Chapter 10: Betrothed to Hell…

"W-what? I don't understand."

"What's there to understand?! I'm betrothed! Engaged! A woman that is going to be married! Married to a man who was chosen for her!"

"S-sakura-chan, settle down," Naruto said, standing up, "I understand this part but, how? Why?"

Sakura was sobbing now, on the edge of hysterics. Naruto could see that, and he pulled her back down to her seat.

"M-my father h-he didn't, he didn't like h-him, so he set it u-up. He set up my marriage. My marriage, Naruto, mine!"

"Who didn't he like?"

"He didn't like Sasuke. I-it happened two years ago when we were 16, Sasuke had returned to the village. I had held his bloodies hand all the way to the hokage tower. There we were told that he would be locked up in a holding cell instead of receiving any kind of treatment for his wounds. He was to remain there until Tsunade could deal with it, but that wasn't cutting it for me."

"Tsunade-sama!" Sakura impatiently screamed, bursting into the godaimes office with fire burning in her eyes. "You can't put him in there! It's immoral! He's hurt very, very hurt! He needs treatment now!" The young medic slammed her hands down on Tsunade's desk, causing the objects on it to jump up.

The blonde looked up from her paperwork, folding her hands together and letting her chin rest upon them. "Oh really? I can't? Since when is that?"

"Tsunade-sama!" she yelled slamming her hands down again. "Have some compassion!"

Tsunade stood, matching Sakura's glare with her own.

"So, you expect me to give a man who betrayed our village for his own selfish wishes and goals special treatment, just because you told me to? You want me to give one man special treatment while all other criminals do not receive it? That is not compassion Sakura! That's giving into your wishes. And you trying to use your stature to get what you want." Tsunade was obviously not in a very good mood already.

"No! I don't expect you to do anything! I was hoping you would do the right thing and put him in a hospital!"

Before the godaimes could form a reply Sakura was storming out of the room in an angry fit.

"Six months later Sasuke was released and sentenced to house arrest under ANBU watch. The hokage and I were on better terms, but somehow the relationship was a bit strained. It was obvious to people that mine and Sasuke's relationship wasn't very professional and sometimes it was very bitter. We received a lot of scorn from outsiders…and sometimes relatives. After about another six more months had passed he was released of his house arrest sentence and was moved to being on probation. We always went out together; our relationship wasn't secretive, not in the least. When we were out we'd receive all kinds of looks, some were awe but most were resentful. And then, I had learned of my betrothal when I had decided to move in with Sasuke. My father had confronted me as I was packing to leave."

"Sakura," her father greeted her, nodding his head, followed closely by her mother.

"Father, mother," she replied acknowledging them, but not turning her attention away from the task at hand.

"We need to talk."

"Then talk," she said gesturing for him to continue on as she folded the pink sleeveless top in her hands.

He cleared his throat loudly in an attempt to claim her full attention. "Sakura!"

"What!" she yelled turning her head to look at him.

"May you be so kind as to give me your full attention?"

"Why certainly," she answered him in a sickly sweet voice. She set down what she was doing and sat on her bed. "What is it you want now? If it's another 'Sasuke is no good for you speech then, save it. I don't want to hear it."

"Sakura, Sakura, Sakura," he repeated shaking his head "Do what you want now, in the time that still belongs to you. Move in with him, share his bed, make him as your own, none of it will matter. For when you turn 18 you are to be married. It was decided this way long ago."

"What the hell! No! I won't! You can't do this to me! You can't make me! Why?! Why are you doing this to me?! Why are you trying to hurt me so bad, Father?! And mother! Just stand there and let him plan my life for me! Why don't you guys go and live it too while you're at it! Obviously you two know what's best! And I wouldn't want to ruin your oh so perfect plan!"

"Sakura! That is quite enough from you!" her father bellowed, slapping her across the face. "He shall redeem you."

"R-redeem me? From what?" Realization flooded into her eyes at what this 'redeeming' really was. "I'm sorry; I didn't realize that falling in love was such a sin."

Her father stared at her with his tired, old eyes.

"But, this isn't about my sins, not about anybody's sins. Except for Sasuke's. He makes one bad move and that means I'm tainted too? You just can't stand it can you? Your daughter, in love with the village traitor, it's just as bad as being the school slut isn't it? No, in your eyes it's much, much worse. God forbid me falling in love with anybody that doesn't bring honor or money, maybe even power into your hands. You can't handle all the ridicule you face. But what about me? Did you think I didn't hear what they said behind my back? Them calling me just as bad as him, talking as if I betrayed the village too. I'm the one they're talking about. You think it's hard for you to hear, and to take? Well, what about me? Your daughter, the one who's the subject of their hate. It's hard for me too!" Sakura stopped for a second, breathing heavily, searching for some response in her father's eyes. "It hurts me to see that you care more about your image and social status than me, your own flesh and blood."

"Enough of your whining child. You are betrothed, end of story. We are meeting with him and his family tonight at his home. You mine as well unpack your things, your fate is sealed, there is no point in leaving, or making it harder for yourself. Just stop your charade now and except it. Now, make yourself presentable, and wipe away those tears, there's no reason for them," with that the man turned away, leaving Sakura and her mother.

Sakura sank to the floor, touching her face, wondering when the tears had started, when they would stop.

"Come now dear, its not as bad as it seems," her mother tried to reason, patting Sakura's back gently, trying to sooth her in whatever way she could. "It's the same way me and your father had it at your age."

"No wonder you two are such a screwed up pair."

"My mother couldn't respond to that, she knew it was the truth, but it still hurt. I felt terrible hurting her, but I didn't want to end up hurting like her. I could see it in her eyes that she didn't want to hurt me, that she didn't want this kind of life for me, her life, the one being forced upon us both. It made me wonder how my father felt at my age, if he didn't want it just like us. …But even so, I got dressed and ready to meet 'him' and soon, we were there at his home.

"Come along now," a maid greeted the Haruno family.

The trio were led into a large white dining room with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and white roses adorned on the table and walls. The table was large and rectangular, sitting in the middle of the circular room. The tablecloth was black with sliver dishes at each seating spot. The floor was made of white marble decorated with a black rug that sat under the table.

At the table sat two men and a woman, they stood as the Haruno family came into view.

The elder man waved his hand towards them, "Please, come and sit."

The man waving at them sat at the head of the table and his counter part at the foot. Sakura's father took his seat at the man's right hand side and her mother sat next to him on the left hand side of the other woman. Sakura had little choice to do other than sit next to "him", the man she was betrothed to, on the right hand side of the woman.

The small group was having a quiet meal until the subject of marriage was brought up.

"You…will be wearing white, correct, Sakura-chan?" the woman at her side inquired politely.

Sakura nearly choked on her spit as the words hung in the air. Her skin crawled as the suffix 'chan' was latched at the end of her name. It sounded so wrong coming out of that woman's mouth.

She quickly cleared her throat and took a deep breath, shaking her head, "No, not at all," she answered meekly.

Sakura was careful to avoid her fathers stare, as he shot her glares of disapproval.

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes. It is."

Well, what color is it that you plan on wearing then?" she asked curious.

"I don't plan on wearing any color at all; I'm not going to be a bride in any wedding. At least not any wedding set up by you old fools! Sakura stood then, abruptly exiting the dining room into a long hallway. She didn't go any further than a few feet, in fear of getting lost in the huge manor.

It was quiet in peaceful out of the dining room, not having to pretend any longer or hide her feelings and especially sit with those people acting like she cared.

But her peace didn't last long until a patronizing voice shattered her calm silence.

"Won't you come back and join us?"

"No I will not come back and join you asses, I'd rather go to hell and back." She replied mocking his proper choice of words and tone.

…My eyes were closed, my arms crossed, and my back facing him, so I didn't notice when he had moved to be right in my face. I heard him snicker and then felt his breath in my face.

"If you won't join us for the reminder of dinner…then I'll just skip ahead to dessert."

He picked me up then, with a wicked smile on his face. I thought he would take me to the dining room but he went in the opposite direction. He walked to the end of the hall, opening a dark wood door, and he took me inside, shutting the door behind us, and then locking it. And then he, he…and my father knew! I was thrown on the bed…the bastard he…"

Sakura choked, not able to finish the sentence, instead she just closed her eyes and continued sobbing.

"What was it he did? Who is he?!'

"I claimed her as my own," from the door, that sinister voice and the cruel smile that came with it was heard there stood the man that haunted her nightmares. It was "him".

Sakura's eyes widened in first horror, and then in rage.

Naruto had his answer now.