Series: Sensei
Imitation
"Stop it."
"Stop what?"
"Stop your annoying happiness. It's disgusting."
Sakura turned her head and looked at Sasuke with an arched brow. He looked sullen and although that wasn't unusual since he was Mr. Pouty Pants, he normally didn't rain on her parade. She had just gotten laid by Kiba a few days ago and her mood had been great ever since. Although she couldn't actually say that they were now the best of friends, she could say the air of hostility that surrounded him whenever she was around had diminished.
She knew that because they had run into each other a few times since then and had been able to talk cordially. She hadn't told Tenten nor Hinata (and definitely not Ino and Temari) about what happened because she really didn't want the drama associated with sharing those little details. So she kept it to herself.
"My happiness offends you."
"Yes."
Sasuke's succinct reply caused Sakura to throw her hands up in the air.
"Seriously Sasuke?"
She received no reply which only served to make her roll her eyes. This was why she liked for Naruto to always be with them. They needed a third person around to keep her from killing Sasuke. A wry smile crossed her lips briefly. She remembered when it used to be the other way around.
Ah, memories.
"Sometimes I wonder why I bother with you. Where are we going anyway?"
"Father wants to see you."
Sakura's good mood suddenly took a nose dive and she became perilously close to throwing a tantrum much like that of a child in the streets of Konoha.
"Damn it Sasuke! You tricked me!"
"Sakura, you came willingly."
That was true. Sasuke had merely come to her apartment and told her he needed a favor and she had dropped everything and followed him. She hadn't asked for any details because he wasn't Naruto and she typically didn't have to be suspicious of everything he did. So she supposed, in a way, it was her fault, but she was damned certain that she wouldn't let it happen a second time.
"After our last fiasco with your father do you honestly think I'd subject myself to his presence anytime soon?" Sasuke smirked. "Asshole! I should walk away right now!"
"You should, but you won't."
Sakura's eyes narrowed dangerously. "And why wouldn't I?"
"Because those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash."
It was the first lesson that Kakashi had ever taught them. The reminder was sobering as it brought the Copy Ninja to the forefront of her mind when she had been making a pretty successful effort of putting him out of it.
"Let's just go Sasuke." Sakura replied her mood subdued. "But you owe me big for this one."
It was unusual for Sakura to visit the illustrious Uchiha Clan Head in such a short amount of time. Sakura and the Clan Head usually could only tolerate each other in only small doses. It made her wonder what he wanted from her that was so important that they had to subject themselves to each other. It had to be important or otherwise really bad. She was betting on bad.
Sasuke led her to Fugaku's office and attempted to walk away, but Sakura grabbed his arm and hissed, "Where are you going?"
"He wanted to see you, not me. I'm not going in there if I don't have to. I value my life."
Sakura closed her eyes and counted to ten to keep herself from ripping the younger Uchiha's eyes out. Sometimes she really hated him. When she opened her eyes, he was gone and Sakura had a good mind to find him and drag him back by his toenails, but figured there was time for that sort of behavior later.
She was there outside Fugaku's office so she may as well find out what he wanted. There was no telling what the Clan Head would do if she walked away now and he found out about it. He was quite the crazy s. o. b.
Sakura knocked on the closed door to Fugaku's office and waited to be allowed entrance.
"Enter."
Sakura stepped inside Fugaku's office to find him hunched over his desk. She had no idea what documents he was pouring over, however, she did know that she stood there awhile before he acknowledge her existence. She was seconds away from turning and leaving to find and kill Sasuke before he raised her eyes and looked at her appraisingly.
"Sakura Haruno."
Sakura chose to remain silent and instead bowed politely. Tsunade would kill her if she disrespected a Clan Head without being sufficiently provoked. Sakura had to give him points because the second he turned his attention to her he immediately launched into a conversation.
"My sons wish to marry."
Sakura frowned. Sons? Both of them? Sasuke had told her that Itachi had his eye on a woman, but he hadn't mentioned that he was actually pursing a woman to the point of marriage. Sasuke, on the other hand, had told her that he was looking for a wife. However, if Sasuke had found someone she'd know about it. He would have told Naruto and Naruto would have told her. Although Naruto did have a lot on his mind given his impending nuptials. Maybe he had forgotten.
"This desire of theirs I don't disapprove of. They are of an age where they should settle down with a woman. I, of course, would prefer that both my sons pick a suitable woman among the Uchiha however..."
A brief flash of rage crossed Fugaku's eyes that made Sakura inadvertently take a small step backward. She didn't want any errant kunai flying in her direction for no reason. It was an action that she wouldn't put past Fugaku.
"It looks as if that is not to be." Fugaku finished finally and it made her wonder exactly what types of waves Itachi and Sasuke had been making within the clan, and why hadn't she heard of it?
"There are very few suitable brides outside the Uchiha Clan that I would be willing to tolerate. You, Sakura Haruno, are one of them."
Sakura leaned down, picked her jaw up off the floor, dusted it off, and put it back in place. She had been certain that the man hated her. To say that he could tolerate her as the wife of one of his sons was a compliment of the highest order.
She was so fascinated with this turn of events that she didn't notice what he was actually saying.
"However, your foolish obsession with the thief of the Sharingan ends today. I will no longer tolerate it, especially since I have deemed you worthy of the Uchiha name. There's no point in suffering an imitation when you can have the real thing."
I apologize. Updating on Wednesdays are difficult for me. But, better late than never, right? I'll see you December 30th. Unless that land on a Wednesday and if so, then I'll catch you the day after.
