Of Desperation and Devotion

Disclaimer: Eventhough it breaks my heart to say, I do not own Naruto. (hmmmmp…)

A/N: Hey guys, it's me once again. Gosh, I'm overwhelmed by your comments for my 3rd chap. I thought its too much drama and stuff. I was ready to receive flames. Hehehehe . . .Thank God for small miracles. Weeeeehh . . . Anyways as what I have promised ODAD's chap 4 will (hopefully) blow your mind. You don't know how much I prepared for this chapter. Basically, because of the events of this chapter the whole ODAD was born. Hmmm . . . I really put a great effort in this chap. You should see me while I'm writing this, my hair is tangled, I've got circles under my eyes, aching back. My bed is full of notes and pocketbooks for references and my trusty companion during long nights (it's not a man. It's just cigarettes. Hey, hey, hey, I'm at a legal age so please don't glare at me.) Before I start with the chapter 4 I would like to make some notes for easy reading of my upcoming chapters. I noticed (actually it's my brother who pointed out to me) that it is sometimes confusing to distinguish normal conversation and thoughts in my preceding chapters. Please refer below to the notes for easy reading. Anyway without much further ado, I present you chapter 4 of Of Desperation and Devotion entitled Decisions (The Uchiha – Haruno Wedding)

Notes for readers:

"Charliette" – thoughts or flashback

"Charliette" – normal conversation

Chapter 4: Decsions (The Uchiha – Haruno Wedding)

She lay down on her bed and for the nth time, she let her mind dwell on the conversation she had with Sasuke hours ago. She still can't believe it. She is deep, deep SHIT. It is like choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea or in her case between her greatest dream and self-fulfillment and independence.

"The price for my freedom Sakura, you have to pay the price."

"What is it?" Sakura asked but deep inside she has already shivering in fear. She almost knew what Sasuke was going to say.

"The price of my freedom is for you to resign in being a ninja."

She tried to shut the image of a menacing looking Sasuke. After he said what is going to be the price of his freedom, he had glared hard at her when she didn't react. When her silence lasted for several minutes, he just told her to inform him if she already did it. With that he took off without saying goodnight leaving a distraught Sakura at the training grounds.

Exhausted from the emotional turmoil that she went throughout the day, she cried herself to sleep.

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5 Days after their talked with Tsunade (9 days before the wedding) …

Sakura dragged her exhausted body out of the Konoha Hospital. She was very, very tired. Earlier that afternoon a squad of jounin came back from a mission. They had a class A mission and were ambushed by missing nins. They were outnumbered resulting to 3 of their members to have serious injuries, two of them needed surgery. As head of the Emergency and Surgery Department, she personally performed the surgery for the most serious injury. The jounin had a punctured lung due to broken ribs, a broken right arm and left leg, a concussion and a large wound in his left side. It took 4 hours to completely heal him. Thank god, his condition was lowered from high critical to stable.

"I'm so tired." She thought. But instead of heading to the direction of her apartment, she went towards the bar where they had their get together during THAT fateful night.

The gang threw out a little party for them, a sort of get together again and a farewell for Sakura and Sasuke's single living. There is still tension between their friends and Sasuke but they are on speaking terms without trying to pummel Sasuke to death.

Sakura glance at her attire and shook her head. Thinking that what she is wearing is not an appropriate for a party. She was wearing khaki working pants and a blue tube. Over it she wore a khaki jacket. "Darn, I forgot to even comb my hair." She tried to tame her pink locks into the messy bun on her nape. "I look harassed. Naruto will not like this." She was thinking of what Naruto would say. He will usually comment on her appearance especially if she works herself too much. And that is not far from the fact. She was basically living in the hospital these past few days, trying to submerge herself to work away from the snide comments of some people she met in the street. To try and drown Sasuke's menacing image. To exhaust herself so that she will not wake up the next day and face the mess she made.

But life is too cruel to Sakura, No matter how hard she submerge herself to work, how hard she will pretend deaf to the snide remarks around her, how desperately she tries to block Sasuke' image it still haunts her. She will always find herself crying again to sleep, she always hear whispers behind her back, she will always see Sasuke's image everytime she tries to relax. "Dammit" she cursed. Life is definitely hard on Haruno Sakura.

Her string of thoughts were cut off when she found herself outside the bar, she pushed the door and roamed her eyes inside trying to find her friends in the blinking lights.

"Hey Sakura-chan, over here." Naruto yelled over the loud music.

She spotted Naruto and walked over their table. She saw Naruto sitting besides a smiling Hinata. Ino and Shikamaru, as always are seated side by side and almost tipsy. Lee smiled at her and went back talking to Tenten. Kiba waved at her from the dance floor. Sasuke is at the far end of the couch brooding in front of a cup and a sake bottle and from the looks of it, somewhat tipsy. She noticed some of the gang is missing and asked Hinata about it.

"Chouji and Shino are on a mission and so is Neji-niisan. But he is expected to be back tonight."

"Ahhh.. okay." Her eyes drifted to Sasuke who is still on contemplating on his sake.

She let out a sigh and just shook her head.

"Sakura-chan, you look tired. Have you been sleeping in the hospital again? I told you that you work too much." Naruto commented.

"And you don't work too much?" she asked back

"At least I still get to have fun and go home to Hinata-chan and eat her homemade ramen. Not to mention that I still have time to make heirs. Hehehehe . . ." the blonde hokage smiled sheepishly and stole a kiss from his blushing wife. After a year of marriage, Hinata would sometimes blush on the affections her husband shows her.

"Yeah, yeah, stop it you two. You look like 12 years old." She smiled

"Jealous, Sakura-chan, maybe you should give teme some looooove." The comment instantly bought Sakura's face to seriousness.

"Hey, I was just joking Sakura-chan" Naruto said hastily when he saw Sakura's serious face. "But really Sakura-chan, you really work too hard, you have bags under your eyes, you looked like you just wrestled with a bear and I bet those clothes are two days old." Naruto commented while looking at her disheveled appearance, messy hair, wrinkled hair and all.

"There is just too much work in the hospital, Naruto. Emergencies and surgeries I have to perform these past few days and I didn't have time to pay attention to my appearance."

"Are you sure that is the reason for your hermit-like attitude and your not hiding from him." He nodded his head towards Sasuke.

"Ahhh, Umm . . . Naruto-kun, you promised me not to intervene, right? So just cut it out. We had meddled enough in their lives; give them a chance to fix it by themselves." HInata said to her husband

"Hai, Hinata-chan" Naruto said and hugged his wife.

Suddenly, a feedback from a mike sounded and a booming voice erupted over the music. Kiba had just taken the stage and was holding the mic in one had and a cup of sake on the other. Akamaru was yapping under his feet. Obviously, he's a little too tipsy.

"Everyone, may I have your attention please. I would like to propose a toast to the newly engage couple of the Rookie Nine, Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura. Come on guys, please stand up." Kiba urged them

Sasuke was tipsy and still brooding on his sake cup was elbowed by Shikamaru and Sakura was urged by Tenten and Lee who were nearest to her.

The two stood up to be acknowledged by the crowd.

'There you have it guys, the newly engaged couple. May you have a blessed, fruitful and blisssssssful marriage life. Cheeeeeers!" Kiba said with a wink. Everyone laughed at his action.

After his little show, Kiba approached the table and eyed Sakura who was blushing lightly.

"Hey, Sakura-chan, wassup? So how was engaged life, is that bastard treating you right? Ohhh, lemme see you ring." Kiba jump from one question to another. He was having incoherent thoughts because he was a little too tipsy.

Sakura stiffened and bowed her head. When kiba saw that Sakura did not move, he took the liberty of grabbing her hand to inspect her engagement ring.

Viola, Sakura's hand was ringless. Kiba knotted his forhead and look inquiringly at Sasuke.

As if being ordered, Sasuke grabbed the hand that Kiba was holding and shoved a small blue velvet pouch to Sakaura.

"Here." Sasuke said and then went back again to brood over his sake.

Sakura reached into the pouch and saw a ring made of platinum, with a ruby and a diamond. The stones are cut and arranged to form the Uchiha symbol.

Even feeling slightly elevated, she still can't help but feel disappointed and hurt because of the way that Sasuke has given it to her.

"He just handed it as if it was the next mission detail scroll." She winced inwardly.

Kiba, with his annoying tipsy self again was meddling. "Oi, Sasuke, why don't you take Sakura to the dance floor and dance with her. It will be you first dance as engaged couple."

Starting to feel irritated, Sasuke stood up.

"Fine, If that what it takes to shut you up." He said and grabbed Sakura's hand and pulled her to the dance floor.

A gasp was heard from Sakura's lips before she was hauled away by Sasuke.

They arrived at the dance floor just in time for the music to change to a slow romantic one.

Sasuke took her right hand into his left and snaked his right arm around her tiny waist. They were dancing together, slightly rocking from side to side. This was too formal for engaged to dance in a bar.

"Darn, Sasuke is dancing with me but even this close he still managed to put a wall between us." Sakura thought.

Sasuke saw Sakura bit her lip and his jaws clench. Obviously, she's feeling awkward with the whole situation. He just shrugged it off and proceeded to dance but still keeping his indifference towards Sakura.

---

---

Back at the table . . .

"You know what Kiba you are such as ass." Tenten said to Kiba.

"Nani?"

"Why did you put Sakura up in a difficult position?"

"Yeah, why did you? We are lucky she hadn't fainted in the dance floor. Are you dense? Can't you feel the tension between them?" Ino added

"Well . . ." the dog boy could just scratch his head.

Shikamaru eyed his two friends at the dance floor before commenting "Hon, do you think Sakura-chan is too thin now? I wonder if she's eating regularly." The shadow user said with concern.

"You know you are right Shika-kun, Sakura is too thin right now. She's been working her butt off at the hospital these past few days."

"You think she's worried about Sasuke backing out on their wedding?" Lee asked

"I don't know . . . but definitely something is bothering her." Ino anwered

"Naruto-kun, have you talked to her lately?" Hinata asked her husband

"Nope, hinata-chan, I couldn't get hold of her. She's been busy at the hospital."

"I think you should talk to her to know if she's alright."

"Yeah, I'll do just that." Naruto said and glanced again to Sakura and Sasuke dancing at the dance floor.

---

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Back to our newly engaged couple . . .

The music just ended and a new one started. It was a slow sensual one just like the one that she and Neji danced in that fated night.

Sakura let go of Sasuke's hand and started to turn only to be stopped by a hand on her wrist. A surprised look crossed over Sakura's face when Sasuke pulled her intimately close to his body.

"Sasuke, what are you doing?" she asked feeling confused of Sasuke's actions

"Dance"

"I can't I'm too tired. I'm sure one dance is enough to shut Kiba up."

"No. Dance."

"Please, Sasuke-kun. I'm really tired." She pleaded.

He shook his head and said "Dance for me."

Her eyes widen when she heard what Sasuke had said.

"Dance for me. Dance with me just like what you did with Hyuuga." He insisted.

Sasuke started moving sexily in front of her while his hands found her hips holding it possessively. Sakura was still too shock to move.

"Why aren't you moving.? Come on, Sakura, this may be a dream come true to be dancing with me." He sneered

Sakura stiffen in his arms.

"Still too tired to dance with you fiancée or it is because I'm the one you are dancing with and not Hyuuga?" he said viciously

As if a bomb has just blown in front of her face, Sakura winced at the words Sasuke had just said.

"Yes, I'm just too tired and no, it's not because you are not Neji." Sakura answered

"Is that true?" he eyed her

"Yes it is, so will you kindly let go of me so I can go back to our table?" Sasuke was taken aback by Sakura's reply. Her spirited nature resurfaced and surprised him. The arms around Sakura's hips loosen. She took it as an opportunity to pry herself from Sasuke's arms and hurriedly walked away from the dance floor.

Instead of stopping in front of their table, she just said a hasty goodnight to them and hurried towards the door leaving her friends wondering what happened to her.

When Sakura had gotten herself out of the crowded bar she took a deep breath and ran towards the river where the team 7 once spend a day cleaning it.

When she arrived at the riverbank she let go of the tears she was holding back. She kneeled and doubled over while crying. Anguished, pain wrecking sobs escaped the very distraught girl. Tension and emotional torment has taken its toll on her and she can't do nothing but let it all out.

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On the streets on Konoha . . .

Neji was walking to the bar where their gang had their get together party a few days ago. He just went back from a mission and was trying his luck to catch up on his friends at the bar. Hinata had left a note that they are meeting in the bar tonight to celebrate Sakura and Sasuke's engagement and if ever he feels like coming after getting back from his mission he just meet them there.

"So, Uchiha agreed to marry her." He concluded her.

He can remember what Sakura look like when Sasuke announced THAT morning that he has no intention to marry her.

"I wonder what it took to make Uchiha agree."

Just when he was about to turn on a corner, a wisp of pink hair caught his attention while running towards the different direction.

"Wait, was that Sakura? She seems upset. I bet it because of Uchiha."

He decided to follow her.

He found her at the riverbank kneeling and crying her heart out.

"I thought you'll be at the bar with the gang celebrating your engagement." Neji said to Sakura

Sakura hastily tried to wipe her tears away but did not turn to look at Neji.

"I was, I just went here to get some fresh air."

"So you are not crying a while ago?" he asked

"No, I wasn't."

"You're a bad liar Sakura."

"Lay off, Neji." She warned him

"Hey, I'm on your side. He's still cold towards you?"

"Ummm.."

"Is that a yes?"

"Just let it go, Neji. I don't need another person to pester me. I'm about to fall asleep on my feet. I'm dead tired and I really want to take a rest so please. . ."

"Okay, Sakura."

They stayed quiet for several minutes until Neji again broke the silence.

"You know what Sakura, he doesn't know how fortunate he is to have you for a wife. A top kunoichi and a med-nin who trained under Tsunade, tsk, tsk, tsk not to mention you're a hot one." He teased her.

"Not for long. . ." she murmured.

"Come again? What do you mean not for long?"

"I'm resigning Neji."

"Hnn . . . that's understandable, you are going to help rebuild the Uchiha clan and being always on call will have effects on your marriage life. At least, you get to take missions even though you're not a department head anymore." Neji totally misunderstood her.

"No Neji. I'm resigning as a ninja." She silently corrected him.

"What? How can that be? You are the best kunoichi and med-nin jounin, you even went with the ANBU once. You are on the peak of your career, why resign?" he said eyeing Sakura. She just shook her head and tried to muffle a sniffle. "oh I see, its Uchiha isn't it? He was the one who told you to resign so that he'll marry you."

Silence again answered him.

"Damn Uchiha Bastard. Look Sakura, if you don't want to resign then don't. He can't force you to do something you don't want."

"I can't, Neji. I promised I'll do it. But I'm afraid of Tsunade's and Naruto's reaction." She cried.

"Oh Sakura, you really in a mess." He said and gathered her in his arms.

Unaware, the two did not notice a pair of red eyes narrowed in the shadows among the tree.

---

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Two days before the wedding . . .

Sakura found herself in front of Tsunade's door. She knocked and entered.

"Oi Sakura, Shizune told me you want to see me. Anything wrong?"

"Umm.. good morning Tsunade-sensei, I was going to give you this. I am hoping you will not reject it." She handed Tsunade a white envelop

"What's this?" Tsunade opened the envelope and read the letter inside. Her eyes went wide and automatically went to glare at Sakura. "Is this some kind of a sick joke? Are you getting even with what I did with you and Sasuke?" Tsunade is on the verge of exploding.

"No sensei, effective today, I am resigning my post as the head of the emergency and surgery department and as a ninja of the village of Konoha."

"But why? If you are thinking that you can't handle the pressure and the missions while married to Sasuke I can arrange that you will be given less high rank missions. Did you think about this?" Tsunade was pleading and reprimanding Sakura.

"It would be hard for me to have this kind of job while helping Sasuke rebuilds his clan" She said and bowed her head afraid that the Hokage will see the tears brimming her eyes.

"Is that your reason Sakura? Or SAsuke put you up with this?" the blond sannin ask her student.

"It's my decision. Sasuke has nothing to do with this. Please sensei, allow me to resign." Sakura answered, her head still bowed.

The sannin eyed the pink haired nin. She thought she's too thin nowadays and she could feel she's very tense. "What going on with you Sakura?" She let out a sigh before she gave her answer

"I could not allow you to resign, Sakura but instead I will give you an indefinitely leave of absence from your post as a jounin and as a dept head. You are on an indefinite sabbatical right now. Chirika could fill you in while you are on leave." Tsunade said

"But . . ."

"No buts Sakura, my decision is final."

"Thank you Tsunade-sensei, I will go now." She bowed and took her leave. She feel somehow relieve that she was not loosing her job but at the same time worried. "Sasuke will not like this." She thought while walking away from the Hokage's office.

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At Sakura's apartment . . .

She was fixing her dinner when she remembered that Sasuke told her to let him know if she had already handed her resignation to Tsunade. She decided that she'll bring him dinner and at the same time tell him about Tsunade's decision.

When she finished fixing Sasuke's dinner, she took her keys and locked the door.

"I hope Sasuke will like what I have prepared. If that happens, at least he'll be a little mellow when he hears what I have to say to him . . . I think." Sakura said to herself while walking to Sasuke's apartment. She was feeling apprehensive in going to Sasuke's apartment but she decided that she would take steps to at least establish some 'civil relationship' with Sasuke before they are married.

"I also hope he's not mad at me for taking off the night of the party."

She arrived at Sasuke's apartment and knocked at his door. Moments later, there is still no reply. She wondered if Sasuke was not around. However, she saw that the lights are on. She tried the door and found it wasn't looked so she turned it and pushed it open.

The next thing Sakura heard was a loud thud of that Sasuke's dinner made when it hit the floor. Her eyes watered and she can't believe what she saw.

What had greeted her when she opened the door was like a scene out of a movie.

There in the couch is Sasuke, obviously home but not alone. Misao was on his lap. The two was kissing each other senseless. Misao's jounin jacket is on the floor while Sasuke is shirtless. Both of them are enjoying each other and are too busy to notice that the door opened. The couple only parted when they heard the gasp from Sakura's lips and the loud thud from Sasuke's dinner.

Sasuke was surprised to see Sakura at the door while Misao, still shamelessly on top of Sasuke's lap just smirked at her. Not taking the scene anymore, Sakura turned and ran away.

Tears were clouding her vision. She ran aimlessly letting her feet take her anywhere, anywhere away from Sasuke. She grew tired and leaned her back on a trunk of a tree. She opened her eyes only to find out that she was at the Cherry blossom grove once again.

"What a coincidence, nearly two weeks ago, I was here crying my heart out on Naruto because I can't have Sasuke and now, here I am once again still crying eventhough I'm about to marry him." She smiled sarcastically in the irony of it.

She closed her eyes trying to block away all the bad things that are trying to intrude her mind. But most of all, she tried her best not to think about the scene she saw at Sasuke's apartment. Even though she had her eyes close, the damn tears are still seeping through her eyelids and rolling down her cheeks.

A hand brushed the tendrils of her hair that fell on her face. She automatically opened her eyes only to met white ones.

"N-n-e-ji . . ." Sakura whispered.

"You've been crying again." Neji commented

The dam on her eyes burst and she clutched Neji's shoulders and cried while he hugged her.

" I . . saw Sasuke . . . kissing . . Misao . . . at his . . . apartment." She said brokenly.

"Hnn."

"She had her . . . jounin vest . . . off . . . and Sasuke's shirtless. She was . . . sitting . . . on his . . . lap."

Neji's jaw clenched when he heard this. "Damn you Sasuke for hurting Sakura like this."

Neji tighten her hug around Sakura occasionally rubbing her back to comfort her. After a while her cries subsided and she draws away from Neji.

"Thanks Neji for comforting me."

"It was nothing. I happened to be near the grove when I saw you running towards here. I followed you to see to it that you're okay."

"But still, thanks anyway."

Neji stole a glance to Sakura. They were now sitting side by side each other.

"Sakura, you still want to marry him? I mean he hurt you a lot and you've been miserable this past week. I doubt it that he'll start treating you nicely after you are married." Neji said

"I . . . No . . . Yes . . . I mean, I don't know." The last words came out in a whisper.

"If you are backing out then do it."

" I can't, I promised him. I have to marry him, there's no other way."

"But there is!" neji said.

Sakura turned her head sharply to Neji.

"Look, If you don't want to marry him, I'll help you. You can stay at our summer house on the mountains. It's still on fire country and the clan doesn't frequently use it. You can stay there as long as you like or at least until the rumors die down. I won't tell." He suggested.

"I can't."

"You can Sakura." Neji tried to convince her. "You can call the whole thing off."

Sakura just shook her head.

"Listen, if you change your mind I will be here at the night of your wedding. I'll be here for half an hour. You don't have to bring anything. I'll take care of it. Just meet me here."

"But Neji . . ."

"I will be here. I'll help you. No strings attached." He promised.

"Neji . . . but . . . I don't really have a choice." Silent tears ran down Sakura's eyes again. Neji's offer is too tempting. It's a getaway plan. A plan to get way from all her hurts and pains in Konoha or at least away from the nasty remarks that some of the villagers would throw at her.

"I'm giving you one." With that, Neji left her with her thoughts.

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On Sakuras's wedding day. One hour before the ceremony . . .

Sakura was a bundle of nerves as she sat in front of the mirror. She was beautiful in her traditional wedding kimono. It was all white except for the pink obi and the pink cherry blossom pattern at the edge of her sleeves and hem. Her hair was in a very artistic bun, compliments of Ino. It has cherry blossom flowers on it. She looked like a very stunning bride contrary of what she was feeling inside.

While she looked at herself on the mirror she remembered the events that had happened the last two days.

She caught a half naked Sasuke cradling Misao on his lap kissing on his apartment, her conversation with Neji at the cherry blossom grove, Naruto finding out about her attempted resignation; as expected he threw a fit but thanks to Hinata he mellow down enough to give time to Sakura to explain that Tsunade did not accepted her resignation but gave her an indefinite hiatus; a talked with Sasuke about their wedding for the last minute preparations and about Tsunade's decision towards her resignation.

Although they had already talked, Sasuke never offered an explanation for his actions. She remembered what he said to her the night he told her the price for his freedom.

"My freedom has a price Sakura. I will marry you and you will become my wife. You will give me heirs but I will never love you. I will own you, body and soul. I have a right over you, you will become my property but you will not mess with my personal affairs. I can do whatever I please and I will not hear a single complain from you. And lastly, you have to stay away from Misao."

The remembering the last sentence only depressed Sakura. She wants to scratch Misao's eyes from their sockets and wipe the smirk from her lips. Unfortunately, she gave a promise to Sasuke and she will keep it, like now, she had promised to marry him and eventhough she knows that the Sasuke will probable give her hell and make her life miserable once she married him she will push through it.

"I'm such an idiot to be making this mess. All I have to do is tell them the truth and Sasuke will be free but I've gone this far and I will not be a coward to face the consequences of my actions." She thought. However, doubts still plagued her mind if she'll be able to last the 'punishment' that Sasuke is sure to give her.

Her thoughts were cut off when her bridesmaids and maid of Honor came inside the room. Ino, her maid of honor, Hinata and Tenten went to Sakura to give her a hug and wish her good luck.

"Hey forehead girl, I never thought you would be married before me but nevertheless, I was engaged before you." Ino said and struck out her tongue to Sakura.

"Whatever Ino-pig" she retaliated the said action to Ino.

"Come on girls, the guys are waiting." Tenten stopped them from their childish antics.

"Right, hurry Sakura-chan or Sasuke will think you ran off." Hinata joked

Sakura stiffened for a moment and then followed her friends out of the room.

---

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The Uchiha – Haruno Wedding starts . . .

The wedding will be held at the Uchiha compound to Sasuke's insistence. It was a night garden wedding. The garden where the actual ceremony will take place is huge. Many lanterns where set on strategic locations to give the place a romantic atmosphere. Flower petals are scattered on the ground. The moon was full and the breeze was cool. It was a very nice time for a wedding.

Tsunade will officiate the ceremony. The wedding is a very small one, only their closest friends and senseis are there because both the bride and groom have no living relative left. Sakura was at the entrance of the garden. Kakashi and Naruto will be giving her away, her ex-sensei and her best friend/brother. At the place where Sakura is standing, she could see the Jounin Teachers with their respective teams. Kurenai was with Kiba and Shino, Asuma with Chouji and Lee is beside Gai who is on the verge of tears. Hinata, Tenten and Ino was at one side where the bridesmaids and maid of honor should stand while Shikamaru who serves as groomsman is at Sasuke's side who was standing near Tsunade. Noticeable, Neji was missing.

"He's waiting for me at the Cherry blossom grove." Sakura thought

To confirm her suspicions she whispered her question about Neji's whereabouts on Naruto's ear.

"Hinata said Neji came by at our house this afternoon and sends his regrets to the both of you that he can't come to the ceremony because he's got an important thing to do but he'll catch up for the wedding dinner." Naruto whispered back.

"Okay children, enough talk. Let's get this show started." Kakashi said as he took one of Sakura's elbows. Naruto did the same.

They started towards the altar with her head bowed down. She stole a glance at Sasuke at the front. She bowed her head again when she saw that his face was grim. She closed her eyes and bowed her head the whole trip to the altar. The next thing she saw when she opened her eyes once again was Naruto's face with eyes slightly shimmering with tears. He pulled her on a hug and whispered "Be happy" on her ear. Kakashi also hugged her and gave her a little squeeze before he let her go.

Naruto is about to give her hand to the groom when her heart suddenly raced. Sasuke was looking at her intently . . . and she can see clearly his faced registered something . . . his face registered hate.

In an instance she decided. She cannot allow to let this man spend his life in misery because of a marriage he did not want.

She suddenly pulled her hand from Naruto's grasped and let go of her bouquet of roses. She picked up her skirt and ran not minding the sudden commotion her actions created. She did not turn back when she heard Tsunade gasped or when Naruto yelled her name.

She ran fast until she reached the Cherry Blossom grove. She roamed her eyes trying to find Neji.

He stepped out of the shadows. On his back is a bag and another bag was at his feet.

"So you decided to come." He said

"I can't go on with it Neji."

"Okay, let's hurry before they find you. We will be stopping on the forest so you can change. For now, just move as fast as you can and follow me." He took the bag located at his feet and turned.

Sakura was going to follow him when a voice stopped her in her tracks.

"You are not going anywhere Sakura." Sasuke said in a very controlled voice. He was trying to contain his anger.

"S-s-asuke . . ." "OhmygodOhmygodOhmygodOhmygodOhmygod. Sasuke is here. He chased me."

Neji abruptly turned and put himself between Sasuke and Sakura.

"We still have a wedding to attend." Sasuke added

"She's not going back with you, Uchiha." Neji said

"Stay out of this Hyuuga, better yet, stay away from my bride." Sasuke commanded through gritted teeth.

"Sakura doesn't want to marry you anymore." Neji stood his ground

"Let her speak up for her self."

Neji turned and looked at Sakura who was at the time is shaking with fear. Sasuke looked murderous.

She felt confused why Sasuke had chased her.

"Sakura, do you will want to marry him?" Neji asked

Sakura kept silent

"You promised Sakura." Sasuke reminded her

Sakura moved her eyes to Sasuke. She saw that his pride was wounded because of what she did. Slowly, she turned her eyes on Neji, tears are starting to fall from her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Neji."

Neji let out a sigh as he moved aside while Sasuke lips formed his famous I-win smirk to Neji. He motion Sakura to follow him and turned toward the direction of the Uchiha compound leaving the worried Neji behind.

When they arrived everyone sighed in relief

"Sorry everyone, It seems that my bride has to take care of something minutes before the wedding." He said in a sarcastic manner.

With that he took Sakura's hand and led her to the front of the make-shift altar. Everyone took that as a queue to take their places. The wedding was simple, after the exchange of vows and giving of rings Tsunade pronounced them man and wife. Sakura quivered on her feet. This was it. She is gonna have her first kiss on her wedding day! Sasuke leaned down and brushed Sakura's lips with his. It lasted for a second but a kiss nonetheless. Sakura felt ecstatic but her happiness died down when she saw Sasuke's eyes. She saw betrayal, disappoint, disgust but most of all she saw hate in those black orbs. She can't help but tremble. It was like an omen for her. An omen that her misery and hardship in life was about to start.

The wedding dinner ended without a hitch and as always, they drank numerous bottles of sake. They held it at the main dining hall of the clan head's house which is where Sakura and Sasuke will be living. Incidentally, this is also the house where Sasuke once lived with his parents. Some of the gang wanted to talk to Sakura to know why she ran off before the wedding but was not given a chance because Sasuke was with her through out the meal. At the end, one by one the guests left without knowing the reason for Sakura's actions.

It was an hour before midnight when a slightly drunk Naruto and his wife, Hinata who was their last guests went out the door. Sakura glanced at Sasuke waiting for him to say anything. Sasuke headed to the mini-bar of the house and took out a glass. He poured himself some brandy and donned it in one gulped.

"The master's bedroom is up the hall to the left." He said without turning to face Sakura.

Sakura whispered a good night to his back and walked towards the master's bedroom.

The bedroom was spacious but is decorated in a slight manly fashion. Simple and practical. She glanced around and she saw a big window over looking a pond and a small private garden. At the right of the window was a door, she concluded that this must be the bathroom. On the other side of the room was a shelf with books on it. Beside it was a table. Lastly she looked at the bed. The sheets are royal blue and the pillows are white and red. In fact, she realized, the whole room has used the Uchiha colors as motif.

Feeling weary and tipsy she entered the bathroom and took a quick shower. She changed into a matching white silk spaghetti straps top and shorts and lay down under the sheets.

In minutes she was asleep.

She was conscious of nothing for the next hour.

Sakura knew it was Sasuke before she was even awake, before she remembered the wedding or the circumstances before it took place. She knew it instinctively, from his scent which was mixed with alcohol. Without a word she turned into his arms.

Sasuke held her loosely for a moment and she put her head on his shoulder still trying to fight the drowsiness and the light headedness she felt due to her over indulgence of alcohol. Then his grip tightened and his mouth came down hard and fast on hers.

Sakura head spun out. The kiss he had given her at their wedding was light, fleeting but his one was different. It ignited them.

In an instant, Sakura forgot the sarcastic remarks, the sullen looks, the incident at his apartment, the fury and bitterness he had shown her at their wedding. Her lips opened to admit his probing tongue as his hands slipped under the white top seeking her skin. His fingers were rough due to long hours of training and she shivered as he ran his hands up her bare arms and across her back lifting the scrap of silk over her head and tossing it into the floor. She gasped against his mouth as his hand closed over her breast and she felt his thumb rasp her nipple, increasing the pressure until she moaned and her head fell back exposing an expanse of soft, pale skin.

He bent his head and ran his tongue along the slender line of her throat, holding her to him with one arm and lifting her legs with the other. He lay back down on the bed pulling her to him and she sigh as she felt him along the length of her, his mouth moving the hollow between her breast to each sensitive nipple, sucking gently. Sakura held his raven locks while his lips caressed her until she tug on it to pull his lips to hers. Sasuke looked down on her. He looked so sexy with his mouth wet and reddened from her kisses.

She touched his lips tenderly tracing his full lips with a forefinger. Sasuke leaned down and gave her a kiss. His lips roamed lower and he slipped one hand under her hips and pulled her shorts along with her panties with the other one. Sakura's eyes closed when his fingers slid over her thigh and between her legs. She blushed at the intimate gesture. She whimpered and bit her lip and inhaled sharply as his caress brought her to an anxious pitch of arousal.

Sasuke stopped sharply as though he waked out from a trance, he started to get off her when Sakura hold on to his arms and cling to him.

"Sasuke, please…" she pleaded.

Desire won over self-control, Sasuke took his clothes off and haphazardly throw them to the floor. He gently pushed her back to the bed and held her arms above her head and moved over her kissing her wildly until she wrapped her legs around his hips reaching for him, pressing herself to him.

He kissed her body feverishly and readied her for him. A sharp cry along with a shallow intake of breath escaped Sakura's lips when he entered her. She moved her head to the side as tears fall from her eyes. He had broken her maidenhead and was now stretching her with his length. He stilled his movements and looked at Sakura. His eyes looked at her intently and a confirmation was made. She set the whole thing up. His body stiffened

Still uncomfortable with the pain, Sakura glance to the man above her wondering why his body suddenly went stiff and she went still because of what she saw. The accusation was very visible in his eyes. She started to panic and tried to move under him accidentally taking him deeper into her. A gasp was heard from her. She heard Sasuke's low moan as he closed his eyes fighting for self control. Instinctively she moved her hips again to be rewarded by another incoherent sound from Sasuke.

"What the hell. . . Shit." It has Escaped from Sasuke lips and he started to rock himself on top of her. At first, Sakura felt uncomfortable and pained but slowly it changed to tingling delicious sensations. Her hands went to his back to wrap around it while he surge into her repeatedly trying to move her into his rhythm. He was perfect on top of her, his eyes glazed with desire, face sweat slick, hair plastered on his nape and forehead. There was an effortless sureness in his movements. He lowered his face into the soft curve of her shoulders and tear's started to flow again from Sakura's eyes as he quickened his pace trying to carry Sakura along with him.

"Sasuke" she thought desperately "Sasuke, I love you. I love you. I love you."

She bit her lip as she spiraled upward, moaning with him as he released his seed into her. Then she could fell the pounding of their hearts as they relaxed. The beat slowed as she stroked his hair and ran her fingers down the length of his spine.

When he moved, she turned to embrace him then fell against the bed in shock as he released her abruptly and stood, walking to the bathroom without a word.

She lay still and listened to the shower beyond the wall, then listened again as he emerged in a cloud of steam and soap scent to dress in the dark.

It wasn't until she heard the door closed behind him that she really believed he was gone.

He used her like a whore, taking his pleasure and washing off her scent and touch, the memory of what they've just done in a rush of steam and suds.

He said he wanted children inorder to have heirs and tonight, Sakura had been a tool for him to help him to get it.

Still in shock, she pushed herself out of the bed to clean herself in the bathroom. She was sore and blood was between her legs. She took a quick shower again and dressed.

She quietly creeps under the covers and turned her face into the pillow and cried.

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A/N: that was a very long one, it's 12 pages in my MSword. Ouch. My back is aching and I've finished a pack of cigarettes while writing this. I continued without having dinner. That how I love you guys. I was thinking to stop at page 9 but I thought that would probably make you, readers, nuts in waiting for the next chap so I tried to finish it. I thank you for all the reviews that I've got and I hope you'll still continue watching out for the next chapters of ODAD. Thank you again. Read and review.

P.S. I would looooooooooooove to have suggestions on possible conflicts on the marriage of Sakura and Sasuke. For example a love triangle between Neji, Sakura and Sasuke. Please add details about the scenario, okay. Thanks:)