Hello readers!! About a month, I discovered an amazing video on Youtube (I recommend that everyone on Earth watch it, just look up "Fall For You...Over again:... starsy7" on Youtube). I was watching it again a few days ago and my little sister suddenly said that I would probably get some good inspiration from listening to it (she's a writer too). And so, the idea for this story just popped into my head. Plus, this story is a good way to pull out my more grownup vocabulary and feelings and put it on paper. And so, without further ado (Gosh, I haven't said that in soo long), here is my inspired work which, once again, focuses on Sakura Haruno.
Oh, and about my other fic, "Story of Sakura," (God forgive me) but I've sort of lost inspiration. I just can't write stuff like that anymore. It bores me to the next universe. However, I will try to at least finish the next chapter, which I am currently rewriting because the first version was absolutely stupid in my eyes...
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. Naruto is Kishimoto-sensei's. DEAL WITH IT!! lol
24 year old Sakura propped her head on an elbow and stared out the car window. Her heart was heavy as she tried to control her urge to open the car door and jump out, escaping from this madness. But she couldn't run now. It was too late.
The rain was light, but she knew that in a matter of time, the heavens would be pouring.
All too soon, the car pulled up in front of a huge mansion. She continued to sit, wishing that it might just be a bad dream and that she would wake up soon. And yet she didn't awaken. This nightmare was all too real.
Her mother tapped on her window and said something in an encouraging voice. The glass and the rain thickened the words, but Sakura was able to make out, "Come on, sweetie, they're waiting!"
Sakura sighed and got out of the car. Her emerald eyes surveyed the house and she internally made a face. The thing was dark and dismal with an air of foreboding attached to it by the means of superglue.
"Sakura!"
The girl turned and noticed that her parents were already walking up the front steps. She hurried after them, vision trailed on the windows for any sign of life. Were they at the right house? Could it be that this place was just a mistake or a detour?
Mr. Haruno rang the doorbell as Sakura tidied her herself up a bit. She began to take off her thick coat and put on a smile, retaining the grimace that her inner was making.
A butler opened the door and ushered them inside and took their coats. They then found themselves in a spacious living room filled with luxurious – yet strangely colorless – furniture.
"Please sit. Your hosts will be here in a moment," the butler said with a British accent. He then left them alone.
"Are you ready, honey?" Mr. Haruno asked his daughter, hugging her shoulders.
Sakura didn't answer. She just continued to stare at her feet. For lack of anything else to do, she straightened her deep green dress for the millionth time.
Her father looked up and mouthed something over Sakura's bent head to his wife. She nodded in understanding.
"You know, I hear that he's handsome. And I'm sure that you'll get along just fine," she informed Sakura, patting the girl's shoulder.
Sakura shook her head and looked up as she heard footsteps outside. Her parents and she stood as the door opened and their hosts walked in.
The first to enter was a man with a face of granite. The second was a woman, presumably his wife. She looked sweet and kind, the opposite of her husband. And the last, the one that Sakura had been dreading the sight of… Was not there. (AN: Haha! Fooled you all!)
"Ah! Mr. Haruno!" the man exclaimed warmly, reaching out to shake the other man's hand. His eyes remained cold, despite his warm welcome. He turned to Sakura's mother. "And Mrs. Haruno! It's so good to see you again! I believe that you've already met my wife? Ah, very good, very good." He then looked at Sakura.
"This is my daughter, Sakura." Her father lightly touched Sakura's shoulder.
She shivered at the other man's searching gaze and yet managed to maintain a wavering smile. "Nice to meet you, Uchiha-san."
"I have heard a lot about you, Sakura," he said, raising his eyebrows. "Now, please sit."
They sat, however no one relaxed. Sakura and her parents sat straight and tall, showing off a pride that equaled their hosts.
"Now, I am sorry to inform you that my sons (AN: "Sons" is plural) will be coming a bit late. They got held up coming back from a conference. You know, traffic and all that…"
"Oh, that's all right. I'm sure Sakura doesn't mind, right, Saku?" Her mother turned on Sakura expectantly.
Sakura shook her head. "Oh, not at all. It's fine, really." She sighed. "I've got a few more minutes of freedom, at least," she thought.
"Ah good. Well now, I hear that you are very good at Stocks and Bonds, correct, Sakura?" Mr. Uchiha's questioning was more to avoid silence then out of curiosity.
"Yes, I enjoy it very much." Why was she here? Why was she small-talking with a person such as the owner of Uchiha and Co. anyways?
"Sakura just seems to have a knack for Scottrade. I don't know where she got it. She must be a natural." Her mother put in, smiling.
And so the conversation progressed from Scottrade to talented children, and then to musical geniuses, and so on. During this time, Sakura mostly stayed quiet, allowing the adults to carry on and throwing in only the most occasional of comments. After about an hour of just speaking in this manner, back and forth, the butler reentered to inform them that dinner was ready and that the two younger Uchihas would be coming in about ten minutes.
"Very good. Now, would you like to see the house before we eat?" asked Mrs. Uchiha daintily.
"We'd love to!" exclaimed Mrs. Haruno who was always up for more decorating tips.
Mr. Uchiha led them upstairs and began to give them the grand tour. Sakura's parents were very into it and wouldn't stop throwing out questions about the material, or the painter, or the brand. Sakura and Mrs. Uchiha, on the other hand, stayed back.
"So, are you anxious to meet your husband-to-be?" Mrs. Uchiha asked suddenly, breaking Sakura out of her reverie.
"Oh, um…" Sakura considered the question, frowning. She didn't want to lie and say that she couldn't wait, and yet, she didn't want to speak her mind either.
"I understand. I felt the same way about my husband." The woman looked to Mr. Uchiha, whose back was turned. "I absolutely did not want to be involved in an arranged marriage. It sounded so terrible. But over the years, we've somehow managed to stick through thick and thin, and have come to love each other. Remember, nothing is impossible, no matter how much it looks otherwise."
Sakura felt like hugging this new acquaintance. She understood, in a way, what Sakura was going through, and that was all that Sakura wanted. She just turned back to her own thoughts with the slightest of smiles on cherry red lips.
"Shall we go back, then?" asked Mr. Uchiha, leading them back to the main hall. He didn't need an answer.
As they all took the first steps towards the dining room, there was a creak as the door was once again opened and two people stepped into the house.
"Sasuke! Itachi! You're back!" exclaimed Mrs. Uchiha, running to embrace her precious children.
Sakura looked up, trying to retain her fear from showing on her face. Her wavering eyes went from one face to the other. The elder and taller had a grim look about him, with eyes as cold as his father's. The other was the same, and yet it was he that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Now, Sasuke, come and meet your intended!" Mrs. Uchiha pulled the younger forward and right up to Sakura.
He surveyed her with a cool gaze, not letting any emotions slip. She wasn't sure if he was disgusted or delighted.
As to Sakura, she couldn't find the strength to put two words together. He was so handsome yet, and yet so frozen, and sad. "Um… It's nice to meet you, Uchiha-san."
He frowned at the use of the honorific. "Don't use that name," was his icy reply.
She bit her lip. "I'm sorry. What should I call you?"
The other brother walked up and put a hand on Sasuke's head. "Call him Sasuke. That's what he likes his family to call him. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Itachi Uchiha. Please call me Itachi." Itachi made a bow worthy of any prince.
Sasuke growled under his breath.
Sakura nodded, smiling shyly. "Nice to meet you, Itachi." Why was she acting like this? It was like she had changed back into a 12 year old schoolgirl speaking to a crush.
Itachi smiled and turned to his parents. "So, shall we go in to dinner?"
"Oh, of course! Come right in!" cried Mrs. Uchiha as she ushered everyone into the dining room.
Sakura and Sasuke entered last. Sakura glanced to the man beside her and quickly looked away when his icy glare met her soft eyes.
As dinner began, the parents kept the conversation going. The three youngest stayed silent, not putting in much.
Sasuke stared at his plate, taking polite mouthfuls of food. If there had been an earthquake right then, he probably wouldn't have noticed for the way that he was so engrossed with his mashed potatoes and turkey.
Itachi watched his brother carefully, waiting for any sign of interest in Sakura. To his brother's annoyance, the younger Uchiha just sat there, chewing slowly and unaware of his surroundings.
Sakura stared at Sasuke, willing for him to give a sign of life. Suddenly, as if by chance, his eyes caught hers for the briefest moment. Then he was back to staring at his now empty plate.
"He… He looked at me." Sakura's expression softened slightly.
"She looks so frail." Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he cursed inwardly.
Itachi smirked when he saw the look that passed between the two. "I wonder how far this relationship will go…" he thought.
That's it, guys!! I hope you enjoyed it. PLEASE COMMENT.
P.S. Thank you, lil' sis, for helping me put this together!!