd never thought of it seriously until now. Does your son know?"
"Not yet. But his brother Itachi says it is a good idea indeed."
"Well, you need the approval of your younger son, Sasuke."
"As well as you need the approval of your daughter."
"Hinata will obey everything I tell her to do. No need to worry."
"So is it decided then?"
"Yes. This marriage will put an end to any conflicts that might awake in the future."
There was a laugh and the same man added:
"Political marriages are quite popular these days, aren't they? I am positive that we are doing the right thing."
"I share your opinion. I hope they will be happy together…even if they are going to be married not out of love."
"Love doesn't matter in politics, my friend."
"Very true."
The decision on that matter had apparently been ultimately made, since the men started discussing the details of the wedding ceremony.
Behind the closed door to the room where they were talking there were standing two young people. Needless to say, they were eavesdropping to their hearts' content. Or maybe 'content' was an infelicitous word there. The boy and the girl raised their heads. White and black eyes met, both sharing the same horrified expression.
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"What are we going to do, Sasuke-san?"
"The hell if I know!" he kicked a chair standing in front of him.
Princess Hinata and prince Sasuke were currently having a gloomy conversation as concerns their set up marriage. Neither of them wanted it, but also neither of them knew how to avoid it.
"Hinata-san…" Sasuke rubbed his forehead with exhaustion. "It's nothing personal, but I can't marry you."
"I know, Sasuke-san… But…what can we do…"
Sasuke dropped his gaze. The princess was his friend. They'd known each other since their childhood times. But…he really didn't want to marry her. She was nice and pretty, but…but simply 'no'. She just…wasn't his type.
He, on the other hand, was every woman's type. Handsome, intelligent, strong, talented and rich – all those would make any girl in the world want to marry him. However, Hinata-hime was a quite different case. Well, maybe she wouldn't object to the marriage…had she not met somebody else before…
"Hinata-san."
"Yes, Sasuke-san?"
"You know that today is a ball, at which we both must appear?"
"Yes, I know…"
"During the ball…act as if we didn't know anything. Our marriage has not been formally announced, after all."
Hinata nodded in understanding. "Yes, Sasuke-san."
"Good." He started walking towards the door. "Use the time that you have to think of a solution to get out of this mess, Hinata-san. I shall do the same."
"Right, Sasuke-san…"
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"Come on, quickly!"
"What is your problem, Ino-pig? I can't run that fast!"
"If we don't hurry up, we're gonna miss him!"
"Just what about this guy is so special that you absolutely need to show me?"
"You'll see for yourself."
"And what if we get caught?"
"Shut up, Shikamaru. We won't get caught. Unless that Forehead Girl is so slow that they will notice us the moment we get into the castle terrains."
"Hey! How dare you insult Sakura-chan!"
"Keep your big mouth shut, Naruto. You're gonna blow our cover."
"Hey! Take that back!"
"Would you two ever stop fighting? So troublesome…"
The four of them reached the castle walls. The blonde girl knew where there was a big hole in the wall. Hidden behind some tree and bushes, it allowed them to cross the border of the castle realms. They were inside, finally. They kept sneaking behind the bushes circling the castle and its grounds. Having reached the big bailey, they stopped, still hiding within the green.
As you might've already noticed, they were no aristocrats. In fact, they represented the lower class of the society. Those four were just villagers who wanted to have some fun and above all, to see the royal family. Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Uzumaki Naruto. Those are the names of those who dared to step into the landed estate of the king without showing a proper invitation first.
"How do you know that he'll be here?" asked Sakura.
"Because they are having a big ball tonight. He needs to be at the ball, right?" replied Ino, stretching her neck to seek for the one mentioned.
"But but but Sakura-chan! Don't you think I'm better for you than some prince guy?"
"Shut up, Naruto."
"Hey, hey Sakura!" Ino's eyes lit up. "It's him! Look, it's really him!"
The pink-haired girl turned her head to look at the boy her friend was talking about.
"It's really him!" Ino was so excited that she just couldn't stay silent. "It's prince Sasuke!"
"We know who this is," Naruto crossed his arms. "Why do we have to watch him anyway?"
"Be patient," Shikamaru whispered into his ear. "It always works. Besides, it's just a prince. He's out of Sakura's reach. Don't worry about it."
Good thing that none of the girls could hear him. Ino's eyes sparkled at the sight of Uchiha Sasuke. Sakura was just watching him in silence. However, her emerald eyes held the same interest as her friend's ones did, though they did not sparkle.
"Hey!" Naruto suddenly leaned forth to see better. "It's princess Hinata!"
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The ball was actually intended to announce the news about Hinata and Sasuke's soon-to-come marriage. As such, they were ordered by their fathers to always stay together until the moment to make the announcement comes. Both of them were very careful not to betray their feelings on the matter. But sometimes, when their gazes met, either in dancing or just accidentally, they expressed what they really thought about this all and just how helpless they both were.
Trying to make the best of a bad job, Hinata was smiling at her partner. However at the same time her thoughts were occupied by somebody else…
Suddenly she heard her name from the nearby. She turned around and her eyes grew wider as she recognized the person.
It was a flash of memory.
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She was riding in her carriage through the crowded village. She reached the market place and ordered to stop the carriage. She looked through the window to watch a boy juggling with oranges. She giggled quietly. She'd always liked those kinds of things.
Suddenly the boy stopped. Hinata followed his gaze and saw four soldiers running towards the juggler.
He tried to escape, taking cover behind market stalls and carts. The princess watched as the soldiers chased after him, never being able to catch him. He stuck out his tongue at them and kept running around. But his luck eventually passed. He tripped over when he tried to jump off a cart and fell onto the ground. They were beside him in an instant. They lifted him up. He struggled to break free, but all of his efforts were in vain.
Then a girl stepped in front of the soldiers. All five froze. The soldiers saluted (as much as it was possible). The boy rised his head to look at her. He saw white eyes, gazing at the soldiers with determination.
"What is the fault of this boy here so that you come after him and bind him immediatelly?" she asked. Her voice was gentle, but decisive.
"Your Highness, what this boy does is against the law. His actions come within the provision of the law of public disturbance."
"Do you mean juggling?"
"And many other, Your Highness."
"I see." She dropped her gaze, thinking for a moment. "Free him."
"I…I beg your pardon, Your Highness?"
"I said to free him, captain."
"Y…Yes, Your Highness!"
The soldiers stepped aside, letting go of the boy. He straightened himself and looked at his rescuer.
"Who are you, lady?" he questioned, surprised.
The captain gasped at such rudeness.
"How dare you adress Her Highness directly?!"
"Are you a princess?" the boy caught only the words 'Her Highness'.
"Yes…" she stammered, blushing a bit. "I'm…I'm Hinata, a princess from a neighbouring country. I'm a guest of yor king."
"Wow…" the boy's big blue eyes widened in awe.
"What…what is your name?"
"My name? Oh! I'm Naruto! Uzumaki Naruto."
Hinata smiled shyly at the boy. His eyes were still shining after he discovered the fact that she was a real princess. Then he heard someone calling his name. It was Sakura. Naruto bowed to Hinata in rush.
"Thank you for the rescue, Your Highness!"
He turned around and run towards his friend. However, he stopped in the halfway.
"See you some other day!" he shouted to the princess and waved her goodbye. Then he disappeared with his friend behind a corner. Hinata watched him until the last moment, completely ignoring the indignation of the captain.
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Hinata was violently snapped out of her thoughts with a loud shout:
"Intruders! After them!"
She noticed several guards running towards the blonde boy and his friends.
She just hoped he could make it in time to get out of the danger.
"You stupid asshole!" screamed Ino. "You've blown our cover!"
"I'm sorry!" Naruto shouted back when they were already running for their lives.
The distance between them and the hole in the castle wall proved to be quite big. Especially as the guards were chasing after them. However, it wasn't like they'd never been chased after before, so they were, so to say, skilled in getting out of the mess unharmed.
Few minutes later they reached the hole.
"Where the hell is Sakura?" asked Ino, looking around.
They noticed the pink-haired girl far behind them. What she said earlier wa true: she couldn't run fast.
"What on Earth is she doing?!"
Sakura tried her best to catch up to her friends, but it was too late already. The guards reached her when she was still about 150 meters away. They caught her, preventing her from escaping.
"Sakura!" shouted Ino, but she was quickly pulled away.
"Come on! We can't help her now!" said Shikamaru.
"But Sakura-chan is…"
Shikamaru grabbed Naruto's arm as well and he dragged the two along with himself through the wall. Then he forced them to run away.
"They will probably let her out, she hasn't done any harm to anyone," he assured them.
"But Shikamaru…"
"Come on!"
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"This is the girl, Your Highness."
Sasuke came to see the intruder. The guards led him downstairs and showed him the cell where Sakura was being kept.
She lifted her head to look at him. He eyed her indifferently.
"Why have you trespassed the castle grounds?" he asked her coldly.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," she answered quietly. "I…I'm just a village girl… I didn't mean to do any harm to anyone…"
"What shall we do with her, Your Highness?"
Sasuke gazed at the girl. Sakura looked back. Their eyes met and there was a long moment of silence.
"Leave her like that for the time being," he decided finally. "I'll think about it later."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
With that, the prince left the prison. Sakura followed his silhouette with her gaze until the door closed behind him. She then curled up on the ground and hugged her knees.
What are they going to do to me…?
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Sakura spent the whole evening and half of the night in the cell. Grim thoughts occupied her mind as she stared at the small window above in the thick wall. She didn't know what she was going to face in the morning. Will she be charged with trespassing? She just hoped that the punishment wouldn't be harsh…
Suddenly she noticed somebody walkingo towards the guards. It was a rather small figure, wearing a hooded cloak. Sakura sat up straight, waiting for the visitor to arrive. She saw the figure talk to the guards. She was surprised to see that after a short conversation they left the corridor, leaving just the prisoner and the guest.
The mysterious person looked around to be sure that they were completely alone and then walked up to Sakura's cell. Kneeling just behind the bars, the person took off the hood. Sakura gasped at the sight.
"Your Highness!"
"Shh!" Hinata nervously hushed her. "They cannot know I'm talking with you."
"Who cannot?"
"Anybody."
Sakura blinked in surprise. "So…how can I help you, Your Highness?"
"I…" the princess stutteres a little. "I just came to ask you…to talk to you…about that boy, Uzumaki Naruto…"
This was something Sakura would never expect. It became clear when her eyes widened to maximum. "Naruto?"
Hinata nodded. "Yes… I saw him with you. Today, and that other day as well. You called him back then, remember? He was talking with me and you called him."
"Ye…yes, I remember. But…why are you asking me about Naruto, Your Highness? Has he…has he done something wrong?"
"No, no… It's just that…" Hinata blushed. "I just…"
Sakura looked at her white eyes, which were currently staring at the ground.
"You like him, Your Highness, right?" she asked with a gentle smile.
There was an ever so slight nod on the princess' side.
"I just…wanted to meet him again… And then I thought that I could ask you for help, because it looks like you two are friends…"
"You Highness, with all due respect, I can't help you now," replied Sakura somewhat bitterly. "I can't go out of here. I have to wait until prince Sasuke decides what to do with me. I'm sorry."
"I will talk to him," promised Hinata. "He's my friend since time immemorial, he'll listen to me. Besides, I think he doesn't have time to deal with you anyway…"
"Does he have some problems, Your Highness?" Sakura suddenly got more interested.
Hinata nodded sadly. "Truth to be said, we both have a problem. You might've heard about it… They want us to get married."
"Who? You and prince Sasuke?"
"Yes. This is a decision that our fathers have made, never asking us about our opinion. We do like each other…but we really don't want to get married…and neither of us knows what to do…"
"But Your Highness," Sakura tried to comfort her. "I think prince Sasuke would be a great husband. He's handsome and…"
"I don't want to marry Sasuke-san," stated Hinata with a firmness very unusual of her. Sakura understood what she was trying to say.
"Because you like Naruto, right?"
"Yes…" the princess looked helpless. "I don't know how to avoid that marriage…"
"Your Highness," said Sakura. "I want to help you. If you help me out of this prison, me and my friends will surely find some solution. We have faced worse situations, believe me," she gave her an assuring smile.
Hinata gazed into the girl's emerald eyes and smiled back. She knew she could rely on her.
"What is your name?"
"Oh…Sakura. Haruno Sakura."
"Sakura…" repeated the princess. "It's a nice name."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
They looked each other into the eye.
"I promise I'll get you out of here."
"Thank you, Your Highness. And please don't worry. We still have some time. We'll think of something. And also, if you wish, I could take you to Naruto. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you again, Your Highness."
They both smiled and Hinata said:
"Thank you, Sakura."
"You're welcome, Your Highness. I'm glad that I can help you."
The princess stood up. "I'll talk to Sasuke-san in the morning. You should be free by tommorow evening."
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A/N: The beginning is there. I guess the story will have about five or six more chapters. I know that there is so much NaruHina there, but hey, it's necessary for the plot. So don't worry. I like NaruHina, but of course not as much as SasuSaku. And since this fic is dedicated to SasuSaku, there is going to be more of it in further chapters. What form it is going to take on is what you have to see for yourselves… For the time being just be happy with what we have so far and wait for the second chappy!
Review please!