Chapter 9

Edited 18.12.2015

Engagement

"Tachi-Chan, you can't eat that many dango at once!" Mikoto, the mother of a three and a half year old prodigy yelled, alarmed that her son would choke on the amount of sweets he was stuffing into his little mouth.

Said boy looked up from his already half empty plate, little puffy cheeks filled with said treat. His eyes were wide and innocent as he looked up at his mother, almost making Mikoto squeal at the utter cuteness of her only son. She was, after all, pregnant with a little baby girl who was due in six months!

Being the prodigy that he was, he swallowed before opening his mouth to speak to her.

"But mommy, cousin Shisui said that if I don't eat them fast enough, a fetus will come and steal them!" Itachi exclaimed, saying the word "fetus" like it was his most feared enemy. He pulled the plate closer, as if to protect it from evil fetuses.

Her little son sounded so serious too, Mikoto had a real hard time holding in her giggles. Her poor baby, how could he know that his cousin meant his own future little sister? That Shisui, always teasing her son! As if it would take that long for her little weasel to finish his plate. And she surely didn't want for her Tachi to choke on his food!

"Don't worry; mommy will protect you and your precious dango!" Mikoto wowed and patted her sons head. Itachi looked skeptical, but laid down the plate, for now.

Seeing that her son wasn't trying to choke himself anymore, made Mikoto sigh in relief. That boy, he could surely live on that stuff.

"You know Tachi-Chan, Shisui only meant your little sister," Mikoto said as she turned back to finish the dinner she was making. Fugaku should be home soon and he was sure to be hungry. There was a comfortable silence as she cooked and Itachi ate his sweets.

"Mommy… her name isn't going to be fetus, is it?"

This time, Mikoto couldn't hold in her laughter.

…

Itachi could still hear his mother's quiet laughter at his childish ignorance, even thought it was such a long time ago. He looked at Sakura, who was waiting anxiously for him to say if he liked her gift. How could he not? He had always loved his mother's cooking more than anything. He could say that Sakura and his mother would have gotten along well; they shared the same fiery, but loving spirit and both were always there to take care of their important people. He could picture them, gossiping together like teenagers as they cooked.

She looked so beautiful to him, sitting there and biting her lower lip nervously. Even though he kept telling himself that Konoha was full of strong and able women, he couldn't help but think that this pink haired slip of a girl would be the one for him.

He jumped out of his thoughts as he heard her quiet, nervous voice.

"Tachi, are you okay? It's okay if you don't like them! I was in a hurry as I made them an-"

"Sakura, I do like them, very much so," Itachi said, smiling. As his mask was still partly lifted, she could see his small smile, the sight making her blush.

"They just… reminded me of my late mother," he admitted quietly.

"Oh, I… I'm sorry," Sakura said, she knew what it was like to lose a family. Itachi just shook his head –it was a long time ago, after all- and smirked at her.

"You have some dango on your face," Itachi said, causing that blush he so liked to appear on her cheeks once again.

"Where?" Sakura asked and started to wipe her face frantically, her blush spreading down her shirt. She looked quite comical as she sat there with her face red, rubbing her cheeks in hopes of cleaning them. She didn't need to know there was nothing on her face.

"Right here," he said quietly and leaned in to lick her cheek right next to her lips.

…

Sakura was in cloud nine for the rest of their session.

After Tachi licked her cheek, there seemed to be a permanent blush on her cheeks, but after Tachi asked her if she was okay, she only blamed it on the weather. It was pretty hot today, but they still agreed on having a little spar, only using Taijutsu, but Sakura found it almost impossible to concentrate on the task at hand.

'That man sure smelled heavenly,' Sakura thought and smiled to herself.

His lightly musky sent mixed with smoke almost made her toes curl as he leaned closer to her. She took a quiet sniff, again, he smelled purely male, it must have been a sin to smell that good. Sakura hoped she wasn't drooling.

"You are not paying attention, Sa-ku-ra," oh, the way he growled her name, it almost made her moan out loud.

"Oh," she hmned and sniffed him again, almost leaning in to nuzzle his neck.

Itachi chuckled; the way that she was sniffing him was amusing him to no end. She herself smelled quite good, as he inhaled her sent, but he sure knew how to do it less… noticeably. She just kept on sniffing him and humming to herself.

The sigh was quite adorable.

"Smell something you like?" Itachi asked, smirking, making sure to press his muscular chest against her softer one. The contact made him growl, she fit against him so nicely, but he didn't circle his arms around her like he wanted to. Itachi didn't want her to feel cornered; he knew she wouldn't like that. He had seen the way she reacted to the overbearing Hyūga and didn't wish to make the same mistake.

No, she would come to him.

His question seemed to snap her out of her self-induced high, as she jumped away from him. It made him frown; he had liked her right where she was, against him.

"I, oh god, I'm sorry!" Sakura yelled, mortified of her own boldness, here she was, sniffing him like a bitch in heat; he must think that she was a complete weirdo by now! There was so much blood rushing to her face at that moment that Sakura was sure she would faint soon.

"It is quite fine, Sakura, I find your sent pleasing as well," Tachi said matter of factly and shrugged, like it was the most natural thing in the world to go around, sniffing people.

"I just… you don't mind?" Sakura asked skeptically, surely he would have been uncomfortable. But then again, it was he who pressed his chest against hers. Sakura had no idea what made him do that, but it sure had felt nice being pressed so intimately against such a finely build male.

Tachi just chook his head and nodded towards the trees.

"Sit whit me for a moment before you leave?" the way he said that, it didn't sound too much like a question. More like a gentle command with little option, but to comply. So Sakura nodded, still in a daze and followed him to sit against the trees. After a moment of silence, Tachi asked the question she had been dreading.

"So, Sakura, care to let me know what left you so tense earlier?"

Sakura thought it over, it wouldn't hurt to tell Tachi, he hardly seemed like he would go spreading her secrets to the whole population of Konoha. And she really wanted to get it out of her chest. Maybe, just maybe, he had a solution to her little… problem with the Hyūga clan.

With her mind made up, she opened her mouth to explain.

"It's the Hyūgas; they have been pestering me to join them for dinner, but so far I have been able to avoid them," Sakura sighed and hugged her knees.

"I mean, sure, there are certain benefits that come with marrying into a clan like the Hyūga, but I…" she didn't seem to find the words, but fortunately Tachi came to her rescue.

"You do not want to be tied down, to live by their rules and orders?" Tachi asked carefully.

"I guess. More than that, I wish to marry for love, not for benefit," she whispered sadly and looked at the setting sun. Its yellowish rays were painting the trees with their glow. The sight calmed her.

"I'd rather live on the roads as missing nin with a man that I love, than be tied down to a man I hardly know with luxuries in my life. Neji isn't that bad of a guy, but hardly someone that would let me live my life as I wish to…" Sakura whispered and closed her eyes tiredly.

Hearing her say that she wouldn't mind living on the move, if only to have love, made him smile, pleased with this discovery. It was good to know that Sakura was not someone that loved material things in life. Not that he couldn't afford them, he was more than able to, but knowing that she wanted the more simple things in life made her that much more lovelier in his eyes.

He guessed that now would be a good time as any to start wooing her. He could help her in her quest to avoid the Hyūgas; they couldn't force her to marry into the clan, if she was claimed by another man. Itachi, after all, knew how the clan marriages worked; he had been part of one for the most of his life.

"There… is a way for you to deny their proposal," Itachi started carefully, knowing that she wouldn't like what he was going to say.

"Somehow, I get the feeling I'm not going to like this," Sakura murmured and lifted an eyelid to glance at him. Itachi thought so too and decided to just come out with it.

"They cannot claim you if you are tied down to another male," there, he said it.

"Tied… down? As in, I'm dating someone else?" Sakura hoped it was that simple, she would just date someone for a while and throw the Hyūgas off her tail! But somehow, that sounded way too easy.

"It's… a little bit more complicated than that, I'm afraid," she saw that one coming. "There must be an engagement or an upcoming marriage to deny them the right to marry you into their clan," he finished.

"So… I have to marry someone either way?" bye-bye freedom!

"Not necessarily, we could… fake it."

'For now.'

"Wait! Are you saying you would help me? That's… I wouldn't want to bother you," Sakura sounded hopeful, but she didn't want to bother him, he must have been busy, being Anbu and all. Tachi just waived his hand, as if to say that it was okay.

He really wouldn't mind, as he planned to marry her anyway.

"I would not mind, I enjoy your company, deeply so," and he did. The idea that they would be spending much more time together in the future, made him almost exited, but he was not one for such extreme emotions.

His quiet admittance made her blush and she burrowed her head between her knees, a shy smile on her lips. Tachi sure knew his way with words.

"I… enjoy spending time with you too."

"Hn," it just slipped out, but fortunately Sakura didn't seem to notice his verbal mistake.

"So, how will we do this?" Sakura asked carefully, still not completely convinced that Tachi was okay with this. It was good that Sakura couldn't see Itachis feral smirk, covered by his mask, it might have caused her to run, fast.

"As of for now, we are engaged."

…

After they came to the agreement that they were, for now, "engaged", Sakura found it much easier to sleep that night. The upcoming dinner with the Hyūgas didn't sound so imposing anymore, now that she knew they couldn't force her into a marriage she didn't want. Tachi said that they would take care of the rings and other minor details later, but for now, the information that she was taken should slow the Hyūgas down.

That night, she dreamt of fire and smoke.

…

Sakura kept looking around the compound as she walked with Neji. All the Hyūgas looked the same to her with their regal appearances and brown hair, the amount of inbreeding they must have done to keep their clan pure made her shiver in disgust.

Neji was being his usual, quiet self as they walked, but that was alright with her, like totally fine. She didn't know how to reveal her "engagement" and she was still pissed off about the way he stormed into her apartment that morning. He gave her only fifteen minutes to get ready, nearly dragging her out of her bed in the process.

'That infuriating, full of himself, arrogant and stupid male!' Sakura fumed and glared at him, nearly fracturing the ground as she stomped forward. If it wasn't frowned upon, she would have pummeled him to the ground by now! She would have to ask him to train with her later, if only to let out some steam.

Her fondness of sake was not the only thing she had in common with Tsunade.

"Sakura, we are here," he said and stopped at the main doors, almost causing her to run into his back. The sight of the door made her gulp and with a calming breath she nodded. She was ready, or as ready as she would ever be.

"Let's do this thing."

…

"Sakura-San," Hiashi greeted as she and Neji stepped in to the room. It was almost empty, if not counting the low table made from cherry wood and the soft looking pillows. It seemed to be the clan heads office, if the tidy pile of paper and the expensive looking ink set were anything to go by. She noticed a cup of tea in his hand as he gestured for them to come closer.

'He sure has a bland taste… My office is covered in stuff from top to bottom!'

"Hiashi-Sama," Sakura answered politely and gave a small bow. Even though Sakura was annoyed, she still had her manners. Training under Tsunade for so long had taught her all she needed to know about political games and schemes.

"Please, do sit down," Hiashi said and nodded towards the two cushions opposite of him, that, in Sakuras opinion, were way too close to each other. What a promising start.

'Not,' she thought sourly.

After sitting down, with Neji right next to her, Sakura waited for the Hyūga head to just come out with it. Hiashi seemed to notice her grim look, as he chuckled.

"Sakura-San, do you have any idea as to why I asked for you to join us today?" Hiashi started, looking between her and Neji. He seemed pleased when he noticed how close they were sitting, as if confirming something.

Sakura gulped.

"I have heard some bits and pieces at the hospital. Those rumors just seem hard to believe," she was never one to believe rumors and it seemed that Hiashi was pleased by this fact.

"The thing is, Sakura-San, I am growing old, but I find it that neither one of my daughters are ready to lead this clan."

'Well, this isn't looking too good,' Sakura gulped.

"And you must be wondering why I asked you here," ah, here it comes.

"I want you, the Hokages apprentice, as the future matriarch of this clan, to lead the Hyūgas with Neji, as I make him the head," Hiashi said.

'There is cam- wait wait wait, WHAT!?' Sakura thought, her eyes widened in surprise. Her, as a matriarch of the Hyūgas, WHAT!?

"Hiashi-Sama, It would be an honor, but-"

He lifted his hand to silence her.

"You must be overwhelmed. It will be a big responsibility, but I am sure you will manage just fine. From what I hear, Tsunade-Sama was going to groom you to be her successor," the clan head said and sipped his tea calmly; like he just didn't reveal that she was to be groomed as a Hokage! That was Narutos dream, she would never ever dream of taking it from him! Surely he was mistaken; Tsunade must have been speaking about Naruto. Yes, that was it.

But, for some reason, all that paper work finally made sense, all the political missions she had taken and the meetings Tsunade insisted she attend to, when she was too hung-over to do so herself.

'Shit,' Sakura was sure she would faint on the spot.

"You must be mistak-"

There it came again, the silencing hand of doom.

"Now, you must be tired, this is a lot to take in after all. I will have a room prepared for you and I wish to see you moved within the compound as soon as possible. It is not suitable for the future matriarch of our clan to live outside our walls," Hiashi stood up and nodded at them, as if signaling that this was the end of their discussion.

"Neji will take you home to pack," and then he was gone.

Just. like. that.

'What- I can't- He just- Just, what the FUCK!' Sakura fumed and looked at Neji, eyes blazing like the fires of hell. Someone had some explaining to do!

"Hyūga, what is the meaning of this!?" Sakura demanded. How could he just sit there and act so calmly, when his uncle pretty much sealed their fates.

"My last name will hardly insult me, Sakura, as we will be sharing it soon enough," Neji said and smirked at her. Seriously, that guy had a death wish.

"Oh, if you think that I will act like a good little Hyūga wife, you got another thing coming, lover boy!" she ranted and stood up. Neji got up, but a lot more gracefully. He took her hands in his larger ones and pried open her fingers; they were starting to turn white from the firm pressure of her fists.

"I do wish for us to marry and I do wish for us to lead this clan together," he said calmly. His honest tone calmed her anger, but only a tiny bit.

"Neji, you cannot just go and decide something like this for me. I have a life that I enjoy very much so and I cannot just leave the hospital!" Sakura sighed.

"I am aware of your duties to the hospital and I am fine with the fact that you wish to continue your work there after the wedding. As long as you fill your duties as the matriarch, you are free to do as you please, within reason of course," Neji explained calmly and rubbed his thumbs in circles on her wrists, trying to calm her down.

"Oh yeah, and what duties are those?" Sakura asked sarcastically and tried to pry her hands away from Nejis larger ones.

They held on firmly.

Somehow, this seemed like the wrong thing to ask, as Neji smirked at her. Sakura got the foreboding feeling that she wasn't going to like his answer, at all.

"Do not play dumb, Sakura, it doesn't suit you. It is a matriarch's duty to provide the heirs to the clan," Neji said matter-of-factly.

'Oh, nope nope nope no-'

Neji must have seen her shocked face as he smiled gently for her.

"Do not worry yourself so; I am sure you will do our clan proud."

Sakura learned something new that day; apparently, it was possible to faint from shock.

…

I made it extra long for you guys, so gimme some love!

And as always, thank you for reading and have a nice day! (:

R&R

TY

-Hana