Two Sides Chapter 2: Narrowing Down the Competition, a naruto fanfic

Two Sides

Chapter 2: Narrowing Down the Competition

I walked down the aisle, rows of pews on my left and right. The scent of crushed flowers hovered in the air like a light perfume. My white dress flowed across the floor, as if I were walking on water. And all the while, the pianist (hidden from my sight) played 'Here Comes the Bride.'

I passed friends and family: my mother, father, Neji, Tenten, Hinata, Kiba, Lee, Shino, and Naruto. I spotted Ino Yamanaka on my left; when I was sure no one was looking, I stuck my tongue out at her. Her face flushed red and contorted into a snarl, but I merely smiled and lifted my eyes to the front.

My Sasuke-kun was waiting for me. He was standing straight, for once, with his hands resting by his side, instead of being tucked away in his pants. Black eyes stared intently at me, though his intentions were a mystery to me.

"…Do you, Sakura, take this man, Sasuke, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I found myself standing before Sasuke-kun, the Priest's words seeming to come from nowhere. "I do," I breathed, immediately after the priest had finished speaking. My hands were locked within Sasuke-kun's; his grip firm, and yet cool and smooth.

"And do you, Sasuke, take this woman, Sakura, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Sasuke-kun's obsidian eyes bore into my very soul. He didn't answer immediately, like I had – could it be that he would refuse?

"I do," he said finally. "Not." He thrust my hands down with such force that my hands numbed with his power. "Forget this!"

"Don't you love me," I felt the tears beginning. "Sasuke-kun?"

"I've never loved you." His voice didn't waver. "I only put up with this because of the Hokage's order. But not anymore. The Hokage can't order me against my will, and sure as hell you can't either, Sakura."

I fell to my knees, my sobs suffocating my breaths.

"Sakura," his voice became low, and I looked up into his dark eyes. A slight smirk touched his lips. "You're annoying."

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Inner Sakura's laughter echoed in my head. I wrenched my eyes open, grinding my teeth.

I was having a perfectly good daydream about my wedding, until you chose to make it a nightmare.

Close your eyes again, and I'll show you a true dream wedding…

Sighing, and deciding to temporarily placate my wild side, I complied.

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Copycat. That's the same way I dreamt about Sasuke-kun's and my wedding!

I passed friends and family: my mother, father, Neji, Tenten, Hinata, Kiba, Lee, Shino, and Sasuke. I flickered a brief smile at Sasuke, but he shifted his eyes away from mine. My smile merely grew wider, and I lifted my head to face the front.

My Naruto was waiting for me. He'd combed his hair, for once, and wore a black suite and tie. The material was rough, but he wore a silk vest which caught the light from a sunbeam. Blue eyes, as clear as the sky, danced with anticipation, his breaths coming in short rhythm.

"…Do you, Sakura, take this man, Naruto, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I found myself standing before Naruto, the Priest's words seeming to come from nowhere. "I do," I smiled. My hands were locked within Naruto's; his grip light, and yet warm and rugged.

"And do you, Naruto, take this woman, Sakura, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," Naruto agreed. His dancing eyes suddenly shifted into a deep blue. "Can we hurry it up? I heard you get free food at weddings; I want ramen!"

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I roared with laughter, unable to stop myself from meddling and altering my alter ego's idea of the wedding. Well hey, she had done the same to me. And all's fair in love and war!

Pff!

But seriously, Naruto could never comprehend the sacred vows of marriage.

But seriously, Sasuke could never uphold the sacred vows of marriage.

What?! "I won't allow you to badmouth Sasuke-kun!" I wretched my eyes open, only to see the ceiling. I flung myself into a sitting position, disrupting the thin blankets on my bed. I glared at my full-length body mirror, where a Sakura with blazing emerald eyes met my gaze. I frowned at her. She frowned back.

Sasuke is a good for nothing arrogant dastard!

I leaped up, the blankets falling off of the bed as I did so. "Take that back and apologize!" I demanded. "Naruto isn't any better! He's Konoha Village's number one hyperactive knuckleheaded ninja!" I pointed accusingly at mirror Sakura, but she merely mimicked my actions.

No, now you take it back and apologize! Fore brow head!

"Pig!" I shouted, punching at Sakura, my hand stopping only a centimeter away from her chin.

Baka!

Our hands merely met. I gritted my teeth, this time aiming with my left hand. Then right! Then left! Then right! Cha!

Cha!

"Sakura, honey!" My mother's voice floated from downstairs. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing, Mom!" I called back. I picked up a hairbrush and began to brush out my knotted pink hair. I sighed.

"Well come downstairs and help me dust, then!"

"I can't, Mom, I'm busy thinking about a strategy for a new mission I received!" I put my hairbrush down on my dresser and sighed. Geez, couldn't she leave me alone for a while? I didn't have time to be doing chores!

We need help.

We need help.

Wow, we both agree.

Yeah, that's strange.

Well let me be objective.

For once?

I'm correct in saying that I love Sasuke-kun; but you love Naruto, right?

No, I love Rock Lee!

Bushy Brows?!

That was sarcasm.

Be serious for once!

Ok, ok. I'm listening. Just hurry up and continue.

Well since I'm you and you're me, it's safe to say that I –we- Sakura Haruno, are in love with two people at once.

No duh?

How about I'll give Naruto a chance, and you give Sasuke-kun a chance? We'll be both to nice of them, and maybe –hopefully- we can come to a decision on one of them.

Nice, but one problem: I already know who Sasuke is, and you know who Naruto is. It's not like I wasn't with you during our missions and the prelims of the Chunin exam. Do you honestly expect either of us to change our minds, just like that?

Well, no, not really. But I thought, I mean, if we at least tried to like the other boy, we'd be able to reach some agreement.

Well, what the heck. It sounds fair and it's the only thing we've agreed on so far. So let's try it. But if you go back on your word and be stupid around Naruto, I'll bug you the rest of your life if you marry Sasuke!

I could say the same thing to you about Sasuke-kun, baka!

While talking to Inner Sakura, I had slipped on my red dress, with the Haruno symbol etched upon it. I opened my door, padding down the stairs, hoping my mother wouldn't see and attempt to 'recruit' me for her dusting chore. I had already reached our home's door, and found my sandals near the wall. I picked one up, lacing it on my foot, when-

Knock-knock.

I looked up at the door, setting my other sandal down. I frowned lightly. What could anyone possibly be doing at my house at this time? It was the morning – shouldn't they wait till the afternoon?

"Just a minute!" My mother called from the laundry room. At least, I think she was in the laundry room, she sounded a bit muffled and far off...

"I've got it!" I yelled back. (It was right in front of me, after all.) I opened the door to reveal –

"Kakashi-Sensei?"

"Good morning, Sakura," Sensei said, lifting his eye from his book. However his lone eye wandered behind me, instead of meeting my gaze.

"Good morning, Sensei," I blinked, remembering my manners. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, well, I was in the neighborhood... and by the way, I'm treating Team Seven to ramen at Ichiraku's tonight. Naruto and Sasuke have already agreed to come. Would you like to join us?" His single unmasked eye glinted. I caught his drift immediately.

"Thank you, Sensei. That would be wonderful." I smiled at him. But how had he known that I'd narrow it down to Sasuke-kun and Naruto? Or was it just a lucky guess? Sensei really was helping me, big time. If the three members of Team Seven went out, it wasn't as awkward as say, me asking the two out on a date. And it seemed like a normal thing for a team leader to do.

Cha! Score!

"Well, I'll see you tonight at six, then." I could see Kakashi-Sensei's smile through his thin mask.

"Goodbye," I nodded.

As Kakashi-Sensei turned to leave, I closed the door and sighed. Tonight... Nothing would probably happen, but if it helped me narrow down my decision, even just a little bit...

I'll give Naruto a chance.

And I'll give Sasuke a chance.

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A/N: I thought that I'd just like to say, both fans of Naru/Saku and Sasu/Saku should stay till the very end, because… a lot of strange stuff happens. Yes I know I'm very descriptive. But seriously I don't want to say too much, so whether you support either pairing, just sit tight till the last chapter.

I woke up to find my inbox full of reviews, alerts, and favorites... Thank you everyone.

Next chapter, Sasuke and Naruto are actually in it, I swear...

So uh, I was so excited last chapter I forgot to do acknowledgements; I'll edit them in when I'm not lazy sometime. So here they are for this chapter:

Acknowledgements: I do not own Naruto! Or any of its related characters.