Pairing : ItaSaku
So, I haven't written for a very long time! I was SO excited to write this when it popped into my mind. I hope to be writing more considering it's my "summer" vacation as of RIGHT NOW! :)
Reviews would be amazing! Re-write :)
Summary
Once Itachi and Sakura become of age their parents have planned for them to get married. Only problem, Itachi and Sakura go together like candy and ketchup. Not exactly the dream match... at first!
Non-massacre.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto!
The Unwilling Engagement
'My parents were involved in an arranged marriage, so were his. They found a way to fall in love, so why can't we?' thought a small pinkette girl as she walked into the Uchiha compound with her parents.
The grounds of the Uchiha compound were gorgeous. Sakura's favourite part was the gardens, which were full of roses, lilies, carnations and other flowers. The flower beds were all arranged around one cherry blossom tree.
Sakura stopped in front of the tree and stared in awe. While she did this, she didn't realize the black-haired prodigy standing right next to her.
"Kura-chan, I'd like you to meet Itachi-kun." said Sakura's mother.
Sakura jumped when she noticed the handsome boy next to her. But then just stared at the boy smiling, then she waved shyly.
But this boy did not make a move to wave back, his deep black orbs stared into her emerald ones with nothing but hatred. He was the age of 11, one year older than herself.
"It's nice to meet you Itachi-kun," said Sakura bright eyed.
He nodded in acknowledgement, but stayed silent until Sakura's mother walked away.
"What's your favourite colour Ita-kun?" asked Sakura, hoping to start up a small conversation.
"Black."
"Oh, mine's green, just like my eyes!"said the bubblegum haired girl, "Everyone says I have pretty eyes, but I think yours are much more pretty!"
Itachi stared at the girl for a moment, he thought she was absolutely brick-headed.
"Are you a ninja?" Itachi asked calmly.
Sakura stared eyes wide with wonder and nodded.
"Hn, you don't look like much, one day you will fight me so I can make sure you are worthy enough to be my fiancé."
With that said, Itachi walked away from the young girl as if nothing happened.
The girl frowned, upset that he would say something like that to her.
"Itachi, I will, prove to you that I am worthy to be yours. Unfortunately, you are a snide prick."
Two Years Later
Since their meet two years ago, Sakura did nothing but work on her ninja skills. She was the same level in skill as her other teammates Sasuke and Naruto. Her parents are very proud of her. Itachi on the other hand...
She has just came home from a mission in the wave. She was unpacking her clothes when a black bird landed on her window sill.
Dear Haruno Sakura-san,
Please come to my office at around three o' clock today.
-Hokage.
Sakura shoo-ed the bird away after she was finished reading, nervous of what Hokage-sama had to say to her.
Her parents still weren't home yet, they have been on a mission for three weeks in the sand country. Of course, they weren't allowed to tell her details. She was sure that they missed her, so she made dinner for the three of them before she was to leave for Hokage tower. They were supposed to come home today.
At around 2:45, Sakura left her house and headed for Hokage tower, staring at her feet. She was really scared to hear what Hokage-sama had to say.
'What if it's about my last mission, oh god! What if Kakashi handed in the mission report late again, and she was forced to write it with limited information...again.'
"What a drag..."said Sakura out loud.
She walked into the tower and greeted the secretary.
"Hi Inuzuka-san, how are you today?"
"Ohayo Sakura-chan, I'm not too bad." She said with a sad smile, "You may go into the Hokage's office whenever you're ready."
"Hai!"
Sakura walked up to the door until she heard voices.
"How are we going to explain this to her Hokage-sama?"
"Iruka-san, she is a ninja, she must understand that this is the ninja way."
"But she is only twelve!"
"Calm down and just watch."
Sakura hesitantly knocked on the door, wondering if they were talking about her. If they were, what were they referring to?
'The ninja way?' she asked herself.
"Come in." said an elderly voice.
When she walked in the Hokage immediately began to talk to her.
"Haruno Sakura, you have been brought here today so I can tell you about the life of a ninja." said the Hokage.
"Yes, Hokage-sama?" asked the twelve year old girl.
"Throughout a ninja's life, they are forced to risk their lives for the people they care for in the village. Each ninja, including you and your parents, has made a promise to protect this village with their lives."said the Hokage with a serious expression.
"Understood."
"The mission that your parents were sent on was an S-rank, it was very lethal."
"I understand Hokage-sama, they were both ANBU after all, but what does this have to do with the ninja way?"
"Sakura-chan, you're parents were found dead on their way back to Konoha."
Sakura backed away from the Hokage and the elders with her head down. She fell on her knees crying, and sobbing, with the repetitive word "no" constantly making it's way to her lips.
The Hokage stood up from his position, and walked towards the frightened Sakura giving her a hug. He let her cry for a good fifteen minutes until he spoke again.
"Sakura, you may live by yourself at home, but I suggest that you find another place to live with people, so you aren't alone."
There was a light knock on the door.
"You may enter." said the Hokage.
An ANBU member entered quietly, removing his mask when he saw Sakura being embraced by the Hokage. Of course, this ANBU being the one and only Uchiha Itachi.
"Ah Itachi, just the person I was looking for. Could you ask your parents if Sakura could live with you for awhile?"
Sakura stared up at the Hokage as if he just grew two heads.
"Hai Hokage-sama."
Itachi walked to the door, but stopped and waited for Sakura to join him. She stood up slowly, bowing to the Hokage. She slowly followed Itachi.
Their walk to the Uchiha compound was very quiet, until Sakura decided to speak.
"Itachi-san?"
"Hn."
"You don't have to do this, I can live by myself."
"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that."
Sakura faced the ground and stopped walking. When Itachi noticed this he stopped as well and turned araound to face her.
Silent tears made their way to the ground.
"Why?"
"Hn. You're my responsibility Sakura, we're engaged."
Sakura looked at him stone-faced. "Uchiha Itachi, you DO NOT care about me. Don't even try convincing me that it is not a fact. Since the day we have met all you have done is ridiculed me and what I am capable of. This doesn't feel like an engagement, it feels like torture!"
"Since you feel that way, I can ask my parents to terminate the engagement if that is what you chose."
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, but didn't say a word. She wiped the tears from her eyes and continued walking to the compound.
"Ita-kun?"
Itachi froze at the sound of those words. He stared at Sakura as if she shoved a katana through her heart.
"How do you feel about cancelling our marriage?"
When he didn't answer Sakura tried again, "Ita-kun?"
Itachi's eyes softened, "Sakura, I would not like to cancel our courtship."
"Why?"
"Because you are a strong woman, and I was wrong... to... to say your are incapable."
Sakura smiled and did something Itachi didn't expect her to do. She walked up to him and gave him a hug. Itachi merely stood wide-eyed with his arms awkwardly around her, as if he's never been hugged before.
They continued their walk in silence, until they reached the garden in the Uchiha compound which Sakura still secretly loved.
"It's still the same."
"Hn."
A lady with long raven hair walked up to them with a smile on her face, "Kura-chan, it's so lovely to see you again, I've missed you!"
"Ohayo Mikoto-chan."
"Ah, don't be so shy, you're part of the family after all," said Mikoto, " Will you help me with dinner Kura-chan?"
"Okay."
Sakura and Mikoto proceeded to walk towards the Japanese-style door and opened it silently. Sakura politely took off her sandals and replaced them with fluffy pink slippers.
Sakura had been there many times, and proceeded to the kitchen. Mikoto was already cleaning vegetables when Sakura walked in.
"You cut, and I'll clean, okay?"
"Hai!"
Sakura smiled, she really missed Mikoto, she was like her mother when her own mother went away on missions. Technically, she was her mother now. The realization finally sank in, that her mother and father were gone. She started to sob.
Mikoto turned her attention away for the celery for a moment to see Sakura crying. She walked over to her an hugged her.
"My parents died when I was a young age too."
Sakura shook and looked up at her smiling mother-figure, "Really?"
"Yes, and it was hard. But, what really helped me move on was the realization that they would rather me live a happy life rather than cry about their death. Plus, I was engaged to Fugaku, so talking with him helped me a lot," She smiled, " Kura-chan, I understand Itachi-kun looks as if he doesn't care. If you talk with him, you'll get closer and he will help your healing process towards your parents passing."
Emerald eyes looked up at Mikoto, " Arigato Mikoto-chan."
"Anytime Kura-chan. Now, back to chopping!" she said with a grin.
Sakura wiped her eyes of tears for the second time today, and giggled lightly at Mikoto.
When Sakura finished chopping all of the vegetables, she put them in a large pot, with chicken broth and some pre-cooked chicken. While waiting for the soup to cook they set the table and then sat down.
They told stories while waiting for it to cook, until Sasuke walked in.
"Ohayo Kaa-san, Sakura?" Sasuke looked quite baffled.
"Kura-chan, will be staying with us Sasuke under the circumstances that...well..."
"My parents are KIA."
Sasuke froze. He stared at Sakura for a moment, and then walked over to give her a hug.
"Arigato."
Sasuke sat in his usual spot beside his mother, Sakura was across from Mikoto, leaving the spot beside her for Itachi, and the spot at the head of the table beside her, to Fugaku.
Fugaku and Itachi entered the dining room at the same time.
"Ohayo," said Itachi.
"Ohayo," Sakura said calmly.
Fugaku looked at Sakura and nodded. Fugaku always favoured Sakura, but always found a way not to show it, especially around his sons.
Mikoto got up to get the pot of soup, and then placed it at the centre of the table so everyone could get at it.
The dinner table was quite silent, until Mikoto piped up.
"Kura-chan, Itachi-kun, tomorrow will you two accompany me for some shopping?"
"Hai," they said in unison.
"Ah good, I need new clothes, and going with another girl will be a treat!"said Mikoto smiling.
Sakura smiled back.
Itachi scowled.
Yay! I re-wrote it!
I felt like all the detail wasn't there and I wasn't liking where it was going. So ha!