One Year
A/N: I am so happy that I still have faithful readers to this story! Wow, thank you so much, but I have some kind of bad news. I know that no matter how much I will try to make it otherwise, updates will be somewhat sporadic until my spring break, which starts March 25th. Teachers are piling on the projects, tests and essays right now, and I honestly have no idea how I'm going to stay daily on this.
It is not only this story, but my others as well; do not feel like I am putting you all on the back burner, when the truth is far from. I have just been so busy and my focus has been distraught with matters of school, homework, and the such at hand. Be sure, though, that I will try as hard as I can to give you all constant updates once spring break begins.
I am sorry, I hope you know.
Chapter 29
December 31st
12:45 PM, Ichiraku's Ramen Stand
No matter how much one says the food is unhealthy, too salty for your own benefit, or full of too many calories, or a lack of nutrients there are, ramen still has a way to bring together a group of friends. The theory has been always tested to be true, without a single thought being proved false.
The first day Sasuke returned, despite their exhausted, bloody forms, Naruto headed straight to the stand, ignoring the intimidating glances sent toward Sasuke, ignoring the analytical quirks spoken around them. The ramen stand was the ramen stand, and it brought people together, even on further circumstances.
It was where Naruto first started thinking of Hinata romantically, where they first kissed, where their first date was, where he proposed.
Ichiraku was a place to feel accepted, and maybe that is why the blonde ninja loved it so much. If you took away the great food and replaced it with vacancy, it would not matter. The building held the love, not the material items inside.
However, they did not hurt it.
Slurping his ramen insanely, the Hokage-to-be spoke through the noodles, "Oi, Teme! I'm so happy that you finally got over the pole up your ass and asked Sakura-chan out!"
Sasuke glanced toward his best friend in annoyance, an aggravated twitch of his eyebrow accompanied with his growing sneer. Popping a cherry tomato in his mouth, Sasuke scoffed, "Whatever, Dobe. You went out with Hinata for three years before you proposed."
The blonde nineteen-year-old swallowed a big spin of noodles, and then sighed. Trying to sound intelligent and patient, he shook his head, "Now, now, Teme…don't use such a weak argument."
He raised an eyebrow playfully, "Really now? Weak?"
"Yes—how long did it take you to accept your feelings toward Sakura-chan enough to ask her her hand in courtship?"
Immediately after the comment, Sasuke glared, "Eat your fucking ramen before I knock it over."
_
"Sakura-chan, I've been so stressed out over this m-marriage matter. It's so hard."
The roseate woman nodded understandably, and knotted her own brows together in commiseration. "It has to do with the clan business, yes?"
Hinata ate a crumb off her carrot cake aimlessly, her real self lost in her thoughts. Sighing, she replied, "Yes. Father says that I am going to be the new head of the main branch and heir whether I prefer it o-or not. The leaders have already rejected Neji as head because of his not belonging to the main branch.
What is much worse than that though, is with being born into the being the head, I was supposedly born into an arranged marriage. It is terrible, Sakura-chan. I-I honestly do not love any of the men Father has offered in opposition to Naruto-kun. I can only believe it is because he is not of a prestigious clan like Sasuke-san or Ino-chan, but also because Father just does not approve of Naruto. I don't know what I honestly am going to do."
Sakura gaped. "That must be terrible, Hinata-chan! Can't you do anything? Isn't Hanabi—"
"No," Hinata shook her head, "Father said that the leaders think it would be most appropriate for me to head instead of Hanabi since I am the elder. However, as you know, it would be, apparently, disgraceful for me to marry someone like Naruto, he being the Kyuubi Container and all." Tears brimmed her lavender eyes, "I just love him so much, Sakura-chan."
A reassuring hand reached out and rubbed soothing circles on her friends back, a smile on her face, "It'll be okay, Hinata. Besides, didn't Naruto say he was going to change the way of the main clans?"
She laughed weakly, wiping her eyes, "Yeah, I remember. I'm sorry though, I didn't m-mean to damper this whole day. I mean look at us, we're not even sitting next or talking to our guys; it's supposed to be a double date!"
Sakura laughed, "Hey, we haven't had a real girl-talk in a while and I'm sure Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun don't mind—I rather we just use this as a hang out moment than anything less."
—
Less than ten minutes later—and ten more bowls of ramen on Naruto's end—the group of friends each paid and rose slowly from their seats, stretching tiredly, bellies full. Yawning widely, Sakura smiled, tapping her friend's shoulder, "Thanks for inviting us, Hinata-chan."
She strolled over toward Sasuke and hugged his torso, "It was fun."
Sasuke nodded, wrapping his own arm around Sakura's shoulders. "Thank you, Hinata-san." He ducked his head down, and kissed Sakura softly on the higher portion of her jaw line, closer to her ear than anything else was. Her face reddened further when he whispered in her ear, breath fanning her face. "Come to my house."
Heart fluttering a mile per minute, she managed a, "Y-Yeah, sure, Sasuke-kun," before he turned on his heel and headed toward his house, one had to presume, with a half-hearted wave taking the place of his goodbye. Sakura watched as he stalked away for a while, smiling unintentionally. She still wasn't used to being able to say that she and Sasuke were…an item. It was, if anything, enough to send her head spinning.
Interrupting her bubbly thoughts, a loud voice laughed, "Oi, Sakura-chan! Stop staring at Teme's ass already!" He chuckled as the girl turned sharply and growled at him, Inner Sakura surfacing into the real thing. Sakura stomped toward Naruto and rose a finger in his face threateningly. "Naruto…"
Hinata laughed, finally leaving from the stand (she was having a small talk with Tsuchi, the owner's, daughter, Ayame) and got on tiptoe, kissing her fiancé on the cheek. "Stop upsetting Sakura-chan, Naruto-kun. Y-You do want her to bring a present t-to the wedding shower, r-right?"
Naruto pouted, "But, Hina-chan—"
"We'll see you later on tonight, Sakura. Come on, Naruto-kun."
The only of the four friends left waved goodbye as she started to head to her own home. She had a little something to pick up…
December 31st
1:15 PM, Uchiha Compound; Main Household
Sakura knocked three times on the wooden doors, growing impatient, she had to admit, with her left hand, for her right was preoccupied with holding a small basket. She'd changed into what she wanted to where to Ino's party back at home already; a bright red short-sleeved turtleneck dress and black leggings, and donning on her petite feet were a pair of simple black ballet flats. She tied up her lengthening locks of hair into a messy bun, placed a red headband on top, a few gold bangles on her wrist along with her always-there charm bracelet, and a gold necklace with a heart pendant latched on were her accessories.
Beginning her fifth pound on the door, it yanked open, and before she could scream for help, she was pulled into the darkened foyer quickly, her footing displaced, slightly rough, callused hands tight around her arms, pushing her against a wall. Lips connected to hers soon after with quick intent, and immediately she relaxed, allowing herself to melt into the kiss.
Her lips slid rhythmically against his, to the beat of the melody in the both of their hearts, syncopated perfectly. Slowly, Sasuke moved his lips from hers, kissing the corner of her mouth with a smirk. Finally opening his charcoal orbs, he nodded breathlessly, "Sakura."
She replied, as winded as her boyfriend, "Sasuke…kun."
Moments he stared at Sakura's face, blush red, and his eyes roamed down to her newly bruised lips, naturally pink and tempting, overly enticing. Her emerald eyes met his for another second, and slowly he leaned back down until their lips fit together like a puzzle piece. Setting a higher intensity of the smooch and speeding up the tempo, Sasuke grabbed her hips softly, pulling her closer to her. Her arm wrapped around the base of his neck, leaning closer and closer into his strong chest, forgetting what day it was, what season it was, what her name was, and in a desperate act to catch her breath she gasped for a millisecond. He took full advantage of the opportunity, plunging his tongue into her mouth. They wrestled for dominance.
Forgetting the basket in her right hand, Sakura let it fall, using her hand to gently stroke Sasuke's smooth skin with her thumb. The woven container toppled to the ground with a solid thud, and quickly following it, in a loud irritating screech, came the cries of Kaede.
Sharply, Sasuke ripped his lips from Sakura's and glared at the bin, "What the hell, Sakura?!" He stalked to it and swooped the container up with ease, pointing toward the wriggling doll inside, "I did not say bring this with you!"
A wave of protective maternal instincts washed over Sakura and she stomped to the Uchiha. "Hey! You're going to make her cry even louder if you keep swing the basket like that!"
Sakura reached out and grabbed the doll from the basket, moving some pink blankets around with it in the process. She propped it on her hip. "Now, I've taken care of Kaede for the past three days, and for the last three days, I want you to."
Sasuke groaned tiredly, he went to his refrigerator and pulled out a tomato, "We all want a lot of things, Sakura."
"Yes, but only a few actually receive what they want." She glared darkly toward Sasuke, "And I am one of those people."
Sasuke gulped and the baby cried even louder.
A/N: There are going to be three parts to this chapter, like there were three parts to a day in the beginning of the story. If you don't remember, you can look on your own time. I liked how I did that, and then each chapter had an easily accomplishable word length of about 1,700 (take some or leave some) words.
Anyway, as of now, I've already planned the parts.
1. It is this one.
2. Parental Adventures (I've been waiting so long…!)
3. New Year's Eve/Day Party
From there, I want to speed it up a little, like take things on a week by week schedule and sometimes even month by month. This day to day is taking a long time.
I should be able to update tomorrow night, as in Sunday night, and possibly Tuesday.
Be looking out, and if you're new, Story Alert just for safety. You never know when I'll update—I might surprise you with early ones!
~NaruBaby2496
