Hehe you guys are awesome. Thanks so much for the reviews! And here is the final part of Chapter 3.

Also, some reviewers have mentioned Sasuke, and relating it to Confession 1. I should have explained better - This story isn't 100% in The Confession universe, in that it is taking a slightly more mature approach than The Confession did, so some of the story facts vary slightly. In The Confession 1 Sasuke didn't really date Sakura. In Confession 2, however, the details of Sasuke and Hinata's relationship transfers from Confession1.

I don't know if this counts as a spoiler, but at this point I have no intention with interfering with Sasuke and Hinata's relationship by bringing even the suggestion of adultery.

Other reviewers have mentioned that the chapters are really short. I agree, however due to my VERY unstable schedule, this is the safest length I can deliver with any hope of consistency. If I do get an influx of reviews asking for longer chapters despite the lengthened delivery time, then I will take it under advisement. Please do let me know what you think though.

Outside of that I am REALLY happy that you guys are enjoying this so far!


Chapter 3: Sakura's Terms (4)


"I did not expect a friendship questionnaire," Itachi said after he drank the last of his wine. He held the wine glass loosely by the stem before placing it on the short wooden block beside him that acted as a table.

"Well, I thought it was senseless to marry someone without knowing anything about them beforehand. I suppose it could be accompanied with a confidentiality agreement, because some of the questions dug pretty deeply," Sakura-san replied. He looked up at her when she spoke, tapping the base of the glass absently with his pointer finger.

Somehow, after the pizza, he couldn't seem to continue thinking of her as Haruno-san. They had since moved to the restaurant's lounge area, called The Grotto, where they continued to enjoy their wine.

The pizza had been surprisingly delicious and was definitely something Itachi would try again. He wasn't really keen on trying the 'trash pizza' as Sakura-san called it, but based on her animated descriptions of the joys of indulging, he would probably give it a try.

"To be frank, I did not expect any of your terms," Itachi continued.

"What did you think of them?" Sakura-san asked, tracing the rim of her glass with her index finger. For some completely unknown reason, speaking to her was not as excruciatingly difficult as he had assumed. She was easier to respond to than most people he spoke to.

"They were… unexpected. I am beginning to understand your terms on breakfast," he said. Sakura-san smiled and nodded.

"I don't think it is necessary for the marriage to be cold, even if we are not in love. My ultimate goal is a sort of… friendship, I suppose. And a mutual dependability. I need to trust and be trusted, otherwise I could just get married to anyone once their contract said the right things…"she said, leaning back in the plush sofa and curling her bare feet under her. She had taken off her strappy high-heeled sandals about fifteen minutes earlier.

That was almost completely different to the intention Itachi had started with. He just needed to get his clan elders off his back, and be eligible for his father to pass on his inheritance officially at the next shareholders meeting.

"I did not have such aspirations," Itachi admitted. "But I agree that not just anyone would do. I don't have the time or inclinations for a full courtship, but choosing the right person is important to me." Sakura nodded as he spoke, as if she had already suspected that.

"I'm not from a clan, but I have had to do with quite a few," she said. "The pressure must be intense. Even when I was dating-"

She stopped there, and the vibrance that had been present in her face for the entire night thus far faded completely. Her expression reminded him of how she had looked on the first night he had really seen her. Inuzuka Kiba's wedding.

Ah.

Had they dated?

It must have been painful to be invited to his wedding while being in love with him. Itachi didn't think he was close enough to her to ask about that, even though he was curious. He wanted to change the subject, but now that her vibrancy had vanished, he wasn't sure what to do to bring it back.

The only thing he knew that excited her was what had made her so happy earlier. Food. But thinking of randomly talking about that gave him the mental image of tossing a bone at a dog.

Still.

He had to try something.

"Should we continue this conversation over ice-cream?" he asked. Maybe changing the venue would give her some time to gather her thoughts. That sometimes worked for him.


The night had been going fine. Great. Splendidly in fact. She had actually started having a bit of fun.

They had even managed a fluid enough conversation.

Until.

She had almost mentioned Sasuke's name.

Even though his name had never made it into the open air, it had made it to her brain. And the streak of pain that was attached to those three syllables cut right into her heart.

Some love she had.

The man she wanted was happily married with kids and here she was having barely-there laughs with his not-so-boring-but-still-not-him older brother. It was like eating the convenience store version of ramen after having it at a traditional restaurant.

Somewhat enjoyable but so far from the real thing that it was almost funny.

Uchiha-san rose and gave the hem of his black hoodie a firm tug. Sakura put back on her shoes, feeling her thoughts start to tug at her concentration. She didn't want to talk about the contract anymore tonight. As a matter of fact, she wanted to go home, have another drink and try to forget that she even existed. She felt pathetic.

Her sense of decency told her she couldn't just switch and go home when she was the one that had invited Uchiha-san out so she gave herself a mental kick in the butt and told herself to get her head together.

What would Sasuke say if he could see her now? She knew he had a major case of hero worship when it came to his older brother, so logically there must be a reason, but what was a girl to do? As much as she said she wasn't interested in love it was more that she didn't want any love if it wasn't Sasuke's.

"What am I doing?" she moaned under her breath, desperately fighting the burn in her eyes.

It was funny how much feelings and memories could be attached to a single name. Just the thought of him was enough to make her feel like a burning spear was shoved through her chest. It was worse right now because things weren't going the way she wanted.

Her current situation wasn't ideal.

Not to beat a dead horse, but her ideal situation was an alternate reality in which her love wasn't unrequited.

"Haruno-san?" The smooth as silk voice of Sasuke's older brother cut through her thoughts. He was standing before her, his profile lit by the warm lightning just outside The Grotto. The light formed a golden outline of his slim physique. His expression didn't seem to have changed, but somehow Sakura sensed his concern. It occurred to Sakura at that moment that he was… beautiful.

"I'm alright," she lied, forcing a smile.

"You don't need to be," he said after pausing for a few seconds. The words were almost comforting, but then…

Shit.

He knew.

There was no way he would just say that if he didn't know.

Sakura gaped up at him and he just stood there silently.

"Why…?" Sakura started, not even sure what she was asking. There were so many questions she had right now that began with that word.

Why would he say something like that?

Why was her life like this?

Why was it impossible for what she wanted to happen?

Why was she even here?

Why was she resorting to this?

Those were just a few.

But in the end, his answer was to a completely different question. A question she had asked herself when he had first proposed marriage.

"I was given many options by my clan. I rejected them all. I may not be the one you want, but you are the only person I chose."

What.

The.

Hell.

How was she supposed to respond to that?!

Also why did it make her feel good?

He had chosen her?

Well, damn.

She had not seen that coming.

The tears that had been on the verge of spilling over dried up in shock.

"You…" Sakura breathed, blinking up at him.

"I chose you." He said the words again, in that soft, firm way of his. He may as well have been saying something as simple as 'Water is clear' for all the emotion he put into it, but somehow the words felt weighted.

Important.

It was confusing how he could do that.

Or maybe it was a mere side effect of how perpetually confused she felt these days… ever since Kiba's wedding.

"But…" she uttered, feeling like she should be saying something, but her thoughts had learned from Houdini and had escaped her brain.

"And as it relates to your terms..." he said, sliding his other hand into his pocket, blinking slowly as he stared down at her with shadowed onyx eyes.

"My terms…?" Sakura parroted, wondering if it was possible for her to climb out of stupidity; she felt so dense and slow and stupid, as if he was talking to her in Iwanian.

The corner of his lips tilted ever so slightly.

"I accept."

Then he looked at her for three silent seconds before he turned and walked out of The Grotto.

Well.

Damn.


Everyone wants to be someone's first choice ey. Review~~

See you guys again soon!