Chapter 7
AN: Thanks for reading and supporting me with the story! I promise I will finish it! I have never been good with grammar and spelling so please don't be shy to point out anything wrong.
I'm sorry the chapters have been so randomly uploaded, I still have school and homework so I try my best, but I can't always put it up every day like I was hoping. Since I can't upload every day I'm going to try to upload every two or three days. This chapter got a little depressing, I was I a weird mood. Anyways please enjoy!
-Skippylove
I eventually got out of the tub and dried myself. Eda had pulled out a nightgown for me. I frowned at it and tried to find my own clothes but they were gone from my bag. I sighed and slipped on the nightgown, luckily it wasn't too constricting. When I entered the bedroom Naruto had already gotten into the bed. Not liking the idea of sleeping with him I sat on the balcony. I sat down and listened to the soothing rush of the river. Out of all the missions I didn't expect one like this I thought and wondered if Kakashi was punishing me for something. As I listened to the river my thoughts slowly washed away. I closed my eyes and breathed in the cold night air.
I woke with a start, I had fallen asleep last night without realizing. I sat up, a blanket fell onto my legs. I looked around and realized I was in the bed. How did I get here? I wandered and looked over, Naruto was spread out in a chair across the room. Naruto must have brought me in. I slowly laid back down. I looked at the shadow of the curtains on the floor as the sun rose. I had just closed my eyes again when the door swung open causing me to jump up. Eda rushed in. Naruto sleepily looked up.
"Get up! I let you sleep in so now we have to hurry," Eda ordered me. I sighed quietly and got out of bed, Naruto just rubbed his eyes. She pushed me into the bathroom from behind.
"Why do I need to get up?" I finally asked as she rummaged through her bag.
"You have to announce your marriage and that because of this marriage we are forming an alliance with The Land of Fire," she said quickly disappearing into the closet.
"Do you have a speech prepared?" I asked completely unprepared.
"Yes," She said repairing with a kimono in her arms. She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. 'Queen's wedding announcement' was written on the top. I
"Are there going to be more speeches?" I asked as Eda started pulling things out from her bag.
"Yes, we wrote them how we think the queen would have said them," Eda informed. "You can do it without the sheet if you want, you just better be good," She pulled out one more thing and turned to me. "You can read the speech while I'm doing your makeup, right now I need you to get into the Kimono," She said pointing at the black kimono with some red flower design. I sighed, I never thought I would wear so many girly clothes. I reluctantly got up and Eda helped me into it. She tried to explain how she did it, but I got lost half way through and gave up.
"Do I have to have makeup?" I asked trying to avoid it.
"You need to look as close to the Queen as possible," she said and started applying. I wanted to frown, but she scolded me when I did. "Read your speech," she ordered. I grabbed it and started memorizing it.
I felt her messing with my hair before she said, "Done". I looked at myself, I was surprised how different I looked. I could still recognize my female facial features, but my entire face had a different feel to it. My hair was pretty much the same, except that my normal ponytail was a neat bun. I don't like any of this I thought with a scowl. "Stop scowling and send in Naruto please," Eda ordered pointing at the door. I grunted and got up to do as she said. I found Naruto asleep again on the chair.
"Naruto," I shook him, no reaction. "Naruto," I said louder grabbing a pillow off another chair and chucking it at him.
"What!" He jumped up into a fighting position, he was ready to take me down.
"Eda needs you in the bathroom," I said. He relaxed and looked at me confused for a second then registered the makeup.
"She got you in makeup?" he leaned closer and looked at me.
"Just go," I hissed glaring at him.
"It doesn't look like you…. It doesn't suit you," he said casually before doing as I ordered. I smiled at his comment, At least he agrees… I thought. It was always nice to have the blond on my side.
I waited silently reading over the small speech a couple times before Eda came out of the bathroom. "Good luck," she said smiling before leaving. Naruto came back in a black male kimono.
"Apparently I'll be standing next to you," Naruto said standing somewhat awkwardly, he probably has never worn a kimono –neither had I.
Shoko came in the room. "You look handsome," She said noticing Naruto first. "You would look good if you stopped scowling" she commented to me. I scowled even more at her. "Come one," She said gesturing for us to follow.
Shoko instructed me how to act and stand along the small walk to the front. We were soon behind the gate to the palace wall. I ran the small speech through my head as the door slowly opened. "Look calmer please," Shoko said. I tried to relax, I didn't really ever like giving speeches. I slowly stepped forward, Naruto stayed behind like instructed. The crowd was surpassingly big, they all cheered as I made my way down the stairs. I looked blankly at them then remembered to smile, your Tamaki I reminded myself. They respectively stopped when I got to the place where the stairs met. A guard stood on either side of me and at the bottom of the stairs. I took a deep breath.
"People of the Land of Pebbles." I started, there was no microphone so I had so talked loudly. "I have gathered you here today to announce my marriage," I said, they cheered. I didn't like people cheering for me at all, it was empowering, but it made me uneasy being the center of attention by so many. "I will be marrying the hero, Uzumaki Naruto of The Land of Fire," I said and turned slightly to watch Naruto walk down the stairs, he was shaky and his face was red. Naruto calm down, you look weak I tried to get my thoughts to him through small facial expressions. The people cheered again. Naruto got to my right side and stopped walking, he was still shaking. I got frustrated and grabbed his hand trying to single for him to stop, the railing covered our hands. Naruto flinched a little but stopped shaking so much. I turned back to the crowd, they quickly went quite. They really respect her I thought looking over the crowd. "With our marriage an alliance will be formed with The Land of Fire," They cheered again. I smiled trying to show that I wanted this marriage, the instructions were very clear on the written speech. "This alliance means more protection," I stressed the last word like the paper said, the crowd cheered and I continued over their voices, "More trade," more cheering, "And more freedom!" I said the last word loudly. They continued cheering, some stayed quite. Shoko had said that there were most likely spies from surrounding nations in the crowd, that must me some of them I thought skimming over the crowd. They started getting quite, so I deiced to finish the speech. "Let us prosper from this alliance!" I said and was surprised when Naruto said the same at the same time. I decided to raise my right hand that was still gripping Naruto's. Naruto raised it too, getting the signal. The crowd cheered the loudest for my last words. We smiled, Naruto had completely stopped shaking and looked composed. I lowered our hands. We turned and slowly walked up the stairs, the crowd died out as the gates closed behind us.
"That was amazing for a first time!" Shoko congratulated us. Naruto lets go of my hand I hadn't realized we were still holding. I was shifting slightly and stopped. "Naruto that was a nice line up with your part of the speech," Shoko congratulated. "Nice idea with the hand thing," Shoko added looking at me. I tried not frowning. "Now that the marriage has been announced the wedding will be in a week," Shoko said.
"That's really close," Naruto commented.
"We don't have time to wait," She said looking at us. How long is this mission? I wondered. "Now that you have been introduced you don't have to be hidden away in the room anymore," Shoko said to Naruto. "Both of you are free to explore the Palace. If you do please make sure a guard is with you," She added.
"Why?"
"I wouldn't be surprised of an assassination attempt," Shoko said indifferently. Because now people will want to stop the marriage I thought.
"Also, tonight there is going to be a small feast with the councilors. A maid will come get you for that later," Shoko told us. "You don't have to act in front of them, they're the only ones who know about this besides me and the staff" She added leading us into the palace.
That night I was allowed to wear less constricting things and the makeup was removed. I followed the maid who had come to get me and Naruto. I wasn't excited for more socializing, I had just wanted food since I realized I hadn't really eaten all day.
We reached the dining hall and were seated on each side of Shoko, who was at the head of the table. There were about ten other people at the table, most were men. They all looked at me and Naruto with smiles. Naruto smiled back, but I just looked at them blankly. "This Is Uchiha Sasuke, and –I'm sure you know- the hero Uzumaki Naruto," Shoko introduced us. Naruto blushed at being complimented. The food was put on the table. "Let's eat to The Land of Fire's alliance!" Shoko said happily, holding up a glass of sake. I started quietly eating.
"You will be truly helping out nation," one of the councilors said to Naruto.
"Thank you for agreeing to this marriage," another said.
"No problem," Naruto smiled. One of the females asked him to explain how he saved the world. A servant poured some sake for me, I started drinking it. I decided to try to finish my food quickly so I could leave. Naruto reluctantly started telling a summary of the story. I listened, he looked at me when he got close to the part where I got in, I just frowned at him. He didn't include me. I frowned more, I just wanted him to stop explaining it not exclude me I thought finishing off my second drink. He tried to explain things with hand gestures and noises. I watched him, he seemed to be avoiding the most painful parts of the story. I listened to him while drinking and eating. After a little my head felt fuzzy and I decided to stop drinking. Naruto had finished and was trying to eat before he was asked more questions.
"You have to try this!" Shoko said to Naruto feeding him something, I looked away in disgust. Suddenly I started feeling angry and my heart hurt. I looked up to see Naruto staring at Shoko, staring at her happily enjoying himself -forgetting me. I felt a pain in my chest and I abruptly stood up and left the room. I heard someone call after me so started dashing through the palace. When no one followed me I slowed down and entered my room. I went straight to the balcony and then jumped onto the shingle roof. No one even cares, no one cares about me… I'm just the criminal who did nothing I thought angrily. Not even Naruto cares anymore… my own thoughts hurt me. I quickly fell into a depressed mood. I put my face in my knees and closed my eye. I couldn't hear the river since there were sounds of partying around the village. I listened to the mixture of noises coming from the village bellow. This stuff never bothered me before… why all the sudden does it bubble to the surface? it's because I'm weak I wrapped my arms around my legs, how pathetic I must look I thought angrily. My head hurt so I tried to stop thinking. Water ran down my leg, am I crying? -I am I realized gingerly touching my face.
"Only losers cry," I whispered to myself as I tried to wipe the tears away. I only ended up causing more to stream down my face silently. I can't even control myself anymore. Last time I lost control Naruto saved me. He was the last person to try to save me, even Sakura gave up on me. Now Naruto is downstairs flirting with some girl and could care less about me I though growling angrily. My heart hurt again, I grabbed my chest trying to make it stop. Why do I even care? Why should he care? We're both grownups… my own comforting didn't help, my heart still hurt. I sat quietly. My head kept getting fuzzy from all the sake.
"Sasuke?" I heard someone call, I curled up tighter hoping they wouldn't notice me since I couldn't stop crying. The person jumped on the roof, I used all my will to try to disappear. "Are you ok?" he asked, there's that stupid question, I hate that question I thought angrily. I got even angrier when I realized it was Naruto. I didn't dare say anything in fear of crying again. "Sasuke, answer me," he said a little more forceful. I scowled intensely. I was really angry at Naruto and I didn't know why, am I jealous? A thought hit me. Why would I be jealous? All he was doing is talking to that woman I felt angry again. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I instantly grabbed his wrist. My angry grip cutting off the circulation to his hand. "Sasuke that hurts," I didn't look. "What's your problem?" I whipped my head to glare at him, his words stung. He looked angry then he saw my face, I felt more tears run down my cheek. I quickly looked away. "Are you crying?" he asked gently. I wanted to hide so I berried my face further in my knees. I felt him staring at me.
"Leave. Me. alone." I ordered through clenched teeth.
"Why?" he asked staying his distance.
I felt my emotions bubbling up again I couldn't control it anymore. I spoke into my legs, "I don't want you to act like you care. I don't want games. Just leave me alone and go flirt with your girlfriend," I said surprisingly calm but still teary. My entire body hurt my head, my heart, everything. I wanted to disappear.
"Were did all this come from?" he asked. I gave up trying to cover it up and just let myself cry, it's not like I make noise anyway. Naruto's presences just made everything worse because now I knew he wouldn't leave me alone. "Hey," Naruto said I looked up at him weakly. He was closer than I thought, he had taken a seat next to me. He looked into my eyes and all of it started tumbling out.
"I just want someone to care about me, some on to tell me what I did wrong, someone to give a fuck. No one cares about me because I messed up and I'm just known as the lucky S-rank criminal," I said quietly tears continued running down my face, I avoided eye contact. "But I just want someone to care, now I lost you too. You're too busy checking out the woman to take notice of me. Everyone will remember Uzumaki Naruto, but no one will know the name 'Uchiha' much less 'Sasuke'…" Naruto didn't say anything so I continued. "I don't want to be forgotten…" I trailed off having said pretty much everything. My vision was fuzzy from tears. I was surprised when I felt arms around me and I was pulled to him.
"Sasuke," my head was on Naruto's shoulder as he hugged me. "I never stopped caring" he whispered. "You're my best friend, I couldn't stop caring even if I tried," He said and somehow I knew he was smiling.
I closed my eyes, I wasn't really processing what was happening. I felt numb and just went limp. He picked me up and jumped down gently. He walked me to the bed, I had exhausted my tears and just felt like shit. Naruto laid me gently on the bed. He took off my shoes and my clothes, leaving me in my undergarments under the covers. He started leaving, I grabbed his shirt. I suddenly really didn't want to be alone, I was afraid I would slip away. I looked up at his fuzzy outline. I closed my eyes when my head started hurting. I let go and curled up into myself. I lay for a little then I felt something warm against my back, it held me. My breathing slowed down and I quickly drifted off.
I moaned because my head hurt so much. I didn't dare open my eyes. I tried to think but that hurt too so I stopped. I felt a warmth against me, it felt good so I didn't move. I tried to fall sleep again my headache kept me awake. I shuffled to try to get commutable. I almost rolled off the bed when the warmth moved, I gingerly opened my eyes and glanced around. I let out a terrified squeak and actually did fall off the bed when I realized the warm thing was Naruto.
"Ow," I moaned holding my head. Naruto had sat up at the noise I made. He had pajama bottoms on, but his chest was bare. I looked down at myself and realized I was in my underwear and bra. I pulled the top sheet off the bed and wrapped myself in it. Naruto and I had spooned, I hated the idea and growled slightly. I stared at him angrily. "Why am I in my underwear?" I demanded. Naruto yawned.
"I had to undress you, you couldn't yourself," He said flopping back down with his back to me.
"Why were you in the bed?" I asked. I was angry he would just turn his back to me. What I didn't know was he did because he was trying to cover up his blush.
"You didn't want me to leave you alone and you fell asleep pretty fast," He informed me. I suddenly remembered everything that happened last night, or at least what I could remember, everything got hazy after I had poured my heart out to Naruto. I didn't know how to feel about what I had done. I just ran my hand through my hair.
"I'm sorry Naruto. I had too much to drink," I tried to come up with an excuse.
"Its fine," Naruto replied smoothly. I was embraced and wanted to disappear. I moaned when my headache came back. I climbed into bed, making sure he was on the other side and curled up. Naruto sat up and looked at me. I felt him stare at me for a while thinking about something. My stomach growled and I rolled over not wanting to deal with hunger. Naruto got up and left the room. I sighed and closed my eyes. I totally lost control last night, I had been holding in that stuff for years. It feels really good to get it off my shoulders but know Naruto knows my weakness I thought pulling the covers over my head.
My hangover wouldn't let me get back to sleep so I just listened to my breathing. Then I heard the door open. I lowered the sheets. Naruto set an eat-in-bed tray over my legs. I looked at the random breakfast foods. I raised my eyebrows at him. "Food," He stated.
I grinned a little, "I know that much," I muttered. Naruto scooted a little further so he was sitting crisscrossed in front of me. He grabbed one of the forks and started eating the large amount of food. I smiled, he couldn't resist having some for himself. I like that, it's not just for me, this satisfied my hate of people taking care of me. I slowly started eating too. I could only eat a little bit because I didn't want to throw up. I sat and watched Naruto eat.
"Hey Naruto," I started.
"Yeah?" he responded with a mouth full of food.
"Thanks," I said looking away. He looked at me, he look a little stunned. I guessed he was surprised because I barely ever thanked someone.
"For what?" he asked chewing his food again.
"I don't know, just for helping me," I said awkwardly, god, I'm bad at thanking people I thought blushing slightly.
"Oh, no problem," He said taking another bite. I didn't know how to act around him, now that he's seen my worst is it even worth trying to act my best? I sighed and laid back down. Naruto glanced at me finishing off the food. He took the plate and put it on the side table. He spread out at the bottom of the bed. I giggled a little, since when did I giggle?. "What?" he asked lifting his head.
"I don't know," I said look at the ceiling. Naruto chuckled in response. "You lost an arm for me, I would hope you cared," I said quietly, Naruto didn't hear. I looked at my left arm. Naruto and I had gotten replacements by Tsunade made from the first Hokage's cells. I let my left arm fall to the bed. I sighed not sure if I wanted to move.
"You sigh too much," Naruto said chuckling a little. I smiled and looked at the ceiling again. "If it makes you feel better I don't think Shoko is better than you," he said. I blushed -Wait, why did I just blush? That comment could have meant two things, that I'm hotter than her or somehow a better person than her. Either way it's a compliment, he's a friend so naturally he's going to complement me. But for some reason that made me blush, normally I take compliments fine I wandered. Then I remembered on of my thoughts from last night. Was I jealous of Shoko? Why? Was it because Naruto was giving her attention? But I would only not like that if I wanted Naruto to pay attention to me… I growled trying to figure it out. Does that mean I… -no. it can't be that, he's an idiot and he's a guy and I am –well was- a guy, I rolled over so my face was in the pillow. Just thinking about it made me feel awful and terrible. I'm just overthinking it I thought. So much thinking made my head hurt and I just wanted to disappear.
I ended up not moving the rest of the day when Eda saw the state I was in. Naruto, however, had too much energy so he disappeared to train somewhere. I didn't do much till Eda came in with a cup of tea and a book for me. I accepted it since I had nothing better to do. The book was about the history of great clans. I found it extremely interesting, the Uchiha were talked about quite a bit letting me learn stuff I didn't know about my clan.
I finished the book by the time Naruto returned. The sun was setting when he walked in the room. I had at one point put a nightgown on and gotten up to take a shower, but regretted it and didn't get out of bed again. Naruto went to take a shower then flopped in the bed next to me. I decided that it didn't really matter that we slept in the same bed. He fell asleep still on top of the bed. I went to bed soon after him.
"We have visitors, you have to get up!" Eda woke us both up. Naruto moaned and just rolled over, I got up without complaining having some energy since I didn't do anything yesterday. Eda worked on me first, she put me in a simple blue kimono. My hair was put up in a braid that wrapped around the back of my head and formed a bun in the back. I helped getting Naruto up by throwing a couple pillows at him. He reluctantly rolled off the bed. Eda dragged him into the bathroom, he took less time and came out with a matching blue male kimono on.
Shoko came in when we were ready, "We have some guest from a couple other lands, they probably want to see if the marriage is legitimate and they will ask you many questions. Just act like you really love each other and the alliance is just a plus," She said quickly rushing us down the stairs. When we got to the bottom she dusted us off and messed with our clothes a little before opening the doors. We composed ourselves and walked forward, Shoko stayed in front of us acting as the guard. She led us through the pillars and onto the throne walk. Two groups of people were there, they stood a good distance away from each other. One group had the hidden rain village mark on their headbands, the other had the land of rivers mark on their headbands. The ninja were surrounding -who I could only guess to be- their leaders. I knew the new leader of the Hidden Rain was Yoshioka Hiroshi, I never talked to him, but I knew he wasn't as cruel as Honzo but had his attitude. I didn't know the leader of the Land of Rivers, I was interested to see what they were like.
I held my head up when Hiroshi walked forward to greet me, he was a short plump man with mousy brown hair; he reminded me of a rat. "Tamaki," he said his 'greeting', his voice was laced with annoyance. I couldn't help slightly curl up my upper lip in disgust, even from leader to leader you show respect. I guessed Tamaki had known this rat since he was so rude. So I shot the greeting back at him.
"Yoshioka," I used his last name trying to be more respectful but still said it a little challengingly. Hiroshi frowned at my greeting then looked Naruto up and down angrily.
"Naruto, what a pleasure to meet you," Hiroshi 'greeted' my 'fiancé'.
"Nice to meet you, Yoshioka," Naruto said bowing respectively. The blond had seemed surprised by my rudeness talking to him and I guessed he was trying to be more polite.
I ignored Hiroshi when the River ninja parted for their leader. A woman walked out, she was tall, blonde and blue-eyed; she was very pretty. "Hello Kubota," she said respectfully to me. I started panicking, I don't know her name, what do I say? I thought quickly glancing at Shoko, but she was looking at the woman interested. "I don't believe we have met. I'm Hasekura Yasuko, the ruler of the Land of Rivers," she said. She had an overpowering royal feeling but an inviting voice.
"Nice to meet you Hasekura," I smiled at her and gave a small bow. She smiled, her movements were graceful as if she was underwater.
"Yasuko, you finally decided to show up, not sending one of your little councilors," Hiroshi said mockingly. Yasuko quality sighed not even looking at the man. I wish someone would have told me more about these people I thought annoyingly.
"If you will follow me please," Shoko said turning and walking away, me and Naruto followed first. Both Hiroshi and Yasuko left most of their ninja only taking a few. Shoko led us down a hall and into a room with a long squat table. Shoko quickly gestured for us to take the head of the table. I sat on my legs on a small pillow. Yasuko and Hiroshi sat in the middle, opposite each other.
"Naruto," Yasuko turned to him. Naruto looked up at her. "Was the marriage arranged?" She asked scanning his face. So she was another leader after our land, she tried to get Tamaki to marry a councilor I guessed.
Naruto slightly frowned, "No," he said trying to sound offended, and succeeding. He moved to hold my hand under the table, the movement could be seen by them. I took it and entwined my fingers with his. "I love her," he turned to me and smiled, I hate this romantic shit I thought, I was lying to myself though because I was actually finding it weirdly enjoyable. I smiled back at him.
"How did you meet?" Yasuko scanned both our faces. We looked at each other with a smile, but both had panic in our eyes.
"Love is love, why does it matter where it started?" I stated not able to come up with a good enough lie. Yasuko looked Suspicious. I squeezed Naruto's hand to do something, he got the hint. He was already smiling at me, he had been for a while. He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I felt a warm tingling sensation where his lips touched my skin. It felt almost emotionless and only lasted a second, but I found my heart rate go up. I smiled but underneath I was distressed, I hated that I liked it.
"That is true," Yasuko said trying to sound pleased.
"Now tell me, why the alliance if the marriage was for love?" Hiroshi asked he had been sitting quietly and scowling.
Shoko stepped forward, "We agreed with the leaders of the Land of Fire that we would both prosper form an alliance and what better and more bonding way than through a marriage," Shoko explained.
Hiroshi frowned at her. "Tamaki," Hiroshi said turning to me, "we offered much more for you if you were to marry me," he said. I looked at him hard and tried not to be extremely rude of a small frown had started to form on my face, I don't think any woman would want to marry you I thought. "Why did you chose Fire over us?" He asked harshly. I looked at him and tried to come up with an answer Tamaki would use from what I have gathered about her.
"Because, like I said I love Naruto," I said frustrated at Hitoshi on the outside but cringed at the sentence internally, it had taken all my willpower to say 'love'. "And the Land of Fire is offering more to my people," I stressed the last word since Tamaki seemed to love her people more than herself.
Hiroshi looked angry and just glared at Naruto. The tension had built a little in the room, I could see the ninja making small uncomfortable movements. "Is that all?" I asked not wanting to start a conflict.
"I believe so, I had just wanted to check in," Yasuko said gracefully getting up. I hoped Hiroshi wouldn't try to start the conversation again. Hiroshi came close to me.
"If not you, then I'll have your heir," he said, I took a deep breath and stood up. He didn't seem to expect me to react. I was a good head taller than him and held my head high as I looked down at him. I didn't say anything but just glared at him as hard as possible, I hated the man already. He frowned then stormed out.
I let out a relieved sigh when they were out of earshot. "You do know that there's not going to be an heir anyway," Naruto commented.
"I know that I just don't want him to think he can threaten people and get away with it. I just wanted to intimate him," I explained turning to Naruto. He started at me, his brow married in a worried expression. "What?" I asked looking at him.
"Nothing, you just never seemed to care about stuff like that before, I just thought it was nice," he said the expression changing to a small smile. I looked at him surprised he had noticed something like that.
"I think we should go over a back story so that doesn't happen again," Shoko said budding into our conversation.
I looked at her angrily. "We should have done that in the first place," I said frustrated that no one prepared us. "How much more of these do we have to do?" I asked as we left the room.
"Who knows, they will probably happen randomly till the wedding," Shoko said. I sighed and just wanted this mission to be done.
AN: Sorry if it was sort of crap, I didn't have much time to write this (that's why it's taken so long to get up) But anyway please tell me if you see any grammar or spelling mistakes. And as always please tell me your thoughts!
Edit: A lot did happen in this chapter, and some of it is foreshadowing ;)
-Skippylove
