Standard disclaimers apply.
The author used a bit of old English so it will sound a bit er..old? Haha
Many thanks to my reviewers and readers: pureblood, gin-inu, hyousetsu, rightnow., konohaGirl,itachi's poison, icyangel, rhoda21, eliza, razslover, gina01, animemistress419, lexy499, luv's lyric, kawaii koneko92, mind at loss, blue kanji, blonde hurricane, jellybean89, ninjaxbunny, fallen blossom, blackxheart, leiral, jahannah
Something Wonderful
ACT III
There was nothing shy about the kiss that followed the contour of her lips, nor the occasional probing of a soft tongue inside her mouth. Lost in her inordinate shock, she wasn't able to reciprocate nor put a stop to the sensual feat. That was until
"Your grace, Lord Uzu.. Oh forgive me m'lord I wasn't..er.."
Hastily she broke from the kiss and would have leapt out of his arms if it weren't for the unusually strong hold he had on her waist. He moved his head to look expressionlessly at his flustered butler and two men behind him, one whistling amused blonde and another raven haired, stoic in expression.
"Geez Neji, if I had known that you were busy with Sakura, we would have post phoned the visit. And since you did give specific instructions to Filbert here to let us to your study upon our arrival, we thought you'd be free for the afternoon. Right, Sasuke?"
".."
"Give us fifteen minutes."
"My apologies again, your grace."
After an impish wink from the blonde, the three men left the room, with the butler still scarlet faced, leaving the two of them alone again. Upon noticing her refusal to speak and the telltale crimson hue on her cheeks, he remarked on it casually hoping to get an explanation. She refused to look at him in the eye but replied timidly.
"They might think we mean to kiss for the next fifteen minutes."
"Oh? What if I mean to do just that? I'm kidding of course. Sakura what we've (emphasis on the "we")done just a moment ago is just a taste of what we shall be up to for the next few months, depending on the caliber of our acting as a couple. Now if you cannot tolerate that, we have much to work on. Not that I'm complaining."
He finished his sentence with a smug grin and she felt her face heat up a few more notches. Her feelings of abhorrence for the incredibly infuriating and very suggestive duke have officially resurfaced.
"And judging from your performance, I reckon Inuzuka wasn't that good of a kisser. Or maybe you didn't do it often enough."
'How dare he!'
"We did it often enough, I can assure you that!"
'Whatever, you just gave him your first kiss.. Just wait til Tenten hears this.. '
"I guess it depends on the partner then."
The flustered appearance and shyness she was unconsciously displaying was enough for him to hypothesize that one, Inuzuka really didn't kiss her at all or that often, two, she has little experience on the acts of anything that concerned public displays of affection which leads to the conclusion that amidst the growing depravity of their society, this woman, little miss Sakura remained tantalizingly innocent. After a few more seconds of silence, he thought that a change of topic may be more appropriate for the situation. His voice was then free of jest and inflection.
"You do realize, Sakura, that in this game we play, it is best not to have any emotions attached."
"Emotions?"
"A tendre may be enough for show but it is better if you and certainly I will not deal with anything that goes beyond that point. I believe it is what you young women would refer to as love. Not that I do believe in those sort of sentiments in the first place, but it is better to be safe."
A haughty smile replaced the uncertain look she wore a while ago, sparking his interest in the inner workings of her mind once again.
"Are you trying to tell me not to fall in love with you your grace? Such worry over nothing. But if a vocalization will erase your doubts, so be it. I will never, ever fall in love with you m'lord. It shant be a problem. After all, this is purely business, and I have been known, never to mix it with personal matters."
"You seem confident in that."
She looked at the polished oak doors before bestowing her attention on him once more.
"Most certainly. Shall you see the gentlemen who called on you a while ago, your grace? It is well past the time limit you have issued."
"And who are you again, my dear?"
"Sakura Haruno, beau of his grace, the twelfth duke of Kurobara, Neji Hyuuga."
"Perfect."
--
"You sure took your time."
Naruto bestowed the most displeased look he could muster at Neji but changed suddenly into a welcoming and once more star struck look when he looked at the beauty who stood by his grace's side.
"One is really not in the position to complain, especially if one is uninvited. What brings you here anyway?"
For any other person, the statement may have been considered rude and disappointing, but this was Naruto, perseverance as tough as adamantine and skin as thick as an elephant's. And knowing for the last 23 years how his so called friend and cousin-in-law would welcome him so warmly helped a bit. Especially since Neji was this way, brutally honest and unreserved when dealing only with three people, namely: him, Shikamaru and Sasuke. The legendary set of gentlemen born to Konoha's utmost elite families.
"Ouch Neji, you hurt my feelings."
Seeing that he'd get nowhere with babying to get Neji's attention, he settled for Sakura who seemed amused.
"A pleasure to see you again, Sakura. Though I did think of another situation in which I shall be honored with your presence.."
She blushed demurely at the teasing remark, much to Naruto's pleasure. He kissed the back of her hand, while looking at Neji at the corner of his eyes.
"Much delighted, Lord Naruto."
She curtseyed politely and smiled charmingly at him. There was another man standing a few feet behind the blonde and she couldn't help but look.
"Drop the Lord, Sakura. We're friends right? And it seems that you'll be a duchess lat- er, anyways, I haven't introduced you yet to my friend! Oi Sasuke, come over here!"
"Hn.."
An eternity later, the man was standing beside Naruto, towering over her form rather easily, like Neji. Ebony hair framed his sculpted face, with eyes as dark as charcoal to match. An amused smirk was tugging at the corner of her lips and though Sakura failed to notice, Neji watched the two of them without blinking.
"This man is Sasuke Uchiha, Thirteenth Count of Monte Eschar."
"Pleased to finally meet the Sakura Haruno."
Without breaking eye contact, reminiscent of what the duke had done some time ago, he pressed his soft lips at the back of her hand, watching her reaction.
"The pleasure is mine, my lord."
'Have I met him before? He looks so familiar. Then again, with his title and all..'
"Not quite."
He still held unto her hand and looked so deviously handsome that Sakura forgot to breathe. The flirty aura Sasuke was radiating however, was immiscible with Neji's not so pleased aura. He was able to retain his composure and speak good naturedly.
"It would do you good Sasuke if you get your hands off my beau."
He slowly released Sakura's hand, brow raised at Neji, almost in a challenging manner. She on the other hand looked sheepishly at Neji.
"God Neji, up to now, you still hate sharing don't you?"
Naruto whispered to Sakura in a discrete manner as an afterthought.
"He doesn't share well with other children, especially things that really matter to him."
She was spared from answering when Naruto so gently screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Wait. Your beau! So I was right! Told you so Sasuke! Old rakey here will eventually fold someday! Right, Sakura?"
Sakura smiled knowingly at Naruto and gave Neji the warmest of smiles. Neji smirked to hide his confusion as to whether the smile was for show or truly dedicated to him, but attributed it nevertheless to her renowned acting skills.
Sasuke was looking at her enigmatically which almost made her blush but before she could make a fool out of herself, she managed to subdue the warm feelings fluttering in her chest.
'God, he's so handsome! Like Neji!'
'Stop it. BUSINESS remember!'
"So does the haute ton know? If I were you Sakura, I'd stick to Neji like glue for a while. God knows how many mothers will be bawling their eyes out when they find out one of Konoha's most eligible bachelors is attached."
She was now amused at the duke's expense. Although the reality did not escape her that Neji was indeed a great catch for any woman who wished to acquire not only wealth, but social status as well. It may sound as horribly shallow but it was the tasteless truth. Not that she ever considered him like that, or anyone else for that matter.
"It's none of their business anyway. Sakura and I don't have to make a public announcement or anything of that sort."
"Because they're bound to notice, yeah, yeah."
"You didn't answer my query regarding your presence."
Naruto's eyes shone in an unmanly manner, but almost like a child's-very endearing.
"Is it wrong if I wish to see your face my dear why I haven't seen-"
"Filbert, you can throw him out."
"I'm kidding, where's your sense of humor? Nothing really, we just wanted to know if you want to go to Ichiraku's. The others are already there, betting on the gender of Shikamaru's babe, who's getting married next after Asuma, you know, the usual. But since you have someone with you, I suppose.."
The almost forgotten occupant of the room shifted his eyes from the female's form towards his golden haired companion. In almost bored tone he drawled out.
"What the idiot means to say is that he wants to know how much money he won when he bet on you."
One brow raised and pearl eyes glaring at Naruto was all it took for the provision of an explanation.
"er.. Maybe later?"
The soft feminine voice broke the tension in the room.
"Oh please, don't let me be in your way. It will be dark soon; I really should be on my way. I'll have my coach sent, will it be alright if I borrowed a messenger, your grace?"
"I can bring you home Sakura. I'll just come back for the icicles. Right?"
He was smirking at the entirety of his humble offer, gauging Neji's reaction.
"I'll bring you home my dear. Wait here you two. And Naruto try not to mess with the furniture."
"I'll try my best!"
Sakura bowed politely to Naruto and Sasuke.
"I bid you adieu my lords. May you have a pleasant evening."
"We'll see each other real soon again, Sakura."
Emerald eyes once again looked at onyx, and a memory of the past seemed to tease her agile mind.
'Have we met before?'
The staring contest was broken by Naruto's incredibly perky voice.
"What Sasuke said. Take care of yourself, Sakura. And don't let Neji—er nevermind!"
Opal eyes regarded Naruto fiercely as if giving a warning, then looked at Sasuke blankly. Neji then took Sakura's hand placed it on the crook of his arm before leaving the drawing room.
"I told you he really likes her! Don't flirt with her Sasuke, I mean she may be Neji's only chance at happiness. After what happened with….you know.."
"Hn.."
The raven haired man opened the decanter of whisky on the table and poured himself a glass. He didn't even spare a glance to the other occupant of the room who seems to be determined to speak for the rest of the hour.
"Can you stop this rivalry with Neji? I mean what are we a bunch of ten year olds? Sasuke are you even listening?"
"Whatever."
He smiled unto the glass knowingly as he rolled the fragile glass in his hands. Surely, Neji won't better him this time. No, not this time, he'll make sure of that.
Outside the gates..
He helped her up the coach before settling himself in. The footman peered through the windows of the coach doors.
"Where to your grace?"
"Upper Brook street."
Silence dominated and only the sound of the hooves against the cobblestone pathways of the city was audible. She stilled her breathing as she tried to ponder on this sudden change of mood of the duke.
'Surely he cannot be mad.. I mean my performance a while ago may not have been my very best but.. Well, Lord Sasuke was distracting that's for sure.. But all in all, it was plausible.. Then.. But… UUggghh…'
"My lord, is there something wrong? I mean with what I have done a moment ago? That his lordships may not believe-"
"No not at all.. In fact, I believe that Naruto was completely fooled. Excellent job, Sakura.. But Sasuke, he's shrewd and a single slip up can destroy our plans. We should be careful around him."
Silence again.
"But I can see I have somehow displeased you.."
'Oh no.. He's smirking…. Alert!'
He cocked his head to the side, his oppressive mood seemingly gone replaced by his self-assured, smug, arrogant and impeccably irresistible demeanor. (what a mouthful..)
"On the contraire, my dear. You please me all too much.."
'FLIRT ALERT! God, could this man be more… insinuating? And how can I possibly have pleased him? Oh yeah.. that… …!'
"Before you get too emotional again my dear, there is one more thing I have forgotten to mention."
His voice dropped lower and his eyes, those orbs of opal which seem to be cloaked to hide whatever his emotions became serious again.
"Even if there is not a single grain of truth to this convenient relationship of ours, I will not tolerate you having ties or having a tryst with another man. And I give you my word that I shant do it as well. That is until this farce of ours ends. Have I made myself clear?"
'Is that why he's so… not himself? He was thinking I might, of all things cheat on him?….'
"My lord, we better set this arrangement of ours straight. I, under any situation shall treat this agreement with utmost care and seriousness required by a 'normal' relationship and that includes fidelity. You have my word."
He watched her emerald eyes turn glassy for a moment then normal the next. Surely she's not thinking of that stupid captain of the guards. But he won't ask her, no he wouldn't. That's her personal life and burrowing unto that would mean a step closer to something he'd rather not face, a partiality perhaps. Or maybe more.
He turned to the streets of Konoha, pondering on what would be the reaction of the entire ton when they find out that, he, the Neji Hyuuga finally found a woman worthy of himself. Tomorrow would definitely be amusing.
Meanwhile, in a dress shop across his office, a couple of women were chatting amongst themselves.
"Did you see?"
"I sure did! But isn't she the famous singer? You know, the one that was thrown off to the side by the captain of the royal guards? He is pretty good looking but not as much as his grace!"
"Oh my dear, you know what this means!"
"I think this means that my husband just lost a bet…"
Let the games begin.
A/N: Was supposed to be done earlier but I tried writing Gaara-kun (the more matured one I suppose, post revival by Chiyo). See the oneshot "Like the Sequoia", but I think I missed, by a few hundred lightyears. Oh well, if Gaara's gonna show up in this fic, prepare your smelling salts. And I wanted to write angst so instead of polluting this fic I burped out that one. That is not recommended for people with allergy to character death. Well actually no one's dead. Yet.
Hint hint, something about Neji's past! Sasuke sounds evil no? Nyahahha! Oi is that pocky? GIMMEE!
In the next chapter there'll be more of Kiba and Sasuke. HAHAHAH
Ah yes, a reviewer asked where I get to read the manga chapters. Well if you want to download the scanlations which I think amount to 3 Mb per chapter, you can go to but you have to be a member first. Don't worry, it's free. If you want to read the chapter summary which is updated every Thursday, go to , it doesn't need any membership whatsoever. Ack! The new chapter, chap 303 isn't uploaded yet. I WANT TO SEE SASUKE'S FACE! Enjoy:)
