Author's Note: Hey again! How are all of you guys? Life has seriously become really boring. It's the weekend and I've gotten majority of my homework over with, but there's just nothing to do. My friends are all out doing something, so I'm stuck bored at home. At least this next chapter is keeping me occupied, enjoy it!
Chapter 54: A Previous Engagement
"Stop it, you're not a failure" she assured me.
My gaze from her eyes did not shift, "What are you talking about Tsunade-san!? I am! I've spend pretty much my entire life to get stronger, and look what's happened!"
"This is not in your control. Something in your body is causing the blockage of your chakra. Everything will be fine, just don't be a drama queen".
"I'm the drama queen!? What about you! You act like the world is going to end if you run out of sake!"
She helped me up from the bed and I stood there planted on the hard floor.
"Sakura, are you sure you don't need anymore assistance?" Tsunade asked after letting go of my arm.
"I'm fine" I said while walking closer to the door.
"Okay, but if something goes wrong, let me know immediately".
I nodded and left for home.
On my way there, I noticed that the weather definitely cleared up. It was sunny and humid out. Usually I can handle things like this, I'm strong enough. Today was a totally different story, my vision started becoming hazy.
"What's happening to me?"
As I continued to question further in my mind, things became progressively worse as I walked closer to home.
Before I knew it, I started becoming dizzy and weak. It was difficult for me to breathe.
I wasn't functioning properly. There was no way for me to speak or think when my mind blanked out and I fell to the ground.
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"She's waking up!" I vaguely heard a voice.
My eyes suddenly opened and I found myself in the hospital…..again…..
I looked around the room flabbergasted and afraid about what happened to me a while ago.
"Sakura, are you alright?" asked mother who sat right by my side.
My head still had some pain, I'm guessing from the fall. I rubbed the back of it while processing everything that happened.
"Y-Yeah….I'm fine".
Mom took the job over for me and started massaging my head as Tsunade continued running some tests while talking with dad.
"Mom…..what happened?" I asked facing her.
She sighed, "Well…..I went out to run some paperwork for your father and while walking back home, I saw someone just lying on the ground. Of course the right thing to do was help, so I did. I had no idea it was you and when I actually saw your face, my motherly senses kicked and carried you all the way here. Tsunade has been here since early this morning, and she also contacted your father and told us what happened to you earlier today".
That's when everything started coming back to me.
Tsunade finished with the checkup, "Your energy is seriously drained Sakura. I don't want you working from here on out".
"What! But-"
Mother put her hand on my shoulder to calm me down, "No buts Sakura. Tsunade-san is right, we can't let you do anything that will strain your body. You know how much chakra it takes to heal patients, you really don't have that much left. Please…..for your father and I…..don't do anything rash".
There was no choice but to listen to her. I just nodded as father came and patted me on my back.
"That includes missions also" he stated.
It was aggravating to listen to all these things I couldn't do. I felt like some little kid. I guess for my sake, I should listen.
"Then what am I supposed to spend the rest of my life doing!?"
"It's not for the rest of your life Sakura" dad said.
Tsunade cut in, "He's right and I want you to stay home. You really shouldn't be going out. I think the reason why you fainted was because of the heat from the sun, am I right?"
"Yes……" I said sighing.
After my little checkup, I went home and did absolutely nothing. Mother wouldn't even let me near the kitchen stove or oven, thinking it would be too hot to let me work with.
Ever since Tenten, Temari, Hinata, and Ino heard about my condition they've tried coming over to visit me as much as they could.
I'm really thankful to have friends like them. Although recently, the problem hasn't really been surrounding me all this time. Tenten came over today and decided to spend the whole day with me.
I was glad that Shin took Wataru out and decided he wanted to show him the ANBU training force. Dad was out probably at some other conference and mom……she was out shopping with her sisters.
That left me sitting home alone in the afternoon in my room until I heard the doorbell ring.
I opened it and Tenten wrapped me into one of those huge bear hugs.
"T-Tenten………s-stop….."
"Oh sorry!" She said while pulling away from me and entering the house.
"You're totally soaked Ten! Do you want me to get you a towel?"
"That would be great, it's really pouring out there!"
I nodded in agreement and fetched a towel.
"Thanks Saku" she said while drying herself.
We both went up to my room and sat on my bed, "So…..what's up with you Tenten? I haven't really seen you in a couple weeks…."
I watched as she fiddled with her dragon symbol locket her mother gave her, "Ummmm…..it's…..interesting….."
"Well if she's not looking me in the eye, then something interesting must be going on".
"Well?" I asked, urging her to continue.
I saw her looking down, "It's about me and Neji…."
There was only one thing I could possible think of, and usually I don't even jump to conclusions thinking that my assumption would be correct.
"She can't be…..could she?"
"Tenten……are you p-pregnant!?" I asked while stumbling on the word pregnant.
She looked at me like I had a second head growing, "No! Are you crazy Sakura!? You know I would never ever let Neji near me like that! I have morals".
I felt like a fool for even thinking something like that. Tenten would never be the kind of person to do something as unthinkable like that.
"Well what else could be the problem?"
She sighed, "Well….Neji was actually sent on a mission with Naruto, Shikamaru, Sai, Chouji and everyone else last week. A couple days ago I went to go see if Hinata was home. I was surprised to see her father answer the door instead of Gin-san. He gave me this dirty look like I didn't belong anywhere near the Hyuuga household. He said I was forbidden from seeing Neji ever again. He wanted me to do the breaking up with him. Afterwards Hiashi-san slammed the door in front of me".
My only response was to move closer and comfort her, "Do you remember anything else he said? There must have been some reason for you not to see Neji".
I waited for her response for a couple minutes until she spoke up again, "He said something about me not being of royal blood. That Neji should only associate with women of high status".
Suddenly I noticed she started tearing up. I've never seen Tenten like this before. I felt guilty just sitting here and not saying anything.
What was I supposed to do?
"What's wrong with me Sakura!?"
"There's nothing wrong with you Tenten. I suggest you don't even listen to what Hyuuga Hiashi says. All of this is complete bull crap. You and Neji belong together, and he doesn't even see how happy your guys are with each other. Forget about it. Once Neji returns, I'm sure everything will be just fine".
She smiled and wrapped me into that bear hug. This time, I wasn't so eager to get out of it. She needed to be comforted at a moment like this.
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Neji and the rest of his squad were supposed to return the day after. Tenten and I spent the whole day together. She and I planned to have dinner out tonight; I always love having dinner out with friends.
Here we are eating at the one and only Ichiraku. It has that nice comforting feel to it. Great service and of course the ramen is the main attraction. Tenten and I ordered the beef ramen, which is Teuchi-san's main specialty. I always like it when Ayame comes and chats with us.
"Hey Sakura, Tenten….how are you guys?"
"Great, how about yourself?" I asked.
She smiled, "life is wonderful. The ramen business is just flourishing with all these costumers. Well father and I could never have done it without Naruto. He's really what keeps this business booming".
Thinking of Naruto made me lose my appetite a little.
"How am I still not over him?"
"How's everything with Kiba Ayame?" Tenten asked.
She blushed, "He's great! I could never ask for someone better than him. How about you and Neji?"
I noticed Tenten's behavior changed slightly, "Oh we're…..okay. Everything's fine".
"That's good. Well….I should probably get back and help father with some of the takeout orders, but you two take care okay?"
"We will" I assured her as she waved and walked back into the kitchen.
Suddenly I heard a cell phone ring, it was Tenten's.
"One sec Saku, let me get this".
I watched as she flipped her simple blue phone open and answered plainly, "Hello?"
There was a pause and I saw a radiant smile etching her features, "Neji! How are you!? I missed you so much! How'd your mission go!?"
There was another pause. I'm guessing Neji said he's fine as well and he misses Tenten a lot and his mission went great. Neji never really went into detail in his answers.
I tuned out what seemed like a couple minutes until Tenten hung up and turned to face me, "Sakura! All the guys are going to be at the festival tonight, do you want to come?"
"I don't know……"
There she was giving me the puppy dog look, "Please?"
Sighing, I agreed, "Oh alright….."
She smiled and dragged me over to the location. It was a large plain field with different colorful lit up stands set up in different areas. There were balloons and little children running around begging their parents to buy all sorts of things. The night was beautiful; you could clearly see the stars in the black skies. It reminded me of that poem written by the first hokage I read years ago, his miracle in the night. I spotted Naruto playing one of the games trying desperately to win a prize with Chouji to his left trying to beat him.
I approached the two and greeted them, "Hey guys, how was the mission?"
They didn't seem to notice I was there. The game was currently of great importance to those two.
"Hello!?" I said while waving my hands in front of Naruto's face.
"Sakura-chan! I can't believe you made me lose! Now Chouji got that week's supple of ramen……"
"So immature……"
Then the others caught up to us and I noticed Neji and Tenten locking arms with each other.
"Nothing can go wrong. Why can't that Hyuuga see that they belong together…."
And then there was Hinata, staring at Naruto. It made me upset. The way she was looking at him. Life can be so hard, but like I promised, it's my turn to be selfless.
"So exactly what are we celebrating?"
Everyone else shrugged signaling they were unsure.
We all split up doing our own thing. I walked around the festival seeing all of the married couples holding hands and giving each other the 'googly eyes'. I was happy for them, but at the same time, upset.
"Why can't I find someone?"
I ignored the thought and suddenly Ryo came to mind. He wasn't even here. Then again, he doesn't seem like the type that would actually go to a festival.
Then someone got up on some elevated level, I'm guessing that was the stage, and spoke a few words.
It was Hiashi Hyuuga. I turned to find Hinata and Neji completely puzzled, probably wondering what he was doing here.
"Good evening everyone. This festival was a little short notice, but I hope you all are enjoying yourselves".
The whole time I just glared at him, "What the hell is HE doing here? He spends his time talking politics and smack about his own daughter, there has to be some reason why he's actually out in public….."
"Now you may all be thinking what exactly is the special occasion. Of course I would like everyone to have a good time once in a while, but yes, there is a reason".
Suddenly he held his hand out and gestured to someone who seemed to be standing on the other side of the stage.
The person came up, and it was totally unexpected. It was a woman. She wore a beautifully well-designed red kimono embroidered with dark green vines and leaves. Her eyes had the same color. They were creepy but at the same time, enticing. The woman's hair was a brown color, the same shade as Tenten's but it was disgustingly flat absolutely no shape to it. She wore some very stylish black glasses like she specially ordered them from a place like the tea country. Her skin was a little to pale for my taste, but her skin tone seemed to complement her outfit very well. She had a smirk on her face. Although I didn't know her at all, she looked like some snob.
Hyuuga Hiashi held her hand and raised it to the sky, "Everyone, meet Hyuuga Neji's fiancée".
Author's Note: I know, interesting right? Well that's why you need to keep reading and reviewing! Another chapter will be here soon!
Thanks again,
Sweetness.
