A/N: This is the shortest one yet.
I got inspired by this because of the whole Japanese culture of arranged marriages and the hierarchy of lords and shoguns.
It's short and simple, but hopefully you'll like it.
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to its respective owner(s), not me.
Chapter 7: Breaking Boundaries, CB
"Don't be a child," his elder brother sneered at him. "Haruno-sama…she's the shogun's daughter! And you want to ask for her hand in marriage?"
Sasuke dulled himself to the booming laughter emanating from his brother, Itachi, and Itachi's stupid friends.
He was used to the ridicule already. He was born exposed to ridicule, and would no doubt die with the penetrating sound of scornful laughter echoing through his eardrums.
Why couldn't anyone see? See that he was thirteen, old enough to get a job and rise through the ranks as Itachi had done?
And once he did, their love would be sanctioned.
Because happy endings did happen.
-oOoOo-
Now he was fifteen, fifteen and bitter and overworked and tired of this life.
It seemed that no matter how he moved, he stood frozen in one place.
"Give it time," his best friend, Naruto, urged. Easy for Naruto to say; he was Lord Minato's son. Naruto would never have to work a day in his life.
Everyone else seemed to agree with Naruto's sentiments. "Yes, give it time, you're still young!" They echoed like flocks of grazing sheep, one after the other, all identical.
But they didn't understand, he couldn't wait and see.
She was to be married off at seventeen and he had two years, two short, short, ohsoshort years.
Because he could make her happy and he knew it.
-oOoOo-
No one saw him, hidden in the shadows.
No one saw him as the fat, balding man that was Sakura's father (the beautiful Sakura came from this man?) announced the engagement of his daughter to the heir to the Lee Estate, an ugly boy named Rock Lee.
She wasn't happy, he saw it from the subtle twist of her lips, furrowing of her pretty brow.
He was the only one who saw her discomfort, because everyone else was celebrating, congratulating. All for the money, money that would be spent and gone in a few short years.
Because money didn't mean a damn thing when you were done and dead, full of regrets.
-oOoOo-
"Run away with me," he whispered on one of their meetings. Private, secret, confidential meetings. Dangerous meetings. "We can escape. Far, far away."
But she wouldn't agree, he knew it. "Father will find us." Always the same thing.
He angrily asked if she would ever be happy with that arrogant twerp. Would she be happy bearing his ugly children? Would she be happy being locked away all day like some trophy?
No she wouldn't, he could see it in her eyes, the way the reflected with sadness instead of the usual glimmer of joy. But she was too stubborn.
No matter, he would escape with her.
Because he couldn't give up on them yet.
-oOoOo-
He arrived in the nick of time.
The priest, dressed in those heavy, rich robes of tradition, was bringing her hand—her perfect, creamy hand—to his.
The final marriage vow, that's what that was.
He burst into the tatami-matted room, uncaring of the guards and men scrambling after him in vain.
"Come with me!"
And this time, she didn't hesitate.
Because this was their fairy tale.
A/N: IDK if you noticed, but each scene was ended with a sentence that started with 'Because…'
I guess I just wanted one 'constant', so to speak.
Yay for happy endings! I was about to make this really sad with a Romeo and Juliet type of scene at the end (like the guards stabbing Sasuke and then Sakura commiting suicide or something), but that's just so depressing…
Review and I'll give you cookies! Everyone loves cookies!
Thank you!
PS: Because I'm not so good with ideas, I'd love it if a few of you more creative readers took a minute or two to just tell me a few ideas in a review or a PM. It could be anything: crack, fluff, tragedy, comedy…
Credit will be given where credit is due!
~HauntedMoonlight~